Our house is growing

Well not yet, but here's the hole where we're planting it.

Mariah saw the big mounds and said, "There's our house......now where's our dog?"

Mind of Mariah

Mariah got a kite for her birthday that we have yet to fly. While driving with the windows down she got really excited and said, "We should fly a kite. It's really windy!"

She was "doing" my hair (mostly just pulling) and i started groaning. Then she said, calmly but a little annoyed, "Hold still, mom. You're gonna live."

And today ever so calmly she said, "I am SO done playing this game" and "Mom, i am SO done with my dinner."


And these ones...I just want to remember the essence of Mariah right now:

Like how she calls all hearts "balentimes" hearts.

How she gets excited every time i wear something girly like a dress or high heels and tells me she wants to wear some like me.

How every piece of white cloth or lace goes straight on her head and she calls it a "get married."

Or like right now...she's running around the house because she likes the sound her shoes make on the tile.

She is such a sweetheart and I just love her to pieces.

Liam Lately

Liam with Grandpa Rick

Liam is a cutie and he's growing up so fast. He does so much now.

As far as development
-He's a pro going up and down stairs
-He says (has for a few months now) Hi, bye, mama, dada and iah (mariah) and today he said pahpah (grandpa)
-He uses a lot of gestures to communicate, mostly pointing and shaking his head to say no
-He cruises along furniture and stands for a few seconds alone.

And some little quirky things:

He loves his binky. He has "binky music" he sings whenever he's got it in his mouth. It sounds like haglaglaglaglag and it's way cute.

He'll only drink a baba sitting straight up or standing with his head leaning way back and he refuses to hold it. The whole picture reminds me of a calf drinking a bottle. It's funny.

He is SO Cody's son. He loves the outdoors, electronics and tools. If he sees a path to any of these he is on it so fast.

He loves to climb inside the dishwasher. i don't know.

He loves to head butt everything with a face especially if it's behind glass (cat outside, reflection in mirror) or clear plastic (see video).
We like to challenge him to headbutt fights. We get down on all fours, slam our fists down and say "Liam!" He'll charge (crawling of course) from across the room and ram right into us.
And if you ask him for a kiss, he'll smile and head butt you soflty.

And here's a very short headbutting video

Mariah Turns 4

It's hard to believe Mariah is 4. She had a great day.
Here is a list of what she got to do:

She opened presents during breakfast...

Then her friends and cousins came for lunch.
They...

Danced at a Ball

Had a Tea Party

Ate this princess castle cake

and Mariah had a blast playing with her presents the rest of the day.

We sure love our little...well big... girl

Mind of Mariah

Trying to figure out what mariah wanted for birthday dinner

Me: what do you want for birthday dinner, Mariah?
Mariah: umm...umm..ummm....ummmm.ummmm...ummm....ummm
Me: do you want mommy to make something? or do you want to go to a restaurant?
Mariah: Restaurant!
Me: which one?
Mariah ummm ummm.....ummm.....ummmm
Me: what do you want to eat?
Mariah: Eggs
Me: Mimis?
Mariah: Yes
Me: Are you sure?
Mariah: no pizza with yellow sauce and bread!
Me: Papa johns?
Mariah: yeah. eat it at home and john can bring it to us

Groundbreaking

Today we had the groundbreaking ceremony for our house.

Mariah was nervous about standing in the mud. She said, "Eeeww it's poop! But then she warmed up when we told her it was just wet dirt. Then she wanted to "dig in the dirt and make the house grow!"
As we drove away from the site Mariah said, " Oh no! Our house is missing!"

Mind of Mariah

Mariah is always making me laugh. I'm sure most of the things she says are mainly funny b/c of the way she says them, but i want to remember them so...

Mariah: Mommy, I have two daddies: Cody...and...Grandpa Steve.

***

Me: Mariah, i want you to eat your dinner so you can grow up and be healthy.

Mariah: (Crying and completely distressed) Nooooooo! I don't want to grow up! I want to stay little.

***

Right before bedtime...
Mariah: hey i have a good idea!
Me: What?
Mariah: We can make some umm. umm... ummm ummm......
Me: We can stall?
Mariah: no. we don't have any of those.

***

Tricia: Mariah, are you going to have a birthday soon?
mariah: yeah
Tricia: are you going to be four years old?
mariah: no. nuh no no. not old. just four.