Below are a few of the reasons why I love summer....

Reunited and it feels so good

Blue.. the color of rain, or rebirth, or sadness, or deep emotion...
   Well, it is time to use this color and reconnect with my blog to keep a balanced life and absorb the little moments. There have been so many moments I could have written about, SHOULD have written about, if for no other reason than to preserve those memories in writing. Paisley learned to ride a bike, Harper and Paisley really learned to swim, they have grown in height, grown in mind, and grown in their hearts....so many memories, so many moments. Really, what was it that made me stop writing? Well, it was two things, two little things: 
1. I became frustrated that my computer did not record the "last import" when I wanted to upload pictures time and time again..it only gave me the options of the update prior to the one I wanted..

        2. It was summer and I was enjoying spending more time outside, more time all-together, less time on the computer, less time with electronics

I suppose that as I write them, at least the second one seems somewhat reasonable!

But, now I am ready,
                                 ready to write,
                                                      ready to post pictures, 
                                                                                          and 
                                                                                              READY   
                                                                                                            for what lies


                                                                                                                                       AHEAD. 

It is in this last word that I want to look, to focus, and see where it is going.
Having children that are 5 and 3 is magical. That is not to say that it hasn't been magical to this point. I am the first to say that although motherhood presents trying times-at times-it is by far and away the most rewarding, most eye-opening, and most challenging thing I have done in my life. I have loved and tried to absorb each stage, despite how fast they fly by. But, back to 5 and 3...

5 and 3 means they play together on their own, they create their own games, they are more self-sufficient, and ultimately they need me less. Perhaps it is not less, but rather, differently. They need me differently, and now I find myself looking at the next stage. The stage where the girls need me more mentally and less physically. So, now I am off to discover what is next....more on this another time, and a focus on where the girls stand now...once I can get the computer to upload the most recent pictures!!

proud...

      Spring is coming.....all be it slowly! The girls decided to play outside while I finished dinner. They set up hoola hoops for their seats while Paisley read, "Quick as a Cricket" to Harper. They both laughed, giggled, smiled, and seemed so peaceful that I snuck out and took this picture.  How could I feel anything but a smiling, touched, proud? 
       Then, we had a nice family dinner.... spring will arrive(it has by the time I have written this!) and we will continue having family moments more and more as summer and more free time approach!

Hooray!  

Harper turned 3!

 Alright, so much has come and gone while I have neglected this site! I apologize for the lack of writing. It is, of course, not due to the absence of amazing little moments in my life, but rather to so many that I couldn't fit them all in! Well, my nickname in college was justifier and I think that explains why!! Enough of excuses, it is time to get back into the swing of writing about life, my children, and all the little things that make me happy, sad, contemplative, or reminiscent. 

Reminiscent is a good theme for today's writing. Fitting that the last entry was about Paisley; this one is about Harper. How can three years have gone by so fast? Yet, I have to think to remember what it was like to have just one child. She is so full of spunk, so full of being three, so strong and resilient, just as a little sister is, but yet so soft, snuggly, and kind hearted. She is the teddy bear that idolizes her sister, giggles with an infectious laugh, stands up for things she wants with eviction and determination; there are times I remind myself that this determination is just what a mother hopes for in her little girl. She is funny-really funny. Her delivery and quick wit are hard to describe, but I believe it is what makes people say, "there is just something about her, I can't explain it, but I love it"  We hear that all the time. Harper makes people smile (and laugh). She is unique and comfortable being herself. I only hope that she gets to look back on this paragraph at some point later in her life and remember who she is at her core: a strong, sweet, special, surprising, silly, sister and daughter. I can wait to see what she will become: I can wait because I want to absorb each little three year old moment. Our littlest one is now 3...we are so far from diapers, crawling, baby toys, and so far into little girl independence and growth. Harper doodle, I love you so much and wish a very happy birthday. 

                                                A few weeks before her third birthday

                                      Before 2 years old

 

Just after turning 2

                                                                 two and happy in sanibel

                                           The big 3 year old with her "peter pan" hat on....

Turning 5

Yellow, still Paisley's favorite color. Her 5th birthday seems as if it was thrust upon me in some shocking manner....one might think, well, I had five years to prepare, but ah well, such is the beauty of motherhood: I don't find myself counting down until the next milestone, but rather absorbing each moment as they are spread throughout each day and then suddenly, there is a milestone knocking me over! I have found myself thinking as this birthday has come and gone: what does she need for her birthday? We are so lucky to have numerous toys of all kinds, educational, creative, outdoor, glittery(of course), functional, and so on.....She has a warm, cozy bed filled with stuffed animals, babies and view of her sister snuggled in her bed, pictures on the wall, and bright windows....she has clothes(especially thanks to our friends the Blues!), and our cabinets are full of yummy food.....
It is easy to hop online and explore a variety of sites that make me drool over their dresses, shoes, hairbands (and I have never really considered myself a girly girl!)....toys that seem so appealing...so there is the temptation to clean out the toy bins, sort, and fill them with new...but, it isn't NEEDED. So, what does she NEED?

                        She needs to know how strong she is, how resilient she is, how courageous and inspirational she is. 

She needs to remember how much she is loved, by so many. 

                   She needs to be empowered, both by herself and those that love her. 

She needs her health

As early as 3 weeks old Dave and I asked the doctor if her weight was ok; we thought she was thin, despite her constant cheery disposition. The bump of her heart when we held her tightly against our chests, the grunts in the night that seemed so pained, the troubled expression in her brows, all clues to what was coming in just a few days and weeks. 

By 8 weeks old, we begged the doctors to listen and by 10 weeks, we knew. The two holes, one larger than her aorta, were causing her body to fade. She was turning grey before our eyes, thinner by the day....then, finally, an answer, a reason, "failure to thrive" was translated into something that could be FIXED. 

Miracles of modern medicine are the root of the Fix, but deep down, there she was, with that strength, that courage, that resiliency, that love....and she finally had pink toes. Now, at the age of 5 we tell her that her scar is empowering, that is reminds her of what she can endure and achieve. For her 5th birthday, I wanted her to feel her scar and keep growing.

 Happy 5th Birthday sweet Paisley. Thank you for always reminding us the value of health and life and the power of our souls.    

 

Below is what I wrote in our other blog on the day we arrived home from Boston Children's hospital:

This is the day I came home from Boston after having heart surgery. I was very happy to be healthy-so were my mom and dad (and many other people). Some say that the hole in my heart opened many other hearts.....  

 2 Years Old

 

May 2010: 2 years 2 months; 2 months 

 

The Sanibel Stoop

I can not wait to do this....the stoop to shell collect! We will be there so soon! It is raining here, snow is melting, mud is everywhere....ah the warmth of that sun, the smell of the ocean, the sight of the girls while they play and giggle in the pool, time with Grammy Janee and that contagious shell collecting. There are so many reasons I am looking forward to spring break!

There have been MANY kid and family moments that I have been struck by lately....it must be February and we are holding onto the little things that make us happy while the wind whips at 35 mph and the temperature does not rise above 27 degrees......
but, I read this on pinterest and while I don't adore all parts of it, as sweet and kind as it is, I love the line, 
My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home

 It seems to say it all in that one line...



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