RE: Peanut

{one}

regardingpeanut — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:11:08 +0000

inspired by a favorite blogger: {one} photo from the week. {one} photo that sums it up, offers it up. {one} that somehow captures it. what it is, i’m not quite sure. do you have {one}? share it in the comments.

{one}

regardingpeanut — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:16:15 +0000

The Middle One

regardingpeanut — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:58:09 +0000

I won’t pretend that I try to give my kids equal time on this blog – after all, this started 6 years ago as Ryan’s blog. But my middle, my Finleigh, there’s something extra special about that kid. Maybe it’s my soft spot for 2 year olds (yep, love ‘em). Maybe it’s my soft spot for redheads (married one). Maybe it’s just her squishy cheeks. But there’s something about that girl.

She’s fast. She only cuddles on her terms. She likes things HER way, and she don’t give a crap if you have other ideas. We call her Honey Badger. And it suits her. To a “T”.

When she slows down though, oh my, what a sweet heart. I just breathe all her toddler-y goodness in at night, as she’s drifting off to sleep, doing her family roll call (Ryan, daddy, mama, Asher, Finleigh, Zoe, Unca Mike, Annie Allison, Unca Jame, nonna, papa) and naming off all the parts of my face (eyes, eyefrows, lips, ears, cheeks) and pausing with her sweet, slightly sticky, pudgy little hand on my cheek. I melt.

I know I enjoyed this age with Ryan. But I also know I had a lot of other stuff going on then: school, work, the possibility of going back to work, my own inner demons – I had a lot of my own crap. And, hindsight being, as always, 20/20, I know this sweet little moment is fleeting. So fast.
She’ll be 2 in 2 months. And those little hands will lose their pudge, and her cheeks will slim down, and she’ll no longer need me to lay with her at night and give her “nosies”. So, for now, I breathe it all in.

Happy Six, Peanut

regardingpeanut — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:47:51 +0000

She hates it when I call her ‘Peanut’ now. Tough patoots, I say. It’s your nickname and I’m not giving it up. Oh, and you’re a peanut, so it’s fitting. I’m not a nut, she replies. No, not in that sense…

She’s becoming a truly, truly lovely young lady. She’s sweet, caring, responsible, thoughtful and smart. I’m quite proud of her, and of the choices and decisions she’s making, and learning to make, as she navigates this big world we live in. I think she’s going to make it.

She asked for a “star” party this year. And, well, this mama delivers. Star party it is. Stars everywhere…the cake, the decor, the dress. I’m “that mom” and I think I’m OK with it. I haven’t decided yet.

Whatever the case, Happy Birthday, kiddo. You are my favorite six year old.

And look! Mommy (and Asher) made it into a photo, and wore stars. Just for sissy.

{one}

regardingpeanut — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:34:40 +0000

{one}

regardingpeanut — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:26:42 +0000

Snow Day (crazy edition)

regardingpeanut — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:24:13 +0000

It was all fun for the first day…and even the second day. But as we rounded out day 5 (yes, FIVE days of being stuck in the house), we all got a little craaaazy. Yesterday was wild stuff…today we escaped, along with the rest of the eastside. So, so grateful to have a car, albeit a small one, with 4wd.Ryan is LOVING her Connect4 game. So much that she’s now hugging it. This after she played with her imaginary friend.

Asher is watching the crazy, taking it all in. Good times – pretty sure she’s well entertained.

The biggers headed out into the snow. Note Finleigh’s sunglasses? Gobbles, she says. Very important.

Even the art got a little goofy. Tape and popsicle sticks. And googly eyes.

Chocolate chip cookies in muffin liners. Why not?

There is a bottle of bubbles under there. It’s about 8″ tall.

We busted out the scissors. Time for a haircut!!

Cute! And about 4″ shorter. Nice job, mommy.

Oooh, a new carrier for Asher! Been stalking the mailman for this one. Thank you for bringing rainbows on such dreary days.

Good choice. THIS is where the Wild Things are. Little banshees.

Chaos, you’ve come to stay.

Oh yes, this night is looking up.

three months

regardingpeanut — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:10:05 +0000

And what a whirlwind it’s been. I’m a firm believe that each is given what they can handle at the moment, and Asher has been just what this family needs right now. She’s so sweet and mellow, laughs easily and smiles a lot. She adores her big sisters, and they adore her (fight over her is more like it). We’re settling nicely into have three kids, and I have to admit, just like when the others came into our lives, I can’t imagine life without her.
Happy three months, Asher! We’re so, so glad you’re here.

SNOW DAY!!

regardingpeanut — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:27:40 +0000

Ryan woke up this morning, came to our room, and announced that it had snowed “all night and the whole world was white!”. Awesome. I’m going back to sleep (no one else was up yet). But, sure enough, we woke to a winter wonderland. Coffee first, then out to play. Sorry kids, y’all have to wait.

We don’t get a ton of snow here in Seattle-ish, so when we do, it’s kind of epic. Even our medium one, who HATED the snow last year, freaked out, trying to climb out of the window in her jammies to get into it. She kept eating it…saying “eat snow, eat snow” over and over. Ryan just loves snow, too. She was practically swimming in it, and catching flakes on her tongue, and building a snowman (I even helped).

We had hot cocoa after playing outside (well, mama and daddy had coffee), and then made cookies in the afternoon. I found these awesome “message in a cookie” cutters from Pinterest (Are you on there? If not, you must be; I’ll invite you. All the cool kids are there.) and had to have them. I love them already. They come with phrases, but also just letters so you can make your own message, like our “happy snow day” ones!

I’ll admit, I don’t love snow. I don’t like driving in it, it’s cold, it’s wet. But, I LOVE the first snow. And I actually quite like running in the snow (not running WHILE it’s snowing – that sucks). But today seemed more a snuggle at home sort of day, so I did. And a good day it was.

{one}

regardingpeanut — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:58:48 +0000