Alex's Hair Through the Years

Alex at 1 - Bald Baby

Alex at 2 1/2 after his first haircut

Alex at 3 -The Wave



Alex at 3 1/2 - Surfer Dude

Alex at 4 - The Flop


Alex at 4 1/2 - my big boy

He's Going to Be a Soccer Player...He is....

Last week Alex had his first experience playing sports. He participated in a week-long soccer camp put on by UK Elite. He was a little leary about playing in the weeks leading up to it, but let me tell you...he loved it! He went right out there and kicked and ran and kicked and ran some more. And boy did he sweat! It was so hot, but he didn't complain. He listened to his coach and played some really fun games, all while learning some important soccer skills.

We are so proud of our little man. He was such a great team player. He learned how to dribble, stop the ball, and even how to steal the ball. I think his favorite part was when Momma was the goalie and he got to kick the soccer ball AT me!

One day after practice, he told me (in true Alex form) that he liked soccer, but he doesn't like to "sweat or run." Ha! We signed him up for rec soccer in the fall - hopefully it will be cooler so he won't sweat so much, but not sure what we are going to do about the running part. Maybe we have a goalie on our hands?!

Halfway to 5!

Alex,

Tomorrow you will be FOUR AND A HALF YEARS OLD. You are growing and changing into a true little boy right before my eyes. When you sit in my lap, I realize that gone is that chubby little baby and here to stay is a lanky boy with long legs that seem never to end. But you still love to cuddle (when you are in the mood) and I don't care how big you are, you will always fit on my lap.

You are a challenge - your wit and your stubbornness get you in lots of trouble. You like to push your limits and some days not much I do is right. We butt heads as I know we will do for years to come. You mimic me, you tease your sister, you back talk your daddy. But at the end of the day, I know you know how much I love you. And I know even though you get frustrated at me for my rules and expectations, one day you will thank me...(I wonder how many times that phrase will come out of my mouth in your lifetime?)

You continue to learn everyday. You can write many letters, you love to do addition problems, you are swimming like a fish, you are a natural in the ocean, you are learning to fish and play "the cross" (Lacrosse), you love to do science experiments and art projects, you are making friends, you fight bedtime every night, you are a wheeler and a dealer - always trying to argue your case, you have an imagination that exceeds most, you love to dance - the robot is your signature move, you want to be "cool," you are interested in books - in fact we just finished reading your first chapter book (I read, you listened. I worried that the format of a chapter book might be over your head, but when the teacher in me couldn't resist asking you comprehension questions, you could answer them even though the book is on at least a third grade level).

You love. Deeply. Especially your sister. She is your biggest fan and your bestest friend (besides Daddy). You are fiercely loyal. You say you are sorry when you hurt someones feelings. You want to be a friend to other kids, and are learning the ins and outs of getting along with others.

You are my baby boy - from the minute I conceived you to this very minute as I listen to you singing in your bed (you are supposed to be asleep) and for the rest of your life...you will always be my first-born, my counterpart, my son.

I love you,

Momma

Mother's Day

Alex gave me the best gift in the world today...he sat all cuddled up next to me in church for the whole mass. (Isabella lasted about 30 minutes, but that is okay too.) On the other side of me was my mother, and next to her, my grandmother. Behind me was my sister. I felt so blessed. It was the best gift I could ever ask for on Mother's Day.

Mother's Day is an amazing day. I love being both a mother and a daughter (and a sister and a granddaughter) on this day. I have had such beautiful role models in my life, and I hope and pray that one day my children say the same thing about me. I remember being a young child and growing up with my mother being patient and kind and loving. I always knew (and still know) that she loved her children more than anything...and the feelings I have for my own children cannot be put into words. They are beautiful and ornery and loving and frustrating. They are the reasons my heart beats. And as I sat in church today, I prayed for them that they always know no matter what they do or where they are, their momma loves them.

20 Months Old

Isabella - You are 20 months old! I cannot even tell you where the last few months have gone. Two is right around the corner. You have become such a chatterbox. All of a sudden you have so many words. You repeat everything. And that little voice of yours is just too cute to describe although I have to write down some of the things you say. Time as you will see goes too quickly and I don't want to forget....

I call you Little Miss Manners because whenever you ask for something you say "pease" (please) and you always say "thanks mom."

You always want your snacks in a "bowl."

You can recognize your name when it is written and you call yourself, "Belba." You call Gabrielle "Babe" and Nicki "Nee Nee."

When you are hurt you only want "Al-ee" to make it all better, except of course if he is the one who hurts you. Then you love to tell on him - he usually denies everything! Ahhh siblings!

When I ask you where Alex is, you say "cool" (school). And you tell me that Daddy's at "work."

Your favorite books are any with animals and flaps. And you love Napping House.

You love having your toenails painted and "pee-pops" (lollipops/Popsicles).

And I love you. Goodnight Sweet Girl!
Momma


PS - Here are some other words/phrases you can say:
Help Me
Ook (Luke)
Jake
So-pee (Sophie)
Fin-me (Finley)
Mae-Mae (Mason)
Pray (Preslee)
Spider-Man
Drew
WaWa (Laura)
Dave
Mike
Nana
Poppy
Pop Pop
Grandma
bike
Gabba (Yo Gabba Gabba - your favorite show)
Most animal sounds
Char-Char
Radley
GiGi
Nae-Nae (Nathan)
Bagel
Spoon
fork
plate
milk
wa-wa (water)
ou-side (outside)
pool
bath
pink/purple (everything is the color pink or purple even if it isn't)

Happy Birthday Mommy and Daddy!

Turks and Caicos February 2010

Click here to view this photo book larger

Happy Spring

It has been so long...too long since I have posted. We are finally out of winter - and what a winter it was - 3 blizzards worth of winter. I am so done with snow - I think the kids were even getting sick of it. We were able to go on the most amazing trip at the end of February to my most favorite place - Turks and Caicos. We had a great time with all of the other Beynons. (see post above for a slideshow of our trip).

This week we welcomed Spring - it was beautiful all week and it was so funny because Isabella would get upset when I didn't put her coat on before we went outside. She is so used to being bundled. And today I told Alex to put on his hat before he went out - I meant a baseball hat, but there he was running around in a winter hat on a 70 degree day!

And today we had our first cookout of the season - to celebrate Jay and my birthdays! 33! I can't believe it. We have been together for 8 years and married for 5. It was so fun to have the families here and to watch the kids playing out in the yard. I think my favorite part of the day was sharing a bottle of champagne with my grandfather. Oh and I would be remiss if I didn't mention how amazing it felt to hear my kids singing "Happy Birthday" to mommy and daddy.

If I Have Said It Once...

I have said it a million times. There is nothing in the world as wonderful and miraculous as becoming a mother. I was reading a book last night, Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos, and there was a passage describing the birth of a baby that rang out so true...

"My girl and I got it backward, backward and right. She did the claiming.

I was delivered, unto her.

'You are mine,' she cried, her hands reaching for my face,

and nothing was ever more true."

We say we deliver our babies and they belong to us, but in reality when I became a mother, I was born, delivered to my children. They claimed my heart and from that moment on, I belonged to them.

Q & A with Isabella

Isabella is talking more and more each day. Today I asked her several questions and she answered them clearly and correctly. I couldn't believe it. She is so smart - she must get it from her brother.

This morning when I got Isabella out of her crib, I noticed her diaper didn't do its job.
Mommy: Isabella, what happened to your pj's?
Isabella: wet

My dad (Pop) was downstairs working.
Mommy: Where is Pop?
Isabella: Pop bae-ment (basement)

Charlie got back from getting groomed.
Mommy: What happened to Charlie?
Isabella: Char-Char haircut.

The next one isn't a question, but it is the best thing I have heard in a long time. There is nothing like the first time you hear your child say these words.
Mommy: I love you.
Isabella: Love ewe.