Happy Birthday Mom/Grandma K

Today is my mom's birthday. She is most strong, caring, loving, patient, and selfless person I know and I wish her a wonderful year ahead filled with adventure and love. She is my role model for the type of mom I hope to be and I am so happy that we live close now so I can see her so often and she can show me the ropes. 

Last night, we celebrated with a family dinner. Mae went home with my parents for a slumber party. Note my earlier adjective about my mom's selflessness, she offered to take her to school in the morning so I didn't have to make the drive for a day. I was happy that Mae was able to wake up and wish my mom a Happy Birthday. Today my sisters and I took my mom out for lunch. 

I hope my mom had a wonderful day, she deserves the best year ever.  

Mae Monday

Sometimes I write down what the kids say to me on pieces of paper or email myself so that I can remember it. Most of the times, the pieces of papers are lost or the emails deleted. However, I remember this one night many months ago that Mae said something that struck me so utterly sweet. It was so sweet because I know what she said was finite. I know that the moments of her physically needing me will not last forever. It is all so bitter sweet that I want to stay here forever but since I can't I need to soak it up every single night.

One night Mae looked at me while we were laying in bed together and she said, "I can't go to bed without Mommy cuddles."

If you must know we have sorta of changed our bedtime routine. Not seriously changed, we still do bath, then books, then bed. However, about a year ago Mae asked me to lay in bed and cuddle with her after turning off the lights. In the beginning years of Mae's life, I would exit the room after turning off the lights so fast that it was like a lightening bolt. I felt that in the early years, I spent so much time picking up, carrying, cuddling and holding Mae that I didn't think there needed to be anymore cuddling during the day. However, as Mae has gotten older there are definitely less of these moments, although she still is very affectionate. I felt when she asked me to cuddle the first night and the night after and every night since that I too was craving more cuddles. So now after turning off the lights and going to put Whitaker to bed I sneak back in and steal cuddles with Mae. This also happens to be a time when she will share a lot. And if Pearson so happens to come home in time to put the kids to bed, I always go up and cuddle with Mae. Another thing to note, during the cuddles, Mae rubs her leg against mine like a cricket. It is her way of settling herself down.

Just a little ritual in our life that happens every single night. 

Whitaker Wednesday

I have decided to try something a little new in this space. I feel and fear that I am missing so many "little" moments in my kids life because I am always concerned about wanting to write something a little bit more in depth, which has resulted, as of late, of me not writing at all. Believe you me, I have about 100 posts started in my mind of how I am feeling or thinking at a particular time about a particular subject, I just don't have the energy or time to get it done. I also feel that the blog has become a recap of sorts (I can't seem to get ahead) of entire months. As we are aware the little moments are the things that add up to the big ones in life. With that said, I am hoping to start a Whitaker Wednesday and Mae Monday. My goal is to just try to capture a snippet of what was said or something done by the kids that was funny/fun/sad/momentous/noteworthy or just mundane.  It also works that alliteration is working in my favor.

So to start it off was a conversation that Whitaker and I had on Tuesday after dropping Mae off at school and on the way to dropping Whitaker at school.

Whitaker: There will be no screaming.
Me: Mrs. Tranoris [Whit's teacher] has rules? 
Whitaker: I have rules.
Me: Oh that is your rule. 
Whitaker: I am the boss. 

Of course, this made me chuckle because who wouldn't but also made me realize that despite having a warped idea of his role in life and class, he at least knows there are some behaviors in class that are not tolerated. 

First Day of School(s)

Mae and Whitaker have both started preschool. We decided to hold Mae back for one more year, she could have gone to kindergarten based on the Virginia cutoff for kindergarten. But based on the recommendation from her teacher last year and other advice from parents we decided that doing a year of Pre-K would be in her best interest. Who ever said more school was bad? Since she was going to do another year, we decided to keep her at Blessed Sacrament. She loves it and we love it so it seemed like the right decision. (Although after driving her 20 to 25 minutes both ways every day for two weeks I am starting to hate my decision and my car). Mae started the week after Labor Day and the day after turning 5. She wasn't too keen on getting her photo taken so this was the best I could do. 

Not at all happy with me asking to take her picture. 

Despite loving school, here she is clinging to me while waiting to go in. 

Whitaker got into a preschool, Trinity Presbyterian, about 5 minutes from our house. (Side note: I had originally thought that I would send him to the same one as Mae. Although this year would have been fine (even though the times they would have been dismissed were an hour and half apart), I knew that there was no way I wanted to make the drive the next school year). This is also the school that my sister sent my two older nephews to and also the school John is attending. He will go 2 days [Tuesday and Thursday] from 9:30 to 1. Although the first month the school releases them at noon. Whitaker was so excited to start school and had asked to go everyday when Mae started. I had no doubt that on the first day he would breeze into class and not have a care about me. Was I correct? Yep. He walked right in, gave me an obligatory kiss that I asked for and was off to do his own thing. Whitaker is exhausting in the best way possible. He is always on the go, is always curious [getting into things and can't be trusted alone for too long], and has more recently not stopped talking about what he wants to do/where he wants to go/what he needs. So although, I am sad that Whitaker and I aren't going to be each other's side kick all day, I am soooo ready for him to be doing his own thing for those times. I also think that he really needs it. Here are photos from his first day of school. He was a much more willing participant of getting first day photos. Also, John and him walked hand in hand together. How cute is that! 

Photos from Mae's Birthday Party and Birthday

It seems like Mae has been talking about her birthday for the last 3 months. It seems that way because in fact she has. She originally said she wanted a party with all her school friends and a bunch of other kids. Secretly, I was hoping for a very quiet fete with a few friends. I decided to go with it and this year we decided on doing an outdoor movie. I figured a ton of kids OUTSIDE watching a movie would be an easy way to entertain kids. My dad and I made an outdoor movie screen, Pearson got a projector from work, I bought a ton of popcorn, made a bunch of food, and enlisted my mom to make "popcorn" cupcakes. The big day for the party arrived 2 days before her birthday. We got the house and yard prepped and looked at the weather that predicted a 50 percent chance of rain. I prayed to the rain gods for NO rain. AND then it rained about 30 minutes into guests arriving. So what did we do, move everyone inside, which you can imagine what that was like. Also to add insult to injury, I gave everyone the wrong address on the invite so I had about 12 people calling me telling me they were lost. (You can't blame me we have lived in 4 houses in a year and 2 weeks so remembering anything seems to be close to possible these days). Even though, it was a total chaotic mess, Mae had a great time and didn't even seem to care that there was no outdoor movie. 

My mom's amazingly handy baking skills. 

Favors for the guests. We also gave each family a movie. 

I intended for everyone to walk to red carpet when they came in but with giving everyone the wrong directions and the rain it didn't go as according to plan. 

The Edwards Family got to participate. 

So did Cassidy and Vaiden. 

And the Randisi's! 

And Mae, Sophie, and Natalie. 

Mae with all the kids. Did I mention there was an overwhelmingly amount of boys at the party! 

As for Mae's actual birthday, she requested breakfast in bed, which I happily did for her. She was so excited and I think she felt totally pampered, which I wanted. Pearson sadly got on a flight for work a couple of hours into her birthday so he wasn't able to spend the day with her. I ended up taking the kids to the wading pool near Julie's house where we had a great time, then Mae's cousins, my parents, and Aunt Heather came over for afternoon cupcakes and then we went out to dinner. And the special thing was that Grandma C was here to celebrate with her the whole time. 

A sign I had made for the party. Mae's name in lights! 

Presents after breakfast in bed. 

Whit wanting attention. 

Birthday blowout! 

My Dearest Mae

My dearest Mae,

You are five today. FIVE. FIVE. FIVE. I just need to keep repeating it to actually believe that it is true. Well as you know (or maybe not), I wrote you a letter a month (almost) for the beginning of your first two years. I got a little delinquent when your brother came along and it seems that I have missed letters for most of your last few birthdays but I thought I would sit down tonight and write to you. Why? Because I can't even begin to express how incredibly proud and honored I am to be your mom. You bring me such joy and happiness and absolute pride. I am so lucky to be your mom. I feel like I hit the parenting jackpot having you as my daughter.

I guess I should start off by telling you that you had a great birthday. I kept asking you yesterday what you wanted to do for your 5th birthday. You were pretty noncommittal and had no special requests EXCEPT you wanted "breakfast in bed." That was an easy enough wish to grant. It was so cute that everyone you encountered throughout the day you told you got breakfast in bed as if it was the most magical thing in the world, which I am sure it seems like it is. Then after breakfast in bed and some time with your dad who left for a work trip this morning, we went to visit Julie and Baby Jolene and had a wonderful time playing at a wading pool. We came back to have your Aunt Heather and cousins come over. Grandma and Grandpa K also came over with cupcakes and ice cream and joined us for dinner. And Grandma C. has been here for the last week to celebrate your birthday with you. It was truly a great day. I hope you felt that way.

I don't know where to begin or to end to tell you what a thoughtful, creative, kind, smart, independent, energetic, interesting, imaginative, clever, fun, and funny girl you are. I think I could go on and on forever about how great I think you are….Now that is not to say that you don't have tantrums or bad moods or cry or say mean things but those negatives seem so far and few between that I am always shocked at how much you have matured in a mere five years. It seems like just yesterday Dr. Block placed you in my arms and told me I was the mom to a beautiful baby girl.

One of the things that I am most proud of is how kind you are. You are always willing to share, to give to others, and to let everyone have a turn. Case in point. Just recently we were at the beach and we had only 2 boogie boards for you, your brother and your two other cousins. Without even a thought you gave up the boogie board for Will to have a turn. Then you patiently waited for your turn to come around. Last year, your teachers both reported what a kind and sweet little girl you are. And other parents repeatedly tell me how kind and considerate you are. Hearing those words from others makes my heart swell. As your mom, I am a little bias to how wonderful you are but when others notice how kind you are it truly shows me that you are always that way whether in are home at school or at others people's houses.

You love nurturing others. You always want to help put meals together or put the house together when we are having company. Over the last 8 months, you have helped me get your Dad's lunch ready for him in the morning to take to work. We normally make him a salad and you always help put it together and then make sure to go put it in his bag for him. You also think of others and love helping those who need it. For example, one day we were at Luke's baseball game. You noticed that Grandma K's chair needed to be picked up so you made sure to pick it up and give it to her. Mind you, none of your boy cousins or your brother were that thoughtful. Your Grandma K even remarked how thoughtful you are to others. This is just one example of how considerate of others you are and you do things without prompting or being asked.

Whitaker absolutely adores you. You are his role model. He follows you around like a puppy dog. I know when you are around that he sees explempary behavior at work. I only hope he grows into as a thoughtful and caring person as you. That is NOT to say that you two don't fight like siblings. Every moment I feel that I am breaking you two up. I feel that you are always on top of each other and when I try to break you up, you have a gravitational pull to be right back together. You are so concerned about Whitaker and his happiness that you actually wanted him to blow out your birthday candle this year. You are by far the best big sister.

You are so creative and enjoy imaginative play. You always are creating these little scenarios with your princesses, dolls, stuffed animals, etc...that I am always in awe of your imagination and reminded of the joys of being a kid. How quickly we forget the importance of imagination. I hope that this continues with you for a very long, long time. You and your cousin Will definitely have a world unto yourselves when you two get together. You both are so creative and let your imaginations run wild developing scenarios and your own little "plays." I love overhearing these conversations you have.

You love to entertain others and you always love putting on a performance. You have really taken to dressing up in the house and you even express your originality in your clothing choices outside the house.  You are an extrovert and I absolutely love how you go up to strangers or people that you don't know and talk to them like you know them. You do this generally without clearing it by me or seeking my approval. You are independent in your thoughts and actions and I am always shocked at your total disregard for making sure that I am by your side, which some times I wish I could be more.

 I am also impressed at your diplomacy at such a young age. Case in point. We were at the pool this summer and I asked you to go collect our dive toys. Something I hate doing since I feel that I ask in such an impolite way. But you?! You walked right up to this little girl and instead of demanding the toy back, you simply said, "I think that is our dive toy." The girl immediately handed it over. I was so struck how diplomatic you were in this interaction. You didn't demand or yell or make the person feel uncomfortable.

Have I mentioned your memory? Nope. I don't know if it is because I am getting old and I am constantly tired that I forget the words to songs or can't remember the lines to a book despite reading them a 100 times. Not you. You can't read yet but you can "read" books from memory. I am blown away every time that you remember if I skip a page in a book that we have only read once. You also point out places that we have gone and know where to go. I am hoping that you can help me remember things when I am even older.

You are brave, so brave for a little girl. I think the recent episode of getting stung by the jellyfish was a perfect example. You also aren't afraid of anything (to my knowledge yet) and say that  you are strong and brave. I can only hope that you always feel that way about yourself because you ARE.

And confident. This summer we went to a wave pool that had inner tubes but there weren't enough for everyone to have one. So pretty much it was a free for all for the inner tubes. A 10 year old boy took your raft but you went right up to him to ask for it back. You weren't rude or mean about it. You were assertive and confident. You also

I know this letter seems a little all over the place and maybe one day when you are reading it you will wonder if there was anything that I left out or embellished. Rest assured, you are the most aMAEzing little girl I know and I am so honored to be with you everyday. I keep asking you to stay 4 forever and sometimes you humor me and say you will. Sometimes you tell me that you are going to get big. I tell you that is ok because I know you will be as brilliant and spectacular as you are now.

Happy Birthday my Mae.

Love Always, Your Mom