Special Delivery for Papa

Tomorrow, my dad turns 60-something. I could go on and on, but I'll leave it at he is a wonderful father, and an awesome Papa to all his grandchildren. Madeline picked out a very special card for Papa, and was pretty darn excited to mail it.

So you won't get it tomorrow , Dad, but its in the mail.

Happy Birthday Dad- wish we were there xoxoxo

( Its pretty funny that I'm writing this here seeing as my father never ever uses the computer!)

Ten on Tuesday

I'm jumping on the Ten on Tuesday bandwagon. Curious to see if I actually have ten things to blab about...

1. Been thinking about Madelines name a lot lately. My husband and I had a hard time coming up with a girls name, we had completely opposite taste. We were watching TV and one of the actors names' was Madalyn, I said " hey what about Madeline?" He said " yeah, Maddie" And in my gut that very instant I *knew* that was who was in my belly- and this was way before we even knew she was a girl. I can't explain the feeling, but it was like meeting her for the first time, like someone introduced us and said " jessica, this is your daughter, Madeline" and I was like " yes, i know". I sound like a crazy person, oh well!

Madeline is not a name I grew up loving- I didn't hate it, I just never thought anything of it one way or another. I love different names for girls now, but I love the name Madeline because thats who she IS.

2. Speaking of who she is...

Every morning, right before or right after breakfast, this getup must be put on. Its missing the princess shoes

3)making another renewed attempt at understanding my camera better. Got a great book and a glimmer of a photography opportunity in which I do not want to embarass myself, so once again, I will attempt to learn the technical side, aperature, f stops, etc

4) visited a preschool this morning for Madeline. She loved it . In fact, when I told her we were leaving she said " nooooo, I want to stay here foreverrrrrrrr"

5) Attempted to make falafel for dinner tonight. Just made me crave real falafel NOT made by me, lol.

6)Maddie does not like falafel

7) I still have Madeline's birthday decorations up. I love the pink pom pom thingies, I think I'll put them back up in her room. One thing is stopping me- I can't reach them. I'm too short. I had my husband put them up and i keep forgetting to ask him to take them down

8) I went to Ikea the other day to get shelves for our playroom. Now I have to figure out how to hang them up.

9) I have about 7 books on backlog right now. I'm always surprised the library lets me take out more.. like they are going to say ' No, Jessica, you already have thisbook and thatbook, read those first, and THEN you can take out more"

10) Really glad they don't say that :)

A new favorite pic

Looking at Belou with the magnifying glass.

( taken with my new camera lens, a Valentines gift from my husband- yay!!)

Shen

There is a concept in chinese medicine called the Shen http://www.chinesemedicinesampler.com/theoryshen.html
How I've always interpreted it was the Shen is kind of like when people say they need a thicker skin- its the force around your spirit that lets things in. Does that make sense? For example, I have never enjoyed horror movies. They always give me nightmares- so one might say I have a weak Shen, that I let things in too easily. As with anything in Chinese Medicine, there are things that strengthen your Shen and things that weaken your Shen. Its not written in stone anywhere, but I can 100% say becoming a mother shatters your Shen. Obliterates it. Oh boy, do I need a 'thicker skin'.

I know kids will be kids, that they test their limits and figure out relationships as they go. A certain amount of hurt feelings and freshness is to be expected. When it happens to your own child though, its heartbreaking. I mean, for me, its heartbreaking. And if I'm blubbering when my girl's lip quivers at age three- how will I make it to the elementary years ??? Forget about junior high - I'm still recovering from my own experience. Well meaning parents can only go so far... for as I wiped the tears from Madeline's eyes, she turned around and tested it out on the next kid she saw. Ugh.

She's only three!

Motherhood is hard.

Thankful

I am so lucky to have a best friend like Kim.
Thats it. Just lucky.

Three Year Checkup

My girl is thriving and the cuteness is off the charts( which by the way , is in line with the cuteness from previous appointments)

She weighs 37 lbs ( I would swear it was more)

She is 38 inches tall. The nurse did the measurements and when the doctor came in she said
"She looks taller than that, lets measure her again" but indeed, she's only 38 inches tall. All my life people have told me I look taller than my 5'3"- so I guess Maddie takes after me in giving a taller appearance. Its true- everytime we go somewhere people will comment first on her curly hair and second on how tall she is. Not a bad thing at all :)

Her hearing and vision is good, and her little 3 year old milestones are right on track ( speech exceptional, able to draw lines and circles, able to ride tricycle). She passed her scoliosis test (and turned right around and gave Mommy one" Hands together, feet together, bend over...goooood")

This was her first time meeting this doctor and I may have my Mommy goggles on, but I think she was impressed by Maddie. Since we knew she was going to get a shot today ( which she took like a champ), we had told her before going in that she would get a treat when we left the doctors office. So when the doctor walked in the room, she Madeline looked at her and said " Do you have treats for me ? "

We took her out for "big pizza' for lunch, and the beautiful weather allowe dus to meet Gianna at the playground later. A fine day for Miss Maddie.

The Parties

Heres some pictures from Madeline's 400 birthday parties we had last week. No really, we just had two- a friends party and a family party. And then of course her actual birthday, with a smattering of cousins and mimi and papa and bouncy houses- it was quite a busy week. I'd like to say she's all 'birthday'd out', but it just ain't true. She wakes up every morning asking if her friends are coming over for her birthday. She had a wonderful time.

These are in no particular order- actually they are- backwards ( family party, actual bday and then friend party) but if I tried to put them in order they'd never get up , so here they are...

Opening gifts

Jack getting in on the candling blowing-out business

the table

Reading 'Pinkalicious ' before the guests arrived

Playing Musical Chairs with Olivia

"I'm how old?"

Birthday ice cream

Laughing with Jack

Before the cousins ended up under the table

Getting birthday wishes on the phone from Grandma

Favors we gave to the kids

What do you mean we have to wait for the other kids?

Laughing with her friends

Party decor

today

Today we went to the Aquarium with our friends.
We watched a sea lion wave to us.
We saw sharks.
We waddled like penguins
We imitated monkeys( yeah, I know , monkeys at an aquarium ???)
Maddie looked up at the ceiling and all around and said " Woooow, this place is amazing!"
On the way home, Maddie fell asleep.

Can you believe I forgot my camera? Me, who documents exhalations and inhalations. Oh well. It was kind of nice to experience something without having to capture it on film, you know? Sometimes its nice to be free from that.

All in all, a good morning.

p.s Last night I made eggplant parm for dinner. Maddie kept calling it " Airplane Parm"