Somewhere Over the Camo: children

Showing posts with label children. Show all posts

at 4/23/2021

Somehow five years have past since our sweet, squished nose girl came into this world. Your birth was a complete and utter whirlwind. While I wouldn't go back and relive the days leading up to your birth... getting you out of all of it, makes it worth it.

I didn't do a fourth birthday post. We were in the early stages of a worldwide pandemic. Covid-19 came in and completely rocked mama's world. I had beliefs that we would come out of the other side of it and host your 4th birthday party. To this day you haven't had a friend birthday party and that makes me sad. Nothing about your birthdays has ever been standard and normal. But the years to come we will make special and all about you.

At 5...

-You love to color and be crafty.

-You love workbooks. A lot. I can't wait to see how you love kindergarten this fall. I think you are going to take to it like a fly. You love learning.

-You are sassy and you have a temper. Both of which probably come from mama. We are working on productive ways to express ourselves and most days are really good. Every now and again though.. LOL.

-You love lounging in pajamas all day long. You are not a fan of getting dressed unless it leads to something fun.

-Your love language is definitely touch. You love to dole out hugs and sit right on top of/next to people.

-You got a bike for your birthday and immediately took to it. I wouldn't at all be surprised if you don't bust out of training wheels before your big sister.

-You love to swing. Especially if someone is pushing you. We are still working on learning how to do it yourself. I think it will happen soon!

-You love hand feeding the chickens. Crazy girl.

-You have an ornery streak at least a mile wild. You make me laugh so much with some of your antics.

-You have mastered hiding the mess in your room. Tucking the toys and other things in the corners and under beds to get done faster. I give you credit for figuring that out on your own. Even if it drives mama insane.

-You love daddy, cheese and the color pink.

-You love barbies and dolls still. You got some new barbies for your birthday and latched on to them with extreme possessiveness. You've always been my doll girl.

-You love to jump in every last puddle and don't mind getting your hands dirty in the mud, the rain or the snow. I think you'll be daddy's best friend when it comes to all things outdoors.

-You have a great throwing arm and I think you may also be our sporty girl. The pandemic set us all back as we were supposed to start soccer with both you and Grace last year but it got postponed because of the virus. Maybe this next year will bringing those new opportunities.

To my Brooklyn girl,

This last year has been crazy. To say the least. Getting to spend all day everyday with you and your sisters has often been hard. But nothing that I can't overcome with one of your hugs. You are a fierce lover and I am so proud to be your mama. You keep me laughing and on my toes. I am obsessed with what you find joy in. I can't wait to see what the next year of starting school is going to bring to you. You are already teaching yourself so very much with a constant need to appease your learning cravings. You can't wait for kindergarten and it is going to be the best ever. Thanks for being the perfect middle between your sisters. We love you so, so much.

Love,

Mama

Somehow five years have past since our sweet, squished nose girl came into this world. Your birth was a complete and utter whirlwind. Whil...

at 4/23/2021

Three years ago our world was absolutely rocked when the sweetest baby rushed into the world 2 plus weeks early. Mama was not ready. But the moment that little squish came into our life... we knew our family was complete.

We didn’t know we needed an Emily. But you’ve been such a blessing.

I’m not sure I did an at two post. For that mama is sorry. Your second birthday happened in the early stages of a worldwide pandemic and things were pretty rocky. The last year ended up being a blessing in disguise because you got even more time at home with both your sisters than you would have before.

At three you are...

Wrapped around daddy’s little finger. You are his number one which is both good and bad. You get away with a lot your sisters never would have.

Somewhere between a redhead and a blonde. A dirty blonde I guess.

Full of redhead sass. That comes from me and only me.

Stubborn as all get out. If you don’t want to - whatever it is will not happen. If you do want to - you will not stop until you get it. This will hopefully come in handy as an adult. You know what you want and are not afraid to go after it.

The biggest and best cuddle bug and love. You love to list out everyone you love (I love mommy. I love daddy. I love “Gace”. I love “book”. I love Diesel. Etc.). Watching you run and jump into daddy’s arms for a hug is one of my favorite things.

When I ask you what your name is. You will respond with “I is baby.” May you forever feel special as the baby of the family.

Moved to a big girl bed. But prefer to sleep in mommy and daddy’s bed pressed flat against someone’s back. We are working on it.

Obsessed with doing whatever your sisters are doing. Hide and seek. Barbies. Coloring. You are there with them. But you don’t mind sprawling on the floor playing with your little people by yourself.

Love Mickey Mouse, still. And Peppa Pig.

Love hand feeding the chickens. Giving Diesel hugs. Running errands with mommy. Snacks (all the snacks). Doing everything yourself. Not wearing shoes.

Dislikes chocolate, cake and cookies. Helping clean up. Not getting your way.

Dear Emily girl,

Mommy loves you. I know I’m not daddy. But you know I’m always here for you. Your sweet and loving personality is one I hope never goes away. You’ve got your spice but you always know when someone needs a hug to be cheered up. Mommy is going to miss my little mini me when you start preschool this fall but I am so excited to hear how you will take on all the things as the big girl you want to be. You’ll always be mommy and daddy’s baby... always.

Love,

Mommy

Three years ago our world was absolutely rocked when the sweetest baby rushed into the world 2 plus weeks early. Mama was not ready. But the...

at 1/25/2021

at 3/31/2020

at 1/29/2020

As I start to gather my thoughts for this post, we are just 5 days away from Grace's 6th birthday. Almost 6 years ago my breastfeeding journey began. And I am now 24 hours into the end of this chapter of my life.

The last 6 plus years I have been pregnant or nursing. Early summer 2013, I got pregnant with Grace. She was born in January of 2014 and nursed until she was 22 months old. I was almost 5 months pregnant with Brooklyn when I weaned Grace. In March of 2016, Brooklyn was born and she nursed until she was 17 months old. I was 2 months pregnant (and extremely nauseous!) with Emily when I had no choice but to wean Brooke. Emily was born in March of 2018 and will be about a week shy of 22 months old when we put the final period on this chapter.

I talk a lot about chapters on this blog. There was the life before kids chapter, the military chapter, the Maryland chapter, the Georgia chapter, and so on and so forth. Writing the end of this chapter feels so much more significant than any of the ones prior.

I'm sad. I am so very ready. But I am so very sad.

I will never be pregnant or nurse another baby, again. This is really the end.

This body has given me three healthy pregnancies, three healthy babies and over five years of nursing. I'm proud as hell. The bond my babies and I have can not be duplicated or replaced. I grew them, I exclusively fed them, I held them in the middle of the night, I sacrificed so much of me for my babies.

I knew going into this year I wanted to have Emily weaned before I turn 30 at the end of February. So much so that I put it on my list as a goal for the year. Two weeks ago we started this process. We cut out the nap time feeding, the morning feeding, the middle of the night feeding and now the bedtime feeding. I expected this great fight from Emily, but she has honestly taken it in strides. She has always been much more attached than her sisters ever were. Almost possessive. But here we are.

So what have I learned?

--To breastfeed or not to breastfeed was never an option for me. My plan was to breastfeed. I am SO lucky that my body produced enough milk to help me put thigh rolls on my girls. Not everyone is as fortunate, and I know this now. It it not something I take for granted.

--A Haakaa was the best $20 investment, EVER. With my first two babies I wasted so much milk that naturally let down while I was nursing. I was able to have a supply in my freezer with Emily that I never had with the others and it was just from catching my let down in this little silicone cup.

--YOU know your body. Both Grace and Brooklyn nursed with the assistance of a nipple shield the whole time. It was a pain in the rear, but it allowed us to be able to nurse. One experience that will forever be in my memory... after delivering Brooke, I had an overnight nurse that tried to get her to latch without the use of a shield. I was in the hospital by myself (Rob was with Grace) and she had me in tears as she refused to listen to me. I just wanted her to bring me a shield. The minute she finally gave in, Brooke latched and we were on our way. FIGHT FOR YOURSELF. You know what does or doesn't, or is or isn't working.

--Likewise... when it comes time to wean... Listen to yourself. If it has been a few months and you are more miserable than anything else, move on. You tried and you should be proud of that. If you have been nursing for an extended amount of time but you are ready to move on, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It is YOUR choice when, where and how you nurse. I knew our journey was coming to an end when I stopped enjoying it. Emily was possessive and pushy and I had started to come to hate nursing. I knew we needed to wrap things up.

--There will be emotions. I cried for almost two straight days after our last nursing session. I knew I was ready and I knew she was ready, but dang. Part of it was hormones and part of it was the end of a significant chapter in my life. But I wasn't prepared for feeling like I was going to cry at every mention of it. It doesn't help that you are walking around with a chest full, just waiting to nurse. It's like a constant reminder that the chapter is ending.

--Let your people in. For me, I shared this journey on Instagram with all my followers... but let your mama know, your significant other, your best friends. I had a whole group of people checking in on me as we cut things off. For them, I am SO thankful.

--Go slowly. We went from nursing in the morning, before nap time, before bedtime and in the middle of the night to not nursing at all. But we did it slowly. We cut out the nap time nursing session first. A week later, I cut out the morning nursing session. We went from cuddling and nursing to start the day to just getting up and going. Then we cut out the middle of the night nursing, by just rocking her back to sleep. The bedtime one was the one I dreaded the most. But by that point, she had adjusted to the idea and eventually went from crying for an hour plus after laying her down to just a few minutes before falling asleep. Slow and steady was best for both me AND her. It took us about three weeks from start to finish.

--When you decide to completely wean, make sure it is during a time where you don't have a lot going on. You'll be miserable and emotional. Take a few days. Let your body adjust and get it done.

Most importantly, remember how many mamas went through this exact stage in your life. It is HARD... but we all make it to the other side, one way or another. My child is still clingy as ever and has adjusted beautifully to life without nursing. I am excited for this next chapter in our life. Proud as hell to get to celebrate the last six years, but ready to move on.

As I start to gather my thoughts for this post, we are just 5 days away from Grace's 6th birthday. Almost 6 years ago my breastfeedi...

at 1/27/2020

January 25, 2014. We became parents to a baby girl. After a brief trip to the NICU (she was noisy and had issues breathing right off the bat), she settled into a peaceful, easy going personality. And it has been that way ever since.

Grace has rolled through life adjusting to move after move, becoming a big sister twice, experiencing everything first and while she wears her heart on her sleeve, she loves fiercely. I'm never surprised to find her completely zoned out just rubbing the dog or cornering a sister to give them a hug they weren't wanting or expecting. And somehow our sweet oldest girl is now six.

Saturday, after a super early wake up call, was Grace's day. We got donuts for breakfast. She picked out a special gift with daddy at the store. She anxiously waited for her party to start. We invited friends and family over for unicorn horn decorating (ice cream cones), presents, cake, and goody bags. After her party we went to dinner with family and everyone woke up Sunday completely wiped. But happy.

While we deal with a lot of emotions in this house, this stage in life is one of my favorites. Grace's personality is caring and inquisitive, but also a rule follower. She listens, is helpful, and loves doing big sister things right there at mommy's side. This year she started kindergarten and has come so far since the first days of preschool. School has been a great fit for our girl and I love hearing from her teacher when she talks about our girl and her successes. She is creative and loves Legos. She loves routine and hates feeling like she is left out of things. When she walks out the door or spends time away from me, I never worry about how she handles herself with other people.

I am proud to be her mama.

To my oldest baby girl - Never ever stop being you. Your personality is something to be proud of. Don't let people walk all over you in life, as there is not a single thing you can't accomplish. Not a single thing. I'm so excited to see what the next year holds for you as you get further into school and grow more into the little lady you are becoming. Selfishly, I hope the next year goes slowly though. The time is going far too quick. It seems like just the other day we were welcoming you into the world and discovering the world as you did. Mama is ALWAYS here for you and ALWAYS behind you as your biggest cheerleader. I love you, always and forever.

January 25, 2014. We became parents to a baby girl. After a brief trip to the NICU (she was noisy and had issues breathing right off th...

at 9/04/2019

at 8/16/2019

at 4/04/2019

at 4/02/2019

Last year when Emily came into the world 2.5 weeks early I knew that the end of March this year was going to be an interesting one to figure out. My girls have back to back birthdays and I just couldn't see how we could ask family and friends to come out multiple weekends or days in a row to celebrate our girls. So instead of asking everyone to do way too much, we combined the parties into one three hour long party. And it worked out perfectly.

Please excuse the dirty door, I never got the other side cleaned. Sorry, not sorry.

I spent most of last week spring cleaning my main floor. This winter just felt so brutal and it was such a relief to dust all the things, clean under the furniture and wipe down every last corner. Somehow even though I spent the entire week getting ready, I was still not ready until about 15 minutes into the party and after some special help from my friends. Someday I swear I will be on time to my own parties. Maybe.

We kicked off the party with snacks and playing. Then the kids got to decorate their own wand with ribbon and stickers. We were kind of winging it but I think they all might have actually enjoyed it. After that Emily opened her presents and we sang her happy birthday. Girlfriend was not into her cake, at all. Something about the texture of the icing she really wasn't a fan of. Once we called it quits on Emily's lack of cake enthusiasm, Brooklyn got to open her presents and then we sang to her. The three hours ended up being just the right length and we were all wiped by the end of it.

After the party we went out for the girls birthday dinner with my parents, sister, and then a couple of my girlfriends stuck around to go out with us. By the time we got home and cleaned up the food mess I was pretty much dead on my feet. So that must mean the party was a success, eh?

Kind of become tradition at this point.

All I know is that three is one of my favorite years for a birthday. It is the first year that they get into it and really enjoy the entire process. It makes my heart swell every single time my kids get excited for their friends to come over and see them. Also - hosting my last first birthday party is a hard notion to get over. This is really it y'all. The baby phase is almost past us for good. How the heck did the last year pass that quickly?!