First first.

The first first of many. We put Kate on the bus a few minutes ago for her first day of kindergarten. Although it is exciting to start a new adventure together, it is really hard to say goodbye. I was totally surprised by the tears that leaked out of the corners of my eyes as I smiled and waved.  She was very excited for the last few weeks, but a couple of nights ago, I think the reality sunk in for her too. She was going to be gone all day. All day. This isn't camp, or vacation bible school, but this is leaving her home life for something much bigger and much longer. She's usually a brave girl, not afraid of new people or places or experiences. But I could tell, for us both, that we were sad to leave each other. The bond that we've spent five years making is stretched with new distance. She has spent the time looking at the world through my eyes and now she will have new experiences that I will only see through her beautiful, blue eyes. I love you girl.

Princess braids

And I always hated matching, right Emily? WelI, I guess I have changed!

Why I cherish her.

She was supposed to be napping.
I was on the phone getting advice from another girlfriend.
I heard her say, Mommy, I need to go potty and I said okay.
But I forgot to listen for the sound of the door closing indicating her return to her room.
After twenty minutes of quiet, while I was still on the phone, it registered.
Is she in her room, asleep?! Wow! That would be nice for once.
I go upstairs to check.
Nope. Nowhere to be seen, but traces of her everywhere.
Makeup dust on my counter.
File folders strewn across the office floor.

I call her.
And then the smell registers.
Nail polish.
I yell. Tell me where you are RIGHT NOW!
I hear her little voice tell me she right here.
Right behind the white couch in my room.
With the red nail polish bottle.
All over her.
But only one drop on the tan carpet.

Little miracles.
Little mercies in the midst of messes.
Half a bottle on her and the window.
None on the white couch.
None on the new curtains.
Nothing permanent on the walls.
Only one drop of red polish on the carpet.

I couldn't punish her. She was just trying to make her hair red for Halloween (she is going to be a modest mermaid). Not that she has seen the movie Little Mermaid, but she knows her hair is supposed to be red.

I am freshly reminded of how precious she is as a girl.

This was me when she was born. I didn't know what sex she was. But my wish was born. All I had wanted was a girl. I read something so shocking different today. Michael Stokes Paulsen comments on the ethical debate in progress today on sex-selective abortions, stating,

Sex-selection abortion occurs in America, too, and the practice is likely to increase. In August, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that a simple blood test seven weeks into pregnancy can reliably identify the sex of the child. Watch for a spike in abortion rates over the next few years as parents find it easier and cheaper to “choose” to have a boy by killing the fetus if—in a bitter reversal of an expression of joy—“it’s a girl.”

Under the current laws on abortion, a woman can abort for any reason, even if it is for sex-selection.

For me, I cannot imagine life without Kate.
Even her three year-old wiles do not deter me from saying that I have always been glad she was a girl.

The Three Amigos

 At Drew's Soccer Party

 The First Sleepover and our Garden Desserts

Easter Morning at Starbucks

Children's Books

This post is for Nicole, who asked me a million years ago to post some book recommendations. I am always looking for great children's literature for Kate and I to read. I started my search with some of the Caldecott Honor and Caldecott Award books, and included looking for seasonally appropriate ones. I have been really excited about a few finds. My new favorite is called Owl Moon by Jan Yolen. It is such a wonderful book with a wonderful message at the end that says, "Sometimes you don't need words. All you need is hope."

I have really fallen in love with the writing in the Stella books as well, especially Stella: Fairy of the Forest by Marie-Louise Gay. She has a real wit that kids get, at least mine.. There is a whole series with Sam and Stella as well and we have enjoyed some of the other ones as well. This is nice if you are a little sick of Angelina Ballerina.

My other favorite discovery has been a book called,  When It Starts to Snow by Phillis Gershator. I just love the way he writes and tells the story. Great rhyming and cute, cute illustrations.

Some new ones I have also found that are really age appropriate for the 2 year olds are:

A Tree is Nice
My Friend Rabbit. This one is quite funny and has great illustrations.

Some other new classics in our house are:
Llama Llama Red Pajama
A House is a House for Me

Joseph had a Little Overcoat
One Fine Day 
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight.

Merry Christmas!

Our gift to you. Hopefully will be a smile :) You've seen one family shot in the blog title, but here are a few favorite that hopefully will bring you a little joy from our family.

My life at two.

Two pm. She's either up. Or she's down. A nap either produces a cheery, snuggly two year old or a screaming flailing thirty pound mass to be reckoned with. You never know what you are going to get. Life is always exciting at home. Being at work the past three weeks for most of the day made me realize that it is a merry-go-round I would much rather be on than any other.

I just love all of her passion. It is one of the most interesting things I have ever done. Guiding and shaping little minds and bodies is crazy hard and tiring. But it is fascinating.

Two Months.

On accident I published the wrong video with Kate in it.
Here's another go at it.

This was our 6 week video with some of his first smiles.
At two months he has slept through the night twice, continues to eat like a champ and is generally pretty happy. He seems like he is growing out of his clothes much faster than his sister; at two months, he is already growing into some six month basics. I know it is because he is my second child, but it sure seems like he grows faster and every time I blink, he gets longer and stronger.

Still singing.

Our family is going on another adventure.
We've been on this trip before.
But now we are a team.
And Kate is leading the way, cheering us on in song.

Lord, make me a servant, humble and meek. Lord, let me lift up those who are weak. And may the prayer of my heart always be "make me a servant today".

We found out on the Friday before the July 4th weekend that Travis' division was eliminated in a restructuring at his company. Without much warning, we are in a put on this road of unemployment again. Last time, we were living on my part-time income and Travis was in school; we found out Travis lost his job last time the beginning of September and we found out we were pregnant with Kate a month later. This time, I have to admit, it is a little more scary initially that you are without a primary income when you have a house and two children.

But Kate is singing. And we are too. She sings for us all as we depend on the great Provider.
We have never gone hungry or been without a bed to sleep in. God has always been faithful to us over these past five years for employment.

There are many signs of God's faithfulness. He provided a baby grand piano for us unexpectedly as a  permanent "loan"-- this reminds us to sing in the midst of trial. He provided 10 days of work for me on short notice at the hospital. He also provided for my Dad his third job in a year in a bad economy. Travis also has three great job leads as well as a much larger network than the last time.

Pray for us that today we would continue to sing.

According to Kate...

"Daddy, have a black pony?"
"I want two ponies."
"I ride ponies, Daddy"

"Ponies in my grass."

--All this from a pony ride when she stayed at the Shanks while we were bringing Grant home from the hospital a month ago...

My first dentist appointment.

While my Dad was getting his teeth cleaned (no cavities despite no visit to the dentist in a year and a half) and Mom was getting a crown (we pray that I have my father's teeth), I got to visit the dentist too! This is a picture of me and Curtis. He cleaned my teeth, showed me all cool tools they use (I even kissed the sucking tool!) and gave me lots of presents when I finished. Everyone said I did a great job because I even opened my mouth and let him look at my teeth. And I didn't get scared at all. My mommy said it must be because I have Daddy's teeth that I like the dentist so much already.

Me and my friend Haley

Kate's friend, Hayley, is taking a Wilton cake decorating class. She made a Diego cake and brought it over to share it. What a sweet friend she is!

The Zoo

My parents joined us by narrow escape between Maryland snow storms for a nine-day visit to enjoy Arizona's liquid gold sunshine.

Today we headed to the Phoenix Zoo. We have loved belonging to the zoo and being able to go for just an hour and a half-- it's enough to go and see the major animals, get a good walk in and not ruin nap time! I am looking forward to being able to take the kids all this year-- in the summer they have a water-park to beat the heat.

My parents treated Kate to the experience of feeding the giraffes and the merry-go-round. I thought Kate might be scared of the giraffes, but she loved it. She did not, however, like the merry-go-round. "Stop, pease, stop" was all she could say once she realized that the lion went up and down, AND around and around.

ps...Emily we miss you!

Bedhead.

I've been waiting to post this one but colds and cold & rainy weather for two weeks have kept the sun at bay. She has been in her "big bed" for two weeks, with minimal battles.

Tandy

My favorite word is "Tan-ny" or "Tandy"-- my first word both this morning and the morning before were "One tandy, mommy? Jus' one tandy?"

Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow

We were so fortunate to have snow while here in Maryland--Kate's first and my first in almost four years! We have enjoyed our time here in Maryland, seeing friends and family, cooking, fixing a few things around the house, and getting everyone into the Christmas spirit.

Halloween

A spur of the moment trip to Old Navy got me this costume for Kate for $1...loving the coupon blogs...so we went with the theme. Kitty cats and Travis wore a "Hello. I'm ___" sticker as "Tom Kat..and those are my kittens". As you can tell, Kate liked the loot better capturing the event. Should have taken the pictures earlier.

Gigi, we miss you...we wish we could be playing with you this week too!
Don't be too sad about Emily-- remember I am going to be MUCH closer than she is...you can always visit me :)

Fourth

One.

I attempted to take a picture of her in this adorable outfit on her birthday, the one her Daddy bought her when she was just a few days old. She was too busy being a party animal.
Here's her stats at one year, one week:
21lbs - 45th percentile
29 inches- 70th percentile
Still a peanut head at the 25th percentile....but good thing it grew a whole inch :)
We cannot believe it has already been a year. What a joy!