Derick turns 3 years old today!

Our little man celebrates his birthday today. This morning, at breakfast, I told him it was his birthday. He looked at me and said, "Right now?!?" I confirmed that it was indeed his birthday, right now. He said, "Oh Wow!" and followed that exclamation up with a face splitting grin. At three years old, we don't always have the greatest days together. He can push the boundaries and test the limits, just like any other three year old. But, I do enjoy those moments when his sweetness comes through. He is a tender hearted boy, who loves his friends and family very much. He adores his sister, and is constantly loving on her. If he doesn't know where she is, you can bet he is asking me, "Mom, where is Darla?" His uncles are his idols and he loves to tell stories that involve them. We also listen to stories about his cousins, Jordan, Jewel, and Cooper almost daily. His imagination has taken off the last 6 months and as his vocabulary continues to develop, the stories get more complex. They usually involve a truck of some sort and most often, there's a problem to be solved. It's so fun listening to his creativity.

Derick's first word was CAR and his love affair with all things mobile hasn't diminished. He currently is into driving his Silverado Truck that Santa brought at Christmas-time. He can spend hours playing with his hot wheels cars; they are the toy that is the hardest for him to share at play dates. He enjoys technology very much: cameras, PDA's, telephones, computers, and TV....all of these things are very interesting and cool. His newest obsession: Music! He loves to turn on the CD player in his room and crank up the tunes. He also LOVES to dance any chance he gets. Our guests are usually pulled up to his room almost immediately on arrival, and shown the, "Cool Music." And usually, he asks them to dance with him.

He has been potty trained since the end of August/early September, although he still has a few accidents when he's distracted or doesn't want to stop what he's doing to go use the potty. We are working with him on using manners; saying his please and thank you consistently is still a challenge.

I'm not sure if this is a boy thing, or more specific to Derick, but he has always loved to be outdoors. When asked how he wanted to celebrate his birthday, he said, "At the Park!" So, we had a friend party this morning at local park just down the street from our house. A few of our Renton Mom's group friends braved the rain and cold to celebrate with us. It was wet, but Derick enjoyed himself!

Cupcakes at the park

My heart is swelling with pride and love as I sit here writing about him. Since he didn't sleep during quiet time today, I'm listening to him play downstairs. It's time for mommy to go hug her boy, her three year old boy!

Growing, growing, growing

Darla turns 5 months old, today. Where has the time gone to? I have to say, those newborn days are quickly becoming a distant memory. Our little girl has grown into the cutest little baby! She is cooing, blowing raspberries, and has most recently started to squeal with delight. Her big brother can get her to smile the fastest, and each one of us feels special when she laughs at us. When she holds eye contact with you, you can get lost in those deep blue eyes. I wonder about all the thoughts she must have about this world she's living in. She still has clogged tear ducts, but the doc keeps telling us that they will clear on their own. I'm ready for her to be goop free!

This past weekend, she rolled from her tummy to her back and today she rolled from her back to her tummy!! Finally, tummy time has become more fun. She is grasping at things close by and connecting with her intended target more often than not. Her sleeping pattern at night has changed again, not to the delight of her mommy. She is back to waking every 4 hours for a feed.......and I'm back to feeling like a sleepwalker during the day. But, I know it's just another phase that will change again sometime soon. She is very interested in what we are doing at the dinner table and watches intently when we eat or drink. It won't be long before it will be time to try solids. We have noticed that she is a very active girl, who seems to thrive on people and activities. She enjoys watching her brother play and sometimes it's almost like she'd like to jump right into the fray with him. One of her favorite things to do right now is play in her jumperoo. So, I took some photos of her doing just that, today. Enjoy!

Easter Sunday

The morning began with a quiet smile exchanged between my love and I. I love waking up to see his sleepy face, with a small smile gracing it. The rain was falling gently outside and the kids were still asleep. It was a peaceful moment. To me, Easter is a time of hope, new life, and beauty as we watch the plants and trees in our yard awaken. It's one of my favorite times of the year. On rainy days like today, I like to just sit and watch it fall on the green grass and pink flowers: renewing, refreshing, and giving life.

We've had a VERY busy couple of weeks. It's been fun and a bit overwhelming. There have been lots of gatherings with family and friends. We've been celebrating Easter with egg hunts and good meals, with one more celebration today. So, instead of going into all the details, I thought I'd let the pictures do the talking.

Renton Mom's Group Egg Hunt














Easter Dinner with the Sommerdorfs

Easter Morning, relaxing with just us.

Waggoner family Egg Hunt and meal

Nikanne's birthday celebration was Friday, and I just adore this pic I took so I had to share it too! Don't they make a cute couple?

May you be blessed this day with love surrounding you and those you hold close to your heart. May your hope and spirit be renewed, and may your garden grow green and rich with color.

Rollerskating fun

Today we tried something new and exciting; Rollerskating! Derick, Darla, and I traveled to Auburn's Skate Connection to attend their tots time on Tuesdays. It was a very fun and inexpensive way to spend the morning. It took us a little while to get the right size skate for Derick, but once we did, he was really into it. Darla got to ride around in a stroller (which she really enjoyed-those lights are very interesting), and mommy got to skate too! All for $4! We met up with some friends for some cool drinks and then after the skate was over, lunch at McDonalds. Good times!

Dancing Fool

I had to share some cute shots of Derick. He loves to dance! Lately, he's figured out how to work the CD player in his room. Now he puts on his own music and has a dance party anytime he wants! Jeremy and I can recite to you the whole NoodleBug CD! Over the weekend, he appeared at a family gathering dressed (or should I say undressed) in his underpants, a ball cap, and his cousins high heeled shoes. He was ready for a dance party! I didn't get my camera out fast enough to catch him in this getup, but I do have some dancing shots from earlier this week. Enjoy my sweet dancing fool!

First Signs of Spring

It's March and it's been a cold spring so far.....but there are some wonderful signs that the earth is awakening. I've been watching the green leaves of my tulips and daffodils push upward, and I've even got a few daffodils blooming. The lilac bush and cherry tree have buds on the branches. And my favorite: the return of our family friend, Mr. Zippy! It's the Rufus Humming bird; one of our favorite birds to watch. After moving into our home years ago, we discovered the birds flying about the neighbors yard. I started putting out humming bird feeders and now they come back every year, in March. We also have attracted Anna's Hummers, which stay around all winter long. What makes the Rufus so fun is the noise that the males make when they zoom about. It's a loud buzzing that announces their arrival. And they are highly aggressive birds, chasing the Anna's hummers away. They take up posts in the trees around our yard and it's always fun to watch their antics. Oh, how pleased I am that spring is here. We are moving out of the darkness and into the light. Mother, I am filled with joy to walk beside you into the sun.

Sick little boy

So, the nasty bug that everyone has been talking about going around has struck our little man. He woke up this morning at 5:30, throwing up. Jeremy and I helped him through it, while his little tummy emptied itself, completely. It's such a helpless feeling to watch your child throw up. You know how awful it feels and that there's nothing you can do but be a comfort when it's over. He was so brave, and learned the signs that it was coming on, quickly. Even through all the yuckiness, he still managed to make me smile. At one point, I asked him if he was ok. He said, "I don't feel like saying much, right now." What a cutie, even sick! Derick didn't really nap much, and after some sips of Gatorade he started to feel better. Unfortunately, he got sick again this evening. I remember when I was sick, all I wanted to do was be near my loved ones. I'm guessing my son is similar because he finally just laid his head down on the couch and slept. I had to take a picture, because I don't get many opportunities to catch him sleeping! I hope he feels better soon.

Wacky Weather Day

There's a saying....."If you don't like the weather in the Northwest, just wait five minutes and it'll change." Today was one of those days. We started the day off with snow, moved to sideways rain, it hailed, then we had some sun breaks, back to rain, and ended the day with snow again! And throughout the whole day, the wind blustered and blew against the house. It was pretty crazy and fun to watch. It sure feels like winter around here, but I have hope, as I watch my tulips push their green leaves upward. We will warm up soon! We were watching Jeremy's nieces for the morning, so the house was full of energetic kids. It was great fun for Derick, who adores his older cousins. We played play dough, built train tracks, made cookies, and did a hail storm dance. It was a very nice indoor play day!

Something's still missing.....

Darla turns 4 months old this Friday (in three days) and life with her is getting lots better. She is ADORABLE when she's happy. Big smiles and the beginnings of a laugh are our rewards. She's blowing raspberries and enjoys being on the floor now, too. She goes to bed around 10pm (well, she did until Daylight Savings ended!) and will sleep for about 7 to 10 hours. Which is really nice for me. I'm getting more sleep and that makes me a better mom. I still get cranky when Derick doesn't take a rest, but I'm noticing he's starting to transition out of them. Some days, he'll sleep. Others, he won't. Quiet time is in effect at our house, either way, cuz mommy needs the break. And most days, a break is all I need.

But, there's still something missing. I think it's my self confidence that seems to have taken the biggest hit lately. I'm not sure why, but I'm struggling with some old mental tapes that I thought I'd put away for good, years ago. I know part of it is my physical body. I'm not loosing the baby weight as fast this time. And I don't like the way I look in the mirror. It's definitely time to really focus on the calories I'm putting in. But it's more than that. It's this feeling of loneliness in the midst of having lots of friends. It's this scattered feeling in the midst of getting alot more done than I was two months ago. It's this annoying questioning voice, and when it comes around, I start doubting myself and my self worth. Grrrrr. I know things will continue to get better. I'm just really ready to be past all this and back to my happy self again. Maybe all I need is a few date nights with my man and to hit the streets with my walking shoes, again. Rain or shine. Wanna join me?

Here's some fun pics from the last few days. We started bringing out more of the baby gear that's been in the attic. It sure makes our tiny living room feel even smaller. But, Darla is digging the Jumperoo. Derick likes it too....he enjoys interacting with her while she's in it. They are sooo cute to watch. He's very loving with her, and she's all big eyes for him.

Seattle Children's Museum

Jeremy and I are trying to give Derick some more of the attention he seems to need right now. So, Last Tuesday, we took him (and Darla) to the Seattle Children's museum to see the Curious George exhibit. He LOVES Curious George and seemed to really enjoy the exhibit. He was running around from station to station; we could barely keep up! After the museum, we had lunch in the center house and then took a Monorail ride. It was a big highlight for Derick. He thinks trains are pretty cool. On our way back to the van, we stopped to visit the fountain for a little while. It was a fun family day!

Having fun on the slide!

Derick didn't want to pose with his buddy, Curious George.

Derick and Mommy on the Monorail.

Derick and Daddy watching the fountain.

All About Darla

Ok, I know I've been posting ALOT about Darla lately....but I have this new found obsession for her! She's just so dang cute!! I've been trying to capture her newest thing....and I finally got it. Please pardon the bad lighting and enjoy our little angel "talking."

And if you just haven't had enough....here's some more Darla! She was being so cute on the changing table!

LOVE

Valentine's day brings up so many feelings for different people. Some say it's a Hallmark Holiday, meaning that it's really all about retail. And, I can see how they might feel that way. People feel obligated to buy something for their loved ones. But, I like to look at Valentine's day as a gift itself. It's one day a year that we get to stop and say, "I love you!" In this busy world, isn't it nice to have a public reminder to take care of your heart and those that are closest too you? I know, I can hear my husband (and many others) saying, "I don't need anyone else to tell me when to be loving." Of course not. But, is there such a thing as TOO MUCH loving? Nah. Not in my world! And who says it has to be a partner you send your love out to??? Love your friends, Love your neighbors, Love yourself.

Speaking of love......I can say with confidence that life has shifted again for me, in a good way. Darla turned three months old on Friday, and I feel like we are finally getting along. I LOVE my daughter. I mean I like her, too. We are starting to have a relationship, with giving and receiving and it's tender, sweet, and full of love. I'm feeling better about myself, and being a mom of two. Now, if we could just get Derick's behavior to shift a little, I think we'd be pretty happy most of the time.

Jeremy and I had our first date night since Darla was born, on Friday. What a gift to be able to enjoy a dinner out with Josh and Nikanne AND a movie. And guess what it's theme was? That's right, LOVE! We saw "He's just not that into you." I really enjoyed the messages about love and choices. It was so nice to just be a couple for a few hours. I feel like our relationship is coming back on track. Jeremy isn't perfect, and neither am I. We've been in the trenches for a while now and it feels good to walk in a little sunshine for a while. So, Happy Valentine's Day. May you be blessed with many cups that runeth over and a heart full of Love.

A little bit of love

I'm typing one handed again, while Darla sleeps in my arms, so I'll be quick. I had to post a video, or two, of our cutie with her big smiles!

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Mind Blogging

So to all you bloggers out there, do you ever do this? In weird random moments, I will start a blog in my head. It'll be this really witty, fun prose and I'll say to myself, "what a great idea, I'll have to remember that when I can sit down at the computer." And then, you all know what happens, right? I don't remember. Or I don't sit down at the computer. Or, I do sit down and start the blog, but it doesn't sound at all like what it did in my head. So, lately, I've been doing alot of MIND BLOGGING. There hasn't been alot to say, anyway. We've been sick. Again. Colds all the way around, which means less sleep for me, tough nursing moments, and lots of blowing noses. The sun did come out this week, which helped alot and we are finally on the mend.

I haven't been taking many pics lately, sometimes I go through "dry" periods with my camera. But here's a couple of fun ones.

What a Weekend!

It was a weekend full of interesting moments, some great, some not. On Friday, Darla had her 2 month check up with Dr. Klokied. She weighed in at 12 lbs, 11 oz and is 22 inches long. She's in the 90th % for weight and 25th % for height. So, even though we still struggle with her latch during breastfeeding, it's clear she's getting enough to eat. Dr Klokied pronounced her perfect and was more worried about me and my mental/emotional health. She encouraged me to start doing a better job of taking care of myself. To take real breaks from both kids. Go on a date with Jeremy. Get out of the house by myself. Yikes. I have been getting out, but I've been taking Darla with me. So, after an emotional evening and a good talk, Jeremy and I came up with a plan to get Darla to take a bottle. She's refused, up until today. It took me leaving the house, and her to get hungry enough, but she did take a bottle from Jeremy today. Progress. I know the fight is not over yet, but we are on the road to some independence for me. I am going to do some research on different nipples to see if there's one out there that she will prefer over the ones we have.

I got to play in my GARDEN this weekend. Ahhhh, beautiful sunshine, warmth on my shoulders, the smell of dirt. It was a treat to be outside and dry! Derick played along side me in the sand box, and Darla rested in the carrier while I cleaned up all the deadness in the yard. I was SO tired of looking at it out my windows! It's so much nicer now. And, I think most of my plants made it through the deep freeze of December. I'll know more in the months ahead. There's lots more pruning to do, but it was a nice start and a WONDERFUL reminder that SPRING is on it's way.

Our SLEEP pattern has shifted, again. Darla has been sleeping for 6 to 7 hours at night for the last week. What a blessing! It has given me a new lift in my step and some hope that things will continue to get better. The flip side to that is I got another breast infection! All those hours without emptying and the girls got backed up again. Friday, I went back on antibiotics, one more time. Sigh. It's a different drug this time, and I can take it with or without food, so it makes it much easier for me. No more waiting for meals or watching the family eat without me.

Sunday, I got a little pampering from our cousin Kellie. She brought over some spa products that she sells and spent a little time with me. We smoothed out my hands, did a facial, improved my soles, and did a relaxation visualization. Her daughter, Shelby, entertained Derick and Daddy took Darla. It was such a peaceful morning and a treat for me. Thanks Kellie!!! I can't wait to do that again.

Darla continues to get more and more interactive with us. Saturday, she smiled at Derick for the first time. It was such a sweet moment, I cried while the two of them exchanged smiles. Derick said, "Look mommy, she smiled at me!" I know he was just as touched as I was.

Derick has been doing pretty good, with only one really bad melt down over the weekend. His newest way to express loving feelings is to say, "Mommy, you are my BEST friend!" It's such a sweet thing for him to say and I love hearing it!

I know there is more work ahead of us, and just when we get used to something, it'll change. But for today, this moment, life feels pretty darn wonderful. My cup is full.

Just when I blog about it......

.....it changes!!! I am happy to report the tired feeling behind my eyes is gone, for the moment. Darla and I slept last night (well, really this morning) from 1:30am to 7:30am!!! Yippee!!! I am a new woman today. It's amazing what 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep will do for the body and soul. Thanks, my sweet little girl. It was just what I needed. :)