Just Like Me

There have been numerous times when I've seen my kids do something or say something and I think to myself "Oh my goodness, that is so me!"  Like yesterday, I was working on cleaning the garage and Dylan was playing in the mess a bit.  David came home and Dylan asked "Who made this mess out here?"  I don't know if David looked guilty or I looked in his direction, but Dylan understood that the mess was Daddy's mess.  So then he looked at David and told him "Daddy, you made this mess, now you should clean up this mess.  It's a big mess and Mommy is cleaning it up.  Mommy works hard to keep this house clean and things in order.  So you can't get out anything else and play until you clean up this mess!"  David and I both couldn't help but to smile and crack a little laugh.  It wasn't so much what Dylan said, but how he said it and the fact that we all knew that Dylan was telling David the exact things I tell Dylan about his own mess and using the same tone I use.  WOW!  If you want to see yourself, just look at your kids as they are often a great reflection for better and for worse.

Then today I'm looking at pictures as I load them on the computer.  I stopped in my tracks when I saw the below picture of Zoe because I knew that little girl all too well.  Of course, I do because she is my daughter, but there was so much more.  In looking at this picture, I saw myself.  In this picture, Zoe has a remarkable resemblance to what I remember myself looking like at her age (my memory is from pictures, of course).

So whether it be physical appearance or personality, Dylan and Zoe are a reflection of their daddy and me.  As David and I rely on our own upbringing along with our values and beliefs, and with the grace of God, I hope our best traits will be those that are most dominant.  I think if Dylan and Zoe can pull in the best of both of us, then they will have no choice but to be pretty amazing people. 

Dylan and Zoe - I hope you will take on all the best traits of Daddy and I.  Always know we're doing our best and working as hard as we can to set a great example for you.  And always remember that Mommy and Daddy aren't perfect so we make mistakes and have flaws.  We hope you'll love us for all of our good and bad parts just as we love you just as you are.  Love, Mommy

Fantastic Fun

This weekend was a wonderful weekend on various fronts, but I'd say the highlight of Dylan's weekend was going back to Carowinds for it's first opening day of 2010!

Last summer David thought it would be a great family outing to get season's passes to Carowinds.  I must admit I had my doubts as it was already almost July and I wasn't sure if our kids would really be old enough to enjoy it.  However, it definitely turned out to be one of the best decisions we made.  We ended up going a ton and definitely got our money's worth from our passes.  It is a great family outing for us and we always have lots of fun.

So this year we all were ready to go as soon as the park opened.  Dylan is a little taller but still isn't able to ride any roller coasters.  This is a constant topic of conversation around here.  Dylan is so ready to ride a big roller coaster.  I look forward to his day coming as I know it will be here before we know it. 

This season Dylan is able to ride just about everything in the kid's area with the exception of the kiddie coaster.  Zoe is still quite limited and while she didn't seem to mind hanging in her stroller with David or me by her side while Dylan rode something last year, this year is proving to be different.  She wants to be able to do whatever Dylan is doing now and she isn't quite old enough to understand that she isn't tall enough. 

This weekend was just a start to some new adventures this year that we look forward to having at Carowinds.

Dylan sporting his Yankees jacket on the swings.  He wouldn't dare look at me because he knew I had the camera.  Look closely David and Zoe are in the background on the left side.

David and Zoe on her favorite ride.  Dylan and I were in front of them, but Dylan screamed out "NO PICTURES, MOMMY!" so I didn't even attempt to take one of him for fear and embarrassment to crash over me even greater than it already had from his loud scream.

Dylan riding the airplane.  I got this great picture before he saw me with the camera.

Zoe wanted to ride in the plane with Dylan.  We weren't sure if he was trying to push her out or if she was just leaning to the side.  Next time she'll be on the inside.

Dylan and Zoe on the train ride. 

The kids insisted we ride the train several times.  Each time Zoe kept making train noises (woo-woo) and moving her one arm up and down like she was pulling the train whistle.  It was too cute.  You can tell she is saying "woo" in this picture.

Dylan's Best Friend

We've had Renoir for about six years now and before Dylan and Zoe, he was our baby.  I often feel a bit ad for our little pug because he has definitely taken a little bit of a back burner since our family has grown.  He's no longer featured on our Christmas cards and usually doesn't make any signature lines.  We love him just the same, of course, but I know Renoir is no longer my best friend or the apple of my eye.  Luckily and thankfully someone else thinks Renoir hangs the moon...it's Dylan.  Dylan has loved Renoir since he came home from the hospital.  Renoir would cuddle up by my feet when I was rocking or feeding Dylan.  When Dylan would sit in his bouncy seat, Renoir would lay on the floor next to him.  And to this day, Dylan always asks where Renoir is and as long as Renoir isn't seeking cover from Dylan then he's usually nearby Dylan.  Dylan can sometimes be a bit much for our pug.  From the time Dylan could walk, he has wanted to hop on Renoir and take a ride as if Renoir were a horse.  Thankfully our little pug has a wonderful temperament and has always let Dylan tug, pull, or whatever on him.  And then when Renoir has had enough, he just leaves the room for a little escape somewhere. 

Usually Dylan doesn't like me to take any pictures of him, but he asked me to take some pictures of him and Renoir like I had when he (Dylan) was a baby.  So of course, I immediately got my camera and the two of them had some fun loving on each other. 

Mommy's Love

To my dearest Dylan and Zoe,
I read this quote today and it describes perfectly how I feel about you. 
With much love,
Mommy

"Before you were conceived, I wanted you

Before you were born, I loved you

Before you were here an hour, I would die for you

This is the miracle of love."

-Maureen Hawkins

My Other Love

The weather the last few days has been beautiful.  It is like spring has finally arrived.  It's been bright and sunny and warm enough to ditch the winter coats.  So the loves of my life and I set off on a walk to go spend time playing in our neighborhood park.  I decided to take this opportunity to practice with "my other love" which is photography. 

So with my professional camera in tow, it was time to play around with all my loves in one setting.  In an hour's time I snapped about 100 photos while playing around with shutter speed, aperture, angles, etc.  I was quickly reminded how different and how much better an SLR camera is!

Dylan didn't protest too much, but most of my shots of him were candid with a long zoom so he didn't notice.  I couldn't have picked a worse time of day either to take natural light pictures.  It was almost noon and the sun was directly overhead.  So some of the pictures don't have the ideal lighting but I loved the looks of the subjects in them.

Here are some of my favorites.  (And of course the first picture in my last post of Zoe is one of the ones at the top of the list.)

Some candids of Dylan as I would sneak up on him from far away.  What a handsome boy!

These are some of my three playing on the slide.  "Hold on!"

My beautiful Zoe who never minds being photographed.

More of my handsome boy.

And a few more of Zoe swinging which is one of her favorite things.

"I love Mama..."

As a mommy my favorite words to hear come out of my kid's mouth is any veriation of "I love you" directed solely at me.  Well I was swept completely away on Saturday morning by Zoe.  I told Zoe "I love you, Zoe" when we were eating breakfast that morning.  I always tell my kids several times a day that I love them.  Sometimes I wonder if they'll grow tired of hearing it, but I want them to always know how much their mommy loves them.  But when I told Zoe this time, it was different.  She smiled her big smile showing off her one precious dimple on her right cheek and those bright blues eyes twinkling as always and then she looked at me and said "I love Mama!"  I was completely smitten with her more than I ever thought possible.  While I know this little one year old girl may not know exactly what the meaning behind her words were, they knocked me off of my feet.  It is truly amazing how three simple words can melt your heart and touch your core.

The rest of the morning Zoe kept saying "I love Mama," "I love Dada," and "I love DD (what she calls Dylan)."  We were all so proud and happy with our baby girl. 

Later that night we had my parents over and my sister's family over for dinner to celebrate my mom's birthday.  While we were all at the table, Zoe started telling everyone that she loved them.  It was like a game that took her role call to the next level.  She would say "I love Bop," "I love Nana," and I'm not quite sure what she is calling Uncle Art or Aunt Deborah and her cousins yet, but it was clear she loved all of them. 

Zoe is truly a girl who has lots of love to give, is full of compassion and has a naturally nourishing and helpful spirit.  We love you, Zoe! 

Argh! Matey!

My little pirates!

Dylan has become a child with quite an imagination.  One of his favorite things to do is to pretend to be a pirate.  As Pirate Dylan he has all kinds of adventures! 

Sometimes he'll wake up and come downstairs to find me and he'll say "Argh!"  Or at dinner, he'll pretend his chair is a boat and it's sinking so he asks "Pirate Mommy, can I come sit in your boat?"   We only pretend to be nice and friendly pirates around here so of course he always gets to sit in my boat and he'll finish his dinner while sitting on my lap. The other morning at breakfast even Zoe held out her arms to me and asked to come sit in my boat.

I don't know where the fascination with pirates started, but once it did Bop and Nana bought Dylan and Zoe a big treasure chest, some pirate dress up things, treasure maps, and coins.  So Dylan and Zoe both like to get the pirate bucket out and have us all be pirates.  We'll talk like pirates and say "Argh!" or "Yo ho ho."  Dylan will make up pirate songs while Zoe dances around in her boat.  Dylan will ask to call Pirate Bop on the phone and tell him that Pirate Mommy won't walk the plank and Pirate Bop needs to come over.  We'll hide the coins and pretend we're going on a mission to find treasure.  Dylan will get out the treasure map and he says "X marks the spot to find the treasure!"  When we find the treasure Zoe just squeals. 

I don't know how long Dylan will keep pretending to be Pirate Dylan and have Zoe joining along, but I hope we'll have lots of treasure in memories from these times.

So here's to Pirate Dylan and Pirate Zoe!  Argh, mateys!

Zoe and Dylan "walking the plank" as they called it.

3 Boys and a Girl!

This weekend we had the opportunity to keep my nephews, Kyle and Alec, for a few hours.  My sister and brother-in-law and David and I have been trading off every other month and watching all the kiddos so the other couple could enjoy a few hours out on a date night with no kids.  I look forward to the times when it is David and my turn to go out, but just as much I look forward to the time I get to spend with Kyle and Alec and have them all to ourselves. 

Kyle(9) and Alec(7) are quite a bit older than Dylan(3) and Zoe(1).   Before we had kids I wondered how they would all play together and if they would enjoy it since there would be such a big difference in their ages.  Time soon told me that there are no issues.  It's amazing how much they all love to see each other and play together.  When the boys arrived, Dylan was screaming and Zoe was squealing with excitement.  They were so happy to see the boys and have them come play.  It's an interesting dynamic watching them all play together.  Kyle takes on the role of the protector of Dylan and Alec takes on the role of the protector of Zoe.  It's so much fun to watch them all play and interact. 

One thing for sure is that boys will be boys and when you have a house full of three of them, well you know there will be some rough housing.  And don't feel bad for Zoe.  She wasn't left out at all.  She jumped right in like one of the boys!

Kyle being the oldest, he did take a little time out to himself and played his DS.  That's when I was able to get some one on one time in.  I let him tell me about the Star Wars Lego game he was playing.  I have to soak these moments up while I can because he will be 10 next month!

While Kyle played his DS, Alec got out Dylan's doctor's kit and played like he was the doctor and gave check ups to Dylan and Zoe.  Then Zoe brought her favorite baby doll over for a check up too.  I loved watching their pretend play.

We let our kids stay up a little late and Kyle and Alec both read stories to the kids.  Alec usually helps put Zoe to bed and Kyle usually helps put Dylan to bed.  Then once we all got back downstairs, Deborah and Art shortly arrived.  Our time passed quickly and the house seemed so much larger and quieter when they left. 

I feel blessed to have some family so near that we are able to see with some regularity.  Sometimes I wish Dylan and Zoe had all of their cousins so near.  But having family near and far makes life more interesting and will create lots of different memories and bonds for our kids.