Madison Brielle

I've been needing to post this for awhile but I am so happy to announce I have another niece!

Madison Brielle

May 28, 2013

5:31pm

5lbs 5oz

17 1/2 inches

She is so much tinier than I ever remember Taylor being - even though I know Taylor was 3 pounds heavier. It's amazing how much you forget. I always said I would remember everything. I don't. And Madison doesn't do anything to help this baby fever of mine! I love that newborn smell!!

Madison came 3 weeks early but man, she was ready. We're all so happy to have her here. I think Taylor is most excited (besides Jess, of course). Madison was born on a Tuesday. On Wednesday we weren't able to make it to the hospital to visit them and Taylor cried most of the evening that she missed her cousin and just wanted to see Madison. 

She is such a tiny bundle of joy. We've already had some quite memorable bonding experiences :o) I'll have lots of stories to share with her when she gets older. 

Creating Memories

I've been watching Taylor the past few weeks realizing just how quickly she's grown up. DJ and I always go through pictures of her as a baby, watch the videos and reminisce over the funny things she used to do. It was only a few years ago that she was a baby so it's easy to remember a lot of it. I got sad thinking that in a few years it won't be so easy to remember everything and I may start to forget things. I decided then that I need to make sure I am more present in the everyday events. I need to make sure she has my full attention when we're playing a game, let the dishes sit in the sink a little while longer if she wants me for something or just stop to give more hugs. I need to write down more of the funny things she does and says, keep a hold of more of the art work she does and really enjoy the simple everyday things that go on here. After all isn't that what makes being a mom so great?

These are all the things I want to remember the most. Nothing great or over the top about any of it. But I want to remember the everyday moments that bring a smile to my face. 

Her drawing skills are getting so good! I want to frame everything she does. I was working on the book order packets for her school one night and I told her while I worked on that I wanted her to work on her own project. I wanted her to draw a very special picture for her Daddy since he was missing her a lot. After she drew it she had to explain it to me. . .

She started with just her hands and added the flowers. Then she wanted to draw a picture of Mommy and Daddy and we're supposed to pretend we're on the beach. I'm the orange one and DJ's the green one with the beard. I thought the beard was a nice touch on her part. So cute! She thought it would be helpful if Daddy knew how to hang the picture too so the purple circles at the top are where he's supposed to put the nails. Since she did that I know I need to find somewhere in the house to hang it! Maybe on DJ's side of the bed. :o)
And I'm thinking about making this the new image on my phone for when DJ calls. . .

She was holding her baby so tight last night that I found her like this . . . 

Her poor lip was just stuck to that baby dolls head! She'll be such a great mommy one day.

We were cleaning up dinner and Taylor was setting up the game Connect 4. As I cleared the table I leaned down to her and said "Hey, I have a secret for you. I love you!" Her response was "I love you too. Hey Mommy, I have a secret for you too. You're old." Taylor's lucky she's so cute! She can't wait to be a true grown up so I'm thinking in her mind this was a compliment :o)

We often have the discussion that goes something like this . . .

Me: "Well when you're a big girl you can (insert what she wants or wants to do)

Taylor: "Mom, I am a big girl!! I'm 4!! (saying this as she's holding up her four tiny fingers as high in the air as she can)

Then I have to continue to tell her that there are different types of big girls and there are just some things she isn't big enough for. She gets so exasperated and mad when I tell her this. I wish there was a way I could explain to her that staying young as long as she can really is a good thing.

She got a bad blister over the weekend. 

We've been having to replace the band-aid throughout the day because she says her toes are so sweaty that they're making the band-aid come off. I never like to see her in any type of pain but it does warm my heart to know that I can make her feel better just by fixing her band-aid. 

Whether its a priceless drawing, a goofy conversation at dinner or replacing a band-aid for the umpteenth time that day I want to remember all of it. I am so lucky to be this little girls mommy. 

Things To Remember

Last night we went to a high school graduation and I couldn't help but be moved by all the crying mother's sitting around us. With Taylor sitting on my lap I couldn't help but think soon enough DJ and I would be sitting in seats similar to this, crying, and congratulating her on graduating high school. Most of the ceremony I could only think of all the things I want to remember about Taylor because before we know it she will be 18 and getting ready to leave home and start her own path in life.  

I want to remember:
 - how I am reminded every time we cuddle that she grew inside of my belly for 9 amazing months. Her little body has a perfect way of fitting with mine and it reminds me of how I felt when I was pregnant and laying in bed at night feeling her kick.

 - the deep belly laugh she gets when you tickle her. She even snorts sometimes

 - how much she loves to sing. When we drive in the car she will tell me she doesn't know a certain song and I need to change it to a new song just so she can find a song she knows the words to and can sing along

 - that every time she hears a train whistle she tells me in the most excited voice, "That's my daddy's train! He's almost home!" We laugh every time but sometimes I feel awful because it will be a full day before DJ will be home again

 - how she thinks she is boss. When she knows I or DJ are going to discipline her she will look at us sternly and say "here's yours problem. . . " and start babbling about what the real problem is

  - the smile that stretches across her face when she wrestles with her Daddy and the giggles that escape the bedroom while she is throwing her body across his in a body slam

  - how she answers the phone when her Daddy calls when he is over the road with work. She smiles ear to ear, laughs and says 'hey Daddy'

 - that even though it annoys me now,  I know I am going to look back and laugh at her shoe fetish. Eventually she will keep a pair of shoes on for more than 5 minutes before changing into a new pair.

 - how observant she is. If your on the phone with her and you cough or sneeze she says it sounds like your getting sick; or she says "it sounds like your tired" if you yawn; or how she can tell when you are just grumpy instead of truly mad - she told me the other day I was just grouchy.

 - that when she wants a book read she will drop it in your lap and say 'Talk about it'.

 - how badly she wants to go work and make money. The other night she took DJ's wallet, cell phone and keys and said she was leaving for work to go make money. DJ told her no and she needed to put his things back. She started crying, ran over to me and said "Daddy won't let me go make money!". One day this will not be the case. One day we will be hearing her say she doesn't want to get a job and we will be telling her if she wants money she will have to go work for it.

 - that every day she becomes more and more independent. Sometimes I yearned for the day she would be dressing herself, picking out her own panties and shoes, putting her own clothes in the hamper. Now I miss the days she needed me a little bit more because I know she is growing up so quickly. I adore how she tells me "I want to do it be me-self Mommy"

 - when she uses the restroom if we are at home or not in public I need to leave her alone; if we are at a restaurant or in public I have to turn around in the stall to give her the privacy she needs. At home when she calls me back into the bathroom she will say ". . . But plug yours nose first. It's stinky. . . "

 - she loves to type. I'll set the computer up for her to type or she types on my phone and every time she asks the same thing . . . "You need grocery list?"

 - the massages. She'll climb onto the couch behind you and randomly begin massaging your shoulders. When she's done she'll wrap her arms around your neck and say "I love you Mommy" or "I love you Daddy"

I hope I never forget any of the moments that make me smile

Mother's Day 2011

***I posted something smilar to this yesterday but for some reason all the changes I made to the blog yesterday are no longer here. . . very odd. I've noticed this with a lot of blogs today***

We had a very good Mother's Day here. DJ and Taylor made me breakfast. In a few years Taylor will stop waking up so early and it might turn into breakfast in bed. . . :o)

The weather was amazing all weekend! We went shopping for a plant for DJ's mom for her Mother's Day gift. I love shopping for flowers. They are all so beautiful.

There was lots of love going around . . .

Grandpa had the top off the Jeep all weekend so us ladies stole it and went for a little joy ride. Taylor loves this Jeep. She had to take her pig-tails out so she could feel the wind in her hair. She was clapping her hands, singing and dancing to the music the whole time. We didn't go very far though - just to Sonic during happy hour for some slushy's. Yum!

Oh, I love her wind blown look!

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing volleyball and relaxing in the back yard. Some of us even tried to take a nap. . .

I don't have a single picture of the past two Mother's Days so I told DJ we at least needed some pictures from this year. Taylor has fallen in love with taking pictures and I think she might be in charge of the camera more often . Here's a glimpse of her photography skills. . .

I hope everyone enjoyed Mother's Day and felt very appreciated all day!

M-O-T-H-E-R

"M" is for the million things she gave me,

"O" means only that she's growing old,

"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,

"H" is for her heart of purest gold;

"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,

"R" means right, and right she'll always be,

Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"

A word that means the world to me.

Snapshots

If I were to take a snapshot of our life right now it would come out blurry. We have been so busy lately that I haven't had time for really anything. So here are small snapshots of our current life:

 - We've had a sick baby all week. It hasn't been fun. 2 trips to the doctors, lots of tears, lots of worrying from mom and dad. Finally she is getting back to her normal active self!

This was her spot for nearly three days. She didn't move. When a toddler doesn't want to play games or even watch a movie you know they really don't feel good. But when she did find energy to do something her Daddy made it special for her

- DJ is really enjoying his new job. He said it's an amazing feeling to be working for a 'real' company again because they know how to treat their employees and actually care about their safety. :o)

- I am half way through the Spring semester and really love my classes. My fav is Sociology of the Family Dynamic. It really makes you look at your own family in a new light!

- Taylor has created a new version of the alphabet. It no longer includes letters 'J', 'N', 'O', 'U', or 'W'. We're working on it. And when you get to the end of the song when she should say 'Now I know my ABC's. . .  she says "Now I know my ABC. . . DEF. . . and starts right back into the song again.

- DJ got glasses. I don't have a picture yet but my goodness does he look smokin' hott! (just take my word for it)

- When DJ left his previous job he took almost 2 full weeks off to spend with me and Taylor. We tried to fill everyday with something special. I have a lot to post about but I have been slacking.

- Taylor loves the Dr. Seuss book 'Green Eggs and Ham'. She renamed it 'Sam I Am'. She loves reading so much that she will grab her books and read to My Daughter or any of her stuffed animals (even herself sometimes). There's only one problem. Every page says 'I don't like a green ham'. I have a voice clip of it but can't figure out how to post it. It's way too funny.

- Tay got to become a 'master brewer' with DJ a few weekends ago. She was quit stylish during the whole process too. The afternoon they were brewing she was taking a nap and DJ had already left. When she woke up she cried and cried "Daddy brewing beer wifout (without) me!!". She was very proud of her beer brewing

(This last one is very special)

- DJ and I celebrate our anniversary on Saturday the 2nd. I can't believe it has been 6 years already. It seems so unreal to me that time can go by that quickly. I am so lucky to spend my life with him.

Don't Blink

Everyone always said Taylor would be 18 before DJ and I knew it. I always laughed and thought it wouldn't go by as fast as everyone said it would. They were right. Now DJ and I look at Taylor and wonder how she went

from this . . .

(This is one of my favorite pictures of Taylor. Her eyes and forehead look just like my Grandpa Ed in this picture)

To this. . .

(She was so excited because we matched!)

(Her new fav activity is doing her hair. It's adorable)

It makes me so sad. DJ just looks at her and can't believe some of the things she says to him now. We are both wondering what happen to our little baby.

Speaking of babies -

Taylor loves her baby doll

Lately it has been going every where with us. She sleeps with it, cleans it (with baby wipes of course), changes it's clothes, constantly wraps baby up and lays her down for naps. It's so cute. We asked Taylor what baby's name was and she told us "My Daughter". She won't change the name either. We were at a wrestling match on Saturday and when someone asked what her baby's name was she simply told them "My Daughter". She carries this little baby around the house and says "My daughter loves me". It's the cutest thing. My heart strings feel a little tug every time she asks me to wrap baby up. I just can't believe that the blankets Tay uses to wrap her baby up are the same blankets DJ and I used to use to swaddle Tay and even the blanket we brought her home from the hospital with. Our little baby isn't very little anymore.



X+Y= . . .

What does an empty toddler bed + open bedroom door + no baby gate on stairs at 3:45am = ?

The onset of a heart attach. And that's exactly what I asked Taylor if she was trying to do when I found her sitting on the kitchen table at 3:45am Saturday morning.

I randomly woke up without hearing Taylor wake up. I noticed she wasn't in bed. I noticed she wasn't in bed with DJ and I either but the bedroom door was open. I also know we do not put the baby gate at the bottom of the stairs when we go to bed. I walked up stairs and to my surprise Taylor was sitting smack dab in the middle of the kitchen table. To my relief grandpa was there with her. But I was still a little shooken up. She heard grandpa got home from working nights and she wanted to check out all the excitement. Maybe I will start putting up the baby gate when I go to bed. . . or baracading the bedroom door?

Things I love right now. . .

 . . .About Taylor . . .

1) I love this girl in the kitchen. I love that she has to be involved in cooking. She loves to stir, stare at the food and say "ooooooooohh". I pray this isn't a fad. I hope she always wants to cook and bake. I love that she excited about turning on the oven light and watching the food inside. It's adorable.

2) I love that the simplest things can melt your heart. Like taking a bite out of every blue berry, placing each one on the table separately and then back on your plate before eating them and screaming for more.

(That's Taylor sized Cheese Cake)

3) I love her in the bath. This is our special thing and sometimes I will get in with her. I love that she thinks she needs to stand up all the time no matter how many times mommy says no. I love that she is curious about putting her face in the water (that's what she was doing in the picture - it really wasn't all about the boat). I love that she tries washing her own hair now and will only rub the shampoo with one hand.

4) I love how excited she gets about her clothes. She especially loves a teal fleece dress she wears with leggings. She takes it from the laundry and carries it around with her like a security blanket and tries pulling it out of the closet to wear it when she sees it. I don't know what we'll do when she is too big for it. Maybe make it into a blanket?? (It's the dress in the above pictures of her licking the beaters)

5) I love that she wants to be like mommy (some people might not agree with this). She wants to put on makeup, wear perfume, loves when we pretend to put on deodorant, loves to paint her toe nails and rub a cotton ball across her toes like she is taking it off. I can't wait until I catch her playing in my makeup without me knowing when she gets older. I'm sure it won't be so fun then but I look forward to it. I love she will bat her eyes when you ask her to show you her makeup.

6) I love that if you part her hair to the right it looks like she has side swept bangs. And I love that she makes the funniest faces when she knows you are trying to get a picture of her.

(She was preparing herself for the flash)

Sorry some of the pictures are fuzzy. Some were taken with my phone and others were just not easy to take with Taylor in my other arm.

Melts My Heart

I am tired of winter. I'm sitting at my desk, waiting for the day to end, dreading going out into the snow. Dreading 10 degree weather and falling snow. 

But as I sit here, with no work to be done, I can't help but stare at this:

This adorable face. It makes my heart melt. It isn't the best picture but it has everything I love in it. I love how Taylor can look totally innocent sometimes when we all know she is not. I love her big cheeks that you just want to kiss over and over and over. I love those big green eyes that just hook you. I love when you wake up to that little face inches from you and a little girl with a crooked smile waiting to laugh. I love the wrinkle on her forhead - it reminds me of my grandpa Ed. I love that she has the cutest little button nose that any little girl has ever had. I love that she has only enough hair to put into a pony tail that will stick strait into the air all day. I love it all. Most of all, I love that she's mine. And I love that I am about to tread off into the snow to wrap her in my arms as soon as I get home.

It's All About Comfort

I was going through all the pictures we took this Christmas and I realized something. I actually LOVE some of the pictures that we taken of me. That's rare. I've been told that I am photogenic but I have never truely loved many pictures taken of myself, not even professional pictures. But as I went through these pictures I found that the more comfortable I am in the picture, the more I like the picture. So I got to looking through other pictures from this year and they all have something in common. In every picture I found that I LOVE, I am being a mom. I am most comfortable in my own skin as a mom. Sounds weird I know, because you're probably thinking, "but you're always in your own skin". So I got to thinking about it and thought, well maybe I like these pictures more because there just so happens to be the most beautiful little creature in every one of them. But nope that's not it. Walking through the grocery store, running errands, cleaning house, going to a party/event with a lot of people. . . I am always comfortable or just genuinly happy with who I am, when I am being Mommy. Has anyone else ever felt that? I know I have never had the best self esteem but when I am taking care of Taylor I feel confident, beautiful, comfortable and happy with who I am and I love that feeling. I think I was always meant to be a mom. And I have one special, ok two, special someone's to thank for that. Taylor and DJ (for obvious reasons). I love them both so much and I love that I can say, someone brings out the best in me! I love ya both more than ya know!

Some of the pictures I love. . .