M&M Update

What funny, adorable, and crazy little girls we have in this house!  They both keep entertaining us each day by the cute things they do or say as well as all the things they don't do.  For the past few weeks, they have been bunking together in Makenna's room as Maya's room has been getting remodeled due to the lovely water damage from this past brutal winter.  It actually has gone much better than anticipated, the bunking that is.  Makenna isn't bothered by it at all and Maya has had a few moments of frustration but otherwise it has been seamless.  Thankfully the contractors are finished and Maya moved back into her room yesterday. 

Maya has also finished her first solo swimming lesson session at our local Y.  What an experience that has been (mostly for me)!  It has been interesting trying to figure out things since we have always gone to a different place until now.  Maya absolutely loved it.  She is quite the little fish but HATES to swim on her back.  Therefore she must repeat level A.  Oh well.  I have signed her up for another session starting in June.

Another Maya highlight is she has been consistently dry at night.  Woo hoo!  We have used some incentives for her to stay dry such as a new Barbie doll and nail polish.  We are currently on day 4 of staying dry for the newest incentive which is gummy gums (AKA tootsie rolls).  I'd say she has been dry every day but 2 in the last 3 weeks.  Pretty darn good.  I think we will start having her wear panties at night very soon.

Makenna is growing so fast.  She is not our little peanut anymore.  Makenna is very mobile and has the army crawl down.  I have given up the idea she will crawl on her knees.  She seems to be very content with slithering across any surface to get to her destination.  Makenna is also smiling more and babbling non-stop.  On Friday she actually said da-da and waved good-bye to Dave at daycare!  There is no doubt she will be a chatter box just like her big sister.  I'm going to have to invest in some good ear plugs to tune them out!  Ha!

Makenna has also two bottom teeth, loves to eat puffs, and is a great sleeper!  It is amazing how things have changed since we first came home.  One thing both Dave and I love is when she wakes up in the morning.  Makenna is so happy and smiling when she wakes up.  She loves to give you a big snuggle too.  We seem to fight over who gets to pick her up out of her crib but Dave usually wins since I am almost always in my room finishing getting ready.  

The girls are doing well and growing up way too fast!

Do You?

Do you ever get jealous or envious for any reason at all? I know I do and it drives Dave crazy. For me I think it is normal for a woman to feel jealousy or to be envious here and there. I think it is part of our DNA as a woman. Men just can't understand this even if they claim they do. I can tell Dave one thing and tell my sister or a girl friend the exact same thing and they will just "get it". My sister or friend will understand where I am coming from and why I feel the way I do.

Personally, I can become jealous/envious of the most random things. It could be because of something materialistic or shallow like a vacation or if someone's kid was potty trained in a day, and sometimes it is because of a pregnancy announcement. Now please realize it does not mean I am not happy for the person or because I am unhappy in my life. I am very grateful for everything in my life. I am happy with my home, my belongings, my job, and most importantly my family and my relationships. I would not trade anything for the world. Most days I thank God for giving me such a wonderful life and blessing me with such things as infertility. I look at my children and feel incredibly blessed to have them in my life.

So I wonder, why do I sometimes feel jealous or envious?

I have no idea to be honest. I wish I knew. Since I have gotten "older", it occurs less and less but I still have my moments. I talk to people who claim they are never jealous or envious because they don't care what anyone thinks, etc. Really? Is this really possible?

I know I can't be the only one who feels this once in awhile. I just wish there was a quick cure for it like aspirin for a headache. I guess I'll settle with things like spending time with my family, watching a good movie along with chips and salsa, or maybe a nice hot bath and my latest US magazine issue.

Mother's Day - A Day Late

Happy Belated Mother's Day everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful day.

On Friday late afternoon, the girls' daycare had a Mother's Day treat.  Maya's class sang us a very special song, gave us a decorated treasure box (made with love from our child) with yummy chocolates inside, shared cookies and juice with us, and gave us this:


It is a sheet of paper with a series of questions which Maya answered.  Maya's teacher asked Maya the question and wrote down exactly the answer Maya provided to her.  I realize it is small and possibly hard to read so let me tell you each of the questions and answers.

1. What is your mom's name?
   T
   
2. What does she do?
   She takes care of me and my sister
   
3. How old is she?
   6 1/2
   
4. What does daddy call mom?
   T
   
5. What is her favorite color?
   white and brown
   
6. What is her favorite food?
   jelly beans
   
7. What is her favorite movie?
   Lion King
   
8. How many brothers and sisters does she have?
   John is her brother and Shannon is her sister
   
9. Where does she like to take you for fun?
   She takes me to swimming lessons
   
10. What message do you want to send her for mother's day?
    I Love You!
    
    Even though Maya isn't correct on most of her answers, I love it.  I plan to treasure this for a very long time. 

I got flowers!

Dave surprised me with the most beautiful boutique of flowers for our 10 year anniversary.  Yes, I said 10 years.  He actually put a lot of thought into the flowers by describing my wedding boutique to the florist.  How incredibly sweet is that?  I feel so lucky.

 

Unfortunately the flowers didn't last long.  I realize I do not have a green thumb but I believe I followed the directions.  I am still enjoying them and have tossed the dead ones.  I want to look at these as long as possible.

Thank you Dave for the most beautiful flowers.  Love you!

Not Now!

I think I did a bad thing.  I think I caused a discussion that I was hoping not to have for awhile.  I didn't think anything of it when I first bought Maya her first one.  I thought Maya would enjoy these just like I did when I was a little girl.  Well she does and she loves the few movies she owns.  What am I talking about?

I'm talking about this. 

 

Barbie's. I bought Maya a Barbie movie that she absolutely loves.  I then bought her a Princess Tiana doll for Christmas.

 

She loves it.  Well one thing led to another and now she is obsessed with Merliah the mermaid Barbie doll.  She LOVES the movie and wants to watch it over and over again (which she doesn't get to but that is another battle story for later). 

I was completely fine with her obsession until yesterday.

While Maya was going potty she said she didn't want to have brown skin.  Instead she wanted skin like daddy and me.  My heart sank.  I didn't want her to already be talking about her skin color.  Maya has said a few random comments before regarding wanting long hair like Barbie,  but nothing big.  This time her comment came out of left field and she was very serious about it.  How do you respond to this especially while your child is on the potty?  I didn't ignore it but instead reassured Maya that her skin is absolutely beautiful.  It must have worked because finally Maya commented she liked both brown and "orange" skin. Conversation done.

I talked to Dave about it later yesterday and he commented about a book he had read (he couldn't remember exactly which book) about this very topic.  Apparently the book said that kids Maya's age may make these comments but they really don't understand the meaning behind it. They see the difference in color, but are not yet equating it to race.  I think that is true, at least I hope it is in this situation.  Regardless, I need to be prepared for when this topic arises again.  I never want Maya to want to be "white".  I want her to love her own skin and feel beautiful in it. 

I just wondered how much of this stemmed from the Barbie's.  I wonder if she wants to have the skin like Merliah.  Maybe this is why other parents don't allow their young children to play with them?   I don't know.  Maybe I am making too much of it .    This one is tough.

Happy May Day

A couple days late!  Maya had a fun May Day by making and delivery May Day baskets to her friends around the neighborhood. 

Maya helped by tearing up the various tissue paper to put into the baskets.
 
The finished product - what a fun activity!

 
Hope you all had a great day too!

So Big

Makenna doing "So Big" for the first time