Thanksgiving 2014

Dear Biscuit & Sparkly Watermelon,
I am so grateful this Thanksgiving for so many things, with you and Papa topping the list.

We started a new Thanksgiving tradition- French toast for breakfast with our own home made bread.




Palomino was our choice for dinner. Papa and I were engaged after dinner here right around Thanksgiving in 2006. It was awesome to be with family, but I missed our Raleigh Thanksgiving gatherings.













My little pilgrim
















No ice skating for us this year, although you were ready to try it. We'll plan for that next year!

All my love,
Mama

Dear Biscuit & Sparkly Watermelon,
I've been in a writing funk lately. You are 9 months old now.










I love your wrinkled up little nose-smile. I love when you wave hello and bye bye to everyone. I love when you blow kisses to family, friends and even strangers. I love the soft little sound you make when you swallow your milk. I love the humming song you sing as you quiet yourself to sleep. I love that you're sleeping through the night (mostly). I love how you wiggle your right arm and rub your left ear when you're tired. I love how you only want to feed yourself. I love that you are starting to pay attention when we read together. I love your skin, thighs and the softness of your feet and hands. I love your assertiveness and personality. I love when you rub my arm and explore my face. I love "baby down," "couch Olympics," and "foot fight!" I love how much you love your sister. I love your loud screeches, growls and Mariah Carey-high notes.

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!



















All my love,
Mama

On the move (should have posted 5/8/2014)

Dear Biscuit & Sparkly Watermelon,
You are 8 & 1/2 months and on the move! Creeping, standing, flopping, even starting to move around the furniture. Your 2 bottom teeth (your first), came in together just after Easter. You're eating everything I can mash or cut, and you will not let us feed you. You will do it yourself.

You've got your "ma, pa, da and ba" sounds. I swear you're saying "Bella." You point to what you want and raise your arms to be picked up. I love how you wave, sniff and smile, blow raspberries and laugh and especially how you tip your head to the side to show someone you love them.

Sleep has been a bit challenging for you.























Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Mothers' Day

Dear Biscuit & Sparkly Watermelon,
Magia arrived today for an extended visit. I am so relieved. You girls need me so much. Sometimes I forget that it is okay to need my mom, too.

Biscuit, I know it's been difficult for us lately. Sparkly gets a lot of my attention. This is only temporary, while she's so young. I do wish that I could drop everything more often and go outside, bake cookies, play ponies or read books just with you. It breaks my heart how many times a day I have to tell you, "later." You have been so patient, but I know you are struggling a little also.

We did take time today to bake these Ohio cookies and play outside. It was so nice.







I am always here if you need me. I just want you to know that.
All my love,
Mama

4/16/2014

Dear Biscuit & Sparkly Watermelon,
You have been moving SO MUCH and trying new things. Last, month, you started sitting on your own well.  You can even get into sitting, but it takes a little time.

She jumped!

Dear Biscuit & Sparkly Watermelon,
Today was your last swim lesson for the session. You've learned and improved your skills! You even jumped in.

And blew bubbles

We'll keep up the lessons, and I bet you'll be swimming circles around Sparkly in the pool this summer.

All my love,
Mama

Wiener (dog)

Dear Biscuit & Sparkly Watermelon,
Today is St. Patrick's Day. It is also the day you very seriously asked me, "Mama, what is a wiener?"

After frantically running through your classmates in my head, trying to figure out who said this word at school today, I started to define "slang word" to you. You listened as I gave innocuous examples. You seemed to understand the concept.

I hesitantly explained that wiener was slang for hotdog, hoping that would end this line of questioning for now. This took me at least 5 minutes which is a month in preschooler time.

After this you seemed exasperated. "No, Mama! I MEAN. WHAT
(Speaking as though I'm obviously not getting it)
IS
A
WIENER








DOG?"

Seriously?!? Whew! I was ready to call your school.

Although not quite this mature, we've been having more and more conversations about "growing up"- both positive things (going to big kid school, "best" friends) and those that are not so fun (managing a spat with a friend, dealing with a friend who hurts you). It's difficult to navigate sometimes, providing guidance and a good example while also letting you experiment on your own; allowing room for you to succeed (or fail) on your own while providing a safe place to land. For me, finding this balance has been the toughest part of being your parent. I know there are much more challenging things to come, and I will probably make every mistake in the parenting playbook.

Maybe we can be a safe place to land for each other?

All my love,
Mama

Le weekend

Dear Biscuit & Sparkly Watermelon,
We had lots of sisterly love this weekend. First it was art museum time.




Yes, that's the big girls walking away from you in the lawn.

Matching Irish shirts from your Irish Magia to ring in March on Saturday.
















Uh oh







Yes, magic Papa not only got her to wear denim, but denim overalls!!!










Our blue bird house went up, dirt in the garden was tilled (thanks Papa), and Biscuit's first love (Simeon) had a costume 5 year old birthday party.







Here's your big sister as Fancy Nancy, debuting her hair and costume on the stairs with Crutchy, her dog.










I LOVE pig tails!!




A gift for Simeon










Fancy Nancy and Alice in Wonderland (aka her best bud, Isabelle).




One more time with the pigtails.




Lots of blanching, chopping and baking was the end of our weekend (we can't keep up with the awesome Produce Boxes). They go by way too quickly.

All my love,
Mama