These are the eyes...

These are the eyes that I see early in the morning, late in the day and during the wee hours of the night.

These are the eyes that light up when she sees her big sister.

These are the eyes that people say, look like her moms.

These are the eyes that have turned to a brilliant shade of blue gray.

These are the eyes of my baby, growing fast before my eyes.

These are the eyes that smile with the grin of her lips.

These are the eyes that melt my heart.

Self Portrait

You love to do it. You know you do. Mallory figured out that if she turns the camera around she can attempt to take a picture of herself. However, it took her several attempts at perfecting the fine art of taking a self portrait.

Success!

Warp Speed

It came in the mail today; postmarked from Redwood City, California. Even though I get one every year, as soon as I see it in the mailbox, it takes my breath away. It means that another year has gone by. This year it means by baby is turning four. We've gone from sleepless nights, first steps, and first words to toddling about exploring the world around her. She moved from observer to participator. This year, she is bound and determined to be the leader.

My big birthday post will come in just 6 short days on the actual day of her birth. Until then I'll hold off on thinking too much about it. I'll tuck the video aside, and cherish the fact that I still have a three year old, at least for a few more days.

Photos by Mallory

Mallory received a Kid Tough digital camera for Christmas from my sister. It is a real digital camera with the ability to hold 500 pictures on its memory card and then can be downloaded to the computer. To say Mallory enjoys her new camera is an understatement. By the time the camera was a mere two hours old she had taken 110 pictures. Christmas day, a clean memory card, when it was all said and done, we downloaded 285 pictures. Some of the pictures are spot on, some are blurry (due to the photographer being a 3 footer always on the go), and some are too dark. More than anything they are super funny. Since above all this blog is a journal of memories for my kids, I have to post some of my favorites that she has taken. For the most part these posts will come "wordless". Just think of it as looking at the day through Mallory's eyes.

Here are just a few from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Our Christmas

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

For more reasons then just the snow, we decided to make our trek to Woodbury on Wednesday night and spend the night. We made it in time for a quick dinner and then snuggled in and watched the snow fly out in the big backyard. As much as I needed to be there with my dad to fill an empty a house before Christmas, he needed it to. A crying baby in the middle of the night, and his response was "I like to hear voices". The tiptoe of Mallory's footsteps at 6 dot dot 4 (in other words 6:40 am) brought a smile to his face.

I was filled with warm and fuzzy feelings every where I looked. The Christmas tree standing strong in the front window, the holly berry place mats that sat on the table, and our babies snuggled in their beds. I was awe struck when I looked at the mantel. Branches of our family tree. I am happy to say that Mikayla's stocking arrived just in time to hang in its rightful spot. Wondering what happened to Wayne's stocking? Well, Santa delivered a stocking full of nonperishable items for the food shelf, a new tradition.

Christmas morning, back in Prior Lake, brought the excitement that Santa had delivered a few presents for our family. The first gift that was opened was a coffeemaker. Santa ate the cookies, leaving a few crumbs, and also left a nice note to Mallory telling her what a great girl she is.

Christmas day down in Jordan was a flurry of excitement with 3 preschoolers excited about the day and two new babies to celebrate their first Christmas.

We truly were spoiled this year. Healthy, happy, full of great food, and wonderful gifts. We spent three days surrounded by our family and we couldn't have asked for anything better.

Mission Tradition: Outcome

We are about to start the whirlwind that encompasses Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Families from near and far, baby's first, red shirts, festive socks, lots of food, surprise presents, delicious cookies, visits from Santa, and surrounding it all is the wonder and awe that is having a preschooler during this time of year.

However, getting there has been more exhausting than I had imagined. I woke up today, just plain tired. I wanted 3 more hours of sleep, breakfast in bed and a "weekend". But to no avail, Monday morning came and we skipped "Saturday and Sunday". Brent was lucky enough to be able to work 6 days in a row opting to do this and get Christmas Eve off of work to spend with my family. Grateful? You bet. Six days of solo mom work, exhausting? Absolutely. I lay in bed this morning, rubbed my eyes and said to myself that I would not let myself get wrapped up in the exhaustion letting this week fly by on autopilot.

Mallory came skipping up the stairs a few minutes later and said "Four more days 'til Christmas!" She was beaming...which was contagious.

We then had the following conversation:
Me: That's right! Four more days until Christmas! Do you remember what the real meaning of Christmas is?
Mal: Giving presents not just getting them! Surprise ones!
Me: That is right! Everyone is going to be so excited to get your presents! And why do we celebrate Christmas?
Mal: It's Jesus' Birthday! Really he was already born, we just have a celebration for him. (Celebration? Thanks to preschool for teaching Mallory such great words!)
Me: That's right. And just to test her on if she really listens to me and to make sure the last month wasn't a waste... And let's see, what is a food shelf?
Mal: A place where people who have no money go, to get food. And a place we bring our extra food, even yummy Macaroni.

So we are wrapping up the time of the season that brings those warm fuzzy feelings leading up to Christmas. I cannot wait to experience it all through Mallory's eyes. I hope that we have started a few traditions that will provide Mallory and Mikayla with their own foundations about what really matters on Christmas and what is truly important during this season.

Mission Completed.

Mikayla and Kendra

The following post does not contain actual thoughts or words. The below are just expressions that, though might be nerdy, made me and Mallory laugh pretty hard. Because I only believe in putting artifical words into my own baby's mouth and not others, the following thoughts are Mikayla's only. Kendra played no part, except looking incredibly cute :)

Hey! Check out my baby legs! Aren't they kickin'!! My cuz' is coming over later and I have a great idea...just wait!

Ok Kendra you got the plan down? Slammin'!

This secret handshake is great...It works way better now that we are more coordinated. Like last time, I think you punched me in the face. But I am totally over it. Really I am.

I think they are getting ready for the photo shoot. Do you remember the plan? Here we go!

Ok you look away and I'll smile.

Now its your turn. You look at the camera and I'll look away. This is so great. Look at how crazy they are getting trying to have us both look and smile.

Ok now let's both look up. Just remember DON'T smile. Man.

They are really looney over us two babies.

Last one. I'll smile really big but I won't look at the camera, oh it's going to be so great. You can choose your own pose. Kendra! The top of the head shot! I LOVE IT!

I guess we better give them at least one with two smiles. They did work awfully hard and said a bunch of really silly things...

Kendra, you and me better stick together I think we are definitely going to cause some trouble over the next couple years.