Bow Party

We celebrated Brygit's first birthday with a "bow" party this weekend. I personally loved having family and close friends in my home all at once and watching my children play with their cousins while catching up with friends. Brygit was super cute hitting her piñata and clapping for the other children when they did it better, making a mess of her cake after looking a little freaked out at all the singing, eating her presents and the paper they were wrapped in and running around like a crazy person after everyone left from the sugar high. Liam was way too excited to have everyone over and he was chomping at the bit for a cupcake. He enjoyed being employed as candle blower outer and assistant present opener and he finished off the night with a scraped knee and tears. It was a blast and, again, I truly feel like Paul and I have some amazing friends and family and I'm thankful for each and every one of them and their help with the party and their generosity. Oh, and I owe photo credit to my brother in law who I threw the camera at during the piñata and never took it back.

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

365: week 14

 

Day 92: Oranges in the hair

 

 

Day 93: Kitchen assembled the night before Brygit's birthday

 

 

Day 94: Kitchen discovery

 

 

Day 95: Another gift

 

 

Day 96: Is my husband romantic or what?

 

 

Day 97: Party time

 

 

Day 98: How can I not post this picture?

 

 

365: week 13

Day 85: Double light sabers

 

Day 86: Brygit in the way

 

Day 87: Sour face

 

Day 88: Always getting into something

 

Day 89: Working on valentines and very into TV

 

Day 90: Sibling love

 

Day 91: Filling sister's pinata

 

Bowling

I asked Liam what sport he wanted to play giving him a choice between Soccer, Basketball and Bowling and he chose Bowling. That's just so Liam. So he had his first game or match or whatever you call it earlier this week. He played in the same lane as 2 twin 5 year olds and he came in last. But not by much. He was pretty good. Except for the two times he bowled so slow that the ball actually stalled on the lane and the workers had to venture out to fetch it. It was the slowest game ever. But super cute. The only problem I encountered was the nap I let him take in the car on the way there, followed by the cup of Root Beer I bought him to counteract the grumpiness from the nap. The result was a super rested, crazy hyper boy. Rookie mistake.

 

 

 

 

And what did Brygit do while all this was going on? She mostly just got in the way and munched on pretzels from the snack bar.

 

 

 

How Sad

We recently watched Hook with Liam. Do you remember that movie? Where Robin Williams plays Peter Pan all grown up? Paul and I both loved it as kids. Anyway, watching it as a parent was way different. First off, it's kind of lame. Really, don't watch it as an adult because it will ruin your good memories. Second, it's kind of sad. There is a quote by Peter's wife that literally got me misty eyed. She said, "Your children love you, they want to play with you. How long do you think that lasts? Soon Jack may not even want you to come to his games. We have a few special years with our children, when they're the ones that want us around. After that you're going to be running after them for a bit of attention. It's so fast Peter. It's a few years, and it's over. And you are not being careful. And you are missing it." Oh Lordy it makes me sad just thinking about how fast time is going. Sometimes, I have the hardest time with my children demanding so much of me. Like when they are obviously in competition for my attention. Liam will be talking non stop very loudly and trying to show me something by sticking it in my face while repeating, "Look at this! Look at this! Look, Mommy! Are you looking?" Meanwhile Brygit is perfecting the most annoying whine she can manage while climbing on top of me. I am seated on the floor in this scenario/ daily reality ready and willing to give them time and attention but, occasionally, it's just not enough. They each want 110 percent of me and I just don't have 220 percent to give. I become exhausted and am often encouraged by the fact that it won't be like this forever. And then I think about how cruel life is to make my kids grow up and stop competing for my attention or crawling in my lap or shoving toys under my nose. How sad that one day they will stop following me into the bathroom or playing peek a boo with the shower curtain while I try to shower or stealing my food at every meal even though they each have their own or waking up in the middle of the night to be held or nursed or crying in the car because I'm not holding them. I mean, Thank God. But, how sad.

One

Brygit is almost one. I have enjoyed watching her grow from a tiny newborn we can't wake up into a toddler who points, claps, calls me "mama" (or sometimes "nana" if she wants to nurse), gives wet kisses, climbs, hugs and rocks baby dolls, insists on feeding herself, makes crazy faces and dances at least 10 times a day, with or without music. I can't believe all the changes that have occurred in just 12 short months. She has blossomed into this shy yet outgoing little person who has a strange sense of humor and enjoys making people laugh. I wish I could have paused at each milestone along the way just a tad bit longer. I would be lying if I said my heart wasn't breaking just a tiny bit in the midst of my pride for her accomplishments and my excitement for her future. We have had a great year and I'm definitely looking forward to the next.

 

365: week 12

Day 78: She found my old jewelry

 

 

Day 79: Double shooting

 

 

Day 80: Eating the unknown

 

 

Day 81: Valentines

 

 

Day 82: That face

 

 

Day 83: Shaving

 

 

Day 84: Eating DVDs... Everyday