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!!!

letters to lyza

Lyza 4 years old

Dear Lyza:

I have decided to try something new...start a new tradition. And as always, little one, you are my Guinea pig, my first attempt at this entire parent thing. So here we go on another test run of a tradition I have named Letters to Lyza.

Four years ago today I was scared. I didn't know what the future held for me. The only thing I knew was that I was about to become a mother. I was about to be changed forever.

"Mother" is a title that once you receive it, you carry it with you for the rest of your life. You are never "not a mother." You never stop caring or loving your children. This word "mother" comes to define you. Not in a bad way. Not in the way that you aren't still an individual with talents and goals. Actually, no I take that back, once you are a mother you stop becoming an individual in the selfish sense of the word. Yes, you still have your own desires. You want time for yourself and to harvest your talents and ambitions. But ever since April 30th, 2005 at 7:33 pm, I have ceased to look at myself as an individual. I am more of a package deal. I am a mother. Lyza you made me a mother.

It has been 4 years. Four years of being in awe of you. Four years of trying some parenting techniques that worked and some that didn't quite go the way we planned. Four years of being the proudest parents. Proud of you and your brother.

This last year your dad and I have seen you really come into your own. You became a big sister this year and have thrown yourself into the role perfectly. Seth idolizes you and always wants to be with you. You protect him already and I love that. Dad and I always talk about how you were designed to be the oldest child. You are naturally a take charge kind of girl. You watch over things and love to understand the "rules." You like to follow the "rules" for the most part but you have your moments of rebellion.

I see a lot of myself in you. Not in your physical appearance (it is obvious that you look like your dad) but in your personality and your strong will. I am not sure if you will love that you are like me, or resent the fact? Either way I see our similarities. I also see your dad in you. His love for life and for people. You have a kind heart just like he does. I am so glad for that Lyza.

This past year has brought some great highlights from you. Some of my favorite have been:

• You started preschool. You excelled immediately. You loved to go and see your friends. You took a particular fancy to a pair of blonde headed twin boys named Brock and Clark. They loved your blonde hair too. You learned to read this year. You were so proud of yourself.
  
  
• The size of our family increased by 4 imaginary siblings (Jack, Cody, Ainsa, and Hannah) and an imaginary dog named Purdi. Dad and I thought these imaginary friends would be with us for a day or two. But here we are 6 months and running and they are still a vibrant part of our family. However, Jack is definitely your favorite and is our constant companion.
  
  
• The sounds of singing and dancing filled the air in our house every day. I love how much you love music. Every time we would get into the car to go somewhere you would always ask me, "Mom, did you remember the ipod?" You wanted to hear your songs and sing while we were driving.
  
  
• Your favorite movie this year has been Annie. Lyza, we have literally watched it 100 times. You don't ever get sick of it.
  
  
• Your favorite foods have been peanut butter and honey sandwiches, grapes, and bean and cheese burritos.
  
  
• You danced in 4 dance concerts this year. During each one you performed so well. You never get scared to be in front of people. You actually quite like it.
  

I could go on and on about you. A mother could never get tired of writing about one of her children. The thing that dad and I want you to know and never forget is that we are proud of you and we love you. Sure there were moments this last year that tested our patience. You are a strong willed, independent person. You know what your want and you don't back down. That is what makes you Lyza.

So in this first Letter to Lyza I want to thank you. Thank you for making me a mother Lyza. Thank you for testing me. Thank you for being so important to me, that I get down on my knees every night and plead with Heavenly Father that I will do it right. Thank you for these 4 years.

Happy 4th Birthday Ly Ly!

Love you MORE, MORE!

Mom