Birthday Girl

Hannah turned 4 today. Amazing! She is such a sweet girl. We had a great day. Pancakes for breakfast (a favorite), frozen yoghurt for an outing, and then Chuck E Cheese after early dinner for playtime. What more could a 4-year-old ask for!?

Over the years Hannah has been a wonder to watch grow up. She was early with everything - talked early, walked early - and it has fascinated us how smart she is and how eager and interested she is to learn about life around her. Now she is an excitable chatter-box (like her mom). Prone to tantrums as most 4-year-olds, but a sweet loveable girl. She is amazingly nurturing and even in a playpark she will often find a little baby and hover around protectively and encourage him or her to play little baby games. In daily life her imagination runs completely wild. She plays so well on her own and can keep herself amuzed for hours inventing stories with her stuffed animals or little people. She also loves playing wild games with Oliver or any friend. Running, jumping, shouting. Everything is done with abundant energy and enthusiasm. She chatters nonstop and tells long stories that keep her listener's complete attention. Often though we need to stifle a grin. She can be so hilarious (often unintentionally).

Looking back I have such strong wonderful memories. And even look back on the hard times with a kind of sentimental joy that she has gotten through those stages with such success to bring her to the loveable fun girl that she is today. And I know that watching her continue to learn and love and grow will be a precious gift.

I love you Hannah. My firtborn. My baby girl.

Birthday Boy

Oliver is 2 years old today. Wow!!!! It's one of those things where on one hand it feels like only yesterday he was born, and on the other hand it's been so much adventure that you can't believe it got packed into 2 years. Truthfully though, no matter how much time goes by, he is still my baby boy. I remember every cuddle from the first to the one he gave me an hour ago as he went to have his nap. I cherish every one.
Here he is 3 days old. Sleeping peacefully all swaddled and snug.

next please...

So.. the house we thought we'd be moving in to, and had already furnished in our minds, is probably not going to happen. As it was, it was at the top of our budget, and possibly a bit small, but because of the great configuration we believed it was the house for us. However, they have had a family willing to pay the full rent they were asking, and move in immediately, and that is obviously a better business deal for them. Fair enough. So we're on the hunt again. There are other houses out there, and I think that the perfect situation is still to be found... perhaps bigger and easier to fit us all into, and cheaper too! So that's the goal. For some reason I'm not even feeling stressed about it. The next one will be better... watch this space.

We're outta here...

As most of you know we have been looking to move out of our house and find a new house that we will share with my parents. It's been a tricky procedure because to fit us all in comfortably with space for the kids to run, jump, mess, etc, and private space for my folks, and a way to get most of our combined furniture in, we need a certain kind of house. But our budget is tight since this move has been prompted by paycuts on both sides and a need to be financially sensible with our money. After searching up and down, and finding something perfect and losing it, and then having a debate over a couple of other options, we have found a house we like. The owners like us, and have been accommodating with their rental price, and although we have to do the "official" application we hope that it is just a matter of following the correct procedure and that in the end house will be ours.
Since most of the houses we have seen are empty and available "NOW" as they like to say, we have taken the plunge and put in 30 days notice at the house we live in now.

I LOVE the area the house we are living in is in, which quite honestly could not be better. But for now we need to move and we're ready for that. Hopefully a lower rent for a year or so, and good budgeting, will mean that our dream of one day being homeowners (maybe even in this neighborhood that we love so much) is more reachable. Which is an exciting long-term vision!!!!

Short-term, however... packing and moving. Yikes. I imagine that with two kids that is going to be quite a challenge!!!

My teeth hurt

I was at the dentist today. Fixing my imperfect smile. It hurt.
But this imagine cheered me up while I was wondering what is so important about a smile. Answer: it's contagious.

Am I really a grown-up?

Today is my "baby" brother's 25th birthday. I feel so old! And while we celebrate Alistair today I have found myself thinking... when did I become a grown-up!? Married?! Doctor?! 2 kids?! Real responsibilities!? WHAT??? WHEN??? Am I just playing house or is this really me?!!!!

stop, breathe, enjoy

Sometimes my life gets so overwhelming that I forget to enjoy just how amazing my life is. And I AM thankful for it, but some days have to consciously remind myself of that. Which is sad, but that's just how it is sometimes. One thing about kids... they remind you how simple it is to enjoy life.
Yesterday I suggested a walk to the park. Oliver loves the park... he went running to his room yelling "Shoes! Shoes!". Hannah instead sat deciding which of her stuffed animals would come with us.
On our way to the park they were pointing out snails, worms, flowers, berries, blossoms, airplanes, rocks... pretty much anything that caught their eye. And it made me look around more, and enjoy the sunshine and how beautiful our neighborhood is.
At the park they made a friend. It's amazing watching how simple their socializing is - they just join in to play and before long they are friends... possibly never to be seen again, but that's not important. They live for the moment. They were so adorable that I regretted that I'd walked out of my door without my bag and the camera that I always carry around in it. Running, screaming, calling out to each other. Oliver hurrying to keep up with the "big" kids. Just such simple fun.
And as I sat there watching them I really just took some deep breaths and remembered that I LOVE my life. I love that I get to see my kids laugh and run and play with such freedom in a pretty neighborhood park.
It was the most worthwhile hour in my busy day.

Hannah/ Zeebeedeebee

Hannah is going to be 4 in just over 2 weeks (!!), and she has a more over-active imagination than ever. For hours (most of the hours of most days, in fact) she is Zeebeedeebee, King of the Zebras. She lives in Animal Magic Land, and rules the roost (kinda like in real life). So of course those closest to her all need their roles in this kingdom too. She takes this very seriously. Here are the members of the cast (some definitely deserve a giggle, although not in front of our King):
Papa - Buffy the buffalo
Gogo - Shelly the tortoise
Glen - Rhinoceros
Me - Gerald the giraffe
Oliver - Baby Elephant
Alistair - Hilda the hippo
Jackie - Waddly the penguin
Bronwyn - Slivery the "slivering" snake
Dave - Tigery the tiger

Since she has heard it a lot, Hannah loves to be told she is a genius, which when she was speaking in full sentences at 18months I really believe she might well be. Her mother is, after all ;) Ha!
When I told her that Auntie Lindsay (Liony, by the way) was having a baby and that Hannah would be the big cousin, Hannah jumped up and down clapping her hands and then said, "A big cousint! Mom, you're a genius!"
She gets me.

A slow start

OK. Well. I had good intentions in May of 2008. Now in March 2009 I plan to follow through with my idea. We'll see how that works. I watch friends who blog and I just love the idea, but although I know I probably have the time I just haven't really gotten the hang of it all. Maybe this time... and before my kids are grown...