Dear Holdy,
Yep, sorry, it's official - your nickname is Holdy (often Holdy Roldy, ha). I know it doesn't sound especially masculine, but it suits you and your sunny, easy-going personality. I don't know if it is because you are a boy or because you are the third and sort of 'forced' to go with the flow... but man, you are an easy baby (knock on wood). It is hard to believe I was ever concerned about dealing with a third. Of course, it's early days, and your personality will develop as you grow, and at some point, you will move (that'll be fun). But for now, we are enjoying the 'honeymoon' period as your fourth trimester draws to a close. I've absolutely loved the past almost three months with you. You are smiley and happy and sleep well (again, knock on wood - do you hear me?! I'M KNOCKING ON WOOD) and love just chilling and watching the world (aka the tornados known as your sisters) around you. You haven't laughed yet, and you haven't rolled over yet - despite trying. You do like to talk and coo at objects on your playmat, and you love trying to hit them with your hand. The look of concentration is priceless! But by far your favourite thing to look at is your own hand. You hold up your right hand in a fist and stare at it until you are cross-eyed.
I love snuggling you and rocking you gently to sleep in your quiet room. In fact, despite being the opposite of my 'parenting philosophy' you are sleeping in your own room for the entire night already (and have been for a few weeks now). Your sisters didn't go to bed at an early hour until about 6 months, and they were in our room (and often in bed with me) on and off, but mostly on, until 9 months! You go to bed in your crib peacefully around 7ish, sleep 6-8 hours, and then back in your crib for another few hours. I have to admit, it is pretty great, but I do miss seeing your sweet face beside me in the bed. However, I know all too well what developmental milestones, illness and teeth can do to sleep - I am sure it won't be the last of our co-sleeping days. Until then, I'll relish the quiet moments we do have together during middle of the night feedings (we don't have too many quiet moments otherwise!)
Love,
Mama
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Alexis - 22 months
Dear Alexis,
It is hard to believe that in two short months you will be TWO. Although I have to admit, you are showing a lot of signs of the 'terrible twos' already.
You have been home with me full-time since your baby brother was born, but a month ago your grandparents generously offered to pay for part-time daycare for you - we all figured that, supermom though I am, it would help you tremendously to have some kids your own age around, and to get out of the house and do some fun stuff. We are in a pretty good groove (for now, while your brother doesn't move!), but it is nice for you to have lots of exciting things to do, and it is nice for me to have a couple of days of peace and quiet with just your brother around. We do get out though - playdates and momstown events and running errands and next week you start a 'gym' class, which I am sure you will be thrilled with. But the daycare is doing great things for you - you love playing and they have said they wish every toddler could transition as easily as you! On your first day you ate and slept and played with no issues, and getting used to daycare when you only go part-time is even harder than full-time. Of course, you do have daycare experience already, but this is a busy centre (the same one your sister goes to!) - far different than a small, cozy home daycare. In any case, you love it, they love you, and we think it's doing great things for you.
Your language is exploding - every day it seems something new comes out of your mouth, and we can always see the wheels turning as you contemplate things. Your personality is the same as it's always been - this incredibly endearing blend of carefree and easy-going, and feisty and adventurous and stubborn. I love watching you watch Mercedes - you try to copy EVERYTHING she does and follow her around like a puppy, but you don't take any crap from her either. More often we are protecting HER from YOU, and not the other way around :p You have the cutest little face, very little hair, and this tiny sturdy body that is freakishly strong. You give the BEST hugs and nothing warms my heart like hearing you say earnestly "DANK you Bappy!" I can't get enough of kissing your chubby cheeks and hope you'll always let me.
Much as I enjoy the 'break' with you at daycare two days a week, I'm absolutely loving spending this extra time with you while I am off work. It feels like falling in love all over again.
Love,
Mama
It is hard to believe that in two short months you will be TWO. Although I have to admit, you are showing a lot of signs of the 'terrible twos' already.
You have been home with me full-time since your baby brother was born, but a month ago your grandparents generously offered to pay for part-time daycare for you - we all figured that, supermom though I am, it would help you tremendously to have some kids your own age around, and to get out of the house and do some fun stuff. We are in a pretty good groove (for now, while your brother doesn't move!), but it is nice for you to have lots of exciting things to do, and it is nice for me to have a couple of days of peace and quiet with just your brother around. We do get out though - playdates and momstown events and running errands and next week you start a 'gym' class, which I am sure you will be thrilled with. But the daycare is doing great things for you - you love playing and they have said they wish every toddler could transition as easily as you! On your first day you ate and slept and played with no issues, and getting used to daycare when you only go part-time is even harder than full-time. Of course, you do have daycare experience already, but this is a busy centre (the same one your sister goes to!) - far different than a small, cozy home daycare. In any case, you love it, they love you, and we think it's doing great things for you.
Your language is exploding - every day it seems something new comes out of your mouth, and we can always see the wheels turning as you contemplate things. Your personality is the same as it's always been - this incredibly endearing blend of carefree and easy-going, and feisty and adventurous and stubborn. I love watching you watch Mercedes - you try to copy EVERYTHING she does and follow her around like a puppy, but you don't take any crap from her either. More often we are protecting HER from YOU, and not the other way around :p You have the cutest little face, very little hair, and this tiny sturdy body that is freakishly strong. You give the BEST hugs and nothing warms my heart like hearing you say earnestly "DANK you Bappy!" I can't get enough of kissing your chubby cheeks and hope you'll always let me.
Much as I enjoy the 'break' with you at daycare two days a week, I'm absolutely loving spending this extra time with you while I am off work. It feels like falling in love all over again.
Love,
Mama
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Mercedes - 4 years old!
Dear Mercedes,
Happy Birthday!
Four years old seems so old and wise and mature... until you throw a random tantrum over not getting to pick which colour cup you use at dinner and I am reminded again of the tenuous balance between babyhood and childhood. Four is a hard age - on all of us! But it's fascinating and amazing to watch also. Your vocabulary and comprehension is astounding - every day you say something new and funny that proves how much you really understand about the world around you. You are starting to learn to read, slowly but surely - understanding the connection between letters and sounds, sounding out words, picking out sight words you recognize. You LOVE books just as much as your mother does (which thrills me of course!) and one of my absolute favourite things in the world is listening to you 'read' to yourself over the monitor before a nap.
You are funny and fun and snuggly (you still end up sleeping in our room for half the night, although we are proud that you start out in your bed at least!). You have a smile that lights up a room, and crazy hair that you refuse to let us tame most days. You are wonderfully cooperative at school, in public places, at the doctor or dentist (no cavities!) and fantastically defiant and stubborn at home. It bugs the hell out of your father and I, but it also makes me secretly proud to see you use logic to argue with us, and to see how your mind works. I could do without a lot of the crying and whining, but I'll say it again... four is hard :)
We are so proud of everything that you are and the beautiful girl you are becoming, inside and out. I can't wait to see what the year ahead holds for you, not the least of which includes starting all-day Junior Kindergarten!
Happy Birthday, to my favourite big girl, my first baby always. We love you.
Mama
Happy Birthday!
Four years old seems so old and wise and mature... until you throw a random tantrum over not getting to pick which colour cup you use at dinner and I am reminded again of the tenuous balance between babyhood and childhood. Four is a hard age - on all of us! But it's fascinating and amazing to watch also. Your vocabulary and comprehension is astounding - every day you say something new and funny that proves how much you really understand about the world around you. You are starting to learn to read, slowly but surely - understanding the connection between letters and sounds, sounding out words, picking out sight words you recognize. You LOVE books just as much as your mother does (which thrills me of course!) and one of my absolute favourite things in the world is listening to you 'read' to yourself over the monitor before a nap.
You are funny and fun and snuggly (you still end up sleeping in our room for half the night, although we are proud that you start out in your bed at least!). You have a smile that lights up a room, and crazy hair that you refuse to let us tame most days. You are wonderfully cooperative at school, in public places, at the doctor or dentist (no cavities!) and fantastically defiant and stubborn at home. It bugs the hell out of your father and I, but it also makes me secretly proud to see you use logic to argue with us, and to see how your mind works. I could do without a lot of the crying and whining, but I'll say it again... four is hard :)
We are so proud of everything that you are and the beautiful girl you are becoming, inside and out. I can't wait to see what the year ahead holds for you, not the least of which includes starting all-day Junior Kindergarten!
Happy Birthday, to my favourite big girl, my first baby always. We love you.
Mama
Saturday, 12 January 2013
Holden John - December 24, 2012
Dear Holden,
You've arrived! It is amazing to me that the days/weeks leading up to your birth were so fraught with worry for me. With your sisters, I was anxious and excited and nervous, but patient for the most part. I watched my body carefully for any signs and when those 'signs' appeared, I knew exactly what they meant and that birth was imminent, and I was right!
You, my surprise third baby, my only boy, my 'difficult' pregnancy, just had to keep me on my toes. For nearly three weeks prior to your birth I had bouts of regular contractions and other signs that you might be coming sooner rather than later. Such convincing signs in fact that I regularly cancelled plans and rushed to pack my bags and stuck close to home because I literally wondered every day if 'this was it'. It wasn't, ha.
We had plans with our whole family to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, as usual - your Bubie and Zaidie were going to bring a whole festive meal here to our house, and we were going to eat and open presents and put on Christmas pjs and then leave cookies and milk out for Santa... our regular Christmas Eve rituals.
But at 2:30 a.m. on December 24th I woke up to the feeling of my water breaking. It wasn't a full on break, but a small gush of fluid that I immediately recognized for what it really was. Your father was sleeping on the floor of Alexis' room as she was having trouble sleeping. Mercedes and Duke were sleeping in bed with me. I hobbled to the bathroom and quickly realized that it was definitely the real deal, and more fluid was slowly leaking out. I went into Lexi's room to wake up your father and then called Bubie and Zaidie. I knew that contractions might not necessarily start right away, but I figured it was safer to have them here, at our house, just in case. I paged the midwife and she said to try to sleep and just wait until contractions started and became regular/more intense.
I decided to take a shower and at around 3:15, the contractions started. They weren't very strong, and they were about 7 minutes apart - so not urgent labour yet, but I was glad that Bubie and Zaidie were already on their way. By 4 am, when your grandparents arrived, the contractions had gotten a bit stronger, and were coming about every 5 minutes. Your father was packing up the car and your sisters were still sleeping, while I was sitting chatting with Bubie and Zaidie and silently working through the contractions.
By 4:45 we realized that the contractions were now actually about 3 minutes apart and both Daddy and Zaidie got a little nervous. I paged the midwife back and updated her and told her that we were getting nervous and wanted to head out to the hospital (a good 15-20 minute drive away). She agreed we should head in and she said she'd meet us there to check how far along things had progressed. We left the house at 5 and just the act of getting up from the table and walking to the car intensified the contractions tremendously. Your father was quite nervous on the drive down - the contractions were MUCH stronger during the car ride, and were coming every 2 minutes now. They seemed to be one on top of the other and quite strong now - I think your Daddy had visions of you arriving IN the car!
Thankfully, we made it to the hospital and up to the birthing unit by 5:30. The nurses/orderlies were scrambling to finish setting up the birthing suite, putting fresh linens on the bed, etc. I was sitting in the wheelchair and urgently felt the need to throw up. The midwife took one look at me, contractions one on top of another, throwing up into a puke bucket in the hallway of the hospital, and said "clearly we are admitting you!" I think she thought I was in transition already, but I just happen to vomit during labour, lucky me.
Once she was able to check me she announced I was 7 cms dilated. Not bad for just over two hours of contractions! I laboured for a while in the bathroom, and on the bed so they could monitor your heartrate (standard protocol for a VBAC). By 6:45 I felt a very strong urge to push and my midwife said that I was fully dilated, with just a tiny lip of cervix on one side.
A week prior to your arrival, you had shifted a bit to one side, and this apparently caused some difficulty with your descent and caused the remaining lip of cervix to that side. I pushed through it and she was able to move it out of the way thankfully, but the positioning did make for a SLOW descent for you. You also got a bit stuck around my pelvic bone, but we managed to work through it, thankfully.
By 7:40 a.m. your head was out, but it took a good two minutes to push the rest of you out. It was the most painful thing I've ever felt, but with your father's steadfast encouragement and the wonderful care of the midwives, we did it! You were officially born at 7:42 a.m. and your father got to cut the cord (finally!). You did need some quick resuscitation because of your slow, difficult arrival, but within a few minutes you were back with me for some skin to skin time. The midwives leisurely delivered the placenta, and stitched up two small tears (one benefit of your slow arrival!) while we snuggled together. We got to delay the newborn exam and eye ointment and everything for a good hour and instead just spent time getting to know one another - breastfeeding, staring into each other's eyes, etc. It was everything I always wanted out of a birth, and more.
They finally took you back to clean you up and weigh you and your father and I were shocked that you weighed in at 9 pounds 8 ounces!! Amazingly, 3 lbs bigger than Alexis and even a full pound larger than Mercedes. No wonder I was so uncomfortable. Everything else checked out perfectly and we would have been able to go home within a few hours of the birth (I felt AMAZING!) if not for your large size. Concerned about your blood sugars, the hospital requires three normal blood sugar test results, two hours apart each. So we moved to a recovery room and a nurse came every couple of hours to take your blood. All was well and normal and by 4:30 that afternoon, less than 9 hours after your birth, we were headed home!
You have been such a wonderful addition to our family - your sisters dote on you, your father adores you, I can't get enough of holding you, and your entire extended family just loves you to pieces. You are everything that we never knew we always wanted. I had no idea just how fully you would complete our family. So welcome, to the greatest Christmas present we could ever ask for. We love you muchly Holden John.
Love,
Mama
You've arrived! It is amazing to me that the days/weeks leading up to your birth were so fraught with worry for me. With your sisters, I was anxious and excited and nervous, but patient for the most part. I watched my body carefully for any signs and when those 'signs' appeared, I knew exactly what they meant and that birth was imminent, and I was right!
You, my surprise third baby, my only boy, my 'difficult' pregnancy, just had to keep me on my toes. For nearly three weeks prior to your birth I had bouts of regular contractions and other signs that you might be coming sooner rather than later. Such convincing signs in fact that I regularly cancelled plans and rushed to pack my bags and stuck close to home because I literally wondered every day if 'this was it'. It wasn't, ha.
We had plans with our whole family to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve, as usual - your Bubie and Zaidie were going to bring a whole festive meal here to our house, and we were going to eat and open presents and put on Christmas pjs and then leave cookies and milk out for Santa... our regular Christmas Eve rituals.
But at 2:30 a.m. on December 24th I woke up to the feeling of my water breaking. It wasn't a full on break, but a small gush of fluid that I immediately recognized for what it really was. Your father was sleeping on the floor of Alexis' room as she was having trouble sleeping. Mercedes and Duke were sleeping in bed with me. I hobbled to the bathroom and quickly realized that it was definitely the real deal, and more fluid was slowly leaking out. I went into Lexi's room to wake up your father and then called Bubie and Zaidie. I knew that contractions might not necessarily start right away, but I figured it was safer to have them here, at our house, just in case. I paged the midwife and she said to try to sleep and just wait until contractions started and became regular/more intense.
I decided to take a shower and at around 3:15, the contractions started. They weren't very strong, and they were about 7 minutes apart - so not urgent labour yet, but I was glad that Bubie and Zaidie were already on their way. By 4 am, when your grandparents arrived, the contractions had gotten a bit stronger, and were coming about every 5 minutes. Your father was packing up the car and your sisters were still sleeping, while I was sitting chatting with Bubie and Zaidie and silently working through the contractions.
By 4:45 we realized that the contractions were now actually about 3 minutes apart and both Daddy and Zaidie got a little nervous. I paged the midwife back and updated her and told her that we were getting nervous and wanted to head out to the hospital (a good 15-20 minute drive away). She agreed we should head in and she said she'd meet us there to check how far along things had progressed. We left the house at 5 and just the act of getting up from the table and walking to the car intensified the contractions tremendously. Your father was quite nervous on the drive down - the contractions were MUCH stronger during the car ride, and were coming every 2 minutes now. They seemed to be one on top of the other and quite strong now - I think your Daddy had visions of you arriving IN the car!
Thankfully, we made it to the hospital and up to the birthing unit by 5:30. The nurses/orderlies were scrambling to finish setting up the birthing suite, putting fresh linens on the bed, etc. I was sitting in the wheelchair and urgently felt the need to throw up. The midwife took one look at me, contractions one on top of another, throwing up into a puke bucket in the hallway of the hospital, and said "clearly we are admitting you!" I think she thought I was in transition already, but I just happen to vomit during labour, lucky me.
Once she was able to check me she announced I was 7 cms dilated. Not bad for just over two hours of contractions! I laboured for a while in the bathroom, and on the bed so they could monitor your heartrate (standard protocol for a VBAC). By 6:45 I felt a very strong urge to push and my midwife said that I was fully dilated, with just a tiny lip of cervix on one side.
A week prior to your arrival, you had shifted a bit to one side, and this apparently caused some difficulty with your descent and caused the remaining lip of cervix to that side. I pushed through it and she was able to move it out of the way thankfully, but the positioning did make for a SLOW descent for you. You also got a bit stuck around my pelvic bone, but we managed to work through it, thankfully.
By 7:40 a.m. your head was out, but it took a good two minutes to push the rest of you out. It was the most painful thing I've ever felt, but with your father's steadfast encouragement and the wonderful care of the midwives, we did it! You were officially born at 7:42 a.m. and your father got to cut the cord (finally!). You did need some quick resuscitation because of your slow, difficult arrival, but within a few minutes you were back with me for some skin to skin time. The midwives leisurely delivered the placenta, and stitched up two small tears (one benefit of your slow arrival!) while we snuggled together. We got to delay the newborn exam and eye ointment and everything for a good hour and instead just spent time getting to know one another - breastfeeding, staring into each other's eyes, etc. It was everything I always wanted out of a birth, and more.
They finally took you back to clean you up and weigh you and your father and I were shocked that you weighed in at 9 pounds 8 ounces!! Amazingly, 3 lbs bigger than Alexis and even a full pound larger than Mercedes. No wonder I was so uncomfortable. Everything else checked out perfectly and we would have been able to go home within a few hours of the birth (I felt AMAZING!) if not for your large size. Concerned about your blood sugars, the hospital requires three normal blood sugar test results, two hours apart each. So we moved to a recovery room and a nurse came every couple of hours to take your blood. All was well and normal and by 4:30 that afternoon, less than 9 hours after your birth, we were headed home!
You have been such a wonderful addition to our family - your sisters dote on you, your father adores you, I can't get enough of holding you, and your entire extended family just loves you to pieces. You are everything that we never knew we always wanted. I had no idea just how fully you would complete our family. So welcome, to the greatest Christmas present we could ever ask for. We love you muchly Holden John.
Love,
Mama
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Holden - 38 Weeks Pregnant
Dear Holden,
Oops - much like I've been neglecting your big sisters' side of this journal, I've also not had a chance to write to you. I apologize - your sisters, my job, pregnancy exhaustion and of course, selling/packing/moving an entire household has taken up a LOT of time and energy.
But rest assured, despite being the third baby, you are far from forgotten! You, my little trouble-maker, make your presence known EVERY day, believe me! This pregnancy has been SO different from my other two - boy versus girls? Or am I finally getting old? Or maybe it's just you wanting to be sure that you don't get lost in the shuffle of three kids under four :p There has been illness after illness (in me!), heart palpitations, debilitating carpal tunnel in my right wrist, aches and pains and sleepless nights like I've never experienced before. You'd better be a REALLY good sleeper after all of this! And then you gave us a nice scare this week - I had a midwife appointment on Tuesday and they decided that you were NO longer head down! Which is problematic for a variety of reasons. So after a sleepless night and visions of external versions and emergency c-sections and cord prolapse we headed to the hospital to have an ultrasound and consult with an OB. But good news - you are back headed in the right direction and the OB felt very confident that everything is all systems go for a 'normal' birth. Yay! I think maybe you were just jealous that I had so many ultrasounds with your sisters and you wanted to be seen on the big screen again. It was nice to see you again, I must admit - and confirm that you are most definitely still a boy!
And now - we wait! I'd like you to arrive BEFORE Christmas, because I'd hate for my beautiful little boy to be overshadowed by all of that holiday excitement... but it's creeping closer and closer and despite having regular contractions for two weeks now, there is still no real sign of your impending arrival! We are getting very impatient because we ALL want to meet you. And everyone is on pins and needles wondering if Bubie and Zaidie will get here in time to watch your sisters, if the weather will hold up, how long your arrival will take, etc. I'm trying to just enjoy these last days of pregnancy - of our special time alone, just my little boy and his mama, because we'll never be alone again I think! I know how miraculous pregnancy is, and I will miss my belly and feeling your jabs and pokes and hiccups and rolls. But I can't wait to meet you and see who you look like and how your sisters will dote on you and what sort of personality you'll have. So, just come on out already - you have no idea how lucky you are to have so many people who love you already, sight unseen.
Love,
Mama
Oops - much like I've been neglecting your big sisters' side of this journal, I've also not had a chance to write to you. I apologize - your sisters, my job, pregnancy exhaustion and of course, selling/packing/moving an entire household has taken up a LOT of time and energy.
But rest assured, despite being the third baby, you are far from forgotten! You, my little trouble-maker, make your presence known EVERY day, believe me! This pregnancy has been SO different from my other two - boy versus girls? Or am I finally getting old? Or maybe it's just you wanting to be sure that you don't get lost in the shuffle of three kids under four :p There has been illness after illness (in me!), heart palpitations, debilitating carpal tunnel in my right wrist, aches and pains and sleepless nights like I've never experienced before. You'd better be a REALLY good sleeper after all of this! And then you gave us a nice scare this week - I had a midwife appointment on Tuesday and they decided that you were NO longer head down! Which is problematic for a variety of reasons. So after a sleepless night and visions of external versions and emergency c-sections and cord prolapse we headed to the hospital to have an ultrasound and consult with an OB. But good news - you are back headed in the right direction and the OB felt very confident that everything is all systems go for a 'normal' birth. Yay! I think maybe you were just jealous that I had so many ultrasounds with your sisters and you wanted to be seen on the big screen again. It was nice to see you again, I must admit - and confirm that you are most definitely still a boy!
And now - we wait! I'd like you to arrive BEFORE Christmas, because I'd hate for my beautiful little boy to be overshadowed by all of that holiday excitement... but it's creeping closer and closer and despite having regular contractions for two weeks now, there is still no real sign of your impending arrival! We are getting very impatient because we ALL want to meet you. And everyone is on pins and needles wondering if Bubie and Zaidie will get here in time to watch your sisters, if the weather will hold up, how long your arrival will take, etc. I'm trying to just enjoy these last days of pregnancy - of our special time alone, just my little boy and his mama, because we'll never be alone again I think! I know how miraculous pregnancy is, and I will miss my belly and feeling your jabs and pokes and hiccups and rolls. But I can't wait to meet you and see who you look like and how your sisters will dote on you and what sort of personality you'll have. So, just come on out already - you have no idea how lucky you are to have so many people who love you already, sight unseen.
Love,
Mama
Mercedes - Almost 4 Years Old and Alexis - 19 Months Old
My beautiful, wonderful girls,
I am SO sorry I haven't written in months. It's not that you aren't both doing interesting, amazing things - it's that we've been so incredibly busy and tired that I just haven't found (made) the time. So much has happened in the past few months - not the least of which includes a major move to a new house and new town! Getting ready to sell a house, going through the selling and buying process, and then actually MOVING is quite difficult and time-consuming and overwhelming and exhausting - particularly when you add two small children, a crazy dog, a lovely cat, and a pregnant mama to the mix! But with lots of hard work and tears, we made it through and we are all settled in our beautiful new home. You both LOVE the new house - we have a wonderful finished basement which houses your millions of toys, you both have lovely large girly bedrooms, and a nice backyard with lots of room to roam, plus a park RIGHT across the street. We are all so thrilled to be starting this new chapter of our lives - new house, new baby brother (soon!)... 2013 is going to be a fantastic year for our family, we can feel it.
Mercedes - you have been in Preschool now since September and you are absolutely LOVING it. I've never been so proud to see how much you are thriving. You are in a Kindergarten program (basically the private equivalent of a JK class, except you get food provided and naptime) and you are learning so much. It thrills my heart to see you excited about going to school - coming home and telling me about all the new letters you are learning about, discussing dinosaurs and what they eat, talking about your new friends, watching you perform in your first ever Holiday Concert. My heart swells when I think of how much you've grown in the past few months. My once shy, introverted, tentative little girl is blossoming beyond belief. You will always be a bit more sensitive and hesitant and you come by it honestly - both your father and I are like that also, and we think you are all the more wonderful because of it. But you have totally come out of your shell, and I have to think that it's not just getting older, but the fantastic environment at Preschool and the confidence you've gained in yourself. You talk to servers at restaurants and order your own meals, you run and play with the other kids at school, you insist on shaking hands with new people we meet... you are such a delight (even with the tantrums and attitude and defiance that comes hand in hand with a dramatic almost 4 year old!). You also decided that you were done with pull-ups at night and are 'mostly' accident-free overnight. AND, as a bonus, you even go to bed in your OWN room! Once we moved, we decided it was time for you to use your big girl bed again, and you go to sleep peacefully without a fight in your own bed. You do still end up in our bed almost every night (sometimes it's 10 pm, sometimes it's 4 am) - usually because you wake up and have to pee and then don't want to go back to your own room. Despite the crowding and the fact your brother will be here in our room soon, we do love the nighttime snuggles.
Your father and I love hearing the stuff that comes out of your mouth - you are funny and observant and emotional and it's so much fun watching the small stuff delight you. You love 'playing school' and bossing us (your 'students') around and showing us everything you've learned. You 'read' your books to us constantly and it makes me so proud how interested you are in books and learning. Your imagination is something fantastic to witness. We love you so much and can't wait to see you become a big sister all over again!
Alexis - you are 19 months now and your vocabulary and personality is just EXPLODING. We can't get over how funny and sweet and feisty you are. You have QUITE the attitude, and I have NO idea where you got all of your dramatics from (cough *your sister* cough). You love to say NO! and pull Mercedes' hair and hug the dog (a little too tightly for his liking sometimes) and chase the cat and push my face away when I try to kiss you. You have lots of words now (over 50 for sure) and are starting to combine them (Bye Dora, Hi Daddy, Don't Cry, etc). You are absolutely completely obsessed with your father and while it's a little annoying to me sometimes, it's also positively heart-warming. There is nothing that sounds sweeter to me (and believe me, to your Daddy too) than to see your beaming smile when he walks in the room as you yell "Daddy! Hi Daddy!" and run to give him a big hug and goobery kiss. Never mind the fact that *I* grew you and delivered you, he gets all the credit... but that's okay - he dotes on you both and he's thrilled to get that recognition and devotion in return. You are obsessed with your stuffed animals in a way that Mercedes NEVER was - you always have to be carrying some animal around with you, and you have a tiny zoo living in your crib every night. You still out-eat your sister most meals (unless you are sick) and you are fairly silently teething your canines right now (very unlike your sister!). You are such a delight, despite the occasional tantrums over not getting your way and the feisty attitude and fighting me on getting dressed/undressed (EVERY day). Most of the time you are incredibly easy-going and happy and friendly - everyone gravitates towards you and your sunny smile. You have NO clue that very shortly you won't be my 'baby' any more, but I am sure you will make a great big sister (eventually, ha) and just know that, no matter what, you (and your sister) will ALWAYS be my baby.
Love,
Momma
I am SO sorry I haven't written in months. It's not that you aren't both doing interesting, amazing things - it's that we've been so incredibly busy and tired that I just haven't found (made) the time. So much has happened in the past few months - not the least of which includes a major move to a new house and new town! Getting ready to sell a house, going through the selling and buying process, and then actually MOVING is quite difficult and time-consuming and overwhelming and exhausting - particularly when you add two small children, a crazy dog, a lovely cat, and a pregnant mama to the mix! But with lots of hard work and tears, we made it through and we are all settled in our beautiful new home. You both LOVE the new house - we have a wonderful finished basement which houses your millions of toys, you both have lovely large girly bedrooms, and a nice backyard with lots of room to roam, plus a park RIGHT across the street. We are all so thrilled to be starting this new chapter of our lives - new house, new baby brother (soon!)... 2013 is going to be a fantastic year for our family, we can feel it.
Mercedes - you have been in Preschool now since September and you are absolutely LOVING it. I've never been so proud to see how much you are thriving. You are in a Kindergarten program (basically the private equivalent of a JK class, except you get food provided and naptime) and you are learning so much. It thrills my heart to see you excited about going to school - coming home and telling me about all the new letters you are learning about, discussing dinosaurs and what they eat, talking about your new friends, watching you perform in your first ever Holiday Concert. My heart swells when I think of how much you've grown in the past few months. My once shy, introverted, tentative little girl is blossoming beyond belief. You will always be a bit more sensitive and hesitant and you come by it honestly - both your father and I are like that also, and we think you are all the more wonderful because of it. But you have totally come out of your shell, and I have to think that it's not just getting older, but the fantastic environment at Preschool and the confidence you've gained in yourself. You talk to servers at restaurants and order your own meals, you run and play with the other kids at school, you insist on shaking hands with new people we meet... you are such a delight (even with the tantrums and attitude and defiance that comes hand in hand with a dramatic almost 4 year old!). You also decided that you were done with pull-ups at night and are 'mostly' accident-free overnight. AND, as a bonus, you even go to bed in your OWN room! Once we moved, we decided it was time for you to use your big girl bed again, and you go to sleep peacefully without a fight in your own bed. You do still end up in our bed almost every night (sometimes it's 10 pm, sometimes it's 4 am) - usually because you wake up and have to pee and then don't want to go back to your own room. Despite the crowding and the fact your brother will be here in our room soon, we do love the nighttime snuggles.
Your father and I love hearing the stuff that comes out of your mouth - you are funny and observant and emotional and it's so much fun watching the small stuff delight you. You love 'playing school' and bossing us (your 'students') around and showing us everything you've learned. You 'read' your books to us constantly and it makes me so proud how interested you are in books and learning. Your imagination is something fantastic to witness. We love you so much and can't wait to see you become a big sister all over again!
Alexis - you are 19 months now and your vocabulary and personality is just EXPLODING. We can't get over how funny and sweet and feisty you are. You have QUITE the attitude, and I have NO idea where you got all of your dramatics from (cough *your sister* cough). You love to say NO! and pull Mercedes' hair and hug the dog (a little too tightly for his liking sometimes) and chase the cat and push my face away when I try to kiss you. You have lots of words now (over 50 for sure) and are starting to combine them (Bye Dora, Hi Daddy, Don't Cry, etc). You are absolutely completely obsessed with your father and while it's a little annoying to me sometimes, it's also positively heart-warming. There is nothing that sounds sweeter to me (and believe me, to your Daddy too) than to see your beaming smile when he walks in the room as you yell "Daddy! Hi Daddy!" and run to give him a big hug and goobery kiss. Never mind the fact that *I* grew you and delivered you, he gets all the credit... but that's okay - he dotes on you both and he's thrilled to get that recognition and devotion in return. You are obsessed with your stuffed animals in a way that Mercedes NEVER was - you always have to be carrying some animal around with you, and you have a tiny zoo living in your crib every night. You still out-eat your sister most meals (unless you are sick) and you are fairly silently teething your canines right now (very unlike your sister!). You are such a delight, despite the occasional tantrums over not getting your way and the feisty attitude and fighting me on getting dressed/undressed (EVERY day). Most of the time you are incredibly easy-going and happy and friendly - everyone gravitates towards you and your sunny smile. You have NO clue that very shortly you won't be my 'baby' any more, but I am sure you will make a great big sister (eventually, ha) and just know that, no matter what, you (and your sister) will ALWAYS be my baby.
Love,
Momma
Friday, 31 August 2012
Mercedes - 3.5 Years Old
Dear Mercedes,
Today is your last day at a home daycare (Sherri's). We are all a little bit sad that this chapter in your life is coming to an end, and I know that Sherri will miss you and you will miss her and your little friends there and spending time with your sister every day... but we are thrilled for you to be starting Preschool full-time next week. You are so excited about being a 'big girl' and having a real class, and teachers and learning new things and going on field trips and playing outside for hours a day.
Your father and I were nervous about it, despite knowing how good it would be for you - you have always been more of a shy, tentative, cautious girl. Never the first one in a crowd to make a new friend, or the kid who goes up to random strangers and starts conversations... you are a little tentative about physical things too - slides and swings and sand (yep, you are definitely a product of both of your parents, that's for sure!). But we've been so amazingly proud of you and your strong, smart, sensitive personality these past few weeks. We're in the middle of selling our house, you have a new sibling on the way, you are starting a new school - and yet you roll with the punches and accept it all gracefully, with a minimum amount of tantrums thankfully ;)
We had a couple of preschool orientations this week - I left you alone during both of them and you didn't bat an eyelash. I assumed there'd be tears and clinginess, but I saw brave determination on your face to be a big girl and throw yourself into a new situation. You are now talking to servers in restaurants, saying hi to strangers walking down the street, insisting new people you meet shake your hands, waving to strange dogs... all things that you wouldn't have done even six months ago.
There is a parenting philosophy out there called 'Attachment Parenting' and while I hate the labels that people put on 'types' of parents, and I don't think any one follows any set of principles exactly, it is a theory that your father and I have tended to fall into naturally. While we believe in setting boundaries and rules for our children, we also believe in respecting their individual personalities and reassuring them when they need it. Your sister and you seem to be quite different - Alexis is more of a free-spirit, a little more independent, a little more feisty. And you have always been a big cuddler, more of a mommy's and daddy's girl - a bit nervous about new things, tentative in new situations. I breastfed you until you were two, we never pushed you into doing things you were very uncomfortable with, and even now, at age 3.5 you sleep in our bed with us. Some people would say we are giving in and not being firm enough; some would say that we are setting ourselves up for a lifetime of clinginess and dependency. But seeing how much you've blossomed and grown into a brave, determined, friendly little girl... I have to believe that we are doing the right thing in following our instincts. The way we parent certainly wouldn't be for everyone, nor would it work for every kid - but I don't regret anything we've done with you. I just have to look at your sweet, smiling face and know that we are doing okay.
I can't wait to see you change and grow even more as you get accustomed to preschool - I look forward to hearing your fantastic stories about all your new adventures with your new friends.
Love,
Momma
Today is your last day at a home daycare (Sherri's). We are all a little bit sad that this chapter in your life is coming to an end, and I know that Sherri will miss you and you will miss her and your little friends there and spending time with your sister every day... but we are thrilled for you to be starting Preschool full-time next week. You are so excited about being a 'big girl' and having a real class, and teachers and learning new things and going on field trips and playing outside for hours a day.
Your father and I were nervous about it, despite knowing how good it would be for you - you have always been more of a shy, tentative, cautious girl. Never the first one in a crowd to make a new friend, or the kid who goes up to random strangers and starts conversations... you are a little tentative about physical things too - slides and swings and sand (yep, you are definitely a product of both of your parents, that's for sure!). But we've been so amazingly proud of you and your strong, smart, sensitive personality these past few weeks. We're in the middle of selling our house, you have a new sibling on the way, you are starting a new school - and yet you roll with the punches and accept it all gracefully, with a minimum amount of tantrums thankfully ;)
We had a couple of preschool orientations this week - I left you alone during both of them and you didn't bat an eyelash. I assumed there'd be tears and clinginess, but I saw brave determination on your face to be a big girl and throw yourself into a new situation. You are now talking to servers in restaurants, saying hi to strangers walking down the street, insisting new people you meet shake your hands, waving to strange dogs... all things that you wouldn't have done even six months ago.
There is a parenting philosophy out there called 'Attachment Parenting' and while I hate the labels that people put on 'types' of parents, and I don't think any one follows any set of principles exactly, it is a theory that your father and I have tended to fall into naturally. While we believe in setting boundaries and rules for our children, we also believe in respecting their individual personalities and reassuring them when they need it. Your sister and you seem to be quite different - Alexis is more of a free-spirit, a little more independent, a little more feisty. And you have always been a big cuddler, more of a mommy's and daddy's girl - a bit nervous about new things, tentative in new situations. I breastfed you until you were two, we never pushed you into doing things you were very uncomfortable with, and even now, at age 3.5 you sleep in our bed with us. Some people would say we are giving in and not being firm enough; some would say that we are setting ourselves up for a lifetime of clinginess and dependency. But seeing how much you've blossomed and grown into a brave, determined, friendly little girl... I have to believe that we are doing the right thing in following our instincts. The way we parent certainly wouldn't be for everyone, nor would it work for every kid - but I don't regret anything we've done with you. I just have to look at your sweet, smiling face and know that we are doing okay.
I can't wait to see you change and grow even more as you get accustomed to preschool - I look forward to hearing your fantastic stories about all your new adventures with your new friends.
Love,
Momma
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)