Something right

October 2009

I was lying in bed, wondering why I couldn't sleep. As my mind was wandering, I started realizing how grown up my kids are, and how suprisingly happy that makes me. When Ashlyn was about 3, Ben used to tease her about getting so big and say he'd have to give her "stop growing pills". I do love kids at young, little ages. But, wow! The older they get, the more I appreciate the people they are becoming.

Just last night I realized we must be doing something right, because as I was getting bugged about the cookies I was making for Ben's scouts (in a time crunch, of course). Ashlyn, noticing my frustration, started doing the dishes. Alex kept the younger girls busy and playing, and once when Jane was crying and I was freaking out about the mixer not being big enough for the recipe, Ashlyn just said, "Jane, come here, I can help you!" I was so shocked when I recognized that my little kids aren't all little anymore, they are actually quite helpful. Unfortunately, judging by the numbers of posts I do about Ashlyn, I am definitely taking her talents for granted.

So, Ashlyn, I made a list of just a few of the many talents I have noticed you possess:

1. Good sleeper. Honestly, this can get you far. Everyone is better off after a good sleep. I call you "Sleeping Beauty" because you can usually outsleep the rest of us. I was doubly impressed when you set your alarm to wake up earlier than usual on Alex's birthday, just to "see if there was anything I needed help with". Then finding out that I already had things taken care of (surprise), you just showered and hid the presents I wrapped to make it "more fun for Alex"!

Pantry sleeping 2007

2. You have the makings to be a baking goddess. So, your first and second tries at cookies weren't perfect, they did get incrementally better! You can make you own instant oatmeal in the morning like a champ, and your Macaroni and Cheese dinner under my (nervous) supervision was good (well, you ate it).

2007 Coeur D' Alene, Idaho 17 mile bike ride!

3. You make most of the fun for the kids in the house. You think up the plans for a fort, play library, make a tv from a box and then make up programs and commercials for us to watch. You do our family home evening lessons almost every week, and make assignments for each of us.

Breckenridge, Colorado 2008

4. You take genuine interest in others. You know and like all of Alex's and Jane's friends and them play with you and your friends. For your birthday last year, you loved spending time with grandma, and going to grandma's sister's house after dinner together. I think you will always love "Aunt" Sue. Plus, you went out to dinner and had a sleepover with Nana and Grandpa. You just ate up the adult conversation and the one on one attention!

Spring boating, March 2007

5. You are the perfect oldest child for me! You are a girl, but not too girly. Fun, but not crazy. Sweet, but not boring. Smart, but not intimidating. Oooh! I love you.

Breckenridge, Colorado 2008

1 year old

I can't believe it has been more than a year since my Sidney was born. Looking back, I can still feel her warm, soft skin, and smell her new baby smell. She had (and has) tiny and and feet, and the little rolls of her neck made me kiss her over and over, just breathing in her perfection!

Now my Sidney is 1 year old!

(now and then)

We tried to put her in the stocking they gave us at the hospital last year, when she was born. She couldn't quite fit, but we still got a kick out of it!

(now and then)

She's actually 1! There was a point I just didn't think she'd make it this far, we are so blessed she pulled through. Last year at this time was just awful ! Now, she is big and healthy and gets all sorts of attention for being roundish like my other kids always were, I honestly love it. The body type is where the similarities to my other babies seems to end though, she has been a very different baby for me:

1. She wouldn't take a binkie, unlike my other binkie-loving kids, ever since she was intubated, she just couldn't stand to have it in her mouth.

2. She doesn't get too excited about things, smiling and laughing just don't come that easily to her.

3. She has a residual wheeze and coughs quite a bit (more like me than the kids).

4. She doesn't crawl at all! She scoots and is not interested in standing, let alone walking!

5. She is really easy-going, mellow, and can play with her own toys, or watch others play and be perfectly content.

She is starting to talk, "all-done" "rock a bye" "here you go"... and she knows a few signs. She does have a cute sense of humor, when she knows she is teasing or being teased, and she loves to scoot and follow the kids around the house. What a year!