Happy Birthday Princess!

Happy birthday Marlee Josephine!

Marlee turns four today!

Four!

How is it even possible for her to be four years old? 

Time is certainly getting away from me. I just brought her home from the hospital. Swaddled her in her bed. Stayed up all night with her as she cried and stared at her all day as she slept soundly. Now I prepare her for preschool and listen to her speak with such confidence and knowledge. I beg her to stay small but she isn't having it. Four going on fourteen, with the sass to prove it. 

Last year I did a little interview with Marlee and actually remember to interview her again! She is quite funny with her answers and I love picking her brain. 

What is your favorite color? Pink and teal

What is your favorite toy? My Little Pony toys

What is your favorite food? Grapes and blueberries

What is your least favorite food? Lemons

What is your favorite TV show? Wild Kratts

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Blueberries and applesauce

What is your favorite snack? Fruit snacks

What is your favorite animal? Polar bears

What is your favorite song? Moana song 

What is your favorite book? Elsa book

Who is your best friend? Adalaide (I have been replaced)

What is your favorite cereal? Fruit Loops

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Drive my big truck!

What is your favorite drink? Juice

What is your favorite store? Baby Panda store

What do you want to be when you grow up? A police officer

I feel like I need to clarify that the "baby panda store" is actually Panda Express in Belden Village. I don't have the heart to tell her that there are no baby pandas in there regardless of what's on the sign. I will take this secret to my grave.  

Today we will have a small get together with rainbow cake and cookies. She will joyfully open presents and I will take a million pictures. I will imagine her staying this age forever knowing tomorrow she will be one day closer to five years old. 

But for today, she is four. She is intelligent and funny and sweet. She adores her family and loves to be outside. She is stubborn like I am and silly like her father. She cries when she has to sleep but only because she doesn't want to miss anything. She hates bugs and pasta. Yes, I gave birth to an Italian baby that hates pasta. Italian mom fail. She is artist and could paint for hours.

She is destined for great things.

Ok now for photo mania. 

Marlee Turns Three

Every Girl Deserves Birthday Flowers

Happy Birthday Marlee Jo!

Three years ago, I was holding my greatest accomplishment, my sweetest gift, and the biggest challenge of my life, all swaddled in a blanket on my chest. Today, she wakes up and while she does not want to be cuddled on my chest, she continues to be the sweetest gift that God has given me. 

I say this as she demands chocolate milk without a bother to say hello. 

How do I sum up three year old Marlee into one blog post? Marlee is my strong willed child. A "three-nager" if you will. She knows exactly what she wants and exactly when she wants it. She can be shy at times but once she is warmed up, she is non-stop action and giggles. Marlee is a good mix of girlie girl and superhero. I am not sure where she gets it from but she loves anything pink, adores playing with make-up (especially Grandmas), and is convinced that she is a princess. I can blame her father for the last one. On the other side, Marlee loves to wrestle, run "super fast", and play baseball. I could watch her and Nicky run around in the backyard all day. Until one of them starts screaming of course...

Marlee is also quite the entertainer. She loves to sing and dance. She often makes up songs depending on what is going on around her. Her new song "I Am Sorry So Don't Cry Nicky" is sure to be a big hit. She also loves to color, draw, build blocks, and play her "Ohdoe" - which is just a Kindle that she has mysteriously named Ohdoe. Marlee is incredibly smart (I know all moms say that) and has a huge vocabulary with the cutest hint of a lisp. I love to ask her questions about her day because she remembers everything and in such great detail. 

I did a little interview of Miss Marlee of some of her favorite things:

What is your favorite color? PINK!

What is your favorite toy? My bear

What is your favorite food? Applesauce

What is your least favorite food? Seeds in the apple ("I don't like those.")

What is your favorite TV show? Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut butter sandwich

What is your favorite snack? Fruit snacks

What is your favorite animal? Bear

What is your favorite song? "You Are My Sunshine"

What is your favorite book? Baby animal book (I have no idea what book that is)

Who is your best friend? "You! And Isaac and Nicky and Daddy!"

What is your favorite cereal? "The ones with the marshmallows in there"

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play!

What is your favorite drink? Juice

What is your favorite store? Target! (That's my girl)

What do you want to be when you grow up? "A big girl!"

Hopefully I can remember to 'interview' her every year because she was so cute answering all the questions with such concentration. 

We are getting the house ready for Marlee's party tomorrow and are so excited to have everyone over to celebrate my baby girls third birthday. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I will have a three year old! Where does the the time go? 

Happy Birthday Marlee! You truly are my sunshine! Your smile brightens my day and watching you grow has made me so proud to be your mom. I hope today and everyday is amazing because you deserve the world. 

We love you to the moon and back!

Quarantined

I have been doing some serious slacking with the blog this past week but with the weather change brings sickness. Another thing I dislike about this winter season - as if I needed anymore reasons. Nicholas, Marlee, and I have all had a case of the sniffles and if you think my blogging has been slacking, you should see my house.

Disaster area.

With breastfeeding, I decided to take the suffering route and be medication free, take my vitamins, and drink lots of fluids. Great for Marlee. Not so great for me. Or my husband who has to deal with me. Or the whiny version of me. Besides feeding like crazy, I do not think Marlee even knows she is sick. She just has these big puffy eyes and a runny nose. Sad but cute at the same time. She has still been laughing and smiling every chance she gets. She does not understand that it is not socially acceptable to have snot dripping down her face so she could care less of the extra foreign liquid. She is already a serious drooler so mine as well add to the mess. I still kiss her every chance I get.

Kisses and laughter are the best medicine.

My happy little peanut.
 

Monday was Nick's birthday and next Monday is Isaac's so holiday season is in full swing! As Isaac gets older, the birthdays get less fun. Not that the opening of the gifts get any less exciting, but the gifts in general do. My big sports guy wants basketball shoes, and sports bags, and those silly socks that all the kids are wearing.

 

Nike Elite socks.

AKA

16 Bucks a Pair and Incredibly Ugly socks.

 

His face lit up when we gave him the new shoes though and that was pretty exciting. I should enjoy the $16 socks because a $300 phone will probably be right around the corner.

Which brings me to another reason I dislike the winter/holiday season.

 

I think I will save my Ebenezer Scrooge talk for another day.

Marlee, the Grouchy Mouse

I thought my big news of the week was the fact that I am down another 1.2lbs but instead, Marlee gave me the birthday present of a full night of sleep. That's right, she slept an entire seven straight hours!

I woke up feeling like this.

This was a nice surprise since she was such a pistol yesterday. A complete grump on her mothers bday - not cool. 

Marlee, the grouchy mouse

I was so excited to see Nick when he arrived home. My shoulders were killing me from carrying her around all day. He even arrived with flowers which instantly brightened my day. He once told me that every girl deserves flowers on her birthday and he has yet to disappoint. 

He can be a charmer every now and then. 

So after a nice long walk with Nick, we headed out to eat.

We just went to get wings at Bdubs since we had Isaac and, well, I love wings, beer, and sports. As soon as I walked in I thought that it was loud as hell in there! It was a blessing in disguise though because Marlee continued her grumpy mood. She screamed and fussed and whined the entire time. I felt awful. I was sad for Marlee and sad for the people trying to enjoy their dinner around us. I tried feeding her, rocking her, changing her - nothing was working. She was just not a happy camper. I could not get out of there fast enough. Nick thinks I get all excited for no reason and I admit, I get so flustered when she cries around other people. Even family. I hate it. I always feel like I should be able to make her happy. I am her mom after all! Unfortunately, like Nick said, it happens. Babies cry. Even in public. And I am sure this will not be the last time. 

Side note, does anyone watch Parenthood? The couple with the newborn - yea, almost too real to watch sometimes. Ugh. 

Marlee woke up smiling and laughing this morning. I am even enjoying a cup of coffee while she naps. My friend Emmy is bringing over pizza for lunch and then it is adult nap time before work. Not a bad start to my Friday!