10 Ways I am Ruining My Daughter's Life

Inspired by a friend on Facebook who photographed her daughter crying because she would not allow her to drink her coffee and a few memes I have seen on Facebook, I paid attention to what was upsetting Macy one day.

It was a rough day. Teething is no joke, add in a small cold and you have recipe for disaster.

 So many "No"s. So many tears.

So I give you 10 ways I am ruining my daughter's life.

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1. I would not let her chew on electrical cords.

2. I would not let her put her banana in her bouncing hippo to watch it jump and bounce.

3. I wiped the snot running down her face.

4. I would not let her eat raw eggs.

5. I would not let her put Legos in her mouth.

6. I would not let her carry my water cup around...which she has already broken.

7.I would not let her eat her brother's fruit snacks.

8. I changed her diaper.

9.I would not let her take the eggs out of the fridge.

10. I only showed her the pictures on the wall 100 times and not 101 times.

It's a hard life for a baby. A hard knock life.

Firsts of Fall...

We jumped from summer and vacation into school and fall activities at full force.

Zero to 100 mph in a day.

It was crazy.

On September 2nd, Colin started his first day at preschool. 

 

 

Jack started his first day of First grade! 

Not only did they both start school, but they both started soccer! Our Saturdays are now filled with  cleats, shin guards and jerseys.  Colin plays on a co-ed preschool team, while Jack is on one of the boys' First grade teams.

Both the boys ended up being number 29! They are having so much fun playing. Colin absolutely loves it and will run and laugh and smile the whole time, regardless of what position he is playing or if he is winning or losing. Jack enjoys defense and taking big kicks up the field.

It's a whole new world now. School and sports with two little guys. It keeps us busy and we are just starting to get a rhythm now.

One thing I know for sure...

There are many soccer games in this little lady's horizon. Many a game...

Happy first week of fall!

Slipping away

As the first day of fall is coming to close and summer slowly slips away, let's just reminisce one more time about those warm, sunny days.

Quintessential summer. 

 Boys. Water.  Sun. Smiles

There is nothing better.

So long summer, you were good to us.

Welcome Fall.

We are happy you are here.

The Big ONE

At 6:17 pm, one year ago today, my daughter blazed her way into the world, barreling like a freight train. She had a head full of pitch black hair, squishy little cheeks that were primed for kissing, roly little thighs and deep, dark eyes. She was 100% different from her brothers, but oh, so beautiful.

They laid her on me and I laughed. I could not believe that in a little over 45 minutes, I was holding my baby. She was much bigger than I thought, so dark and beautiful and wonderfully, all mine. My first daughter.  My girl.

As time went on, her black hair faded to a beautiful chestnut brown and her dark eyes evolved into a sparkling hazel. She still has those amazing cheeks that get kissed often and her little thighs are now toddling around, still with wonderful little rolls.

 

She laughs now. Giggles at her Daddy's tickles, laughs at her brothers' antics and is pure heaven when she masters taking one foot in front of the other. She mimics her brothers, trying for a laugh and usually gets one.

She also loves, so much. Stuffed bunnies, brothers, Momma and Daddy, all are recipients of Macy hugs and kisses. Oscar the cat also gets much love, though he is not as grateful.

She will try to wrestle with her brothers and her Daddy, but must stop half way and give them all hugs.

Food is now her friend. Her very favorite friend. Macy laughs, dances and claps her hand when it is time to eat! You MUST share every piece of food with her. No morsel shall go unnoticed by her.

Though, she still will not eat baby cereal. Real people food will only do for her, none of that baby stuff.

Sass is also apart of this little package and she has no problem letting her opinions be known.

She looks just like her Daddy did as a baby, but her daddy claims she gets her opinions from her momma. Who knows? Either way, I like her sass. There is never a question of if she likes something or not.

It has been a wonderful, crazy, beautiful year with this little lady.

Messy and tough, yes. Sleep deprived, yes. Sleep may just be Macy's mortal enemy. She just doesn't like to sleep, especially at night. Please Lord, help her sleep at night!!

But through this blurry, dark circle inducing, sleep deprived year, we have experienced indescribable joy. Joy in this wonderful, perfect little life. Joy is bringing a daughter home, completing our little family in a way we did not know could happen.

 Joy in her little smiles, laughs, tantrums and snuggles. So much love, so much joy.

We are so thankful to be her parents and that she got to be in our family.

I look forward to seeing her grown and learn, discover and change.

But for right now, I am happy just to hold my one year old baby, amazed at how the time has flown by.

Happy Birthday, my Macy Elizabeth.

You are so loved.

A Whole New World: 11 months

We are a bit behind here. My little lady is 2 days shy of her first birthday, and I am still having a lot of technical difficulties with my computer and iphoto.

But, I did not want to forget this little 11 month old, even if she is just about past that milestone.

Macy keeps moving faster and faster, crawling, standing, cruising, and....

WALKING! 

Yes, we have had those momentous first steps, and she absolutely LOVES trying to walk to people. We have caught her walking between 10-12 steps when she doesn't think anyone is watching, but if she knows she has an audience, she gets way too excited and only makes it a few steps.

It is hard to believe that she is almost a year old. The time has just flown by.

 Macy has grown sweeter, sassier, funnier and prettier every day.

Making Our Way Back

The end of August brought us back to Virginia, just a little over a year after we left.

I had to work and Ryan had work in D.C, so we decided to combine work and vacation and bring the whole family along for the ride.

A 15 hour car ride, to be exact. 

This is the face of pure joy. The kids did amazing on the long trip, but were more than ready to move around once we got to the hotel. If Macy could yell "Freedom!", I am sure she would have.

Repeatedly.

Sunday found us back at our old church and were we felt most at home. The whole trip was good, but stepping foot into our church brought the best feelings. If I could be "homesick" for Virginia, I would be homesick for New Life Providence. Ryan joked that he wish would just pack everyone up and bring them to Detroit with us.

We had dinner with good friends from church and our little girls met for the 2nd time! Adalyn and Macy are 6 weeks apart and both have a pair of protective big brothers to watch out for them!

 It is a good thing. Those are some pretty little ladies. 

One of the perks of staying at a hotel for 7 nights is staying at one with a pool! Ryan and the kids took advantage of it, especially while I worked.

While the (massive amount) pictures may tell a story of leisure and vacation, the reality was it was filled mostly with work, crashed and dead computer and late nights/early mornings.

But no one want to hear or remember that...so onto the highlight for the boys!

Busch Gardens!

This brave man rode his first real roller coaster! As in, loops and dips and going upside down type coasters. He loved it and his little brother is anxiously awaiting a growth spurt to join him!

My favorite part of going to Busch Gardens was meeting up with dear friends and their little ones. Jack, SQ and G (along with little sister R) have been friends since birth. SQ and G's mommas and I worked together and were called the pregnant gang.  We have had many a playdate/nursing session/hangout time with these guys and it was so great getting the kids together again to  hang out! Don't mind Jack. He did NOT want to get his picture taken with the girls, OR have them put their arms around him. He really did enjoy their company and they all had a blast riding rides together.

Colin joined in on the fun, even if that meant waiting for the Daddies to ride the big roller coaster.

Macy, however, Macy waited for every ride. Puffs and ice water were her main companions. That and her Momma, who is not so much a fan of roller coasters.

What I AM a fan of is the food at Busch Gardens.  I made a deal with Ryan and my bestie J. If they wanted to go ride the Griffin, I got to go get a huge funnel cake while I watched all the kids.

They approved. I approved. The kids approved.

Oh, hey! Look, Macy and I DID go to Busch Gardens! 

We were gluttons for punishment and after an early morning of work the next day, I rushed back to the hotel and we took just our family back to Busch Gardens for one last hurrah. We also stopped at the local outlet mall (which I desperately miss) and I was able to nab a North Face coat on super sale. Only in VA do you find North Face coats for around 75% off.

Friday night brought one of my most loved and most missed traditions. A pizza, talking, gaming, cataning night at the Flick's. The best part? We usually are treated to some sort of show. That night, it was a dancing (with a hoola hoop) AND magic show. Can you ask for anything better?! 

Most of the kids decided to participate in the Magic show and Colin even made a basketball disappear in NINE minutes! (He was a bit off on his timing. Turns out it was just to the COUNT of nine.) 

Ms. Abry, of the hoola hooping, magic show maestro fame, holding Macy and her bff Wynter. The girls were giving it a go at being Frenemies that night. Being one AND sharing is hard work.

It was beautiful evening with the dearest of friends and it refreshed our souls. Sometimes that is just the medicine that you need.

We had a beach day, but I will save that for another post. Sometimes it is just TOO many pictures.

I am beyond thankful that we could make this trip, even with all the work that was included.

The Night Before

Two pairs of socks, two pairs of jeans, two pairs of shoes all neatly folded and laid out.
A black and white striped shirt and a red, white and blue striped shirt, all ready to go.

Two backpacks, two lunches packed.

One boy is off to first grade, navigating a new school for the first time.

One boy is having his very first day of school, preschool.

And a Momma and a Daddy that are taking deep breathes, readying to let their littles out in the world.

No easy task.

These two.

Adventure awaits.

Sad Mac

My computer is down. Out for the count. Missing in action.

Along with all my pictures.

It all went down while on a work/vacation trip.

I am hoping to have everything fixed and running soon.

But for tonight, I am preparing my momma heart for the first day of school for my boys.

Wish me luck...