Snow according to Kaily

On the way home from preschool today Kaily asked me where snow came from. I tried to give her a simple answer, but the simple ones never satisfy her so I proceeded to tell her about the water cycle. I think I may have messed something up b/c at end of the explanation she states, "So, it's poop." I paused for a moment just to let what she said sink in. "What did you say?" She said very mater of fact like, "Mom, the snow is cloud poop." Well, I guess that's one way to look at it.

Enjoying the Moment

Yesterday was Kaily's 4th birthday and she is sick. We kept her home from school and just did a movie marathon with her all day. For her birthday we gave her The Little Mermaid videos, all three of them. She just wanted to snuggle with me and so I let her. I'm ashamed to say that it's been a while since I've just sat and cuddled Kaily on my lap. I had forgotten how much I enjoy it. Clint made her a good lunch and we had a tea party with her new tea set while we watched the movies. I could tell how much it meant to her and I realized that even though she received all these things for her birthday the one thing she wanted more than any of it, the one thing she will remember is that Mom spent all day just being with her. I feel bad that it took her getting sick for me to remember. That's why I like this quote for today. I think it sums it all up for me.

"What can . . . young mother[s] [do] . . . to reduce the pressure [of raising young children] and enjoy [their families] more? . . . "Recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction. "Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments. She said: 'The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less' (Loud and Clear [1004], 10-11)." ~M. Russell Ballard~

"Mom, I'm hungry"

Everyday for the past 2 weeks, all day long, I hear, "Mom, I'm hungry". I can feed her a full meal and she says she's full and then an hour later she's at it again. At first I thought maybe she was just thirsty and confusing it with hunger so I started making her drink more throughout the day, but it hasn't made a difference. I can't keep up with her. She goes through snacks, ie: crackers, fruit snacks, apples, oranges, carrots, cheese, yogurts, bread (toast), cooked peas, cooked corn, so fast that I don't know what to buy and what to do. I am fresh out of ideas for her. I'm hoping this is just a growth spurt and things will calm down in a bit. It's not like she's big either, the girl is only 33 lbs and will be 4 next week. That means she's only in the 25% for weight. Maybe she just has a ridiculous metabolism like her father. Any way, by the end of the day I'm SO tired of hearing how hungry she is that I feel like pulling my hair out. When I tell her that maybe she's NOT hungry her reply is always, "Mom, people have to eat and if I'm hungry than I need to eat!" I hope I don't give her a food complex, goodness!

Buba is ONE

I can't believe it's been one whole year since Conner was born. In some ways it feels like yesterday that he was so tiny in my arms and he and I were cuddling in the hospital bed together. Now he is ALL over the place, he hardly sits still anymore. He has become the biggest tease and he loves to laugh...and whine. (= So how did we celebrate his birthday? We went to a Super Bowl party at a friends house. We gave him a cookie for his treat and let him eat it himself, that is until it started to get everywhere. This Sat we are having a party for Kaily and then Sunday we will celebrate with the whole family. Happy Birthday my little boy!

My kids and I at 1

Kaily at 1

Me at 1

Conner at 1

I think Conner and I look more a like than Kaily and I. I wish I had a picture of Clint at 1 so we could compare, but I don't. Just thought this would be interesting to look at.