Many Milestones for Mallory

Mallory continues to change so quickly! Many big things have happened for her lately. In February she was invited to her first birthday party. Her little friend Kennedy had a birthday tea party. She got all dressed up in a pretty dress and had a great time. She looked like such a big girl!

Several months ago we put her potty chair out just to get her familiar with it. Every now and then we would put her on it. A few times she even went to the bathroom and we were thrilled. While Duane and I were in Gaitlynburge, my Aunt Susan spent a lot of time working on potty training with Mallory. When we came home from our trip we were thrilled to find out she was nearly potty trained. She is doing a wonderful job with it! Now that spring is here and she is playing outside more often, she's had a few set backs. But it's just a matter of us reminding her more often to take a break and go to the bathroom when she is so engaged with outdoor play.

A few weeks ago we took down her crib and put up the toddler bed. She never really tried to climb out of her crib. But this summer she is going to bunk with Molly so that Madison can have her own room. So we wanted to give her plenty of time to adjust. When she switches rooms she'll be in a twin bed. It was a bitter sweet day! She took very well to her new bed. She is still great with naps, but often visits our room at night now that she can come and go as she pleases. We finally have Molly trained to stay in her bed for the most part and now we have a little one coming in for a visit.

The kids in the neighborhood have been spending a lot more time in our yard now that the weather is improving. Mallory just fits right into the mix. She is not always directly involved in what they are all playing, but she is totally content to just be in the midst of it all. Al big challenge this summer will be teaching her to stay away from the street. I'll be relieved when she gets that one. The next milestone we are hoping for is to get rid of the paccie this summer. I saved that one for last because it is not going to be easy. But it's time! She is a big girl now!

Princess Molly

Molly is our wonderful middle child. With this status comes many challenges that she didn't necessarily ask for. Especially at the age she is. She is in the shadow of her big sister who gets to do "everything" because she is older. She has to go along to be a spectator to all these great things that her big sister gets to do but she doesn't. She is not sweet, innocent toddler that gets away with things because she is "just learning" anymore. The same toddler that gets so much attention for learning new things at what seems like the speed of sound. It's a tough spot to be in. She doesn't always realize how special she is and that her time will come too. This year on her birthday I decided that she would get the royal treatment! That she would have the most special day ever! And she really did! We had a party at the Princess Tea Room in downtown Centerville. It was truly a little girls dream. What a beautiful place! After everyone arrived the girls went upstairs to choose dress-up clothes and have their make-up done. There was so much to choose from. Tiaras, wands, gloves, fur stoles. You name it! Then they layed out the red carpet and had a fashion show. Next they made picture frames, then it was on to the tea party. The girls enjoyed fruit and veggies and had lemonade and tea using real china. Then came the cupcakes! After the tea party everyone went back up stairs for some presents and dancing. Madison sat next to Molly and helped her read the cards. It was precious! The afternoon was full of bright, happy little faces. I loved seeing Molly have the chance to be the center of attention. It was her special day. But I also enjoyed seeing all of those little girls faces when they got to pick out their dress-up close and when Molly opened each of their special gifts. It was priceless! I am so glad that we could give Molly such a special 5th birthday!

Missing Daddy

Duane had to make another trip to China. It was a sad house of girls here. No one likes it when Daddy is gone. Molly and I shed tears together. My anxiety level was off the charts while he was making the trip there and back. But life has to go on, especially when it is as busy as ours. Several weeks ago Duane and I sat down and looked at the calendar to find the week that would be the most manageable without him. Of coarse after he planned the trip, 5 more things came up. But that would probably have been the case any week that we chose. We stayed very busy and it helped pass the time. We had a girl's night the day Duane left. We ate dinner in living room and watched movies. I let the girls take turns sleeping with me every night. It made the lonely nights a little more bearable having some one to cuddle with. I truly ached being away from Duane. It's like taking half of a whole a way. I tried to console myself by taking comfort in the fact that we love each other so much, it hurts to be apart. I'm so lucky to have that. On Sunday we went to an art show to see two pieces of Madison's art work that were selected to be on display. This was very exciting for all of us! I was so proud of her! She made a Chinese dragon, which was kind of ironic and a drawing of her being a vet when she grows up. Madison went to a cheer leading camp for three evening that week. On the final night they did a performance for the families. She really had fun with it. It was a blast watching her, but it was just as much fun watching Molly trying to do the routines from the stands. Next year she'll be old enough for cheer leading camp. That's going to be the case for a lot of things soon. Molly's growing up! We did all of this in addition to our normal activities and routines. I have so much respect for single parents. I don't know how they do it. I really am trying to appreciate all the things that Duane does to help out. It sure is a lot! By Friday, we were all exhausted and really ready for the man of the house to come home. It was hard to contain our excitement. We made him a welcome home sign and hung it on the front door. I let the girls stay up until he got home around 10:30. They didn't even let him get out of the car before covering him with kisses and hugs. I was so relieved to have Duane safe and sound at home. We were one happy, reunited family. We were complete again! Every time he goes on a trip, Duane brings the girls something special. While in China, he visited a silk factory. He bought all three girls the most adorable pajamas. I got a beautiful silk shirt. Daddy's always thinking of his girls, no matter where he is. We're so glad he's home, sweet home!

Cabin in the Woods

After eight years, Duane and I finally took a trip without the little ones. We are so grateful to my parents and Aunt Susan for taking the time to spend the weekend with the kids. It meant so much to us. We have done some over night get aways. But this time we had three days and two nights alone. I love my children more than life itself. But I truly believe that without a happy, healthy and fulfilling marriage, nothing else in life can be solid. I am so blessed to have that. But it takes dedication and hard work to maintain in our busy lives. Every married couple needs some time alone to have intimate and in depth conversations and to have the chance to rediscover one another and reconnect at a deeper level that we don't always have the time or opportunity to do. That was what our weekend in Gaitlynburg was all about. We were tucked away in an adorable, secluded cabin with the most breathtaking view! It was so quiet and peaceful. I felt like a kid at Christmas when we left on Saturday morning. We talked the entire 5 hour trip. That night we cooked dinner together, listened to music and enjoyed the freedom of not having to answer to anyone or meet numerous demands. On Sunday we decided to go indoor sky diving of all things! I was pretty skeptical about the whole things. But like so many times, Duane talked me into it and we had a blast. There's nothing like flying:) Later in the day the snow started really coming down. So we threw caution to the wind and went for a drive in the mountains. Duane found a great spot for some breathtaking pictures. We parked on the side of the road and heels and I I ventured with him into the woods. It was one of those moments in life that I really felt close to God. I could hear the snow falling and the creek tumbling along and all was calm. There are few too many moments of calm in my life being a working mom. I cherish that moment and was blessed to share it with my husband. That evening we enjoyed a nice dinner and came back to our cabin to find we had lost power. Luckily, we were upgraded to another cabin. Once I got past the few too many stuffed animal heads, we settled in for another relaxing night together. On our final day we went out to breakfast, did a little shopping and road a tram through the mountains. It was a bright sunny day and the snow glistened on the mountains. It was a fantastic end to a such a memorable trip. Although we enjoyed our time alone together, there was nothing like being welcomed home by our three little munchkins. We can't wait to take them there some day!

Madison's 8th Birthday

It's hard to believe that Madison is now 8 years old! I was looking at pictures from when she was a baby and I remember what a special time in our lives it was. We became a family. One of the greatest things we did as new parents I think was to not let having a child stop us from doing the things that we loved. Madison went hiking, biking and boating during her first year of life. And we loved every minute of sharing those experiences with her. The night before her birthday Madison and I were talking. One of the rare moments that I can have a one on one conversation with one of my kids. She asked me if I was going to play her special personalized birthday CD and sing to her when she woke up the next morning on her birthday. I told her she would have to just wait and see. Then she told me that she knows that her life is so special because I did things for her that not all moms do. She said that she knew that not all kids were as lucky as her and that the special things I did for her really meant a lot. I thought I was going to faint! I felt like all of the time and hard work I put into trying to be the best possible mother came down to this one defining moment with my first born. I had hoped that one day she would get it. I never imaged that she would be 8 years old when she did. There are lots of times that Duane probably thinks that I'm going overboard to make certain things extra special. There is a fine line between spoiling your kids and making them feel significant. I know that I can't give them everything. But I want my girls to feel special. I want them to know how important their happiness is to me. Making memories for them is one of the things I live for. It makes them who they are and what I dream they will become some day. The next day on her birthday, she had a skating party with her friends. It was a joy to see her face lit up the whole time. I was out there doing the chicken dance and the hoky poky with a bunch of 8 year olds. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. After the party we went to church as a family and reflected on all our blessings. There are so many. Then we headed downtown the the Spaghetti Warehouse for dinner. It's one of Madison's favorite places. We have our ups and downs just like every mother and daughter. But the love and pride I feel for that beautiful 8 year old girl is overwhelming at times. I am so grateful that God picked me to be her mother.

What's New with Mallory

We have discovered that Mallory has a temper. She likes to scream, hit and throw things when she is angry. This is something new for us. The two older girls didn't give us much trouble with tantrums. She always says she's sorry when she calms down. She definitely holds her own with her big sisters. Unfortunately Molly has had a few war wounds after one of Mallory's fits. But 90% of the time she is the most adorable, loving girl. She has the cutest little voice and she likes to talk in a high pitch tone when she is very excited. She is very excited a lot. She also talks a lot. She is starting to play with the big girls toys like My Little Ponies and Littlest Pet Shop. She is very imaginative and has conversations with her toys. She also like to play with her kitchen and baby dolls. We've discovered that she is a whiz at puzzles and she loves to sort things and line them up in rows. We may have another engineer on our hands. Coloring is one of her favorite past times. Every night Mallory has to go to sleep with her personalized Veggie Tales CD playing. I can't recall who bought that for her, but she truly loves it! We started a parent and tot class once a week at the rec center. It gives her a chance to climb, play with balls, do somersaults, shoot hops, parachute games, etc. It's a great opportunity for her to learn how to share and take turns. We may have another good soccer player on our hands. She loves to kick and throw balls. It's really nice for her and I to have that special time together. She is very generous with I love you, You're pretty and You are my best friend. All of which melt my heart. It is time for us to get rid of the paccie, start potty training and put her in a big girl bed. I have been secretly avoided all of those things. Number 1, they are all three a pain and number 2, that will confirm that baby, most likely my last baby, is no longer a baby and I'm just not quite ready for that yet.

What's New with Molly

It is never a dull moment in our house with Molly. Some of the things she says really blow me away! She has an amazing memory. Except for when it comes to letters and numbers! At least that's what she wants us to think. That ensures that she gets more one on one time with us to practice. She is very dramatic and is working hard to accept that she can't always have it her way. The other day out of the blue she told me she was going to be a different kid from now one. She was going to do what she was told, listen in school and be nice to her sisters. I said, "I'll take it!":) Honestly, she really is a good kid with such a loving heart. I really don't have to tell her more than once to do most things. Sometimes she just does them automatically, which is so nice for me. I love to watch her interact with Mallory. They really have become the best of friends. Mostly because Molly is so willing to give Mallory her time, attention and lots of affection. Many mornings, Molly gets Mallory out of her crib. It is not uncommon to see them cuddled up on the couch together or to hear them said, "I love you". It's such a precious gift to a mother. I am blessed to see the love of sisters everyday. I always missed having that. Molly has taken an interest in roller skating. She is bound and determined to skate around like the big kids. Now it consists of her holding on to me with one hand and the wall with the other. She stays up about 75% of the time now. Every time she gets a little more confident. She continues to like gymnastics and is improving her skills alot. This spring she's going to try her hand at soccer. Kindergarten registration is right around the corner too. I remember when I was in my first trimester with Mallory. I was so exhausted, I could hardly get off the couch in the evening. Molly was always there for a cuddle on the couch and she is still my little cuddle bunny. Even though she's not so little any more:(

What's New with Madison

No words can express how thrilled I am with how Madison is doing these days. What a huge change from one year ago! She has a fantastic teacher in a school and school district that I am grateful for every day. She just got her report card and I am proud to say, she is right on track with everything. Math is something that she has to work really hard at. Unfortunately she gets that from me, not her father the engineer. But she has come a long way. She has even met her end of the year reading goal already. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to sit and listen to my first born read! I never tire of it. Last Friday Duane had to opportunity to visit her school for a "Living Museum". The kids in her class each picked a significant person from the United States that they researched. They made a special art project, collected information on the person and dressed like that person. To her father's delight, Madison chose Sally Ride, the first American women in space. She did a great job sharing her report with the audience. It was such a wonderful project. The kids learned so much. They'll remember the experience for a long time. Those types of things are the most valuable learning experiences. Madison is still enjoying gymnastics, but can't wait for soccer to start. In a few months she will make her first communion. She is getting so tall! I love her enthusiasm. So many of her traits that were challenging as a young child have really developed into valuable traits that make her such a wonderful girl. This is really special time in her life that we are blessed to be a part of.

Sledding

It was finally warm enough to go out and play in the snow after several days of very frigid temperatures. In the past I have had to stay home with a little one instead of going sledding. This year all the kids were old enough to go so I went along too. It always amazes me how fearless kids are. I am often put in situations that remind me how I'm getting old. They are the same things I did without hesitation as a child, like roller coasters, water slides and sledding. Now I have to force myself to do this things that my kids are more than willing to do. When I sat on the sled at the top of the hill, I spent a few minutes trying to convince myself that I could do. Madison and Molly went down ahead of me literally seconds after making it to the top of the hill. Mallory, my 2 year old went down with Duane next. A soon as she got to the bottom she said ,"I want to do it again!". So there I was all alone talking myself into taking the plunge. Finally, I did and it felt great! I immediately climbed up the hill and went down again. Madison and Molly were a team the whole time. Madison would pull Molly up the hill over and over and they went down together every time. I was so thrilled at how well they were getting along. I would take them sledding every day to have a little of that each day. Now that the kids are getting older, it seems that there are so many more things that we can do all together. I'm really enjoying that. We had a great day in the snow!

Happy New Years!

We had a great time ringing in the new year at home with some great friends. The Cloyd family spent the night. The kids played so well together and the grown-ups actually had a chance to have some spirits and catch up. Not to mention we didn't have to leave the house and everyone was in sweats. That's my kind of party! Funny how things change over the years:) The next day we put all the x-mas decorations away and had our tradition pork and sauerkraut dinner. I really get excited to put the holiday decorations out right after Thanksgiving. But I am usually really ready to put them away and get the new year started on Jan. 1st. I couldn't wait to get everyone back on a normal schedule. Like every start to the new year, I try to set some goals. To help myself improve my odds of following through, I thought I'd add a little pressure by writing in my blog for all to see and as a reminder to myself. So here it goes! This year I will "try"to:

1. stop biting my nails (I know...terrible habit)

2. eat healthier (probably the hardest one!)

3. add to my exercise plan a little

4. run more 5K's

5. take tennis lessons with my husband this summer (have wanted to do this for years)

6. go away for an entire weekend with my husband (with the help of a few willing babysitters:)

7. focus on my spiritual growth (I'm a work in progress)

8. have more patience and tolerance (especially in the most challenging situations)

9. smile more and focus on the positive (there is so much to smile about!)

10. stop to smell the roses (enjoy today more instead of worrying about what's to come)

I'm looking forward to another great year with wonderful family and friends. I have some hard goals but the journey will be worth it!