W turns 5...in Dallas

Winston had two birthday wishes this year.  1 -- go to Chuck E Cheese's.  2 -- See his cousins.  Since his cousin James was going to be baptized just a few days after W's birthday, we knew we'd make the trip to Texas to see James' big day.  And after swallowing our pride, we made Chuck E Cheese happen, too.  

Thankfully, today's Chuck E Cheese is not the same Chuck E Cheese of my youth.  Instead of dark and slimy, it was well-lit and only sort of slimy.  After a round of mediocre pizza, we spent handfuls of tokens to earn tickets.  We confirmed that Skiball is still the best game around, and no matter how much you play, you'll never have enough tickets to get anything really great.  

Lizzie and Winston were in heaven, though.  They loved being able to run around and play everything.  It was fun to see their excitement.  

When we were finished, Lizzie said she wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese for her birthday, too.  I think both Dave and I agree that Chuck E Cheese with be a fifth birthday exclusive.  

The day before Winston's birthday, he flew down to Dallas with Steve and Sherry.  I had tried to explain to Lizzie what was going to happen beforehand, but she didn't really get it until we dropped the three of them off at the airport. Winston was ready to go, hardly even looked back.  And Lizzie, oh Lizzie cried and cried and cried.  It was so sad.  And heartwarming.  They do actually love each other.  Sherry had tried to get Winston to go to Texas with her over Halloween, but Winston was nervous about that.  So I was happy to see that he was able to go with S&S and be happy and excited.  

On the flight down, Sherry said Winston asked her to write a note to me.  He dictated and she wrote.  What a little lover.  I love that boy.  

Lizzie's Second Birthday

Lizzie's birthday fell on Easter this year.  She came downstairs that morning and the first thing she said was, "Open presents?"  It was tricky to differentiate between Easter and her birthday, and both days might be a little confusing next year.  But she was so thrilled with the idea of actually being able to open her own presents -- not just her brother.

New shoes and a bunny water bottle.  She was in heaven.  

A new kitchen, complete with food and plates and cookies and pans.  Her face is perfect.  She was so excited.

More presents.  She didn't even care what was inside, she just wanted to open.  

Yes, I am wearing the same dress that I wore on her first birthday.  

Happy birthday to you, Lizzie!

Lizzie Turns 2

Favorites:
Thing:  presents
Color:  white
Treat:  pink (?)
Food:  "hamburburgers" (hamburgers)
Drink:  water
Present:  daddy
Book:  "strawberry"  (The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear book, which she can recite verbatim)
Show:  Thomas
Baby?:  "Sisser.  I like sissers."

• This girl is really something else.  She would like to be a mini-Winston; she copies everything he does and says.  Everything (much to my chagrin)!  
• She love baby dolls, but loves any toy Winston is currently interested in even more.  
• She loves cooking in her kitchen.  She'll pretend to fill up a cup or bowl and bring it to me to try.  I'll slurp the "delicious" drink and she will laugh and giggle, then do it all over again.  We could do this all day.  
• She loves to read books.  She tends to toss a book on my lap, climb on me and demand, "Read!"  
• She loves to hop and skip.  She skips everywhere she goes, and every night when Dave gets home she tugs on his pants and says, "Wook!"  Then she proceeds to jump and hop in place a few times.  
• Lizzie is very attached to her "bank" (blanket) and "pass" or "pass-ee-fire" (pacifier).  She scratched at the silk around the edges of her blanket.  Poor blanket is running ragged, and this is the second blanket.  
• Her excitement bubbles over with loud noises, like lawnmowers, airplanes, dog barking, etc.  Her face fills with shock and awe and she points her little finger up right next to face and says, "Was dat?!"
• She has the world's worst going-to-bed routine.  Since she will no longer sleep in her crib, we removed the rail from  her crib, then put her crib mattress on the floor, then took the crib out altogether.  She used to go in and out of her room for hours -- hours! -- on end, which led us to locking her door once she's tucked in and bedtime routine complete (songs, books, back tickling, music, no music, night light, no light night; it's like a song and dance).  She then proceeds to act out the circus for the following hour or two, then finally falls asleep around 10:00.  Great parenting, right?  
• Lizzie talks.  Oh, how she talks.  Anytime I am on the phone, she demands, "I talk to her!"  Then she proceeds to cry, hang, scream until I hand the phone over for her to talk to whoever it is for a minute.  
• Her little smoker voice gets cuter and cuter.
• She wants NOTHING to do with potty training.  She is fully capable.  Understands how it works.  Will even do it on a whim.  But she digs her heels in the second we try for consistency.  This could be interesting.
• Lizzie's independence is really shining through (and testing my patience).  Getting in the car is always a five minute order.  Shoes go on "myself!" She must climb in "myself" and buckle "myself!"  There's plenty of screaming and back arching that go along with this.  I've lost count at how many times I have taken a deep breath, clenched my jaw, and quasi-patiently said, "OK Lizzie, buckle up all by yourself please."
• Lizzie love going to nursery.  She takes off like there's a fire out of sacrament meeting and heads right for the nursery door.  I'm pretty sure she runs the place; she likes to be in charge.  
• Lizzie really likes friends.  Emmie Lake (from church) and Helene Eisenbath (W's friend Owen's little sister) are her "best fwends."  She's always asking to go to Emmie's or "Huween's" house to play.  
• She still refers to Winston as "bwudder."  I hope that never stops.  Unless she's really mad, and then she yells, "Win-ston!" just like I do.  (oh the shame)
• Anything tech-related might be a good choice for Lizzie.  That, or pick-pocketing.  She is sneaky like no one else.  She instantly loves you if you have an iPhone or iPad.  If you'll share it with her, you're best friends.  If you won't, she'll just wait until you put it down, stuff it in your pocket, or hide it in your purse.  Then she'll snatch it right up without you even knowing.  It's an impressive talent (though I should possibly be worried).  

We just love this Lizzie girl.  Her temperament is spicy, but her heart is so sweet.  She's always up for a snuggle.  She is sensitive at times, but is thick-skinned and strong.  She loves to please ("I did it!"), but has a mind all her own.  She makes us laugh so hard at the matter-of-fact things she'll say and express.  We just can't get enough of her -- unless it's 10:00 p.m. and she's still awake.  

Love you, Lizzie.  

Winston's Fourth Birthday Party..."Classy" Monster Truck

I could never get a straight answer from Winston about what he wanted to do for his birthday party.  Or if he even wanted to have a birthday party at all.  About a week and a half before, he finally -- confidently -- stated he wanted to have a monster truck party.  The first things that came to mind were cut-off shirts and mullets.  Eek!  Not for the four-year-old crowd.  However, Pinterest never fails, and I was able to get some basic ideas of how to simply pull something together.  

"Pin the wheel on the monster truck."

I'm all about classic party games.  I printed off a monster truck clip art image from the internet and took it to Kinko's to be blown up on architecture paper.  Poor print quality, but it doesn't matter.  I slapped some color on that thing and it looked pretty darn good.  Winston thought it was amazing, which was the only validation I needed.  

With the help of my in-laws (God bless them!), we made monster trucks for each of the boys.  We rounded up enough boxes from Costco and around the house.  Then my father-in-law painted each of them red or blue and cut holes in the top.  Finally, we attached some ribbon for sort of suspenders to hold the truck in place.  The boys then got to add headlights, license plates and color them as they wanted.  I wasn't sure if the boys would like this activity or not.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun they had doing it.  They LOVED it!  They probably spent 20 minutes working on their trucks, personalizing them and being creative.  I was thoroughly impressed.  

Our last activity was an obstacle course, a play off the monster truck course one might see at a monster truck rally.  Am I right?  I failed to get any pictures of the boys doing the obstacle course.  Some of them needed a little more help than others.  But again, I was pleasantly surprised at how much they loved it.  They jumped over inflatable tires, ran around the some cones, ran around the counter, then over a little ramp thing and crossed the finish line.  The rainy weather meant everything had to be indoor, but it was fine.  We pushed all of the furniture out of the way, which meant plenty of room for the whole party.  

The weekend before both Dave and I were in Nauvoo with the youth from our church.  The party was Monday morning.  Basically the ONLY day we could have it unless we waited until the end of March. So, to simplify a little more, we just ordered pizza and have veggies and juiceboxes for lunch.  Easy.  Each boy took home a ballon and his own monster truck.  No muss, no fuss.  

Happy birthday, Mr. Win.  

Winston's family birthday party

{Presents -- this boy's dream}

{Cowboy boots!!!!!}

{So proud of those boots.}

{Couldn't get any cuter!}

Whaaaat?

Winston turned two.  'Tis true; I hardly believe it myself.  W is two years old!  Geez!  

We've sort of had an on-going birthday month for him.  We started about a week early, and we're holding on 'til MaMom gets here at the end of the month.  Why not?  You only turn two once.  

W started his actual birthday off with waffles, eggs and a candle to blow out.  He's been practicing blowing out candles for weeks.  Don't know how he got on that one.

We had a yummy lunch, which we thought W would like.  Turns out he wasn't so hungry, so D and I had a yummy lunch.  Then we went to the car wash (what two year-old doesn't like that), then opened some presents later that night.

We got W a hockey set, originally intended to be played in his new basement playroom (which is his real b-day gift).  The basement isn't quite done, so the family room has turned into a pseudo hockey rink.  Poor Lucy hasn't quite taken to the hockey sticks and balls (pucks).  And W's poor soon-to-be sister; she might be the next victim of this hockey set.  But regardless, W loves it.  And his dad might like it even more.

A few days later we had a little friend party with some of W's buddies.  Most of them are a bit older than him, but he always has a pretty good time following them around and copying everything they do.  It's rather humorous.  It was a "Things that Go" sort of theme.  The kids decorated cars, found Goldbug and had some lunch.  Easy and fun.  

The annual arrival of my favorite gift came just in time to remind me of my upcoming 28th milestone.  Said gift (anthropologie month-long discount) is a kind hint of my getting older -- something I've come to terms with and rather enjoy.  I am always impressed at the creativity and plain genius of this gift's design.  This year's theme revolves around the stars:  a pretty little navy blue envelope with white stars and the question, "What's in the stars for you, Aquarius?"

Well, aside for a 15% off trip to the store, I'm not totally sure what's in store for me.  A new baby.  A trip or two.  And my 10-year-reunion, did I mention that?  There are some specifics to look forward to.  But I'm excited about what's in store that perhaps I don't know or see coming, as well as the things I know are rightfully around the corner that I'll figure out as they come about.

Some of the things I've learned that will surely help me navigate whatever is in store for me:

1. A good friend's age doesn't matter.
2. Dijon mustard tastes great in just about everything.
3. Babies really do grow up fast.
4. I am turning into my mother.  In fact, all of those cliches are true.  And like my mother, I will never get rid of my pillow.  Please bury it with me.
5. Children innately know and learn by two words:  love and consistency.
6. You get what you pay for -- but you can always find a deal.
7. Always have a passport.
8. Just wing it.  Many times you'll be pleasantly surprised.
9. That includes trying new recipes.  If it turns out bad, you can blame it on the recipe.
10. Strong relationships take time...and phone calls and e-mails and genuine interest.
11. Looking at the rear-view mirror to see your child dancing never gets old.
12. Each marriage relationship is unique.  What works for one might not work for another.  But comparing one's marriage never works.
13. I feel thankful to have a husband who loves me, gets me, is a good man and is just funny.  
14. Yeast/dough will never rise when anxiety is present. 
15. I am a visual learner.  
16. I will never completely know what I am doing.
17. Even I can grow fresh herbs.
18. I will never buy a car with cloth seats.
19. TV is garbage 90% of the time.
20. A local restaurant is always more appealing.  
21. Being a good listener is a quality I will always be trying to improve.
22. Confidence breeds confidence.
23. Saturdays are sacred.  It's worth it to accomplish things throughout the week so we can just be together on the weekends.
24. Second-, third- and fourth-guess anything you post to Facebook.  
25. It's all in the details and presentation.  
26. I want my home to have that feeling where people want to come back.
27. I'll never be a perfect mother.  There isn't one.
28. Thankfully, family doesn't go away.

Lover

It finally happened.  We were able to wrangle W long enough to snap his 12 month photo.  (Wipe the sweat from your brow.)
This baby has turned into a boy alright.  He's tough.  He's strong.  He's non-stop.  He's a wiggler.  He's vocal; very vocal.  He's an eater.  He's all boy all the time.  I'm tired, but so in love.

{this one's my favorite}

{check out that concentration}

One Year Old

Mr. W turned one year old.  A whole year since this whole thing started.  The time has raced by so quickly, but when I think of all the things we've done, experienced, accomplished, guessed and figured out, etc., it seems like forever ago that he was born.  But (warning:  mushy cliche), I can't really remember life without him.  Pretty sure he's a keeper.

We had a couple of little parties for Winston -- one for friends and one for family.  All are so kind and generous to not only Winston, but to D and me, as well.  We are so lucky to have so many people who love and support our family.

(thank you Kristin for the banner and cupcake toppers)
      

I have made several attempts at snapping the traditional monthly photos, but I've run into some road blocks:
A)  The boy won't sit still long enough to create a non-blurry picture;
B)  Placing him on the changing table in onesie and appropriate signage is a hazard because of previously mentioned challenge (see A);
C)  Lots of rain means junky lighting, which means not so good photos.  I'm no expert photographer here; and finally,
D)  I've been busy.

This weekend's weather looks promising, so the hubs and I will tag team the photo opp necessary for the photos.  W's appetite has kicked up a notch, so it will look a bit odd if it takes us much longer than this weekend to get the photos done.

Anyway, here are his stats:
Height:  31" (95%)
Weight:  21 lb. 1.5 oz (25%)

He's growing taller and taller, and (slowly) wider and wider.  Just one long and lean little dude.  Here are some things I love about Winston:

**Smashes his face on the back door and blows his cheeks out when I take Lucy out for her business.

**Obsesses over closing doors.  As soon as we enter a room, the door must be shut behind us.  Hasn't quite figured out how to open doors back up, which brings a bit of frustration.

**Finally likes milk!

**Weight loss partner.  I think he eats more than I do when we go out for lunch.  And when you share a meal, that's a positive thing for me.

**So sensitive.  W doesn't like it when other kids or babies cry.  It's like it hurts his feelings.  So he cries along with them, just to make sure they have somebody to cry with (I suppose?).

**Takes a good Sunday nap following afternoon church (which is brutal!).  Can't thank you enough, W.

**As my mom refers to them, "Fred Flinstone" feet that are so adorable.

**All boy all the time.

**Loves to people watch, particularly at restaurants.

**Karate chops the car seat canopy any chance he gets.

**Sixth sense of knowing the second a drawer, cabinet or dishwasher is opened and races directly to it for entry, inspection and removal of contents.

There are so many things to like about you, Winston.  I can't keep track of them all.  I sure love everything about you, though, even your mischievous smile after performing your latest trick.  Love you, Bubs.

xoxo

Niner, Roger That

Winston turned nine months old.  It's funny to think he's been out in the world as long as he was cooped up in tummy (the word "belly" just makes me feel prego again).  This boy's personality gets bigger and more fun as the days go by.  He's all over the place, into everything, and I think he just might start doing pull ups on the bookshelves any day.  I love it.  He still prefers the army crawl to actually getting on hands and knees.  Of course, this means he's constantly dragging leaves, dog hair and any tiny spec of anything from the ground.  Combine that with the incessant drooling and he's like a wet mop.  Again, I love it.

What else do I love about this boy?

**His laugh.  Oh his laugh!  He used to just giggle and giggle, but now he's really laughing.  Almost a belly laugh, as my mom would call it.
**Squinty smile.  I can tell he's learning to feel confident and proud in his newfound skills.  He'll either clap his hands in excitement, or bare his mouthful of teeth with his squinty-eyed smile.  Too cute.
**Book reader.  He isn't pointing much, but he will actually sit still to have a book read to him.  He prefers to turn the pages a bit faster than I can read them...but he's getting it.
**Anticipation.  He can tell when it's time for his daddy to come home.  When he hears the garage door open, he all but takes off for the door.
**Playing tag.  This is pretty much the cutest thing ever.  If W is into something he shouldn't be (particularly the stairs or Lucy's bed), I'll say "I'm gonna get you!" and he will take off full steam ahead and just laugh and laugh until I snatch him up.  He gets giddy he's so excited.

W is still such a docile, happy, pleasant little boy.  Though I'm biased, I'll just say it; he's a REALLY good baby.  He loves to make noise.  He loves to chew on everything (clothing, shoes, that blasted timer for the floor lamp!), climb up the stairs and into toy boxes, chase Lucy around, and pull G-ma Maggie's pewter vases off the shelf over and over again.  But I really, really love this kid.

Happy birthday little boy!!!


Stats
Height:  29 3/4 inches (95%)
Weight:  19 lb 2 oz (25%) *I was informed by the pediatrician that W needs to put on some poundage.  So what do we do all day?  Eat, eat, eat.  No bar holds, we just let the boy eat.