One Year

Dear Lucy,

Little one, you are one year old today, and I can hardly believe how quickly the time has passed. It seems like it wasn't that long ago that your daddy and I brought you home from the hospital.


The day you were born I knew my life would change, but I really had no clue how much, or how happy you would make me. Sometimes I don't get enough sleep, or I get stressed about work because I want to spend more time with you, but when you smile at me or say "mama" it pretty much takes it all away. You have been such a good baby from Day 1 - a good sleeper, a good eater, and just a happy little girl all around. I've learned not to be totally fooled by that little grin, though...when you want something or aren't happy with something, you throw your whole body into letting people know. :) You're a little daredevil and although it makes me frustrated sometimes, it's one of the things I love most about you right now. You are discovering yourself, your likes, your dislikes...and learning to express your feelings. I love to watch you grow.

The world is so wide open to you at the moment. You've found new ways of expressing yourself, and lately it's all about pointing and babbling. You seem to know exactly what you are saying. We have no clue, but we try to respond enthusiastically and encourage you to find your words. "Uh-oh" and "mama" are regulars, but every once in awhile you form a word that sounds awfully like the real thing. It won't be long before those babbles turn into words.

You took your first few steps all on your own two days before your first birthday. You don't seem too anxious to become totally independent, but soon enough you'll be chasing Buddy around the house. You're such a busy little thing, always moving. You explore everything, and if you find something interesting you will bang it against something else and likely stick it in your mouth. You want to know what everything looks like, sounds like, and how it tastes. The world is all yours, little one. You're just getting to be such a big girl...it's a little bittersweet for your mommy. It's hard to get you to sit still sometimes, but when you do I try to soak in all the cuddles while I can.


Lucy, you are the light of my life, and the apple of your daddy's eye. Your big brother loves to play with you and make you giggle. There are so many people around you who love you. The day you were born I loved you instantly, and I had no idea that my heart could hold so much more. Happy Birthday, Punky.

Love,
Mama

Yep...She Likes Cake

Today we had Lucy's 1st Birthday party! She was a real trooper and enjoyed all of the attention from family and friends. Still working on the one year post, but these cake photos were so cute they warranted their own post!





(I'm still picking that black frosting out of her nose).

Happy Birthday, Budders

Today is Buddy's adoption day birthday. We brought him home 2 years ago today...Husband tried to convince me it was 3 years ago, but good thing I have this blog to help me remember things!

Buddy has enjoyed having Brandon around this year, and goes nuts over the chance to rollerblade or run with him. But, of course, the biggest thing to rock Buddy's world this year was our little Lucy. Lots of people ask me how he does with her, and I have to say, he has been amazingly patient and tolerant. He quietly allows her to climb on him, wave her hands in his face, and even pull herself up by grabbing fistfuls of his hair. His defense mechanism is usually to lick her (which typically sends her into a fit of giggles) or if he really can't stand it, he just walks away. He generally likes to be around her and of course, he's always around to catch the food scraps she drops on the floor! Lucy adores him and lights up when he walks into the room. We really couldn't be happier about how well they get along.

Happy Birthday Buddy...I'm sure Lucy will share her birthday cake with you this weekend!

Des Moines, Baby (ies)

Last weekend Lucy and I took a girls' trip to Des Moines to visit some friends. We met everyone for lunch and then hung out at Family H's house. It was a lot of fun! There were 9 kids between 5 families, and as always, it was cool to see all of the ages and stages. We had everything from 3 months to 6 years. With the 3-month old, a 7-month old, and Lucy at almost one year, we had a visual of just how much a kid changes in a year. It's really amazing to see it like that. Of course Lucy had a little trouble knowing what to do with the advances of an "older" man...17-month-old B was very interested, but Lucy wasn't having it.


The kids had a blast playing outside, and Lucy spent what seemed like forever just playing in the mulch and dirt. A little tomboy perhaps?

And here's my girl again, getting more grown up every day. I let her face forward for the first time in the car. I know it's a couple of weeks early, but she's almost 5 pounds over the weight minimum, and it just made sense. She did really well in the car yet again, and seemed to enjoy the ride more when she could see Mom and look out more windows. I'm so lucky she's a good little traveler. Can't wait for the next trip, thanks ladies and kiddos!

A Word on the Census

I believe in the U.S. Census. I use census data frequently in my work, and I know it is important for allocation of funding for infrastructure and services, not to mention political representation. I have also found historical census data to be a very useful tool in doing family history research. I believe in the U.S. Census.

I remember filling out the form as I lay in bed one night, taking pride in completing my civic duty, and having my daughter be "counted" for the first time. I remember filling out the form, but apparently it didn't get in the mailbox. Looking at the pile of papers next to my bed, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

This fact was brought to my attention by the appearance of a Census-taker on my doorstep a couple of Saturdays ago. After confirming who she was, I politely answered her questions with Lucy on my hip, and she seemed genuinely surprised that I was cooperative. I guess there are some out there who feel the government is collecting this information for deviant purposes. I can only imagine some of the attitude they get from others when they ring the doorbell.

Lastnight and this morning, in a span of about 12 hours, I received 3 calls from the Census office stating I was 1 out of 25 "lucky ones" that would be subject to a call to confirm the on-site visit. Two of the calls occurred within a 40-minute timeframe. The 3rd call also caught my voicemail, the message to which included a veiled yet perky threat that if I didn't call back someone would be coming to my house to conduct a follow-up interview.

I called back, and waited about 2 minutes listening to other calls being placed, and someone shuffling papers until they apparently stumbled upon my paperwork. He asked a few questions and I was done.

Point being, just mail the damn thing in. OR THEY WILL HUNT YOU DOWN.

Mother's Day

It has been a great Mother's Day so far...it started out at 5:45AM with "Mama!" which actually made me smile lying there in bed, because she really does know who her mama is now (and because she went back to sleep until 6:15). My parents were here this weekend, so I got to spend a lot of time with my own mom, and after church this morning Husband and Brandon made us all a big brunch. This included my in-laws, so we had a nice celebration of moms.

I am so grateful to be a mom and a stepmom, and I really am lucky to have these kids in my life. Happy Mother's Day to you all!