My Love Bugs

My Love Bugs
Mary Rose, Cameron, and John Charles

Thursday, December 30, 2010

I'm Famous ;)

I was making Mary waffles with her new waffle maker from Santa and when 1st one was done I was decorating it as usual with whip cream.  Then she says "can you put eyelashes on the eyes mom?".  I replied, "Mary I am not sure if I can do that?"...she comes back with "Mom you can do it, your the most famous mom of all"!!!!   Oh how that made me smile and warmed my heart ;)  XOXO Love you my Rose

Sunday, December 26, 2010

I don't wanna grow up!

Over Christmas dinner I told John "you need to eat your turkey honey, that is what helps your muscle get strong & you grow bigger"...his response, "well mom your the one who told me you want me to stop growing and stay little so I am not eating the turkey".   How sweet is he remembering many of our rocking chair conversations when I have told him "can you stop growing, I just want you to stay little".  Love you John Charles...you make me laugh & smile everyday!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Happy Holidays

Cane Stripe Black Christmas
View the entire collection of cards.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Johnny loves me Much!

John just says from the playroom "Mom, I love you", I walk in and say "well I love you more",(this is an on-going exchange we have daily) and then he replies "I love you much, and just so you know much means someone loves you more than they love you"...he melts me ♥

Johnny loves me Much!

John just says from the playroom "Mom, I love you", I walk in and say "well I love you more",(this is an on-going exchange we have daily) and then he replies "I love you much, and just so you know much means someone loves you more than they love you"...he melts me ♥

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Their lil minds...

Johnnys runs down to the basement where I am doing laundry and with excitement says "mom I know Mary's ending name?"...you do John, what is it?   He mutters out our last name (not with great pronunciation but I knew what he was saying) and I laughed and smiled and said "well you know what that is your ending name too", he says with confidence "I know it's everyone in this families ending name"...I JUST love him!!!!   These moments and the things they say and think...I treasure <3

Monday, October 18, 2010

~KINDERGARTEN~

OK so I am super late with this but still taking it all in!  Mary started Kindergarten at St. Pius X school this September.  We were all so excited!  We made a few trips to the store to find unform clothes.  Mary initially was not very happy about wearing blue and white, because according to her blue is a boy color.  However, when she saw the skirt and dress (jumper) she could wear she was happy and loving this uniform thing!  We went in late August and had a school bus orientation...this was fun and got Mary excited and made her (and me) feel comfortable about the bus.  She was all set with her backpack & lunch bag (she earned them when she got her 5 year shots!).  We bought all the school supplies and went armed and ready to kindergarten orientation.  It was an emotional day for Chuck and I.  We were both teary eyed as the prinicpal spoke to the large group of parents and Mary was busy meeting her classmates and having fun with her teachers. 
It was the night before the big day and Mary was so excited and I had mixed emotions but was so HAPPY she was looking forward to this and eager to ride the bus.  She had her outfit picked out and was smiling all night ;)

The morning came and her favorite breakfast was ready and waiting...waffles and banana cakes (banana slices topped w/ peanut butter, sprinkles, and chocolate chips...mommy's creation) and lunch being made.  Grandma (my mother) came in from Buffalo the night before so she could see Mary get on the bus.  Even Johnny was excited!


So the paparazzi was in full affect that morning (that would be me!) and we took lots of pictures, we were all happy, excited and smiling ;)







Then Mary gave out hugs and kisses to everyone...I squeezed her so tight and we were fine until the bus door closed and then drove away and Chuck & I lost it, truly lost it.  We hugged eachother so tight and cried and cried as the neighbors and my mom and Johnny watched.  I can feel it all again writing this and tears are welling up.  My baby girl just got on a bus and now someone else gets to play a huge role in helping to prepare my sweet daughter for life.  Until now, the last 5 years it has been Chuck and I in full force, raising our babies and doing everything we believed was right to provide, protect,and prepare them for life.  We made huge financial sacrifices so I could primarily be home with them, Chuck had a "daddy" day during the week when I worked, we waited 2 years before anyone could watch them that was not my mom and we were raising our children the best we knew how, so we were doing it all as Chuck said from day 1 "with no instructions".  So as I sit here with tears in my eyes, we DID make all the right choices, it was worth every penny we went without, all the late nights and long days, being with my girl these last 5 years.  The moment she got on that bus I knew...And off she went happy, confident, smiling, strong, kind, and beautiful and I could not have been more proud!!!



And yes we were the parents who then showed up at school to see her get of the bus!  But we had to (my excuse..hahha), Mary had gym the 1st day of school and she was NOT (as far as she was concerned) wearing that gym uniform on her 1st day, she was wearing her new dress!  So I had to go and change her before school started (on gym days they wear their gym uniform all day).  I may have been more nervous about this day then she was and being there when she arrived eased my nerves. 



I then had to go off to work for rest of the day until school was out.  I was crying on and off all day and on top of this special day my nephew was in the PICU at Childrens Hospital, my brothers dog and best friend of 14 years died, and my best friends dog was very sick...so I was a MESS.  Note to self...take off of work on Johnny's 1st day of school when he heads off to kindergarten next year!  Made it through the day and was so excited to have a happy, smiling Mary Rose run off the bus into my arms!


 As promised she could pick where we celebrated and had dinner...off to Applebee's we went ;)



So the 1st day was a GREAT day and so was the entire 1st week.  Mary came home tired and hungry but no melt downs (which I was expecting and most people say that happens and Mary "melts" easier than most kids) and my favorite quote at the end of her 1st day, Mary said "Mom kindergarten is rockin"!  Here are a few more photos from her 1st week.  Mary Rose I am so proud of you and the big girl you have become and amazed by all you are learning!  Just last week, at dinner, Mary recited the Pledge, The Our Father, and then showed us all how she can count by 10's to 100.  She is spelling her full name, tells you where she lives and her ph #. And at the end of last week, she mastered being able to tie her shoes ;)   Love you more than Rainbows Mary Rose Swiderski , Mommy XOXO







Friday, August 27, 2010

John John

While making cookies I asked Johnny as he was putting the morsels in 1 by 1 "could you be any cuter?"...he replys "I don't know how to that, but when I am older I can".  Love him!!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Outta the mouth of babes...

Johnny: "Mom does the world end?"
Me: "Why buddy?"
Johnny "cuz Mary said the world ends, but God never dies, and he watches the world, so it can't end"
♥ the way he thinks ;)

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

My lil Red Head...

My Mary Rose, when they 1st handed her to me they said "she is a red head".  I thought, "how", "what"...and she was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on.  I later found out my Grandpa I never met had red hair and my older brother grows some red hairs in his beard.  The color has never changed in 5 years and everytime we are out, someone commnets on her hair.  The first 2 years of her life she was pretty much bald.
Here she is a few days old, as precious as ever!!!  Well when she finally grew some hair it was so exciting!!! We trimmed her bangs and then a year later decieded to grow them out.  She was finally getting "long" hair.  Problem was she did not grow up with pony tail or clips in her hair because she had none...so now she did NOT like anything in her hair or having it brushed.  Sometimes we managed a headband.
This was Mary in May...lots of red locks!   So for a month she has been BEGGING for a haircut and a short one like one of her friends.  I did NOT want to cut it, I loved it and we talked about growing it to donate to locks of love.  Well she was sweating so bad this summer and REFUSED a ponytail and I gave in and we can grow it again....so here is Mary's 1st big girl haircut, all ready for kindergarten....


and she LOVES it and so do we, so does everyone!  She looks so grown-up and all ready for kindergarten (mixed emotions as her mommy!).   I love you Mary Rose, my sweet lil red head ;)  XOXO
I love you more than Rainbows Rose!

Monday, August 2, 2010

A couple cute kids say a couple cute things...

JOHNNY:
Johnny and I snuggled up watchin Old Yeller together (one of his FAVORITE movies)...here are a few things he said to me:
"Mom they are all riding horses cuz they ran out of cars"
"Mom just hold my hand I will protect you"
"Mom doesn't the older brother kinda look like the dad?"
...OK how cute is here, where do they come up with this stuff???

MARY:
Mary's new FAVORITE things to say:
"why do I have to do everything you say, I can't wait until I am 17"
"I wish I was 10, then it would be easier"
...oh my sweet girl life gets hard as you get older, ENJOY this time!!!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Mary earns her badge of courage

My Mary has always be a fearful little girl filled with worry and anxiety.  Recently I got some books from the library (fun kids book on these topics) to read with her and maybe help.  Well up until this past weekend Mary was very afraid of the water, never wants in on her face (even during bath time) and nervous in the pool, and she would not even think of going on a boat of anykind.   Well 4th of July she put on a life jacket and said I wanna go on the boat with everyone (and I looked at my brother in law and said no way she is going!)...but there she went and got right on without a care in the world. 


 Usually just asking her if she wants to go on the boat involves her crying and shaking saying "no mom please I dont want to".  Her fears and worry have always broken my heart and I worried for her as she heads to kindergarten this year and as she gets older.  Some of my worries have now subsided ;)  Then on Monday July 5th the AMAZING happened...she learned to swim all by herself, jumped in under water, and swim underwater....WOW!!!!!!!!  




 She said she went to Oz and got her badge of courage ;)   Oh and one more thing...she hates band-aids, hates them on and will NOT let you take them off, her 5 year shot band-aid was on a month and finally fell off in pool.  Well, this week she had a little boo-boo and then next day said watch mom and she just took it right off, I almost fell over!!!  I am so PROUD of you Mary Rose and you continue to fill my heart with such joy & love XOXO

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

PRAYERS PLEASE

It is late and I am a tired and worried mom.  This is not about a memory or a moment.  It is about my Mary and the "spots" she has been getting since she was very young.  She has been breaking out in LARGE/mulitshaped hives since she was ~1 1/2 and along with it the hives usually swell and are enlarged at the joints.  Took LOTS of trips to dr, dermatologist, and allergist and a couple years ago finally diagnosed her with autoimmune urticaria.  In simple terms, she has antibodies in her blood that are allergic to her skin.  Various things can cause outbreaks, usually illness is a big one.  I have always been worried and concerned from day one and esp. b/c of the severe swelling at the joints.  It can last days and meds don't seem to help.  Well my Mary had an outbreak couple weeks ago and they did bloodwork again.  Her allergist called our house tonight to tell us that her bloodwork was positive for Rheumatoid Factor...I almost dropped the phone and started crying silent tears.  Ok so explain!!!   He says yes this can be a factor present in rheumatoid arthristis or lupus but does not mean she has either.  OK so now what as I am scared!!!  He says watch her, document any joint pain/complaints or any limping and we will see her in 6 months and repeat bloodwork unless she has outbreak before then, then bring her in.  REALLY I have to sit with this info for 6 months and just wait and see if my daughter gets symptoms?????   I am calling my pediatrician in the am and seeing if she can tell me more and maybe refer me to someone else for another opinion or maybe see a Rheumatologist?   I am scared and can't go to sleep...maybe I am afraid I will wake up and she will tell me her knees hurt?!  She does now and then complain "oh my legs hurt I can not walk up the stairs"...and I think she is just being whiny and not wanting to listen?  What if she has been in pain all along?  I am a mom beating myself up right now and so scared and sad and PRAYING so hard that my baby girl is just fine...PLEASE God, please!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Mommy's Day


So we went to Buffalo for Mother's day this year and the last and only other time we went there on Mother's day, was when I went into preterm labor and Johnny was born prematurely.   Wow we have come a long way since then, but what a very tough time that was ;(

And just look at him now healthy as a horse ;)  Below is him on Mother's day morning and he yells "look ma, I am a super hero!"

So I was a little hesitant to go to Buffalo this year for Mother's day, but I had my Godson's 1st communion, dinner with friends, and the kids have never been to the cemetary on Mother's day to visit with their Grandma (my husband's mom) so off we went but I still felt uneasy.   Mary was curious about what a cemetary was so we told her it is a park where you go to talk with people who have died and she was so excited and says "so will heaven be right above the cemetary?!"  How sweet is she?  Here she is praying and talking to her grandma...
 So my mommy's day morning I woke up with Mary snuggled up next to me and she says "Mom, you are so pretty and precious and I love you more than cats today (and if you know Mary that is saying a lot!) but God is still first, so Happy Mother's Day mommy"...and as she hugs and loves me she says "your just my favorite girl mom I love you so much!"
So that was the BEST part of my day and Johnny loving me up all day.  Mary was off all day and had 3 melt downs throughout the day, I was off and I think we all just wnated to be home.  So next year I will be HOME...cuz there is no place like HOME!!!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

My Healthy Heros





Ever since a well check at the Dr. for Mary and hearing us talking about healthy habits, Mary has been a healthy hero and helping Johnny be one too!  At every mealtime she now asks "what is healthy on my plate and what is the healthiest?"  She aviods unhealthy things now ;)  Mary told Johnny after the Dr. visit, "John milk and water are now our drink choices, juice will be a treat once in a while".  She will tell you to aviod sugar and yesterday at breakfast told Johnny "you need 5 fruits and vegetables a day so make a choice".  Johnny is catching on and it is cute and makes me proud.  It is my job as their mommy to be a good example and teach them healthy habits.  I did not grow up having a healthy relationship with food and now have my own struggles b/c of it.  I hope I am giving my precious children the tools to be healthy and form good habits that will last a lifetime!



Tonight at dinner we enjoyed the 1st corn on the cob of the season and Mary was so proud to eat some b/c it was healthy, I was so proud!   What a fun dinner we had tonight, bbque chicken, mac salad, bbque beans, strawberries, and corn on the cob..YUMMY and HEALTHY!
We enjoyed a fun and active eveing outside and I enjoyed a few moments watchin it all as I sat on my front porch, soaking in all the sunshine and beautiful sights of my children playing...I am so blessed XOXO


My beautiful dog Cameron, our "1st kid"
and my view from my front porch...a moment I enjoyed to the fullest!

What a fun evening we had together.  I loved watching you ride your bikes/scooter, splash in puddles from someone emptying their pool, collecting rocks, and doing cartwheels on the front lawn.  Thanks for our moments together tonight, although I missed you while I worked, the night was ours!  Goodnight and sweet dreams John & Mary, mommy loves you more than rainbows, my healthy little love bugs!!!  XOXO

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

My handsome lil man...

There is a boy, his name is John, and he has my heart & soul...just look at him ;)  There is nothing like having a little boy to love you and make you feel special.  John often throughout the day, at random will tell me "momma, I love you" or "mom, your so beautiful" or just hug and kiss me in the middle of dinner...my lil momma's boy that is for sure XO

Mary and her babies...

While driving home from a school the other day Mary says "mom, I wonder what names I want for my babies someday?  Since I can not get married until I am 30 (I told her this!) it will be a long time before I have babies, so I like Jacqueline & Gabriella, can you write those down mom and hide them in a safe place so I have them for after my wedding!?"...where does she get this stuff?!
My Mary Rose...

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Johnny and his wit...

Tonight while on a walk Johnny was riding his new big boy scooter and I said "slow down buddy so you don't get hurt" and he stops, looks back and says with all his cuteness "But Ma thats the way this scooter been made!"...few minutes later he says "Ah, man this scooter is difficult, I need a break and some water"...wish you could hear his cute voice and his little southern accent (due to his speech difficulties).

Then we were makeing mom's day cards and as he drew on his Godmother's I gave him some ideas what to draw and he looks up and says "Ma I will draw whatever I will make!"

Love you John John XOXO

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Mary's imaginary friend...

Today is my late sister's Bday.  She died less than 48 hours after she was born.  She was my mother's 1st child and her name was Mary.  She was born almost 3 months early, her due date was July 14th (ironically my bday!)  Back then they did not have the technology and advances they do now to save babies born early.  A few hospitals did, but not the one she was at ;(   I found out about Mary as a young girl and was so sad God took my sister from me.  I am the middle child with a older & younger brother, so I so could have used a sister and these days I am sad from time to time about it, I will never know the joy of having a sister.  Guess that is why I have 3 sister in-laws and funny enough 1 is named Mary and she married my brother, so she is Mary Totaro (my maiden name so same exact name as my sister!).   From the day I found out about Mary I knew I would name my daughter Mary if I had one and I knew I would grow up and care for childern.  I have a daughter named Mary and care for children doing pediatric physical therapy!!   So my Mary had imaginary friends at a young age. They say this is a sign of intelligence, well she has 3 she is smart ;)  Her "friends" names were "Tashi", "Sadie", and "the other Mary".   The other Mary was her 1st imaginary friend!  Well a friend once told me that imaginary friends are our angels and it hit me like a ton of bricks, Mary's 1st imaginary friend is my sister Mary <3  Happy Birthday Mary...may you continue to be an angel among us XO

Mary's wit...

Tonight Johnny pulled Mary's hair and in the process actualy pulled a piece out.  So he was sent to time out and Mary cried.  After time out he said sorry to Mary and then Mary comes back with "Johnny don't do that again, that was my FAVORITE piece of hair", it was so cute and she was so serious!  Just love my lovebugs <3

Mary's empathetic heart

Few days ago Mary started crying before bed and it turned into one of her crying spells (last a while and hard to stop, she has been doing this since 3 weeks old and not sure the colic ever stopped!).  After 10 minutes she tells me "mom it is a bad dream and it keeps happening, I can not tell you, you will cry" and she goes on "it hurts my brain"...so slowly she tells me..."mom you and dad and Johnny and me were there"..."there was a stranger" (Ok now I get nervous)..."yes we were in a store" (after I make lots of guesses)...now I ask more questions as I worry "what happened"..."mom it was the girl and the bubble blower", now I know what she is talking about.  Weeks ago we went to Toy R Us to spend her bday $ and a mom was yelling really loud and mean at her lil girl (about 3 y/o) and grabbed her over her shoulder and yelled fine you can't have the bubble blower cuz you are bad and never listen and the mom threw the bubble blower on the shelf and the lil girl was crying so bad.  It was a sad sight and didn't realize she noticed.  Instead she noticed and it has stayed with her and made her sad ;(   After we talked and I figured out what had her crying, she says "mom I just wanna go to heaven, cuz you won't see bad things like that there"...this broke my heart, my poor girl has such a sensitive heart, like her momma.  At the Dr. for well check Tuesday Dr. told Mary to tell mom/dad when she sees or hears things that make her sad so she can let it go b/c if you keep it inside it will explode.  Bittersweet, my lil girl has strong empathy for others, but it often hurts her?!
Mommy LOVES you Mary Rose just like you are, God made you perfect! XO

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Children's wisdom on God

Mary:
Mary asks the other day, Mom do you know who has the biggest arms??  And so I take a few guesses and she says "No, mom God has the biggest arms, because God has to hug everyone" and Johnny chimes in "then God has the biggest heart too because he loves everyone"

and Johnny informed me that "mom God made us a long time ago because it must have been hard work"

warms my heart to hear my children say these things <3

Monday, March 29, 2010

My poor Mary is sick ;(

My Mary Rose is sick and can't stop crying.  So in her frustration she crys out:
"I am so bored, I don't feel good and I wanna go to Heaven"..."Heaven is my real home".  
Poor girl is sick right now and this is what she crys out ;(  Breaks my heart.  Lot of insight for a 4 year old though?!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Our Prayers

My lil John has turned into my prayer boy...always wants to say them and if we start eating dinner wihout saying them he will stop everyone and say "hey guys we need to say our prayers before we eat" and at night when we sit and snuggle and rock before bed he says "momma lets say our prayers". One night we forgot to say them and after I layed him down he said "mom you know what we have to do", I had to do a lil video ;) He is so darn cute!!!

Mary & Marriage

Mary asks me this morning "Mommy It's gonna be a long time before I can choose someone to marry, right?"....I told her "yes sweetheart, it will be a LONG time and you do get to choose". And from that she starts doing her cartwheels and says "come on guys who wants to see the Amazing Mary?"....sure am glad she moves off that topic so fast ;)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

A Difficult Day

Tonight Mary said "mom this was such a difficult day"...and she was right it was and she captured it with her single statement! Mary was whinny and not listening from the minute she woke up today ;(
Some moments and words I recount from our day:
On way home from the sitter's house, Mary yells from the backseat as she abrubtly pushes her hair from the side of her face "my hair is so aggrivating, I want a boys haircut, NOW, I have had enough!" At such a young age she already notices one of the many ways boys have it easier than girls...LOL!
As I took my rings (wedding & engagement) off to prepare to put lotion on John after his bath he stops me and says "mom why do you always take those off before putting lotion on me?"...he pauses and says "oh, I know because they are special to you"
Then after that Mary chimes in and wants to know when she will meet her husband and when can she get married...I tell her "honey I don't know when you will meet him, but you probably have not met him yet and maybe when you are 30", she is bummed as she wants to marry Sal from her class and thought 10 was old enough! So then she asks me "so when you 1st met daddy what did you say to him?", I told her I said "Hi, I am Julie nice to meet you" and we were 16 and in high-school. She then wanted to to know "well what did he say back, did he know then that he would marry you????". I told her he said Hi back and that yes Mommy knew soon after that I would some day marry him and many years later I did ;)
As I tucked my Mary Rose in I told her I was sorry we both had a dificult day and she said "I am sorry too, mom remember sometimes we just need to take a deep breath, I will practice tomorrow"...so sweet when they say something you have been saying and trying to teach them!
Here is hoping for a better day tomorrow...goodnight lovebugs, Mommy loves you more than rainbows! XOXO

Monday, March 22, 2010

My John John

While racing up the stairs for bedtime tonight, as Mary runs by Johnny and "beats" him, Johnny whines to me with his arms around my neck "Mommy Mary cheated, she never makes me win", I love it and only you would come up with that ;)

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Up

Last night for family fun movie night we watched Up...we just bought it for the kids. They have seen it a couple times (at the sitters house and we rented it once) but I never watched whole thing just bits and pieces. We all sat down last night, the 4 of us, with our popcorn and drinks and snuggled up on the couch and watched Up together from beginning to end. WOW...now I know why it was nominted for best picture. So in the beginning when Ellie is crying at the doctors and you can tell she probbaly lost her baby, I started crying, and Johnny says "mom why is she so sad" and I told him "she did not have a baby", and he says "why, beacuse she can't" and I said "yes" and Johnny says "well she really wanted one!!! That's not fair"
Then when Ellie dies I of course am sobbing again and Mary leans over to me and says "don't worry mom Ellie is up in the stars now and watchin over him".
My dearest John & Mary you have hearts like your mommy and daddy and you touch my heart with all the precious things you say!
XOXO Mommy

Past moments & memories...John Charles

2007~Johnny, you are truly our lil sunshine! You are my sweet, cuddly little man and melt my heart daily! You are so busy and keep us on our toes. Wanted to write down all the fun and inteesting things you say and do.

1/14/07~got your 1st tooth

1/31/07~ started crawling

4/6/07~ you said "daddy"

6/26/07~you said "mommy"

9/15/07~you said "Mary"
You are walking about 8 steps all on your own!

11/14/07~1st haircut

November 07~you say "Please"it comes out "Peese"...it is so CUTE!!
You often call Cameron "Go"
You like taking the ornaments off the tree and then you hug them...so sweet!
You are a real momma's boy <3

12/4/07~you started saying "touchdown", you run through the house with both hands up yelling "touchdown"
You played in the snow for the 1st time and decided to eat it ;)

12/21/07~You love Santa and just started saying "Santa" it is so damn cute! We saw him on TV and you said Santa over and over..10x!

1/20/08~you love to hide things down your shirt, then you look around and say all in one big word "wherditgo?"
You started hoarding all your animals/blankets in your crib. Everytime we pick you up, you have to bring ALL your loveys, blankets, and animals with you-that is a lot for mommy and daddy to carry. Then at night you look around your crib and make sure everything is there and then you bring them all close and snuggle up-you are 2 cute!

2/08~At dinner you started holding up your glass and saying "cheers", too cute!

8/5/08~we went to the movies today for the 1st time. You, me and Mary went to see Curious George. It was a 10am free movie at the Regal. You had your little curious george doll. You were so cute and such a good boy. Halfway through the movie you leaned over and watched the rest of the movie on mommy's shoulder, what a fun day!

Summer 08~ Your new saying that daddy taught you "Go Red Sox!"

9/08~you still were not talking much so mommy got some tips from the speech therapist at work. Within a couple days you started talking in sentences. You LOVE to imitate Mary and say what she says. NOt so much fun for mommy & daddy when you both say no or whine! You really express yourself now and let us know what you like and want. Mary loves to try and teach you new things.

10/08~Mary is teaching you to say your ABC's and it is so cute. You love her help.
At dinner you now take a turn at saying the paryer, mommy reminds you what to say but you get it all out and are so proud of your self.

10/12/08~you LOVE to play play-doh and now you ask for it all the time. Of course your favorite thing to make is a ball ;)

10/31/08~you were a Lion for Halloween and were too cute! We all went as the Wizard of Oz. You loved asking for candy and always said thank you!

11/4/08~Today Mary asked you if you had to pee. Next thing you know I walk in the bathroom and Mary helped you on the bench, had your pants down and diaper off, and with MAry holding your hand you were peeing!!! What a big boy ;)

1/12/08~you got a "big boy bed" last night(we made your crib into a toddler bed) and this morning Mary asked you where your lovey was and you said "in my big boy bed that daddy made", you were so proud and smiling big! You slept all night and never got out.

11/28/08~your new favoriet saying for EVERY situation is "CAUSE WHY" or "CUZ WHY"..makes me laugh

12/1/08~you love to go on the potty, but you wont sit, you told me "I stand like my daddy"-yu stand there and say "potty dance, potty dance"

12/6/08~you told Santa @the Pino party "I want a train and an elephant"-you were so cute.

12/7/08~you love to play "soccer" in the house and today you played with mommy and we had so much fun!

2/4/09~your new favorite thing to say is "Awe man" and you say it so dramatically, I laugh everytime.
You love to have me rock you at bedtime and then you whisper to me "sing me my song mommy"-you are my sunshine!
You love to do puzzles (25 piece jigsaw) and build with your blocks/legos and trains.

4/09~You now sing "you are my sunshine" to me each night and you say "twinkle is daddy's song"
here is a sing mommy made up for you when you said sing me a jungle song:
"Down in the jungle, where the animals play, Johnny will go and swing away"..you love it!

and those are are memories and moments so far! Looking forward to many more..Love, Mommy XO

Past moments & memories...Mary Rose

2006~Mary Rose you make us smile and laugh everyday and we wanted to write some of it down for you to keep and look back on. You are learning and growing so fast, you bless our lives daily.

1/12/07~you can spell your name,
you gave "peace" at church and it was so sweet!

3/7/07~got 1st set of tubes in your ears...was so scary for mommy & daddy and you were so brave!

5/24/07~got your 1st haircut

5/27/07~started sleeping in your big girl bed!

6/7/07~You peed on the potty and called Dora, we were so proud!

7/21/07~"mommy his name is not Chuck, it's daddy"

8/20/07~"can I make a light for you?"-this is what you said everytime just before you turned on a light for us

8/26/07~"mommy you have to carry me, I'm too heavy for the ground"

9/3/07~"what's in your mouth daddy?..."candy!!!
"please wait, just a couple, seca, minutes!"(this was your favorite saying)

9/14/07~"yestertime"
"that was awesome!"

9/16/07~After you fell down you said, "wow, I fell down and it was fast"

9/17/07~"that was my ding bell to my house"

11/20/07~you saw mommy in her underwear and said "nice buns mom"

11/29/07~you said "mommy you are hysterical"

12/1/07~you said to your cousin Kadynce "you are my sister"

12/4/07~we were out of your favorite snack so you told mommy "can you write crunchies down on your list up there" (as you point to the fridge..you are 2 cute & funny)

12/19/07~you said to daddy, "you have to be nice to my mommy's daughter" (this is one of my favorites!!)

12/21/07~we came downstairs in the morning and you said so quietly "he didn't come yet, there are no presents under the tree and it's not Jesus birthday yet. In a couple days, right mom?"
You love going to see Santa! You told him "I've been a good girl and I need a crying baby and a loving baby". You told us you were so gad to see him!

1/15/08~"your the best mommy in the whole world"

1/17/08~"mom I gotta go potty by myself. I will need you when I need you", then I went to check on you and you quickly said "I will call you when I need to"...you make me laugh everyday!

2/8/08~"mommy I am going to stay little for you and when you need me to I'll get big"

3/4/08~Mary was sneaking out of her room at night and daddy said "what do you think you are doing?", and you said "well Cameron's (our yellow lab) not sleeping yet"

4/3/08~you asked Johnny if he wanted to go to the mall with us and he said "no" and you said "but you have to your my best friend"
When trying to go potty before bedtime you said "I tried but my pee pee is sleeping already"

4/8/08~"Sure is good to see you mom!"

8/5/08~we went to the movies for the 1st time-you, me, and Johnny. We saw Curious George the movie. It was at 10am, it was a free summer time movie at the Regal. You brought your big Curious George doll and he sat in the seat next to you. You were so EXCITED! You had your snack and juice and were such a good girl. We made it through the whole movie. We will go again soon and get popcorn and candy next time with daddy!

8/7/08~You learned to pump your feet and ride the swing yourself today! You said "look mommy I am going super underdoggy higher like when daddy pushes me"
You colored me a cute picture of Minnie Mouse and did an awesome job staying in the lines, when I left to get my haircut you said"here you can take this picture with you and enjoy it then"..you make me laugh..I love you Mary Rose Xo Mommy

8/22/08~I told you that you are so beautiful b/c mommy & daddy made you and you said "no mommy, Jesus made me"...you melted mommy's heart

9/08~Preschool Started!!!!!

10/31/08~we went trick or treating tonight! You were Dorothy, Johnny was the Lion, Daddy was the Tin Man, Mommy was the Scarecrow, and Grandma was the Wicked Witch.
After seeing It's a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown a few times, you pulled a Lucy at one of the houses we went to and said "excuse me but can I have another piece of candy for my stupid brother?"...we all laughed!

11/4/08~you can write your name ;)

11/12/08~you told Johnny "if you said another bad word you won't be my best friend anymore"

11/28/08~you had a toy Johnny wanted and said "I am taking it in my room and keeping it my whole life"

12/6/08~you saw Santa at the Pino party and you told him"I want a baby with hair"...you tell everyone that!

1/13/09~when I kissed you goodnight you said "you are the best mommy and daddy, you two are stars"

2/4/09~you are now amazing at jigsaw puzzles, biggest so far was 150 pieces

summer 09~"you should have seen the fun we had"

fall 09~"mom I don't wanna die, I wanna be me forever"

now we are in the present moment and I hope to keep better track of all our moments & memories XO Mommy!