Thursday, March 31, 2011

Thoughts and Such

Being a mom the second time around is definitely different.  I'm way more relaxed with Lia than I was with Micah.  Ah, but I do still have those moments of utter confusion, stress, and basket-dropping, so don't think it's magical or anything.  One thing that does strike me is how much I've forgotten already.  I was watching you tube videos with the kids recently (thank you apple tv) and I couldn't believe how little Micah was.  How his tiny feet fit into his little sandals.  How he waddled when he walked. 

This knowledge makes me desperate to notice and remember each little moment of Lia's babyhood.  I know I'll forget again, but this time I'm oh-so aware of how fleeting these moments are.  How it's my last time (99.9% sure of this) with a baby to care for.  To carry on my hip.  To snuggle with in the wee early morning hours.  To rock to sleep. To hear first words like cheese, cookie, and yummy.  To teach.  To learn from. 

It also makes me take notice of my Big Boy even more. Soon he'll be off to kindergarten (okay, I still have 1.5 years), and then he'll be a surly boy, and then in college.  I know it.  So, I remember to take the time to have a light saber duel.  To scoop him up as he runs towards me after school.  To grab his hand and tell him how proud I am of him.  To watch him try new things, and try again.  To encourage.  To teach.  To learn from. 

Some days, being a mom is exhausting and I'm quite sure that I suck at it.  Other days, I feel like I'm doing okay and remember how truly lucky I am to have two wonderful children to fill my life with amazement. 




Playing at the zoo.
"Working" at the zoo. 
 
They should really hire this kid.
And, I have no idea...

Friday, March 4, 2011

It's been a whole year...

I can't believe it's been a year since we first saw this sweet, tiny face...



We like to call this one Lia's Mini-Me pose.

Can you even believe that itty-bitty baby is now our big girl?  I remember that our referral was joyous, but also a time of fear, as they had Lia Makbe's birth-date showing that she was almost 7 months old when this picture was taken.  It took us a while to realize that her birth-date was most likely wrong (and it was), so those first few weeks were filled with worry.  But, then we started to receive pictures like this one...

and like this one...
We seriously questioned whether she was the same baby, but mostly we breathed sighs of relief.  She was growing (GROWING!) and obviously very healthy.  And now?  She's a beautiful, big chunkalove with a squishy belly and the most kissable cheeks ever. 

Seriously, can you stand it?  I smooch those cheeks all day long.
And?  She's starting to walk, and dance!  (Well, she actually started dancing before she could walk, to be honest.)


 We're so happy she is home and is our little Lia Makbe.  Our hilarious, loud, lovable, smoochable, baby girl.