Ready for the snow!

Dear Maizy,

Well winter is definitely on it's way.  Last year you were too tiny to play in the snow and since you were so little and new we just stayed in most nights and kept warm.

I have a feeling this year is going to be a little different.  I think you are going to want to play in the snow and play we will!! 

I remember playing in the snow as a child and loving it!!  We had snow ball fights, built snow forts and little ramps for our sleds. 

I am looking forward to making snowmen with you and feeling the coldness of snow on our tongues.  Winter is a little long and rough here in Utah, but I LOVE the winter sunsets, the way the mountains look with snow on them,  the cold air that wakes you up in the mornings, snuggling up at night, warm soups and hot chocolate.  I especially love wearing big sweaters, scarves and boots!  Wrapping up in a big blanket to watch a movie and eat treats!

Winter is a favorite time of year for me.  I have TONZ of memories of snow and winter as a child. Getting creative and entertaining myself when it's too cold and dark to be outside.  Baking cookies and the house smelling yummy. 

I am looking forward to spending my favorite time of year with you doing and enjoying all of those things and look you're all ready for it too!

These snow pants were sent from California from Cousin Tom.  She did a great job huh!?!

 Love you lots and lots!

Love,
mommy

Pumpkin Patch Adventure

Dear Maizy,

Last night we went as a family to find the perfect pumpkins for carving.  We went to Pack Farms in Farmington.  It was a beautiful night but it was COLD!

You were a little adventurer.  You loved walking around on your own and going any direction you wished.  You liked walking in the treacherous terrain and touching the large, cold pumpkins.

I cherished every moment, but I will admit I wish it wasn't SO cold and since it was we didn't spend a lot of time looking around.  There was a maze that we went into for a second, but it was just too dang cold! 

I love this tradition we have of going to pick our own pumpkin out of a patch and I want to do it every year with you! 

Look at all the fun we had.

We are going to carve our pumpkins tonight!  I can't wait!

Love you!

Love,
mommy

Bear of My Heart

Dear Maizy,

I found this uber adorable book at the library.  I just saw the cover, loved it, grabbed it and now I have to buy it, it's my fave.  It's called Bear of My Heart written by Joanne Ryder.

It goes something like this............

There are so many bears in the world, dear, but there's no other one that will do.

You are the bear of my heart, dear, and I am the one who loves you.

I have so many stories to tell you.

I know wonderful places to see.

And because we can see them together, they'll be nicer for you and for me.

Let's race in the sun and be happy.

Let's splash in the stream and drip dry.

Let's roll down a hill and be silly.

Let's lie and watch clouds drifting by.

Let's sit nose to nose and share secrets.

Let's wish on a star, eyes shut tight.

Let's whisper our dreams in the darkness.

Let's snuggle together at night.

If you need me, I'll be there beside you.

If you're lonely, I'll hug you awhile.

If you're lost, I will be there to guide you.

If you're sad, I won't quit till you smile.

Paw in paw, we will greet every morning.

Paw in paw, we will meet every day.

You are the bear of my heart, dear, and nothing can take that away.

No matter how big you may grow, dear, or whether we're near or apart.

I will love you forever and ever for YOU are the bear of my heart.

Check's in the mail!

Dear Maizy,

I LOVE being your mom.  I do.  I LOVE it SOOOOO very much.  I take pride in you, our family and being a good mom.  I think I am a good mom.  I do.  Being a mom is the most rewarding but toughest "jobs" I've had yet, and I've had a lot of jobs, but this is by far my favorite!!

I asked a girlfriend of mine way before I had you what it was like being a mom and she said, "it is the coolest thing ever to be a mom, but it's the hardest.  You do SO much for them and you don't get thank you's or get paid!"  I have always remembered that because at times being a mom is tough and at times it feels like a job, a great one, but a job, that you are doing for free and not even getting a thank you!! I work hard at home being a mom, harder than I do at work and I think that is why mom's work.  Ha ha ha! 

It's more important to me to be the best mom that I can be than be employee of the month.  I mean I do my job and I do it well, but it's just so routine and "automatic."  Being a mom is not.  Everyday is an adventure with you. 

For example, last night!!  You are still healing from an awful diaper rash, you were tired and nothing was making you happy!  At work you can put things off until the next day, ask a co-worker for help or just send an email to resolve it, you can't do that as a mom.  You have to assess the situation, think clearly and FAST!!!  I love the challenge most nights, but last night I was TIRED and not feeling that great either.

Anywho, I tried everything. Your fave shows, nope. Your fave toys, nope. Toys that you haven't played with in a while, nope.  Treats, nope. Juice, nope.  Comfy jammies and warm socks, nope.  Blowing bubbles in the house, YES!!  That was it.  You were finally happy and smiling.  Bubbles, who knew!?!  We blew bubbles for a good hour.  You tried it too!  We were both finally smiling.  I LOVE you!!  It's the moments like that I LOVE and I hope I never forget!!

I turned on the movie Babies, one of my faves.  Grandma Shelly and I went to the theater to see it while you were in my tummy, so that movie has a special place in my heart.  Anyway, I would point to the baby in the movie and you would say "baby"  so cute!!  There are also cows, goats and dogs in the movie that got your attention too!  You were making the appropriate animal sound - you're SO smart!!

Overall, it was a great night although I was hesitant to think that at first.  I like when you challenge me though.  Lately you have been melting my heart when we are playing and just hanging out you will come up to me on your own and kiss me!  A big wet, open mouth kiss!! I LOVE it SOOOOOO very much!  It's better than any thank you or check in the mail, it reminds me of why I am a mom and just how very, very lucky I am to have you as my daughter!  When you kiss me your dad gets jealous and wants a kiss too!  You don't give them out very often or to too many people, so when we do get them our hearts can't help but melt!

Thank you for being SO amazing!!

I LOVE you!!

Love,
mom

Mommy's little monkey!!!

Dear Maizy,

You like to climb, there is no doubt about that!!  You will climb up on top of something and still try to figure a way to get higher and higher!

It all started Friday evening when not only did you climb up on top of the coffee table, you started tap dancing as well.  Luckily your father and I were both there, but even then it was frightening - for us anyway, but you were thoroughly enjoying yourself.  You were just giggling having a great time along with your adoring fans in the audience!!


THEN Saturday morning while your dad was putting your toy box together he called me to your room to witness this......... Yikes!!

 

YES!  That is you.  Standing in your toy baby stroller, backwards, and still trying to climb higher!  After the photo op I made you get off the stroller before you got hurt!  Whew!

Then throughout the day you continued to do the usual climb up and down the stairs, which you have never fallen down, knock on wood!!  Climbed up the table to the t.v. Climbed all over your high chair and all over us.

Come Sunday when it was supposed to be a peaceful evening you gave me two, yes two, heart attacks.

The first being when I was in the kitchen talking to your father while you were supposed to be in the living room watching t.v. Next thing I hear is you SCREAMING!!  We run in there and you have a big noggin above your left eye.  You were climbing up the t.v. stand, yanked out the drawer that came flying out and got you pretty hard right above the eye.

See..................

Then maybe about an hour later you went up to your room to play which has never, ever been an issue.  I again was in the kitchen talking to your father when we heard the loudest noise EVER!!!  I was screaming running up the stairs with your father behind me.  We come in to your room to find your dresser, yes your six drawer dresser, tipped over with all the drawers tipped out and one drawer on your foot!! OMG!!!  We were freaked.  I picked you up gently and we felt you for broke n bones but luckily none and you only cried for a minute.

Do you know how luck you are?  Do you know how freaked out we were?  It could have been much worse when we thought about it.  You do have a HUGE piggy bank FULL of coins that could have knocked you out!!  A lamp that could have shattered!!  Whew!!

So there you have it.  There are my two heart attacks in one short evening - too many if you ask me!!  No more please.  I try to see the brighter side of all this.  I LOVE that you are a curious little girl.  I LOVE your determination.  I do LOVE that you are strong and full or drive.  I LOVE you!  I wouldn't change you for anything.  I LOVE that you are capable of so much in such a little body.

Love you always!

Love,

mommy

And we cried..............

Dear Maizy,

(I wrote this and should have posted it on Monday October 17, 2011)
The saddest thing happened this morning.  When you and dad dropped me off at work, I got in the back to kiss you and say goodbye, your cried and reached for me therefore we cried.

It was SOOOOOOOOO sad!

Your father kept saying, "it's ok, you'll both be ok!"  I wasn't sure at the moment, but he was right.

I am surviving a yucky Monday and you are playing with Grandma Annette and cousin Sienna saying "mom who?"

I am really envious and quite jealous of stay-at-home mom's, but I know that this is the best thing for the family right now.  PLUS.  We always want what we don't have.  I talk to other mom's about it and they say "oh I would LOVE to work!"  So I just convince myself that we always want what we don't have and that makes me "deal" with working.  Plus my mom worked and I am hoping most would say I turned out a-okay! 

We will be ok. I hope.  

I LOVE you!!  And just know that I admire the shrine I created of you at my work, it's makes my days manageable.  See............

Love,
mom

Eeeeeewwwww!!!

Dear Maizy,

Last night I got home from work and 10 minutes later you and dad got home from work and the sitters.  YAY!!!  We had a great night.  We got take out for dinner,  dad went to his friends for a few, so it was just you and me kid. 

We had a great time reading books and then it was bath time.  Um, it was an interesting bath to say the least.  I'll spare the details, but I think it was a very relaxing tub for you!

Then we got you in your jammies.  I went in the kitchen to do something and there you were sitting there with your finger up your nose!!!  It cracked me up!!  I said "no, no baby!!"  Just then you put your finger from your nose into your mouth and said "yum!"  Ha ha ha!!  No lie!!  Where you learn this I will never know.

I love you!  Thank you for always making me smile, filling my life with surprises and warming my heart! 

Here are some oldie but goodies for your viewing pleasure.

Love your face!!

9.7.10

9.25.10

10.5.10

10.10.10

10.12.10

See some things never change.  You were adorable then as you are now.

Love,
mom

Gardner Village

Dear Maizy,

We had a FABULOUS time at Gardner Village!  Our day started off by you and I sleeping in until 10am!! YAHOO!!  Then we had breakfast, bath time and then Grandma Shelly came over.  She bought you the cutest outfit and shoes for our big day out!!

We drove to the village while you fell asleep almost instantly in the car.  We got to Gardner Village and our first stop was Archibald's for lunch!  Yum!! You were a complete crack-up at lunch!  You were eating your crayons, drawing all over your children's menu and was doing an occasional holler to make sure everyone knew you were there.

Then we were off to the shops and seeing the witches!  It was a really fun day and you definitely got spoiled!  Grandma bought you 2 books, Beautiful Blue Eyes and Frank the Dancing Monster, a plastic magic wand, a yummy cookie we all shared, hair clips, a Tinkerbell tin and a darling soft stuffed bat.  You were spoiled!  We all were.

After the village we stopped by Quilted Bear to continue our adventure which ended with Grandma getting us take out from Panda Express, coming home, eating dinner, playing and going to bed.  My days off work go by toooooo fast!!

I just love being with you and I get the biggest kick out of you exploring and observing things.  Walking around and smiling at people.  You are just too much fun!!  


See........................

Sneak Peek

Dear Maizy,

Last night was your cousin Sienna's birthday party and you were requested to wear your Halloween costume.

Check you out!!!

The cutest, most lovable, kissable and super adorable Park Ranger I've ever seen!!

You had a blast last night.  Running around with all the kids.  Screaming.  Playing.

You wore yourself out!

I had the pleasure of making Sienna's birthday cake even though we were told that it was gross and dry. Oh and we never received a "thank you" for Sienna's birthday gift, but whatever!  I think her cake turned out cute and I don't think it was dry!

Tomorrow mommy has the day off work. YAY!!  You and I are going to sleep in, have a living room dance party and go to Gardner Village to go see the witches.  Can't wait!

Love you!

Love,

mommy

What the heck!?!?

Dear Maizy,

What the heck!?!?  I have written in forever.  Well a lot has been going on.  Last week was a crazy one.  Your dad worked.  I worked.  You were at sitters all week.  No sleep for you.  Therefore, I'd get home from work ready to play with you and you wanted nothing to do with me.  With anyone.  You were grouchy and tired.  We all were.  Needless to say we caught up on our sleep this last weekend, it was FABULOUS!!

When I say sitters I mean Grandma Shelly, Grandma Annette and Grandma Donker.  The only other person that is on the list is Aunt Brittany, but she doesn't even live here.  I swear Grandma Donker would take you EVERY DAY if she could physically do it. 

We all went to bed early on Friday.  Saturday we slept in, played and ran some errands, ok lots of errands.  You did SO good in the car.  You slept for a good hour while we drove around the Bountiful foothills and admired all the mansions.  The leaves are turning colors now that it's fall and it's absolutely SO beautiful right now.  I wish this time of year last longer.

Then we went home eventually and vegged.

Sunday we visited 2 parks!  We were all alone at a really awesome one for about 10 minutes then a car load of 7 obnoxious boys were dropped off- UGH!  You got a kick out of watching them run around, but they were being too careless around you for my liking.  Then we went to another park and had a lovely picnic!  It was a favorite, favorite day for me!!   

You currently love jamming on your little piano that Grandma Donker sent home with us.  It's the best thing to watch you play. 

You still love mashed potatoes.  You are actually a good little eater. 
We need to get you off that dang bottle!  Ugh!!  It's gonna be sad for all of us.

You love strawberries and grapes.

You say "thank you!"

You climb up and down the stairs like a champ. 

You try to dress yourself and it's absolutely darling to watch!!

You could watch Tangled over, over and over!!  That's ok with me though because I like it too!

You love to be chased!  You always have one of us that is willing to chase you around.

You get a kick out of other kids.  You don't know yet how lame other people's kids really are. ; )

You wave and say "bye".

You randomly open mouth kiss, but only me, Grandma Donker or Grandpa Glen - we must be your faves!

You are quite the good little sharer.

You have tonz and tonz of cute clothes and shoes!! 

You refuse to wear cute headbands or hats - ppppppfffffffff!!

You are going to be a Park Ranger for Halloween!!! 

You love to draw.

You are constantly cracking us up!!!  You really have the cutest little personality EVER!!

You make me more and more proud everyday to be your mama.  I love you with all my heart!!

You make me want to get through every work day as quick as possible so we can be together. 

You have the most beautiful golden hair I have ever seen.

You have the most gorgeous eyelashes.  They curl just perfectly too!

You are already showing a sense of independence and it's really cool to watch.

You and I play a game.  You hand me something, I say "thank you!" Then  your put your hands out for me to hand you something and you say "thank you!"  My fave game by far.

You LOVE bath time.  You put your hand out for me to put body wash in then you wash your belly.   Just thinking about it brings a tear to my eye.

Then sometimes, just sometimes.  I let you feed yourself, but we both kidn of get in trouble - for obvious reasons!

Gosh I sure love you and that messy face!!!


Love,
mommy

100th Post

Dear Maizy,

This is my 100th post on your blog!!  I love you SO much and want to write and tell you tonz of things then when it actually comes time I either A) Get all emotional and want to tell you endlessly how much I love you or B) Get completely side tracked and tell you something equally as important, but different than planned.

So, I am just going to tell you random things about stuff, life and just more stuff.

I can't imagine my world with out you.

When I gave birth to you it didn't hurt and I would do it a thousand times over, so there is no hurt feelings here.

You are more beautiful than I ever imagined or dreamed you'd be.

You have the most contagious smile. 

Most days I wonder what I ever did to deserve a gift from God that is so perfect.

The other days in between I wonder why to God your terrible two's are starting so early.  ; )

I LOVE your independence, determination and drive that you already are expressing.


You make my heart smile every day.


When I get stressed about work, money or just life in general I think about you and I feel all better.


If anyone ever hurts you I will mess up their face.


I wonder when the day comes you will really believe me and know how beautiful, perfect and smart you really are, but it won't matter because I will be the last person you want to hear that from.

Look at you.  Darling as can be.  This was taken on 10/1/10.

How will I ever stress enough to you how important school really is!?!?


You will just have to find out for yourself that Mother Knows Best the hard way.  I did!


I will always love you NO matter what, seriously.  


Boys really are dumb!


No wonder there is a weight restriction on cribs or most parents would be sleeping with their child(ren) for a long time.  When I check on you while your sleeping, it takes everything I have to not jump in there and cuddle next to you.  Seriously.  It does. 


Friends can be your family too and most times they make better family since they don't have the same crazy genetic make up. But.............................


Good friends are hard to find. But.  You can never have too many friends.  


Share your kindness and love for people.


Don't judge.


Keep smiling.


My sweet girl you attract SO many people with that contagious smile of yours.  Seriously.  EVERY time we go out people comment on your eyes, smile, your exuberant happiness and I LOVE all those things about you.  Never lose that.  Keep smiling.  


This year that you have been in my physical life has  gone by SO fast.  I try really hard to soak up every moment but unfortunately I don't have the power to stop time or else I would.  I can't get enough of you.  This.  This awesome life we have going.  I LOVE you more than you'll ever know.  Ok so I may sound obsessed, so what!  So the freak what!!! I just love being a mom.  Your mom.


Love you!


Love,
mommy