Big Fat Catchup

Dear Maizy,

Ok let's go back in time to March, yes March.  One Saturday morning after your Tiny Tots class Grandma Shelly met us and we headed downtown for a photo shoot.  My friend Amanda asked me if you could participate in a St. Patrick's Day shoot for her blog, Design Loves Detail - I said heck yes!

After your class we changed you in the car.  Amanda ask that you were green, orange or white.  I was able to find you the cutest orange outfit. I had also done your hair really cute but Grandma didn't like it and redid it.  Well frankly I wasn't a fan of how she did your hair.  Anyway, you are beautiful no matter what.  We were there for a few hours and it was so much fun to watch you interact with the other cute kids.  There was a boy named Max that was there and he was a doll!! You and him got along beautifully. 

It really was a fun afternoon and I was so proud of you. 

We went up on the sky bridge and you kids were given silly string to play with, it was a blast to watch you kids!

I sure love you!

Love,
mommy

New Sitter

Dear Maizy,

I'll play catch-up later but I wanted to write about something today.  Today was your first day (6/17/13) at a sitter's house - other than one of your Grandma's.  Here's how it all went down.

Well Grandma Donker has been caring for Aunt Laurie  - ugh that's a whole other, lame, long, pointless story - as well as you too!  That's too much for her, it really is.  I mean she is 72 with MS.  As much as Grandma loves, loves, loves having you there we just starting feeling guilty.  Soooooooooooooooo I talked to Grandma Shelly about our concerns with Grandma watching you and she agreed that we needed to find someone else.  I put an ad out on Sitter City and we interviewed one girl - she was lame!  Then a Godsend replied to my ad, Ashley.  Ashley sounded perfect and her price was right.  

I responded as quick as possible to Ashley.  Me, you and Grandma went and met with her that night.  We pulled up and her house is darling!  In a great neighborhood and then she opened the door and she was darling.  Her house was spotless and smelled good.  Ashley is young, hip with tattoos, easy to talk to and yet firm.  I liked her right off the bat.  You liked her son and the few kids that were waiting for their parents.  We went over the paperwork and such while you and her son, Payton, wrestled.  We had a great feeling!  I left knowing that is where I would feel comfortable with you going.

I text Ashley the next day and told her we'd see her Monday morning. Aaaaaaahhhhh!!!

Your dad and I talked to you about Ashley all weekend.  We reminded you that you have to listen to Ashley and that she can put you in timeout if she needs to and so on.

We also told you that you could take one blanket and a toy to Ashley's, so you picked out a few things to take with you.  You were so cute in picking out your stuff.  

Well Monday arrived and the first thing you said - possibly before you even opened your eyes was "I want to take my monkey to Ashley's house!" Super cute.  

I took my sweet time getting ready this morning and you asked a few times "Can we go yet?"  We finally got out of the door. 

I took this picture as we left the house to Ashley's.  Look at that cute, cute smile!

In your suitcase were diapers, wipes, your Ariel doll and a cute piggy blanket Grandma Annette made for you before you were born.  

You were so excited.  I was excited and nervous for you, but your confidence and excitement put me at ease.  Your dad felt the same way. 

We arrived to Ashley's and you couldn't get out of the car fast enough. We walked up the stairs, daddy knocked on the door, but you wanted to knock too.  All the kids were there and they were all smiles and excited to see a new face. Ashley was real inviting and happy to see you too. The kids welcomed you with open arms - literally.  You sat down and got comfy while we finished up some paperwork with Ashley.  We gave you kisses, told you to have a great day and we left.  We left you there.  It was kind of a weird feeling, but your dad reassured me that he had a good feeling  about everything and was happy that you seemed happy to be there.  We both were a little teary eyed when we drove off, then all we did was talk about you and how good this is for you and Grandma too!

This is a good thing for all the following reasons:  you love and need to be around other children, this will help you learn to share, communicate and hopefully you will want to go potty in the potty like the big kids, you will learn to listen to an authoritative figure other than your parents or grandma's - that let you get away with everything.  You will follow other household rules, you will learn from other kids - which can be good and bad.

I went to work and wondered how your day was going.  Then Ashley sent me this picture of you.

I stopped worrying so much.  When the day finally ended we went and picked you up.  You did not want to leave!  You were kicking and screaming!  Ashley bribed you with some licorice and it worked.

I am SO glad you had such a good day!  Um, you were a pill after being there all day and continued being a pill the rest of the week.  Just something we need to work on, but I have faith this is the best thing for everyone.  Thank goodness for Ashley!

I love you!

Love,
mommy

MIA

Dear Maizy,

I feel like such a bum for not posting since APRIL!!  But in my defense we have been super busy having a blast!

We had an awesome Easter - you had 3 Easters!  It was like Christmas all over again.

Then we went to Hawaii!  Yes, Hawaii!!  We had the time of our lives. 

You have grown and changed SO much.  You are hilarious, sweet, funny, hot-headed, beautiful, strong, energetic, low-patience (sorry about that), smart, thoughtful, passionate, kind and cuddly!

You LOVE to give people kisses on the nose!

You like to correct people to say "bum" and not "butt" although you made it ok for your to say "chicken butt".

You have all of your Grandpa's wrapped around your finger!

Grandma Shelly is your favorite person in the world and I'm a close second.

Your dad likes to call you "turtle face" when you're being a pill.

There is nothing you can't climb and/or jump off of.

You LOVE to draw, color and paint - on every surface!!  The interior of the car, the coffee table, your wall - oh your poor bedroom wall!

We are all getting excited for the arrival of your brother.  You love to "hug" him and tickle him, it's the most tender thing to witness.  I can't wait for you two to meet. 

You love to sing and dance.  Your favorite song to sing is a 20 minute rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. 

You love, love, love to play outside, squash ants, climb up your slide and tell us to "watch this awesome move" or "watch this special move." Then you make us clap for you which we happily oblige.

You love to sit in the front seat of the car and pretend to drive, sometimes this is cute sometimes not so much - like when we're in a hurry or you refuse to get in your seat.

You are the light of mine and your dad's life.  We love you SO much and would do anything for you.

We have started to put you in time out when you act up and you do not like that one bit.  After being in time out for 30 seconds you say "mom, can I say sorry now?"  You kill me.

You love, love, love attention from us which is worry some for when your brother makes his debut. 

If your father and I are talking and you want our attention you tell us to "zip our lips!"  Yikes!

You say funny and adorable things that I am not quite sure where you get.  For example you said "I'm gonna shake like a rattlesnake" and shook your cute little body!!

If you see someone that is sad you say "mom I am going to sing to them and then they will be happy."

I had a headache one night and you asked how I was feeling and I told you my headache went away and you said "you so happy that your headache went away?"

I was telling someone that you are two and a half and you said "I'm not half!"

You are so smart.  Seriously.  The things you say, know, point out to me, observe and remember blow me away!!

I love you so much!

I promise I will get better about posting and I will do a big catchup with pictures.

I love you babe!

I am SO looking forward to your brother getting here and me staying home with the two of you!

Love you!

Love,
mommy

Tiny Tots

Dear Maizy,

We signed you up for the cutest class, Tiny Tots, at Central City Recreation Center in Salt Lake.  I was having the hardest time finding a class for you that was offered on the weekends.  I am finding out that a lot of places don't cater towards working parents.  

Anyway, I found this class and it was perfect, it exceeded all my expectations.  The gym was nice and new.  There were no ghetto parents or kids and the staff was awesome. 

The first class we were a few minutes late too but you and I had a great time!! They gave each kid a ball and you were to kick it softly but you liked to kick it as far as possible so there I was chasing the ball around - a good work out was had by all. Then at almost every class they pulled out the parachute where we all hold on to it and wave it around and then at one point all the kids run underneath it, this was by far your favorite thing.  

You made me so proud at each and every class. Not only are you beautiful, smart and have a super contagious laugh and smile you are really coordinated, athletic and tough!!  You rocked it!

There were a few kids that would typically cry or complain but you never did, in fact, you were quite quiet at each class.  You were just busy taking it all in and focused on what you were doing.  

The class taught you teamwork, listening to a teacher, following instruction, interacting with other children and taking turns.  

The first class was just you and I.

The second class Grandma Shelly came and watched for a minute as we were doing something after.  They gave you a t-shirt at this session. This is the class where I hit a dad in the side of the face and a child on top of the head with a ball - YIKES!!  They also have a little obstacle course that you are a rockstar at!! 

The third class was just you and me babe.  Then after we went to visit Aunt JoLynne and she stressed to me that she wanted to come see you at your next class.



The fourth and last class daddy came with us!  Woo hoo!!  Then Aunt JoLynne showed up just in time to see you get your awesome award.  I was the proudest parent in the room.  You brought tears to my eyes when they called your name and you walked up there to receive your trophy and certificate.  You deserved every bit of that award for your enthusiasm, participation, rockstar abilities, best smile, friendliness, kindness and just all around awesome kid!  The teachers always beamed when they saw you.  You and daddy were so cute together.  you LOVED having him there.  

It's been a few weeks since the class has ended but you still talk about it, which assures me that you enjoyed it and had a great time.  The next class isn't until August and that is going to be a crazy month for us, so we'll have to figure out something.  I just know you make me so proud.  I love watching you grow and learn and am so blessed to be your mom.

I love you!!

Love,
Mommy

Ultrasound

Dear Maizy,

One night when Aunt Jennifer was working she offered for us to go to her hospital and play on the ultrasound machine so we could get a peak at your sibling.  We got there kind of late since Aunt Jenn didn't get to work until 7ish anyway.  We got there and wouldn't you know it three women came in to have babies, so Aunt Jenn couldn't play with us, but she was able to wheel in the ultrasound machine into our room to play with.  

We had the best time looking at the baby, it was moving like crazy but I still wasn't able to feel it.    you had a blast doing the ultrasound too!  You always say and reminded us "I'm a great doctor!"

You are sure this baby is a boy!  You have been calling him your brother from day 1.  

I know you'll continue to be the best big sister EVER!!  Your sibling is a lucky little person.

It was getting late and you were getting tired, so we didn't stay too long.

Thanks for being such an amazing little girl and blessing me as your mom!

I love you!

Love,
mommy

Big Girl Bed

Dear Maizy,

Bed time has been an issue in our household for a long time and especially since the time you could climb out of your crib.  

You are a night owl and fight tooth and nail falling asleep.  Well we were going to get you a big bed but with our Hawaii vacation coming up I decided to put it on hold for now, so we transformed your bed into a "big girl bed" just for you!!

Daddy sleeps in there most nights with you for a couple of reasons.  1) The heater vent is right there so he stays warm all night. 2) You will stay in your bed all night rather than come climb into ours.  

I have never been a fan of your sleeping habits and was getting quite worried.  I especially got worried when one morning you woke up with dark circles and bags under your eyes! Aaaahhhh!!  I called your awesome doctor.  She recommended melatonin.  That stuff works pretty well.  We give you your "tummy medicine", as we call it, at night.  You are great about taking it since it tastes good.  It takes about 30 minutes to hit you then it makes you act kind of drunk.  I love it though because some nights you will fall asleep while I am rocking you in the rocking chair and holding you.  Then we put you in your won bed but it's not too long before you come and climb into bed with us.  This bed time thing has been the most challenging thing with you - other than that you are a breeze so I guess I kind of don't mind.  Sleep is for the birds! Plus I feel like I can sympathize.  I was a night owl growing up and your father and I are definitely ones on the weekend.  

I love you my sweet girl!

Love,
mommy

Winter Time Fun

Dear Maizy,

This has been a long, super cold winter for all of us.  You ask if we can go to the park all the time.  I get it - you just want to be outside.  Well it's been really cold and quite miserable.  Well the Sunday after our weekend at the hotel it was actually quite sunny and I was feeling pretty good, so we got in the car with nowhere to go.  I love when we do this.  We got on the highway and headed north.  I drove and sometimes I really despise driving because I can't sight see - well I can but it's not safe.

Anyway, we were up near Ogden and see saw a park that looked nice so we got off the highway trying to find it and we found something even cooler.  We came across a dinosaur park, it was closed, but there was a walking trail around it and a beautiful river, so we got out of the car and walked around.  It felt tremendous to just be out, in the sun and to be walking. 

After hanging out of the sun roof for a minute you were anxious to hit the pavement.  We had a blast making snowballs, throwing them at each other, kicking the snowballs, throwing snow into the river, looking through the fence into the dinosaur park, chasing each other, getting a closer look into the river and just being together.  We were all permagrin.

After working up an appetite we went over to the gift shop and restaurant across the way to see what it was all about.  The gift shop was pretty neat.  The cashier LOVED you!  She picked you up and carried you around the store showing you everything.  We ended up buying you a pink rock that you wanted to go throw in the river.  Then we went and ate in the Greenery Room (I think that's what it's called).  The food was pretty tasty. While we were there an elderly man walking in to sit at a table near us winked at you, you got shy so you turned into me then he got right up behind you and started talking, you turned around and hit him square in the nose.  Aaaaahhh!!  I didn't know what to do.  I was proud of you for doing what you did and protecting your own space.  I just wasn't sure if I should apologize but he was in the wrong.  Gosh girl!  You have the reflexes of a cat!!  This always happens to you and especially with old people.  They always get right up in your face. 

We left shortly after that and got back in the car and headed home, not before stopping at the store and getting drinks and treats for the ride back.

Thanks for a wonderful, wonderful day!  It felt superb getting out and walking around and even though it was cold the sunshine was nice!!

Never a dull moment with my sweet girl!

We love you SO much!

Love,

mommy