Happy 21 months!

Hard for me to believe my girls is 21 months old today. We are having lots of fun with her these days. She is talking more and more, she learns new words every day. Of course she has mastered running and has lots of fun moving around. She loves reading (books have always been her favorite), Sesame Street, carrying around her dolls and stuffed animals, and just playing like a kid should. She loves music and isn't afraid to dance around the house. She loves to be outside and enjoys playing in the water, pushing around her lawn mower, blowing bubbles, and sometimes likes to just sit and enjoy the view. She loves Betsy and Lucy. I often find her trying to read one of them a book, teaching them to use her magna doodle, or draping them in her jewelry. She is good at hugs and kisses and still once in a great while will climb up and cuddle with you. Her favorite foods are vegetables and fruits and she eats dairy like crazy. Although her favorite junk food has to be tortilla chips and every time she sees ice cream she says "Happy Bo" (Happy Birthday in Mia speak). I love that she already has little friends. She not only likes to play with them but isn't afraid to give them hugs and kisses. She is good at hello's, good-bye's, and blowing kisses. She likes to go grocery shopping, hang out at the library, and visit the park.

That is Mia at 21 months. Doing all the things kids do; including some tantrums, tears, and all of that good stuff. But she is a joy and a wonderful part of our life. I can't even believe in 3 months she will be 2 years old. Can't wait to see what adventures she takes us on until then!

Family Photo Session

I can't even believe how much time has passed since I lasted posted to the blog. How can time go by so fast? We have been busy so I do have something to show for our time. The month of May cruised by. We spent some time doing home renovations (I will get some pics up once the living room is done). Mia spent time over a couple of weekends at my parents so we could quickly get things accomplished. With the nicer weather we have been spending lots of time outside (the park, zoo, botanical gardens, petting farm, etc). My birthday was last week, the big 32 this year. All and all life is great, problem is we are spending so much time enjoying ourselves I haven't taken much time to update the blog. The good news I have take hundreds of pictures. There is no way I can post every event on the blog but I will "try" to do some catching up when I can.

Anyway, instead of going to JCPenny to have Mia's 18 months photos I had a friend of mine do pictures for us. If you like her work I encourage you to visit her site, she is a great photographer. http://www.kelliesaunders.com/. We met her at Mill Race Village in Northville, what a great place for pictures. These are a few of my favorite shots.

St Patricks Day

Here are some pics from our St. Patricks Day celebration with the family . . .

Mia loves dragging this dog around the house . . .

Sassy pants . . .

March Madness

We did so much in March it seemed like it started forever ago but of course on the other hand it seemed to whiz by. Roy loves "March Madness" so we of course watched a lot of basketball. I can't fail to mention how many beautiful days we had this month, the weather was out of the ordinary for Michigan.

Our friends Amanda and Steve had their baby Maya the day before Mia was born. We don't get to see them as often as I would like. We went to their house one Sunday this month. We had breakfast and the girls played. As you can see from this picture everyone had fun playing in the tent. Even Reuben got in on the fun :)

We went to Lia's first birthday party. I love Mia in this outfit, so cute!!

Mia and all of the kids at Lia's party.

Mia having a tea party with Betsy . . .

Where does the time go . . .

I can't believe it has been over a month since I posted anything on the blog. Where does the time go? Every week on Sunday my Mom says . . . can you believe tomorrow is Monday? Then on Wednesday (when she is getting ready to leave after watching Mia for the week) she says can you believe it is already Wednesday again? Then I sit and think about how fast the time does really go. But what am I doing that fills all of the hours of the day??

We have been busy I suppose. There is the usual work for both Roy and I, the chores around the house, the errands that have to be run but we truly try to make Mia our main focus. Time really does go by too fast that we just don't feel like we can put too much emphasis on work, chores, errands . . . it is more important that we soak up every minute we spend with her . . . she is changing way too fast.

Over the next few days I will try to get some fresh pictures up so everyone can see what we have been up to.

I wish I could bottle her up . . .

I have been trying to soak up every moment I spend with Mia. She is so much fun right now and such a joy to be around. I know I will enjoy every stage of her life for different reasons but I know there will be points Iwill look back and miss her being this cute little girl. I don't want to forget all of the things she is doing right now.

I love that she has learned to give hugs and kisses and is often in the mood to dish out those kisses one after the next. I love how she wrinkles her nose and when you say the word "funny" she goes "a-ha". Sometimes she likes to walk, sometimes very briskly, and other times she wants to hold your finger and have you walk with her. I love that she loves Betsy and Lucy. Animals are so important to Roy and I and I am glad we are teaching her to appreciate them. Hearing her say dada over and over again is the best, I know it is even better for Roy :) It makes me smile that she understands to look out the front window when someone is coming or going. I love peaking into her room at night and seeing her arms wrapped around her bear.

I know I can't bottle her up , and I know I can't make time stand still. But I will focus on enjoying her and making as many memories as I can so I never forget all she did at 15 months.

Before I was a Mom . . .

A friend sent this to me and I really liked it . . .

Before I was a Mom . . .

I slept in as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed.

I brushed my hair and my teeth every day.

Before I was a Mom . . .

I cleaned my house each day.

I never tripped over toys or forgot the words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom . . .

I had never been puked on,

pooped on,

spit on,

chewed on,

peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom . . .

I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests, or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom . . .

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew how much I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom . . .
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between Mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom . . .

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night just to make sure all was okay.

I had never know the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,

the wonderment of the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.