Look out world, my birthday boy is 5 today!

This past year has been spectacular for Ian. So many wonderful changes occurred that I believe the word that best describes Ian is 'Mr. Independent'. He can get himself dressed in the morning, brush his teeth completely on his own, started requesting to take a shower over having a bath, can operate the tv remote control, fully mastered working the wii, buckles his own car seat, and has even shown a desire to learn to read.

Two changes that I am particularly proud of was his own initiative to stop wearing pull-ups at night and be more open-minded to eat what we are having for dinner; thus requiring less and less chicken nuggets as his meal.

Ian's interest in sports has skyrocketed. He can be found watching basketball, baseball and racing over any of his favorite cartoons most days. He'll go to bed watching a sporting event on tv and first thing the next morning ask daddy who won. He enjoys watching the sports news and will always ask what teams they are showing in the highlights. Although, at this point, Ian can tell me who is playing and point out specific players and their numbers. Ian played soccer in the Fall and Spring and did it with gusto. His enthusiasm for scoring a goal is a little over-the-top.

Ian's dreams on what he wants to do when gets older spans from wanting to be a race car driver, to being in a rock band, being a pilot and a teacher. He is by far the most social person I know. Ian is friends with everyone and does a great job keeping his calendar full on his own. He is great at taking turns and sharing. And he has all these ideas. He is planning to take guitar lessons during the summer and will be fully swimming without his arm floaties by the end of summer. He says he'll need to wear them for the first few lessons to get comfortable again in the water.

Ian's vocabulary continues to amaze and delight all who hear him. I figured out how it got so developed. When Ian hears a word he doesn't know, he'll stop and ask what it means. Next thing you know, he is using that very word in a sentence later on. His comprehension not just for words but math and sport scores is astounding.

Ian is funny. Very funny. He'll say something and just crack us all up. Like when Sam wakes up from a nap and is angry. Ian said, "well that didn't work out like it was supposed to." Or, when he watches a race on tv and comments "that is the most beautiful turn I've ever seen."

Turning 5 is a big deal! This is when Ian truly becomes a big boy and is no longer a toddler. Ian will start kindergarten in the Fall. It is going to be an exciting time of adapting to a new schedule, making new friends and getting even a little more independent. I have no doubt that my gregarious little boy is going to embrace this new chapter in his life like everything else he has done; with a smile on his face and ideas on how he can do it in his own style.

I love you so much my brilliant, witty, observant, considerate, playful, talkative Ian. You are becoming quite the big boy and growing into an awesome little person that I love to be around.

Happy 5th birthday! Mommy and Daddy love you so very much!

Sam's balancing act

What makes Sam think this is a good idea? It started out that she would only let me change her diaper when she was laying on the bottom step. It was a little tricky, but doable. I knew if some reason, Sam fell off the step, it wasn't going to be that bad of a fall. Once she got the new diaper on, she'd get up and keep going about her business.

Then, somewhere along the way, Sam started laying on some of the higher steps -- just because. It became a place she enjoyed hanging out on. Sometimes with her blanket and lovey and sometimes with nothing in particular. It is a little freaky to turn the corner and see her on the steps. I fear that she will forget how narrow the space is and roll off. Or, I'll quickly run down the stairs for something and step or trip on her. For some reason she finds this space to be a comforting place. It makes no sense and since this is something that Ian never discovered doing, it never occurred to me that she would want to.

Very bizarre. Fortunately it is only a matter of time before she is longer than width of the step.

It's a better world when you have friends

I joke with Jeff that I hope to never make a new friend. I have plenty as it is and already have a tough time staying in touch with the ones I have. It is a juggling act getting to see my friends often enough and still spending as much time with the family as I want. Adding more friends would only eat up time I don't have to give to these new friendships.

About a year ago, this woman and I were walking out of the gym at the same time and she commented on my workout. "It looks like you had a great run this morning." That's basically all she had to say and I was puddy eating out of her hands. We joke that she picked me up at the gym. I came home and told Jeff that my running got noticed and he said, "I'm sorry, you've made a new friend." Ha! Not hardly. I was not going to get to know this woman and do nothing to encourage a friendship. However, this woman (who I come to find out is named Maria) was extra friendly and would try to start a conversation with me each time I saw her. Eventually I met her for bagels one morning while our kids were in school and started getting to know her.

If someone told me that a year later I'd be leaving a surprise bouquet of flowers at her doorstep for her 40th birthday, you could've knocked me over with a feather. And if someone told me that I'd be going to a birthday party being thrown for her by one of her friends where I knew no one but her, you'd also be able to knock me over with a feather. But that is exactly what happened. Somewhere over the past year, this Maria has become a friend and I feel like my life has become so much more sweeter with her in it.

Maria is one of the main Gazelles I run with on Saturday mornings and go to the local races with. She is so inspiring and makes me want to be a better runner. She is incredibly dedicated to running, but also has a great time doing it.

Unfortunately all the other Gazelles were out of town and not able to attend her party. I was certain I would feel more than a little uncomfortable walking into a complete stranger's house and not know anyone but Maria. On Friday, I asked Heather if she wanted to go to the party with me. She said yes! Heather is a great person to take to a party. She will never embarrass you with her behavior, she can relate to almost anyone and she doesn't mind not knowing anyone. Plus, she offered to pick me up, what more do you need in a date?

Heather and I had a wonderful time at the party. There was about 25 people there and we met and spoke to just about everyone. It was an incredibly welcoming group and the laughs came easy. This one guy there named Greg looked very familiar to Heather. Heather has the most amazing memory for faces. If she says someone looks familiar, then you can bet all the tea in China that Heather has met them at some point in her life. It turns out that Greg and Heather went out on a date approx. 10 years ago. Nothing ever came of it and they quickly lost touch and never spoke again. Right away, Heather and I had the same thought -- this guy would be perfect for our friend Wendy. He is a really nice guy and his interests are right up Wendy's alley. Hey, who knows if they will have chemistry or not, but it is worth a shot.

I really do think everything happens for a reason. And now I feel like becoming friends with Maria is part of my inspiration for being the runner that I've turned into. And taking Heather to this party was supposed to happen too. Maybe this is the guy that Wendy will end up with. She is such a wonderful person and deserves to be with someone who is worthy.

I didn't realize I had room in my life for another friend until Maria came along and showed me that there is always room for one more.

Green means go!

The wedding we went to almost 2 weeks ago was held at the beautiful location of Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. There are exactly 36 traffic lights separating us from this destination and our house. How do we know this? I counted.

495 was the primary road we used to get to the wedding, but on the way out of the parking lot at the end of the evening, Jeff & I debated briefly which way to go to get home. I commented that we could take 123/Chain Bridge all the way and Jeff said that there are too many lights we could get stuck at. I believe my reply was, "You never know, they could be all green." At which point a challenge was issued and we gave it a go.

To our amazement, out of the 36 traffic lights we had to drive thru, 34 of them were a solid green! One light (#17) was yellow turning red and we probably should've stopped, but I think even Jeff got caught up in the excitement and went for it. Light #33 was red and that was the first time we had to actually come to a full stop. I can attest to the fact that Jeff did the speed limit the whole way and no trickery was involved. We made it home in 18 minutes; probably the same amount of time as if we took the beltway, but I know for a fact we had more fun this way.

My sweet and fiesty birthday girl!

Sam turns two years old today. Every day I spend with her, I am amazed at her spunkiness. She has become this very head-strong, opinionated, loud little person. If she gets an idea in her head, she will stop at nothing to make it happen. Whether it is putting on a pair of my shoes and walking down the stairs in them, or telling us exactly which bowl she needs her oatmeal to be served in, she can be stubborn and funny all at the same moment.

Sam loves to wear a hat, any kind of hat, and will do so 24/7 if you let her. She enjoys playing dress up and will spend a good deal of time wearing either Ian's soccer cleats, daddy's flip flops or my dressy shoes around the house, completing the look with a bicycle helmet on her head. No room or staircase is off limits with her making the rounds. She will take my watch and wear it, load up her baby stroller with my purse and start circling the kitchen. I absolutely adore watching her in action and see what she will think of next. She is all girl and loves a good outfit change as much as the next person. I am no longer surprised when she has gone off and disappeared for a little and returns wearing something completely different than what I dressed her in. Unfortunately, this means the diaper has come off and is no longer part of the new ensemble. She loves to wear her pink, sparkly sunglasses, but only on top of her head. Most of the time, the sunglasses are upside down.

Sam hates being cooped-up in the house too long and will 'take' Jeff on walks frequently. Her need to be out and about makes her a dream to run errands with and doesn't mind the constant getting in and out of the car. When she realizes we are getting ready to leave the house, she will start bringing each of us our shoes to put on and go "here mommy" or "here daddy" as she puts them on the floor and helps guide our feet in them. She does a quick walk around the house and grab a few things to put in the diaper bag; "here bag, bag, bag" until we take it from her and put it in the bag. We've had to leave the house with everything from several pinky dolls (her loveys), Ian's Cars computer, an Elmo balloon and more.

Her vocabulary has become something extraordinary. I know Ian didn't even come close to having this many words when he was turning two. Sam will put two words together and repeat them over and over again until we figure out what she is saying and help her get what it is she wants. Bonus if you can do this before she starts getting louder each time she repeats herself.

Sam is advanced for her age and entered the 'terrible twos' a long time ago. If you tell her "no" or when she does not get her way, her temper tantrums are hilarious. She'll stop crying/screaming, gently lower herself to the ground and lay head first pointing down. Only after she has placed herself on the floor in the proper temper tantrum position, she will then start crying/screaming again. You can't help but laugh when this display is put in action.

Sam loves to people-watch and is just as happy hanging out seeing what others are doing as she is getting in the action. She will mimic the behavior of her brother and completely & utterly adores him. The hugs and kisses she gives Ian come freely and sitting on his lap is one of her most favorite places to be. Fortunately, Ian doesn't mind. The rest of us have to work hard to get a kiss from her.

She loves to color and is very proud of herself after each drawing. "Look, look" she'll say holding up her latest creation. If she's done something she is particularly proud of, she'll clap her hands and has a smile that goes from ear to ear. Sam is the best little helper around and enjoys emptying the dishwasher and filling it up again with the dirty dishes in the sink. She takes her step stool around the kitchen and will instantly pop up and be very quick to lend a hand.

Sam's smile lights up her face. Sam loves to drive with her window all the way down and faces the strong breeze coming through her window directly head-on. She is quick to laugh and loves to cuddle. She'll tell you what she wants to wear and let you know if you are on the approved list to do her hair or not. That list changes daily.

I am so madly in love with my funny, adorable, sensitive, clingy, beautiful, charming, spirited, talkative cutie pie. She is my sunshine and brings me more joy and happiness than I thought possible.

Happy 2nd birthday Sam. Mommy and daddy love you very much!

Heard and Observed X

At a soccer game, the coach on Ian's team put a list together of who he wanted to pair up and have play against the other team. Ian was told he would be playing with one of his best buddies, James.

Coach: Ian and James, you'll be playing together.

Ian: I've been dreaming about this day happening.

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After the first quarter was over, the coach called all the players in for a water break and to give them a quick pep talk. The coach asked the kids how it was going.

Ian: These boys are taking away less of my breath and energy than the girls we played last week.

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Ian: Momma, your Mother's day present from me is ME!

Me: Yay! Just what I always wanted.

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Driving to school one morning:

Ian: Momma, can we go to McDonald's the next time we go out to eat? I really want to get one of those Train Your Dragon toys they are giving away with Happy Meals. I don't think it is fair that I don't have any.

Me: Ian, I am trying to get us to eat healthier than McDonald's.

Ian: Well then how about we get Sam a happy meal to eat and then you can give me her Train Your Dragon toy that comes with it?

Me: Yes, I guess that would solve the problem.

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Snug as a bug in a rug

It finally happened. Saturday was the first time ever (since Sam was born almost 2 years ago) that it became necessary to see if all of four of us could fit in our queen-sized bed.

At 5:30am, looking at the video monitor with one eye open as I was turning over, I noticed that Sam was standing in her crib. I went to retrieve her before she started getting loud and calling for me. My plan was to get her diaper changed and bring her into bed with me and Jeff before Ian woke-up. The goal was to try to grab another 30 minutes of sleep before the day officially began.

As soon as Sam wakes up she likes to know the status of everyone's whereabouts:

Sam: "Daddy? Daddy?"
Me: "Daddy is still sleeping"
Sam: Makes the motion she needs to keep quiet and puts her finger to her mouth, "sssshhhh."
Me: "Yes, that's right...ssssshhhhhh"
Sam: "Ian? Ian?"
Before I could even say, "Ian is still sleeping too", Ian answered with a very calm voice from his room, "Boy, Sam is up early."

Um, by my math that makes TWO kids up very early. Ugh! Aren't weekends for sleeping in? I don't think my kids ever got that memo.

I told Ian to go to the bathroom, grab Gymbo (his lovey) and come join us in bed. We've never been in this situation before where both kids are up at the same time (before the crack of dawn) and there is absolutely no reason to be. Usually the kids alternate on who is going to take that honor and the other one will sleep to a more manageable time in the morning.

So there we were, Jeff, Me, Ian, Samantha, and two loveys (Ian had his Gymbo doll and Sam had her pinky doll). Believe it or not, we had enough room and no one got crushed. However, an extra 30 minutes of sleep never happened. As you can imagine, Ian starts talking, Sam chimes in with whats on her mind and I start thinking of everything that I could be doing instead of trying to pretend to be asleep. I think at the most we made it another 10 minutes and by 5:45am, we were all up.

No wonder I never have a problem meeting my Gazelles for an early 6:00amish run. If I am going to be awake, I might as well start the day on a good foot. :)