Maddie: 3 Year Portraits

So I'm finally getting around to posting some photos of my Maddie girl at 3 years old. In the course of the past week, I've been able to capture some fun shots of her doing what she does best: playing, laughing, posing and being her delightfully inquisitive and adventurous self.

Day 1: Blackhawk Plaza

concentration

curiosity

wonder

Day 2: El Dorado Hills

classic Maddie: playful

graceful

surprised

beautiful

profile

sweet

hilarious

11 Months

Oh my sweet boy,

Eleven months! We're nearly to one, and I can hardly believe my baby is growing into a little boy. It seems like just yesterday you slept in the crook of my arm, waking every few hours with a grunt, drowsing and nursing the day away. And now, look at you: crawling, cruising, waving, babbling, dancing, and more!

This past month has been a lot of fun, watching you learn new tricks with each passing week. You love to entertain us with every trick, blowing raspberries at the dinner table, waving bye-bye as we leave a room, throwing your sippy cup from the table, or bobbing your head to a tune.

We finished a good eleven-month run of nursing this week. You weaned like a champ, taking bottles easily and happily. First thing in the morning, you still wake up snuggly and warm, burying your face in my neck or shoulder as we walk from your room downstairs. In the past week you've started giving "kisses," and I can't get enough of those slobbery, sweet, open-mouth loves. I'm proud of making it this far, and though I will miss those tender cuddly moments I know that, for now, I can count on you returning time and again, throwing yourself into my arms, looking for a hug, reassurance, or just to check in.

Now that you've finished nursing we start each morning immediately with a meal. You are serious about food...grapes, tangerines, broccoli, green beans, bread, cheese, yogurt, crackers, milk, juice, blueberries, avocado, banana, turkey, chicken, potatoes, pizza--you will eat anything we put in front of you! Because you're moving all the time these days, you are eating A LOT of calories to fuel that busy body. This past month we watched in awe as you finished a Boppa-sized plate of roast beef, carrots, and potatoes. Amazing.

You are obsessed with anything on wheels. Maddie's mini cooper calls to you from the garage and you can't resist her siren song. When you've disappeared, I often find you standing up next to the car in the garage, beeping the horn, grunting at me as if to say, "Come on, Mom! Let's get rollin'!" You love to ride around on the tricycle next to Maddie on her bike. If we are playing with our friends you will explore and investigate every inch of their big kid bikes and scooters.

You are a bona fide explorer boy with no respect for natural boundaries. I can put two chairs side by side in order to prevent you from crawling into the side yard, only to return a few minutes later to find you halfway through the barrier, hips stuck in an impossibly small crack, grunting and rocking forward with fierce determination. You love to climb and can scale staircases almost faster than I can chase. The playground is all kinds of fun now that you can make your way to the tippity top.

Your sense of adventure matches your sister's and it is a joy (and sometimes a scare) to watch you follow after her, keeping up surprisingly well. I get these small glances into the years to come, seeing the two of you side by side, laughing and bouncing, and it makes my heart smile.

I know this month is going to fly by. We're in party planning mode now, preparing for a bash to top all bashes in honor of your first birthday. A racecar theme is especially appropriate considering you are always on the move. If I could figure out a way to put the brakes on, I would, just for a moment, to capture you at this stage, as in the above picture, frozen in time with that impossibly sweet smile, full head of silky soft hair, large hands, larger thighs, a "tubby" boy of unbelievable charm. Happy 11 months, Samuel Benjamin.

I love you.

Love,

Mama

Ballerina Birthday!

Today we celebrated Maddie's Birthday with a

BALLERINA PARTY!

Four of her friends joined us for twirling, dancing, playing, eating and fun!

the ballerina cupcakes

favor bag close-up

ribbon dancers

magic cookie wands

Nicole and Maddie start the dancing off right, dressed for the occasion

Claire bear

Story Time: Ballerina for a Day

(note some moms having issues with the stretching)

the Birthday Ballerina takes a moment to herself

Ballerina Nicole

Ballerina Kate

blowing out the THREE candles!

pretty excited about cupcake time

and then, not so excited about the "holes" in the cupcake, left behind by the candles, a classic "three moment"

everybody loves a cupcake!

Ballerina Kayla

yum yum!

and finally, presents!

Thanks to Melissa, Susan, Kelly & their fabulous girls for a fabulous time!

three

Dear Madeleine Noelle,

Three years ago, at 11:21 a.m., you made your quiet, sweet entrance into this world. You were pink and round with a full head of thick, dark hair. You blinked at us with those big eyes, charmed us with your dimpled chin, and won your way into our hearts in just moments.

Two years ago, you turned one. You were spirited and funny, loving, sassy, busy and hungry all the time.

By the time we cut the cake at your party, you were more than ready to dig in.

One year ago, you were hardly a baby anymore. You seemed so big, with your expansive vocabulary and endless chatter. You loved to dress up in fancy clothes and stay that way all day. You enjoyed playdates with friends and outings to the park.

We spent many hours outside, going for "ature" walks, collecting treasure, splashing in puddles and finding creatures. We whittled away the last few hours as a family of three, awaiting the birth of your baby brother.

And today, my sweet girl, you are three. No longer a baby or toddler, but bona fide, big B, big G, Big Girl. You go to school, attend "ballerina class" and even ride a bike. (That is the sound of your Mama sighing. This is going way too fast).

You still love all things "fancy" and dress up almost every day. You are quick to notice someone's accessories and comment appropriately. All princesses are friends or cousins to you; they are to be admired, adored, esteemed, imitated.

You are a born leader. You love to direct, lead, and engage others in play. We try to curb the bossiness and encourage leading by good example. It is clear that you have a charismatic and winsome nature that others respond to and we pray that your enthusiasm and love and compassion will encourage others.

You are amiable, making friends with everyone from a toddler on the playground to the "lovely-haired lady" at Target. Everyone we run into is greeted with, "What's your name? I'm Madeleine Noelle Joyce. That's my baby brother...." You are incredibly conversational and love to engage in long, drawn-out talks about anything and everything--homelessness, what trees are made of, jewelry, flatulence, friends.

You are gentle and kind-hearted. Your brother is the joyful recipient of much love, affection, and good deeds. You are quick to rush to his side when he is hurt or upset. You love to pick out toys for him to play with. Last week when I was sick in bed with mastitis, you climbed into the sheets ever so gently, climbed up by my head, ran your palm down the side of my cheek, and offered sweet words of love and tenderness. As your understanding of God has grown, you routinely ask for and offer prayers of healing.

You are always up for an adventure, whether trying a new food or hopping in the car to drive to a new location. You greet each new activity with excitement and joy. Though you no longer ask each morning, "What are we doing today?," it is assumed that the more we have planned, the happier you are. A true extrovert, you thrive in the presence of other people.

You are intelligent and observant. The questions you ask are thoughtful and demonstrate a keen interest in things. Many times you surprise us by bringing up a topic days, weeks, or months later, looking for clarification or deeper understanding. Last week when it was so cold your Daddy told you you couldn't wear a princess dress unless you wore leggings underneath. The thought of wearing pants with your dress was just too much and brought out the dragon beneath that generally sweet demeanor. Days later you posed a question to your Daddy, "Is it cold in Heaven?," to which he responded, "No, Maddie, it will actually be the perfect temperature all the time. Not too hot, not too cold." After a few moments of reflection, you said, "Well, I won't have to wear leggings under my princess dresses then."

In the past year, God has taught me so much about who you are and how to be the parent you need. Above all else, one thing has been perfectly clear: I am to provide as loving, encouraging and secure a home as possible. I am to speak words of love and affection into your life each day, grounding you in the knowledge that no matter what, your Mama and your Father in Heaven will always, always love you.

And so last night as I tucked you in, we ended our day like we often do, lights off, snuggling beneath your covers, me praying over you and speaking words of affection and love into your ear. Last night it was, "God, I praise you for this sweet almost-three-year-old girl. She is a gift from you to me, a gift I get to enjoy each and every day. Amen. Maddie, I will always love you. Always! There is nothing you can do that will make me stop. I will always love you." As I spoke, you ended your day as you often do, a sweet smile making its way across your face as you basked in the love being poured out. Then you turned to me and said, "Mama, you are my forever friend."

Always and forever your friend, your greatest admirer, and,

Your Mama

Ten Months

Dear Bubba,

This was one of those months wherein you changed a lot; there are so many things you can do today that you couldn't last month! You are changing into a busy little boy with such an engaging personality, and there is nothing we love to do more than to just sit and watch you as you go through your day, exploring your little world.

One of the most fun things about the past month has been seeing your personality really come alive. There have been a few hilarious developments, one of which is whistling. While you go about your busy ways, your mouth works its way into a perfect little "O" and when you inhale, a whistle comes out! It is hilarious! And you do it all the time! You also love to blow raspberries, but you do it only with your bottom lip. You suck in your top lip, push out your bottom one into a pout, and blow. You especially love to employ this trick when we are all seated at the table, looking from person to person as if saying, "Aren't I hilarious?"

About a month ago you also started dancing. When the music starts playing, whether from Maddie's "boom box" or the computer, or even Mama's amateur beatboxing, you love to bend and straighten your legs in short, sudden little movements. Your face lights up and you will get your head and shoulders into the groove, too. Then there are your funny faces, such as your "fake smile," where you crinkle up your eyes, lift your cheeks, all for comedic effect. Nothing makes you excited like an audience.

We spent a week at Grammy and Papa's house for Christmas, and I would venture to say that you spent 95% of your time cruising around their circular coffee table. You went from just taking a few steps here and there to cruising the furniture non-stop. You hardly wanted to crawl! Now you will push things all around the house and you love to walk holding onto our hands. At this rate, I would say you're right on target to start walking at ten and a half months, just like your sister. Boy, is my world about to change!

Despite your busy, crazy, moving-all-the-time tendencies, you still manage to be the snuggliest of boys. Some of my favorite moments are those last few minutes before putting you down to bed in the evenings. As your eyelids grow heavy, I love to plant kisses on your sweet, soft cheeks. Each time I kiss, your face widens into a little smile, and with your eyes closed you will lift your hand to my lips, looking for a kiss on the palm of your chubby little hand.

You bring such joy to our lives. We love watching you as you grow and change and become your own little person, funny and engaging and uniquely you. Your sister, Daddy and I just couldn't be any more in love.

Love,

Mama

portrait of a ballerina

When planning for Maddie's 3rd birthday, I decided to enroll her in a dance class. To know Miss Maddie is to know that she loves to dress up, twirl, dance and move around. After talking it over with Melissa, we put Maddie and Kate in dance class together. At the studio, we laughed over who was more excited about the class today, the girls or the moms!

In "Twinkle Stars," the girls will learn the basics of ballet, tap and jazz. Today they did lots of group dancing, copying the teacher's moves such as heel and toe taps, swishing their feet, marching, jumping, and twirling. They also worked together on the bar for a bit. Then the teacher had the girls line up against one wall and take turns doing moves across the floor. It was fun to see the different little personalities as they made their way across the room. Some lingered, watching each move in the mirror. Others danced with precision, copying the teacher's moves exactly. Some just whizzed across the floor, in a hurry to get to their friends on the opposite side! For their grand finale, the girls jumped over a bear, spun around in a hula hoop, and then made a little bow. The last five minutes they got to dance around the room, freestyle.

Maddie did such an amazing job! I fought back tears a few times, amazed at what she was capable of doing and her delight in dancing. She had no trouble whatsoever following directions and did just about everything the teacher demonstrated!

Here are some photos from our fun day:

All dressed up and ready to go!

Practicing a move for class

Twirling in the hula hoop

Overjoyed to be in class with so many pretty ballerinas!

Dancing across the floor

Doing a little bar work with Kate after class