Dear Maggie,

You turn three years old today! You've been practicing holding up three fingers all morning and are getting pretty good at keeping that pinky down. Don't worry if you don't perfect the technique today, though, you have a whole year to practice!

We made waffles this morning, and you helped me mix the batter and stir the apple juice. It was so fun to see the excitement on your face as you helped me make your birthday breakfast. Then when breakfast was all ready, Cash and I sang "Happy Birthday" to you! You grinned all through the song, but at the end surprised us by bursting into tears... I gave you a big hug and you said, "I want my daddy to sing, too!" I assured you that daddy would get a chance to sing to you when we had birthday cake and candles and that calmed you down, and then we ate our food. You love your daddy, and miss him when he's gone to work. You got to go on a little Daddy-daughter date recently, and you talk more about your special night with dad than you do about the movie you saw with him! I'm so glad that you love your daddy so much and I hope that you know how much he loves you, too.

Recently you have (finally) become interested in drawing, and you've made several sweet pictures of our family (some pictures were made on your family). In most of the pictures you also include something that, upon being asked, you explain is Mommy's cell phone, or Daddy's computer. I thought this was funny at first, but then I also started to worry that perhaps you associate those things too closely with mom and dad. Perhaps you see mommy on the phone too often, or daddy working at his computer, instead of seeing us that way we should be: with you and Cash in our laps, reading books or giving cuddles. These are the things that I want you to remember from your childhood. Even now as I'm typing this little letter to you, you are on my lap, wanting my attention. I know that someday in the future attention from me will not be as sought after or as appreciated as it is now, and I try to remind myself of this, remind myself that right now I can make you so happy with the simple act of giving you my full attention. This isn't always easy, Maggie dear, because I'm not a perfect mommy, but I want you to know that I am working on it.

With the weather getting warmer here in Utah, we are finally able to venture out of doors and head for the "play-park" where you can stay for hours. Cash follows you everywhere you go and I have to watch pretty attentively because you both are avid climbers and have no fear. Being outside makes you come alive and you run and jump and laugh and play, and there are often tears shed when it's suggested that we need to get home. I can't wait to buy a home with a big backyard just for you that you can play in all day and not be hindered at all by mommy's schedule.

Maggie, you are a dear, and it's many times a day that you will say to me, "Mommy, I love you. Happy Birthday, Mommy!". Someday you will realize that "happy birthday" is a once-a-year sentiment and not an everyday expression of love, but I will miss it when you do. I will miss your lisp, and your baby face, and the way you pucker your lips to give a kiss. I will miss the way you sing the ABC's, leaving out half the letters and re-composing the tune to your liking. Some of these things will begin to disappear as you continue to grow into a little girl, and leave toddler-hood behind. And as much as I look forward to getting to know 3-year-old Maggie, just know that 2-year-old Maggie will always, always have a little place in my heart.

I love you my dearest,
Love, Mom

How do you spell v-a-s-e-c-t-o-m-y?

Well, since Ben kinda already let the cat outta the bag with all his talk about my "cravings" and all, I guess I'll just make it official: Ben knocked me up... again. When we were specifically trying to not get pregnant. Because we were supposed to be on a tropical cruise on the VERY DAY I'M EXPECTING, which also happens to be THANKSGIVING DAY. So it appears that when Ben and I decide to be done procreating, we'll have to both get snipped. Because let's face it, I'm more fertile than the Tennessee Valley.

By the way, we're really excited to have three kids aged 3 and under. Woo-hoo.

UPDATE: After re-reading this post, I've realized that it is rather cheeky sounding. Let me just say that we are very excited for this baby, if not a little apprehensive and overwhelmed. Thank goodness we have 7 1/2 months to prepare and to get Cash and Maggie enrolled in a boarding school. (Look at me using words like "rather" and "cheeky"! I've been watching a little too much Mary Poppins, I reckon!)

Oh, and don't any of you fret your pretty little heads over our cruise-that-has-to-be-cancelled. The tickets we bought are good for two years, and the plan is to go next March and leave the kids with grandma. (Here's your heads-up, Mom).

Tweet

It's snowing today, and the kids and I are all feeling under the weather- coughs, runny noses, etc. But instead of dwelling on that bit of misery, I'll share a photo of this sweet little purse that I made for Maggie for her Easter basket. I stuffed the little appliqued bird with a little batting so she looks nice and plump and full of birdseed. Or worms. Or whatever it is that little pink polka dot birdies eat.

Seven

That is the number of Smith Family Grandkids, and it makes for one crazy household when they're all together for a week. I just got back two days ago from a holiday at my parent's house and I am still decompressing, but wanted to post this picture. More to come soon.

{click on picture to enlarge}

Would you like something to read?

So after reading this story about a 17 month old baby that can READ (watch the video... amazing), I am inspired and reminded of the importance of spending quality time reading books to your children.

A few of our favorites:

Fancy Nancy, by Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser:



The Maggie B, by Irene Haas {this was one of my favorites as a little girl, and in fact helped inspire my daughter's name-- it has been out of print until just recently}:



Brown Bear, Brown Bear, by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle



and The Nutshell Library, by Maurice Sendak {these tiny books are great for sticking in your purse or diaper bag}:



I also need to add to my collection a few classics, like Frog and Toad are Friends, by Arnold Lobel, Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak, and Bread and Jam for Frances, by Russell and Lillian Hoban.

These stories are fun to read and the illustrations are oh so charming. (In fact, I think I'd take one of everything off this list of classic children's books.)

So, what are your favorite books to read with your children?

There's no place like home...

Here's a skirt I made for Maggie today... It kind of has a Dorothy feel to it, especially with those shoes. It's one of my "nap projects", so named because I do it while Cash is napping. Anyway, it's a hit! I don't know if I'll be able to get Maggie to wear anything else for the next week. At least it'll save me a little laundry...

Baring my Soul

This morning Ben woke up with a major migraine headache along with other various ailments and so opted to stay home in bed and leave me to fend for myself with two children during church. I packed my diaper bag full of time-absorbing toys and treats and headed warily off to church.

The first half of the meeting went off without a hitch, I kept my toddlers' hands busy and their mouths full, but soon the strain of sitting relatively still and keeping voice levels to a minimum became too much for them to handle. The second half of the meeting became a wrestling match as I grabbed at Cash, who was attempting to army crawl under the rows of pews, and tried to constrain Maggie, who was doing summersaults down the length of our bench (flashing her Tinkerbell underpants along the way).

As the minutes went (slowly) by, my children's attempts to cause a raucous disturbance became collaborative. They began having screaming contests, grabbed at each other's hair and battled over who got to sit on my lap. It was during one of these "lap battles" that Maggie, trying to hoist herself up, pulled on my sweater. My button-up-the-front sweater. And it was with horror that I looked down and realized she had pulled hard enough on said sweater to unbutton most of the buttons, and pull the sweater off my shoulder and down half my arm.

And that is how I unintentionally flashed 1/3 of the congregation today. And bared myself-- body and soul.

Spring will soon be Sprung

Well, the days are at last beginning to hint at the promise of warmer weather ahead. This, my friends, is fabulous. Sorry to all those who hate me for rejoicing that the snow is gone (by all means, it can stay in the mountains as long as it wants), but I for one am ECSTATIC. Because I am typing this I'm sure we'll get a blizzard by Sunday, but I'll take my chances. My children echo me in all my sentiments regarding spring. We all have cabin fever and it's getting critical. But not today:



Other things to look forward to this month: Easter weekend we are headed to California to see family and also to take a trip to DISNEYLAND! And now that I'm writing it in this here blog, it's bound to happen because we will all hold Ben accountable if he backs out... hear that honey? I have people.

In other news, I have been having lots of fun making yo-yo's:



(get instructions here from Heather Bailey). They are so fun to make, and I have lots of plans for these guys, but in the meantime I've found that they make very cute hair accessories for Maggie:




And here's a cute picture (or two) of my kids eating popcorn- the latest snack craze in our house...



Oh, and here. In case you thought I really do HATE all things winter, we took Maggie tubing a couple of weeks ago and she LOVED it, as did I. Really.

For Melissa Dobby-doo

Here is my post that never was. But now it is.

So, I was going to complain about the winter and how it's still here and how I'm seriously thinking about moving to Bora Bora where it's summer all year long. These are some pictures from last Saturday when it was actually warm enough to go for a (very short) walk. Then we came home for hot chocolate and cake. Yum. I think hot chocolate is the only thing that makes cold days worthwhile. But I will still be drinking cocoa in Bora Bora... oh yes I will.

{The scarf around Maggie's neck was knitted by my cousin Carolyn and the hat was knitted by my Aunt Kathi... obviously I need to be taking lessons from these two. And while I'm giving credit, the brown mug in the last picture was made by my uncle Duane... man, I come from a talented family!}





Today is rather sunny (I love the word "rather") and so I'm taking the kiddos to the park. I should probably take up skiing, or sledding, or snowshoeing so that I don't dread snowy winters here in Utah, although I still favor canning all of this for life on a tropical island. You'd all come visit me, right?

p.s. I just changed my mind about Bora Bora. Although it's 78° there today, it's raining. I choose St. Thomas, Virgin Islands instead where it's 80° and SUNNY.

Also, here are some pictures to tempt you to be my neighbor (I could totally see myself living in that little pink house... reaching out the window and grabbing a banana for breakfast...mmm, that's heaven):

standing on my {organic and made with essential oils} soap-box:

The past five days I have suffered from a continual headache. I would describe it in detail for you, but that would require me to use several expletives and this is a family-friendly site. Let's just say a blunt object being shoved through my eye socket would have felt better. Too graphic?... sorry.

There have been several nights of taking these:



And several days filled with these:



There have been numerous hot showers, long baths, massage, drinking tons of water, eating my weight in protein, stretching, and also hair pulling and crying. It's been exhausting. And then this morning I found this little bottle in my bathroom cupboard:



I rubbed some on my neck and shoulders and gave myself a little mini massage. And then I rubbed a bunch on my forehead and temples and then I just sat here and smelled it for a few minutes. And...relief. Headache gone. No more wanting to poke my own eyes out.

I don't know why I'm always a little bit suspicious when it comes to essential oils, but let me tell you...next time, I'm grabbing this bottle FIRST.

And it's only 9 a.m.

This morning Maggie woke up at the ridiculous hour of 7 am (my kids usually sleep in 'til 8, and I count on that last hour of sleep because it's what keeps me sane). So I try to get her to snuggle with me in my bed for awhile, but she lays there tossing and turning and sighing and clearing her throat until I finally ask her what she wants and she leaps up, hands stretched over her head and yells, "Brekkfixed!" So I drag my feet all the way to the kitchen and ask her what she wants. She doesn't know. I ask her, "Yogurt?" No. "Toast?" No. "Cereal?" No. "Juice?" No. "Oatmeal?" No. "What?" I say exasperated... "What do you want?" She still doesn't know. "Maggie," I say, "tell me what". She looks up at me and says, confused, "what."

I put a glass of milk and a few crackers on the table and go back to bed.
------------------------
In other "Maggie News", she cut her own hair. With scissors. Or as she appropriately calls them, "sharps". Somehow during the two minutes I was changing Cash's diaper, she found scissors and cut a chunk of her hair. Luckily, it wasn't too big a chunk, and I honestly can't even tell where she cut it. Still, it's pretty terrifying when your daughter says, "Look mom! I'm pretty!" and you go into the bathroom to see this:


She wanted a haircut because last night I gave one to Cash. Sibling rivalry begins. Here's a snapshot of Cash's haircut (so trendy with the little faux-hawk... or maybe it's just redneck.) {Also please notice the pretty necklace that Cash insists on wearing EVERY DAY- sigh}



UPDATE: It's now 10 am and Maggie just showed me where she "painted" the walls with a sponge brush and an ink pad... oh, heaven help me...

on being thick skinned...

This morning after her bath (which consequently had turned her into a mermaid) Maggie let it be known that she did not need any lotion. I informed her that it was a very well known fact that mermaids do need lotion- lots of it- so that their skin is very soft and they can swim through the water faster. Oh yeah! she exclaimed and allowed me to slather her with lotion. After I was finished she smiled at me and said, "Thanks Dragon!"

accountant? anyone?

So last year Ben and I did our taxes online with Turbo-Tax. Easy, fast, free. Perfect. We got our refund deposited into our bank account in record time. It was awesome. Tonight I sat down to fill out our taxes online and thought it would be easy peasy all over again. WRONG. Somehow the "YES, I have been convicted of felony substance abuse" box got checked. Under my name. And I can't figure out how the crap to change it.

And what am I going to say tomorrow when I call a Turbo-Tax representative to help me? "I was so confused... I didn't understand the question." Yeah, that doesn't sound like I was high. Who doesn't understand "Are you a convicted felon?". Egads.

Bestest Friends

This needs a few hearts and butterflies and flowers and then the cheesy factor would actually hit a million, I think.

Homework

Earlier this year I signed up to take a few classes at UVSC so that I might finally start working toward a graphic design/illustration degree... but of course this semester became out of the question because blah, blah, blah pretty much I found some good "excuses" (mostly having to do with two small children). School is on schedule for the summer, though. For reals.

Anyways, I've decided to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge available to me in the form of my very talented bro-in-law who just last night was kind enough to give me a crash course in Adobe Photoshop. Here is my first project, sketched up while watching my two kiddos in the bath (if that wasn't already apparent).

(click on picture to enlarge)

Daily afternoon activity...

Maggie LOVES all things ballerina. Dolls, books, movies, you get the idea. Her favorite, though, is when she's the ballerina. Here are some snapshots of her latest "recital". {click on the picture to enlarge}



And here's a little movie to give you the full experience:
{sorry that this is sideways- although usually I'm laying on the couch while watching, so really it only adds to the effect...}



And a little snippet of Cash's sweet dance moves- his dad's so proud:
{again, sorry for the sideways ridiculousness}

What's for wunch?

Maggie's favorite question to ask, my least favorite to hear. She always seems to ask this as I'm finally getting the kitchen all cleaned up from breakfast. Anyone have ideas for yummy lunches? Is there anything else besides soup from a can, leftovers or PB & J? Hmmm, maybe I'll make some of those mini pizzas on an english muffin. But, if you have any bright ideas, please leave a comment. I'm seriously struggling here. Lunches (for me) have to be easy to make, quick to clean up, and taste oh so good. Oooo, maybe a salad would make a good lunch? What do you guys usually make???

Bang, bang!

Maggie and I are the proud new owners of a bit o' forehead fringe. Our hairstyles are so now.




This little game of "Change my Hairstyle!" hits me every few months. Usually I cave and go get my hair chopped off, but I'm trying to grow it out and so Maggie fell victim to my scissor-addiction. (Because cutting my own bangs didn't fulfill my need completely.)

Waiting for these to arrive...

FedEx should be delivering any day now...