A letter to My Honey Bee on Your Second Birthday

Dear Hannah Honey Bee,

How the time has flown!  Two years old?!  Today?  My lovely little Miss Hannah.  Hannah Banana.  Hannah Honey Bee.  You really do mean the world to me, sweetie.  If only I could tell you how much!

Of course, I was so excited to meet you.  Again, as with your older sister, we did not know if you were to be a girl or a boy.  We planned to have the surgery for you to arrive on 9-9-10, but scheduling was going to be difficult so we went with 9-7-10, 2 years and 2 months after the arrival of your older sister, Alicia.  The doctor, trying to be funny, pulled you out and said,  "it's a boy.... oh wait, no, it's a girl."  And then I saw your sweet face, my Hannah Karen.  I have to say that it seemed to me like they took you away to get cleaned up far too quickly and that I didn't get to see you or hold you for what felt like hours!  I do think it was over an hour with me waiting alone in a separate room.  The time dragged on!!!

While I had baby experience this time around, I still hadn't been able to nurse a baby, but you were pretty cooperative and were fed mama's milk from the beginning.  You were sleeping through the night periodically at around 8 weeks I believe, but definitely not as consistent as your sister.  Interrupted nights were the norm for the first 5 to 6 months, even though I went back to work after 3 months.

I do think that nursing created a very strong bond between us.  You are definitely my shy girl, clinging to me in most situations from the very beginning.  And there was a period from when you were about 15 months to about 20 months where I was not working and you always wanted to be with mama.  Then, when I started back to work you would cry and carry on about being with mama even when I was in the room.  Leaving you to go to work during that time was heart wrenching.

You cut your first tooth around 6 months and were crawling by 10 months and climbing up the stairs at 11 months.  You were taking your first steps on your own just a week after your first birthday.  At around one you were using new words like crazy: mama, dada, up, down, hi, bye, dog ball.  Some of the more unusual ones at the same age: memere, pepere, nana, nano, football, touchdown (you were also raising your hands in the air for touchdown!), dinosaur (dine-so), stinky (tink-ee), cookie and Alicia (lee-cia).

My little honey bee, you just don't stop.  You are my little energizer bunny, always on the go.  Ever since watching Happy Feet at nana's house, you have loved to do "happy feet" and I have to smile every time I see you go from a regular walk to jumping and skipping.  You have such a great grin, a the-devil-made-me-do-it kind of grin that makes me smile or laugh, no matter how angry I might be with you.  You know just how to make people smile.  You have a fake little laugh like you are trying too hard, but when we tickle you, your real giggle comes out and it is just too cute!

You are a whirlwind of activity, leaving (or throwing) a trail of toys in your wake.  You love to play with your teapot and teacups and play with your dolls and your sister's dollhouse.   Recently you have loved to collect magnets and strew them all over the house.  From watching your sister, you have grown to love playing animals, dinosaurs and legos.  You like to sit and "read" books without any help from us.  I love to hear you make up stories about the pictures.  You started talking and sharing memories very early on.  When we first took you to the circus this past year in March - at only 18 months - you told a story that went like this, "car. boom. guy. scared me. cry."  It is amazing that even months afterwards that you would still tell this story.  And now at two years old you can almost carry on a conversation.  You speak in full sentences and paragraphs and use almost the same words that your sister does.  You amaze me!  Such a smart cookie!

You love your big sister and watch and imitate her every move.  At first it was just sitting on the couch with her cuddling with you as a baby, then it progressed into sharing toys - which you actually both do quite well.  And just this past summer, she went to Vacation Bible School and you quickly learned the songs that she was singing around the house and the two of you are right there with the "trust God" response when prompted.  It is great to see this desire you have to be with your sister and play with her.  It is just so cute when you two do hugs and kisses before bed at night.  You have, on occasion, actually cried because she was not sitting in the car seat next to you on the short ride to church.  I can tell that you feel it when she is not around.  This isn't to say that you don't have your moments.  You do not, for whatever reason, seem to want to hold her hand, which makes your big sister sad.  And you have also started to have some back and forth fights. I was hoping that this would wait until a little later in life.  But I can tell that you feel close to your big sister and love her.

You have a sweetness and a little devilish side all rolled up in one.  A definite impish side to you that makes us all laugh.  You are really quite funny.  You have learned to climb up ladders and go down slides, and you seem to really enjoying riding on your sister's tricycle now that she has her big girl bike.  For some reason the pool or the ocean doesn't seem to interest you and you would rather play at the water table, water flowers, dig in the sand or play in the outside playhouse instead.  You seem to be a bit accident prone and not as cautious as your sister, but nonetheless it is still so much fun for me to watch you learn new things and take on new adventures.  I'm sure this next year will have a lot more in store.

You are an amazing gift from God that he sent down to me.  You are truly a wonderful blessing.  My beautiful, cute, energetic and funny second-born baby girl!

Love you my honey bee!

Mommy

xoxoxo

A Letter to My Angel Face on Your Fourth Birthday

Dear Little Angel Face,

I sit here wondering how the time has gone so quickly.  Four years old today!!!  How can it be?!  There is so much that makes you special to me, I am not even sure I can put into words all the blessings you bring.

Since you are the firstborn child, I had no idea what to expect, about anything.  One thing was very clear, you certainly were not interested in joining the world on your own.  After 40 hours of an attempt at labor, I had to have surgery for you to arrive.  We did not know if you would be a girl or a boy, but I think deep down, I knew you were a girl.  You see, my own memere passed away and I had asked her that when she got to heaven, to send us a baby and if we were to have a girl, we would name our little girl after her.  Well, my memere certainly worked her way up there quickly, because a month later, we would find out that I was pregnant.  And nine months later you were here, a baby girl that I could name after my memere!  You helped to solidify my faith: in God, in heaven, and in the afterlife.  What a special blessing!!!

Having no "baby" experience, everything was new to me.  I had never held a newborn, so I was very thankful that you were born larger than most at 9 pounds and 4 ounces.   You slept through the night early too at 5 weeks and we soon discovered that you could sleep through anything.  If we were at a party and you were tired, you slept.  It did not matter how loud it was, if you were tucked away in another room, or right in the thick of everything - you slept!  You are still a sound sleeper to this day, and since you share a room with your little sister, this too is a blessing because she can carry on and scream with the best of them.

I stayed home with you for the first eight months and then returned to work outside of the home, but only part time.  This did not bother you as much I worried that it would.  You were able to spend some special time with your nana, memere and Aunty Chris while I worked a few days a week.  You have always been very independent and outgoing, taking anyone's finger to go off and play.  It seems that to this day you adjust so easily to new people and situations.  I wish that I had that same quality.  It is definitely a strength.

Somewhere I believe that I have written down all your important firsts and hopefully I can find it.  I do remember that your first word was mama.  And that your first tooth came in at around five months.  Your first steps without any help was in early June, before your first birthday and you started walking on your own without any help at the end of August.  Just a few snippets.

My little angel face, you have a beautiful smile that lights up the room, and a great belly laugh that is just so catchy.  You also have a very kind heart, a very perceptive and sensitive heart.  I see you watch other people when they are hurt, or crying and you have a face of true concern.  Or you make a comment during a sad moment in a movie and I know that you have a heart filled with understanding.  I hope that you learn that it is ok to be sensitive, that sometimes you will feel sad or get hurt easily by a comment made.  Do not worry too much about being thin-skinned - you are much like me in that regard and I am sure we will talk about this a lot - but know that your sensitivity is a beautiful quality that not many people possess.

You are a smart little lady, very careful and methodical.  A perfectionist. You can write your own name without help, sound out words and recite the Hail Mary.  You love to do puzzles, color,  and create crafts.  You also enjoy watching movies, playing legos, dinosaurs and playing with all of your animals.  You were never very interested in playing with dolls or having tea parties.  You have begun to sing songs this past March, most notably a beautiful duet of the Alleluia from mass with your sister Hannah while driving in the car, with your adorable rendition of the song "Tomorrow" from Annie coming in at a close second.  You have told us that you want to be a zookeeper, a singer, a doctor.  You will not choose one, you want to do it all.  Go for it!

When your little sister came around just after you turned two, you loved her from the beginning.  There are so many pictures of you two cuddling and you liked helping me by getting me diapers and wipes.  You must think she is funny because you imitate her almost as much as she imitates you.  You are great at sharing with her and I love hearing your conversations.  I enjoy watching you read to her and love it when you two give hugs and kisses - just so cute and sweet - although sometimes you have a little too much fun and pull her down on top of you!

You have a silliness and a craziness all your own.  There is a certain high-pitched, piercing squeal you let out at times that shows how excited you are, or how scared.  You have learned how to climb and jump just this past year.  I greatly enjoy watching you run around, trying new things.  This year ahead will bring many new adventures I am sure.  I am looking forward to watching you grow, learn and experience so much more!  It has been a wonderful journey for me so far.  I can only imagine what is in store!

God has given me such a wonderful gift in you.  Such a blessing and a joy!  My beautiful, smart, sweet, silly, first-born baby girl!

Love you my angel face!

Mommy
xoxoxo

Seven Quick Takes Friday (25)

Thanks to Jen for hosting over at conversiondiary.com.  Today, December 30, 2011, being the occasion of my 6th wedding anniversary, this is going to be a 7 things I love about my husband.  There are so many more things that aren't even listed here.  What can I say, except he's the best.

-1-

His sense of humor:  There is nothing like having someone by your side who can make you laugh, not only at yourself, but at the world around you.  He has a wonderful silly side and loves to poke fun.  He makes me smile and laugh every day. 

-2-

His sensitive and vulnerable side:  He can get emotional during those tear jerking parts of movies or TV shows and isn't afraid to show it.  When he is having a hard time, to the point of tears, he lets me see that too.  I think it is so important to let your loved ones know how you are feeling and he isn't afraid to let me see the bad alongside with the good.  He has helped me to be more in touch with that side since before getting married I was hardly ever as emotional as I am these days.

And he definitely has a knack for being sensitive to my concerns.  I still recount to almost anyone who will listen, how when we were first dating and I told him something that could potentially be a deal breaker on a long car drive at the START of the date. He just squeezed my hand and listened.  The next day he brought me flowers and a beautiful hand written sentiment in a card.  I knew that he was someone who I could entrust my heart to.

-3-
His ability to consider my point of view:  For anyone who knows us, you know we hardly ever fight.  This isn't because we never disagree.  Rather, this is because both of us try to put ourselves in the other person's shoes.  We may not like what they are thinking, or what they have to say, but both of us can always understand where it is coming from.  Again, we don't always agree, but we are understanding of why the other feels the way they do.  Huge with me, since I am definitely not someone who likes confrontation.

-4-
His willingness to sacrifice:  My hubby doesn't like his job and hasn't since almost day one.  However, he realizes that he is providing for us as a family through his work, so he goes to work despite being unhappy.  In a world of, "If something doesn't feel good, don't do it," or "I have to do what's best for ME" he is sticking it out.  Doing a good job too I might add, getting a bonus all quarters since he started except one.  He may complain about it a fair amount, and joke and talk about how much he doesn't like it, but he goes and he works.  In my book, that is what shows me he loves me.

-5-
His strong commitment to the Catholic faith: Since returning to the church with me in the spring of 2005, he has continued to grow and learn about the Catholic faith.  Together we have made big changes in our lives to align ourselves with our Catholic faith.  We even teach the Catholic teaching on sexuality to teens.  Quite a turn around for both of us.

 -6-

His willingness to change:  This one sort of stems from QT#5.  Read the following:  hubby's blog post on porn.  But this isn't the only change he's made.  He is continuously trying to become the best version of himself he can be.  He's trying to change and working on the things in his life that need a redirection.  I applaud him for being willing to take a look at himself and see where he can make some changes for the better.  I am definitely one blessed woman.

-7-

Watching him play with our daughters:  I cannot say how often I watch him play with our girls and I am just amazed.  I really enjoy watching them together, the girls climbing all over him, playing with their toy dinosaurs or playing board games.  It doesn't matter what they are doing, I almost always can learn something from him: how to be more silly, how to be sure to incorporate praise where it's due, how to be excited about something that really doesn't seem all that important.  He is an amazing father and you can tell with the way our girls are so excited to see him walk in the door around supper time.  He is helping me to be a better mom and I am thankful for that every day.

Seven Quick Takes Friday (24)

Thanks to Jen for hosting over at conversiondiary.com.  Christmas traditions edition.

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So I have to confess that I have been listening to Christmas music since before Thanksgiving.  Alicia has a cute little kids Christmas CD that has her name in it, telling her about the real meaning of Christmas.  Of course, it started making some odd noises, so I ripped it and then burned it, now the songs are all out of order.  May have to re-recreate the CD for her.  Can I also just say that I watched the CMA Country Special on Thursday night and I love that the musicians will actually wear crosses (some of the ladies might do better to dress a little more modestly) and sign REAL Christmas songs.  You know, ones that aren't afraid to mention Jesus...  Rudolph and Frosty are ok, but traditional carols are the ones that mean the most.  When listening to my daughter's CD this year it took me by surprise that I was finally struck by the line, "Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, til he appeared and the soul felt it's worth."  HOW BEAUTIFUL!!!  And how true!

-2-

We went to the Christmas parade in Derry the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Had a great time with the girls, hubby and my mother in law.  We also met up with hubby's niece and her daughter and nephew and his son.  His nephew's daughter was in the parade for her school's band.  Beautiful weather - I wore short sleeves...  Glad that the people marching in the parade were not afraid to actually say "Merry Christmas!"  That's the spirit!

-3-
This year our traditional day after Thanksgiving putting up the Christmas tree was delayed to the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  Our "fake" tree is one that we won from our church back when we first moved into our home back in 2006.  We have put up our family tree in my parents' house this year and it takes up a good amount of room.  Alicia helped to assemble the tree and helped put on a few ornaments while Hannah took a nap.  Hannah has enjoyed looking at the tree though.  She now looks out the window and says tree so I think she's confused by the tree being inside.  I do love sitting by the tree at night with the lights off for a few silent moments with a glass of egg nog.

-4-
We have an Advent wreath that I have never been very good about using, but this year it is out on my parent's dining room table and I read from a book every night at the dinner table.  I am pretty sure Alicia doesn't get it, since it's advanced, but maybe next Advent I will find a more kid friendly daily advent book.  I've really enjoyed doing this as a family.  I think it helps that hubby is finally on a day shift, so the tradition is a new one that I am pretty happy about.

 

-5-

We have a Little People Nativity that we got for Alicia for her second Christmas.  She and Hannah are having fun playing with the animals and the other figures too.  Still mostly into the animals though, but I like having religious toys that they can play with.  Little ones mostly understand the toys and presents, so it's difficult to find things to fit in that make it more about the true meaning of the season for them.  Maybe someday they will play more with Mary, Joseph and Jesus.  But we have books that we read about Christmas.  Maybe we will try to get to the live nativity.  I have to take the time to figure out where and when it is around here.  I think they do it in Windham.

 -6-

Driving around to look at Christmas lights is another holiday favorite.  There are a few houses that have a TON of lights around here.  Alicia was cute about it last year and this year with her talking so much, it should be really cute to see what she says.  We may take a trip to the Enchanted Christmas Village sometime during the week if we get the chance.  Not sure about timing of it all, but I would like to bring the girls this year.  Lots of lights in there that we could walk around to see.  We went a few years ago, before we had Hannah, and enjoyed it but the lines were long.  Hannah is a bit more active than Alicia, so I think she'd have a hard time waiting in the lines.

-7-

The Christmas season should truly be marked by the beauty of God sending his Son to us in such simplicity.  Jesus came into this world as a helpless newborn, totally dependent on Mary and Joseph.  Jesus was born into a humble family, in a stable, placed in a manger.  He wasn't born in a palace, he wasn't raised by rich, well-to-do parents.  He didn't come down from Heaven blazing in almighty light to show who He was.  He came to us simply, humbly, knowing that we all too often do not feel or know our own worth.  All God wants from us is an open heart to receive Him.  God wants us to feel His love.  May we use this Christmas season to open ourselves to the gift of Jesus and remember that HE is the reason for the season!

Wondrous Wednesdays (17)



In the spirit of gratitude, I’m listing wondrous things happening in my world every week on Wednesday.  If you are a blogger and want to list what you are grateful for, feel free to do the same on your own blog every week and please be sure to link back to my blog.   If you are not a blogger, feel free to comment here on my blog with your own three wondrous things you are grateful for on Wednesday. 

(1)

Baby monitors are a wondrous invention.  Right now, as I type this the girls are supposed to be napping, but Alicia is telling Hannah, "You're not supposed to throw your toys out of the bed."  I knew that Alicia asking to go for a rest at the same time I was going to put Hannah down for a nap would be trouble.  At least Alicia informed me that Hannah had to go potty so I could change Hannah's diaper...  It's actually really cute.  However, this is why bed time is usually staggered.  Otherwise they'd never go to sleep in there.  Now Hannah is laughing in there.  I don't know what's going on.  I'm guessing they are playing rather than sleeping.  So I'm going to let them have some fun before I go break it up!!!

(2)

Even though the girls are sick this week and we haven't been able to go anywhere to visit friends yet, I am so thankful for the change to our schedule.  I really am enjoying this first week being home with the girls during the day.  Hoping that by Friday they are both better so I can head to 9am mass with them and possibly followed by the moms group at our church.  Thank you hubby.  Someday it will be a different job too!

(3)

It is wondrous how much Alicia is excited about Elfie, the name she gave the Elf on the Shelf.  She has watched the movie I don't know how many times.  And it makes asking her to do something much easier.  I'm not normally one to go with the secular holiday traditions, but this one is pretty cute.  She will go look for Elfie through the day to check to make she she is still there.  She hasn't woken up thinking about looking for her yet, but I'm guessing that will be soon.  Thank you Santa for sending the girls their elf.

Below is a linky list if you’d like to add a link to your own Wondrous Wednesdays. (1) Make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your post and not your main blog URL. (2) Include a link back here.

Seven Quick Takes Friday (23)

Thanks to Jen for hosting over at conversiondiary.com. 

-1-

Alicia and I had a lot of fun helping memere cook on Wednesday for the Thanksgiving festivities.  She was enjoying getting the ingredients and trying to mix them too.  She ended up making a huge mess with the flour at the beginning, but she really had a good time.  It was so sweet.

-2-

I had a really nice Turkey Day.  So thankful for my hubby, our girls and our family and friends.  Lots of love and support from so many people have made the tough times a little bit less stressful.

-3-
Unfortunately, on Turkey Day my hubby and Hannah and I missed mass.  Alicia did make it with memere, pepere and aunty "k."  I like starting out Thanksgiving day with our church family thanking God for all he does in our lives.  But Hannah has been sick and wasn't even awake by the time we would have needed to head out the door and neither hubby nor I woke up feeling well.  We eventually felt better, but it was probably best to stay home.  I hear that our church was packed, which will probably mean that Christmas masses will be jam packed as well.  So sorry we missed it!

-4-

Some pictures from Turkey Day:

Watching the Macy's parade. Ok, vacant stares, I know
but it's the only picture they are looking in the same direction!

I was trying to get them both to do touchdown. 
Hannah sometimes doesn't play for the camera.

But here she is cheesing it up!

Alicia having a great time with her cousins!

-5-

Hannah is back on abuterol with her nebulizer.  For a child who was breastfed, she sure gets sick a lot.  I think the whole breastfeeding-is-great-for-a-baby's-system truly depends on the child.  Hasn't seemed to help her.  Alicia was a lot less sick as a baby and she was on formula almost from day one.  It seems as though Hannah is getting back to normal, although she still doesn't seem very interested in real food.  Probably has to do with her teething too!  She's still sleeping worse than she did as a baby.  Two hours of sleep is not enough.  Good thing I don't have a job, well if this not sleeping continues that is... 

 -6-

Speaking of no job, for my current job search, I think I'm leaning towards applying to work at restaurants rather than retail.  We will see what happens but truth be told I'm worried that without recent experience I will get no one to speak to me.  I've worked both retail and restaurants, but it was probably over five years ago.  Ok, maybe more like 10 years ago... Jeeze, has it really been that long!?!

-7-
Black Friday is today, but there is NO WAY that I am going to do any type of shopping today.  Craziness!  Instead, I am going to try to get some things accomplished at home that have been long overdue.  And try to figure out where most of our Christmas decorations are in my parent's basement.  Weekend plans include: Christmas parade with the girls on Saturday and getting the tree up and hopefully decorated on Sunday.  I LOVE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!!!!  So excited it is here!

Wondrous Wednesdays (16)



In the spirit of gratitude, I’m listing wondrous things happening in my world every week on Wednesday.  If you are a blogger and want to list what you are grateful for, feel free to do the same on your own blog every week and please be sure to link back to my blog.   If you are not a blogger, feel free to comment here on my blog with your own three wondrous things you are grateful for on Wednesday. 

(1)

So this happened on a Saturday, but I still feel grateful for the compliment today. My hubby, girls, parents, sister and I went out to dinner at Ruby Tuesday Saturday night, which by the way was a lot better than I expected it to be.  We walked to our table and there was an older couple sitting nearby and as I was settling the girls in I heard the gentleman mutter under his breath, "We just can't get away from it."  I thought it may have to do with young children in a restaurant, but couldn't be sure.  But he definitely looked aggravated.  As they got up to leave, we were still there enjoying the last bits of our meal.  The man leaned over to me and said, "Your children are very well behaved.  You should be proud."  I thanked him and thought to myself how nice of him to say something.  I guess making Alicia and Hannah sit at the table while we all eat and finish our meal is worth the effort.  There are days it does not seem to be. 

(2)

Hubby has made it to my Wondrous Wednesday list again, merely for his love and support.  He  always seems to know what to say when I need it most.

(3)
I think it is wondrous how God works in our lives, behind the scenes.  Even when we do not know what it is He is doing, it is revealed to us in due time.  Praise God for all the wondrous works He does in my life.  Truly blessed!