This and that.

Dear Maizy,

I took the day off work yesterday.  We were getting our new furniture delivered and I couldn't bare the thought of being at work while you and your dad got to indulge in the new couches with out me.  Well the furniture arrived all too early - they were delivered, set up and delivery guys out of the door by 8:10am - no sleeping in for me on my day off.

I was bummed that we didn't get to sleep in, but the good thing is we had our whole day to play and do whatever we want without having to wait around to get our day started. 

We moved the old couch into the kitchen temporarily.  You did not like this change.  You took your cell phone and went and sat on the couch in the kitchen.  Not sure who you called or what you were saying, but I don't think you were diggin' the new couches.

We got ready for the day and were out of the door by 11am.  We went to look for new curtains, shoes for your dad and stuff for the house.  We went to Ross, TJ Max, Shopko, Wal-Mart and Target!  You were awesome in all of these stores!!  You did however like to take your shoes and socks off in the car of each store.  Eventually we just put your shoes in my purse and let you wear your socks everywhere!

Then we went to The Pizza Factory for lunch, it was yummy!!  You did pretty good with no nap.  In fact, you did great!!  I just love you and your face.

I just love the time that I get to spend with you and appreciate you so much.  You are this tiny little thing but you are so big at the same time.  You have big beautiful eyes full of curiosity, a smile that brightens the day,  the cutest little/big voice, a strong personality that I love,  I beg for your kisses - you're very choosy about giving them,  I die for your hugs - they are few and far between.  Not that you're not full of love but you are just too busy!!

I want to end with my favorite scripture. 

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. - Psalm 139:14

I love you!!!

Love,
mom

Tent City

Dear Maizy,

Look at what your Grandma Shelly gave you!!

She brought this to our house Tuesday night before us girls left for cousin Liz's going away party.  Can you believe this thing!?!?  Your dad blew it up for you and filled it with 50 pink and purple balls that came with it.  You got the biggest kick out of this thing!

We had to leave for the party then when we came back around 9:30pm you had a burst of energy and played and played in this thing.  Ok we did too!!  It was a blast to watch you play and press your cute face up to the windows on the side.  Cute, cute, cute!!

Then you did the cutest thing ever!!  There are the Disney princesses on each of the corners of the "tent" and they are about your size - you started talking to them!!  It was SOOOOO cute.  I couldn't understand what you were saying, but it was darling.  Tangled is one of the princesses on it along with Belle, Cinderella and Snow White.  Too Cute!!  Thanks Grandma Shelly

Love you!!

Love,

mom

Monday Night Family Night

Dear Maizy,

I got home from work last night and surprised you as you were watching Tangled in our bed.  We cuddled for a minute while your dad was getting ready for the evening and Grandma was on her way to get us for dinner. Grandma called to tell me she was on her way and you wanted my cell phone after the conversation.  I gave it to you and a few minutes later you gave it right back to me - by dropping it on my lip while I was lying down!!!  It hurt SOOOO freakin bad and instantly I had a fat, purple lip - just in time for dinner!!  OUCH!!  I know it was a complete accident, but it stung with pain as I felt my lip getting bigger.  My eyes instantly started watering profusely too! 

Nothing that some good beer with dinner couldn't fix.  Anyway, Grandma arrived and we went to Red Rock downtown for dinner.  You looked absolutely darling in your brown sweater dress, tights and boots!!  You are SO dang cute.  You were just looking around at all the hustle and bustle.  Then you got bored with that, so Grandma gave you a pen and paper, then you got bored with that and played with Grandma's cell phone, then you got bored with that and luckily your dinner, cheese pizza, arrived!! 

We had a great night, ate some yummy food and were entertained by you! Thank you for being such a good girl when we go out.  Grandma was getting the biggest kick out of you!

Then we went back to our house, played with Grandma for a few then it was bed time.

It was a great night.

Luckily, my fat lip isn't so fat today.

Love you!!!

Love,
mom

Our weekend.

Dear Maizy,

We had another successful, fun weekend!  I never doubt that we will, but I am here to tell you all about it.  Friday night I got home and we played and played and played. 

Saturday I woke up to the power being out and it SNOWED!  I was supposed to go to a seminar but with the power being out and snow on the ground -  what better excuse than to stay warm in bed!?!?  The power came on about an hour later.  The baby monitor was plugged in so when it came back on I heard you in your room blabbin' away.  I LOVE listening to you talk to yourself in your room, then I like to sneakily open your door and spy on you. Sometimes you are lying there with your toes in the air trying to touch them, sometimes you are talking to your bear and pointing to it's facial features, sometimes you are screaming for someone to come in and get you!  This particular morning you were playing with a balloon that was near your crib - would you believe we've had this same balloon going on two months now - crazy huh!?!  I know, I know having a balloon near your crib is not safe, but when we put you to bed it was floating on the ceiling.  Please don't call the authorities. ; )
Anyway, you squealed when you noticed me spying.  I picked you up, we chatted as we walked down the stairs.  I got coffee for me and toast and jam for you.  You are always in the best moods in the mornings. I LOVE it!!  Well I knew that giving you yummy jam for breakfast would require a bath right away.  After breakfast you got in the tub, played and played then we got ready for the day! We decided that while the sun was out and it was a beautiful day we'd run some errands.

I opened the door and showed you the snow I had in my hand - you grabbed it out of my hand and ATE it!  I don't blame you, so I ate some too!  Didn't seem to taste as I remembered like it did 25+ years ago.

Well we got you all bundled up and ran our errands.  See.......

You pretty much fell asleep as soon as we pulled out of the driveway.  I went to a few shops while dad stayed in the car with you.  You slept for a good hour and most likely would have slept longer if I didn't zoom over a speed bump that woke you up - sorry about that! I did feel really bad, but you were happy, smiling and just happy to be out and about.

Then we got home.  You grabbed an apple that was sitting on the table and started eating it.  I could see that the skin of the apple was tough for you to eat, so I peeled it for you.  It was so cute to watch you eat this big apple!  You were loving it.  Loving it so much that you decided to rub the apple in your hair and all over your face.  Bath time!  It was your second bath for the day!!  You crack me up!

You love the bath.  You like to lay on your tummy in the bath and lean back and put your head in the water.  I like bath time more now that you are bigger and more durable!!  It was so scary when you were little, had soap on your little body and was so slippery.  Bath time would give me slight heart attacks when you were a wee little baby!

After bath time and getting you dressed in comfy warm clothes we just stayed warm and inside the rest of the day!  Grandma came over around 9pm to give us some chili that Grandpa Glen made - yummy!  We played in your room and Grandma helped me get you ready for bed. 

Sunday we woke up, had breakfast and played.  Grandpa Frank came over around 12:30pm and I have never, ever seen you SO shy.  You were holding on to me and burying your head in my chest.  You were walking around and covering your face.  We were cracking us up!!  Your father and I had never seen you act like that.  I had such mixed emotions - I liked that you were being shy because you were cuddling with me which you don't like to do near enough in my book, but I felt bad that you don't see your Grandpa enough - um, I've seen you friendlier with strangers.  Grandpa brought you some yummy fruit bars, so you and Grandpa had one while we chatted and played.  You eventually warmed up to Grandpa..............as he was leaving.  He needs to come around more - what do you think!?!

After Grandpa left you took a long overdue nap,  I finished my book and your dad watched football, it was a fantastic, quiet, relaxing Sunday.

Our weekends always go by SOOOOO fast!!!  Thanks for the awesome weekend and for being such a good girl!

I love you!!

Love,

mommy

Trust.

Dear Maizy,

Before I was expecting you I was always torn on becoming a mother.  It was a role I was so hot and cold about, off and on, positive and negative, let's just say I was all over the map about being a person's mom.  I mean it's a HUGE job and responsibility!  I am not sure everyone or anyone I know for that matter thinks like I do - that could be good and bad.  Good because I over analyze to much stuff too often and put a lot of thought into some things. Bad because some women become mom's because that's what "women do" and they may not want it or even strive to be good at it.  I want to be a mom, a good one.

I think about this quote often:

 Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. - Elizabeth Stone

Anyway,  I remember talking to my co-worker years ago.  This co-worker was not just not anyone, it happened to be Branden Campbell, vocals and bass guitarist for the band The Neon Trees, we used to work together before he was famous, ok anyway, we were talking about kids and he said that being a parent was the coolest thing ever.  Then he told me this and it has always stuck with me - "Your kids just have so much trust in you.  My daughter Katie was standing up on something and said "dad, catch me!" and just jumped right to me trusting that I would catch her. I just thought that was really cool."  And I did too.  I never forgot that simple little story.  You trust that I will be there to "catch you."

You trust me.  You have too. I take you trusting me with all that I am.  I do my best to make the best decisions for you every single day.  I have to make sure I buy the best diapers,  the most nutritional and yummy food for you,  the right clothes and shoes, the best doctor, medicine, provide you with a safe and clean home, make sure you have clean clothes, towels and bedding and that is just some of the things I (we as parents) do.  I love doing all of these things for you, but it's not just me, it's your father too.  I honestly don't know what we would do without him.  You truly have an amazing father!

We love you so much and take such pride in you, our home, each other and being your parents.  You make me proud every minute of every day.

Last night I was giving you a bath and you trusted me to lie you back in the water and hold on to you.  You loved it!  You put your head back in the water, was closing your eyes and kicking your legs.  I was slowly pouring water on your tummy and we were humming a little song.  I would try to sit you up, but you were totally relaxed and wanted to continue lying back in the water.  I will always cherish that moment. 

I feel bad when I think of other children that don't have a chance and aren't given one from the very moment they are born. I seriously get so mad when parents take their children for granted and neglect them.  UGH!  I never want to take you for granted.  You are a special, special child.

Anyway, last night after our awesome bath time.  I got you in your jammies and we played in your room.  You were climbing from the ottoman (which rocks) to your rocking chair. Dangerous!  You were having a blast!!  You are such a little climber.  I love watching you play and giggle. 

Look how happy you were with yourself.



You were smiling and having a blast.  Then you saw the camera and gave me your serious face.

Then you got bored with the chair and found a basket to climb into.  You crack me up!

Thank you for trusting me.  I love you!  I am truly blessed to be your mother. It's Friday and I CAN NOT wait for the weekend.  I LOVE our weekends!!

Love you!!

Love,

mommy

Stuff

Dear Maizy,

I can't get over how smart, fun and just downright awesome you are.  When I was expecting you people always told me "Oh you're going to be so tired!"  "You know she is going to be a teenager one day, right." "You'll never be able to do what you want anymore." They never told me all the good stuff.  It's like it was a secret or something. 

Well these things are true and they aren't.  I have and always will be tired.  When do we really get enough sleep.  Even on nights when you go to bed and I could potentially go to bed too - I don't.  So it's not always your fault I am tired.

You will be a teenager one day and I will patiently await those days.  I just hope that  we have a good relationship and respect for each other.  That we can communicate. That you ask and tell me lots of stuff.  That may be in a perfect world, but I am really hoping that is the case.  I always want to know what is going on with you, how you are feeling and I want to be right there supporting you and hopefully making life as a teen better and not worse.  There was NO communication between my parents and I and I don't want that for us.  Please!?!

People are right I can't just do whatever I want, whenever I want and that is fine by me.   I was sick of always thinking about me.  I had been doing that for way too long.  I love the spontaneity that you bring to my life.  Sometimes we read books all night,  play dolls, watch a movie, play music, dance, draw and sometimes you don't even want anything to do with me at all, but I love every minute of it because it's all you.  I love watching you play and interact with your father, me, other people and your toys.

Being your mom is the best thing by far I have ever done.  I get so excited for the person that you are and for the person you will continue to be. 

I've only known you for over a year - two if you count when you were in my tummy, but look how much you have changed.

Taken 11.2.10

Not only physically but mentally as well.  You have doubled - plus some in size,  you have lots more hair,  you now run, talk, giggle a ton more, play with toys all your own, feed your self, ask for stuff when you want it and your ability to understand is remarkable.  Can you believe this picture was taken exactly one year ago today!?!?

You have this cute little comb and brush set and I'll say "Go find your brush, go find it."  And there you go looking around the room and you always find it.  You'll brush your hair, your dolly's then mine.  I love when you brush my hair and you talk while doing it. 

The funniest thing - the other night you were brushing my hair and I turned my head to talk to your dad and you pulled my hair to put my head looking forward again.  You were like a mean hair dresser!  I got the biggest kick out of it. 

You know the word for most of your body parts.  We'll say "where are your toes?" And you'll touch them or put them in my face, "where is your belly?" And you'll pat your belly or ours.  "Where is your eye?"  You'll point to yours or put your finger into ours.  It's just amazing.

I am truly blessed to have you as my daughter.  You are smart, you are kind, you are important, you are beautiful, you are funny, you are mine.

I Love You!

Love,
mommy

Happy Halloween!!!

Dear Maizy,

We survived Halloween!!  Whew!!  My day began at work. Boo! We had a Chili Cook Off here. Your dad and I both entered a crock pot of chili and wouldn't you know it.  Dad WON!!!!!  YAY!!!  Your dad took first place.  His chili really was quite delicious.  It had lots of flavor and color and just the right amount of spice - Yum!  Since he took first place he received a $25 gift card to a steak house.  Go Daddy! 

Then later in the afternoon the employees children came to my office for trick-or-treating.  I couldn't wait to see you!!! I was SO excited.  Everyone kept asking where you were.  I was getting anxious.  I kept calling and your dad didn't answer the phone and then when I called at 4:20pm you two were just barely leaving the house!  I was so, so sad!  The event ended at 5pm and when you got here everyone was pretty much gone. I admit when you and your dad got here I cried I was so sad.  Well we walked around anyway and about 5 people saw you, but 5 very luck y people.  I was bummed and still am when I think about it.  You weren't your usual happy self and it could have been because A) I cried and maybe the running mascara on my face threw you for a loop.  B) You just woke up and was trying to take it all in and figure it out. C) YOu were actually given candy and mommy and daddy let you keep it! Weird!

Anyway, after work we drove up to Grandma Donker's house for pizza and salad - not to mention they ordered my least favorite pizza IN THE WORLD!  UGH!  Not much besides my fave park ranger was making me to happy!  Anyway, everyone was excited to see you and Grandma Donker got you a cute little Halloween gift.  A Dora the Explorer card,  a plastic pumpkin and inside were 3 beanie babies, a darling outfit and 2 new books!! It was really nice of her.  Your dad and I also got you a Dora the Explorer Halloween dvd, but we gave that to you a day early!

Then after dinner we watched you run around and play.  You were cracking us all up. Then before we left I let you eat a mini Halloween cupcake.  It has bright orange frosting with black sprinkles. You ate it all up - it was really, really cute!! Dangit!  I didn't get a pic of that.  Needless to say with all that sugar you were up until 1:30am.

Thank you for the wonderful Halloween!! You had the most darling costume EVER!!  The cutest part of it all was your smile of course.  Thank you for being such a good, good girl! 

Love you tonz and tonz!

Love,
mommy