Dear Baby

Dear Baby,

There is so, so much I want to write, but so little time (your sister is screaming in her bed).  We "saw" you yesterday.  You are beautiful!  And we are so in love and so amazed...it just never gets old!  Your heart was beating at 145 bpm, you were sucking on your hands and your legs were all stretched out kicking away!

Despite Daddy's peer pressure, we held out and whether you are a boy or girl will remain a surprise! I seriously have no hunch!

I am feeling great!  I am enjoying EVERY SINGLE SECOND of this pregnancy now that I am no longer sicker than sick...that is until that scale starts creeping up :)  And, its not so easy to forget I am pregnant-  love those little kicks!

On another note: I saw of photo in a magazine of Jessica Biel...she always reminds me of the show "7th Heaven" from way back when.  I used to watch that show and LOVED it.  I could have never imagined that I would be somewhat living that show...well obviously Michael is no pastor but the five kids part is what I mean.  (Although, Mayzie is shaping up to be trouble like Mary was on the show).

I will upload some ultrasound pics soon!

Love,

Mommy

Three years ago this little girl, Miss Mayzie Emma, wrapped her daddy around her little fingers with in seconds of being born.

Today, not much has changed...except her hair is a lot longer and she is a lot more feisty (if that's even the word for it).

Happy 3rd Birthday!  We LOVE you, MAYZIE!!!


Love,

Daddy, Mommy, Theo, Georgia and Tillie

Back to School

Dear Mayzie and Theo,

The first day of preschool 2011 is in the books!  Theo is in the 4 year old pre-k class and Mayzie started the 2 year old class twice a week.  You both were oh so excited and both did great!  There was not a single minute of hesitation from either of you once you stepped foot in the classroom.  My favorite part of the morning was when we were about to leave Theo's room and head to Mayzie's and Theo held out his fist for a fist-pump from Mayz, saying "Good luck, Mayzie!"  It was adorable...followed by a big 3 way hug!

I have to admit, I got  a tiny bit choked up watching Mayzie wash her hands in her classroom.  It's just a little hard to believe that just 2 short years ago while Theo was in the 2 year old class and I would be the helper, I would have to pull Mayzie away from that sink during class because she wanted to play in it....and  now there she was, no longer a bald little one year old, but a beautiful big almost 3 year old girl ready to start her own adventure!

Love,

Mommy

Catch Up

Theo age 4 1/2

Just a little get-you-up-to-date with the kids since I have neglected the blog for a couple of months...

Theo:

He is growing up and WAY too fast.  I looked back at a photo of him in May and I think he has grown 4 inches since then!    He is too smart for his own good lately.   He loves to swim.  He saw the "smurfs" movie and has a small obsession with collecting the smurfs from McDonald's happy meals...well  I don't really let my kids eat happy meals all that much so this summer we just ended up going through the drive through and ordering a smurf...1.15/each.  We   He tried to collect all 16, but fell short 3 smurfs :(.   He loves playing with tiny little toys and trinkets and has quite an imagination I have realized when I sit and listen to him play. The kid can't pass up a dance party for the life of him...he even has a "sexy" dance and its pretty hysterical.  He loves to climb things (obviously part Michael Nixon), and just loves to run!  This fall he chose to play soccer instead of flag football.  Practice is at the park right by our house, which is awesome for me!!  He has recently started figuring out how to read so we will be working hard on that this fall!  He is the SWEETEST little boy in the world, yesterday Theo and I went on a walk alone and held hands the entire way!  Although, a number of times a day I do have to tell him to "quit being so rough with the girls", he loves his sisters a ton!

Mayzie:

Mayzie almost 3

She is a little diva.  We have been having to give her some extra "one on one" time lately, which she is OVER THE MOON about, because I could see a little middle child drama coming out a little more then usual.  She is going through the stage of not wanting to sleep in her own bed which is getting to be a little annoying.  Her favorite foods are gum, diet pop and chocolate milk.  Oh and cottage cheese.  Mayzie loves having books read to her and reading them back to you.  She dresses up often and loves dancing as well.  She will start ballet next week again and is very excited.  Mayzie also starts preschool!  I can't believe the baby I used to take with me to drop Theo off in the 2 year old room is now going to go to school!  I am anxious to see what kind of little student she will be.

Georgia:

Georgia 14 months

Georgia is Georgia.  She is hard to explain...in a good way.  She just likes to do her own thing.  She loves trying to figure things out and explore.  She is ALWAYS trying to fit into a small space or box or something and she is an excellent little climber.  Her hair has tamed down but its still pretty long, especially compared to Tillie's.  She has the softest little voice and just crawls (starting to walk) around the house mumbling in the cutest way.  She can be loud though....its her defense mechanism again the other kids.  She SCREAMS when she feels like they might be a threat to her.  Georgia is a momma's girl for sure but she will sit on anyone's lap and is not afraid of making new friends!

Tillie:

Tillie 14 months

This girl is such a little mother...1years old going on 25 or something.  She is always concerned about Georgia.  She gives her a toy when I am changing her, feeds her sister food while they are sitting in their high chairs, brushes Georgia's hair and the list just goes on.  Tillie even walks around the house with a wet wipe wiping down furniture, her own mouth and her sister's.  Such a helper!   She is running everywhere...its getting hard to keep up!  She loves pushing the baby stroller and is usually carrying a baby doll around and giving it kisses.  Although she is a little cautious of new people, she is oh so loving and cuddly.  She loves her dad and swarms him with attention every morning and every evening when he gets home from work.



Love, Mommy

Its Summer Time!

To say it has been a crazy, busy summer is an understatement!  Wow, and to think I thought I was busy last summer!?  One year olds have a mind of their own.  So do 2 1/2 year olds.

We really have had a great summer- going to the pool.  I think it is fair to say that Theo, Mayzie and Georgia are little fish, while Tillie is usually happier sitting on the edge of the pool.  Although more recently (like in the past 2 days)  she has become a little more confident in the water.

We go to the pool a lot...which means a few things...my kids are TAN and BLONDE...holy cow!  I was at the apple store waiting and Michael parked the car and brought the kids in.  When I watched them all make their way to the front of the store I finally realized that they have some yellow hair and crazy tan skin, especially that little Mr. Theodore!  And of course, Michael's skin is red and his hair is brown.  It also means tired kids.  Lots of times we skip naps to swim.  I always think this will make them go to bed earlier, but it usually backfires on me.  And lastly, baby rescues.  I have to rescue Georgia or Tillie from the water least once but more like 5 or 6 times because they got a little to daring in the water.  They think its fun, because they always get pulled out!  It gives me a heart attack!

One Year Comparison Pictures!

Georgia Kate

Mayzie Emm

Tillie Chandler

Theodore Everett

I cant believe its been a year

Dear Girls ( and the rest of the family),

We did it! We made it a full year with not only twins, but 4 kids that span the ages of just over three years between number one and four.

It has been nothing short of a whirlwind.  I think I have experienced every emotion in the book.   However hard it is to raise one baby during the first year...two is well, twice as hard if not more...and add in a couple of toddlers- you get the idea, very challenging!

Sometimes I wonder exactly how we survived (especially on that amount of sleep, this part refers only to me)  Lots of days, I have forgotten to eat, sacrificed my shower, never had a minute to myself because the girls were on opposite napping schedule.  Planning ahead to leave the house has taken on a new art form for me...you need it, my diaper bag probably has it in there.

But as twice as hard of a year as it was learning how to take care of twins and trying to meet the needs of two other children, it was three times as amazing.  Watching our 4 kids grow together over the past year has been so rewarding.    It is so fun to see their personalities interacting with one another.  Lately, I feel like we live with a litter of puppies, always wrestling around on the floor, bickering with eachother, and lots of times somebody is giving me a slobbery kiss.  Actually just yesterday, Georgia was crawling around with a part of Duke's bone in her mouth.

I know it sounds crazy, but I am proud of our family for making it through this first year...our family changed a lot  and we overcame quite a few challenges and every one had to do their part to adjust.

Theo and Mayzie have done wonderfully!  (Other than Mayzie's occasional attempt to "see what happens if I....you fill in the blank and she has done it.)  It really is a true miracle that those girls survived Mayzie.   But, she is the middle child so I will give it to her.  Theo has become the best big brother to three little sisters, although I am sure that will get more difficult as the estrogen in this house builds up in the years to come.

Georgia and Tillie have been the best babies a busy mom could ask for.  They are laid back and go with the flow, they can take a little pestering from Theo and Mayzie and they can be flexible with their nap schedules.   They are both sweeter than sweet!

I know our struggles aren't over, and things are going to be busy for a while, but they do say that if you can make it through the first year with multiples you are going to be fine.  Well, we made it!  And it has been the best year yet!  We are so lucky to have Georgia and Tillie!

Love,

Mommy

one day old, 20 months, 3 years

1 year old, 2 1/2, 4 years

Now we have 6ish months to prepare for the terrible two's (2x)...but hey, at least I am sleeping through the night :)

Happy 1st Birthday Georgia andTillie!!!

This video is REALLY long...may want to fast forward.

Georgia and Tillie:  

Where has this year gone?  I'm sure it has been a long year for you just sitting around waiting to eat, sleep,  and get your pants changed but to mommy and me it feels like just yesterday we were holding you at the hospital for the first time.  One year ago today you guys were born and that will always be one of the best days of my life.  Even though the year has flown by there are so many fun and memorable things that you have done.  It has been awesome watching you grow and learn so much over the past year but the best part has been seeing you interact together.  Most of your interactions have been acts of love towards each other but there has also been the occasional fight over who gets the open juice box or who has the best toy (at least you aren't fighting over clothes or boys ... hopefully those days are a long time away).  Anyway, I hope you guys have a great 1st birthday and I want you to know that you are very special to me and we are blessed to have you as part of our family.

Love always,

Daddy

It has been a crazy, busy end of May! 

Mayzie had her very first dance recital- so adorable, and she loved it!   She really was too cute for words.  We let her keep her costume on for the rest of the night (out to eat and everything.)  She was very proud and felt very pretty!

Theo officially finished 3 year old preschool and we are so very proud of him.  Although, he was writing his name just fine we have recently found that he has started writing it from right to left and making the "e" backwards...I am told its no big deal and to just keep correcting it.  He had a great year, and I am sure with miss school this summer.

Theo also did soccer and flag football.  Its so cute to watch little kids play sports.  I coached 3 to 7 year old soccer in college, and it is a little weird to have my own 4 year old playing now!

We have been running around to graduation parties, birthday parties, and you name it- it all seems to happen at the end of May!  The Twins have been along for the ride like the troopers they are...missing naps every couple of days and not even having melt downs.  Its amazing what you do with number 3 and 4 that you would never think of with number 1.

We had a wonderful three day Memorial Weekend...lots of family time and it finally got warm enough for our first trip to the pool of the season.  It went well, every one had fun and we didn't have any near drowning experiences!  Although, we are going to have to keep an eye on Georgia...that girl is loving the water!!!  Tillie, not so much.  I am excited for summer with my kids!  Just lots of time to play and I don't have to be parked under the shady tree so I can nurse every 45 minutes!

Hooray for summer!!

Last Year

With the big first birthday just a couple of weeks away, lately I have found myself having a hard time not looking back on where we were a year ago.

One of my greatest accomplishments in life so far (and I really had nothing to do with it) was carrying twins for 38 weeks.  I am dead serious. I know you know what I mean if you have twins, and if you don't...lets just say the phrase "Enjoy being pregnant, because it is a lot harder once that baby comes out" DOES NOT APPLY! 

Now, I am not complaining at all.  I feel very blessed to have twins and have had a very easy pregnancy in terms of multiples.  I am just writing this blog entry for nostalgic reasons as I look back on some of the things I wrote down in my journal.   I can't wrap my head around how fast time has flown.  It all just feels like it was yesterday!

Here is one thing I wrote:

 "You know how you feel about week 38 to 40 with one baby?  Well, thats about how you feel with twins starting at about week 26!  By 32 weeks you feel overdue and at 37 weeks and 5 days, I just can't even explain it.  I am thrilled I made it this long and pray we have healthy girls that come home with us, but I need them out now.  I need to be able to be a mom to Theo and Mayzie again."

Anyway, like I said, I had a great, non-eventful twin pregnancy.  Though I was very sick in the beginning and  I did spend a couple nights in the hospital getting hydrated around week 9...I was better by 16 weeks.  Which is a shorter period of time than what lasted with Mayzie.  Both babies grew appropriately so there was no concern there, I never had to be on bed rest.  I stayed active and enjoyed it for the most part...until the end.

BUT HOLY CRAP, I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE AT THE END!!!

There are a few memories that I have of the end of my pregnancy that are as clear as day and I will never forget.

May 13th, 2010:  It was a rainy day, I had gone to lunch with my friend at Panchero's and my mom had the big kids.  I had the afternoon to myself but for some reason I just didn't feel right.   I finally started throwing up and having contractions at about 3 :00 pm.   I felt very dizzy, hungr and thirsty but couldn't seem to bring myself to drink anything or eat anything.  So I tried to take a nap.  I woke up to a very sharp pain and decided to call Michael to take me to the hospital.  We got there and got hooked up and they told me contractions were coming about every 4 minutes.  They decided to give me drugs to stop the labor and it worked.  We came to find out that Baby B (Tillie)  actually rotated from butt down to head down at 34 weeks 5 days, which is what was causing the terrible pain and nausea.  They couldn't believe that a twin flipped that late.  I felt terrible the next few days!





Preterm labor

 -May 26, 2010: On the last day of Theo's 2 year old preschool I felt like it was crazy for that school year to be ending because I literally was pregnant for the entire year and all of the other moms in the class just watched my belly grow every Monday and Wednesday.  The end of that year meant two things A) I had made my goal to make it to the end and B)  I was about to be the Mother of two more little girls.

Theo's last day of 2 year old preschool

-Walking down the street at the Valley Junction farmer's market and the downtown farmer's market trying to put myself in labor while already pushing a double stroller with a 3 year old and 1 1/2 year old, people would ask me when I was due all the while looking concerned.   I would say "2 weeks, with twins"...I saw their smiles fade in an instant and turn to panic for us.  We would alwas laugh about it and then ask each other "Do we really know what we are in for?"  Turns out they were right it was a little crazy in hindsight, but it was fun at the same time.

A whale

-Memorial day weekend:  I look back and try to ask myself why?  Why did I go to Des Moines Golf and Country Club 36 1/2 weeks pregnant with twins and wear a bikini???  Looking at pictures, I am not so sure I knew how big I really was, but I can remember  floating in water felt heavenly!
 

-Eating a Dairy Queen strawberry cheesequake blizzard every night.  I CRAVED cheesecake, funny because I didn't really like it until then.  I wish I could get pregnant again just to do that.  No matter how much I ate, I wouldn't gain.  It was AWESOME!

37 weeks

- My 37 week appointment:  Tuesday, June 1, 2010 I knew there was a chance that the c-section could be that day if Baby A (Georgia) was in the 10th percentile.  I PRAYED that this was the case...I wanted them out!!!  They did the ultrasound and we met with the doctor after...Baby A averaged 11th percentile.  I had a breakdown and begged for the doctor to do it just ONE week early but he just couldn't do a c-section that early for no reason.  I told him this "The reason is the mom can't breath or walk because there is a head coming out of her vagina."  He didn't seem to care.  Michael told me I could hang in there for one more week.  That one week..8 days actually, felt like 8 years.  NO JOKE!

-June 5th, 2010:  (37.5 weeks)  A bunch of friends from Michael's work met at a park for a pot luck and games.  I did not feel like standing or sitting on a picnic bench and my legs needed elevated so I made Michael stop at Walgreens and buy a reclining lounge chair.  I parked that thing under the pavillion by the food and put my feet up for the night. 

-The night before the scheduled c-section:  I made waffles and watched the Glee season finale.  I remember telling Theo and Mayzie they were going to meet their sisters tomrrow, and I remember being so incredibly excited and anxious and amazed that I had made it this far.  So much for a last good night's sleep.  Theo woke up at 12:45 am burning up and threw up for a good part of the night.  I never got back to sleep that night and I never would sleep again at night for a very long time!

Dear Georgia Cakes and Tillie Bell, 

I have 3 weeks from today until you are one-year-olds!  I thought this picture was kind of funny because it reminded me that even though you have both changed and grown so much in a year, that actually not that much has changed.  This is exactly what I would have seen at an ultrasound.  Tillie hogged up all the space in the womb and Georgia was scrunched all up! 

In the shopping cart at 11 months...Tillie using Georgia as a back-rest

Tillie all sprawled out and Georgia all cuddle up at 2 weeks

Happy Mother's Day

I am so very thankful to be their mother!

Look Closer

Just giving my little Tillie Bell a kiss...but wait..

Can you see it?  She is spitting up in my mouth!  This has happened a couple of times before, but this is the first time we have captured it on camera.  After, Michael gave me a wet wipe to wipe my mouth off with...it was full of Tillie's boogers.  I found that out the hard way too.

28

It's my birthday, 28 years old...closer to 30 than to 25.  Theo is incredibly excited that I am having a birthday, its quite cute.  He woke up extremely cheerful.  Last night he asked me if I was going to "get pretty" tomorrow for my birthday.  The  kids drew me cute cards, Michael got me a wonderful gift, that I was very surprised about!!  So, props to him  :)  Honestly, it IS crazy what can happen in a year. 

Last year I was 34 weeks pregnant with twins.  I did some modeling for Blond Genius maternity jeans. No worries, it wasn'tn actually modeling because they didn't show my face in the pictures.  They had me in super tight maternity jeans and tall pumps for 2 hours while they had a photographer do a little photo shoot.  I BARELY EVER wore jeans while pregnant, and NEVER wore heels.  But, apparently people do wear that stuff pregnant.  Ever see the show "Pregnant in Heels"?  Its one of my new favorites.  I wish I had her job!  Anyway, I struggled to breathe and had to elevate frequently throughout the day just so my legs didn't start to swell.  But, I was excited and full of anticipation for the doubling of children that was about to be!

Now here I am a year later...watching one  of those babies push a walker toy around and the other grab her sister's yogurt drink that was left on the "kids table" and try to drink while spilling all over self and laughing at the same time. (That is what they are both doing right now). 

May 4, 2010...34 weeks with twins

Georgie Cakes and Tillie Bell almost 11 months old

No matter what it will be a good birthday for me today, like every day, because I get to spend it with my wonderful kids (plus 2 this year) and my wonderful husband.  And my back doesn't ache, I can breath my ankles are normal size and I don't have a head falling out of my crotch and another head busting through my ribs :)

Now I need this next month, go as slowly as it did when I was pregnant....because I am not ready for two sweet little baby girls to be turning one

Happy Easter!

Frosted, PINK PRINCESS cookie

Dear Mayzie,

When I take all four kids grocery shopping at Hy-Vee it seems to be a spectacle even if every one is quiet with their hands in their laps (never).

Yesterday we all went grocery shopping.  Its do-able, if its quick..right after school/lunch and right before nap.  

Hy-Vee has the double wide carts with seats for two children in the front (Till and George), the regular cart and under-cart (groceries), and the AWESOME double-seater, police car look-a-like in the front of the cart, complete with two steering wheels-so we don't have to fight that battle (Theo and Mayz). 

I piled every body in and we were off!  It always starts so well.  The first stop is the produce section of the store and after that everyone is getting a little bit squirmy.  Not to worry, because we then make our stop at the bakery for our 4 free cookies :)  The twins now love gnawing on anything, and although their clothes, faces and hair are caked with cookie and snot by the time we leave, giving them those cookies does mean less entertaining for me.  However, when people come up to admire the cute twins and ask names, ages, genders (yes, Tillie is still dealing with being called a boy) I see their faces change from a sweet smile of "how adorable" to a look of "get your kid a freaking wet-wipe" by the time they are in arms length.


Any way, back to the bakery and the free cookies.  Theo always just took what he was given.  A free cookie was a free cookie.  Such a good sport.  Well, wouldn't you know it, at exactly eye level of a 2 1/2 year old, the lowest level of the tiered display of cookies at Hy-Vee, are the pink and purple frosted princess cookies...LOTS OF FROSTING, MESSY FROSTING!  Its not the $2.00 that I don't want to pay.  Although I feel like I deserve to not have to pay for a cookie when I am about to spend $200.00 on other Hy-Vee brand "kid food" that I so very badly hate buying- fruit snacks, cereal bars, juice boxes, cheese sticks, fruit cups etc.  Its the MESS I don't want to deal with.  Plain M&M cookies are messy enough as it is.  Well, Mayzie being in this most delightful little stage of her life and seeing these frosted PINK, DISNEY PRINCESS COOKIES (she is obsessed with the color pink, obsessed with princesses and obsessed with cookies) was not going to eat a measly day old m&m cookie.  And I, was NOT going to buy her the princess pink frosted one.

And so it began.  At first, the whining.  Then the fake cries.  Followed by the real cries.  Followed by the
kicking, and back arching.  And somehow it led her to believe her clothes were "too tight"  so she tried taking off her pants.  She didn't get far with that.

And I just kept shopping and every one just kept staring.  And my three others just kept eating away at their freebie m&m cookies.

When we got home, Mayzie went to her room and didn't get to play outside.  Because she threw a fit.  Not because she wanted the pink frosted princess cookie. You would have wanted it too, trust me. A two year old doesn't understand the concept of free.  She wants the one that looks the best.  But I am willing to bet Hy-Vee understands at exactly which tier they place those frosted cookies.  If Hy-Vee lived at our house and saw exactly what we are dealing with as far as the terrible twos, those cookies would have been placed out of sight from my daughter.  And I am willing to bet that I am not the first mom whose two year old daughter has begged and pleaded for a frosted princess cookie.

I love you, Miss Mayzie Emma...you know what you want but trust me, you are not always going to get it.

Love,
Mommy

In college I used to try and plan out how our life would be when we "grew up"....we could have never imagined to plan for this:

 :

The Pattee/Nixon kids

Theo (4),  Mayzie (2 1/2),  Dalton (9months), Georgia (9 months), Dakota (almost 5), 

Tillie (9months),Sadi (2 1/2)

We were happy to have our wonderful friends, The Pattees, visit while they were in town from Nashville a few weeks ago.  We really miss them, but they do love Nashville.  When things settle down around here (if they ever do) it will be a great place to visit!

Terrible!

Dear Mayzie,

This week, I have officially realized why they call them the "terrible twos".  If I could send you away to summer camp I would.   Someone would make a whole bunch of money if they started a "terrible two" camp. Who in their right mind would ever do such a thing?!

 

Love,

Mommy

Personalities

Dear Georgia and Tillie,

While we were at the mall waiting for the elevator a woman walked up and began to talk to you as you both sat in your stroller.  Tillie's face immediately turned into a frown, followed by a loud "I'm scared" cry complete with tears.  All at the same time that  Georgia squealed in delight, with a big smile, and began kicking her legs and waving.

Also...at the park when I push you in the swing, Tillie is a little more cautious and not so sure what to think of the swing, while Georgia laughs her head off, more and more the higher she gets pushed.

Basically what I am trying to say is I think I know who will be getting the car when you turn 16!

Love,

Mommy

Dear Theo,

It was a very busy day today.  We had doctor's appointments,  we played at the mall, Mayzie had dance (normally on Tuesday morning, but it was rescheduled today), and you had kinder music.  By 2:45 we were home and all the girls finally went down for a nap.  I was exhausted,  I had been on my feet since 5:30 am but I have a hard time bringing myself to take a nap when there is so much laundry to be done.  However, today I just knew I needed one, and I knew you did too!  As it turns out, we are one of the same-  not great at making ourselves go to sleep. 

I decided to bring you into my room to not only help you fall asleep, but me too.  And it worked. We slept all cuddled up together for at least an hour.  It was the very best part of my day! 

Love,

Mommy

for the heck of it...each of you at nine months

Theo

Mayzie

 

Tillie

Georgia

  

Technically Georgia is actually one whole LONG minute older than Till, but I just had to put Tillie and Mayzie next to eachother.  At least we know those two are sisters!

At nine months old, all three girls have/had their two bottom front teeth.  Theo had none (until 12 months).  

Georgia has the most hair, followed by Theo, Mayzie and bald Tillie.  

Mayzie was my earliest crawler (at 8 months)  by 9 she was everywhere. Tillie is just now crawling (super close...doing some pretty intense army crawls but she will be everywhere by the end of the week) at exactly 9 months. Theo didn't crawl until 11 months- I am serious.  And Georgia is pretty sure she can boss Tillie and the others around so she doesn't see the use in trying to figure that crawling stuff out yet either.

Mayzie and Tillie are/have been/ and always will be my best sleepers...Theo and Georgia could take notes at any point in time here.

At 9 months I don't know how many ounces Theo drank because he REFUSED the bottle, Mayzie downed 8 ounces, Tillie does an easy 6, Georgia picks at the same bottle...2 ounces here, an ounce there...basically snacking all day long.

Theo had a list of 12 actual human words he could say at 9 months old.  Mayzie didn't speak- she just stared and smiled, Georgia screams to get attention, belly laughs and says mamama, and dadadadada, Tillie claps and waves and occasionally babbles when no one is listening. 

And I, still for the life of me, can hardly believe that I have  FOUR  children to compare with one another.

Love, Mommy

Today

Dear Theo,

Today I asked you to pick up your room before snack, I went upstairs and it was spotless (for a four year old).  My jaw dropped!  

After dinner I asked you to sign your name on a couple of "thank you" notes from your birthday.  I heard you complain, "how can I write my name 5 times?!"  About 10 minutes later you were playing and I thought for sure there would be one thank you signed.  I went over to the table to pick them up and  help you with them...I looked inside each one.  ALL FIVE SIGNED (and in such good handwriting)!!!  Thank YOU for being so obedient today!

Love, Mommy

Dear Mayzie,

You relapsed and are re-addicted to the binky.  It's so annoying!  You wouldn't take that thing out of your mouth today.  I have been hanging on to them because I am hoping the girls will use it, but by now I doubt they will.  Tonight I am throwing them ALL away.  Sorry, girl.  You just can't be potty-trained but still suck a binky- not in this house.  

You colored with a red sharpie on the hard-wood floor while I was making dinner tonight.  And tried to tie the string on your balloon around Tillie's neck.

You can be naughty, but you are really sweet too.  Today we cuddled and kissed a lot and I also noticed that your hair is getting so long, and you are getting so pretty! 

Love, Mommy

Dear Georgia, 

You cried all day.  Poor baby.  I think you are teething and I wish I could make you feel better.  Nothing would make you happy today and you sure let me know it.  Hopefully tomorrow you will be back to your spunky little self!

Love, Mommy

Dear Tillie, 

Quit being so darn sweet and cuddly!  You were on the move today! We practiced waving, shaking our heads yes and no, clapping and doing "so big".   You are such a content baby  and I so thankful for that everyday!

Love, Mommy

Lucky

 

Girls, you are lucky.  With only 20 months age difference, and one school grade apart between Mayzie and the twins, you are always going to have a best friend for the rest of your lives.  Although, the picture may tell another story :)

But, you are even luckier yet, because you have ...

 Theo as an older brother!!

 

Love,

Mommy

4 years ago

at 3:08 pm you changed my life forever...in the best possible way!  I LOVE you!
Love, Mom