Spoiled Kindergartener!

My current baby is 6, and is in Kindergarten.  She's very excited for the new baby sister ... but I'm enjoying her family-baby-status for these last couple months.  She gets to go to lunch with me or Nana a lot ... and she actually knows what she likes at the different little bistros and cafes around town.

The other day, we went to her favorite spot - it was fun to see her so comfortable at a boutique bistro, lol!

She's a great lunch companion!

Wish Lists

AngelBaby is excited for December ... and who would blame her - she has her birthday AND Christmas!

She's been preparing by writing up "Wish Lists"

This is what she wrote today:

Birthday Wish List:

~ Shapoo

~ Ruber Ducky

Christmas Wish List:

~ Kitty Stufft Animal

~ Ski Gear

She's never gone skiing, or had ski gear.  Curious, I asked her what ski gear was, and why she wanted it. 

She replied: "I don't know, its for my doll."

(Come to find out, she saw THIS in a magazine, and onto her wish list it went!)

Our new puppy

Our new puppy is a Bernese Mountain Dog.  She is 4 weeks old, and comes home at the end of this month!  We got to meet the puppies last night, and decide on our "Pick of the Litter"  We fell in love with our puppy, and discussed names for 2 hours on the ride home.  Hubby likes "Moose", and I like "Dakota"  We'll see what name we compromise on!  

 

Can't wait to get her home.  She can keep me company now that all my kids are in school.

*cry*

Yep, AngelBaby started Kindergarten today.  I don't like it one bit!  I'm sure I'll get used to the quiet, but today seems to be dragging on.

Two girls at her table were sobbing.  AngelBaby looked like she was going to burst into tears too, then she noticed the bucket of legos at her table, and grinned.  Yay for legos, lol!

I didn't even cry ... until I got in the minivan to drive home ... alone.

More about horses!

AngelBaby started riding lessons today.  Her lesson was right after Princess's lesson.  We've learned that Princess can balance better riding bareback - she tends to hold onto the horn or pommel if she has a saddle. She was trotting, and even did a couple very small jumps with Pepper.  Then it was her turn to watch!

When it was AngelBaby's turn, she stool next to the teacher, and said "Leg up, please!"  The teacher looked surprised, and said "You want to ride bareback on your first try?!"  She did!  She fell off once, due to a stable hand making the horse turn unexpectedly, but she landed on her feet, and immediately asked for a leg-up, lol!  AngelBaby did amazingly well, she trusted the horse and already understood some of the terms from watching her sister ride.  She even let Pepper walk over the jumps a couple times, all bareback!

Of all the sports and activities our girls could choose to do, I'm so glad they love horses!  Ponytails, blue jeans and helmets are the fashion, and some extra benefits include improved posture and balance, plus a boost in personal confidence and compassion for living animals.

I asked SuperBoy if he wanted to start riding, and he looked at me, and said "uh no thanks."  I guess I've gotta find him another Karate studio, lol!

Little Girls and Horses

Princess has been taking riding lessons for a couple months, and even had her first horse show.  The girl finds kindred spirits in the horses she rides, but she has a special attachment to "Pepper".

Pepper is 20 years old, and is gentle and calm.  She is soft, quiet, and patient.  And she's as sweet as can be.  Everyone loves Pepper.  And what's not to love?  She can sense a child's nervousness, and holds very still as they mount.  She lov

AngelBaby has watched her big sister riding, and told me that she wants to ride too.  She starts lessons in 2 weeks.  She is so excited that she wears her riding helmet around the house, and has her new boots set out, just waiting to be worn.

I love that my girls are "into" horses.  With all the chaos and world messages out there, riding horses is positive, uplifting, and builds self-esteme.  It was only a couple months ago that Princess started riding.  She was nervous, scared, and had no confidence in herself or her horse.  Now, she sits tall in the saddle, pats Pepper's neck, and smiles as she clicks her tongue to begin trotting around the arena.  

The world of horses is wonderful.

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Speaking of Horses, there's a really cute line at Gymboree right now called "Cowgirls at Heart"

Princess's Birthday is this week, and I picked up new clothes for her - I couldn't resist these outfits!

I've also made some appliqued T-shirts for her to ride in.  One has a boot applique, I still have to finish the horseshoe shirt and the pony shirt.  I'll have to remember to take pictures and post them!

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School starts in just 3 weeks.  In two weeks, we are taking the kids somewhere special to celebrate their birthdays:

We are all really excited!

Baby Mine

AngelBaby is my "Baby".  She's four now, but is more than willing to oblige her "Family Baby" title with lots of hugs and cuddles.  She is scared of the dark, so we bought her "Glowie" - who has been a GREAT investment of $13. (seriously - that is an awesome nightlight!)  

The other night, even Glowie wasn't helping her feel reassured, so I went up to sing her a few lullabies.  After twenty thousand songs, she still wasn't asleep, but I was ready to get some things done around the house.  So I offered her a stuffed animal.

"Here, would you like to snuggle with this soft horsie?"

She looked at me sadly, and replied softly, "I'd wather snuggle wif you."

My heart melted.  I am wrapped around her finger.  I couldn't help it, I tossed the stuffed animal over, and crawled into bed to snuggle my little AngelBaby.

It reminded me of this song. I love that song, it makes me cry, and step back, reminding myself to enjoy them while they are willing to snuggle!

Dishes

I came in the kitchen today to find my kids doing dishes.  I turned to my sisters to scold them - I assumed that the 15 and 18 year old had ditched their chores onto my kids.  Turns out, my kids were the ones to initiate the dish-doing.

After the dishes were clean and put away, Princess came to me, and asked "Can we have lunch and dinner now?!"  I asked if she was hungry, and she replied, "no, but we want to do more dishes!"

New Wall Photos

We've had the same portraits on our wall for QUITE a while now.  It was time to update them about 3 years ago.  That's a long time when our kids are 4, 5, and 7!

Here's our wall ... the way it has been for much too long! (sorry the picture is awful!  It's too dark for any natural light, so the angle is weird so you don't get blinded by the flash)

And here's two of the updated portraits (I still need to get a good one of AngelBaby)

SuperBoy:

Princess:

I just need to get a good one of AngelBaby, then I can re-do my wall.  Speaking of AngelBaby, she got a haircut.  She's been begging for me to take her for WEEKS, and I've put it off, hoping she'd change her mind.  I finally decided to quit picking THAT battle, and took her last night.  She's still pretty cute!

AngelBaby Before & After:

Does she look like a different child to anyone else?  

AUTONOMY:

Yep, she's doing it right.

I ♥ Faces: Messy Face Entry

Markers + Toddler = Busted!

I laughed and grabbed the camera, and she burst into tears.  The best part is that my mom has a very similar picture of me when I was this age ... I drew "fishies" on my wall, and when caught, my mom grabbed the camera and I burst into tears from guilt!  Guess this little artist is like her mama!

Visit the link above to see other messy-face entries!

I'm in the kitchen, and hear AngelBaby downstairs singing:

DH and I loved the song since it premiered on American Idol a few years ago ... but trust the Chipmunks to get my 4 year old singing it while she is left to play alone in the playroom.  I think we'll both be happy when Princess is done with Kindergarten in 30 minutes, LOL.  Life is soooooo rough when you are 4!  ;-)

Tears

I was walking through Sears today when the song "Father of Mine" came on over the speakers.  I was trying not to cry, when AngelBaby asked why I was sad.  Before I could answer, she said "Is it cuz your father? Is Nana sad too?"  I quickly reassured her, that while I might feel sad, I am happy because I have my family in my life, and because I have a wonderful AngelBaby.  She took that answer, and drifted off into talking about buying the dog a new toy.  I didn't drift off though.  I wonder how much of my hurt and sadness washes over onto my children.  I thought I was doing pretty well at hiding my sadness, but my children are just much more intuitive than I give them credit for.  After telling me all about the toy she thinks the puppy needs, AngelBaby reached over to give me a kiss, and a "heart hug" ... putting her head to listen to my heart, while giving big hugs.  I forgot about the song, and welled up from the love I receive so regularly.  She always has been my little Angel.  

My Baby is 4 years old today.

I have officially left the toddler stage of life.  Our AngelBaby is 4 years old today.  Granted, she will always be MY baby, but this birthday marks the end of the baby-toddler era in our lives.  It's so exciting to anticipate the days ahead, yet I want to cradle her in my arms and rock her to sleep, while humming "Baby Mine".  

AngelBaby was exactly that - an Angel of a Baby.  She was perfect.  Heavenly Father knew I would struggle so terribly with PPD, so he sent me my AngelBaby.  She must have had angels singing to her constantly, because she *never* cried.  I know that most will not believe me, but she was the quietest newborn and baby - she loved her swing, and would lay there, content for hours, until I'd pick her up and realize she had been sitting in a soaked diaper for a while, smiling all through it all..  

My biggest regret is that I don't remember much of her first year.  She was so calm and peaceful, but my mind is so clouded by the depression that consumed me.  I simply remember how easy she was to please, and how she was always content.

AngelBaby was due in January of 2005.  The pregnancy was a shock, Princess had been a difficult pregnancy and a sick newborn, and we had thought our family was complete.  Thank Goodness we were so wrong!  My pregnancy was difficult, and much too eventful for my liking.  I ended up in the doctor's office often, with migranes and the beginnings of Pre-eclampsia.  Just before 37 weeks, my headache worsened, and I was told again to come on in to the Doctor.  The midwife took my BP, and it was at 180/130.  It continued up, the headache worsened, and I had sudden pitted edema.  The doctor came in and told me "You are having a baby today.  Go straight to the hospital.  Do not disobey - this is serious."

AngelBaby arrived at 12:00 midnight ... and 2 seconds.  She took one hour to arrive, from the moment I received my IV of pitocin.  Right after her birth, she was taken to the NICU for respiratory distress syndrome - just like Princess, and my heart hurt to have the NICU experience again.  She was intubated, and the NICU was a horrible experience, except for ONE nurse named Mike.  Mike was the only reason I could stop sobbing - He loved caring for our baby girl.  He would dress her with hats, and matching blankets.  He talked to her in a cooing soft voice.  He was so excited when she was finally off the ventilator, it touched our hearts to see how much he cared.  He was a ray of sunlight in our very horrible NICU experience.  

AngelBaby was adored by her siblings the moment they met.  Princess was in love, and SuperBoy thought she was cool.  As she grew, so did her sense of humor.  She was just a couple months old when DH would tell a joke, and she would break out in a huge gummy grin.  She could tell when he was trying to be funny, and reward him with grins, and later big baby giggles.  The kid has ALWAYS had a huge sense of humor - seriously, she was born with it!   AngelBaby has also always loved animals - been drawn to them, and adores them.  She learned to crawl by trying to get over to our Maggie-Dog.  She learned to stand by pulling up on Maggie-Dog's fur.  She gave so much love to the cat, that Lilly-Cat avoided her for a couple years.  She is always wanting to hold the bunnies, and loves to play with them and snuggle them.  And she loves our Lucy-Dog.  Lucy thinks of AngelBaby as her litter-mate puppy, and AngelBaby considers Lucy a friend that gives great kisses (eww, lol!)  If we had to guess her profession right now, she would be a veterinarian when she grows up.

Today AngelBaby is 4.  She can say her ABCs, count to 38 (then skips to 100, lol), do simple math, and entertain herself for hours.  Her best friend is her sister.  Her favorite movie is still Curious George, and she loves to play "Curious George" on the gamecube.  She tells jokes all the time - her current favorite is "Why did the chicken cross the road?  I'll give you a hint - it says quack!"  Then she laughs for a couple minutes, thinking she's SO funny!   She can be feisty, but she's quick to snuggle, and give hugs and kisses, and say "I love you".  Her most favorite thing in the world is when someone will snuggle with her ... even if it's her brother ;)  

AngelBaby, we love and adore you.  The world would be a much duller place without you!  Your precious smile lights up a room, and your giggle is so contagious, that even strangers can't help but smile!  Baby Mine, I love you.

Two little monkeys go to school ...

Today will always be remembered as "the first day two of our kids were in school"

SuperBoy is in 2nd grade, and Princess is in Kindergarten.  School started last monday, but our district waits a week for the Kindergartners to start.  SuperBoy started a week ago, but as of today, I drop SuperBoy and Princess off ... SuperBoy walks Princess to her class room, then runs off to his class.  Princess is in half-day, so she'll come home for lunch and naptime before we run off to pick up SuperBoy.

Stay tuned for next week when AngelBaby starts Preschool.  What WILL I do for 2 hours by myself every tuesday and thursday morning?!  The options are endless!

AngelBaby and I got home after dropping them off, and after a few minutes, AngelBaby came to me and said "mom, where's Princess?  I can't find her anywhere."  Poor Kid!  She's so used to having her big sister around - being 16 months apart, they are always right next to each other. She had an okay morning though - walking around for 3 hours like this:

Thank goodness for Lucy today - she was so obliging in being toted around like a teddy bear.  I think AngelBaby and I are going to be using our museum memberships a lot in the upcoming school days!

-BABY BUNNIES-

Yesterday was baby-bunny day FIVE.  They are growing so quickly - it's just amazing to me.  We think we might end up with 3 Sable Point (white w/ gray accents) and 2 Torte (like Sunflower)  Before long, they will be fuzzy enough that there will be no question, lol!

Sunflower, checking up on her babies:

Summer Swimming Lessons ...

One of the biggest occasions of the summer is when the kids have swimming lessons.  They love it, and I appreciate that while it's a fun sport, it's also a life-saving skill.  So, I anticipate many more summers filled with swimming lessons.

I've gone through several bottles of 50 spf sunscreen, and still my little monkeys are getting a light spray of freckles across their noses.  I always wanted freckles when I was a kid, but SuperBoy and Princess get upset when I mention freckles ... I guess we always want the opposite of what we have!

AngelBaby's FIRST haircut

AngelBaby and I have been battling it out for the past few months ... the dreaded brushing out of her long locks. She HATES having her hair brushed ... serious wailing and gnashing of teeth. So I decided it was time for us both ... time to get an easier hair style. She was very excited about it. She's potty training, playing with littlest pet shop toys, and is very sure of herself as a "big girl". A hair cut seemed to seal the "big girl" deal for her.

I got to the salon, and changed my mind as we sat waiting our turn. Her long hair was just beautiful, and I didn't want her to have a "big girl" haircut. She's already growing up way to fast!

I have to admit ... I hid behind my camera and cried when the first long chunk was cut. It, like all "firsts", was bittersweet - so fun to watch them experience something for the first time, but so sad to realise that it means another little chapter of their life is over, and they are a step closer to being grown up.

Before:





After:





Why, oh why, can't I freeze time ... just for a while?!