I {heart} My Valentines

We have been lovin' a little Valentines around here.  

We started the month with some decorating.  Maggie was on hand to help me hang these precious pseudo candy hearts down the steps leading to the basement and into the playroom.  And I adore how they surrounded Clay and I 's engagement pictures. Coincidence at it's finest.

I put my Type A file on the shelf to allow Maggie to decorate as she see fit. {and no, my walls aren't this puke green/beige--excuse the awful lighting}

Hearts were sporadically placed in some places and bunched in others.  With the highest being about 3 feet up, courtesy of my favorite 3 year old.

But, the best part?  The way Maggie adored the "marry me" heart.  She read it to anyone who came over and then to us if there wasn't a new face to share it with. 'This hawrt says marwwee me', followed by her signature Maggie smile and courtsy.

Have I mentioned that she walks around with a box of Clay and I's wedding pictures?  Well, she does.  And it's precious to listen to her narrate each photo.  I on the other hand cringe looking at them.  Not a big fan of hurricane weddings, big fan of the man in the pictures though {if you were there you know what I mean}.

Needless to say, Valentine's Day is right up my Love Bug's alley.  So, when I suggested we bake Valentine cookies a few days before, guess who was the first in the kitchen...

And Love Bug #2 joined us.  Here she is sharing my secret ingredients.

The best part was the decorating according to my kiddos.  Jack made a guest appearance for the fun part.  {and he didn't even argue when he saw pink icing}  All in the name of love.

This was Jack's masterpiece Valentine cookie.  Basically his only cookie.  He used 80% of our decorating ingredients on it and then upon completion headed backed to his Legos.  Good thing I have a back up baker waiting in the wings.  My oldest seems to have semi-retired.

We shared the love this holiday with these adorable Hot Chocolate baskets for the kid's teachers. So easy and very inexpensive {an idea begged, borrowed and stolen with a twist}.  Maggie had a fun {and very messy} time making the stir spoons with me.  And those are heart marshmallows in that cellophane bag...way sweet.

On V day the kids woke up to their doors covered in "We Love..." hearts.  It was a much needed time of reflection for me as I thought of all the reasons Clay and I love each of them.  The kid's seriously adored this and Maggie had me read her hearts to her at least 14 times that day.

This was Jack's door...

Maggie's...

And Lucy's...

If you noticed, yes, Jack had the most.  I knew he would count and the girl's wouldn't so why not let him feel the most loved.  He deserves it living with all these girls.

After a celebratory day at school {which means Maggie came home with way too much Valentine junk loot}, she loved on Lucy for a bit.  Both girls enjoyed play time in my favorite room in the house.  How fitting that we were surrounded by pink on this day of love.

Maggie set up story time for all of her animals and Lucy watched on longingly.

Two girly loves are better than one if I do say so...

Happy Valentine's Day to all!  XOXO

Suddenly Sitting

It really did just happen out of no where.  Suddenly.  

There I was one day, behind Lucy, letting her use me as a brace and I noticed, 'she doesn't need me'.  I let go of her and woo hoo, she was...sitting. 

This is by far my happiest milestone--a sitting baby.  I'm sure you Momma's out there can agree with that.

I can sit her down, surround her with toys {and often siblings} and she is a happy babe.  I haven't yet gained the confidence to sit her on the hardwoods or tile without the Boppy around her.  Nor have I gained the confidence to schedule her "sitting photo session".  But, rug play time sure is nice for my aching back and bones.

And can I please note how fabulous it is to play with my darling baby girl while looking at that sweet face? No more overhead views.  I get the giant blue eyes, irresistible chubby cheeks, and the endless drool.  Who could ask for more?  Not I.

Mmmm...pure love.  Little Lu suddenly got a whole lot sweeter.

And!, she found her toes this month.  Something about babies finding their toes gets me every time.  So stinking precious!  I could watch Lucy for hours play with those little tootsies {if I only had hours to spare}.

Rice Cereal...Maybe

We start rice cereal with Lucy this week.  And this is usually where I add how my baby was so ready and loved it.  Well, not this time.

I was not prepared for Lucy's reaction.  Not even a little bit.

Lu is a pretty solid eater {no pun intended}.  I was for sure that she would love it.  I knew she was ready.

However, there is no truth in the third baby is the easiest.  Yes, she is easy in many ways and lovely in even more.  But, she is still her own little person and has her own way of doing things.

For baby number three it took four whole days to get this cereal thing down.  Not bad, but certainly, not easy.

On Day One, I nursed her and then put her in the high chair at her 3:30 feeding.  I was seriously excited, 'she's going to love this'.

I dipped the spoon in the bowl, gently put it in her mouth and this is what she did...

 There was no love about it.

I gave up three spoonfuls and three disgusted looks later.

Day Two, I tried again.  This time I added breast milk and mixed it more liquidy {is that a word?}  I think that may have backfired.  She took it in and after bite number two she screamed...and screamed some more.  Lucy doesn't scream often, but when she does...pass the ear plugs.

I was at a loss.  Was it the taste or was it too much like milk and it wasn't coming fast enough?  So, I did a little experiment.  I poured the remainder in a bottle and handed it to her.

She chugged it.  Hmmm...so it wasn't the taste or the texture.  Little Lu is just a very impatient eater {just like her brother was}.  More, more, more, and faster, faster, faster.


By Day Three, I wasn't going to let Lucy pull a fast one on me again.  It was time she learned patience.  No bottle.  Just a spoon...and one bite at a time.

Towards the end of the feeding, with lots of reminders from me to 'be patient', we were making progress.

And that brings me to glorious Day Four.  Lucy gleefully anticipated her cereal {with a dash of pear mixed in}.  She made happy grunts during her feeding, swallowed pretty nicely, and waited patiently for each and every bite.

We officially have a rice cereal eating baby at our house.  I'm certain everything from here on out will be easy with her {wink wink}, right?.

In Loving Memory

I have put off writing this post for fear of flooding my keyboard with tears.  {and that may still happen even with the postponement}  But, I feel it is time.

I lost my Uncle Jim to diabetes the second week in December. If you know my family, we are small, but we are extremely close.

It came as a complete shock.  My family and I were not prepared for such a tragedy, but who really is.  After receiving the news, I spent the first few hours in complete shock.  Yes, I cried, but I also denied it in my mind.

After reality set in I was over come with grief and an over abundance of concern.  I worried about my Grandma losing her only son, my Mom losing her best friend and brother, and thought about how my widowed Uncle had left behind, Jon, who is only a college kid.

I was sick with grief for days.  Only when I was united with my family for the funeral did I feel some sense of relief.  We were all so saddened, but sad together is better than alone.

Jon decided his father should be layed to rest in Kentucky, a place my Uncle Jim grew up in and loved.  He was buried next to my Grandpa.  I imagine those two are having a grand ol' time in heaven together.

Because my Uncle resided in Florida {right across the street from us} for nearly 20 years, we also held a memorial service and celebration of his life in Florida.  It was on what would have been his 53rd birthday, February 2nd.  It was heart warming to see how loved he was.  {and exhausting to travel with an infant for the second time in a just a few weeks}

The past couple months have been trying.  There was certainly a dark cloud that hung over Christmas this past year.  The new year started slowly and sadly.  And now, two months later, I still find myself welling up with tears every night when I pray for him.

My Uncle was truly a wonderful man.  He was honest.  He was humble {almost to a fault}.  He was kind, caring and so generous.  He was a man of strong faith.

He knew how to fix anything {that's why everyone always had a 'Honey Do' list waiting for him when he came to visit}.  And he was extremely intelligent.  Ask any question and he had the right answer.  There is no doubt that he could have been a Trivia champ, not that I ever played it with him.  I did, however, play Pictionary with him a few times...and I won.

Uncle Jim was the first to take one of my babies out of my arms when we saw him.  He loved kids.  He loved my kids.  He was Jack's Godfather and Uncle Jim to all three of them.

I honestly don't know life without him.  Sure, I've known him since I entered this world.  But, I mean I don't know life without seeing him on our trips to Florida, spending holidays together, or catching up on the phone.

I miss his voice, his gentle laugh, and his smirky smile.

Life will never be the same without him.  How could it be? But, I hold tight to his memory. I take solace in knowing that he is the happiest he has ever been right now.  He's well and will never be lonely again.  And I know he is watching over my children, as any angel would.

All My Love Uncle Jim.