Self Portrait by Sydney

Sydney was playing with my phone one day in the car. I didn't know she was taking pictures of herself. I just came across these pictures.

She is so beautiful!

My children are getting hard for me. Not in their behavior but in their continual growing. I know we are supposed to cultivate growth in our offspring, physical, spiritual, intellectual and all that. I love seeing them change and learn. 

But... 

What I'm having trouble with is knowing that when one phase is over there is no going back. 

I have forgotten what it was like to hold my newborn Sydney, or Bella and even Preston. I can't remember what they sounded like when they cried their toddler cry. 

So I'm trying to enjoy each phase, good and bad, with them because it really does go fast. 

Happy Birthday Preston!

Preston turns 3 tomorrow! (see I can't believe it, I wrote 3 when really he is turning 4!!!)

I really can't believe it. 

I know I say that with every child's birthday but this one is for real.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HE IS 4!

Four short years ago my parent arrived to help take care of the girls when I went to the hospital to have Preston.  I spoke with them a few day's before and told them it would be awhile so to sit tight and we would call them if things changed. Well they decided to come anyway and good thing they did. 

The day they arrived was the last day my doctor, Dr Ellis would be in the hospital before she left on vacation. Her nurse called me to check in just in case something changed since I last saw her two days before. We had a nice chat where I told her I was fine and feeling great. At the last minute as we were saying goodbye I mentioned that my kick counts went from taking 20 minutes to 45 but I still got them all in an hour. 

10 minutes later the nurse called me back saying the doctor wanted me to come in to get checked out. The nurse assured me I would be in and out in an hour, it was just a precaution. I didn't think anything of it and since my parents were already here and I didn't have to worry about child care,  off I went to the hospital without even a bag, or a call to Todd.

I arrived at the hospital and the nurse hooked me up to a monitor. 

Again telling me I would be in and out in no time. I settled into a magazine and waited. 

30 Minutes later in walks Dr Ellis . 

She took a look at the tape, called the nurses in, whisper yelled at her for not calling her sooner, turned to me with a smile and said, "Your having a baby today!". 

My amniotic fluid was really low, so low that there was only one pocket left. I guess it was leaking out and I didn't notice. For those of you who have had the pleasure of being 9 months pregnant I don't need to explain why I might not have noticed. In my defense it must have been a slow leak. Anyway it was causing out little boy quite a bit of distress. So he had to come out. 

I called Todd he was there in record time, with my bag and 

by 4:30am our son was born!

It was a very easy delivery and everyone was healthy and happy! 

Preston has turned into the greatest little boy. He is loving, telling me many times a day how much he loves me, he is so funny, class clown I hear and he's a natural athlete, gets it from his dad!

Happy Birthday Preston. We Love You Soooo Much!!!

Dinner Conversation

Here are a few things said at dinner tonight...

Bella and Sydney- "This AGAIN!!!!"  (we do not have left-overs but tonight I used the left-over pasta to go with the "fresh" main dish tonight)

Preston- "I don't like ketchup next to my chicken!" (crying, wailing!!!)

Bella- "You know how when you made this pasta last night and I liked it?" 

1/2 second later... 

"Mom, Mom, Moooommmm?????" 

Me- "Yes Bella"

Bella- "You know how when you made this pasta last night?"

Me- "Yeeeeesssssss Bella."

Bella- "Weeeellll, it tasted good last night. But not tonight."

Me- "Thanks for letting me know."

Preston- "Ya, I not like this pasta either now."

Sydney- "Do we have to eat all our dinner?"

Me- (Fake smile) "Just till your tummy is full."

Five seconds later...

Preston- "My tummy is full!"

Me-"O.k. but don't ask for more food later."

Preston- "Well actually I can eat a few more bites. Can I have liquorish when I eat all my dinner?"

Me- "Silence"

20 minutes into dinner and still no one as had more than two bites of food...

Sydney-"My food is cold."

Me- "Want me to heat is up?"

Sydney- (Eye rolling) "No, I don't like HOT food."

1 minute later...

Preston-"Don't look at me Bella!"

Bella- (Just staring at Preston)

Preston- "STOP looking at me!"

Bella- "I'm not."

Preston- "I saw you looking at me."

Bella- "I'm not. I'm looking out the window behind you."

Preston-"Stop looking at me."

Bella- "I'm not."

Preston- "STOP LOOKING AT ME!!!"

Bella- (Silently staring)

Me- BELLA!!!!! (Warning her with THAT LOOK!)

Sydney- "Even though I don't like this, I'm still eating this."

Me- "great"

Preston- "BEELLLAAA, Stoooppp Looookinggg at meeeee!!!!."

Me- "Everyone PLEASE EAT!"

Sydney- "If this electricity goes out what happens."

Me- "Nothing."  (To tired to get into it with her.)

Preston- "Sydney stop looking at me. Stop talking, I don't want anyone talking."

Bella- "When I eat this pasta with my applesauce the applesauce tastes weird."

Preston- "I ate a piece of broccoli. Can I have liquorice?"

Me- "No"

Preston- "Sydney!, Sydney!, Sydney!, Sydney!, Sydney!"

Sydney- "My food is cold still."

Bella- "My food is stinky"

Sydney- "Your Right!."

Sydney- "You know what I'm most afraid of?

Me- "No"

Sydney- "Bats! But only the babies because their so ugly. And that they suck your blood."

Bella- "Ya me too."

Me- (To tired to tell them not to be scared of baby blood sucking bats, sits and eats.)

Preston- "I wish our house was made of toys."

Bell- "No! Candy! A house made out of candy would be cool!"

Sydney- No, No, I wish our house didn't have a roof and then we could play outside in our room!"

Everyone laughing!!!

45 minutes into dinner and nobody is done eating yet...

What's it like at your dinner table?

Blogger Confessional

I'm sure none of you have ever been to "THAT POINT" that you just gave your kids a bag of cereal and left them on the couch to watch cartoons all morning.

I did!

Reasons?

1. When I asked kids what they would like for breakfast all I heard were shrieks and crying.

2. It was 6:30am.

3. I had 4 plies of laundry calling my name upstairs that needed to be dealt with.

4. I have been the camp councilor, entertainer extraordinaire, life guard and kid party animal for what like 9 weeks, and none of the kids seem better for it.

Fighting ensued at 9:43am and they are now in their rooms reading quietly. So far I'm enjoying this morning more then the day's at the beach, park, zoo, camping, soccer camp and playdates.

Feel free to tell me about any "Friends" bad parenting this summer.

Post Edit: I had a great birthday yesterday and will post about it when I get the pictures!