Grateful...

I am so very lucky....lucky and blessed in many ways. This morning I am writing to thank my Mom. Because of her (and my dad, of course) Ryan and I are able to still enjoy one another, ALONE. Literally at the touch of the phone pad, my mom is here, the distance is NO barrier .... she is always willing and ready to tackle the task of taking care of my kids. And Garyn and Gianna are ALWAYS ready to play with GaGa and PapPap!
I hope my parents realize how grateful I am to have them in my life....I love you both very much!


Mom, you are my best friend! I don't know what I would do without you!

Love, Natalie

The Flu Bug...

It is never fun to be sick....and this weekend GiGi experienced the wicked flu for the first time! She took a very early nap on Friday, which should have been an immediate indication, however, it wasn't until she woke up that I realize she was sick!!! The fever came first and then the vomiting....oh boy! I think she managed to get 3 baths, several clothes changes, new bedding for her, new bedding for mom and dad all in 24 hours!
Thankfully, she was a trooper...basically wanting to lay on her mommy the entire time, she recover within 48 hours. Needless to say, our weekend was a BUST!
I am just grateful she is feeling better...it's never fun to have the flu! Way to be a champ GiGi!
I love you and I am happy you are back to normal today!!!! I missed having my silly little girl running around...

Learning and Understanding...

Will he ever know that it was harder for me than it was for him??

Let me start from the beginning...At the start of this past week Garyn received the new Fisher Price mail flyer. It has all of the new toys available, including some great seasonal toys, and yes, it was pretty exciting to look at, even for me! Garyn took the flyer to bed with him during his naptime and the excitement of this catalog prevented Garyn from napping for two straight days. He studied this catalog inside and out. After a few days of constant review, he decided his favorite toy was, well.....ALL of them. Ha ha ha, so, we discussed the possibility of Santa bringing some toys and gifts he could receive for his birthday. However, he informed me that he "neeeeeeded" a specific toy immediately. The toy he so desperately wanted was the A to Z animal zoo (this is the same toy he wanted last year.)

So, I just didn't feel like buying Garyn a toy because he "neeeeeeeded" it. Therefore, I took this opportunity to teach Garyn the importance of a dollar. He had to earn the toy....so, after about the 10 millionth time I heard about this toy, I took Garyn into the kitchen and we made a quarter jar. I explained to Garyn that he needed to earn 10 quarters before he could get the A to Z animal zoo. He would earn quarters with good behavior and kind acts. He completely understood the purpose of the jar, and also understood that if he misbehaved, he could have quarters taken away.

Ha, well, we have had a very well behaved little man, (he usually is anyways...but...the jar is making it very easy...) As of Thursday night Garyn had earned 4 quarters, so I figured I better order the animal zoo so that when we reached the 10 quarters I would have the reward.

So, I ordered the toy....

Friday morning, I took Garyn and Gianna to a huge children's consignment sale. It included clothes and toys...lots of toys. Well, as I was talking with a lady about her display, Garyn was searching the toy table...and, all of a sudden, Garyn runs over to me smiling with excitement and encouraging me to come and see what he has found ( I need to mention that his excitement was beautiful to watch...so innocent, sooo very real!) Well, you of course know what he found....the A to Z animal zoo ( it was for sale for $28 less than what I had just paid the night before.) He instantly assumed that we would purchase the toy and bring it home with us.

As I stood there watching the most contagious excitement seep out of my son's heart, I quickly reviewed the situation in my head. Do I buy the toy so he doesn't make a scene? Do I buy the toy because this would completely make his day? Do I just buy the toy because, well, I love to make my kids smile and happy? Or, do I try to explain to him that I just bought the toy and it's coming in the mail,and that he must still EARN the toy?? Do I go for the easy way out or do I stick to my intent of making him earn the toy. And probably within 30 seconds of contemplating, I decided, he still needed to earn the toy.

Well, try explaining that to a 3 year old when the toy is in his hand....UGH! Needless to say, he left the sale crying and crying because "mama, I love that toy, I neeeeed that toy, mama." We made quite the scene as we were leaving. He was so upset that I walked to a bench outside and held him tight, hugged him softly, and try over and over to make him understand. I was somewhat successful getting him to calm down and even got a laugh or two, however, the toy was not far from his mind.

As we drove home, our ENTIRE conversation was about the toy and how badly he wants the toy. I was crushed!!!! I silently cried the entire way home. I was sad because I had to disappoint my son....and I never want that to happen...even if it is over the purchase of a toy. He was earning the toy so quickly with such good behavior, I was afraid my good intention of making him learn the value of a dollar was distroyed.

BUT, as I already know, kids bounce back quickly. When we got home, we talked about the toy for a while and then moved on to something else....and even earned another quarter that evening.

Garyn is half way to receiving his toy, and I CAN"T WAIT!!!! It will be a proud moment for both of us!

18 month today...

GiGi is 18 months today...

She is something very very special!!

We love you GiGi...

Shame on Me...

Shame on me....it's been way too long since my last post!!! A long and crazy summer...a summer filled with poor health, fear, sadness recovery, growth, and happiness!!! As most everyone knows, Garyn was very sick at the beginning of the summer, but thankfully, he has made a full recovery!!! And now, Garyn is beginning the journey of his 2nd year of preschool! It's funny how things said or done can stop you in your tracks and make you realize how fast life passes by...and this morning Garyn loved me in a way I never want to forget...so I am writing it down and will start again with my blog...life is too short and moments are too easily forgotten!

Garyn spoke to me this morning with words that touched my heart and soul so deep, and it left a feeling in my heart that well, maybe, only a parent can feel?? This morning Garyn was having a difficult time leaving me for school (this is the first time in 2 years he was ever in the least hesitant to go.) And as we were waiting to go into the classroom Garyn was asking me to stay...and in his words he said "Mama, I don't want you to leave today. Can I take your heart with me?" I repsonded that he could have my heart and put it in his pocket...he thought about it for a minute and said "no, Mama, it won't fit, I want all of you to stay with me. I will miss you when you are gone." It was the most innocent, sweet, soft, loving conversation I have had with Garyn!!

I love him with all of my heart and soul! He is such a loving and caring little guy...

Gianna loves him too...she is lost without her playmate and protector!! And is always so excited to pick up "bro bro" from school. She is becoming such a big and yet, still so little, girl! I am enjoying every moment with her!!!! She has a personality that is so very lovable! Some of Gianna's favorite things to do are play with my jewelry, shoes, and purses...she is going to be such a little diva! She loves to wear dresses (right now she loves poka dots!) and she is so very motherly! She feeds and kisses and strolls her babies around everywhere. She is so very easy to love...my favorite times with her are at night, rocking her, and holding hands...it's the quiet moments that are the best!!! I am cherishing my time with her... she is too quickly growing into a toddler (well, actually, she already is but I think I am in denial.) She is no longer a baby...I will miss that, but can't wait to watch her grow!

My life is so very good! God has granted me a wonderful life! I am truly blessed!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Garyn!!! We had so much fun!!

Look at how much you have grown over the past 3 years!

What a big boy...

We love you!

Feb. 23, 2009

Feb.23, 2008

Feb. 23, 2007

LIFE PASSES TOO FAST...

So where does the time go? I have let too much time pass...and now I have too much to write. Here are a few milestones that both Garyn and Gianna have accomplished in the past two months.

...Garyn is beginning to recognized his letters. He spelled "Ball" on Ryan's Ball State shirt on 1-12-09

...Gianna was standing in her crib after her nap as she waited for me. 1-14-09

...Gianna is getting better every day with her sippy cup. Her favorite thing to drink is apple juice.

...Gianna CRAWLED for the first time on 1-18-09.

...Garyn pooped on the potty for the very first time 1-23-09

...Gianna signed for the first time. She signed "more." She wanted a carrott wagon wheel puff.

...Garyn and Gianna battled cold after cold, croup, bronchitis, and ear infections the entire months of Jan. and

Feb.

...Gianna says "mama, dada, pappap,gaga, baba" and is learning more words everyday. Her new word is "duck." She learned this word from reading with Garyn...his favorite book "Duck Soup."

...Garyn had tubes placed in his ears on 2-11-09. He did fantastic and now has clear ears....Thanks Dr. Shelton!

...Gianna got her first big "booboo." She fell on the hearth room steps while dancing to her dada's new record player. Her eye and cheek were black and blue for over two weeks.

...Garyn turned 3 YEARS old on 2-23-09. We enjoyed a Cars birthday cake and played with the balloons sent by GaGa and PapPap.

...Garyn and Gianna went with me and recieved Ashes for the first time at our church. They were so well behaved and Garyn thought it was so funny that we had "dirt" on our heads. Gianna ended up with Ashes all over her little face.

...Garyn has his 3 year pictures taken on an antique firetruck on 2-28-09 and loved loved loved it! And the pictures are beautiful!

...Gianna is now a pro at the sippy cup. She can use all types and she still loves apple juice. Although she will drink and EAT anything!

...Gianna has started eating table food and LOVES everything. Garyn made Gianna her first grilled cheese on 2-20-09 and she loved it. Her favorite foods to date are turkey bologna, turkey dogs, ham, turkey lunch meat, CHICKEN NUGGETS!!!, any type of fruit or veggie. Her favorite snack is Lucky Charms. She has learned to pick out the marshmallows (her favorite part of the snack.)

...Garyn and Gianna celebrated their birthdays at GaGa and PapPap's house on 3-7-09! Garyn and Gianna had Christmas in March....where am I going to put all these toys??


...So many things have happened in two months!!! It was less than two months ago that Garyn pooped in the potty for the first time, or that Gianna took her first crawl...and yet, it feels like they have been doing these things forever!!!

It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day life....the truly unimportant things (housework, laundry, schedules, etc...) and it is only when I look back at all the milestones that happen in two months...how fast my kids are growing, that I realize, the little things are just that...little! And moments like Gianna's first crawl, Garyn's first recognition of letters, colors, etc are the important BIG things in life!!!

My life is good, my love is strong, and my children bring the laughter into my world. I love my life...