I've Had a Daughter for a Year!

Dear Sweet Girl,

Happy First Year of Life my Love!

You Made it.

I was worried about the rowdiness of life for you in a home filled with busy, busy, let's wrestle and get a little crazy, awesome boys.

But you have thrived gloriously.

I believe the title of Princess has helped your cause quite a bit and 

plus, as it turns out, you like to wrestle a bit yourself and get a little wild. You're perfect.

For your birthday you were kind enough to treat your brothers to a party at Ceramica where you patiently (for about 10 min) and then impatiently for the remainder of the time, watched them paint their masterpieces.  See how nice you are already? :)

You love stuffed animals. Love. It's a  "must squeeze the life out, hold them with all your might while ramming your head into their squishy selves" kind of love. It goes deep.

Of course this required you to receive a massively huge, pink unicorn stuffed animal for your birthday. (Which Ruckus secretly may adore more than you. :) Daddy surprised you with the softest bunny rabbit puppet that he picked up on his way home from a business trip to Portland, that you love with all your might. 

You also received the most sparkly dress I could find because that's the type of mom you've turned me into. You haven't worn the same dress to church once.  Which in my past life of only having boys I would have thought - that's soooooo ridiculous - but in my present state - it seems to make perfect sense. :)

And Girl,

You love you some chocolate. 

One year old Ruckus was definitely a competitor in this department, Moo a bit as well -

but you for sure are the Grand Champion of throwing down a hefty piece of chocolate cake.

You made your Mama proud.

What a precious gift you are.

Your soft, radiating spirit has transformed our home.

It has made your older brothers a little gentler and oh my, how they stand in awe of you.

Little C loves it when I take you to his school so he can show you off to all his friends. Especially the girls. 

You had pink eye last week and looked something fierce. Both eyes  were huge and swollen shut with goobers clinging to every eyelash in existence. It was so sad.

Lou turned to me and said,

She looks bad Mom but she's still pretty cute.

All of your brothers were so concerned about you but you still smiled and shared your favorite word -

Hi.

Hi, Hi, Hi, all day long. 

You also say - "here ya go" and 

"get you, get you, get you" when you're pretending to tickle us.

Anything that makes you happy emits the word "Da Da" from your mouth.

What the world kid? Even while I'm nursing you, you snuggle up to me and say, "Da Da. Da Da."

Your Daddy is your best pal.

Stinker.

But, you do say Mama when you're sad and Daddy is way cool so whatev man, whatev. :)

You're the busiest little human, crawling anywhere and everywhere. You get into the dog food/water everyday and love to rearrange the books and movies at your leisure. Your favorite break-in may be the pantry but it's in a close tie with the washcloth and towel cupboards in the bathroom.

You aren't really a fan of anyone who isn't in your immediate family.

People ask if they can hold you and I think Yes, but she'll hate it. And then I internally hope maybe you'll just smile at them and enjoy your time spent in their arms but -

Never.

You immediately cry and reach back toward the comfort of your little Fam.

I think I'd feel the same way though. 

I'm not even a  hugger which means I definitely don't want to be held and smothered in close to someone else's body. 

Anxiety attack waiting to happen.

Anyway, precious little human,

I am so thankful for you. For the opportunity to have a daughter. 

Thanks for choosing to come to our home kiddo.

I know you are a tender blessing sent directly from our Father in Heaven.

Much Love,

Mom

Under the Bathroom Door.

I have received many thoughtful gifts shoved under the bathroom door whilst occupying the lavatory; magnificent pictures my children have drawn of our whole family holding hands, a sketch of a fiery dragon in the middle of a battle, even a card just to say I love you.

I have complimented many a toe and finger appearing underneath the door from my view spot on my throne.

Even a tongue once.

Always accompanied by a very important, hopeful question,

"Mom, can you see it?"

"Yes, my dear. Such a lovely toe... what a perfect finger! and Wow - that tongue." (um, let's just keep that as far away from the bathroom floor as possible)

Ruckus gifted me an Almond Joy the other day. 

A treat, he said, I could enjoy on my way out.

Unfortunately a few moments later Lou spied my present, reached his little hand under the door, ate half my candy bar and then said,
"here ya go Mom. I saved half of it for you."

What is this funny world I am living in?

I'm not even in the bathroom very long yet I feel like so much is occurring.

Who knew so many heart warming memories could be collected under a bathroom door?

Happy Halloween 2014

Why does Halloween candy rock these parent's world?

Because it basically supplies our holiday goody stock for the rest of the year. Some may say gross - others may say brilliant. If the dark chocolate color fades we just label it white chocolate. :) Yum.

After a couple days our kids forget their Halloween candy exists - The Beloved and I bag all of it up - and it, unbeknownst to the offspring, magically appears in Christmas stockings, Easter baskets, sugar craving parent's mouths - whatev.

Thank you Halloween creators.

The Beloved is the fun parent in this fam. 

I am more sporadic, unplanned fun -

The Beloved is  - let's dress up - make memories - and traditions fun.

Thinking of those things makes me desire a long rest.

This year The Beloved was in Portland over Halloween.

I desperately tried to convince my kiddos to forfeit trick-or-treating for an AWESOME movie! Yes! Who's with me?!

No one was.

I was a horrible saleswoman.  

So since they wouldn't go with my lame plan I took them trick-or-treating at the mall, tried bringing up the movie idea afterward, it was vetoed, and we ended up trick-or-treating with some families in our neighborhood.

Which is a good thing on many levels -

they had a ball,

I did too :),

plus what would we have done without our yearly stock-up of candy?

p.s. Little C really is part of our family. I included the last picture so you can see what occupies most of his time - he's in the background talking on the phone. 

Always. 

talking. on. the. phone.

On Halloween he opted for some friend time.

We missed his guts and I'm sure he secretly missed ours. 

Moo (frog) Ruckus (Red Power Ranger) Lou (Grim Reaper - he called himself a Greaper). :)

Our Sweet Poo Bear.
I could look at this photo forever -
I spoke to my mom yesterday and she says she pulls out her phone once or twice a day to see this cute picture.

Greaper.

Lou showing me his tattoos - Though awesome - check out my tween boy in the background.
Hi Little C! We love you. Hang up the phone and give us your mental presence once again because we miss you. - Love, Your Family.

Towers of Destiny

This is what our kitchen looks like after a Costco run.

My children (The Beloved included :) stack the items as tall as possible while making up different tales about the wondrous

"Towers of Destiny".