This morning as I make breakfast, I can hear them singing their own rendition of "Any Dream Will Do." Maggie is singing Joseph's part and Bode is the "Ah-ah-ah" chorus. Future Donny and Marie?
Skip ahead to 2:20 and picture my little sweeties singing.
Monday, October 28, 2013
My Entertainment
I love listening to Maggie and Bode interact when I'm not in the room. That is, when they're getting along.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Two
While I was pregnant with Bode, I remember wondering how I could possibly love another child as much as I loved Maggie. Other moms always said the love just multiplied, but really? I wasn't so sure. Then he arrived on October 17th, 2011.
Bode Christian Gibbs. All eight pounds, seven ounces of him, with a sideways cone head (thank you, thank you, epidural!). And my bond with him was immediate.
My son. The soft dark hair, the deep blue eyes, the perfect little lips. Oh my heart.
Since then, all of our lives have been enriched by the arrival of this sweet and rambunctious child. Steve's. Maggie's. Mine.
And now he is two.
So who is Bode at age 2?
He is a mama's boy. When I see him running toward me after any time apart, with the happy cry of "Mama!" my heart melts.
He is all about physical touch. Morning cuddles, rough-and-tumble wrestles, just-because hugs, crazy tickles, and hand-holding. That boy just has to be close to those he loves.
He is a sports lover like his daddy, inevitably. "Football!" "Volleyball!" "Basketball!" (Ok, they all sound more like "Ba-baw!") If Steve is watching it, so is Bode.
What he lacks in vocabulary (it's coming along), he makes up for in expressive gestures and enthusiasm. And if all else fails, he'll take your hand and guide you to what he wants you to see.
He loves animals, just like his sister. Puppies are at the top of his list.
He is SILLY! Who knows what he says half the time, but he thinks he's funny with that impish look on his face.
And that term, "all boy?" I always used to think that was an odd phrase, and, honestly, I kinda thought it was annoying. All boy? Yeah...he's a boy. Of course, he's all boy. But now I get it. Bode fits that description to a T. He is ALL. BOY. 'Nuf said.
So to celebrate these first two years of life, we ventured to a pumpkin patch with Uncle Jim, Aunt Angie, and cousins Eli and Liliana.
More pictures to come.
And finally, here is a video Steve put together of Maggie's birthday celebrations as well as Maggie's and Bode's joint family birthday party a couple weeks ago.
Bode Christian Gibbs. All eight pounds, seven ounces of him, with a sideways cone head (thank you, thank you, epidural!). And my bond with him was immediate.
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| Photo by Lemon Peel Photography |
Since then, all of our lives have been enriched by the arrival of this sweet and rambunctious child. Steve's. Maggie's. Mine.
And now he is two.
So who is Bode at age 2?
He is a mama's boy. When I see him running toward me after any time apart, with the happy cry of "Mama!" my heart melts.
He is all about physical touch. Morning cuddles, rough-and-tumble wrestles, just-because hugs, crazy tickles, and hand-holding. That boy just has to be close to those he loves.
He is a sports lover like his daddy, inevitably. "Football!" "Volleyball!" "Basketball!" (Ok, they all sound more like "Ba-baw!") If Steve is watching it, so is Bode.
What he lacks in vocabulary (it's coming along), he makes up for in expressive gestures and enthusiasm. And if all else fails, he'll take your hand and guide you to what he wants you to see.
He loves animals, just like his sister. Puppies are at the top of his list.
He is SILLY! Who knows what he says half the time, but he thinks he's funny with that impish look on his face.
And that term, "all boy?" I always used to think that was an odd phrase, and, honestly, I kinda thought it was annoying. All boy? Yeah...he's a boy. Of course, he's all boy. But now I get it. Bode fits that description to a T. He is ALL. BOY. 'Nuf said.
So to celebrate these first two years of life, we ventured to a pumpkin patch with Uncle Jim, Aunt Angie, and cousins Eli and Liliana.
More pictures to come.
And finally, here is a video Steve put together of Maggie's birthday celebrations as well as Maggie's and Bode's joint family birthday party a couple weeks ago.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Puppy Stickers
Today, Maggie gave Bode the option to have "a cute puppy sticker, a kiss puppy sticker, or a fabulous puppy sticker."
He chose the fabulous puppy.
He chose the fabulous puppy.
I mean, who wouldn't?
The Uniform
I am feeling silly...
I almost sold Maggie's first dance uniform, and I about lost it, emotionally.
Maggie's dance teacher had asked if I would be willing to sell Maggie's uniform from last year as a Just For Kix class in another town would be wearing the same style. I didn't think anything of it at first. "Sure!" I quickly replied.
So before Maggie's class yesterday, I went to get it down from the closet to give to her teacher. And as I looked at the adorable pink long-sleeve leotard and poofy aqua tulle skirt adorned with the pink flower, I had flashbacks of my precious princess on stage for her very first dance recital. She was so excited, and she looked just ADORABLE. I remembered how she wanted to wear that uniform to Cubbies for Sports Night. I remembered how she begged to just run around the house in it. And again, how ADORABLE she looked in it.
I had a brief internal struggle, but we had to get going, and in the end thought I should follow through with what I originally told her teacher. I even explained to Maggie, and she told me she wanted "another little girl" to have it. What a sweetheart. So I placed it in a plastic Target bag and let Maggie deliver it to her teacher at dance.
But I couldn't let go.
To add to my emotional state, I ended up talking with another mom at church that evening who had had a daughter in Maggie's dance class last year. Without me saying anything, it just came up out of the blue that her daughter just loves that uniform, and wears it around all the time.
Uhhh! I thought I made my decision! I didn't want to beg for the uniform back. I didn't want to be viewed as ridiculous and childish. Finally as I lay in bed, quite distraught (why was I crying???), I decided to grovel and ask for it back. I emailed her teacher, and laid it out for her. I would definitely want another child to have it if she needed it, but if they had extra...could I, pretty please, have it back? Talk about feeling humbled! And to my delight, the teacher emailed me back this morning and affirmed that she would not sell it but rather return it to me next week.
Am I ridiculous? Don't answer that. But seriously, look at this girl.
Ok, so maybe this whole uniform thing just represents how quickly my children are growing and changing, and how desperately I want to hang on to them so tightly! I know there are some things I need to let go, but for now, I will keep the uniform, let Maggie enjoy it a little more, and then have the tangible memory of her very first dance class.
I almost sold Maggie's first dance uniform, and I about lost it, emotionally.
Maggie's dance teacher had asked if I would be willing to sell Maggie's uniform from last year as a Just For Kix class in another town would be wearing the same style. I didn't think anything of it at first. "Sure!" I quickly replied.
So before Maggie's class yesterday, I went to get it down from the closet to give to her teacher. And as I looked at the adorable pink long-sleeve leotard and poofy aqua tulle skirt adorned with the pink flower, I had flashbacks of my precious princess on stage for her very first dance recital. She was so excited, and she looked just ADORABLE. I remembered how she wanted to wear that uniform to Cubbies for Sports Night. I remembered how she begged to just run around the house in it. And again, how ADORABLE she looked in it.
I had a brief internal struggle, but we had to get going, and in the end thought I should follow through with what I originally told her teacher. I even explained to Maggie, and she told me she wanted "another little girl" to have it. What a sweetheart. So I placed it in a plastic Target bag and let Maggie deliver it to her teacher at dance.
But I couldn't let go.
To add to my emotional state, I ended up talking with another mom at church that evening who had had a daughter in Maggie's dance class last year. Without me saying anything, it just came up out of the blue that her daughter just loves that uniform, and wears it around all the time.
Uhhh! I thought I made my decision! I didn't want to beg for the uniform back. I didn't want to be viewed as ridiculous and childish. Finally as I lay in bed, quite distraught (why was I crying???), I decided to grovel and ask for it back. I emailed her teacher, and laid it out for her. I would definitely want another child to have it if she needed it, but if they had extra...could I, pretty please, have it back? Talk about feeling humbled! And to my delight, the teacher emailed me back this morning and affirmed that she would not sell it but rather return it to me next week.
Am I ridiculous? Don't answer that. But seriously, look at this girl.
Ok, so maybe this whole uniform thing just represents how quickly my children are growing and changing, and how desperately I want to hang on to them so tightly! I know there are some things I need to let go, but for now, I will keep the uniform, let Maggie enjoy it a little more, and then have the tangible memory of her very first dance class.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Sibling Love
This morning when Bode woke up and called out with his usual, "MOMMY! MOM! MOMMY!" (Stewie anyone?) I wasn't very quick to get out of bed. I had stayed up past my normal bedtime, grading papers, and was definitely feeling like a couple more hours in bed would be nice.
Well, even before Steve could get up with Bode, I heard the little pitter-pattering of Maggie's feet running into Bode's room. And then:
"Good morning, Bode! Do you want me to get into your crib with you?"
"Depp!" he responded. (Yep!)
And there they played quite contentedly until Steve went to check on them.
And there they played quite contentedly until Steve went to check on them.
Between the screaming and squabbles, it sure is fun to see them enjoy each other. Maggie is such a good big sister, and Bode clearly looks up to her so much.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Maggie-ism Monday, 10.7.2013
~Our dog Asia serves several purposes at our house. Companion. Protector. And vacuum cleaner. Case in point? At a football game earlier this fall, when Maggie spilled some kernels of popcorn on the ground, she very seriously asked, "Do we need a dog?"
~Recently, Maggie asked what Daddy's phone number was. When I started reciting "Five Oh Seven..." she stops me and said, "Why is it 'O'? That's a letter, not a number. " Oh. Right. Zero.
~Maggie loves to check out the stars whenever we return home from any outings at night. While gazing at the stars one evening, she contemplated, "Hey, why aren't there falling stars? Are they tired of falling?"
~After celebrating a classmate's birthday at preschool, she came home with a plastic Vikings ring that had been on top of her cupcake. She was so excited to give it to Steve, knowing his love of football and the "purple team." While getting ready for bed that night, I overheard her talking with Steve: "Have you got your ring on?"It's right here. We don't wear rings to bed.""When you wake up you can wear it to school! *squeal!* it's really special!!!"
~On our way to Maggie's dance class today, she noticed that I still had my tiara on from our earlier princess play time, and told me I needed to take it off. "You can't be a princess at dance. You can just be a mom," she explained. I pretended to be sad, at which point she reminded me, "But you LOVE being a mom!"So very true. :)
~After celebrating a classmate's birthday at preschool, she came home with a plastic Vikings ring that had been on top of her cupcake. She was so excited to give it to Steve, knowing his love of football and the "purple team." While getting ready for bed that night, I overheard her talking with Steve: "Have you got your ring on?"It's right here. We don't wear rings to bed.""When you wake up you can wear it to school! *squeal!* it's really special!!!"
~On our way to Maggie's dance class today, she noticed that I still had my tiara on from our earlier princess play time, and told me I needed to take it off. "You can't be a princess at dance. You can just be a mom," she explained. I pretended to be sad, at which point she reminded me, "But you LOVE being a mom!"So very true. :)
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| My big girl completed early childhood screening today. Thankfully she wore her shoes on the correct feet, unlike in this photo. |
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Wednesdays and Fridays with Bode
As any mom of more than one child will tell you, finding times to spend one-on-one with each child is sometimes hard (and I only have two), but so important!
With Maggie, our one-on-one time often comes after she wakes up from her nap in the afternoon. She takes a short afternoon nap, and now that Bode is down to one nap, he will sleep a little longer. We often do some coloring or girly things. This is what we did one of our days last week:
I have to be a little more intentional finding time to spend alone with Bode, but Maggie's new school schedule has lent itself to this mommy-son time quite nicely.
Wednesday and Friday mornings, we will walk Maggie the couple blocks to school, and then Bode and I will continue with the stroller. The kid LOVES the stroller, which is quite a difference from his big sister at that age. I remember barely being able to get a two-mile run in while pushing Maggie in the jogging stroller, struggling to hand her her one animal cracker at a time to prolong her semi-contentment. Often these runs would end in me carrying Maggie and pushing the empty stroller back home. Bode on the other hand will run TO the stroller, climb in, and insist we go for a walk.
So on these mornings, we usually walk back past our house and down to the little bridge over the river. Bode loves to say, "Hi, bwiii!" (Hi, bridge!) and "Bye-bye bwiii!"
Our walks are never long enough for Bode, but usually by this time, I feel I need to get back and get caught up on work emails before picking Maggie up from school.
With Maggie, our one-on-one time often comes after she wakes up from her nap in the afternoon. She takes a short afternoon nap, and now that Bode is down to one nap, he will sleep a little longer. We often do some coloring or girly things. This is what we did one of our days last week:
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| Maggie picked out new fingernail polish with some birthday money, and gave me a mani/pedi. |
I have to be a little more intentional finding time to spend alone with Bode, but Maggie's new school schedule has lent itself to this mommy-son time quite nicely.
Wednesday and Friday mornings, we will walk Maggie the couple blocks to school, and then Bode and I will continue with the stroller. The kid LOVES the stroller, which is quite a difference from his big sister at that age. I remember barely being able to get a two-mile run in while pushing Maggie in the jogging stroller, struggling to hand her her one animal cracker at a time to prolong her semi-contentment. Often these runs would end in me carrying Maggie and pushing the empty stroller back home. Bode on the other hand will run TO the stroller, climb in, and insist we go for a walk.
So on these mornings, we usually walk back past our house and down to the little bridge over the river. Bode loves to say, "Hi, bwiii!" (Hi, bridge!) and "Bye-bye bwiii!"
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| Bode shows off the leaves he collected on Wednesday. |
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| Friday was a special doughnut day. |
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| Bodes shows me the "X" on the bridge. |
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| Looking for ducks, but they were absent on this rainy day. "Cack! Cack!" |
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| And then he's off! |
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| Still loves to hold my hand. Heart. Melting. |
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| The climber. |
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| Giggling while running toward me because he discovered leaves will stick to my workout pants. |
Our walks are never long enough for Bode, but usually by this time, I feel I need to get back and get caught up on work emails before picking Maggie up from school.
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| Practicing his "Os" on Wednesday after our walk. |
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