Melody Moonglow

Dear Michela,

Your tooth fairy came last night!  You put your tooth in your pillow and placed it on the headboard of your bead.  But before I talk about that let me talk about how your pulled out your own tooth.  Your tooth has been loose for a while.  You have a second loose tooth and an adult tooth growing in.  Yesterday morning, we were playing "Volcano" in your room when you showed me your tooth.  It was barely hanging on so I suggested that you try to pull it out.  To my surprise, you did and it popped right out!  You were extremely excited and held it proudly in your hand to show everyone.  Once the excitement died down a little you put it in the pillow you made.  All day you wondered when your tooth fairy would stop by for your tooth and what she would bring.

Well, last night after you went to bed, Melody Moonglow (your tooth fairy) stopped by to pick up your tooth.  She left you a note and a dollar.  Let me tell you, she could have saved herself a dollar because all you care about is the tiny note she left in the pillow.  You woke me up at 2:30 in the morning to tell me that the tooth fairy came and left money.  You didn't find out about the note until 5:30am.  Penelope then came in my room to tell me that you got money and a note.  In all the early morning excitement (in the dark) you misplaced your dollar.  You couldn't have cared less about the dollar.  All you wanted was to read the note from your tooth fairy.  We found the dollar but the note is the real prize.

Such fun!

With all my love,

Mommy

Morning bed head, money, tooth fairy pillow, and the prize "mini" note.

Don't ask how I got a hold of your note on the computer.  It's magic.

 

Operation Big Boy Bed

Dear Colin,

On Tuesday, your big boy bed was delivered!  Technically, your mattress was delivered on Tuesday with Michela's new bed frame.  When Daddy and I decided to buy you a new bed we found the same bed we bought for Penelope.  So we decided the girls should have matching beds and you could have Michela's old bed.  I actually really like your big boy bed since it has a footboard.

So Tuesday you attempted to take a nap in your new bed.   Needless to say, you didn't take a nap.  Grrr.  BUT I did get to spy on you since Daddy set up the Go Pro in your room.  That was fun.  I got to watch you take all your stuffed animals out of the toy box and put them on your bed.  Then I watched you wrestle with your stuffed animals on your bed.  Then, you decided it was too crowded and put all the stuffed animals back in the toy box.  That wasn't a good idea so you pulled them out again and put them on the floor.  Then you found the diapers on the changing table and decided to dump them one at a time on the floor.  That was fun so you thought you'd do the same with your books.  When you were finished destroying your room, you decided to climb on the chair in your room to reach the sound machine and clock on your dresser.  That's when I decided that was enough and went in your room.  I tried to sing to you while you lied in bed but instead of getting sleepy, you sang with me.  I admit that was my favorite part of the whole nap time ordeal.

Bedtime went much smoother and you fell asleep in bed while I sang to you.  You woke up twice that night but instead of getting out of bed you called for me.  I lied with you for a few minutes then went back to my bed.

Wednesday, we attempted to nap again.  SUCCESS!  Wahoo!  You found the books in your closet but you made it back to your bed and fell asleep on your own!  YAY!

You have officially advanced from being a baby in your sisters' eyes to being a big boy.  Who knew all it took was sleeping in a big boy bed!  :)

You'll always be my baby.

With all my love,

Mommy

Loose Tooth

Dear Michela,

Last week you turned 5 years old and this week you have your first loose tooth!  You discovered it this morning and simply had to tell me at 5:45am!  Pure excitement that has lasted all.morning.long.  I don't know how many times you asked me to see you wiggling your tooth - I lost count.  If you look behind your loose tooth you can see your adult tooth poking through the gums.

I started looking up "tooth pillows" but you had other ideas.  You decided to make your own pillow for the tooth fairy.  Check it out!  I think you did a pretty good job! The bow serves as the tooth / money pocket.  You already have it sitting on your headboard waiting.

While I'm not sure I'm ready for you to be old enough for teeth to fall out, I'm excited for you.

With all my love,

Mommy

Big Basin Camping

Dear Quillinan Trio,

I had so much fun camping with you this weekend.  We hiked, explored, ate outside, slept in a tent, laughed, and got dirty.  I thought our campsite last year was great with the giant tree to climb but this years campsite was even better!  It didn't have a giant tree to climb but it had a ton of space to play and explore.  A hollow tree was fun to play in as well as a tunnel made from bushes.  With all the space we were able to find a few centipedes and a lot of banana slugs.  Unfortunately, Michela found a few wasps that enjoyed to sting.  :(  The first time was early Sunday morning.  That wasp stung me too when I tried to help.   The next morning another wasp stung her twice while in the bathroom! Two days, two wasps, and 3 stings for Michela, 1 for me!  I wanted to cry along with her the second time.  Ugh!

Despite the nasty wasp stings, we had fun camping with the Sacchi family.

No words.

Cheese!

Our whole camping party.

 

Bear-bear came too!

 I look forward to more camping adventures in the future!

With all my love,

Mommy

Camping Video

1,826

1,826 days of breastfeeding with out a single day off.  That's 5 years (and a day)!  My breastfeeding days are almost over and it's been quite a ride.

I remember very vividly how painful it was the first 6 weeks.  I remember going upstairs at Grammy and Papa's house to breastfeed Michela during Daddy's first father's day and just crying because it hurt so bad.  I was ready to quit and move to exclusive pumping after week 4 but I knew how time consuming and challenging it was for Auntie Susan so I pushed on.  I knew it had to get easier so I endured the pain.  And magically at the 6 week mark, we got the hang of it.  It no longer hurt!  I did it!  

I also remember walking in the grocery store with itty bitty Michela (probably only 2 months old) and passing a mom breastfeeding her 9ish month old while walking down the isle.  I looked at them and thought wow!  She can breastfeed AND grocery shop at the same time?!?!  Amazing!  I was still fumbling around with a Boppy pillow on the couch and trying to get a decent latch without ripping my nipple off. ::shutter::  My how I've grown.  

Then, we found out we were expecting Penelope.  I had a 9 month old and wanted to at least breastfeed until Michela was 12 months.  Breastfeeding while Pregnant was painful.  Almost as painful as the first 6 weeks but I was able to endure the pain much better.  Michela turned 12 months and I started to get pressure to wean Michela.  I wasn't ready to wean and she didn't seem ready either.  I heard many people say that I couldn't breastfeed a newborn and a toddler.  It would be too much stress on my body.  I'm babying Michela (this makes me laugh now because a 1 year old IS a baby). I heard everyone's "recommendations" but continued to do what I felt was best for the family.  Daddy had reservations about breastfeeding beyond 12 months and more reservations about tandem nursing.  But through discussions and a good tandem nursing book we decided that we I would wean each of our children at 2 years of age.  

Since we decided that 2 was the magic weaning number that meant that I tandem nursed twice!  6 months with Michela and Penelope and 5.5 months with Penelope and Colin.  

Now we are close to the end of my breastfeeding days.  As much as I'm ready to accept that I no longer have babies, I'm a bit sad to be finished.  It's been part of my daily routine the last 5 years.  It's hard to just stop doing something when you've been doing it for so long.  I'll adjust, just as I have when I weaned Michela and Penelope.  

Now on to new adventures - operation, "bye, bye diapers."  ;)  

The Big FIVE

Dear Michela,

Happy 5th Birthday!  You woke up to discover your brand new bike sitting in the family room.  It has been there all morning and you sit on it every chance you get.  We haven't taken it outside just yet but we will.

We went to Build-a-Bear (aka overpriced stuffed animals) for a small celebration.  You picked out a bear covered in hearts and named her Lilly.  You loved looking at all the accessories and clothing choices for the bears and settled on a pair of pink shoes and a pink dress.  Penelope picked a bunny with purple clothing and Colin picked a puppy.

I love you Michela.  5 years ago you were a little squishy baby.  Now you're a preschool graduate looking forward to Kindergarten.

XOXO

Mommy

You requested a shirt with the number 5 so I made one this morning.  :)

Pushing the pedal to stuff Lilly Bear.

Animals packed safely in their kennels.

This picture makes me laugh.

Lilly Bear hanging out in your bike basket.

Lilly Bear with another Build-a-Bear you received as a gift for your 3rd birthday.

Fruit Art

Dear Michela and Penelope,

This morning we had fun with grapes and toothpicks.  You made sculptures with the grapes then gladly ate them before making another.  It was a fun snack project!  I cut the grapes this morning since Colin was going to give it a try so we couldn't build anything too big.  Next time we'll try whole grapes and see what we can create.

With all my love,

Mommy