Raya is 3

April 22, 2012
My 3 year old!! OMG. Hard to believe it, which is a phrase I say all too much, but its the truth. Its amazing how in 3 years you go from a brand new little ball of jelly to a strong, fast, chatty little girl! You are an absolute joy and I say it all the time because its the truth, I couldn't have asked for a better little girl to call my daughter. Lucky doesn't even begin to describe it. There's really no words, but I'll try ;)

You absolutely keep me on my toes. You are very strong willed and dare I say stubborn? But its not in a bratty way at all. I for sure have to deal with you differently than with Kallen, but you're also older and smarter so you know what you're doing. And you know what you are capable of. You are HILARIOUS and you know it. You say one liners sometimes that make me cry from laughing. Omg. I can't thank you enough for the daily entertainment you provide. You are constantly saying and doing the funniest things. I wish we had a reality show so that you were recorded 24/7! I could re-play you all day long ;)

You are a sweet soul. You have the kindest personality. You are so caring and sweet, especially to Kallen. I can hardly wait to see you with the new baby because you're a little older so you really get that you're a Big Sister. You love your friends and always ask to see them. You say Hi to everyone at the park. In fact you would prefer to greet everyone with a big hug, but we've had to work on not doing that because not all kids are comfortable with that ;) As soon as you get to the park you give everyone big Hi's, introduce yourself, occasionally introduce me as "Kelsey" and also introduce your brother. You ask your new friends their names and if they'd like to play.

Some Stats:
You're in mostly 4T clothes. You're really lean, so you can fit anywhere from 2T-4T leggings. They just turn into capri leggings if they're 2T. At your 3 year check up you were 40inches tall and weighed 36lbs. You're in the 95percentile for height and the 50percentile for weight. Obviously you're very tall. You're not abnormally tall, lol, but you are taller than just about everyone your age. You're the same size as most 4 year olds and just about as tall as half the 5 year olds we're around. You wear a size 9 shoe.

You've become a pretty good swimmer all by yourself! You willingly hold your breath and go under water. We start swim lessons at the end of the month. I'm excited to see what you learn there! You are pretty fearless in the water and will jump off the edge, even if I'm not close (scary!).

You are a wonderful Big Sister. Like I said earlier, you are so sweet and caring. When Kallen wakes up from his naps and is fussing you say "Wait, hold on a minute, I gotta check on the baby," and run upstairs to see him. You cuddle him and hug him. He wakes up before you and when you come downstairs he usually stops what he's doing and waits at the bottom of the stairs with his arms wide open to hug you. You always smile and say "Hi Baby!" and hug him back. You play really well with him and rarely get frustrated. You never hit him or do anything mean. Seriously, you're that good. I think there's a push here or there, but nothing I can really remember. Ok, well one time when he was like 2 months old you stepped on his face, but it wasn't a vicious move. It was more of a curiosity move. I could see in your face you wanted to know what would happen if you stepped on him. So I don't count that ;) Its the most beautiful thing seeing you 2 together. I just love the relationship you 2 have! You sit by each other on the couch when you guys watch tv and you still nap together often. He actually naps a lot better when you nap with him. You help him figure things out and show him what specific toys do, or how the iPad works, or how to shoot a basketball. You get the award for Best Big Sister!! 

Things you love:
Swimming, Disneyland, Going to the Park, Going to the Beach, really anything that involves being outside! What else...ICE CREAM! Your favorite flavor is cookies and cream and you always ask me for ice cream. You love wrestling with your Dad and you love having him throw and swing you; Cuddling with me and playing with my hair; Laying on skin...my legs, my belly, my arms, any open skin you love to lay on. You also do this with Daddy and Nana. You love to ride your bike; Sleep in bed with us (you're such a cuddler.) You love to help me, whatever it may be, and your favorite thing to help with is washing the dishes.

You are such a joy of a kid. You are so fun to be around and you absolutely light up every room you're in. Your presence cannot be ignored. You are the highlight of my life and I just can't believe I get to call you mine! I love you more than I'll ever be able to explain. You are my best friend, my side kick, my heart.
Xoxo,
Mom

Raya Recently

It just so worked out that Raya's 2yr check up and Kallen's 4month check up could be scheduled together, so Friday was our big 'ol family trip to the Doctor's. Raya's Stats: She's 27.8lbs and 36 inches. Shes in the 90percentile for height and about the 50percentile for weight. She's been in those exact percentiles since birth...so maybe I'll have a tall daughter?! At the playground its clear she's in the 90th percentile because she's an inch or 2 taller than kids her own age and usually as tall or taller than kids a year or 2 older. 

She loves her doctor-Dr. Willis. Their birthdays are a day apart, which he always tells me when we're there :) He has a grandson her age, so he's really great with her. He always takes her with him after the appt and walks around the office with her. Its so cute. This appt was a little dramatic. She SCREAMED when Gentry tried to put her on the scale. And then SCREAMED when we laid her down to measure her length. And SCREAMED when the doctor put the stethoscope on her back. So you can guess what she did when he checked her ears and mouth. Wowzers. That was intense. And that's without having to get any shots! So clearly she doesn't like the doctors office. Well, not so much the Doctor or the office, but she doesn't like what you have to Do there. Lol. She LOVES the toy part. Pretty sure we left with 3 toys and a table decoration off one of the nurse's desks. Haha. The nurses let her take out and examine every toy in the treasure box. She'd come back with one and then take it back and exchange if for another. It kept her busy during the time we were getting Kallen's shots set up and done. At one point I poked my head out to check on her and she wasn't out there and I could tell by the nurse's face that she wasn't quite sure where she was either...Oh she's just in another room with Dr.Willis while he checks out a little girl's sprained ankle. Pretty sure that's not proper Doc Office etiquette Ms. Raya :) 

She's been incredibly sweet the past week. She's always been my sweet girl, but she's been extra loving lately. I don't know if its because she's a little older or she's just teasing me before she fully emerges herself into the Terrible Twos ;) but my days with her have been extra amazing. She kisses my "owies," she holds my hand, she hugs me really tight-like almost clamps onto me like a little koala. When she sits in the big chair with me she hugs my arm and rests her head on my shoulder. She still plays with my hair like its a drug. She hugs my leg and hangs on when I'm standing in the kitchen. She's very helpful-well, when she wants to be. She runs to Gentry when he gets home from work and literally jumps into his arm and gives him the biggest, sweetest hug. Man oh man, its such an amazing age. Knowing she's always growing up is still hard for me, but it really is priceless. Or amazing. Or wonderful. Or PriceAmazful? There's just no words for it. I feel like the luckiest girl to have this little being that is so happy and loving and brings more joy to my life then anything. Ever. And as I write this I have a 4 month bundle of love sleeping so perfectly in my lap. Really, Life? Sometimes I can hardly believe the kids I've been given, but ya betta believe I know I'm beyond lucky and thankful. Luckful? LOL. I crack myself up :) 

2 Under 2

Raya is 22 months and Kallen is 2 months! So of course I have to do a little "2 Under 2" post. 
Raya is still a wonderful Big Sis. She's just so sweet to Kallen. Not once has she tried to get feisty with him or be anything but absolutely loving. It's really easy to get cute pictures of them together because Raya loves to hold him and because Kallen has no clue that his mom willingly hands him over to a not-so-gentle toddler for a photo opp. 

Speaking of photo ops...I've been following a blog by a gal my age who lost her 4month old daughter this month (Maddie's Blog: http://kandjstaats.blogspot.com/). It was very sudden and unexpected. Heart broken can't EVEN begin to describe how I feel for this girl. Reading about her loss shook me to my core. I really can't even read it because I can relate to this girl so much and I really feel her pain through her blogs. In one of her recent posts she talked about taking pictures. She wrote: "If I can give anyone any advice.. Take pictures.. Take them everyday..You just never know." 

It's no surprise I take LOTS of pictures. I know some people think I'm crazy (or annoying-Gentry and Bryce :) But you better believe when I look back at regrets I may have, taking pictures-or not taking enough- won't be one of them! Another blog I follow: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, She wrote a very similar post and had this quote that I thought was just perfect (picture perfect ;)

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

I'm pretty good about truly loving every moment of parenting. The times when my patience are thin or I think I'm going crazy I take a second and think, "I know they grow sooooo fast, and I wouldn't EVER wish this phase to be over. I love every phase of these kids' lives and I want to soak up every second I can with them because before I know it they're not going to be my little cuddle bugs or buddies all hours of the day." I'm serious. I get so sad about them growing up, so when Raya is playing with my hair and starts to get so sleepy that her hands start pulling my hair it sometimes irritates me, but it only takes one second for me to be like "In a couple of years she's not gonna wanna play with my hair or sit on my lap (or fit on my lap for that matter) and cuddle and I'm going to be heartbroken. And sitting squished in the recliner with both kids in my lap is truly a "little thing in life" that I will look back on as one of the "big things."

Ok, sappy post over ;) God, I'm such a mom. HAHA. It's true what they say..."There's a kinda love you never know about until you have kids." However, they don't tell you that love makes you a TOTAL sap. Poor pathetic me ;) Lol

But on another note...How cute are my kids?!?! 

Just some things I want to remember...and probably another blog topic I'll add to my repertoire.

"I Treasure"

I treasure when Raya sits on my lap and plays with my hair while I work on the computer and she watches cartoons.

I treasure the way she clearly says "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy" over and over for no reason at all.

I treasure the way she follows me around and hugs my leg and hangs on tight.

I treasure when Kallen wakes up and smiles at me the first time he sees me.

I treasure when he coos and talks to me.

I treasure the pure love in his eyes when he smiles.

I treasure when Raya rubs and pats my arm and then hugs it when she's in her carseat and I'm in the back with her.

I treasure the way Raya answers me (sometimes ;) When I suggest something to do or eat and she wants to she so happily says "Yahhhhhh!" and claps so enthusiastically.

I treasure when Raya rests her head on my shoulder and her little body fits so perfectly against mine.

I treasure the way both of my kid's hands feel wrapped around one of my fingers.

I treasure that I get to be at home everyday with my kids and watch them grow.