Flee

How old are you?

Um, flee.  But Mama? This is not the best day ever. I do not want to be flee. I like being two.

Why baby?

Betuse 2's can have binkies still and I just want a binkie in my mouth.

14 Days

Today is December 1.  

In 14 days you would have been turning 8.

 

I love you baby girl.

Operation Birthday

When Jeremy lost his job, I knew that my grand plans for Libby's birthday (a new doll, a barbie and some dress up shoes) just wasn't going to happen.  So, I took it upon myself to be oh so thrifty and do her birthday for FREE.  That's right friends, her gifts cost me NOTHING this year and I loved it.

Here's how it works.  First, look around your house and find things that no one plays with anymore.  Talk to your older children and see if they want to give said items to their darling baby sister.

Example:

"Seth, can I take your chair and put new fabric on it to give to Libby for her birthday?"

"Sure Mom, I don't really sit in it anymore".

That is really big.  He agreed and told me why he agreed.  I let him help me pick out the fabric from my sewing room and I got to work.

Seth's beloved little chair he got for his 1st birthday. 

Taking out 15,000 staples

Putting in another 15,000 staples

A brand new chair for Miss Libby.

Once the kids realized what I was doing, they were really excited to find more things to give to Libby.  Seth has this doll, Max.  He got Max when he was 15 months old.  I got him this doll to help him get ready for us to have a baby in our house.  He and Max quickly became inseparable.  He took Max with us everywhere we went.  Max has always been the favorite baby of anyone who comes to our house, including Amelia and Libby.

Seth nursing Max, July 2006 (he was 2)

Seth decided that he wanted to give Max to Libby for her birthday.  When I told my Mom this, she said "Wow! That is big!".  So we washed Max up, hung him on the line to dry, and put him in a sweet little bag for Miss Liberty. 

Amelia wanted to get in on the action too, so she found a little airplane that she just knew Libby would love and chose the wrapping paper for us to wrap it in.  She was so excited watching Libby open it this morning.

Lib's last gift was a piano.  This was a piano that Amelia got for her 1st birthday.  The keys had come off and the top needed a new dowel and to be glued on.  It has been sitting in Jeremy's closet for 6 months, at least.  Jeremy got it out, cleaned it up, fixed it and gave it to Libby.

Libby is in Heaven.  Sitting in her new chair, with her piano and doll and airplane in her bag (under her arm)

She was thrilled.  And it didn't cost us a dime.  More importantly, my children learned what it really means to give, and they loved it.

I encourage you to try to do a free birthday for one of your kids.  I am so glad I did and so is she.

And Then He Was 6

He woke up before the Sun, ready to start his special day.  He helped me clean, didn't complain about the rain and waited anxiously for his friends to arrive.

We feasted on BBQ Chicken, french fries and cantaloupe.  I was informed that is what Vikings eat.  Who am I to argue?

We played Dragon Catching, Viking Says (trying to train their dragons!) and Dodge Ball.

Then, we ate a dragon. It was delicious.

After a How to Train Your Dragon party with his buddies, some down time with his sisters, and a homemade "dinner store" dinner, he told me it was the best birthday EVER.

Not too bad.  Not too bad at all.

My Little Man

Dear Bubs,

Happy Birthday little man!  I can't believe it has been 6 years since you came into our lives and began to heal our broken hearts.

I don't think you will ever fully understand all you mean to me.  As you sleep in the room next to where I am right now, I want to go in there and snuggle up to you.  I want to whisper promises and wishes into your ear.  I want to smell your sweet little boy smell and snuggle you to bits because I know it won't last for long.

You are already getting ready to go into 1st Grade.  You love to be independent and get "lost" in the grocery store.  You adore being the oldest (although you always say you are the oldest on earth) and are so good at it.  You are such a good big brother and your sisters adore you.

I love watching you grow.  Watching your brain work as you figure out new things.  I love how you absorb everything you read and learn, you are a little sponge and fill yourself with goodness.

You are so kind to other kids.  I have really enjoyed watching you come out of your shell this last year and start to embrace other children as your friends.  I appreciate so much that you always include Amelia in your games when your friends come over. 

You have so much to offer this world, so much to teach, so much to learn.  I can't wait to be here with you every step of the way.

I love you to the moon and back baby.

Love,
Mama

**Want to read a great birth story?  Go read Seth's.  It was amazing and I am forever changed by this little boy who filled my arms after a long 10 months.

For Maddie

Birthdays are supposed to be happy days.  They are days to remember and celebrate life. They are days to watch our children gorge themselves on cake and ice cream and be excited about gifts and phone calls and time with Mom and Dad.  Birthdays are special and fun.

Except when it's a birthday for your child that has died.  Then it is just hard.  Especially that first birthday after your child is gone.  That really sucks.

Today is my friend Heather's, baby girl, Maddie's birthday.  She is 2 today.  She has been gone for 7 months 4 days.  Her Mama and Daddy will remember her today with video, pictures, and all the empty spots in their home.  They will laugh when they remember her being silly and cry when they think of what they've missed, what they miss now, and what they will miss in the future.


I am closing the comments today and ask that you please go on over and share your love and support with Heather today.  I know how hard those birthdays are, give her the love and support you always give me.

For Maddie's birthday, all sales of pillowcase dresses or repurposed dresses from my Etsy shop through next Wednesday, will be donated to Friends of Maddie.