A Special Birthday

There were tears yesterday, lots of genuinely sad tears.  "Why can't I open my presents today?"   Last year, for the first time, Ryder and I shared Mother's Day and his birthday.  This year my day came first, and his excitement and anticipation was more than he could bare.

Today- today finally my son is your special day, your 8th birthday.

Ryder had a spectacular entrance into the world, coming 8 weeks early when we were over 600 miles from home.

When we finally arrived home a month later, the adventures continued, troubled feedings, horrific reflux and low iron levels; but we loved him.

When he finally was able to sit up the reflux seemed to magically go away, though still to this day if he laughs a lot he will get the hiccups-every single time.

Time seemed to fly.

Life was filled with joy and the cleverest sense of humor.  He could stack a tower of thin blocks perfectly at 1, could hit a ball with a bat at two, he just continue to grow and amaze us.

I have always said he seems to be a combination of his brother and sister.  First approaching things a little tentatively, a little unsure, a little shy even- but once in jumping in fully and succeeding at the things he does.

He is one who knows what he wants once he knows it, but sometimes has a hard time figuring out what that is.

He is still my cuddle bug to this day, and as my children are growing older and taller than me, I truly love having one who still wants to cuddle.

Now he is eight, I can hardly believe it.  Next month he will get baptized and I know it all just seems to go so fast from there.

Too my youngest, my baby.  I love you and hope you have a truly wonderful birthday.

Last Year of Being Young

I remember as a kid thinking 40 sounded so old.  Now, well 40 is nothing.  Today my husband starts his last year of his thirty's and he doesn't seem old to me, because if he was old than I would have to be old too.

Time is such a funny thing.

But on today's my husband's birthday, 39 almost 40 doesn't seem old at all.

I truly am blessed in that my husband really is my best friend.  I love that we just enjoy hanging out together, I love that it doesn't have to be anything crazy or complex but we just love being together.

I love the father that he is.  He truly is such an incredible Dad.  He is there for the kids, he loves them unconditionally, but he is also a parent and teaches them and helps mold them to be good people.  Yes, Alex has him wrapped around her finger, but even holds her accountable.

I love how hard he works to provide for our family.  He has had many long hours, dealt with jobs and things that were just incredibly hard, but he never quit- never gave up.  Just continued to work had and take care our family.

I love his big laugh, even if it has embarrassed me a time or two, but that it comes so frequently and that he brings so much joy and happiness to our family and those around him.

I love how big and tall he is and how safe I feel in his arms.

I love that I will be able to spend eternity with him and the efforts, battles and sacrifices that he makes daily to lead us to that goal.

To my husband on your special day-- Happy Birthday! I love you!

A Grown Up Birthday

When you're a grown-up, birthdays just aren't the same.  As a child you cannot wait for your next birthday, often with a mile long list of presents you hope for, a long list of all the friends you want to invite over to your amazing birthday party that your parents regret saying you can have.

As an adult, well... life can get in the way.

This year my birthday fell on a Wednesday.  Wednesdays aren't the busiest days of the week in our house (Tuesday hold that honor), but none-the-less, it is busy.

This particular Wednesday not only meant soccer practice for Alex, but a Public Affairs meeting for me.  In other words, the whole evening I would not be home.  No birthday celebration for me.

Thankfully, my kids and husband didn't leave me totally hanging and we began the celebration on Sunday.

Sunday my husband made an amazing meal of cedar planked smoked salmon, twice baked potatoes and bacon wrapped brussel sprouts-- another evidence this is not a kid party as I actually like brussel sprouts.  It was amazing!

It was topped off with a delicious and adorable birthday cake that Alex made and decorated for me.

She did an amazing job and it was so yummy.

I also got to open my presents Sunday night, maybe being an adult isn't so bad.  I got a new set of dishes, and some gift cards for clothes and an iTunes gift card to be able to purchase "a handful of coins" on some of my favorite iPad games guilt free.

The celebration continued on Tuesday when my friends arranged a breakfast brunch for me at Mimi's Cafe.  Very yummy breakfast food and wonderful friends to spend the morning with.


Then finally on my actual birthday... well I sat around in a 86 degree house waiting for our AC to be repaired.  Okay, it wasn't 86 until bedtime, but yes adulting... never much fun.   That night at my meeting though, they did make a delicious treat and sing me happy birthday.

While a grown-up birthday might not be filled with a mile long list of presents or huge elebarote birthday parties, and life may be so busy that you can't even celebrate on your birthday.... even despite all that being a grown up isn't so bad.

What did you do for your last birthday?

Parenting A Teenager

This Sunday will mark a major milestone in both me and my son's life, he is going to officially be a teenager, and yes that does terrify me a bit.

I remember the teenage years, the anxiety about peers, about boys, some of the really stupid choices I made.  Every once in a while I will recall a specific memory and how I felt, which as awful as it is, I am so grateful for.

Grateful that I have those little glimpses back into my teenage brain that definitely did not process, or reason through things like I do now.  That teenage brain where the bad moments truly can feel like the end of the world and everything is so much bigger and more important than it probably really is.

I am grateful for these glimpses so when my son does things that just baffle me, I can remember, and I can have compassion.  I still need to be his parent and try my best to knock some sense into him, but in a way filled with love and understanding.

These are a few things I hope I remember along the way:

--To really listen--
    We all want to be listened to, want our voices heard, so I need to listen, even if he is droning on about video games or something I have no interest in.  It matters to him, and he matters to me, so I try to listen.  That way, when it comes to the big things, he will know I listen to him, so he will hopefully come talk with me.

--To have some fun--
    The teenager years, as dreaded as they were, were also a lot of fun.  I need to try and enjoy these years now as a parent.  My mother-in-law always says the teenage years were her favorite and she loves teenagers.  I think she truly does, but I think she truly does and did because she told herself that so much until she believed it and lived it.  If we go into it thinking it is going to be awful, well it will.

--To Parent--
   While we have that fun, I still have to remember I am the parent, and yes I do reason and think differently now and have a greater perspective than my son does.  So it means setting limits, saying no at times, and probably having days where he just doesn't really like me very much.  But if I can guide him and direct him to good and growth, then we will all be better off in the end.

--It will Pass--
   Just like the terrible two's, or three's they always seemed worse than two with my kids, it is a phase and will pass.  On those days where I know we will butt heads and he will try my patience; I just have to remember who he truly is and that this phase will pass.  I just need to be there to help, guide, and love unconditionally.

So to my son- I am going to try! Let's stick together and make these the best years possible.

Parents of teens, do you have any tips or advice? 

A Belated Birthday Post

Last month my baby turned 7.  I cannot believe how fast time has gone.  I remember all too well, his surprise delivery 8 weeks early.

The 19 days in the NICU.

Finally making it home for the first time after almost a month away.

When he turned 1

I remember his smile, the way his siblings would make him laugh, and now he is the one that makes his siblings laugh.

I remember lunch dates, just he and I when his siblings were at school.

And now, now he is 7-years-old, going into second grade... I cannot believe it.  

When I asked him what he wanted on his cake, my only child who still likes themed cakes, he said a Ryder truck.  

My red frosting was way too runny, but he liked the cake anyway.

This year he and I celebrated the day together as his birthday fell on Mother's Day.  I was happy to share with my baby though, which he hates when I call him that.

But he always will be my baby.  

To my Ryder-- happy birthday! 

A Birthday Post

Today is a special day in our house, it's my husband's birthday!  He is quickly approaching 40, not quite there yet though.  It is crazy to think that I have known him now for over 16 years.  I think about when I first met him, so cute but way too tall but how very quickly the height didn't seem like that big of an issue.

He really is my best friend.  We love watching shows together, playing games and going out to eat.  Really we just like being together.

He works to hard to provide for our family.

He is an amazing father who truly loves our kids and is there for them.

He helps me stay calm and level headed at times when I want to freak out about things.

He makes me smile and laugh.

He understands me and is there for me.

He loves God and is doing his best to follow Him.

He cleans up after us, often cleaning messes he didn't make, and has cleaned the bathrooms our entire marriage.

He is patient, he has a big laugh and he just lights up a room.

To my husband, my best friend, I love you, happy birthday!

A 10th Birthday Celebration

My daughter is 10!  I think that makes her officially a tween now, which is scary to me.  For the first time in many years Alex's birthday actually didn't fall during Thanksgiving break, her birthday has even been on Thanksgiving before.   Her birthday did fall on a Monday though, a busy school and soccer day.  So this year to properly celebrate her birthday, the celebration lasted almost a week.

It began on Saturday with her birthday dinner.  She really wanted ribs- and Eric was more than happy to use his new smoker.

The rain definitely made it a bit tricker, but the ribs were still so, so good!

We continued the celebration on Sunday with her cake.  She wanted an ice-cream cake, like she had last year.

Much to her dismay, she did have to wait until her actual birthday to open her presents.

She had requested cinnamon rolls for her birthday morning breakfast, but I forgot to buy them on Saturday, so her birthday got extended even further when we had her birthday breakfast a couple of days later.

I have a feeling she might want this extended birthday again next year, as really don't we all want a week long celebration?

Birthday Beach Photoshoot

Ten years ago today we calmly packed our bags and headed to the hospital.  We arrived only to hear the fire alarms go off, they asked if we needed to hurry upstairs, since I was obviously very pregnant, we told them we were good.

Soon we were able to head up to your scheduled c-section, your older brother haven't not lead the way very well.

I felt very calm, relaxed, almost sleepy.  Before we knew it we had this beautiful baby girl.

As you grew we realized to our shock that you had red hair-- and the personality to go with is.

Now you have officially reached double digits.

You live life to the fullest, with the biggest personality... yet you can be so calm and quiet and some might say almost shy at times.

Your teachers adore you as does your Daddy, you are definitely his girl.

I have so  many dreams and hopes for you and I know you will do amazing things, it really feels like there are limitless possibilities with you and I am fascinated to see what directions and paths you will choose in life.

There are little moments when I see worry or fear in you that first shocks me- but then reminds me more of myself at your age.

I will always love you, you will always be my girl; I know someday this fact will be even more significant as there is nothing quite like a mother-daughter relationship.

I hope you live your dreams, but always remember what truly matters most and that your heart always stays good and kind.

I am so proud of who you are and the things you stand up for, for how you live your faith and life.

To my red-headed daughter, I love you.

Happy Birthday.