Constant Beginnings

Our neighbor across the street has an empty lot next to his house. He has graciously constructed a neighborhood garden of sorts and began growing his crop earlier this spring. The girls frequent the lot, playing soccer, spies, and attempting to climb the apple and plum trees that call the lot home. My dear neighbor posted this on facebook, " Thanks to who ever decided to pull out my pumkin plant and break the other one. I was trying to grow some for holloween." Spelling errors aside, I immediately asked my lovely girls if they were touching Mr. David's pumpkin plants to which Claire firmly denied. I breathed a sigh of relief, tucked them into bed and posted my response on facebook, " not your little friends here either., but it may have been me, sabotaging the contest ;)" Flash forward to morning. Chris comes in the bathroom to share the news. He interrogated the girls at breakfast and they confessed. I could feel my skin crawl with embarrassment, disappo...

We celebrated Mya's 5th birthday with a day at Holiday Park. The girls were so excited and the weather was gorgeous! Holiday Park is a great little amusement park located about an hour from our house. It is small enough that we don't wait long for rides, but large enough that we can easily spend 4 hours or so and not double a ride. We went for the first time last year, but Mya was still a tad too short to enjoy a few of the best rides. This year a whole new world was available. She loved what I remember as the "tower of power," only on a smaller scale, the bumper cars and her first flume ride. Claire also underwent her first flume ride, but had mixed feelings about it.  I tended to Gavin most of the day, which was nice. He slept, I watched the girls' faces light up with excitement, relaxed and even nursed in public for the first time ever! Pretty big accomplishment for this very conservative girl. Gavin spent the day doing a little of this. 1st ride of the...

Mya's school hosted a Mother's Day tea. Have I mentioned how much I love this school? She is learning sooo much. This little lesson focused on ettiquette, manners, and social skills. Mya could not have been more tickled to have me as her company. She was all smiles. Mya & I ready to go! She insisted she wear a dress, made sure I wore one too and said we had to wear jewelry and make up too. Oiy. This kid loves all things messy, but obviously is a girly girl just the same. Showing off her mad tea skills-hand on lid, using tongs for sugar cubes & cookies, napkin on lap. Adorable. Put a cup of tea in front of a girl and suddenly she looks all grown up.  Ahhhh. Mya & Asa--BFF's. Singing songs with her friends. Mya & her BFF, Asa. Sadly, only a month or so left together before he leaves for a life back in the US.  Mya & I modeling the beautiful aprons she made.

Dearest Mya, 5 years ago our world forever changed. Your arrival put a large dash of spice in our lives! I can't believe you are already 5 years old as it seems just yesterday I was putting the cute little pink hat with the large flower on you and taking your pictures to share you with the world. Looking back, you were so tiny, so quiet, and yet, made your presence known. Today is not much different. You are such a big piece of our puzzle. You are the person in our family that makes "us" known. I often say that you know everyone and that you've never met a stranger. You seem to know everyone and if we come across someone you hadn't met yet, you leave them as a friend. This includes adults, babies, children. It doesn't matter who you  meet, you chat with them all. You have that type of personality. I'll admit, it drives me crazy at times. I am one that prefers to mind my own business, sometimes hiding within myself, but having you as my sidekick, pushes ...

I came across these two poems earlier today and they resonated with me. They speak clearly to our life at this moment. I have so many raw emotions right now. Thinking Gavin may be our last baby has filled my eyes with tears on many occasions. I actually messaged Chris at work yesterday, saying maybe we should  have one more child so Gavin would have a playmate as well. Ha. (That's not going to happen. It was a moment of sheer insanity.) Babyhood is not my favorite period of motherhood, but I could eat up every snuggle, smile and stare. Juggling three has been a chaotic existance. I am filled with constant worry and anxiety as thoughts of forgetting something, neglecting someone, forcing Mya and Claire to help too much and thereby grow up too quickly run rampant in my head. I've spent much time reflecting on each period of transition--bringing Claire home from the hospital, then bringing Mya into our family, and finally Gavin. Each period was filled with bit...