Happy 4th

But not of July!

Our sweetest Aggie turned 4 this week.  While I can’t believe that 4 years ago we started out family, I just don’t remember life without my baby girl.  Here is an “all about you” post, my love.  You have taught me so very many things and we continue to learn together.

Before you, I didn’t understand what it meant to have your “heart hurt.”  I get it now.  I, literally, hurt when you hurt, and cry when you cry and know now that it will always be that way.  

I didn’t truly understand being selfless.  I want what you want.  As silly as it sounds, making you happy, makes me happy.  

I didn’t truly understand what a “gift from God” meant.  I am still in awe of how he blessed me with you and your brother.  Eternally grateful, but still in awe.

 

You are definitely independent.  I see a little girl emerging from my sweet baby.  You have a true sense about you now and your personality and self awareness are growing daily.  You know what you want, how you want it, and you want it a while ago.  This makes for some trying times, but I am constantly trying to remind myself that this is you finding you.

You learn new things every single day and continue to make me belly laugh.  You have always done so.  You are using bigger words and sayings now and sometimes the mix-ups are pretty funny.  You are learning how to play with your brother (and get him to do what you want him to.)  It’s fun to watch you play together.  

I can only imagine what next year will hold.  I can tell just how many new things you are becoming aware of and will soon learn.  I promise to cherish every second just as I have done so for the last four years.

Love you baby girl…..

Aggie is 3 1/2 – Officially

LuLu

Wow, how the time has just flown by and seems to move faster everyday.  You continue to be such a joy to us and we love watching you mature into a big girl every day – even though it seems to be too fast!

You are still absolutely obsessed with princesses – ANY princess.  Your favorite at the moment is still Belle, but the others get their fair share of the limelight as well!  You LOVE anything girly.  Tea parties, princesses, dress-up and make-up, painting your nails, and playing Mommy to your dolls are a HUGE part of your day.  You are becoming such a great helper; able to clean your playroom with little help and are always helping me cook.  You are also starting to help with chores such as laundry and emptying the trash – with a little convincing!

You help more and more with Pate and are trying to teach him new words and proper behavior.  I know it’s hard, sister, not to hit back, but you are doing a great job.  The other day I heard you say, “That’s right Pate Man that IS Bomba – good talking.”  I think maybe you have heard Mommy say that a few times!

You asked told us the other day that you NEEDED to take ballet.  That made us laugh.  We are researching places now so you will start this summer.  We are also going to take some swim lessons this summer so that you learn pool safety as we will be spending a LOT of time in the water I’m sure!.  This stage is so very exciting, but a little daunting as well.  I am looking forward to learning and exploring your interests.  

I could go on and on about how incredible you are.  You light up the room and have the absolute BEST sense of humor.  You are even starting to show a bit of sarcasm here and there (that’s pretty funny from a 3 year old)!  We will continue to work out this independence thing.  I am trying hard to pick my battles and let you find your way.  Know this little one:

Mommy and Daddy love you so very much.  Every minute of everyday.  I MISS you like crazy when we are not together (while appreciating the break now and then.)  I crave your sweet little kiss and your beautiful blue eyes and your neck breaking hugs before lights out.  Just be YOU as the years continue to grow.  YOU are amazing.

 

Get your purse, sister

She looks like she is headed to the casino!  LOVE this picture – it is SO Aggie!

I Got Nothin’

I know that you have been checking the blog every few hours of every day, but I have just not found the time or subject to update.  I mean it, I Got Nothin’.  We are all happy and healthy and busy, busy.  The fun and endearing and hilarious moments are still coming every second, but I just haven’t had a camera around at the right moment.  

I’ll get better at that.

Until then…

Kinda Weird…

So, short of Aggie and her pacifier obsession (which I would like to report is good and gone:-) my kiddos have never attached to any particular object.  We have never had a lovey or a blanket that was a must go.  N0t because I objected, it just never happened…..

However, the last week or so Pate has gone to bed with various strange objects.  One day, he carried around a pair of pants ALL day and slept with them for nap and night.  Another day he carried and slept with Aggie’s pink toothbrush.  On yet another night it was one random shoe. 

It doesn’t bother me at all (hey, if they are sleeping, who cares) I just think it’s kinda weird….

But strangely cute too!

Dear Grammy and Pappy….

So I was just thinking after our afternoon yesterday (see note below) how incredibly lucky we are that you guys are here.  I’m CERTAIN that I don’t say “thanks” nearly often enough, but please know how grateful we are of all the help.  I’m really not certain how Aggie survived her infancy without you guys here to help! 

Thanks to the date nights, the hundreds of dish loads, and the hundreds of diapers.  Thanks for letting us drop by because I just need to borrow someone else’s energy for the moment.  Thanks for the last minute sitters, not only for the above mentioned dates, but when I just HAVE to go to work and I have a sick, grumpy, fevered kiddo that just wants to watch Caillou for the 1,000th time!  And, most importantly, thanks for thinking that your grandkids are just as cute, funny, smart, and perfect as their Mommy does – even in the middle of a lay on the floor fit!

But on top of all that…..they will now really KNOW you.  They will have thousands of memories of getting to grow up with you close and involved.  Coming from the kiddo that got to do the same – THAT is the thing that they will cherish most.

Yee Haw…

We had such a fun Friday afternoon.  Grammy and Pappy decided to brave the Stock Show and Rodeo with us this weekend.  After a quick lunch we were off and we arrived in plenty of time to see the  animals before the 2:00 matinee.

Pate was so excited he was literally shaking and squealing.  This was only topped by how tickled my Dad was watching him.  I HAVE decided that we will need to make a trip to Quanah with Pappy so that the kiddos can see the real country and real animals.  My little city boy barked at the goats and meowed at the rabbits!

Then it was off to the show.  Both kids did beautifully the entire time.  I only had to take Pate down once to let him run off some energy and the rest of the time they were both VERY happy with peanuts and soda (incredibly nutritious, huh?)  Pate curled up with Grammy for the last bit and fell asleep, so we even got to see the bulls…this country girls fave!

I had my camera the entire time, but only managed to fire off one picture the whole trip – I think it was a good one, though!

Rodeo 2009

Snow Days

I think I have stated before that I HATE being cold.  And if I can’t ski then I just don’t. see. the. point…

I am quite certain that Texans overreact to a little weather as it is the ONLY news story, but today I went with it.  I decided it was a bit silly to bundle the kiddos up and put them in the car to go to work, so we are having a snow day. 

So to pass the time we have baked cookies, built castles, played dress up and had a tea party for lunch.  I am now loving the “almost” silence as Aggie is “almost resting” upstairs!

Baking

Note Pate’s finger in the sugar, but please try not to note my messy kitchen!

Tea Party Picnic

The totally stuffed faces make me laugh.  Had I known it was this easy to get their entire lunch in them in less than 10 minutes we would have been eating on our playroom stools a LONG time ago!

UGH!

I’m grumpy.  I lost my voice sometime on Friday and it doesn’t seem to be coming back anytime in the near future.  I have a nasty cough and a headache from hell and every piece of me hurts like a semi truck visited sometime mid-might. 

After a fun weekend visiting with my sister, seeing a movie with my husband, and taking the kiddos to Chuckie Cheese…I just wasn’t ready for Monday yet.  Plus I’ve been banned from seeing NICU babies b/c I sound like this (I can understand as I would not be comfortable as a parent either…..) So I’m up in my office trying to motivate myself to finish several presentations and schedule more volunteer training.  I just would NOT be good at an office job. 

On a fun note…..Chuckie Cheese was super fun for all of us.  We only spent $10 and played for 2 hours.  It was really fun and inexpensive.  We’ll have to remember that in the future!

Okay, going to work now……

Try Again……  try this link.  I’ve had some trouble getting the pictures to load, but this link is working at the moment!

16 Months….

Wow, this one really seemed to just fly by and I’m sure December will go even faster. 

You are so very loved Pate Man.  You have the best, easy goin’ little personality.  You could read books for HOURS as long as you have a good lap.  Your favorites right now are the Dog book, the Animal Library Set, the other animal book, and, Oh Yeah, the rest of the animal books!

You are talking more and more everyday, but your Mommy and Grammy are the best interpreters.  In fact, I think your Grammy tops the list for you this instant.  She is the ONE replacement for Mommy and you often dive at her from my arms, and squeal when you recognize her from the carseat.  Speaking of, I have yet to flip you.  You are just over 20 pounds with clothes on.  I know that you would love to be facing the other way, but think I’ll keep you there for a bit longer until you fit better the other way.  What you don’t know…..;-0

 You have a few two and three word phrases and are using them more and more.  The most intelligible are:

I did it   Here you go   help please   and something that loosely translated means “PICK ME UP RIGHT THIS VERY INSTANT!”

My favorite new words are “Ho, Ho, Ho” and Uh-huh….okay, neither sound incredibly “wow” worthy, but they are so stinking cute.  You still use sign as the main get your point across method. 

You love to see airplanes (pane, pane) and point and search the sky until we find it.  You also love birds and “tweat tweat” at them with total delight.  Your new move is to go get your high chair and roll it into place when you want a snack.  You think that Mommy’s ice-tea was brewed just for you and sneak a drink when you think you can get away with it.  You and Aggie have been known to disappear with my cup and bring it back empty!

When we took our photos this month, you were so funny when asked to practice your smile.  I need to get that on video!

As always I could go on forever about your love of books, food, baths, sister etc….but we’ll save it for another day. 

MY love is for you, your sister, your Daddy, and our family.  Thanks for being mine Little Man.