Constant Beginnings

You spent the day at school then had fun with friends at your workout group after school.  Mya wanted to bring donuts as her treat for classmates.  Oh my girl, you are officially 9 years old! Your last single digit year. Hard to believe we are here already. I've spent some time looking back at old pictures recently. You've spent the last 8 years living overseas and now are getting ready to leave everything you've ever really known to move to the USA. We are all excited about Texas but this will be a huge change. You are the one kiddo that is really riding the fence on whether this will be good or not. We talk about the fun things that are available in Texas and you come back to leaving your friends. I know good things will come. You'll even be able to reconnect with your old bestie-Asa. That conversation brought a smile to your face. I think you needed the social connection. You are finishing up 3rd grade. You've mastered your multiplication facts and are pushing t...

Another school year is here! Claire is beginning 4th grade and Mya is beginning 2nd. This will be my last year for a while of having a kiddo in my school. Definitely bittersweet. Love my kiddos so much and pray they have an amazing year, learn all they can and surround themselves with kind, supportive friends. 

C perfected a few hairstyles.. C and her BFF Kylee! All ready for the color splash! Ramstein Intermediate School incorporated a color splash into their Field Day activities this year. Unfortunately, C's class had to wear red, so her color didn't show up so well, but it was fun!  Enjoying ice cream from the ice cream truck! Someone found a marker... G and I took Luna on walks. Mya's spring volksmarch. There she is! Mya's field day was sunshine filled! Fun times with  friends. Mya with her teacher, Ana Garcia.  April, May and June flew by! We spent our evenings playing outside with friends, taking Luna on walks and wrapping up end of the year activities. In mid-June, we flew back to ND for the summer.

Dearest Mya. You are officially 6 years old! I was sitting here remembering so clearly the day you were born. How Grammy came to stay with Claire so Daddy and I could be with you at the hospital. Your delivery was so easy. I was in. You were born. I was out. From that moment, everyone thought you looked like me and that hasn't changed. You are definitely my mini me. I love it. You are a spunky kid. One that we needed. You have a beautiful spirit, a heart of gold, a determination. You aren't afraid to try anything, but you know what you like.  We've exposed you to several organized activities. At first you are thrilled, but by the 4th practice, you've had your fill of them. Daddy and I have pushed back a bit, not letting you quit. You commit. You finish. Right now, we are counting the days until gymnastics wraps up so we can stop hearing the complaining ;) You've tried soccer, basketball, ballet/tap, sing/shake club, & gymnastics. Nothing seems to stick. Of cour...

Mya is officially in kindergarten! She has a fabulous teacher whom I love. She seems to have a passion for teaching little ones, combines rigorous academics with fun--a perfect fit for Mya who has already nearing the end of kindergarten expectations. Mya had a great first day, but was a bit tired on day 2. She is struggling with rest time and having to play on the "small" playground. I've learned my lesson and simply stay away from her during the day. Perhaps I'll stop by during lunch as I do/did with Claire, when the routine of school becomes more established. I can't believe she is already in kindergarten, but so excited to cheer her on as I watch her flourish!

Claire--1st Grade w/Ms. Garcia Mya--Pre-K w/Ms. Alvarez

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...

I had my 38 week appointment yesterday. Mya joined me and helped take my blood pressure and assisted Dr. Downer. She was so excited to help. Everything looks good with Pedro. He is measuring on target, heart rate was 150 bpm, but laying oblique. Obviously, since he'll be a repeat c-section it doesn't truly matter how he is positioned, but I did feel reassured that the repeat was the right decision. I also tested positive on the GBC, which is a strain of strep. Again, this basically means nothing since he'll be delivered c-section, but interesting as I never tested positive with the girls. I gained 50 pounds this pregnancy. I was doing so well, but obviously my body likes what it likes. 50 pounds is pretty much what I've gained during each pregnancy. I will say that I think most of the weight is truly in my belly. I've worn the same maternity pants throughout my pregnancy and only gone up a size in shirts. I think overall, I've carried this little guy diffe...

Babies in Papooses! Those that know me, know how much I love a cute papoose--apparently, so do my children! Claire--October 2013 Mya--November 2013 I think Claire and I were additives on this list ;) Mya--November 2013 Mya--October 2013 Mya-December 2013

(This post is entirely for my own memory and simply because I live and breath speech.) Mya's speech development has been so different than Claire's. It seemed as though Claire began articulating every single sound correctly around the age of 2-2 1/2. Of course, I know this isn't 100% true, but she was a very articulate, well spoken child. Mya, on the other hand, is just as well spoken with language skills far beyond her years, but her articulation has been clouded by a frontal lisp since I can remember. I've taught her to "keep her teeth closed," which corrects the issue, but Chris and I don't harp on it constantly. We go in spurts, reminding her here and there. She has recently begun to correct herself. She now says the "sh," "ch", and "j" sounds correctly.The only errored sounds that remain are the /s/ and /z/. She is even beginning to say these correctly at times--all by herself. Our little girl is growing up.

Germany has thousands of festivals each year. Several are the same with rides for the kids and food, but this one is different. It is complete with corn mazes, straw fun, pumpkin foods galore and craft vendors. It is free aside from the 2 Euro to park plus food, etc. The kids had a blast. It was fun. We saw several friends, enjoyed pumpkin soup, which is a highlight of this festival. To top it off, the weather was perfect--sunny skies and NO rain. (It has been raining for nearly 2 weeks, so sunshine is much welcomed.) On top of the world--or at least the bales of straw. Miss All about the FUN. A view of the dining area. There were a ton of craft/food vendors on the other side selling everything from hats to cheese. Fun in the muddy corn maze. These are the huge vats they cooked the soup in. Giving the pumpkin soup a try. It doesn't look so great, but it is delicious! Mya hanging out, enjoying her drink. We walked away with a delicio...