ten

This month you were determined to figure out just how to make your arms and legs work together to crawl across the floor.  About a week ago, you were able to crawl across the room without resorting to the good ol' army crawl.  You now proudly crawl about the floor in search of new things to get into.

You also began pulling up on couches, chairs and tables this month.  At first you would only pull up to your knees but just yesterday, I witnessed you pulling up to your feet and standing.  The sheer joy on your face when you made up from kneeling to standing by yourself, made my full-time job as your mother so rewarding.  We were both filled with such great happiness as you reached your goal and squealed with delight.

The teeth have come with full force this month.  3 new teeth came in together to join the lone bottom tooth from last month.  Your little smile looks so different with 2 big front teeth on top and 2 little teeth on bottom.  You are evolving from baby to toddler daily.  While I love all your little changes, I can't help but lament over the fact that my baby is getting bigger.  I find myself holding on to these baby days tighter than I ever did.

You were sick for the first time.  It was a horrible case of Hand, Foot and Mouth.  Your poor little mouth swelled up and sores covered the inside, making it very hard to eat, sleep or drink.  It took hours to get you to sleep and you often woke in agony from the sores.  It was a rough 5 days but you finally got better and we were so happy to see you happy again.

You continue to watch your sisters very carefully.  I even caught you playing school with them and the neighbor girl the other day.  Your sisters love you so much and are so eager to play with you now.  This is a fun stage for Momma to see.

What fun we are having with you little red.  Your crazy hair, distinct personality, sweet cuddles and determination are amazing to see each day.  We love you!

Building a house for fairies

After visiting a local fairy garden tour, my girls were insistent upon making some fairy houses for our yard. A few days ago, we went down to the woods and searched for some natural adornments for our fairy houses. {Everything found was on the ground.  This is our little nature walk rule.}

After separating and sorting our goodies from the woods, we began to create our whimsical fairy homes. 

 We used simple wooden bird houses {made at last month's Home Depot Little Builder Day} for our houses.

{Popsicles were promptly consumed after we realized that we needed more Popsicle sticks to make a door.} 

First, we took some old paint and painted acorn caps for little fairy hats.

While they were painting, the hot glue gun was heating up for some serious gluing!  After the acorn caps were painted, they were set aside to dry.  Next, little natural treasures were glued onto the bird houses to make fairy homes.

The little fairy houses were hung on the branches of our trees in back to gently sway in the breeze.  

My girls hope this will lure all the fairies to our yard.  

 

recital

Today, you danced on stage for the first time.

You eagerly counted down the days until your first dance recital.

Special tights, shoes and costumes were donned for the occasion.

New little friendships emerged from the hearts of excited dancers.

Happiness flowed from the smiles of the little dancers and their families after the dance was over.

A combination of accomplishment, relief, excitement and joy filled their little tap shoes on stage today. 

We were so proud to come see our own little dancer.

Bravo, my dear!

September - May

It's here.  The finale of her first school experience.  It is met with joy over her successful year with two amazing teachers that nurtured and guided her every step of the way.  I love these two ladies so much and am so grateful they took the time to love and teach our girl this year.  

I am sentimental to see it come to an end.

This little girl has learned to love school this year and we are delighted!

Yesterday I was Mommy

Yesterday, I was Mommy.  

I took a break from my various other jobs that seem to tie up my days and just enjoyed my kids.  Chauffeur duties ceased, the laundry piled up from the week, dirty dishes filled the sink and the floor was littered with toys and food.  

It was a sweet reprieve to take a hiatus from our busy days and just focus on being Mommy.

We took a hike in the woods and found various woodsy treasures to adorn our fairy houses.  

Sweet smells of cookies baking filled the house.  

Little bakers eagerly helped make oatmeal raisin cookies.  

Mud pies were made and set out in the afternoon sun to dry.  

We laid out a blanket on the back lawn and told secrets under the trees.  

We stared up at the clouds and found little creatures lurking in the sky.  I pushed giggly little girls on the swing for hours.  

We read books together.  They loved the time together.

As I looked into their smiling eyes alive with closeness and affection for me, I realized that this is what we all needed this Mother's Day.  Uninterrupted time together pulled our hearts closer and wound us up tight in a little ball.  We are close again.

These years go fast.  Faster than I ever imagined.

Yesterday reminded me of how fragile and fleeting this time as a mother of little ones is--it reminded me of how precious their little lives are to me.  Getting caught up in the daily grind of chores, errands, appointments, routines can sometimes take over and diminish all that is charming about these years.  Taking a day to remember why I am Mommy and why I love to be their Mommy was just what I needed.

All I could think of last night as I went to bed was this funny little quote about motherhood:

"The days are long but the years are short."

Boy is that true!  

Hope you enjoyed time as a mother or with a mother yesterday!

  

nine

This month you continued to move about with great speed on your belly.  Toward the latter part of the month, you began getting up on your knees and rocking back and forth.  Occasionally, you would lunge forward with great force only to land head face into the carpet.  When you really need to move you just lay down on your belly and "army crawl" wherever you need to go.

Your first little tooth popped up mid-month just like both your sisters teeth did.  8 1/2 months seems to be the time when little teeth pop up at our house.

Your hair has become more unruly with added length and texture this month.  I usually pull it over to one side and use a barrette or bow to keep it out of your eyes.

The usual blue variety of spring flowers were almost nonexistent this year.  I dashed around one morning while your older sisters were in school to find some sort of spring flowers worth stopping for.  I desperately wanted at least one photo of you in the local spring flowers.  The old suitcase did the trick and kept you in one spot while I snapped away.  You were so interested in the flowers and kept trying to eat them.  Our little outing was short-lived after you figured out that you could climb out of the suitcase and into the field of flowers.

We said goodbye to your best bud this past month.  I know you miss him on your daily trips from the living room to the front hallway.  I am so happy to were able to know him even if it was only for a short period of your life.

A Woodland Faerie Adventure

Buttercups in the sunshine look like little cups of gold.

Perhaps the Faeries come to drink the raindrops that they hold.

~Elizabeth T. Dillingham, "A Faery Song"

These three little faeries recently had a chance to witness the enchantment of faeries and their homes at a local botanical garden that hosted a faerie trail for a few months this spring.

Little faerie homes were tucked in among the greenery and trees for curious little children to find.

Dressed in their best fairy gear, our little faeries ran down the paths looking for faerie homes and gardens.  Soon, everything in the garden took on a magical quality.  Little streams and waterfalls were delightful places for faeries to swim and play, flowers were floating boats and the most ordinary rock or stick became some sort of faerie habitat.

It was wonderfully magical for two mommas to watch.

I have a feeling we might find some faerie homes in our yard too!