{and so it begins}

She's hiding her face because when you're 1, if you can't see people, they can't see you.

Last week, Olivia decided it was time to start being destructive.  I was walking through the house trying to get everyone rounded up for park day.  I walk past Olivia's room and see her walking out.  When I peered in, I noticed Amelia's bottom dresser drawer standing open with the contents nicely unfolded and strewn about the floor in front of the dresser.  

Hmmmm.  And so it begins.  

Not kidding, a short 3 minutes later, I walk into my master bathroom and find half of the roll of toilet paper unraveled onto the floor.  

Goodness child...you could at least ease me back into this stage slowly.

{b.i.f. twelve}

Every morning Amelia literally stumbles out of bed and into the kitchen. I can always tell it's her coming down the hallway: shuffling of feet, a knock or two into the hallway walls because she's still half asleep, and shaky bunny rattling softly the entire way.

I don't know how I'm going to cope with her growing up.  Her 4 year old self is just so much fun.

{nervous...frustrated...whatever}

So Amelia is totally at the age where she uses words that may or may not be correct in context.  Always one of my favorite stages.  

Set-up:  Amelia is putting away Go Fish cards.

A: I'm just so nervous!  These cards are making me sooo nervous!

Me: They are?  What are the doing?

A:  They just keep popping out of my hand, and they are making me nervous, just so nervous.

{She continues to work on them and gets the put back into their bag.}

Me: Are you finished being nervous?

A: I guess. I was nervous, but I'm not now.

Oh good.  I was starting to get a little nervous myself.

{b.i.f. eleven}

Amelia: Who was your mom when you were a baby?

Me: Grandma!

Amelia: {insert gasp and shocking tone} Our grandma?!!

Shocking, I know.

{happy birthday claire}

Oh, Claire, when did you decide to grow up?  Little by little, I'm catching glimpses of a much older Claire.  Bittersweet, for sure!  

We celebrated Claire's 9th birthday last Monday at the lake.  The girls went tubing with Josh and later, Claire and I took out the kayaks.  There was a lot of swimming as well!

Tonight, we ate a tasty birthday dinner consisting of homemade cheese pizza, canned pears, and creamy corn {chosen entirely by the birthday girl}.  We also hosted some friends who helped us eat the Sugar Shock cake that Claire chose.  It was a whole lot of fun!

Speaking of Sugar Shock...this cake is full of it!  This cake came directly from Pinterest {of course}, only I changed the regular M&Ms from plain to peanut...a definite upgrade.  I couldn't believe how many KitKats I had to buy to line the cake, but as quickly as the thing came together, I must say this:  IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT!!  I try to lead my kids to easy cake designs for my own sanity, so I try to only pin easier designs!  Once I started putting it together, I think it only took me about 15 minutes.  Thank you, child.  

My facebook status update on Tuesday:

Yesterday, we celebrated Claire's 9th birthday.  Last night after she went to bed, Josh and I were discussing the fact that in 9 more years, she'll be graduating from high school and leaving our little nest.  I, of course, was ridiculously sentimental about the whole idea and was completely emotional.  I can't believe that we're at this half-way point already!  I seriously take comfort in the fact that Olivia is only 1!

Claire, you are extremely smart, head-strong, and creative.  When I hear the phrase, "where there's a will, there's a way," I think of you. :)  I love your willingness to try new things, your helpfulness, and your problem-solving skills.  When Daddy prayed last night at dinner that we're thankful for the lovely young lady that you're becoming, I got chills all through my body.  That is exactly what you're turning into...someone lovely, and a young lady.  This both saddens me and impresses me at the same time.  We love you so much!

{my favorite part of the day}

Let me start by apologizing for the blurry photo.  It is seriously the best shot I have of Amelia since her birthday.  

So, almost every night at dinner, we all go around the table as a family and share our favorite part of the day.  Tonight, I asked Meredith to go first.  Claire went next.  And then it was Amelia's turn.  

Amelia starts by saying that her favorite part of the day was when she was back in her bedroom, just before dinner, picking up.  Meredith says, "Your favorite part of the day was picking up??"  I think we were all thinking the same thing.  

She says, "And then I put all of my shoes in the closet, and then I hung that pretty white dress up, and then I put things on my bed, and then I walked out into the hallway and into the entryway and Daddy just walked through the door and I gave him a big hug and that was my favorite part of the day."  

And then I was all teary-eyed because it was the sweetest thing EVER.  

And then Josh looks at her and smiles and says, "That was my favorite part of the day, too."  

And let me just say that this entire dialog at dinner was MY favorite part of the day.   

{b.i.f. nine}

This is what currently happens when Olivia is in desperate need of a nap:  As I'm holding her, she becomes extremely squirmy.  I put her down.  She sits there for 3 seconds feeling unloved, unwanted, and completely neglected.  

Immediately after said 3 seconds, she bursts out into tears and leans her head across her legs {as if she were stretching before a big race} and acts as if she's never been loved a day in her life.  

And in a perfect world {i.e. we're at home}, she is scooped up and taken to bed.  

Sweet dreams, baby girl.