Tutu Cute

Sorry for the picture overload, but I can't help it!

Your First Birthday

My Sweet Mia,

It is impossible to believe that you are already a year old.

It seems like just the other day that Daddy and I found out we were having a girl. He turned instantly pale, already fearing how he would protect you during the dating years and I immediately wondered how I would deal with all the pink, since that was never a favorite color of mine. As negative as that sounds, we were so excited to meet you and bring you into our lives. We are forever changed by you and your snuggly sweetness.



You were beautiful from the start. I couldn't believe how much you looked like your brother and yet had your own delicate features and light eyes. I remember holding you close in the hospital, as you donned your pretty pink cap, and thinking that I might just have to change my mind about pink.


Those first few months broke my heart because you were in such discomfort with your reflux and colic. I begged for a smile to warm my heart, but for so long you just didn't feel well enough to oblige me. Now, you are making up for it. Your toothy smile, your giggles and sweet belly laughs, the way you tilt your head to the side as if saying, "look how cute I am", every snuggle, every hug, every sloppy kiss, these are the things that make my heart smile.



I am daily amazed at how different you are from your brother. Your whole face lights up when you see a doll, stuffed animal or anything pretty. You are such a girl!



You do love music, just like Austin, and you bounce and dance when you hear tunes you like.



You are not walking, but you can cruise like a champ. Your favorite time to cruise is in the morning when Austin is grazing on his breakfast and you are on a mission to snatch as much of it as you can. I love the sly look on your face as you realize that he isn't paying attention and you have just scored a piece of sausage or banana.

You have begun to communicate and it is just precious. You know a handful of words in sign language and you use them well during meal times. I don't blame you for choosing "Daddy" as your first spoken word. You will almost certainly be a Daddy's girl since you have such a fun, playful, handsome daddy. I do appreciate that you have since added "momma" to your vocabulary, though that came after "Beau" (the dog), "yum-yum", and "hi."

Easily, one of my favorite things in the world is watching you and Austin together. You both love each other so much and though there are occasional disputes over "mine and yours", they are blurred by the overload of sweet moments. Every morning Austin wakes up and says, "I think Mia is awake" because he wants me to go get you so you guys can play. He loves taking a bath with you and playing peek-a-boo, hide and seek and "boop the binky." But, by far the cutest thing, is how the two of you hold hands in the car. I can hardly concentrate on driving. I hope you will always be such good friends.



Because you look so beautiful when you wear it, I am now a huge fan of pink. I just HAD to buy you a pretty, pink tutu for your 1st birthday. I wish I could have captured your face when you saw it for the first time. You beamed!



For some reason I never envisioned myself as the mommy of a girl, but you have changed all of that. I cannot imagine my life without you and all of your sweet, pink, girlyness.

I pray that this, your second year, will be filled with smiles, steps, words, laughs, inches, discoveries, memories and so much more.

Happy 1st Birthday my "love bug", "sweet pea", "peach."

I love you to the moon and back!

Mommy

Something New

Mommy took me to get my ears pierced on Saturday. I liked looking at all the pretty things in the store and all the attention I was getting. But, when the lady started to mark my ear with that pen, I knew that I wasn't going to like what was coming next.

They tried to distract me with a cute teddy bear, but the fact that Mommy was pinning my arms down and another lady was holding my head still, confirmed that I was not going to like what was coming.

And then it happened.

Oooouuuuuch!

I cried so hard I nearly choked on my saliva and then before I could really tell what was happening they did it again.

I looked at Mommy like, "why are you letting this happen to me?" She smiled and told me that it would be okay, but I wasn't so sure she was right.

The ladies that hurt me offered me a sweet yellow thing to calm me down and Mommy actually let me have it. Within seconds I was distracted by the glorious flavor. Turns out Mommy let me have my first lollipop for suffering through getting my ears pierced.

So, tell me, was it worth it?

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

These little trucks bring joy to my little guy's life. But, the real thing makes him downright giddy.

Austin's Uncle Ian and Aunt Leah got him (and Daddy) tickets to Monster Jam for his birthday.

Sunday was the big day.

Here he is all ready to go, with appropriate attire and his favorite loud event headphones.


He took one of his trucks and eagerly waited for the show to start. Unfortunately, he wasn't wearing his headphones as he waited and when the trucks started revving, signaling that the show was about to begin, the noise scared him and he started to cry.

He got over it pretty quickly though when he started to watch the action. (Popcorn helped too!)

He loved all the stunts and mini races.



He loved the popcorn too! Mark said that he was just shoveling it in with his eyes fixed on the trucks. It was one smooth, constant motion.

There were not just monster trucks doing all of their tricks, but motorcycle stunts too. Unfortunately, those pictures didn't come out. He had a great time watching all of it.


Mark tried to get a picture of him smiling at the camera, but he would NOT take his eyes off the trucks.

He has been making loud revving noises all week. Those are usually followed by the him saying in a low, growly voice, "have a Monster Jaaaaam birthday."

It truly was the perfect gift!

Thanks Ian and Leah!


Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

An Ear on Austin

The age of three has been very interesting so far. My moments of frustration have increased exponentially with the use of the phrases "Why not?" and "How come?". Two was a sweet age compared to the challenges that three has presented.

BUT...

He makes us laugh every day. Here a few snapshots of our life lately.

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Last week Austin got a Valentine card from Grandma and Grandpa. Inside was $5. I asked him what he was going to buy with his money and he said with gusto, "Wings Mommy!"

Me: What kind of wings Austin?

Austin: Wings so I can fly high in the sky.

Me: Where can we go to buy wings?

Austin: Target Mommy. Target will have them.

(I'm not even kidding.)

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Over the last few months Austin has complained a lot about the sun being in his eyes when we are in the car. So, I finally remembered when we were at Target one day to get him some new sunglasses. He choose a blue pair with a small Spiderman on them.

He wears them all the time now.

The other day when stopped at a red light, I turned around and looked at him and said, "Those are cool shades buddy."

His response..."Yeah, I know I look fined!" (That's "fine" in Austin language.)

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He has started calling his hiney his "naked". So, the following phrases can often be heard.

"Mommy, I'm done pooping! Come wipe my naked now."

"My naked stinks. I need new underwears."

"It's time to take a bath and clean my naked."

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Tonight while I was loading the dishwasher and doing other things in the kitchen, Mia decided to decorate her face with her dinner. When I turned around I started laughing and Austin came running to see what was so comical.


As Austin and I stood there laughing at Mia, he said, "Mia you look goooorgeous!!!"

Sweet Relief

Today I had to take Mia in for a series of tests to make sure that the urinary tract infection she had several months ago was not a result of "plumbing" problems. I had the tests schedule for November, but we ended up being out of town that week because my grandmother was ill.

For awhile, I didn't reschedule because it wasn't a truly necessary test, just a precaution. However, with all of the heartbreaking stories I have read in the blogosphere lately, I just couldn't shake the "what if" from my worried mind. So, I scheduled it and today was the day.

Unfortunately, the tests were scheduled during her morning nap time and she didn't sleep in the car. The first test was an ultrasound of her bladder and kidneys. She did really well, though she kept giving the nice technician dirty looks. I let her play with a fabulous I-phone application called Mini-Piano where she could play music. Needless to say, the technician thanked me for bringing such a great diversion.

The next test was a lot more invasive. She had to be catheterized, have her bladder filled with water and then pee it back out all while being restrained on a metal table with a large MRI-like piece of equipment over her. I was right behind the back of her head trying to calm her, but she was terribly upset. I handled it much better than I thought I would and much better than I would have back in November when she was younger.

In typical Mia fashion she was stubborn and not doing exactly what they needed her to do. She needed to empty her bladder and was only peeing a little bit and then stopping. They took the catheter out and put a diaper on her and let me hold her for awhile while she peed. Well, that was the plan anyway. But, after 15 minutes she still had a full bladder. Everything during the tests looked perfect and so they decided to let us go even though she really didn't finish the last part of the test. I know that little princess probably peed as soon as we left the room!

I must say that when I walked out into the bright sunshine and the cold wind hit my face, I felt a such sweet relief. I have been overly worried about all things health related lately. (Maybe because we seem to be enduring and endless string of bugs and colds) It is so good to know that she is fine and the urinary tract infection was just a random problem.

Thank you God. This mommy is going to sleep so much better tonight!

Young Love

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of taking pictures of a beautiful couple. My cousin Emily got engaged on Christmas day to her boyfriend Seth, and I offered to take their engagement pictures.

They are a fun, happy couple and it made the job so easy.

It certainly helped that we had a beautiful day to head to the park where they were engaged and get a variety of shots.



I love the look on Seth's face in the above picture.






I know they are eager to see these pictures, so I thought I would give them and the rest of my family a look at some of the fun shots of the day.

Congratulations Emily and Seth! Your love is easy to see and it was a joy to spend the day with you.

Intruder

Dear Stomach Bug,

I do not appreciate the way you have intruded into our lives this week. I had plans and you have ruined them. I have a long list of things that need to be accomplished and my pen sits by the list idle and yearning for a marking opportunity.
We have already gone through this once this winter. Why did you have to come back for a second visit?


By far the worst thing about your timing is that today is my baby's birthday and she is sick. How could you do that to my love bug?

I had plans to write a beautiful post for Mia and include a photo recap of the past year, but I have been too busy cleaning up vomit, washing, disinfecting and praying that I am spared. You will not ruin my plan, only delay it.

I demand that you leave my home and not return. You are not welcome here and after your seriously rude behavior I hope you leave feeling remorseful.

With anticipation of a germ free home,
Susan

Passionate about Puddles

We had a somewhat warm day this week.

It was a whopping 47 degrees. Doesn't sound like much, but to us it felt like 65.

So, needless to say we spent some time outside enjoying the sunshine and "warm" weather.

And what does warm weather combined with previous snow create?

Puddles!!!

My boy hit everyone he saw and loved every minute of it.

He was soaked and dirty, but he couldn't have had a bigger smile on his face.

Today we are back to the snow and bitter cold and my sweet boy is battling yet another round of the stomach bug.

I am quite sure that when he closes his eyes to rest he is dreaming of all this snow melting and the giant puddles it will create.

Happy puddle jumping my love!


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