I'm Back

Dear Laurel,

I have quietly resurfaced here at your blog.  Although I think now, it will take on a new tone.  On and off since you were born, I've been writing you (and later Jack) letters.  Some are on my computer, some on my iPad, and my fear is that if I'm ever not around to tell you where to find them, then you won't.  Find them.  So I've decided to come back to the blog.  Only as a spot for you and possibly your brother, although maybe he'll get his own.  I haven't decided yet.  Hopefully, from this point on, you'll be able to find your letter.  For now, I think it's public, but maybe at some point I can change that.

I wanted to make sure to get in a quick letter today because it was your first day of Kindergarten.  Only 8 to 12 today, eventually until 2:20.  You started at New Horizons Elementary School in Ms. Jane's class.  I knew we picked a great school for you, but today I'm POSITIVE that this is the right spot for you.  You didn't tell us too much about your day, but I picked up bits and pieces.  I can just tell.  This is going to be great.  But that doesn't mean it wasn't hard for me.  Harder, in every way, than I thought it would be.  I'm so proud of you, but still sad.  Today marked the first day of a routine that will take up at least the next 12 years of your life.  That seems so BIG.  And so grown up.  And a little bit sad.  If I really get to thinking, it's like a teeny bit of your youth and innocence is leaving today.  The "real world" will start to become clear to you.  It won't all be about toys and fun.  And that's a good thing, mostly.  But I'm still sad.  I know all parents say it, but I can so clearly remember the day you were born.  And that first day we walked you into preschool.  You didn't cry.  You didn't look back.  You went right in. So brave.  And I watched you play happily through the window.  You were the same way today.  Only slightly more hesitant to have us leave you, but ready.  I am so proud.

You are amazing and smart and kind and hilarious and sassy and lovely and compassionate and mostly, you are loved.  You and I butt heads sometimes.  But that is only because we are so much alike.  And I really do understand you...even when you think I don't.  I'm PROUD that you stand up for yourself and you know what you want.

I love you my big Kindergartener and am so proud to be your mommy!!

I love you!!

Mommy

Month 36

Be careful when you blink because when you open your eyes, I will have gone from THIS little baby...

to THIS big girl.

That's right, I reached the big 0-3. I had a week o' celebrations. The highlight being a party fit for princesses. Literally. Only princesses allowed. We all wore beautiful princess dresses, got our hair and makeup done, put on a princess performance, ate cake, and I opened presents. Not unlike what happens on a daily basis at home, but it's much more fun when you can make your parents pay a lot of money for the privilege of pampering you. My party was a few days before my birthday so on my birthday I got to celebrate AGAIN. Because that's just how I roll. One party is definitely not enough! When I woke up on my birthday morning, the birthday fairy had been IN MY ROOM! She dropped off a HUGE bunch of balloons right there in my room. She even knew how much I liked princesses. Then when I came downstairs, I got to eat cake for breakfast! I didn't even have to eat my usual "healthy" breakfast of cinnamon toast or waffles first. JUST CAKE. After that, I went to school where I had ANOTHER party with my friends at school. My mommy and Nana brought cupcakes and my teacher told the class a story all about how I was born. I have my own birth story. Not unlike the story of Baby Jesus. I'm just sayin'...

That night I opened MORE presents and had even MORE cake. It's good to be me.

Look what the birthday fairy dropped off

I

I couldn't BELIEVE she knew to get me a princess balloon!

Happy 3 years to me baby Jack!

My doggie birthday cake. Because nothing says "CELEBRATE" quite like lighting an animal on fire...

If I had to guess, I'd say the birthday fairy went last minute in the wee hours of the night to look for a birthday cake and all the grocery had was this weird doggy cake...but that's just a guess

Getting fitted for my birthday crown

Sitting with Mrs. Ivey while we tell my birth story to my royal subjects

Cookie Monster cupcakes and princess plates

Nana and Baby Jack came too. He was thrilled.

Riding my pony from Uncle Charlie and Uncle Denny

Never, and I mean NEVER, tick off a princess. This look could melt steel

Getting ready for my princess party

Practicing my royal wave

Grandma and Granddad came too

Getting my hair and makeup did

People think being a princess is all fun and games when, in fact, it's harder than it looks

Gloss touch up

Now that's a lot of princesses!

Me: " Do you KNOW how much power we have?"

Scarlett: "I know girl. I know."

Princesses get their groove on.

We got to watch ourselves on TV. And I'm ALL about watching ME...as you should be too!

Holding hands with fellow Princess Ella

Waiting for our debut

Kisses for the crowd

Adjusting the tiara

And the best part...I even said "Thank you for my party." Now that's a REAL princess.

Month 35

Just a short little post this month. I've been pretty busy taking care of my baby brother. He is really awesome, but babies are a LOT of work! Don't worry though, I'm still a class act. I always wear my dresses and glass and/or ruby slippers because that's how princesses dress. And don't even try to get me to wear pants because "Princesses don't wear pants," duh. Since I know I'm a couple of months behind on my posts, I'm going to try to get caught up. So much is happening that I know you are all waiting with baited breath to get the next installment of my crazy life. So I'm going to get right to the pics and stay tuned for all the deets on my birthday week o' celebrations.

Oh, but I almost forget, I got bangs. And a bob. I totally got styled and I am sooo NOW.

And as my Guncle Charlie taught me to say, "Peace out girlscouts."

Love.

Mommy and I had a special date to Chuck E Cheese...just us two. I loved it. Natch.

Welcome to my life kid.

We got snow and I was pretty stoked about it.

But it cause a lot of traffic problems.

Daddy is still trying to make the rock star thing happen.

Can't figure out how to rotate, but he's still cute even on his side!

You have to really bundle up little babies.

Before you ask, YES, he does workout.

THE bob. Cute huh? That's my last glitter star for awhile. I had to let mommy know that "Princesses don't have stars on their face." She knows nothing.

Pontificating about the ways of the world...

Princesses DO have adorable hair.

Month 34

Christmas. It truly is the MOST wonderful time of the year. I really couldn't tell you my favorite part. I love everything from decorating the tree and hanging stockings to making handprint reindeer and singing the Hippo song. You know the song. Really, it can be sung all year as I'm insisting on doing, even as we enter March. Because when WOULDN'T one want a hippo, am I right?? I'm really digging this Santa guy too. You may remember, in years past, I was a little bit terrified. I mean seriously, he's big and fat, wears a heinous outfit, and let's face it...the guy smells like liquor. BUT I'm starting to get past all that superficiality and focus on what matters, what's on the inside. That being, the dude brings presents. He brought SO much loot that normally we'd have to get a second mortgage to pay for it all, but with Santa it's all free, free, FREEEEEEE!! All I have to do is promise to be good ALL year. Or at least for a few days leading up to Christmas. I had a blast getting ready on Christmas Eve for Santa to come. My guncles came down and we made cookies for Santa, I tossed reindeer food in the yard, and all the adults drank "special" egg nog. Boy were they having FUN! That must have been some DEEEElicious egg nog! On Christmas morning I was completely overwhelmed by the amazing display of toys. I didn't even know where to start. I must have been REALLY good. I have to say though, baby brother must not have been a very good boy because his Christmas kind of sucked. He'll have to do better this year. Hope you enjoy the pics!

Only slightly peeved to be wearing a dorky Santa-esque hat

Mommy's lil stocking stuffer

We're pretty cute, huh?

Baby brother loves to snuggle

Carefully setting out milk for Santa

Look at ALL my goodies. If you look to the bottom right corner you can see the evidence that Jack was on the naughty list. His present stack included diapers, an outfit, and the very definition of a lame gift: a pair of socks. A pair of very CHRISTMASY socks that I have the sneaking suspicion SOMEONE was supposed to give to baby brother BEFORE Christmas but perhaps forgot them...maybe in the bottom of a Target bag or something...I'm just sayin'

I've had my eye on this mermaid at Learning Express for quite sometime. Santa must have decided to overlook the fact that I pitched a fit everytime I had to leave the store without it!

Dora tunnel...for exploring.

Every girl needs a hot pink ride!

I LOVE princesses!

Costume change #3

Who DOESN'T love ladybug gloves?!

Test Drive!