And now it Begins

  Sadie, you have officially started school.  You have begun the journey that will last another 18 years or so.  Right now you go to Small Face three mornings a week.  This is the end of the first week and you seem to really like it.  Today I picked you up early because you threw up (this is also your first time throwing up).  As far as I can tell you are not sick.  After talking with you it seems like you were having a little too much fun on the tire swing.  What is funny to me is that right now you have no idea what going to school means.  For all you know you go a few times and that is it.  I know it is a continuous, ongoing thing but you ask me everyday on the car ride home if you are going back.  I’m excited to learn even more about who you are.  I’m excited for you to make some new friends.  I hope you end up liking school as much as I did. 

  Maddox, we have had a little bit more time together now that Sadie is in school.  It feels a little bit strange coming home with just one kid.  So far we have looked at a lot of books.  It’s cute because you keep saying, “Sadie” and looking around for her.  You are not used to her being gone.  I’m pretty excited to have some time that I can really focus on you.  Our little routine has been changed but we will all get used to it.

I love you guys!

The pictures below are:  Sadie on her first day of school, the kids playing on the sofa and Maddox with his cape.

It’s been awhile-first steps

  Sadly, it has been too long since I have posted.  Much has been missed like both of your birthdays, a trip to Virginia, camping and first words.  For the record, Maddox your first clear word was cow.  I got frustrated with technical difficulties so I stopped writing.  These computers enrich our lives but man can they be frustrating.  Nothing big prompted me to write again.  Mostly I missed it.  You guys do so much that I want to remember and share with everyone.  So, I’m giving it another go.  This one is going to be simple.  Sadie, the picture is of you practicing taking your shirt off.  We had a silly moment when you pretended to have green hair.  Maddox, the video is of you walking (sorry for my annoying narration) and watch at the end for a glimpse of Francie (the cat).

Supermom?

Sadie and Maddox:  As mother’s day approaches I have been thinking about motherhood.  Is it what I thought it would be, what was it like for my mom, how can I get better at being a mom etc…  This led me to the not so desirable conclusion that, at least for the last week, I have not really enjoyed being a mom.  One thing clear:  not because you guys are not enjoyable but because mom gets selfish, very selfish and I want everyone to do what I want when I want and get upset when the world does not revolve around me.  This is not a good attitude.  It is true that you guys and all the things I am responsible for around the house do take a lot of time especially this week since you guys have been sick and a little more needy.  Yesterday I was cleaning the floor and Sadie, you where riding on my back while Maddox was crawling between my legs and I thought, this is a picture of motherhood.  I will confess that at the time it was annoying but when I look back at it now I LOVE that both of you want to be around me and can’t get enough hugs, kisses, tickles and just plain silliness.  Your mom holds comfort  and ease in too high regard and gets irritated when things are not as comfortable  or easy as I would like. So right now I am repenting of that.  Really, there is satisfaction in a good day of hard work especially when that hard work involves coloring pictures with Sadie girl or dancing around the living room.  When it comes down to it those things are way more important than whatever crochet project I am currently working on.  I have plenty of time to do those things when you two are sleeping.  Truth is, I am here to serve not be served and like I say often I know the day is coming when you guys won’t be around so much.  I have to remind myself that this is a season in parenthood and slowly you are going to need me less and less and I will slowly let go. 

   Just a quick blurb about each of you:  Sadie, you have been sick lately.  I am always amazed that despite illness you still have such a great attitude and are still so happpy.  You may not want to eat as much but you are still silly and in a good mood.  One thing that is really cool that happened this week is you started drawing faces that look like faces.  They have discernable eyes and a mouth.  Very cool.

Maddox:  You are crazy!  Everything is so exciting to you and you have to see, touch and bite everything.  You have started this new trend of biting us which is not so pleasant and we are working on that one.  Out of the blue you started climbing up the stairs a bit. Also, you totally know how to blow your nose now which comes in very handy.  No more snot sucker for you.  I’m not sure how you learned that, you just started doing it a few days ago when I was wiping your nose.  My guess is you were watching your sister.  Right now you are a tiny ball of energy!

  I love you two.  Pretty soon it will be Maddox’s birthday and time for a PARTY!

Mom

Maddox looking handsome at Easter

Me and Sadie...I love this picture!

 

 

 

Yikes it’s been a long time

Sadie and Maddox:

  Goodness it had been some time since I have written.  We have been busy.  IT was Easter and then Grandma PJ and Papa came to visit.  We had a great time when they were here.  We went to the aquarium, played at home, went shopping, ate food and went to see the tulips.  I must say you are both pretty laid back for all the visitors we have been having.  I tried to keep your basic schedules in tact but there were a few days where you, sadie, did not have a nap.  

  Sadie one of the days you did not have a nap was when you went to your first baseball game.  I didn’t get to go because someone had to stay home with Maddox. Before you left I was talking to you about telling Dad if you needed to go potty.  You looked at me very seriously and said,” No mom I am going to tell the baseball guys if I need to go potty.”  I laughed.  Also, you showed me how you sit at a baseball game which is squatted down like the catcher.  Again I laughed.  All in all the visit was a lot of fun.  I think the thing you have talked about the most was the tulips.  They made an impression on you.  I’ve really enjoyed these last few days getting back into our little rhythm.  One of these days I need to make a list of all the questions you ask me.  Right now mommy’s brain is too tired to think of any.

Maddox my little man you are getting closer and closer to walking.  You LOVE to have someone hold your hand and walk across the room.  It was like a switch went on because I had tried to do that with you before but you freaked out a little.  I’m pretty sure you are capable of more than I give you credit for.  Another new skill you have is playing peek-a-boo.  So cute.  You put anything you can in front of your face and I say, “where’s Maddox,” and then you move whatever object it is away from your eye and I say peek a boo.  Fun times.  At the end of May you will be 1.  Craziness.  It has absolutely flown by.  My thoughts feel a little scattered so I am going to cut this one short and hopefully post again in a few days.  Love you two!

Mom

at the park

Maddox and Papa in the tulip field

Cherishing

  Kids,
We had some family visit recently.  Uncle Ted and Aunt Katie came from Virginia.  It was a great time.  Sadie, you took to them both quickly.  The somewhat weekly chats over the computer must help.  Maddox, you were a bit slower to warm up.  During their stay the weather was wonderful.  Sunny, no rain at all and just perfect for being outside.  During their stay I had a wonderful experience with both of you.  First let’s talk about you Sadie.

  While the family was here we went for a hike.  It wasn’t a very long hike (Twin Falls hike) but it was beautiful.  It wound through some rain forest and ended near the top of a waterfall.  Sadie, you loved it.  The first half of the hike you rode in the backpack.  Then you got out and Maddox had a turn.  While you were walking I was holding your hand.  At first you cried and complained that you did not want to walk.  After a few minutes it started getting fun.  To me it was glorious.  There was nothing I would have rather been doing than walking through the forest holding your hand and talking with you.  You had a walking stick which was cool.  We just talked about the rocks, you liked stomping in the mud and we talked about how God made everything.  Most of the time we were walking along a river and it reminded you of when we played in the James river during a summer trip to Virginia.  To this day you still think it is funny that Papa Bear wasn’t wearing a shirt.  I just really enjoyed it.  It was fun to see you lay on your belly to feel the cold water and to just enjoy nature.  At the end of the hike you said thank you God and that is exactly what I think!

Maddox, I don’t remember what day it was but one morning last week you woke up around 6AM crying pretty hard.  It woke Dad up first so he went in to see if you were okay.  Seemed like you were so he came to bed.  Eventually Sadie wound up in out bed.  You were still crying so I went in to see what was going on.  I picked you up and sat in the rocking chair.  You put your thumb in your mouth and laid your head on my shoulder.  As the minutes went by your head got heavier and heavier and soon you were sleeping.  Now, it’s like 6:20AM and I am TIRED but I paused for a moment and realized how blessed I am to have a little boy who feels comfortable enough to sleep on me.  Then I thought I better enjoy it because I’m pretty sure the days of you sleeping on me are numbered. Sooner than I know it I will be lucky to get a hug.  It was just a tender moment.  For about 40 minutes you laid there sleeping while I rocked in the chair and listened to the lullaby CD and thought thank you Jesus for moments like this…peaceful

Love, Mom

On the hike

 

cutest little guy

10 whole months

Sadie and Maddox:

    Hello kids.  Today is April Fool’s Day and at the Murphey house as far as I know there will be no jokes.  I personally am not a big fan of practical jokes, just keep that in mind for the future.  Let’s see….what have you been up too lately Sadie?  Recently you have been really into drawing.  I made you a notebook to draw in and it seems to be a big hit.  You did tell me the other day that you are better than Maddox which caught me off guard.  I’m not sure if you really knew what you meant but I told you it was not true and that while you different you are equal because God made you.    In a few weeks you are getting your first haircut so we have been talking about that.  You keep asking me if they are going to cut all your hair off and I tell you I will not let them.  We’ve had some fun trips to the park and I have been encouraged to see you interesting with other kids.  Something funny you have said recently: well, you want to be a police man so you can ride a motorcycle.  We shall see if that happens.

Maddox, yesterday you officially turned 10 months! Nice job.  I must say you have been making some accomplishments lately.  You pulled up to your feet, crawled up a step, actually laughed while on the swing, ate some oatmeal and have gotten really good at getting toys out. It has also become apparent that you a more sensitive to cold (like your dad) than Sadie is.  It just makes you miserable.  Hopefully we will be getting some warmer weather soon.  We were having some issues with a lack of napping but I think a minor change in the morning had worked that out.  In the last few weeks you have also developed your own method for letting us know you would like more to eat.  Basically, you thrust your head back into the high chair repeatedly.  It’s a bit crazy and I am trying to teach you the proper sign for more.  It’s much less violent then head thrusting.  To honor you and your 10 months I have posted a picture of you.  We are in the car waiting to pick up dad.  You are sticking out your tongue which has been a favorite of yours. I think you look pretty cute.

Oh, tomorrow Uncle Ted and Aunt Katie will be here which we are all excited about!!!

Thank you Jesus for 10 months with Maddox.

Mom

Maybe a little too much information

  Sadie and Maddox,

Our new venture with you Sadie is wearing panties during your nap.  Since you haven’t actually been sleeping for the last few days you have been pretty good at going potty.  Well, today you napped (mom was very happy) and I knew you were awake when I heard the toilet flush.  I go up there and you told me you went poop.  That was great.  Then you said, “The poop’s name is Dad, Sadie and Maddox because there were 3 of them.”  I started laughing.  Now I would love to tell you that when you are married or even just at family gatherings when you are older that we will not tell that story but I think it’s likely that it will be told.  I love you!

Mad, you had a tough day today (besides having poop named after you).  You have a little fever and basically wanted to be held and eat all day.  We did have some fun when I would tickle your neck and you would laugh and laugh.  I hope you feel better tomorrow.

Mom

Thank you

Sadie and Maddox:

   Things have been pretty good since I last wrote.  We have enjoyed some fun times with Mimi and a greatly looking forward to our family from Virginia coming.  Sadie, you have plans to tickle Uncle Ted, cook with Aunt Katie and you want to go to the Aquarium with Papa and Grandma PJ.  We will see if that all happens but it will be a fun time when they come to visit us.  On Friday we went shopping for Easter outfits.  Sadie, you are pretty opinionated (did you get that from me?) and picked out a very nice dress.  I will have to post photos later.  It’s crazy to me that you are almost 3.  You just get easier and easier to communicate with.  Today you realized that stand starts with S and that boat starts with B.  I think that makes you smart.  There was something sad that happened today.  I spoke a bit harshly to you when you were not napping.  It wasn’t yelling but it was a tone that was not appropriate and had nothing to do with loving you and everything to do with me being frustrated that I was not getting my alone time.  It made me cry that I talked to you that way.  The good news is that is not where it ends. We have a good God who died for our sins so I was able to apologize to him and you for not treating you the way I am called.  Reconciliation is a wonderful thing.  You hugged me and said, “let’s go downstairs and play.”  When we did that you found the chicken bones we had been looking at earlier and played your xylophone with them.

Maddox, you continue to be a charmer.  Your new thing is while I am holding you if I start talking you start playing with my mouth and putting your fingers in my mouth.  Are you trying to figure out how things are working?  This was especially true last night when I was singing at church.  It seems at the moment that you might be a bit more adventurous than your sister.  She definitely stayed in one place longer than you do.  This week you have tried some new foods and liked them all: cheese, tomatoes and strawberries.  What I think is funny is that you insist on putting your food in your mouth.  If I try and put something there you fun interference with your hands and grab the food.  I’ve also decided that the tongue might be your favorite part of the body.  One last things about you, on Saturdays I sleep in and Dad wakes up and plays with you guys.  This past Saturday I came downstairs around 11AM.  Dad, you and Sadie were all sitting on the floor.  You saw me and let out this excited shriek and came crawling over to me as fast as you  could.  Very validating.  Thank you!

Thanks for some more wonderful times.  Sadie, thank you for forgiving me and Maddox, thank you for being excited to see me.  I love you two!

-Mom

The Museum and a Check up

Sadie and Maddox:

   For me, this week so far had been a blur.  I’m getting sick so my brain is a little fuzzy and I am trying to remember what we have been up too.  Well, Sadie you and I went to the Children’s Museum on Saturday.  Going to places like that reminds me why I like to live in the city; you have quick and easy access to things like the Children’s Museum.  Right now there is a Curious George exhibit.  Sadie, you are a big fan of Curious George.  We had a good time.  There were a few seconds where I didn’t know where you were and freaked out but then you would pop up.  Next time I think I need to bring another grown up with me.  On the drive home I tried not to think too much about how it would feel if I really didn’t know where you were.  Yikes.  Your favorite things were the rocket ship slide and the Metro bus you got to drive.  Even though there wasn’t enough time for ice cream, we still had a great time. 

    Later that same day we got to meet baby August.  He is Paul and Claudine’s new baby boy.  It was cool because he was born at the same hospital both of you were born at and it brought back memories of being there.  Mostly I was glad I was the visitor and not the patient.  August is a tiny little guy now (5.5lbs) but when he starts getting bigger I’m hoping him and Maddox will be good friends.

   Today Sadie, you picked out a Finding Nemo bubble blowing gun and a big blue ball as your prize for completing another potty chart.  We are almost done.  Now we have to tackle sleeping in panties.  Good job Sadie!

   Maddox, you have been good.  Babbling up a storm and getting into every thing you should not it basically how you spend your time.  I LOVE getting you up from naps because you are so happy to see me and just smile.  Many people have been telling me how expressive you are and how you don’t have a baby face (whatever that means).  Lately you are also eating actual pieces of food that you have to chew and it is working out well.  You had a check up a few days ago that went mostly well.  It was vaccination time and you got 3 pokes that you handled quite well.  We did find out that you do not weigh enough.  You have been on the 20% mark for weight  for awhile now which has been fine.  Since your 6 month check up you have dropped to the 16%.  That is a bit of a drop for such a little guy.  At 9 months you weigh 16lbs and are 27inches long.  So, we have to get you back to that 20% mark by feeding you healthy fats like avocado, olive oil and cheese.  In a month we go back to see how things went. 

  Well my lovelies that is all for now.  Thanks for being so enjoyable!

PS:  A few things about Sadie:  Recently you have become obsessed with eggplants, you had a Popsicle for the first time this week and for some reason every time we pass the McDonald’s by Mimi’s house you call it  Microsoft….I don’t know where on earth you got that idea.

love,
   Mom

Funny Moment II

  Sadie and Maddox:

    Last night I made BBQ pork for dinner.  Sadie, dad was telling you that pork comes from pigs.  He told you this fact a few times, you looked at him and said “where to spoons come from.”  It made me laugh because the whole time Dad was saying pork you thought he was saying fork.  After that mix up and mini phonics lesson was given.

  Maddox, you are not talking yet so you don’t say funny things yet.  You do try and chew on the lap top cord when I am trying to type.  Last night I had to stop holding you at church becaue you  were pulling on my earring so hard trying to get it into your mouth that you were hurting me. 

   The sermon last night was about God’s grace.  I certainly see God’s grace every day taking care of you guys.  Your laughs, smiles, cuddles and funny moments are all examples of God’s grace pouring out on me. 

love, Mom