Easter Fun!

Today is Maddi's Easter party at school! She is so so so excited! She, WAS NOT so excited this morning when  her Easter basket that has been under her bed for. the. last. five. years. was not there this morning.

She was upset about having to take her metal Easter Basket (that is so so so cute!!!) because everyone else had plastic. Or "bendable" ones. She told me yesterday that metal was gross and she was pretty sure that "like something could be growing in there" And I'm all, "Really?? Can it entertain Macy for the day?" 

Anyways, we couldn't find any Easter basket this morning so she took one of Macy's little bags. Little for a bag, HUGE for an Easter basket. Anyways, she loved it and modeled it the whole time while at school. 

Macy and I went to her party and enjoyed watching her jump, hop, and skip around to find the eggs. Macy enjoyed being outside and eating my arm. Shouldn't she be close to done with this whole teething thing? 

Also, while we were there there was another lady and baby there watching. The baby was in one of those baby bjorn carriers, you know the one where the baby look likes they did a jumping jack and Froze In Mid Air. How is that even comfortable? Macy would so chew her way out. But, how nice it would be to have two hands again! Oh the possibilities!

This sounded cute. 

Maddi and world's largest Easter basket!

Maddi and her friend Lilly Anne

Isn't she sweet?

Macy in the wind

Look at those teeth!

This is our model pose. Macy is rockin it.

Hey there crawler!

TOYS!

Maddi and her golf set from dad!

Six years ago

Six years ago, I had just given birth to the most fascinating baby I had ever known.

 At that time, Macy.

A whopping 6pound 13ounce little girl. A full head of blonde hair, soft round cheeks, and sweet little red lips.  You were so sweet and so small. Except for your head! I remember thinking, "Should we take out all of the furniture? Maddi's head is here." I remember the nurse telling me to say something to you, that you needed to hear my voice, I couldn't think of anything, I was in shock. I was so happy but felt so much shame. You could have possibly been born to the two most unprepared seventeen year old individuals ever. I remember hoping we would somehow make it through the first night without totally messing something up. We did, with the help of all of Longview Regionals OB nursing staff and now here you are six years old!

When we brought you home from the hospital you had so many people to love on you. I am convinced this is the way it should be. However, they are The Loudest Individuals On The Entire Planet, and you never slept. You loved being outside from day one, you loved wrestling and playing with your uncles, and you LOVED being held and rocked by Mimi. Even at 2 AM.

We loved kissing you all over your cute little face and neck. Your sweet infant smell that I just couldn't get enough of. That's much different now. I was reminded of this when you ran up to me to give me a hug after school. That smell is now gone and replaced with one similar to that of a puppy dog, full of life and wonder.

You have grown so much intellectually this past year and we are so proud. You are reading now and starting to enjoy it. You can count to 100, skipping only the "unimportant" ones. You have written and illustrated some of the best and most creative stories that I ever heard. I was so expecting something like," ONE DAY, WHILE WE WAS CLEANIN MY BABY SISTER FELL OUT HER CRIB" You have a love for animals that I will never understand. You will do almost anything if someone needs help- as long as it has NOTHING to do with sharing your M&M Blizzard.  You have some  OCD tendencies that you may or may not have gotten from me- like absolutely refusing to put sandals on if they still have that spec of dirt inside, or making sure your blankets that are on top of you before you go to sleep are PERFECTLY square on top of you. Whenever you accidently write your d backwards you will crinkle up your homework, pull out a fist full of hair and declare that you will never be able to write another letter right ever for the rest of your life. You get your dedication and hard work from your father that absolutely adores you. You have never met a stranger and love saying "Hi!" to random people walking by. You still love being outside and can be perfectly content with some mud, sticks, and rocks. You have an innocence and imagination that is just magical. Your main concern most days is wondering what the cafeteria is serving because GOD FORBID anyone make you eat a carrot or broccoli without first drenching it in ranch. You have made many new friends this year and love to come home and talk about all of the fun things that you did that day. I love listening to your stories.

BUT, my favorite thing about you is how great of a sister you are. No one can bring a smile or laugh to Macy's face as quickly as you can. No one can make her flail her arms and legs at the rate you do. You love making her happy. You are so happy around her.

Here you are right after you were born!

Taylor Man making you laugh

You love your papaw!

Isn't your dad handsome?

Here you are around 7 months

One year old!

Almost 2!

At 3 you developed a very distinct sense of style

At your old school when you were 4

Four years old! Heading to New Mexico

When you turned 5 you became a big sister. You love it

Here is daddy around your age.

Ya'll are just alike, really.

Here is mommy around your age!

Today we surprised you with your favorite lunch!

Dirty Queen!

"Macy, look over here. Macy. Macy look at mommy"

" Here you go crazy person!"

Big hugs for sister

Showing us around school. You loved this. 

Daddy and I couldn't stop smiling at each other thinking of how old and grown up you looked.

Watching you play on the playground.

You and your F.A.V.O.R.I.T.E. teacher. 

We are so so blessed to have you as our daughter. We love you very much and can't wait to celebrate your birthday! Happy Sixth Birthday!

Love this life

I worked last night and have not slept in FOR. EV. ER. Or so it feels. Macy knows this and is totally waiting for me to slip off into some deep slumber so she can play with the outlets. 

Maddi had gymnastics today and all the girls (like 30) held hands to form a large circle around her and ran merry go round style around her as they sang happy birthday. Oh how I wish I had my video camera. It was possibly the happiest I have ever seen her. Almost made me tear up just watching her smiling and laughing so much. Until Rambo baby almost Pulled All Of My Hair Out. 

Macy and I went to Wal-Mart to grab some groceries and one last toy for Maddi before tomorrow while she was at Gym. As we were looking through the fruit I overheard this conversation. 

Little (I use that term loosely) boy around 9 sitting indian style in the buggy.

No wait theres more.

Boy (friendly enough): "Mom can we get these chocolate cupcakes?"

Mom (appalled he would ask such a thing): "What?!? No of course we can't get those! You know that!"

Boy (catlike voice): "Reeeeeeeaaaaarrrr!"

I had to laugh and Macy followed.

 Which reminds me of another funny Wal-Mart story. I hope it doesn't offend anyone. I don't mean for it too. But it's funny.

So while we were doing all of the renovations on the house there were lots of days that I just wore large, usually Josh's shirts, and some sweat pants pretty much all the time. I Was Working Hard People. There was always paint splatter and never make-up. Are you still reading this? Anyways, one of those days, I had to HAD to make a quick run to Wal-Mart to pick up some tortillas for tacos that night. As I was shopping around (Macy in the buggy chewing on her toe, Maddi standing at the front of buggy belting out a new song as if it sounded like Celine Dion) a lady came up to me and said, 

"I didn't know you could buy flour tortillas on WIC! I thought we could just get the corn tortillas!"

Blink.

Blink. Blink.

WIC? The federally funded program for woman and children who are at a nutritional risk due to their low income?

As soon as I got out of that conversation as nicely as I could, we left. And I laughed at myself most of the way home. 

Maddi's birthday is tomorrow. Can you believe she will be six years old?!? Just yesterday she was the colicky, restless infant. I remember when people used to come up and say, "You should enjoy this time, pretty soon she will be 6 or 7" or however old their child was at the time. I always wanted to say, "Is your child sleeping all night long? Want to trade??" I'm kidding. I never asked that. Out loud. 

Practicing for her birthday!

Enjoying a snack after school. Look how much homework she finished.

I LOVE watching them play together. Maddi is an awesome big sister.

Macy being lazy eating a carrot

Love love love love love love love this baby

"Hey Maddi watch Macy real quick while I get the groceries out of the car"

"Yes Maam!"

Just a post

No posts in a week! So sorry you avid followers, all 4 of you.

I worked last night and came home this morning to two very sweet happy girls! Maddi was ready earlier than usual and got in some extra play time with sister before having to leave to go to school. Their playtime usually consists of princesses, flying dragons, and slave girl which is usually the part Maddi gives Macy. Maddi soars about rescuing young princesses and saving villages while Mace looks for something to chew or tear apart.  Once Macy spits up or has a dirty diaper all games are off and Maddi usually leaves the room yelling "Gross, sick, get away, uhh mom!"

Since the big April 15th deadline is just around the corner Josh has been working a lot. Which means Maddi and I have dinner, just the two of us, fairly often. I have been reduced to conversations like this one:

Maddi: Ew, what smells like a fart?
Me: Let's not say fart at the dinner table.
Maddi: Fart? Is that a bad word? No one told me that fart was a bad word!

I wanted to say, Smelt it dealt it, sista! But you'll be glad to know, I resisted.

See 

Touch

Chew!

Milestone: Pigtails!

Doesn't she look old here?

Maddi- never misses a puddle!