Maisie Turns Two!

Maisie Josephine came into the world with a little bit of drama on September 27th, 2005. It was a Tuesday, and I had gone to my midwife for my 39th week appt. To my shock, we found out she was breech. That was around 10am and by 5pm I was undergoing a procedure called a version, which involves turning the baby with a good amount of delicate pressure to the outside of your belly - all the while an ultrasound tech is helping the doctor see what position the baby is in. Maisie turned - a 50% chance. We were ready to be induced and have this baby. But then her heartrate dipped really low, 2 times in a short period. Luckily the ER team and room was all ready for me (a formality with the version procedure). And you probably guess the rest of the story - Maisie was born cesarean section. A perfect, 7 lb 11 ounce little girl:)

I can't believe two years have passed...For those that have known her since her birth, isn't she looking like such a big girl?

Maisie's is my yellow girl, so when I came up blank for birthday party themes, I just went with YELLOW!

The kids were invited to wear yellow and most of the little ones must of had stuff in their closet to fit the bill, because here they are looking cute!




This is another "Pam cake". She will be horrified that I included it in this post, as she hated the way it turned out. But, you will agree with me, that it was whimsical and feminine and perfect!

The highlight of the party, for Maisie, was definitely the singing and blowing out candles. She sang along and tasted the frosting and loved every minute of it.

The "big kids", slipped into typical gender roles - girls in dress up clothes the entire night and the boys racing around and giving Maisie tips on how to ride (or how they would like to ride) her new hotwheel.




This intimate gathering turned out exactly how I envisioned it weeks ago...just family celebrating Maisie. The only thing that didn't quite turn out as planned, were the miniature carmel apples. Any suggestions here?




And finally, because I know my readers will like this, I am sharing that instead of giving out party favors to the kids, I decided on coffee candies and Starbucks giftcards for the MOMS at the party!

**This post is dedicated to my husband, who stopped his office work to hang new shelves, and jumped in helping with the girls off and on through out the day, and my mom who came over three and a half hours before the party to help with the girls. Without them, I never would have been able to pull this one off!

Note to self: Always Stick to Bedtime Routines

I have been loving this blogging so much, that it has been taking me away from some of my regular chores or sleep rather...both important. So this week I was going to stick to two posts.

But last night in the middle of the night, I was already writting this one after an interesting "mom moment".

You see usually, our bedtime routines, go something like this: we start by brushing teeth, then Mike takes one girl to her room, and I take the other to hers, and separately we change diapers/ put on the night time pull-up, pajamas, books, prayers and our exciting exit.

Well, last night, Mike was gone for the entire night and I decided to put them both on my bed for storytime. (we skipped teeth brushing - if my dentist is reading, sorry Amy!" Then I took Maisie to her room, new diaper, pjs on, got her tucked in and went back to take Daphne. Well, she was already nodding off in my bed and I thought, "why not just let her fall asleep here and I'll move her when I go to bed?". So then, I went about my nighttime fun minus Mike: checking your blogs, watching my dvr'd Friends reruns, and eating way too many graham crackers, just because I had the munchies.

When I retired to bed, I decided I would just let Daphne sleep with me. I love that anyway.

Here's where I see if you were paying attention above...what bedtime ritual did I miss with Daphne?

It wasn't until after midnight sometime, when Daphne crawled out of bed and preceeded to pee right on my floor. It was then that I realized we had never put a pull-up on. I think she was confused where she was, trying to make it to bathroom? and didn't.

Good or bad, I am not sure, but she peed all over my comforter that had fallen on the floor on her side, and all over my body pillow. Missed the carpet that way, but now I have some dry cleaning bills?

Needless to say, I tossed all that stinky bedding in my shower, cleaned her up, put on a pull-up and we went back to sleep!

But not before I made the mental note to "always stick to bedtime routines!"

The Perfect Apple Slice

Did you ever have a moment, when you realized you had truly become a mom?

And I am not talking about the moment your first baby was born, or even the first year of your child's life when everything was miraculous, and exciting and scary...but somewhere in the ordinary moments of your life, when you stepped back and went, "Okay, now is the moment!"

I had a moment like that not too long ago. Like I said, it was a very ordinary activity in my day. I was preparing a very usual lunch for my hungry girls. I had already put the main staple on their plates - something exciting like turkey dogs or pb sandwiches. Then I went over to the cutting board to slice up an apple. I went chop, chop, chop and then took each wedge and did a quick and easy slicing movement to remove the core left on it. I looked down to my cutting board and went,

"WOW, just look at that! Okay, I genuinely have reached MOM STATUS."

Why you ask? Well, I remember eating lots of lunches as a kid that consisted of a sandwich, apple or orange slices and chips. No biggee right? I thought so too at the time. Then I started babysitting A LOT as a teenager and I would go to do the apple slices and they came out all mangled and ugly. The kids didn't care, but I always wondered how my mom always made them look so pretty.

Well, the other day, I realized that I had become like my mom, a Master Apple Slicer. And since that moment, I have been looking at my apple slices as a piece of art. Not because I really think apples are very pleasing to the eye, but because I had performed a very usual motherly task so many times for my kids now, that I became really good at it.

So, today, September 25th, is my mom's birthday. And I dedicate this blog to her. Thanks for all the apple slices over the years Mom, and of course, for all the other great things you did and DO for us too!

And she's beautiful too...Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Summer in Review Unfinished...

It's just a blog, I know, but I am still an over-achiever student at heart, and it bugs me that I can't finish my idea for last week.

Reason being - I have two disks of pictures that have "errors" and I can't get them up on my computer. You may never see them, but one was full of more Idaho pics and the other a disk full of memories from the beach trip that I took with my brother, sister and mom and their families this August.

The beach pics were going to be my last post in that "series" and this boring post takes its place, but like I said I had to have some closure! Someday if you see the title Beach Trip, you'll know that I finally got my pictures taken care of and that I couldn't let it go...

Memories to Remember (This is always for my own sake folks, so feel free to STOP reading)

1. Fabulous girls weekends - one with Jill, and one with Rori, Leah, Tara, Amy and Candice. I ate a lot and laughed a lot and enjoyed what other Godly women are teaching me a lot.

2. Our backyard FINALLY being landscaped.

3. Grandpa Mike building a really awesome playground structure for the girls.

4. The summer Daphne only wanted to wear dresses. And purses, purses, purses.

5. Maisie really starting to talk and becoming more a little girl than a baby. And her favorite person being Jabe! Oh, and her favorite pasttime - buckets and sand.

6. Daphne's first VBS experience with cousin Max and neighbor, Gabby.

7. First house with air conditioning and first pregnancy in air conditioned home to boot.

8. Mike's and my trip to Bellevue - all alone.

9. Poor, Lesley's summer of stress, but getting to see her a lot more!

10. Dad's 5 week and counting stay in at OHSU - and God's grace to begin healing.

11. Karen Kingsbury's First Born Series - Great books!

PLEASE VOTE - To make or to buy????

This post is completely ruining the flow I had going with my "summer theme" chosen for this week. But, tonight I am avoiding cleaning up my kitchen, by instead, posing an interesting question for you readers.

So here goes...Last hunting season, while Mike was gone for 9 days, I decided to make my own version of a Thanksgiving banner I had seen in the Pottery Barn Kids catalogue. It actually turned out really good, but did take a bit of work. I was hating my choice during the cutting, gluing and sewing late at night, but loving my decision after... I'm quite the romantic, envisioning all the Thanksgivings to come, when the kids and I pull the banner out and I explain how I made it during one of Dad's hunting trips years ago.

So tonight, I saw this advent calendar at PBK online...I love it, but it is $69.00. I am really thinking about diving into this project again this year. Any seamstresses out there know how hard this project would be?? And am I crazy to try this when I barely get my normal chores done with my current, pregnant, energy level?

Just for fun....would you make it or buy it? I'm curious!!

All you have to do to comment, is create yourself a FREE and harmless Google acct. It should be easy...

Our Family Vacation

We had the best time this summer, vacationing just the four of us, at our family vacation home in Idaho. The town is located up in the mountains, right next to the most fabulous lake! It was unusually hot, even for July, and the girls had a blast swimming and playing in the sand everyday. Mike got in a little golf and I read one or two books!! It truly defined what vacation with kids is supposed to look like.

A Summer in Review

Some of you may be thinking that summer is way over, but actually I have all week to complete my review. My internet source says that the Autumn Equinox happens around the 22nd of September. So, my goal will be to post my best pics of Summer 2007 in the days to come.

Let's start with one of the first really hot days we had - none other than July 4th!

The parade was really fun, except for the heat!

And one side note, is that I have since cut around 6+ inches off Daphne's hair, and NOW she wants to be Pocahontas for Halloween. If I had only known, I would have waited...OH WELL! ENJOY!

Now that I know how to save other people's pics...

This was Daphne on her actual birthday last week and coincidentally her first ballet class of 2007-2008 dance year.

Her cousin Elsa and her took the best picture for Jill. Thanks for this memory for my own blog.

I am now a copy cat!

It's Decided

When we had a second baby girl, I was very practical and financially prudent and Maisie moved right into Daphne's old nursery. Well, we're having a third girl and I have decided that I am going to do a new nursery no matter what this time. It's just so exciting to have a nursery project again.

My cousin, Jill, who has been deliberating with me the last couple days, on a few different choices out there, sent me a picture of some bedding today at Gap.com and it was even on clearance. And I fell in love with it. Plus, if we do have a boy someday, I may even be able to make it work for him too. In short, it met all my requirements and then some! Thanks Jill. Needless to say, I bought it right away. Yahoo.

A Bug Bash

What a week! I may never post as many times as I did this past one, but how many weeks come along with a first child starting preschool, an ultrasound giving verdict of the sex of your 3rd child, and a four year old's birthday all in the span of 5 days??

Daphne's birthday pictures tell a bit about her "Bug" themed party. Because I haven't figured out labels under each picture. Here is the synopsis:

The day started with Mike fulfilling the previous evening's promise of he taking Daphne out in the morning to buy us all doughnuts. Because my husband does all things in a BIG and BOLD way (especially when it comes to food:), he allowed her to pick the biggest one out of the collection...Later after Maisie went down for her nap, Daphne donned her new apron and helped me make her cupcakes. I think they turned out cute! From 5am to 4pm I worked nonstop on the preparations from decor to party favors and when the guests arrived at "party time" they were welcomed with a fun ladybug sign. We had a huge turnout of friends, neighbors and family, all who are loved by Daphne of course. We ate, the kids played on the new playstructure (built by love by Grandpa Mike just weeks earlier) and topped everything off with cake, that was of course preceded by the big Happy Birthday song. Her grandma Pam, baker extraordinaire made her that cute ladybug cake!! Lastly, I have to mention everyone got Daphne so many fun gifts, (thank you!) and the final one was her new bike!! (although I have to say her Oklahoma movie, was just as much a hit!) Yes, our daughter is a Rodger's and Hammerstein fan:)

It was a big day for all - planners and attendees alike....Great memories....Although next year I do think we'll scale it down a tid:)

Talkin' about Our Girl

That's right. We are so proud to announce that we are already on the road to getting to know our newest daughter! Now I am really anxious to hold her!!

Back To School At Our House

As our first daughter begins preschool today I realize it signifies so many things:

1. Our first baby really isn't a baby anymore!! Although she was very clear in making sure we remembered that, "It's not big kid school yet, Mom and Dad"(rolling her eyes just a little), when we both got sort of mushy with her at bedtime last night.

2. Although preschool is only twice a week, my "footloose and fancy free" schedule is starting to get more locked into place. No more, "Hey Becca, let's go to McCall in the middle of the week and surprise the grandparents"!

(Luckily, her preschool is in the afternoons, so I can still wear my pjs around the house in the mornings for at least another year)

3. My husband and I, both "retired" public school teachers, have been away from the school calendar for 2 and 4 years respectively, so this brings back all those first days of school feelings of nervousness and excitement.

(It's amazing that I have now been a stay at home mom for as many years as I taught - wow, how time flies)

4. New School Clothes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (for Daphne of course)

5. Oh, and how can I forget HOW am I going to manage taking Daphne to school, right smack dab in the middle of Maisie's nap time, driving and finding a parking spot, getting both girls out of carseats and into the school, going back home for 2 hours, and then doing all that again. Don't even want to imagine, doing all that with an infant in tow too. Any suggestions graduated preschool moms?

But truly, even with the inconveniences of number five on my list - I am SO excited!!!

Memories for us to Remember: We took you to JC Penney's to get new shoes at the last moment, about an hour and a half before preschool began, which was a little bit of a time crunch in our schedule. Then we dropped off your little sister at a friend's, so that we could take you out to your favorite restaurant, before your BIG first day, and then daddy and I both got to attend class with you this first time. You were a really good girl and wanted to go back the next day as soon as we left.

More for me than you!

More for me than you. I'll start by saying that I will not tell you whose "blog shoes" I have to live up to, because if I do, you will go directly to their blogs and laugh at my first attempts at this. I have already tried to find a decent picture of myself with my daughters to accompany my blog title, and after failing, had to settle on the pretty flowers. But how do I make the picture less massive? Then, I have written this post already once, but after viewing it, my picture (of our baby at 10 weeks)somehow covered my text, so I had to delete everything and start again. Apologies, apologies, but someday, I will get this figured out.

All that being said, I have to selfishly admit, that luckily, my purpose is not to impress or entertain you. I view this as a way to document all the weekly memories that accompany my life as a mom of young children, who as we all know, grow up quickly. I want them to have pictures and stories that are guaranteed to last longer than hard copies. And even more, I want this blog for me - Lord, help me to remember as much as possible of the days in the life of my growing babies.Help me to remember when....for example: Daphne just now, popping in to tell me that she had cleaned up the living room and, "So, where's my cash now?" We had agreed on a quarter. Since when did a quarter qualify as "cash"?

Stay tuned for my next blog! On Thursday, September 6th I will reveal the sex of our newest child. Our ultrasound is at 2:30pm, so I'll try to post in the evening!! Daphne is changing her tune and now telling people she wants a brother. Could this mean anything?