Grateful to be a Mother

I'm feeling extra grateful tonight to be a Mother. When Ethan is out of town (or just gone till late hours which is usually the case) I tend to use my evening time after the little rascals have gone to bed to ponder. For some reason I have thought lots about my three little blessings. I get to be with them 24/7 and am so glad I do. We have a schedule that works pretty well around here (I know its a bit ridged when they are in bed by 6:30 and 7), yet I often wander if I try to rush things too often.

I want to soak up the way they each are now!

I will forget in a month what each are like right now. As I heard my friend Lyndsey say not too long ago, I want to "memorize" each child. I always want to remember what it feels like when I pick Trey up from his crib from being startled for some reason late at night. His head goes right nice tucked between my shoulder and neck. He is light but getting bigger. He fits so nice around my arms. it's the ONLY time I ever get to snuggle with him. He just feels good as I embrace him. Can I always remember how he says "bawwwwl"?

Never Ever do I want to forget how squishy Addy still is, to kiss her cheeks is like a little taste of heaven. She still has the "baby squish" at 3 almost 4 and I LOVE it but....It will go away and will I forget that? Will I forget how it melts my heart when she puts both of her hands on my cheeks and chin and tells me she loves me???

One day I will miss that Brynlee always has "one more thing to tell me" before she goes to sleep. Will she still want to make sure she gets a hug and kiss from me before I drop her off at school? I melt when she says I want one more big hug and squeezes me tighter than I thought she had strength! Can I keep up our in "bed talks" when she is a teenager????

Amidst all this love do I still get easily frustrated? YES YES YES but...... when I remember these moments I find patience later to handle the difficult times a little better.

So for today I am trying to see the Saviors love more often in my three gifts to give me that patience when things are not so fun and happy!

Sad

I've sat down several times in an attempt to document all that has gone on in the Dalley home since Christmas, and it just is not happening. In fact I have been sitting here long enough for my lap top to go from a 4% to a 99% and I still don't have hardly anything to post. (I'm embarrassed to say that since I pride my self on the fact that I can get a thousand things done at one time)

I'm in one of those I wish I could be better at everything moods. So when I am in those moods I feel like if I can't do it all why do anything at all, ridiculous I know!

Every time I get on here to post I just feel guilty about how behind I am. I keep thinking I am going to get on this glorious routine and be like the "good mom's" and keep up and it just doesn't happen. Maybe one day I will be alot better at keeping up. OR I may not.

I want to keep up because I want to never forget life as I know it now. I want to forever and always remember my little angels, yet I know that I will forget what happened just yesterday and the memories will fade! And THAT is why I want to keep up better, for that reason and for that reason only!

To get to why I'm sad.

Our wonderful neighbors are moving!

When Rachel told me I was in shock, like had no ideas what to say shock. We've all just become such good buds that it's so hard! I got that sad sick feeling when I opened my window to a big fat for sale sign in the yard. They have been life savors for us. Now- they are staying right here in town which I am very grateful for, but it will not be the same. I have been spoiled having them so close, someone to talk to, playmates for the girls, a sitter for 8 minutes while I pick B up from school, and an egg for the times when I can't possibly get out but all I need is one egg and really I could go on and on and on oh and for those times when you have to take child 1 to get 12 stitches and the thought of taking child 2 and 3 makes you even sicker than the thought of getting 12 stitches!

Ethan reminded me that maybe the reason for all this was to help us stay afloat in this new strange place at first and now we need to grow a bit, and be "one our own". It all sounds silly to be so sad over such a thing but they will really be missed as next door neighbors (in fact we even share a wall they live so close). I'm sure we still have many happy memories to share so I am thankful they are not going far!

Stud Muffin

My wonderful friend Karen took some pictures of Trey and did a fabulous job! It was freezing cold so we did it all in just a few minutes. He was a trooper and keep happy most of the time...

This little guy is a joy to have around. Having this pictures makes me realize how important it is to have pictures like this because I forget EVERYTHING! This is a smile we see on his face often and I love it!!

Christmas Eve

Our Neighbors, Rachel and Jeff invited us over to their families big Christmas Eve celebration. I actually was very honored to get to be with them for the evening. Rachel's mother was a wonderful host and welcomed us as her own. Ethan and I both commented on not only what great food we enjoyed, but particularly what great company these good folks are. We are very blessed to have them in our lives!

Rachel made us feel right at home!

Rachel and Jeff's 3 beautiful daughters, along with Brynlee and Addy! I really wish I could have gotten a better photo of this bunch, but this was as good as I could do. They absolutely adore each other! It's so fun to see them having such a good time together.

The Lone Man!

(BTW if I have not mentioned Trey is the only boy in the mix in the neighborhood with oh about 10+ girls... pretty funny)

I wish I had gotten more picture. This was a wonderful night which ended with the girls sprinkling "reindeer food" on the lawn for the awaited guests! (this was actually a "new" thing for me!) Most of all I felt very blessed to have Ethan with us. We have been very lucky to have him home on most of the big holidays. These days its a real treat to enjoy and evening with him!

Class Christmas Program/Party

Brynlee had been looking forward all week to this program.

She is one of 9 in this small class which I LOVE! Am I more in love with her being in this class or is she? It has been wonderful for her and such a blessing to me as well.

I'm so glad I got a picture of this! This is the classic "Brynlee nervous maneuver". Every-single-time she gets nervous she puts her hands behind her neck. We notice a pattern in this church talk, church prayer, even just singing in front of an audience with a ton of other children. It's her thing and really I love it. Some day she will no longer do this when she gets nervous and then... I will be sad!

Here it is again! Santa has ALWAYS made both girls nervous. She has come a LONG way that she got this close. Addy was there and would no even think about looking at him, much less talking to him!

Bryn with Ms. Eileen

With Ms. Martha

My efforts to get them together with their cute Christmas clothes.

It was a great day for Brynlee. It's fun to see her in a setting she is always in but I am not. Makes me realize how fast she is growing up!

First Snow

As much as a pain/mess as it is to put on and off snow gear for the girls we really have enjoyed the snow! The first snow fall was in December and it was pretty mild actually. Addy especially could not wait to make a snow angel she talked about it forever!

We have many more snow adventures to come!

He's UNO!

One Year

Six Months

One Month

I was not quite ready for this day, but ready or not it came! It's been a long year in many ways and has gone by fast all at the same time- hard to believe! We had an "uno"party for little Trey. He had a great time playing with his sisters, sucking on balloons and eating cake!

In case you can't tell he LOVED LOVED LOVED the cake. We all laughed so hard we barley stayed in our chairs as we watched him devour his cake. I need to learn how to get video on here! The girls especially could not quite laughing!

He was not too into opening gifts, but the girls didn't mind helping with that part! He loved playing with new toys for a change.

Trey has almost since day one had a smile on his face. His smile is contagious in fact. As I have watch him and other people in the last few months, he never fails to put a smile on other peoples (even strangers) faces with his own smile. I tear up now just thinking about what a joy he has been to me and many many others! I thank my Father in Heaven for allowing this bundle of joy to come to our home! We love you more than words can say baby Trey!!