learning to share

After swimming lessons, Lyza (4) sharing yogurt with Seth (14 mon) on the kithen floor

Sharing is hard...I will be the first to admit it. I remember very vividly from my childhood being asked to share by my parents, grandparents, and pretty much any adult that I came in contact with:

"Make sure you share with your sister."

"Oh, thank you for sharing...that was so nice of you."

"Next time maybe you could share without being asked."

Yes, I vividly remember being poked, prodded and bribed into learning how to share. A concept that is still something I am learning to be better at each day.

It is interesting that this concept is so hard for some people to grasp, but others come with this characteristic built right in? Sometimes I am jealous of those that inately want to share. It reminds me that this is not a quality that comes easily to me and that I must work at this every day.

It completely baffles me that I met up with and married a man who comes with this "sharing DNA" in abundance. Never have I met another who would give you everything he had if you asked him. Literally...I am not kidding...I mean literally.

When we are at dinner together, he always saves the best bites of his meal for me to taste.

He will share his time with anyone. You call and need him...he will be there.

He lets me tape two different show on our Tivo which prevents him from watching the Monday night football game he really wanted to watch. He doesn't complain...he just jokes with me and says I am a reality show nut! (very true by the way)

He shares his infectious belly laugh with gatherings of people who are lucky enough to get a sample.

He shares stories with me in privacy about times in his life when he would go without eating, etc. because he gave his money to an acquaintance who needed it more. He would laugh about how he was literally a "starving college student." His laughter would quickly turn to moments of silence when I could tell he was holding back his emotions. He would then tell me, I wish I could have given them more. They needed much more then I could give.

It is at these moments I see who this man really is, his true character. Still completely wondering why he picked me? I guess the Lord knew I needed a strong example.

I hope and hope and hope that my children's "sharing DNA" is a strong and viberant as their daddy's. The jury is still out, but from the looks of the picture above at least we have a start.

dinner...shopping...cheesecake

It never happens that my sisters/mom and I can ever get together without our loving "little people." We can never just sit and talk, shop, and eat. However, my fabulous mother took my older sister and I out for our birthdays. (my younger sister lives in AZ...missed you Shar)

My mom took us to dinner and then took us shopping, two of my very favorite things. Even just a few hours away to enjoy ourselves was so refreshing.

After the mall closed and we packed our tired mother into her car (her bedtime is usually around 8:30 so she was exhausted), my sister and I looked at each other and said...CHEESECAKE???

We weren't ready to leave. We were having too much fun. Whenever I am with my sisters I never stop laughing. We could talk for hours and still always have things to say. I can honestly say that I am lucky to have my two favorite people as my sisters.

Next time Shar...you better join us.

Cheers to Banana Cream Cheesecake and the poor waiter who could only take blurry pictures with my camera no matter how many times he tried.

lyza hearts ms. bethany

So the other day, Lyza was the only little girl that came to dance class. That meant only one thing...Lyza got to have Ms. Bethany all to her self. Who wouldn't want a private lesson from your favorite teacher. Lyza was loving it.

We thought she wouldn't last the entire hour in class having a "one on one," but never fear... she could have probably stayed all day.



Ms. Bethany told me that she asked Lyza if she wished the other girls were in class? And Lyza replied, "No, actually I like it just you and me."

That is so Lyza, she'll eat up any "one on one time" she can get with an adult.

Thanks Ms. Bethany for the private lesson. Lyza was in heaven.

**Sorry about the blurry pictures, I was taking them through the 2 way windows.**

until we meet again

As I sterilized you for a final time this morning I couldn't help but remember all of the time we have spent together this last 12 months.

You sat next to me in the car each time I drove to work. You tagged along with me to Dance Competitions, and weekend get aways. You were there for me every 3 hours during my long days at the office. We have become dear friends.

You are not as shiny and new as you were when I had Lyza, but hey neither am I. No matter how you look or how tired you are, you have given your best to me and my kids.

So as I pack you away in your box and in the basement...I will miss you.

Until we meet again old friend.

I hope you have another round in you!

messages for seth

Dear Seth,

This is a first of many "Messages for Seth" we wanted to give to you little man. Seth, the first thing we want to make sure you know is that you are pure joy to have around and the happiness in our home has grown 100% since your arrival.

To be quite frank, little man, I was very skeptical about having another child after having Lyza. It is a weird mind set you get into when you only have one child. You have such an intense love for this first child that was given to you. You really don't know how to manage the intensity of the love. You feel you could only love this one child. There would be no room for anyone else.

When your dad and I decided to have another baby I had made up my mind that I would love this next baby...but just not quite as much as I loved my first. I knew that was a horrible thing to say out loud...but it was what I was thinking.

Then the day came that you decided to come into this world. The labor and delivery was very calm and peaceful, a complete opposite experience from that of Lyza's birth. And then "it" happened. After you were born they placed you into my arms and instantly all preconceived notions I might have had vanished. You were perfect. You were small. You needed me and I needed you. You were yet another piece of the puzzle to my heart. The intensity of love was the same little man. I don't know how to explain it but only to say that I instantly fell in love...I fell hard!

This past 12 months with you has been incredible. There is just something about you Seth. I thought I saw this "something" special within you because I was your mother. (Of course every mother sees special things about their children.) But this was different. I remember, on many occasions, the people you would be around would tell me the same thing. "Shaundee, there is just something about this boy?" , "He is so special, Shaundee, there is something great about him." and "You both are lucky to be raising this one. He is something special." This has been a common theme for you this past year. And as your mother I couldn't agree more with all of them.

This last year you have brought life and energy to our home. You don't sit still for a moment and you are the lightest sleeper I have ever met. I attribute it to the fact that you don't want to miss a moment of life. You are here on a mission and you can't bother with excess sleep. I can literally count on one hand the times you have actually fallen asleep in the car. This is so funny to dad and I because the car is suppose to put every baby to sleep...but not our Seth.

You look pretty much exactly like your big sister (except a boy version.) Friends in our neighborhood call you and Lyza "Pete and re-Pete" because you look so much alike. You are smart Seth. You quickly remember things that we teach you. You are charming! You blink those long lashes and flash that "charming" smile and melt a lot of hearts. (Just ask your Aunt Shalice.) Below are some of the other milestones you have accomplished as a 12 month old.

* You ventured out and let go of the furniture you used to hold on to. You stand alone for at least 10 seconds before you realize it and then slowly melt back down to the ground.

* You figured out that you love the stairs. You go up and down continually all day long. You are great about turning around before going down the stairs. So good in fact that you turn around and start backing up pretty much one room away. You can never prepare to early I say!

* New words you say: Lyza, Baby, Dog Cracker, Papa Jer, Banana, Car, Bike, Down, Book and your favorite word..."No, No, No"

* When we say, "Seth, what does a doggy say...you say "wuff wuff."

* New signs you learned: Mom, Dad, Water, Banana, Cracker, Book, Car, Again.

* Oh and Seth you have an extreme fascination and love for Graham Crackers. You eat so many a day it blows our mind. We offer you everything we can think of and all you want is a Graham Cracker. You say "cracker" and sign it furiously until we give in and give you one.

*You have had more hair cuts, in your first year of life, then any other 12 month old I have met. You have had 4 full blown hair cuts. Your hair is legendary. It seriously has its own personality. I often wonder if you drank Miracle Grow while you were up in Heaven?

* You still love your favorite blue and brown blanket and binkie. You are so happy when you see them.

*You love playing with Lyza and reading your favorite book "The Foot Book" By Dr. Seuss. You bring this book to whoever is closest to you and beg them to read it. You laugh at the same parts every time.

Bottom line little man in this "message" we want you to know that we LOVE you! We are proud to call you our son. We are excited to be in your life and share experiences with you. Stay strong and focused in your life. Keep that peaceful personality you came to this Earth with.

Happy 1st Birthday Seth!!

Love you more, more.

Mom

how do you measure a year?

I have always loved this song from the musical "Rent." How do I measure a year you ask? Well pretty much how the song states. It is measured in LOVE!

How did I measure this past year...in 10 little fingers and 10 little toes. In one full head of hair a top the face of one charming little man. In long blonde eyelashes and big "open mouth" kisses.

Seth turned 1 today and we can't believe that we have had our little man for 12 full months. We commemorated the day by letting him "Eat Cake." He was beside himself with joy. A plate full of sugar frosting and sprinkles all to himself. Every limb was involved in the process of digging and he made it appoint to share handfuls of his birthday dessert with those around him. That is so like our Sethy...sharing his joy.

Eat all the cake you want little man. It is your day to celebrate. Thank you for coming to our family and for filling our year with joy and LOVE!

it all started with polka dot balloons

First she saw these...



Then we made these...




And then we had a party...



A 4 year old friend/cousin party to be exact. (A first for her mom and dad...we might wait a few years before the next big bash...just kidding)

The kids had such a great time and Lyza was in heaven. Lyza is lucky to have such fun friends and cousins around her.

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!