Easy Peasy

This little boy, who came into our lives so unexpectedly, is patient, quiet, funny, and so very easy.

He bumbles around looking for things to do, ways to entertain himself. 

He keeps himself happy and is amused by what is happening around him.

He eats like a horse. He could eat a horse. He eats more than his brother and sister combined, and sometimes the leftovers from their plates too. 

He doesn't like the word "no," and crumbles into a million pieces when we have to be stern. 

He recently tried to crawl in the fireplace with a blazing fire going. I found a couple puzzle pieces in the fireplace recently, clearly placed there on a day when no fire was present. 

This is my only beef with this child -- stay out of the fireplace.

He found this white ball Christmas morning and had so much fun playing with it. He was delighted to learn it was a tasty treat of white chocolate when he instinctively put it in his mouth, rolled over, and laid in the Christmas mess to enjoy a little peace of heaven. 

He could, without a doubt, remain at this age for eternity and no one would flinch, grow impatient, or imagine him a day older. 

He is perfectly perfect the way he is.

Three

My sweet, spirited boy turned 3 on Saturday. We spent the day bouncing, and jumping, and sliding, and running, and riding a merry-go-round.

The midwife told me when I was in labor that "he is going to give you a time of it." Two days of labor, and the at the peak of it (or should I say pique...), the Doctor came in to turn him, manually I might add. He turned right back where he wanted to be and came out when he was ready.

He hasn't changed a bit. He makes his Dad and I show up for parenting every single day.

He "WOW's" us with his amazing physical capabilities. I imagine him climbing mountains and playing sports, showing off his nimble and coordinated efforts, which seem so effortless (and I believe they are).

This boy, so full of life and humor, is equally good at digging his heels in. Just like he entered this world, he will not move until he is ready.

What fun we will have seeing who he becomes, witnessing what he can do, and  watching where he will go.

Kindergarten

New beginnings seem to be the theme around here, and this gal is managing the change like a champ. Bursting at the seam, she was so happy, confident, eager, and excited to begin school. 

It didn't matter that her brown shoes didn't match her black pants, they were new and she wanted to wear them. We pick our battles, right? What mattered is that she came home talking nonstop about what they did on the first day, and that she got to try tray lunch for the first time, and that Mrs. Swan showed off her artwork to the class, which made her feel so very special.

These new beginnings have been a tad bumpy, but we are clinging on to the fun moments, and this day was fun.

Perfection

Happy 1st Birthday, Lee

 (Color photos courtesy of Four Handz Farm, Black and White courtesy of his Mama)

Sweet little moments I'd forgotten about

It's amazing what you forget you've taken with your camera when you are unable to access the memory card, which was left behind in Virginia. Thank goodness for VCU staff willing to mail it 3,000 miles. 

These were a treat to find - pictures taken 8 weeks ago on a memory card that I thought was lost to me. 

I'm so grateful to have the pictures back in my hands again.

The kids have already changed so much since then.

My boys

Mom, what is on top of the world?

With Ada out of school and big questions coming at a fast pace, we are having fun finding ways to answer those big questions.

We have been learning about the solar system with the aid of printable coloring pages and heading to the library. I love Peep and Big Wide World -- Joan Cusak as the narrator couldn't be more perfect -- and this episode on the moon is fun.

We will sadly miss astronomer's night at the Science Museum of Virginia (they are setting up their gigantic telescopes), but for a good reason -- Ada's ballet recital is tomorrow night!

We hope to smuggle a camera in to capture her performance, which she says she is "very nervous" about. 

Books
If you decide to go to the moon
Papa, please get the moon for me
Our solar system
Moon

Coloring Pages
Planets
Our Solar System
Planet Cut-Out Templates
Planets and their Moons
Earth

Q bathtime

Jack and Jill

8 months

Just chillin'

A ballerina in black and white

When the city dance program Ada is part of opened its doors for parents, allowing us to come in and watch our children practice in the studio for one night only, Sam agreed to stay home with the boys so I could attend.

I was excited to see what she has been learning, and jumped at the chance to take pictures and soak in my girl flitting about the dance studio in her ballet slippers.

I was in for so much more than I anticipated though. 

She hung on Ms. Ebony's every word.

She had sweet interactions with her closest friends in class.

She was disciplined in a way that surprised me and made me so proud.

It was the first time I really appreciated Ada as a person all her own -- separate from me, separate from her Dad, separate from our family. It is a wonderful thing to watch, and yet the distance that this level of independence creates is uncomfortable.

I knew it would happen. 

Preschool. 

Dance. 

All of the experiences that you want for your children so they can learn, and grow, and have fun -- they are good, and independence is good, and learning who you are is good.

It's all good.

Learning how to slowly let go is my job...and "it ain't easy," folks.

But you already knew that, didn't you.

The easy job? Watching this girl DANCE!

Ada and her fellow ballerinas will be "birds" in a performance of Cinderella at their recital in June

Memory

Wishing and hoping that somewhere he logs the precious and all too fleeting time he got to spend with his Aunt Melanie...

"Where's Fuddy?"

We've figured out that "Fuddy" is Ada, also known as "Buddy" or "Bud" in our house 

(all of our kids are).

Apparently Fuddy and I are not the only people in the house who like to take pictures.

 Little Rascal.