Mamazen

41 months

My dear Lucy,

You are now 41 months old, and so very sassy! You are so smart, and know exactly what you want and how you want it. Sometimes you are so ridiculous I can't help but laugh (on the inside). One day you cried and raged at the world because daddy packed Ruby's lunch in the orange lunch box not the green lunchbox. "BUT it says R for Ruby on the green lunch box and L for Lucy on the orange lunch box and don't you know orange is my favorite because yellow is my favorite color?" Trust me on this, Lucy, daddy won't make that mistake again. 

You are so in love with McKay still. You want to be just like him, and do all the things that a 12 year old boy can do. You talk about him almost every day, and make him presents all the time. He graciously loves you back and it's so very sweet. 

One day I caught you laying on top of mabel, and when i asked you to stop you said 'It's ok mama! I'm giving her adjustments!' We had to have a talk about who was aloud to give adjustments after that. 

You say the funniest things. Here are some highlights: You only want to eat the 'wobbly' french fries. When you get annoyed with Ruby you shout at her "Stop looking at me!" or "stop talking to me!" (even when we aren't talking to you). You used to call strawberries "SLAWberries" but you figured out how to say it and now you won't go back. 

When you get excited or frustrated you start talking so fast and everything is "because"… like "i went to the bathroom because i had to wash my hands because i was outside because it was cold and because i wanted to play with Jake" It's so adorable.

 

We went to a Christmas lights display and you LOVED it. You and Ruby ran around shouting about all the different colors and which ones were your favorite (yellow, of course)

You love doing stuff as a 'whole family'.

 

We have lots of meet ups and play dates with Cormac and Flannery. 

OMSI is always a win.

 

Sometimes in the car you and Ruby are BFF. Sometimes the longest car rides are longer than I can handle. 

 

We went to Auntie Bugs for a big family chirstmas party. You read some books to Nana and Gpa. 

We also left cookies out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. It was pretty exciting to see that they had eaten them in the morning!

You are a sweet sweet elf, little Lucy!

Christmas morning was so much fun with you! you were so happy to give your daddy and sisters presents. 

You got a REAL tool set for Christmas and went straight to work helping daddy to assemble your new rocker board.

 

Dressing the same makes you SO happy. You like to choose Ruby's clothes (she doesn't care as much as you do) so that you both have things that are the same, even if it's just both leggings and shirts. 

 

For new years eve we went to a dance party. 

 

You can cut a serious rug, kiddo. 

 

It SNOWED!

You absolutely loved being pulled in the sled

It was cold, but so much fun!

Eventually you took a turn pulling me and Mabel on the sled! Go go go!

And you pulled Ruby around too. 

 

You are SO TALL. You are already and inch and a half taller than Ruby was at 4, and you're only 3.5! 

 

You guys love each other so very much. 

You love going to the zoo, and you LOVE the elephants!

 

You and Ruby and Cormac have so much fun together, even though sometimes you drive each other mad (like when someone throws snow at your face)

My darling Lucy, being your mama is so much fun. You are funny and kind and so very smart. You make me smile and laugh and yell and cry, but you at the end of the day, I am so happy that you are mine and I am yours. 

All my heart, Mama

14 months

Dear Mabel,

You are now 14 months old, time is flying by and I feel like I can hardly keep up with how much you are changing! You are ALMOST walking, but you just aren't there yet. You've started pushing things around the floor, and you stand alone all the time but you have yet to take that first step. 

You are getting so chatty and playful! You love playing peekaboo, we ask "where's mabel?"  and you reply "a dere!" You are into exploring everything around you, mostly to pull things out of drawers, throw things around and look under everything. You are relatively cautious but so curious!

 

You are still taking 2 naps a day. Usually one mid day and a cat nap while I make dinner. By 1 year both of your sisters were only napping 1x a day (and they were relatively short naps!) but you are still needing 2. 

 

You tried to help daddy fix something under the sink. It was pretty cute, but not actually helpful. 

 

Lucy loves being your big sister, and picking you up, or pushing you around (for better or worse!)

 

We went to a christmas light show, and you were moderately impressed. By 'moderately impressed' I mean that you dozed off a few times and didn't scream at me. 

 

It's winter break so we are having lots of fun outings. You love OMSI! 

Hanging with your BFF Flannery

I love that your head and the water have the same swirl.

Mmmmmmmm germs!

 

We had a belated birthday celebration at Auntie Bug's house during our family christmas. You loved the candles and cake!

Lucy is so in love with you (and Ruby!) and kisses you every morning, and hugs you anytime you are sad (even when it's her fault!)

You three are sometimes like the 3 Muskateers, inseparable.

 

You helped me wrap some Christmas presents. It was less than helpful. 

We all had matching PJs for Christmas Eve! I never thought I would be THAT mom, but I guess I am. 

You helped wrap, and unwrap!

You also helped lay out cookies for Santa, and snuck one for yourself!

You apparently love doing laundry. At least someone does. 

It SNOWED!

You were less than impressed with how cold it was. 

But I kept you snuggled up and you realized it could be fun.

Your sisters had a blast on the sled!

And eventually you did too!

 

You are SUCH a lover. You are happy and friendly and hug everyone you love. It's the most precious thing I've ever seen. 

 

You absolutely LOVE going to the zoo and seeing the elephants. 

So do your sisters and Cormac.

Flannery is your BFF. She and her family come for taco Tuesday every week and you are both so happy to see each other every time. You hug each other and laugh and are so silly. 

My darling Mabel, watching you grow has been so much fun. Your personality is contagious and delightful. Even when you sleep on my neck or crawl on my head you are still nothing but a joy. I can't wait to see what's next. 

All my heart, Mama

 

40 months

Dear Lucy, 

You are now 40 months old. You are growing with leaps and bounds! you are maturing SO fast socially! 

We went on a bowling adventure with your preschool, you had a BLAST. (so did your sisters!) You were pretty excited to see your friends and roll a HUGE ball down the ramp.  

Your preschool teachers send pictures every day of the things you are doing and learning. Mostly you love art and getting messy. (which is just what you should be doing at 3!)

You also love learning to help with things like cutting and cooking!

\

You learned to make applesauce at school! you also love eating it. :)

Building airports and train stations is also a big favorite. 

as is playing with water beads or dirt, or splashing in puddles in your wetsuit. 

Storytime isn't your favorite, though i don't know why, since you love listening to books at home. Maybe it's because you want to run and jump and get messy. 

The rumpus room is a favorite at preschool too! I wish we had a dedicated rumpus room at home, but you make due with the couches and swing in the living room. 

 

 

You got a new booster seat. You had to give up your mimi (pacifier) and leave it just for bedtime or nap time, but it was a fair trade because a new booster seat is pretty cool.

 

Train dates are still all the rage. <3

 

snuggling with you BFF Ruby is one of your favorite things. You both love hot cocoa and chilling under blankets on the couch. 

 

You discovered 'hair goop' and want to use it all the time. There are not enough baths in the world for me to let you have it every day. 

 

I love sleeping with you every night. I may not love the 4 am 'shove my head onto your head' ritual but i do love waking up to your face every day. 

 

Ruby is totally your best friend. Often you fight and annoy each other but there is SO much love between the two of you. 

 

You are still such a mama's girl. As long as you can put your hand in my shirt, you can find comfort. 

 

Most days you get in your pjs as soon as humanly possible. Usually that's long before dinner. 

Often you get very very messy before it's actually bedtime. And go through multiple pairs of PJs in a day. Good thing I like doing laundry. ;)

 

I gave you a hair cut. You looked like a vulcan. Sorry! From now on it's pro cuts only for you!

 

We went to Plumper Farms to pick out a tree! It was rainy and muddy and a perfect Oregon day. 

You guys wanted a big big BIG tree. We chose one the would fit in the house. 

We hung all the stockings and decorated the tree and it was a perfect lovely day (with lots of whining and wine)

 

Then we went to Alpenrose dairy with some friends. 

You got stuck in a house.

And were silly with the big kids. 

So i threw you all in kid jail. 

 

Then we went to visit Santa.

I swear you guys were having fun, but this was pretty much the best picture ever. 

The three of you are such a perfect complete package of sisterhood. 

 

 

You were not super impressed  with Santa either way.

but you certainly loved Ruby's enthusiasm!

You are such a fun kid, my Lucy Mae.  You make ma laugh every day, and you make everything so memorable. You are filled with love and laughter at every turn, when you're not screaming and demanding that everything is done EXACTLY as you want it to be. Thankfully you are sometimes relatively flexible (as a middle child needs to be) and you can let your sisters needs be met on occasion. Thank you for reminding me what its like to be in the middle, I grew up there and know it can be hard. 

You amaze me every day. 

All of my  heart, Mama

 

39 months

Dear Lucy,

You are now 39 months old. You are a complete delight, and a 3 year old, just as described in the books. Speaking of books, you LOVE books. You love looking at books and being read to, though you seem to want to hear the same books over and over and over. Yeah, I know it's a thing for all kids but really, I'm getting bored. 

 

You are totally a mama's girl. Don't get me wrong, you love your daddy, but you're pretty much my little shadow, and you rarely let me leave the house without you. 

You don't really nap anymore, but when you do, 

It's epic. 

 

You love your sisters, but you also don't let them pull any punches with you. Moments like these can quickly turn into screaming matches, and you know who never wins? MY EARS. 

We've been taking a lot of trips to the zoo, often with Cormac and Flannery and Catherine.

Roar little lions!

Leo, through and through.

This is totally you, 100%.

Anything cormac tries to do, you copy. You learn lots of new skills when hanging out with friends!

 

HALLOWEEN!

You (just like Ruby before you) love decorating.(and wearing pajamas)

We celebrated Halloween with Chloe and her family. Aaron made fancy halloween juice!

You dressed as a dragon, your Nana made you the best costume and you ROARed all over the neighborhood. 

I went as a jellyfish, which was helpful since it was cold and wet and dark. 

 

On non rainy days we go hiking

or running through the parks

Or we look at local wildlife

And look for frogs.

 

We also try to find all the best places to get ice cream that both you and Ruby can eat. We shared your first banana split!

 

You've been doing a lot of play dough, this was making pizza!

 

You have redeveloped a sweetness toward Mabel, which is so nice after some rough times this summer. 

 

One day you announced that you wanted a hammer. I told you where to find the wooden hammer, and you brought it to me with a look of disgust and said " THIS? This is a TOY" … I guess we are going to get you some tools for Christmas. 

 

Taking colored baths is all the rage these days. and using pool toys.

 

Sometimes a girl really needs to snuggle her sister. <3

 

Or her mama.  We still rock to sleep every night after books. Although it's hard to carry your 40 lbs to bed every night, I'll rock you to sleep until you tire of it. Life it too short, and kids grow up too fast to do otherwise. 

 

You LOVE train dates. We try to have a date at least twice a month, and you always want to ride the train somewhere.

Taking you places is so much fun, you are so funny and silly and sweet. 

 

You are so so so funny. Sometime you say things like "I need something to chew on, like chocolate" or "I need some gum, my teeth feel wobbly!"

Mabel had a birthday and you loved wrapping presents for her!

 

You absolutely LOVE preschool. You ask every morning if you get to go to school today. I hope you always have a love of school and learning and play. Your best buddies at school are Jake and Mira, and you love doing the teeter totter with Jake every day. 

 

My sweet Lucy, you are a dream come true. Somedays you are so challenging but you help me to be a more patient and loving mother with your wit and honesty. Your smile lights up a room, and your laughter is contagious. 
Never stop being you. All my love, Mama