Valentine's Day

I like Valentine's Day again. From ages 12-22 I did not like it. It was always "single awareness day" until the year Justin and I were dating. Then we were more into anti-celebrating it by going to a taco shop instead of an Italian restaurant and secretly (or not so secretly) making fun of my college roommate that cried to her mom when her boyfriend didn't make reservations and they had to wait two hours at Carrabbas. That night we went to our favorite taco shop where there was no line, only a hot room cooled by a drafty door, sticky tables, and everyone spoke Spanish but me. Justin gave me a jar of Starbursts. My love for Valentine's was reborn.

But I still remember Valentine's Day during my elementary school years as my favorite. I loved making Valentine boxes. Now that we have three kids, I like to recreate the fun I had as a child. Paper hearts, cheesy cards, heart themed dinner at home.

Sarah brought home her loot from her class party.  She shared with her siblings because she's nice like that. She also read every card before eating the candy because she's thoughtful like that.

We made sugar cookies Valentines day morning but they turned out a little goofy so I didn't take a picture. Then Justin and I went all by ourselves to Home Depot to pick out a vanity for our basement bathroom because we're romantic like that.

For dinner we made pizza. I even let the kids roll out their own balls of dough and put on their own toppings. I rarely let them use the rolling pin so it was a big deal. We drank Martinelli's out the "fancy cups" and everyone gave me a goofy face for this picture.

Then we exchanged Valentines. From Sarah we all got handwritten cards and Skittles. Henry gave me his baseball wrapped up in Christmas wrapping paper. I gave the kids bags of candy and a new book.

Sarah likes the Mr. Men books I got them for Christmas so I got her a Little Miss. It's just a coincidence that the first in the series is Little Miss Bossy.

Henry got Just Shopping With Mom because he's my grocery shopping buddy. Erica got Blueberries for Sal because I think out of my kids, she's the most likely to follow a bear obliviously.

I gave Justin a jar of conversation cups. Reeses with sayings like "peanut butter breath" and things he likes like "Ebay" and "trucks". And that's all I remember. We probably watched an episode of Parks and Rec before going to bed.

Erica's Birthday Party

I forget how big of a deal a sibling's birthday is.  Sarah and Henry were more excited about Erica's birthday than she was. Well, since she didn't even know it was her birthday, that wasn't hard to do.

Here Sarah is explaining to me that we were kind of, sorta, in a way giving Erica a surprise birthday party since she didn't know it was her birthday.

She had a point.

We started off the day by singing Happy Happy Birthday Erica Dear to her while she was in her crib. Then Sarah insisted she have her breakfast out of the red birthday bowl.

Then we went to Macey's to get her a birthday balloon.

 She was very excited to see her finished cake. I should have taken pictures of it without her first.

We ate dinner at the park. This is probably her first and last birthday at the park. Even though it was a warm day, it got cold pretty fast once the sun went down.

 Sisters.

She got a Little People school and a new nightstand and lamp for her room.

 She was very excited to grab her cake. But actually eat it? Not so much.

 She still managed to make quite a mess.

~~~~~A few things about Erica~~~

Weight: 17 lb 3 oz (All my babies have been 17 lbs at one year)
Length: 28 3/4 inches
Teeth: 2 bottom coming in, 2 on top (Not the center, but the sides. It's going to look funny. Can't wait)
Loves her blanket, ball spinner, eating, watching kids play outside, slides and swings, snuggles, books (playing with, not reading) swinging doors, making messes, two minute baths, being held.

Does not like getting her clothes changed, sitting in her highchair, sitting in a grocery cart, sitting at church, strangers, being even slightly hungry, being alone, baths longer than two minutes.

I love one. And that dimple above her eyebrow.

Happy Birthday Cuteface

"Is it bad that I'm not totally excited about this pregnancy? I'm happy and want to do this, I'm just not feeling that excitement like before."

This was what I said to my doctor 19 months ago at my first pre-natal appointment. He smiled in his kind, understanding way and said, of course, "With the first you don't know how scared you should be. By your third, you know."

From the moment the test came back positive right up until I delivered, I felt trepidation about bringing a third child into my life. I barely could manage the two that I had and I knew full well the intense work a newborn could be is. For nine months I felt I was gearing up for something I wasn't prepared for and at times it felt like dread. And then I felt guilty for dreading and feared it would get in the way of loving her.

Her. Another girl. Memories of the challenges and downright unpleasantness of Sarah's first year clouded my thoughts. Just looking at some of Sarah's baby clothes brought back bad memories of screaming nights and frustrating days. So those clothes they went right back into storage. Sarah was the most challenging baby the moms in my family had ever seen. Henry wasn't especially difficult so to me girl=hard. I prayed a lot during this pregnancy. Father, help me do this. Help me love her. Help me be happy.

And then she was born.

And I got this.

And held this.

And loved this.

And watched this.


Erica came into this world with sweetness and peace in her heart. Sure, I had my typical "I have no idea what I'm doing" and "I am losing my mind" moments but she was a strength to me, not a drain. We sit in her room, rocking and snuggling, letting the chaos of the day whirl without us.

Looking back, I should have never been afraid. She has taught me one important thing.

God is good. He gives us more than we deserve and better than we expect. 

Happy birthday Cuteface.