BJ's 1st Day of Preschool

We have a preschooler, crazy to think he is already old enough for school, but he is.  We really struggled with whether or not to send him, given it will be 2 years til kindergarden (the age cutoff is 5 by October 1st, so he'll be one of the oldest in his class).  Then we struggled with where to send him. . . there are tons of options, church based, private, charter, public, but in the end we decided we really wanted him at our neighborhood school.  We don't think sending him to private/charter/Christian schools "shelters" him anymore than the others, and we want to focus on character training in the home, not at school.  It was hard to decide, and whatever anyone else decides for themselves, I don't disagree. . .Plus, it is a 5 minute walk (with and without a 3 year old) Today was his first day of preschool.  He'll be attending Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.  There are lots of boys in his class although he said he didn't make any friends today, just played by himself, with a MONSTER truck!!  I suspect it will take some time since a lot of the kids have been attending around 3 weeks by now.  BUT, he says he has to go back because "I LOVE it!"  He played on the playground, played letter Bingo, and wrote his name!  I asked what he had for snack and he said, "the thing you packed in my backpack"- evidently ants on a log aren't that exciting.  Here are his first day of school pics. . .

 How excited are you to go to preschool?  "This much!!"

 Complete with Lightening McQueen backpack

 Walking to school

 Coyote Creek Elementary

Anika at 12 months

Nicknames: sister, Little Miss, sweet girl, sweet baby, Baby Anika

Weight &  Height: 18 lb 6 oz, 28 " long, both around the 25%

Hair: getting blonder daily with the length mostly in the front

Favorite foods: anything her brother eats :), puffs, fruit, bread, breastmilk

Favorite toys: sweet small blanket my sister made her, anything BJ is playing with, cars, a magnetic block set, her princess car

Favorite stuffed animal: she's really not into them much right now
Bedtime: 7 p.m.

Wake-up time: 6:30 a.m.

Naps: AM hour to hour and a half, afternoon 2 hours, sometimes more

Favorite person: BJ, Angie, Mommy, Daddy

Latest Accomplishment: walking- she loves to walk and to crawl up the stairs (but still doesn't know how to get down)
Likes: being with people, being carried, playing with BJ, swimming

Dislikes: being left alone

What she is saying: she loves to have a conversation with anyone in her baby gabber, says a lot of mamamama but not sure its something specific

What gets said about Anika most often: how much she looks like Mommy

Fears: being left alone

Health: she has done great- a few colds, still no signs of food allergies :)

How she's like Daddy: she loves to ride/drive cars/bikes etc.
How he's like Mommy:  her looks, her temper- she quickly gets frustrated and lets you know about it!

 We love our sweet baby girl!  She has been a blessing to all of us.  You are amazing, and I love to see how you grow daily. . .

Angie and Anika with Angie's beautiful canvas she made for her. . .

 BJ's gift to Anika- her princess car to match his Diego car. . .

 Hanging out, watching a quick movie

 Reading a book with Grammy in pigtails :)

 Anika by the month for her birthday

 Her birthday "cake"

 "Do you love it Baby Anika?" 

 Chowing down on her birthday cupcake

 She loved it . . .

The Family on her birthday at the cabin

12 months of Anika

I can't believe our sweet girl is one!!  We celebrated while on vacation at the lake, so I'll send details later, but thought I would give you her pics through the year.  We love you Anika, you are an amazing addition to our life!  

Birth

 1 week or so

 few weeks or so

 1 month

2 months

3 months

 4 months

 5 months

 6 months

 7 months

 8 months

 9 months

 10 months

 11 months

 At one year,won't stay still for a pic!

Quick phone pics

So I need to get some stuff done around my house, but here are some sweet phone pics from recently:

We headed over to Arts on Fire a few weeks ago and painted pottery- Brandon and BJ are making coasters:

BJ loving that he can push his little sister in the swing:

Hanging out in Anika's room- I like this pic, even though they are both serious.  It's simple and cute. 

BJ's self made costume for Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A.  It earned him free chickens!! 

 My sweet baby sleeping one morning.

My inspiration

Most of you who know me know that I'm fairly dedicated to fitness.  Not in the crazy over- taking my world way, but that I have consistently worked out 4-6 times a week since college.  Which, to some seems pretty minimal, but let me tell you, you have to be dedicated and creative to work out through medical school, residency,pregnancy, kids. I guess I just see a lot of people who have given up working out through the above list.  I work out for many reasons- I do like it, it keeps me sane, and makes it so I can occasionally splurge on things like brownies, etc.  But recently I've been hearing a clinking noise while working out.  A sweet little clink that reminds me of 2 other reasons I work out.  The clink? My Tiny Tags necklace.  Sure, they are trendy, and simple, and probably not the best accessory for EVERYTHING, but I like the clink.  It reminds me whether on the bike, running, or in the pool, 2 special reasons I work out. . .my sweet kiddos.  So if you see me with my necklace and like one of my recent patients want to say "Yeah, I have that necklace, everyone on my street does, " maybe just maybe stop and think- maybe mine is unique and special.  Mine clinks :)

The Incredible Edible. . .

EGG!  BJ passed his egg challenge today, which means he can have eggs pretty much in any form (except raw of course)!  We celebrated by having breakfast for dinner- (I had planned on a quiche, but the day was too full to have that in a timely manner- maybe next week).  He's decided he likes them scrambled and overeasy, but not hard boiled.  In case you think I went overboard in trying them, he had scrambled at the challenge, over easy tonight (mostly without the yoke), and Anika had hard boiled :)  She didn't particularly like the hard boiled either.  It is such a blessing to be down to one allergen to think about.  Otherwise we are trying to take advantage of summer- the pool, the splash pad (AKA: sprinkle park to BJ), squirter guns, water balloons, nature hikes, camping in the backyard, the whole nine yards.  Given that Anika still takes 2 naps a day, I try to come up with something creative to do at home for our adventures, and we've been having a great time!  Love it!! We're working on a list of summer goals, so hopefully it will be a great summer!

Anika is now crawling, standing, and cruising- she is growing so fast.  She is starting to have opinions and a little attitude herself but is still such a sweet girl!

Backyard camping

 Sibling love!

 Eggs and pancakes for dinner!

 Anika, crusing at 10 months!

 Love that smile!

What I hope my kids will remember about me. . .

I have been thinking a lot lately- with Obama supporting gay marriage, the Times article about attachment parenting, my own criticisms of never being perfect. . .  as much as I have some strong opinions about much of the above, and other "hot" topics, I think it is sad that we use these issues to beat up verbally (or in prose) on each other.  The title of Times article "Are you Mom enough?" suggesting that somehow those who attachment parent are more moms than the rest of us is so interesting to me.  I have a lot of arguments myself on the topic- but since I haven't read the article and really didn't get on tonight to discuss the utility of nursing and to what age, I thought of a different perspective.  What do I hope my kids remember about me?  Here is a start of a list:

-Not that I went to church on a regular basis, but that I loved God and prayed for our family daily.
-Not that I never fought with their dad or got irritated, but that I continued to pursue him, my love, everyday of our lives.
-Not that I was home or worked or how I spent all of my time, but how I spent it when I was with them.
-Not that there were some nights I came home from work after they went to bed, but that I was always willing to sleep in their bed with them on the "bad" nights.
-Not that I always had the answer, but that I would always listen.
-Not that I was "skinny," but that I was active, and never stopped moving.
-Not that the world centered around them, but that I taught them how to have balance in life.
-Not that dinner was always amazing, but it was always together as a family.
-Not that I made them eat their veggies or limited sugar, but that they knew how to eat healthfully, to fuel themselves for the day.
-Not that my house was amazing, clean, or always picked up, but it was always ours.
-Not that I was strict, but that I taught them how to be smart in this scary world.
-Not that they had to live up to my expectations, but that they were special because they were mine.
-Not that I didn't make mistakes, but how I fixed them when I did make them.
-Not that I could do everything, but that I always tried.
-Not that my love is perfect, but that God's is.
-Not that I could protect them from everything, but that I taught them to defend themselves.
-Not that they should be afraid of the enemy, but that they would be individuals, that when they rise from bed in the morning, Satan would say "Shoot, they're up!"
-Not that I always loved every moment of every day, but that I always loved being their mom.

We do so much as parents because we want so much more for our kids, and we do the best we can, everyday, according to what we believe is best for them.  I want my kids to grow up to see the deeper meaning in all of it, and if I remember to live that way on a daily basis-it doesn't really matter who's parenting technique is right or if we never make mistakes. As I said, this is a start to the list, not the whole thing.

BJ and Anika, I am amazingly blessed to be your mom, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  There are days where I am scared about the future, scared that I won't do the right thing, or will be unable to protect you- but I will always love you- no matter what.  I plan to spend everyday God gives us together trying to teach you of His love and mine, so that you will never doubt how much we love you and how special you are to us.  God has entrusted you both to me, and I pray He is honored with how I take care of His little blessings.
Love Mommy