Thanksgiving 2013

I know. I know.  I have been terrible about writing posts.  Life seems to get busier and crazier by the day.   Don't get me wrong, I love my crazy life, but I truly feel like there aren't enough hours of the day to do it all much less write about it.

But on this day, I am taking a few quiet moments to reflect on the past year...

This year I have been lucky enough to continue to be blessed with beautiful, smart, loving children and a husband who works hard and loves us with his whole heart.  We have made wonderful memories together at the beach, Turks and Disney World. We have celebrated occasions both big and small - birthdays, cookouts with friends, long summer days at the pool, watching the Ravens win the Super Bowl.  I was my children's biggest fan as they learned to walk and talk, played sports, danced in recitals, swam on the swim team, and achieved success in school. Life has been good to us this year.

And this year and every year, I am most grateful for my family. Today at the dinner table, we all went around and said what we were thankful for, and as I sat and listened to my parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, children and Poppy say what they were thankful for I realized we were all saying the same thing...each other. We are a big, loud, crazy bunch who would be lost without one another.

Of all the wonderful things in my life,  I am most blessed to have witnessed a true miracle, Stella.  Born so early, she has shown a fierceness like I have never seen before. She is the sweetest little lady.  Her smile lights up the whole world.  We all sit and stare at her. She is mesmerizing. There isn't a person alive who is immune to her. Everyone who meets her falls in love at first sight.  She has had such a tough road in her young life, but you would never know when you are in her presence.  She looks you right in the eye as if to say, "Don't worry. I've got this. I'm going to be okay." We are all thankful to have Stella in our lives. And if Stella could have said what she was thankful for today, this is what she would have said,

"I'm thankful for my mommy.  She is my heart. She takes such good care of me. We are an unstoppable team, Mommy and me.  I am thankful for Grandma and Pop who help Mommy and sing to me and call me their pretty girl.  I am thankful for all of my aunts and uncles and Poppy who love me as if I was their own.  I am thankful for my cousins who talk about me all the time, who draw me pictures, and who pray for me every night. They are my brothers and sisters, my protectors. I am thankful for the doctors and nurses who are helping me grow and get well.  My family, I am your miracle. Your star. Have faith in God and have faith in me."

Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy 5th Birthday Isabella

Dear Isabella,

Yesterday was your 5th birthday.  You are a whole hand.  You crawled into bed with me yesterday morning and we snuggled.  I told you the story of the day you were born. Wasn't it just yesterday that Daddy, Alex and I rushed to the hospital on that Labor Day morning? Could it really be that was five years ago?  I swear it feels like minutes.  I blinked. You are no longer a baby, no longer a toddler. You are my big girl. My sweet girl.  My social girl. My curly girl. My best girl.

Every time I write a letter to you, I find myself  wanting to say the same things.  You may have grown taller and your hair has grown longer over the past year, but so much of you has remained the same. You still love your brothers and daddy best.  You have the same friends (plus some new ones) and the same best friend. You and Kaitlyn became friends before you were even two years old, and you continue to be as close as sisters. She truly is a member of our family.  Speaking of family, you have an amazing bond with your family, especially your cousins. You love Gigi and pedicures and making crafts and riding your bike. You are stubborn. You are a leader.  You are appreciative. You are so smart and articulate.  You are learning to add and write words. You love to listen to chapter books at bedtime. You have learned to swim. You love to dance and listen to music on your Ipod. Your imagination is incredible. You are the light of our lives.  Without you with that voice and those eyes and that smile...our lives would not be nearly as bright.

We spent the summer talking about the day you would turn 5 and planning your Safari birthday party. You made the guest list, you shopped with me for the decorations, you chose the type of cake and cupcakes you wanted. We picked out dresses...mine cheetah print and yours giraffe print, of course. We went for pedicures and got our toenails painted "shocking pink" with black tiger stripes.

We had a wonderful time at your party.  The yard was decorated like a safari complete with bamboo and animal prints on everything...the lanterns, the desserts, the tablecloths, plates and napkins.  The DJ played your favorite songs.  Ms. Shari worked her magic and transformed all your friends into safari animals.  It was so hot out that it felt like we were in African on a real safari.  You said your favorite parts of the party were getting your face painted, playing with your friends and cousins, and that Stella came to your party.

You thanked Daddy and I over and over again for your party. You are welcome, my girl.  Anything for you, always....

I love you,
Mommy

18 Months Old

Zachary,

When I think that 18 months ago, I was on bed rest, I have to laugh.  I hated every minute of it. I was worried about you, I was restless, I was bored out of my mind. HA!  18 months later, what I wouldn't give for a little rest...

You, my little Z, never sit still.  I chase you around the house, the yard, the pool, the beach every waking moment of the day! We call you our little "troublemaker" (lovingly, of course).  If there is mischief to be found, you find it! If there is a puddle, you jump in it. If there is a chair, you climb on it. If there is a ball or food or a toy, you throw it.  You fuss to go "outside" and are happiest walking around the yard with a lacrosse stick in hand.  You even know how to cradle.  Daddy is thrilled.  You love feeding the "fish" and riding on the "golf cart" to the "pool." If you are in the house, you refuse to play with toys or watch a show.  Instead you like to empty my cabinets and throw everything in the "trash." 

You say, "Momma. Momma. Momma" over and over and over when you want something until I figure out what it is that you are asking for at the moment.  Like most kids, you do not like the word, "No." You want to be on the go, and I hear "get down" if I try to pick you up.

You are talking more and more.  You ask for a "bagel" and "cream cheese" for breakfast.  You ask for your "milk" or "water," and if  I hand you the wrong cup, I better duck because it is getting thrown. You know all your body parts and you can count to three.  You always ask to "brush teeth" and you love "big bird." You love to cuddle "bun bun"when you go "night night."

You are Mr. Social.  I always say that no one is a stranger to you.  You smile that big goofy smile and win over everyone you meet. But no one loves you more than your family.  We all love you to pieces. "Al-ee" and "Bell-ba"think you are the best baby in the world.  I agree. The best. The most active.  The cutest. The happiest.   And I don't think I ever met another person who wouldn't agree with me.

Happy half birthday Zac-a-doodle.
Love you,
Momma

Happy Half Birthday Alex

Dear Alex,

Today is your half birthday.  I have been a mom for 7 and 1/2 years. In just a few days, you will have completed first grade. You have excelled in school this year. You are so very smart.  You love to read, write, and draw cartoons.  Math is like second nature to you! Your critical thinking skills amaze me.

You have been having so much fun this Spring.  We took a family vacation back to Turks and Caicos.  I always say that this is our special place - mine, daddy's and yours.  We had a great time with Isabella, Zachary and all the Beynons.  You snorkeled and saw a sea turtle and went down the big water slides.  We both cried a little when we had to leave.

 You did an outstanding job in basketball and lacrosse this year.  Daddy bought you a "bounce back" and you love to put your music on and go out there and practice. Your "uniform" these days consists of Nike or UA shirts, LAX shorts and bright socks pulled up to your knees.  You love playing in the woods, on the Smith's tennis courts and at the pool with your friends. All of a sudden my little baby is running around the neighborhood with his buddies. It makes me so nervous, but you are growing up and this momma has to learn to let go...but only a little bit!!

Last week you brought your writing journal home from school.  This was your last entry:

Hello. It's Alex and I want to tell you about me.  I'm very nice and I'm also sweet.  Don't forget caring and awesome too. I'm cute, I mean look at that face." 

I couldn't have said it better myself.

You are the best kid.  Your heart is huge. You are sensitive, silly and serious all rolled into one! You make me proud to be your mom.  When I look at you and the person you are already at 7 (and 1/2), I feel so good about myself.  You make me feel like I'm doing something right. And even though you are no longer a baby, you are still my sweet boy.  You are my protector, my cuddle bug (I won't tell your friends), my buddy (although you are daddy's best buddy, but I'm okay with that), and my fellow beach bum. And after a long day, I look forward to the few precious minutes we spend together at bedtime, talking and reading.  It is the very best part of my day, because I get to spend it with you, my first born.

I love you so much!
Momma

Isabella 4.5

Dear Isabella,

Another six months have come and gone in our lives, my girl.  You are getting taller and smarter and your hair is growing longer everyday. But as I went back and reread your letters from your fourth birthday (http://princealexsmomma.blogspot.com/2012/09/happy-4th-birthday-isabella.html) and even from a year ago (http://princealexsmomma.blogspot.com/2012/03/half-birthday.html), I realize that so many things have stayed the same.  You are still imaginative, and friendly, and loving.  You are still stubborn, sometimes to the point of infuriating. I absolutely love that you haven't changed all that much.  Your personality has been your very own since you were a baby.  I hope it never changes.  Even with a temper tantrum thrown now and then, you are perfect.

You have always been and always will be my social girl! You treat your brothers, cousins, and your friends like they are the center of your universe.  In actuality, I think you are the center of their lives.  You are the sun.  Your light and warmth radiate from that beautiful smile.  Everyone wants to be around you.  You are a leader, but a kind and fair one.  You include everyone and make them feel special.  Your imagination make games fun. Your sense of humor make bellies laugh.  Your knack for choreography make people dance.

At four and a half, you still love Gigi and stuffed animals, dancing and dressing up (but now you and Kaitlyn are adding make-up to your ensembles), baking and reading with mommy, crafts and girl movies, pedicures and bubble baths, yogurt drinks and mini muffins. You are still your daddy's girl and your Mommy's heart.

At My Gym with Finley

At Build-a-Bear with Mommy

Daddy's girl

At Beauty and the Beast with Alex

Valentine Playdate with Kaitlyn and Brynn

Taking Zachary for a walk

All dressed up!  

  

My Heart

Today when you woke up Alex sang half of "Happy Birthday to You." Kaitlyn spoiled you with a half birthday gift. Then you were off to school with a half birthday treat to share with your friends - pink sugar cookies that we baked yesterday.  After school, you had a play date with Kaitlyn. And now we are getting ready to open a few little half birthday treats from mommy and daddy and read some books before bed.

I love you so much my little sunshine.
Mommy

Isabella - 4.5

Happy First Birthday!

Dear Zachary,

Happy birthday baby boy!  One year old.  No longer an infant.  It is a bittersweet day for me.  Alex said it best today, "I don't want him to grow up.  I want him to always be our little man." I agree.  I want you to be my baby forever. I even want the sleepless nights rocking and holding you. I never really minded them, because I knew they were fleeting.  You can't stay a baby forever, but as I told Alex tonight, you will always be his little brother and our youngest child.   Before you, we were a happy little family, but I always knew you were waiting to come into our lives. You have brought us so much joy. You complete our family in a way that I can't even put into words. I thank God every single day for you and the love we all feel for you.

This morning you woke up happy, as you always do! Your brother and sister could not wait to wish you a Happy Birthday.  After breakfast, Mr. Scott took Alex and Isabella to church so Mommy and Daddy could finish getting ready for your party.  But I'll tell you a little secret...we didn't spend the whole time getting ready...instead we sat in the family room with you and just you for a little bit. We just watched you play and babble and enjoyed a few minutes with only you on your very special day.

This afternoon we had a wonderful party. Family and your little friends filled this house. We celebrated with yummy food and cake and all things Monster.  The look on your face when we sang "Happy Birthday" was priceless.  You dug right into the cake.  You gobbled it up with a little help from your sister and some of your friends. You had so much fun being held by everyone and playing with your toys.  You even sat with me the whole time I opened all your gifts!

All that partying wore you out. Tonight I put you in your crib with your bunny and you went right sleep. Never heard  a peep out of you.  Until about an hour ago.  You have been up in your crib playing your music and babbling.  I went up at one point and you were standing up wide awake.  When you saw me, you smiled your big toothy grin.  I couldn't resist.  I picked you up, and we sat in the rocking chair. Maybe the cake today gave you a sugar rush or maybe you knew how badly I needed just a few more minutes to snuggle you today.  But whatever the reason, we sat there for quite a while giggling like fools. I will never as long as I live forget your first birthday, and those moments with just you and me will always be my favorite part of this wonderful day.

A few things I want you to know about you at ONE:

You are not a man of many words (yet).  You say, "Ma, Dada, Pop, Bottle, Balloon, Tickle-Tickle." You love balloons, and the house was filled with them today for you Monster Party.  You kept saying, "Ooh Balloon."

You crawl, scoot, and cruise all over the place.  You can stand by yourself for a long time but aren't quite ready to take those first steps. 

You cry when Alex and Isabella leave for school in the morning.  You try to crawl out the door after them.  You love them so much, and they think you are the best little brother ever!

Every morning you cuddle with daddy, and you love love love him! You greet him every evening with the biggest smile.  You will crawl clear across the house to get to him when he walks in the door! During the day, you hold the phone up to your ear and say, "Da Da Da Da."

You are a social boy!  You love to be around people.  I always joke that if people make eye contact with you, they are in trouble because you will want to be their friend for life.  When we spend time with our family, you never cry.  Everyone always talks about how you are the best baby. You are always so happy, even if you have missed your nap, as you usually do on Sundays at Grandma and Pop's house! 

You love your bunny, macaroni and cheese, veggie sticks, climbing stairs and playing in the cabinets, music (especially "No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed"), books, anything electronic (the phone and the remote are always finding their way into your hands), being outside, tickles (you love to tickle your own belly), and bath time.

I look forward to each and everyday because you are mine all mine. I know that each year is going to go by faster than the one before. I promise to cherish this time that you are with me day in and day out. I will not wish this time away, because all too soon you will be a big boy just like Alex.  But no matter how big you get, you will always be my baby, my youngest, the piece of the puzzle that completed my heart.

I love you with every ounce of my being! Happy Happy Birthday, Zachary, my love!
Mommy

11 Months Old

Dear Zachary -

Today you are 11 months old.  Only one month away from your first birthday!  I am starting to plan your party.  It is going to be a Little Monster party, which is pretty appropriate for you these days. You are  literally into everything...it is as if you know what you aren't supposed to touch and that is ALL you touch - Isabella's cereal, Alex's Legos, Daddy's shoes, Charlie's tail, Mommy's wine bottles, the Christmas tree.  I say, "No. No."  You stop.  You give me this look.

And then you keep on touching! If you are awake you are on the go!  You never stop for a second.

We call you "TROUBLE!"  I call myself "EXHAUSTED!"

But as ornery as you are, you are still the sweetest, happiest little baby.  You have been having a lot of fun this holiday season.  We celebrated your first Thanksgiving with our family. We went to see Santa - you weren't scared at all.  You looked like you were having a very serious conversation about your list!

We went and picked out our Christmas tree. You looked perplexed as we put it up and decorated it, but then promptly decided it was going to be a fun new game to crawl under it and pull off all of the decorations you could before I pulled you out by your stinky feet!

I can't believe my next letter to you will be your birthday letter.  I know I say it all of the time, but time is going too quickly.  This was the fastest year of my life.  I am hoping for a Christmas miracle - time to slow down just a little bit so I can cherish and enjoy every second of this next month with you, my baby.

I love you! 

Mommy



Happy 7th Birthday!

Dear Alex,

Tomorrow you will turn 7 years old. I fell in love with you the moment I knew you existed. Then the moment I saw you, I thought my heart would burst with love. I knew that I would never be the same.  My love for you continues to know no bounds, and each day I love you more than the day before. You are the most loving, smart, thoughtful kid.  Don't get me wrong, you have your moments - you can be short tempered and a little dramatic- in fact you are arguing with Isabella right now.  But before I finish this paragraph, you will resolve whatever your conflict is, and you will be playing nicely together as if it never happened.  You two are the best of friends, but you sure can battle sometimes.  She can really push your buttons and you torment her to no end. I don't worry about it too much though, because your big heart and loving ways usually shine through.  You aren't afraid to say you're sorry-even though I know sometimes you say it just to get out of trouble.  You tell her you love her.  You give into her whims more often than not. You are a wonderful big brother - to Isabella and to Zachary.  You worship Zachary and the feeling is mutual.  My favorite moment of every day is when I bring him into your room to wake you up every morning.  He climbs all over you, and you open your eyes and smile.  You are such a big helper with him.  You read to him and play with him and make him laugh.  They are so lucky to have you as their big brother.

You and Zachary are rocking the same smile these days.  He is getting teeth as fast as you are losing them.  A few weeks ago you lost another one and the tooth fairy gave you $5, and Pop Pop matched it.  You took the money that Pop Pop gave you to church and donated to the poor box.  And for your birthday, you decided that your family could bring you gifts and your friends should bring gifts to donate to poor children. You always are thinking of others, and I get compliments all the time on how kind and thoughtful you are to others. 

Your teachers in first grade love you. You are doing so well in school. You love math and can read anything and everything.  Right now you are loving the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.  Mrs. Thomas, your reading teacher, says you are so nice, and the other kids seek you out to be your partner in class.  You have a lot of good little buddies.  They were all here to celebrate your birthday on Friday.  You had the best time running around playing flashlight tag and bouncing in the bounce house!

I am so proud of you, buddy.  Sometimes it is hard to see you as such a big kid.  You are growing up too quickly. But it is also so fun to watch you grow into such a great kid.  I am so blessed to be your mommy. Happy 7th birthday to my first born - the boy who stole my heart - and I'm pretty sure is keeping it forever!

I love you with all of my heart,
Mommy

Happy Thanksgiving 2012

I am blessed.  Anyone who knows me can plainly see I am the luckiest girl in the world.  I have everything. A handsome and kind husband. Beautiful and healthy children. A loving and funny family that literally span the globe. But whether they are a few miles away or all the way in Australia, our closeness is unmatched. Girlfriends who shop with me, drink wine and coffee with me and help me with my kiddos.

Life is precious. Each day is a gift to treasure.  It is the little moments that I am most thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day 2012. Sitting in my parents' kitchen drinking coffee and chatting. Jay giving me kiss. Alex teaching Preslee to play Hang Man.  Isabella saying, "Goodnight.  I love you, Mommy." Zachary being the happiest, sweetest baby in the world.  He completes our family of five. Making funny faces at the kids in an attempt to get them to smile for a picture. I realize all these things are just simple things that happen everyday. But these are the things that matter most, because all these little words, kisses and actions add up to a wonderful, full and happy life...my life!

10 Months Old

Zachary,

I was putting these pictures online.  It literally took my breath away.  Where is my tiny baby? When did you get all those teeth?  When did you learn to stand and cruise?  When did you start signing "more" and "all done?"  When did you start saying "Ma Ma?" I swear it literally happened overnight.  You are my little wild man.  My happy little boy. 

My most favorite thing about you right now is the way your little face lights up when you see me. I swear I can see the infinite love that I have for you reflected in your big eyes. And I love when I walk in the room, you crawl over to me, climb up my legs so I pick you up for a snuggle - and then you are off again. 

Busy! Busy! I spend my days chasing you around. You are inquistive and fearless.  Two traits that make me a little nervous as you enter into your toddlerhood, but I know will serve you well in the future!

Showing off your teeth!

Giving Mommy a kiss!

                   Looking out the window! Yes, you crawled over there and stood up all by yourself!

Sit Still?  Yeah right lady! 

Your "I'm being a stinker but aren't I cute?" face!

 Happy 10 Months Zachary!

I love you,

Mommy