Falling in Love and Turning 5: Happy Birthday, Sweet Lyla!

Dear Lyla, 

On the day you were born, I was excited and terrified all the same time when they wheeled me back to surgery. As I was on my way to experience the most amazing moment of my life, Mimi looked at me with wide, knowing eyes and said, “You’re about to find out what real love is all about."

I didn’t understand then, and I really didn’t understand until much later the gravity of these words. You were my baby, so of course, I loved you instantly.

I fell in love with you much, much later, as I really started to understand who you are.

And, now you are turning 5. This seems like such a big number to me, and it really is. It means seeing you in such grown-up, amazing ways:

-Hearing you tell Cade this morning: “I’m your big sister Cade, and no matter how big we get, you’ll always be my little brother."

-Watching your little brain become so big…recognizing words, real words as you start reading to me instead of the other way around.

-You choosing your own clothes and completely dressing yourself in whatever you fancy for the day.

-Seeing you develop and maintain real relationships outside our family…real friends of your own with your own little jokes and communications, your very own dynamics.

-Rejoicing a little in a tear I saw in your eye this morning when you told me that you don’t want to think about ever moving away from Mommy & Daddy, not even 20 years from now: “I don’t want to think about that, Mommy, it makes me want to cry."

I love every moment of watching you grow, even the difficult ones. I am working to appreciate it all..so, instead of feeling sad at the baby days behind us, I am focusing on the joys ahead of us. The sheer joy of falling in love with you more and more each day. 

Thank you, my sweet Thanksgiving Baby, for making me a mommy. You were worth every single moment of the wait. Actually, you make the wait seem like it was a small investment for such a monumental reward and, well, love…just like Mimi said it would be. 

Happy 5th, my Sweet Girl. You really do make the world a more joyous place. 

A Princess & A Robot Party

I really wish I had more photos to add to this post - and hopefully, I’ll gather some from other sources. We held Lyla & Cade’s  birthday party at All About Kids this year and invited their preschool friends and family - it was a great success. 

Lyla wanted a Sofia birthday cake - we have an amazing neighbor who put this one together for her. I can’t believe how realistic it is. Beautiful!

And, here’s Cade’s robot cake - my second attempt.  

The kids had a great time jumping and playing - I wish I could have captured more of it with my camera - it was just so hard to be everywhere at one time: 

I hope to add more photos to this post later - we had a really great day!

Celebrating Cade's 3rd!

We celebrated Cade’s birthday this evening when Daddy got home from work. There was a robot cake, gifts for Cade and the traditional gift for Lyla at the celebration (Cade will get one on her birthday as well). 

She’s very happy with this tradition: 

Cade loves nothing more than unwrapping gifts, no matter what the contents: 

This year, Cade is about all things robots. Here he is with the robot he asked for - one with a remote control, of course: 

Candles: 

Mommy’s first attempt at a Pinterest inspired, egg free, robot cake: 

Happy Birthday, Sweet Bugg! It was so much fun celebrating with you! We love you!

Fairy Wands & Firehoses - Happy Birthday Cade E. Bugg

My Dear Sweet Bug, 

It is the eve of your third birthday, and I want to take a moment to thank you for the last chapter of my life. If it had a title, it would have something to do with falling in love all over again. 

You make me a better person. Really. You have helped me to become more patient and more well rounded. You have taught me about concrete mixer trucks, tow trucks and cranes…you’ve even inspired me to see that Lyla’s fairy wands really can transform into fire hoses, an important lesson for a realist like me. 

Watching your little imagination unfold over the last few months has been nothing short of magical. My tantrum throwing 2 year old has become a little sorcerer who can invent all kinds of games (Fix It Man, Ice Cream Truck Man, Tow Truck) with an amazing imagination. 

Lyla cried a little tonight when Daddy told her you would wake up as a 3 year old…and I can understand that. I cried a little too. But, mostly, I’m excited about what is ahead of us because I love watching your sweet little self emerge. 

I love you, Cade E. Bugg. Thank you for being my little boy. 

Happy Birthday. 

 

Happy Fall!

Fall is in the air here - the kids are so excited about falling leaves, a phenomenon synonymous with their upcoming birthdays. I’ve been telling Lyla since she was a baby that she’ll always know that it’s getting close to her birthday when the leaves start turning colors...

I captured this photo the other day when we raked leaves at the bottom of the hill in the backyard and ran for it. 

There are hard days with these two, but I’ve never been more in love in my whole, entire life: 

I love my family.