My Baby is 4!?!

I'm going to make this short because, well, the combination of post-pregnancy hormones with lack of sleep does not make it easy to reflect on the fourth year of your firstborn's life without getting all weepy and frankly, losing it.

Alizea Ann,

You are such a wonderful little girl! Your zeal for life is a very special, very unique gift and makes living this life with you, an absolutely exhilarating ride. Daddy and I are constantly and prayerfully attempting to help refine the passion within you and channel it from wild recklessness to virtuous love.  Whew, what a challenge!

This last year has been filled with changes. You started the CLAA Petty (Pre) School and are now reading in Latin, counting to 100 in both Latin and English, beginning to add and subtract and excelling in your writing skills. You make momma work for the title of "mommy teacher" but I am learning to love the fight  tantrums challenges you bring to the table. You also started the "Catechism of the Good Shepherd" program, did very well for being one of the youngest and have made some special friendships (mommy included which has been an incredible blessing). You welcomed another sibling with incredible maturity, pride and excitement and you are just bursting with love for your baby brother. You continue to thoroughly enjoy dancing and ballet and anything that involves painting and messy crafts. You can go from 0 to 10 in seconds and because of this (despite your contending because you now know the meaning of this nickname) you are still our Spicy one. Another big change has been in your relationship with Daddy. What a turn about from the difficult transition 2 years ago upon his return from deployment. Now, you prefer his arms, his company, his stories, even his My Little Pony voices. As you enjoy your special day with him at Disneyland, your mommy is having a hard time finding the words to describe how proud I am of you and how much I love you! 

You bring me life and love that keeps on giving and knows no end. 

You make me laugh and cry and experience emotions in the depths of my soul that could only come from God's love. 

Through my many mistakes and failings, you ultimately make me a better mommy and a better follower of Christ!

 
You are just beautiful! 
Happy Birthday, my princess!

Birthdays & Trick-Or-Treating

This weekend was full of celebrations. We remembered Caleb's 'birth'day 2 years ago by rejoicing at "Pump it up"...

...where the adults were huffing and puffing harder than the kids.

It was a super fun excuse for us adults to act as silly sillier than the kids and release all of our tension from the variety of responsibilities of life. Oh, and the kiddos had a blast too!

Then, we celebrated Miranda's 27th birthday in a tad more sophisticated setting at McKenna's on the Bay enjoying scrumptious seafood with a waterfront view!

Auntie Neenee with Sweets in her onesie with a message

The beautiful, smart, fun, spunky, loyal, special birthday girl (having a good laugh)

Aye, how I love these 2 amazing ladies

And of course, then there was the commercial night of Halloween. Since Sweets' schedule was thrown off, she took a very necessary nap during peak hours for trick-or-treating and to our surprise, Spicy was more than content being on the other side of the door this year. She got so excited hearing the doorbell ring, running to greet the trick-or-treaters, studying their costumes and putting candy in their sacks all by herself. That a girl, I think she already knows that it is better to give than to receive. (or at least that's what I told myself when the guilt crept in, ha)
I don't think she'll be too traumatized by missing out. She's had plenty of opportunities to dress up and trust me, she had her fill of sweets!

We hope you had a sbooctacular weekend!

8 Months & The Big 3-0!

Just look at these two. Ahhhh, how I love them so!

It is no mystery to me where Sweets gets her charming, delightful, pleasant, agreeable, happy, joyful nature.

It's quite fitting then that she & daddy share a special milestone today.

To Dean, the Love of my Life:

You are a wonderful wonderful man, husband and father! 

Today on your birthday, I want you to stop and reflect with me on some of your recent endeavors.

As you finally catch up to me at (screech!) 30 years of age, in the time I have known you, you have:

-Given 8 + years serving our country and its people, 1 year oversees (away from your family)

-Put yourself through college with no example from sibling or parent to follow

-Started 2 Masters programs (Philosophy - Holy Apostles Seminary & Information Assurance - Norwich Univ)

- Willingly given up your desire for a graduate degree objectively assessing it wasn't the right timing or career move for your family

-Bought a home  

-Given me & the world 2 beautiful children

-Passed the CISSP, a very sought after certification in your field of expertise.

-Worked your way to a respected position within Boeing

-Started your own company and podcast 

-Achieved a dream of ours to provide for our family's needs, allowing me to stay at home with our children.

-Never stopped growing, learning, improving, be it in our marriage, in your individual spiritual journey or in your career which has been an incredible gift to me as I have benefited from the fruits of your hard work.

-Been a spiritual leader, an initiator in all things

But perhaps, more importantly than all these accomplishments which indeed are good,
-you have been the biggest contributor and influence in my search for holiness and closeness to the Trinity. You challenge me through emotional encouragement, always valuing what I do and who I am, through intellectually challenging me to always seek the truth in everything or through simply bluntly but lovingly pointing out my areas for improvement. 

-You are a man of principle and I love your mind, the way you think. 

-You teach me so much about (good and true) philosophy, about humanity, about seeking the true, the good, the beautiful, about our primary purpose here on earth.

-You have so much self awareness and humility that you are not afraid to admit and acknowledge your weaknesses and faults making marriage and communication a joy. 

**My prayer for you today is that you are reminded how very much you are loved, respected and cherished!**

And now, To Miss Genevieve.
My, you're such a mature eight month-old young lady:
(I know I already posted this picture here but it completely encompasses who you are) 

 In the last month, you have

-become very wiggly in my lap, lunging in all directions reminding mommy to always have a tight grip after a few mishaps (what they say about being more 'lax' with your 2nd is oh so true)

-started waving

-as mentioned before, pulling yourself up to your knees and trying oh so hard to stand on your own
-with some assistance, started standing while holding on to something (however, again, a very close eye and a readily available arm is still necessary after learning the hard way)

-figured out how to make Indian yowls with your hand or arm hitting your open mouth

-continued on your 11-13 hour night-time sleeping stretch

-learned to interact quite well with Spicy, putting your hands up when you've had enough or leaning forward when you want some extra lovies.

-brought such immense and increasing happiness and joy to us!

Happy Birthday to my mocha chocolate loves!

3 Cheers for 3 Years!

ONE...................                   TWO.................                                 

THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Alizea Ann!

Wow! I don't even know where to begin...There is something different & very special about this year's birthday! Perhaps, it's because on your 1st birthday, daddy was away so mommy wasn't completely focused on your milestone. I threw a huge party for you but selfishly because I needed the support, the distraction and the positive boost to carry me through such a tough time. On your 2nd birthday I was pregnant with constant reminders that you were about to be a big sister but this year, you are most definitely the sole focus and all I can think about is how my baby and even toddler is gone!

Oh, you are such a joy!!!!! You are a complete pleasure and challenge wrapped in to one beautiful gift. You keep daddy and I constantly on our toes, never allowing us to get comfortable in our parenting vocation & confronting us continually with our weaknesses and flaws (namely patience and temperance). 

*    *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *    *    *   *   *   *   *   *   *    *    *   *   *   *    *    *    *    *   *   *   *   *    *

-You are one energetic, spunky and feisty gal yet at the same time, lovable, compassionate, and very aware and keen to the feelings of those around you.

-You are bursting with love and joy for life which is evident in the way you greet new friends with tender hugs and squeeze your baby sis until she looks like she is going to pop!

-You thirst for learning new things and pick up on new concepts (quite abstract, mind you) and vocabulary very quickly!

-You love anything "techy" (daddy's genes for sure!) as you can (if allowed) sit at the computer for nearly 2 hours surfing through different games, listening to stories and working the mouse like a pro, not to mention our iphones better than your average adult.

-You are also very artistic and love to paint and draw (& you still love the water!)
-You apply and put to practical use, everything you learn from others (example: saying "abre" from Dora the Explorer when you want to open anything, or get out of daddy's knee traps)

-You are independent and very stubborn determined and strong-willed yet you love to be smothered in cuddles and snuggles especially when you are tired.

-You are animated and keep us smiling and laughing

In the recent months, you have learned:

-how to be gentle with baby G

-how to tell when it's "wake up time" in the morning (when it's light out) and have decided 9 hours is long enough to sleep which means we are back to a good 2-3 hour nap during the day

-shapes to include parallelogram, pentagon, hexagon, octagon (forcing mommy to re-learn them).

-numbers through 20 (through 10 in spanish) and by 10's to 100

-simple addition and subtraction

-sorting by likeness (heavy vs light things, vehicles vs foods, etc)

-to phonetically spell out simple words (word recognition via phonics)

 - how to say "thank you" as we continue to get stopped all the time as you get complimented on how beautiful you are, how unique your hair is and how smart you are!and perhaps the one that impresses me the most is:

-to potty train yourself, night-time included! (realizing and communicating, without any prompting, the need to go, keeping your track record of accidents a 'perfect ten", and that's not 10 accidents!)

*    *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *    *    *   *   *   *   *   *   *    *    *   *   *   *    *    *    *    *   *   *   *   *    *

Now, on to how we spent your special day....It actually began last Friday when Daddy wanted to spend some special time with you so he took the day off & took you to the Discovery Science Center where you explored dinosaur bones and danced like a rock star! Then, Saturday morning AunTita surprised us bringing Bapa to tears and you to squeals and shouts which lasted all weekend long! Gift opening, swimming, watching a softball game, playing at the park and lots of love from Ita, Ito, Aunt Yoli, Mimi, Bapa and your aunties wiped you out!

Today, consisted of enjoying some of your favorite treats. You helped me make your special pancake breakfast...

Then, by request, you ate enjoying your favorite show these days (Little Einstein), while mommy hopped on the computer to start your blog post, knowing it would be an extensive one. As I stared at the blank screen wondering how to make today extra special for you, I received this message from Grandma Emde (via Aunt Sherry): 

I hope my son daughter looks back upon today

And sees a parent who had time to play
Whether the work was done. or it was not.
Who realized chores are sometimes best forgot.
There will be years for cleaning house and cooking,
But little boys girls grow up when we're not looking.

                                 -Earl Paffrath

And with that, a tradition was born. I resolved within myself that no matter how financially blessed we are (or lacking), more than big "to do's" I wanted my children to have a deep and lasting memory of their birthdays as a day filled with special, quality time spent with their momma.  That birthdays would mean to them that they are so worth me dropping everything, looking deep in their eyes to listen to whatever is on their mind, giving my time and myself to them, making them feel as the important, beautiful gifts from God that they are. That even in our home, we could laugh and create special moments! A heavenly inspiration, no doubt (Thank you, Grandma).

I whispered a prayer for the opportunity to have special time with you, giving you my undivided attention...and no joke, minutes later, Sweet G was down for an extra long morning nap, allowing us to play and play and play some more in your room (pretending flutes were otoscopes, and yes, you know what that means, and flags were "winder uppers" and candles were binoculars, sharing much laughter and kisses!) 
Then, during the tail end of G's 2nd nap, we got dressed together for our special night out, painting nails and sprucing our hair! It is precious to see you take an interest more & more in all things "girly". Those dimples on your knuckles are what's left of any trace of 'baby' Are you kidding me? I just love them!!!!!!

And to your favorite restaurant we went... not to forget, en route, your favorite spectacle these days, your amazement and wonder for ...mannequins! What a blast it was to see you absolutely enthralled tonight by the surrounding sights and sounds!

 

I can't say enough how much of a joy it is to see you appreciate and relish in every second of 

 life...

 

Thank you for that gift....

You teach me every day how to live the way we ought...

What a perfect gift from your Aunties...a camera of your own! (& one that actually takes down-loadable, digital no kidding shots! amazing!) And Auntie Neenee put together a "dress up trunk" filled with all kinds of creative play goodies any girl can appreciate:

 You loved it!

What a fun fun day! 

How we love you Spicy A! 
Daddy & I pray you continue to grow in intellect but more importantly in wisdom and virtue and that we guide you according to God's perfect will for your life!