training him to be man.

Sitting on the couch, watching TV, stoogey look on his face, totally zoned out, big full belly, a little drool...all he needs is his hand down his pants.  He's getting the hang of it.  He will be driving some wife crazy in no time.

ballerina.

I signed Hadley up for ballet (per her request!) and told her lessons start next Monday.  She said, 'Mama, I better start practicing (where did she learn the word practicing...and how did she know to use it correctly?)."  Then she came down in this get-up and was very, very serious.  I kinda want to send her in this on Monday. 

higher than a kite.

I've been ablated (look it up).  I like fentanyl, I really like versed, and vicodin is just the icing on the cake (until it made me throw up my cake).  One leg down.  One leg to go.

skillz.

The one handed, no look, bottle hold.  Recognize.

a sister and a brother.

Getting zerberts...and getting a very chubby little face. 

These two.  Big sigh.

prentice boys.

There's just something about them...that makes my heart go pitter pat.

(There's something about that blankie that makes my heart go pitter pat too, but that's a whole other post).

go fish.

So last year I tried to get her to take swim lessons and she was totally game...until she found out that her teacher's name was Austin, which meant her swim teacher was a boy, and there was no way she was swimming with a boy.  I convinced her to go and 'just' watch.  She did, but wouldn't get close to the pool, or the teacher, or the 4 other boys that were in her class.  In fact she flat out told me "I don't like stinky boys.  And I will never swim with them." 
 All right crazy woman, you win.

I promised myself, from that day forward, I would stop trying to get her to do things she didn't want to do.  And you know what...it worked out well.  She just needed to wait till she was good and ready (and needed a lot of help from Zaide who swam with her at the gym every single Wednesday morning).  She found her confidence.  She's come a long way from clinging on to our necks for dear life.  She even jumps in now...from the edge of the pool.  That, my friends, is bigtime.  And the best part, she couldn't stop smiling the whole entire class.  Ear to ear smiles, even when she got water in her eyes (which shocked me because if she gets water in her eyes in the bathtub time actually stands still and you would swear one of her limbs must have been sucked down the drain), and she was even smiling when she had to swim with the stinky boys in her class. 

Her wingman.

party like a princess.

I asked Hadley what kind of birthday party she wanted. 

Immediately she said 'A PRINCESS PARTY.' 

Really Hads?  That's so girly.  What about something else? 

She said 'How about a sleepover?' 

Okay, a Princess Party it is!!!  And what a party is was.  Everyone donned their fanciest, got their hair did, and we even had a surprise visit from Cinderella herself (Nana...best idea of the year...thank you!).  The girls were in princess heaven.

Pre-funk.

A real life Cinderella.  Hadley was speechless.

Face painting.

The riff-raff.

Apple juice shots.

The cake (my mama made it)...and the favors.

Another beau-ti-ful princess.

The gals...with their balloon animals from Cinderelly.  She was quite a talent.  You should have seen what she did at the after-party.

The after-party.

a little heads up woulda been nice.

I will admit, one of the best parts about having kids is celebrating any and every holiday.  And let me tell ya, Miss Hads was stoked about St. Patty's Day.  Most likely had something to do with being able to pinch people.  We started off the day having green eggs & ham for breakfast, decked ourselves out in green head to toe, we made green cookies with green frosting, and then we ended the day with a full on green feast.  I felt like mom of the year (obviously the Guinness was kicking in).  Until I found out that every other kid in the world got a visit from the Leprechaun.  Maybe someone could have thrown me a bone here (or a pot of gold).  We received no visit from the mischievous little guy...no green pee in the toilet, no messing up the house, no St. Patty's day treat left behind.  Thank goodness for Aunt Val who stopped by with a little bag of gold chocolates that the silly Leprechaun left for Hadley and Carson at her house. 

Hadley asked whey he didn't make it to our house. 

I said, 'Well Hads I forgot to text him our address.  It was my fault.  He's not smart like Santa.'

  Then she said, not missing a beat, 'Mama, will you make sure you remember to text the Easter Bunny where we live so he can leave me a basket.'

In the words of Hadley...

HAPPY GREEN PATRICK'S DAY!

a walk.

Poor Carson, this is his first real walk (he didn't even need a leash, he's pretty well trained).  The bad part about being born in the winter, is you don't get to go outside much, especially if you live in Seattle, where it rains every freaking day. 

Except today! 

Ahh, nothing like a little fresh air to knock 'em out.  Ryan asked if I walked for a few hours to just enjoy the peace and quiet.  I said, "Are you kidding me?"  I rushed home, put them both in their beds (and crib respectively), and turned on Teen Mom 2 (thank goodness for On Demand).

four.

Hadley, Hads, Hadley Jane, H Dizzle, H. Jane, Jane, Janie, Janie & Jack, Miss Jane, J-Woww, J Dizzle, Lulu, Lu, Mama, Sis, Sissy, Sissy Bear...my little girl...you're four today.  Four freakin' years old! 
Before you were born, I never thought I wanted a girl.  I was fine to be a Mama to just boys.  Figured boys were easier.  Boys were tougher.  Boys were better.  I would have bet everything I had that you were a boy...and I was thrilled.  But then out you came, and you were indeed a GIRL...and it was the best surprise of my life.
Now it blows my mind to think that you are four years old (and blows my mind that I wanted a stinky boy!).  Your my favorite little gal and you're getting so grown up.  I am really starting to love everything about you at this age.  Each age always seems to be my favorite (except 1 through 3...kidding), but four really takes the cake. 
Your constant questions blow my mind (and drive me crazy).  You want to know anything and everything about anything and everything.  You are absolutely in awe of the world around you.  It's so much fun and so refreshing to see life through your little golden hued eyes. 
You talk non-stop...literally.  I don't know how you even get oxygen in those lungs.  Sometimes I swear if we're in the car and it gets quiet it's because you passed out.  You have A LOT to say and it almost always makes me smile (and sometimes makes me want to bang my head against the wall).  
When you don't get your way you groan like Marge (from the Simpsons) which is hilarious, you still can't say your 'sp' sounds (sfrinkles, sfoon, and sfecial are just a few of my favorites), and you love the Berenstain Bears, Calliou, and Olivia with a passion.
You are a wonderful student (if Preschool counts), you're great at puzzles, and you're able to write all your letters.  You're really into writing people's names, you love rhyming, and you actually color inside of the lines now...kind of. 
You are getting pretty funny, and a little bit witty.  It will take time.  For example, announcing to people in the produce section of the grocery store that you are 'GOING TO PEE ON EVERYBODY' is neither witty nor funny (much to yours and the Westovers chagrin).  I tried to cover for you by telling the worried on-lookers not to fret, it was actually physically impossible for your little bladder to hold enough urine to get every single person...and that your aim was pretty awful.  They didn't think I was very funny or witty either.  You win some you lose some. 
You're definitely starting to get when we 'tease' you, which is a lot, and I love that you know the difference between us being serious and us pulling your leg.  I think it will help mold you into a great big sister.  No point in having a sibling if you can't tease them and make their life miserable.  Carson hasn't a clue what's in store for him.
I am also watching you gain your independence.  These last few months you've really grown.  You want to swim, do ballet, ski, jump off things, even play soccer.  Who's kid are you?  I'm learning that you can't be pushed into things.  It has to be your idea (ahem, like pooping on the toilet...FINALLY), but once you make up your mind you jump in head first, with gusto, and never look back.  And the pride I feel when I see how proud you are of yourself, well, it gives me a lump in my throat the size of Texas. 
You're always worth the wait. 
Hadley, you are pure joy to be around.  On the days you're not with me, I find myself really missing you.  The quietness is lonely and the clean house is boring.  And although you still can't sit quietly at a restaurant to save your little life, your cry is quite possibly the loudest most awful sound in the world (and not awful in that I feel bad for you, awful as in it makes dogs down the street howl), and you religiously test my patience (and you usually fail, or I do, however you want to look at it)...I wouldn't trade anything about you for anything in the world (okay, maybe for a Land Rover, but only if it had heated seats). 
I love you Hads.  Each year I don't think it's possible to actually love you more than the last...and each year I do.  And that, my dear, is a scary, amazing thing because, my God, do I ever love you right now.  
xoxo
Your beaming with pride (and a little bit exhausted) Mama

persistence.

She asks all the time if she can get in Carson's crib, and by all the time, I mean daily, and by daily, I mean hourly.  And I always say no.  No Hads, you're too heavy.  No Hads, you'll break it.  No Hads, you have shoes on.  No Hads, there's not enough room. No Hads, you're weird.  But today I said Yes.  I love throwing them for a loop.  For the rest of the day she kept asking why I let her in Carson's crib.  And for the rest of the day I was hero.  It was that easy.

(Geeze, there's that horny monkey again).

a little quality time.

Last Saturday, on a whim, the kiddos and I headed up to the cabin.  My folks were already up there, so we crashed their party, and they welcomed us with open arms (come to find out they had plans to go on a hot date to some winery in Suncadia...but they cancelled, on themselves, because that's how much they love us).  Anyways, we loved it.  And we were in no hurry to get back home.

jumpin' jacks.

I love what total spaz's kids look like doing jumping jacks.  And here is the Queen Spaz giving them a try.  I'm still not giving up on my athletic hopes for her...although maybe I should.  Go Hads! 

for daddy.

Ryan is in Chicago.  Chi-Town.  The Windy City.  Da Bears.  And I'm sure he's quite depressed, as he sits at his fancy dinner, with his fancy colleagues, ordering his fancy drinks...and by drinks I mean definitely more than one...on the company's dime.  It was also probably rough sitting on that quiet airplane (for four hours and 15 minutes) and will probably be even rougher getting those 12 solid hours of sleep...for four nights (if you're smart).  But we just want you to know...here is what you missed tonight....

I love pumping so she can feed him...she's so serious about being a Mama. 

(I only wrote that so other people won't judge.  It's a scary world being a mom now-a-days...in the blogosphere.  Yes, it is breast milk in that bottle...but low and behold...he has gotten formula.  And, thank God, he lived through it.  Such pressure.  My mom was feeding my brother ground beef at 2 months...I want to go back to those days). 

Playing with fire taking sleeping pics...that's how much I love ya.  Sweet dreams.  We miss you...already.  Saturday won't be here soon enough...and I'm quite certain I will run out of beer before then.  So hurry home.

P.S. A love lettter.  It says "i love daddy".  In case you couldn't tell.

good morning handsome.

The absolute best part of the day.  Hands down.  No questions asked.

lucky duck.

My Auntie Laurie is a knitter extraordinaire.  And my babes are often the lucky recipients of her talents.  She can knit and text, eat, watch TV, and have a conversation...all at the same time.  Knitting for her is like breathing for the rest of us.  Her little hands just know what to do, without her mind even giving it a second thought.  She could be in a zoo...it's quite amazing to watch (she'd definitely be more entertaining than half the lame animals there...plus she's funny so she could tell a few jokes too).  In fact, Lavs, knit an adult size duck suit and I will contact Woodland Park.  

And P.S....Nothing you give me EVER goes to the Goodwill.  Just for the record. 

a room with a view.

This is the view from our bedroom.  And every morning when I wake up (when I'm woken up) and every night when I go to bed, these little rooms make me smile. 

my little time-wasters.

They make it very hard to get things done around here.  I am a voyeur in my own home.  Sometimes I just can't get enough of them.

(And sometimes I get plenty...but we won't talk about those days right now).