My two blonde loves and their BFF.
Showing posts with label Birthdays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Birthdays. Show all posts
Thursday, March 29, 2012
More to Come.
I actually have quite a few posts to write, but I'm in the midst of work drama, so for now....just a picture:
Saturday, March 17, 2012
THREE!
Friday was Rohan's birthday. He's three now. THREE. It's so...not a baby. I'm not sure I'm ready for that, you know?
He is everything good a mom could wish for: smart, funny as hell, so kind, protective of those he loves, gentle in spirit, cute, cuddly, tender and wild and free. He's amazing in so many ways, and he has brought so much joy into our lives in the past 3 years. I could never have imagined the joy and intense happiness he brings into our home and our family.
Not only is he the world's sweetest boy, he's the bravest and most good natured as well. You can see his right wrist is wrapped in this picture. He was burned at a restuarant by hot water a week before his birthday, and sustained 2nd degree burns that required treatment by urgent care, then his pediatrician, then the burn center at Maricopa Medical Center. He had to have his wound 'debrided twice a day (we soaked him in the tub for about 20 minutes, then had to wipe the area gently with a cloth to remove the film that would form over the burn as it healed), which I KNOW hurt like hell. He had to sit on a hospital bed surrounded by strangers and have multiple people inspect him and eventually remove his blisters and wrap his arm. He couldn't climb into his own car seat, pull down his own pants to go potty, or hold anything with his right hand. And yet, he almost never complained. Not only did he let the doctors and us do everything we needed to do to help him heal (and elicited major compliments and swooning from every medical professional he flirted with along the way), he really blew me away with his generous heart. At the hospital, a staff person came in with toys to entertain/distract him, and one toy included his choice of stuffed animal to be his 'patient': a pink kitty or a green bird. He chose the kitty, holding it and dressing its imaginary wound, and to our surprise the staff said it was ours to keep. We left from the hospital to get Luca at preschool, and he handed that pink kitty right over to her, telling me he picked it because he knew his sister would like it, and he wanted her to keep it.
What kind of 2 (almost 3) year old kid is that selfless and thoughtful and generous? Mine.
Happy 3rd birthday, big guy. From the day you swam into our lives you've made our world brighter, sweeter, and more fun.
He is everything good a mom could wish for: smart, funny as hell, so kind, protective of those he loves, gentle in spirit, cute, cuddly, tender and wild and free. He's amazing in so many ways, and he has brought so much joy into our lives in the past 3 years. I could never have imagined the joy and intense happiness he brings into our home and our family.
Not only is he the world's sweetest boy, he's the bravest and most good natured as well. You can see his right wrist is wrapped in this picture. He was burned at a restuarant by hot water a week before his birthday, and sustained 2nd degree burns that required treatment by urgent care, then his pediatrician, then the burn center at Maricopa Medical Center. He had to have his wound 'debrided twice a day (we soaked him in the tub for about 20 minutes, then had to wipe the area gently with a cloth to remove the film that would form over the burn as it healed), which I KNOW hurt like hell. He had to sit on a hospital bed surrounded by strangers and have multiple people inspect him and eventually remove his blisters and wrap his arm. He couldn't climb into his own car seat, pull down his own pants to go potty, or hold anything with his right hand. And yet, he almost never complained. Not only did he let the doctors and us do everything we needed to do to help him heal (and elicited major compliments and swooning from every medical professional he flirted with along the way), he really blew me away with his generous heart. At the hospital, a staff person came in with toys to entertain/distract him, and one toy included his choice of stuffed animal to be his 'patient': a pink kitty or a green bird. He chose the kitty, holding it and dressing its imaginary wound, and to our surprise the staff said it was ours to keep. We left from the hospital to get Luca at preschool, and he handed that pink kitty right over to her, telling me he picked it because he knew his sister would like it, and he wanted her to keep it.
What kind of 2 (almost 3) year old kid is that selfless and thoughtful and generous? Mine.
Happy 3rd birthday, big guy. From the day you swam into our lives you've made our world brighter, sweeter, and more fun.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
We Did It!
Color Run is DONE!
We weren't able to run the whole thing, but that was more logistics than a lack of trying. The race was sold out, with 6,000 people packing the trail. We had to walk through the color zones where you get colorfied, which meant 3 stops (we ran around the outside of the 1st of 4 zones), but still...WE DID IT!!!!
I couldn't have done it without this group - co workers and amazing friends who trained with me, slowed to my pace when I needed it, and made sure I got plenty of birthday wishes on the run courtesy of the decorating they did to their shirts in my honor:
Team ROYGBIV, lovingly named after my neurotic desire to color coordinate my closet.
And I couldn't have done it without my amazing friend Elizabeth, who inspired and encouraged me through training and met me on race day to cheer me on. LOVE her!
We weren't able to run the whole thing, but that was more logistics than a lack of trying. The race was sold out, with 6,000 people packing the trail. We had to walk through the color zones where you get colorfied, which meant 3 stops (we ran around the outside of the 1st of 4 zones), but still...WE DID IT!!!!
I couldn't have done it without this group - co workers and amazing friends who trained with me, slowed to my pace when I needed it, and made sure I got plenty of birthday wishes on the run courtesy of the decorating they did to their shirts in my honor:
Team ROYGBIV, lovingly named after my neurotic desire to color coordinate my closet.
And I couldn't have done it without my amazing friend Elizabeth, who inspired and encouraged me through training and met me on race day to cheer me on. LOVE her!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Party Like A (poor) Rock Star.
Luca's 4th birthday party was this past weekend, and per her request we went with a 'pink and purple' theme. We tossed around several ideas, from a park (too unpredictable given weather in AZ in May can be 108 or 85 degrees) to a pizza place (a little too loud for our crowd) to an indoor jump zone ($$$). In the end, we landed on a party at home in our own backyard. After all, we bought this house mostly FOR its backyard, so why not use it to the fullest?
We used Evite for the invitation. I'd love to tell people we were attempting to be 'green' but really I was last minute with it and it was free. Luca helped me write the list of invitees, and told me she didn't want to include any of her friends from school, except one. Afraid of offending the other families, we chose not to invite that friend either, to keep it simple. In the end, it was some of our closest friends and immediate family who came, which was better because we didn't feel as stressed to impress.
The best part about this party was that I set a goal to keep it under $60 total. Sounds simple, but in the ends kids' birthday parties often end up costing a pretty penny because it's just SO FUN to go all out! Our budget ended up like this:
Location: free
Invitations: free
Pizza: $45 (3 extra large + coupon for 1 free large)
Soda: $3.75
Cake + frosting: $4.50 (bought mix and made at home, dyed with gel dyes I owned already, used candles we had leftover from another party)
Pinata: $1 (made it at home with supplies on hand, but the 'foundation' for the paper mache was a large beach ball from the 99 cent store)
Candy for pinata: $3 (3 bags)
Goody bags: $1 for 8
Balloons: $1 for pack of 24 pink balloons
Chips: $3
Other snacks: free, on hand already
Kool-Aid: $1 for 2 packages
Cups: $2 for 2 packs
Plates: $3 for 3 packs of 16
Napkins: $2 for 2 packs of 24
Grand Total: $70.25. While I ended up a little above my pre-determined budget, I think I did pretty well!
The day was simple: inflatable pool and sprinker in the backyard, pizza, pinata, presents, cake. The kids all seemed to have a blast, and the next day Luca asked when we could have the next 'party with pink and purple cakes and balloons with candy'.
Sadly, my camera is still in the process of getting repaired, so we didn't get any real pictures, but my sister-in-law did video the day. If I can figure out how to post that, I will. But, for now, here's a picture of the highlight of Luca's day: the pink and purple layer cake.
We used Evite for the invitation. I'd love to tell people we were attempting to be 'green' but really I was last minute with it and it was free. Luca helped me write the list of invitees, and told me she didn't want to include any of her friends from school, except one. Afraid of offending the other families, we chose not to invite that friend either, to keep it simple. In the end, it was some of our closest friends and immediate family who came, which was better because we didn't feel as stressed to impress.
The best part about this party was that I set a goal to keep it under $60 total. Sounds simple, but in the ends kids' birthday parties often end up costing a pretty penny because it's just SO FUN to go all out! Our budget ended up like this:
Location: free
Invitations: free
Pizza: $45 (3 extra large + coupon for 1 free large)
Soda: $3.75
Cake + frosting: $4.50 (bought mix and made at home, dyed with gel dyes I owned already, used candles we had leftover from another party)
Pinata: $1 (made it at home with supplies on hand, but the 'foundation' for the paper mache was a large beach ball from the 99 cent store)
Candy for pinata: $3 (3 bags)
Goody bags: $1 for 8
Balloons: $1 for pack of 24 pink balloons
Chips: $3
Other snacks: free, on hand already
Kool-Aid: $1 for 2 packages
Cups: $2 for 2 packs
Plates: $3 for 3 packs of 16
Napkins: $2 for 2 packs of 24
Grand Total: $70.25. While I ended up a little above my pre-determined budget, I think I did pretty well!
The day was simple: inflatable pool and sprinker in the backyard, pizza, pinata, presents, cake. The kids all seemed to have a blast, and the next day Luca asked when we could have the next 'party with pink and purple cakes and balloons with candy'.
Sadly, my camera is still in the process of getting repaired, so we didn't get any real pictures, but my sister-in-law did video the day. If I can figure out how to post that, I will. But, for now, here's a picture of the highlight of Luca's day: the pink and purple layer cake.
Monday, March 21, 2011
2.
We celebrated Rohan's birthday on a small scale this year, with just a family party. He was spoiled and stuffed with a big meal and cuddled and kissed all day. Just as a birthday should be, no?
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Magic Boy.
Today, Rohan turned 2.
It seems impossible. As though his birth was just yesterday. He crawls into my lap during the day, resting the wide, flat palm of his hand on my upper arm, my cheek. He presses his face close to mine and says, "Hi Mommy!" in his sweet little boy voice, and the tenderness seeps into my chest and fills the cracks of my soul. His smile is wide and open, his eyes huge and blue and always searching. His golden halo of hair rubs against my nose, my chin, my neck and he rests his head on my shoulder, reaching his hand around to rub the back of my arm. Just like he did as a newborn baby.
He's a physical boy, finding joy in frog-leaping across the couch cushions and dive-bombing into his daddy's arms. He is lifted up toward the heavens by strong arms, and with the utmost faith that we'll always keep him safe, he raises his hands out in front of him and says to me, "Look, mommy! I did it!"
He's physical and rough and tumble and wild weeds unfurling in a spring lawn. And yet, his is a tenderness that exudes from a pure sweet soul. He's always been a tactile boy, clutching at a soft blanket as he runs around the house like a whirling dervish. He learns by doing, and he's doing all the time. One of his favorite activities is reading a book on my lap while one hand absently rubs my knee and other holds my index finger in a tiger's grip and uses it to point to things on the page. "Dat?" he asks, and then answers his own question by telling me what it is. Sometimes I test him, telling him I think a car is a plane, and he laughs like he's in on the joke, saying, "Noooooo, mommy! Blue car!" I tickle the spot where his pulse pounds in his collarbone, and a peel of laughter escapes from his body, making my heart catch in my throat.
He's amazing, this magical boy. He's never met a person he dislikes. His run is wild and carefree, all blonde hair bouncing atop his head and arms reaching out to the stars. Before him, I didn't know it was possible to be born with comic timing, but I could swear he was.
He was born into our home, quite literally, and he instantly filled a space in our family we hadn't realized we'd been holding just for him. He has taught me so much about being a mom, and his dad and sister so much about who they are. We are so lucky to have this boy in our lives.
____________________________________________
Today, we slept in until nearly 7 a.m., a miracle by all accounts. I woke to him and his sister both in my bed, pushing my husband and me to the outermost banks of the mattress. He pulled us downstairs ("Wake up, Mommy!") where we ate homemade blueberry pancakes and eggs from my mom's chickens and banana slices. His sister helped him open 2 gifts on the couch. My camera battery was charging, but they wouldn't be stopped, so I snapped a few pictures with my cell phone instead.
We met friends at the park, where all three kids played together and enjoyed the sunshine of a spring day. We took them to lunch, where he was feted with a free dessert that he happily shared with his sister and buddy, Madison. We napped. We picked Grandma up at the airport, and the whole ride there and home he pointed out each airplane to us and demanded we look with him, ""OOH"ing and "AHHH"ing enthusiastically.
This park outing reignited his love for bubbles and prompted his first 6 word sentence: "I want to go bubbles outside!"
We went to dinner, where he spent most of the time facing over the back of the booth to watch a baby at the table behind us eat. I begged him to sit, and he hopped a few times on the bench, bent and met my eyes and said to me, "I like babies." I caved. Who wouldn't cave when their 2 year old boy says they like babies? My husband and I exchanged meaningful glances over our salad and breadsticks, both of us saying with our eyes, "We like babies too, dammit!".
When I tucked him into bed, he was silly tired. I handed him his favorite blankie and his puppy, and told him I loved him so very much. I said, "Thank you, Mo. You are my magical little boy."
He replied, "You magic, mama."
________________________________________________
Happy Birthday, My Magic Boy.
It seems impossible. As though his birth was just yesterday. He crawls into my lap during the day, resting the wide, flat palm of his hand on my upper arm, my cheek. He presses his face close to mine and says, "Hi Mommy!" in his sweet little boy voice, and the tenderness seeps into my chest and fills the cracks of my soul. His smile is wide and open, his eyes huge and blue and always searching. His golden halo of hair rubs against my nose, my chin, my neck and he rests his head on my shoulder, reaching his hand around to rub the back of my arm. Just like he did as a newborn baby.
He's a physical boy, finding joy in frog-leaping across the couch cushions and dive-bombing into his daddy's arms. He is lifted up toward the heavens by strong arms, and with the utmost faith that we'll always keep him safe, he raises his hands out in front of him and says to me, "Look, mommy! I did it!"
He's physical and rough and tumble and wild weeds unfurling in a spring lawn. And yet, his is a tenderness that exudes from a pure sweet soul. He's always been a tactile boy, clutching at a soft blanket as he runs around the house like a whirling dervish. He learns by doing, and he's doing all the time. One of his favorite activities is reading a book on my lap while one hand absently rubs my knee and other holds my index finger in a tiger's grip and uses it to point to things on the page. "Dat?" he asks, and then answers his own question by telling me what it is. Sometimes I test him, telling him I think a car is a plane, and he laughs like he's in on the joke, saying, "Noooooo, mommy! Blue car!" I tickle the spot where his pulse pounds in his collarbone, and a peel of laughter escapes from his body, making my heart catch in my throat.
He's amazing, this magical boy. He's never met a person he dislikes. His run is wild and carefree, all blonde hair bouncing atop his head and arms reaching out to the stars. Before him, I didn't know it was possible to be born with comic timing, but I could swear he was.
He was born into our home, quite literally, and he instantly filled a space in our family we hadn't realized we'd been holding just for him. He has taught me so much about being a mom, and his dad and sister so much about who they are. We are so lucky to have this boy in our lives.
____________________________________________
Today, we slept in until nearly 7 a.m., a miracle by all accounts. I woke to him and his sister both in my bed, pushing my husband and me to the outermost banks of the mattress. He pulled us downstairs ("Wake up, Mommy!") where we ate homemade blueberry pancakes and eggs from my mom's chickens and banana slices. His sister helped him open 2 gifts on the couch. My camera battery was charging, but they wouldn't be stopped, so I snapped a few pictures with my cell phone instead.
This park outing reignited his love for bubbles and prompted his first 6 word sentence: "I want to go bubbles outside!"
We went to dinner, where he spent most of the time facing over the back of the booth to watch a baby at the table behind us eat. I begged him to sit, and he hopped a few times on the bench, bent and met my eyes and said to me, "I like babies." I caved. Who wouldn't cave when their 2 year old boy says they like babies? My husband and I exchanged meaningful glances over our salad and breadsticks, both of us saying with our eyes, "We like babies too, dammit!".
When I tucked him into bed, he was silly tired. I handed him his favorite blankie and his puppy, and told him I loved him so very much. I said, "Thank you, Mo. You are my magical little boy."
He replied, "You magic, mama."
________________________________________________
Happy Birthday, My Magic Boy.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Birthday Cake
Yesterday Luca woke up throwing up, so Darrick stayed home with her. I kept her and Rohan both home today since I had it off already for my birthday.
After a little shopping and lunch with my mom, the kids fell asleep for naptime. Over that 2 hours, my stomach started to hurt.
By 3:30 I was getting sick. If you know what I mean. And you do.
If you're going to spend your birthday sick, you may as well spend it sick with cuddles from these two:
After a little shopping and lunch with my mom, the kids fell asleep for naptime. Over that 2 hours, my stomach started to hurt.
By 3:30 I was getting sick. If you know what I mean. And you do.
If you're going to spend your birthday sick, you may as well spend it sick with cuddles from these two:
And when Luca overheard me lamenting the fact that I can't have cake on my birthday, she made me one I could pretend to eat. Sand cake with a stick candle, anyone?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
The Birthday Boy.
Yesterday both Rohan and I were sick. I was the kind of sick where my eyes did not want to stay open, my body did not want to move from a prone position, and my mind and mouth could not seem to work in unison. It was not how I wanted to spend Rohan's first birthday, and it was capped off with an evening fever and night sweats.
Rohan seemed to feel much the same, wanting only to sleep and cuddle and sleep some more. So our birthday shenanigans didn't go as planned (big breakfast, park, shopping), and instead we went out to eat and napped around the house. But don't go thinking for one hot second that I failed to photograph his first birthday.
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Rohan seemed to feel much the same, wanting only to sleep and cuddle and sleep some more. So our birthday shenanigans didn't go as planned (big breakfast, park, shopping), and instead we went out to eat and napped around the house. But don't go thinking for one hot second that I failed to photograph his first birthday.
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