Blessed

Sometimes, it's the little, simple moments in life that can remind you just how blessed you are.

This past weekend we celebrated Easter, spring time and spent lots of time with family.

There may be many miles between us, and the days between visits can seem to take forever, but it's true what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Olivia participated in her first Easter Egg Hunt.  We may or may not have done a dry run the night before in our own backyard.  Turns out she is more interested in the contents inside than actually finding the eggs. 

 

 

After the warm-up egg hunt, she was practiced up for the real deal the next day.  Our neighborhood hosted an egg hunt for all of the kids.  Olivia enjoyed hunting for eggs, but I think she may have been more excited to see the other kids and get her hands on a juice box when it was all over.

We also colored Easter eggs, well scratch that...Although I boiled a dozen, we only colored three.  Olivia couldn't understand why she couldn't drink the juice or eat the egg...shell and all.  And then she found out Mama didn't like when she whipped the whisk out of water and got colored water everywhere.  And so she did it twice as much.  It was a mess, but fun while it lasted...and there's always next year.

And the Easter Bunny outdid himself this year...again.  Shoes, shorts, sidewalk chalk, DVD's for the car and books.  Not to mention a very adorable stuffed pouf for you - just your size.  But everyone knows the Easter Bunny can't sew.  The pouf was made especially for you by Grandma. 

And Olivia had some special help trying out your new chalk.  Lucky for you, she was a pro and patient with you as you stood on and colored over her drawings, mixed the chalk colors together and even attempted to taste them.

It was a good weekend.  We are feeling blessed indeed.

Happy Easter friends!

Life Lately

I'm sure it is obvious, but after we hit the 52-week mark, this mama had to end the daily/weekly updates. 

Not going to lie, I already miss them. 

I feel like life goes by even faster without them.  

I have mommy panic moments and can't remember exactly what day did you finally have hair long enough for your first pony?  Or what day did you say the cutest little "uh-oh"?  Or when did your play time evolve into pretending ... cooking, reading, rocking babies, sipping coffee ... Or when did you figure out you needed to use a napkin at dinner?  You are growing up.  There's no doubt about it.

Days turn into weeks turn into months and all of a sudden you are sixteen months.

At your fifteen month check-up, you weighed 26 pounds and were 33" tall, which puts you in the 99th percentile for height and 90th percentile for weight.  Your pediatrician is convinced you are going to be 5'10" when you grow up.  And as you would guess, you are still a very good eater, on most days.  Your favorite is roast beef, mashed potatoes and carrots, which must make your Daddy very happy because this is his favorite too.  You also love cheese, fruit, eggs and milk.  And recently, you have discovered a new obsession with ketchup.  Mama uses it to disguise veggies you may not have eaten otherwise, and I've also caught you dipping your fingers in it, and licking them clean.

You have some pretty adorable habits ... including "blowing" on your food when mama tells you it is hot and insisting on using a napkin during dinner.  If we forget to give you a napkin, you start pointing at the paper towels and raising your voice at us.  As soon as we give you one, you wipe your hands and your mouth and then stuff the paper towel beside your leg for later.  We should consider stock in Bounty as we are going through many more rolls of paper towels these days.

You also insist on blowing your nose with a Kleenex.  You've recently went through a spell of runny noses, and now that you are tall enough to reach the drawer where the Kleenex's are kept, you help yourself.  You blow your nose, which actually consists of blowing air out of your mouth, and then put your tissue in the trash.  It's adorable.  You also help yourself to a tissue (or the whole entire box), when you find any trace of water on the floor, whether it's from Mama's wet hands moving between the stove and the sink, from a dish out of the dishwasher, or from your sippy cup.  As soon as you spot the water, you immediately get a tissue from the drawer and are quick to clean it up. 

You had your first doctor's appointment for being sick when you were 13 months.  We took you in to see your pediatrician right before Christmas when you had a fever of 104 degrees.  You were diagnosed with a virus and spent the next 24 hours at snuggled at home.  Luckily, you bounced back quickly. 

Thanks to mother nature, we had had several snow days at the beginning of the year.  You and Daddy bundled up and went outside for a bit.  You loved the snow and loved being outside.  However, we are completely over the cold, wintery days and looking forward to a steady stream of spring weather!
 

Bath time is still your favorite.  You are getting quite onery though before you get in the tub and if mama isn't careful, you will sneak out of your bedroom and streak around the upstairs, running between bedrooms and down the hallway yelling, jabbering and carrying on.  You've discovered you can see your reflection in the spout and blow kisses, talk and laugh to yourself.  You also figured out how to get into the bathtub even when it's not bath time.

You love music.  You love to play the piano but when Mommy tries to join in with you, you quickly swipe my hands off of the keys.  Sometimes, if I'm lucky, you'll put your hands on top of mine and we can play together.  I know it's a good song when I see you start to sway back and forth.  You also love anything that plays music.  We resurrected your exersaucer from when you were a baby...not because you want to sit in it, but because you love the music it plays.  Daddy taught you how to jam out to the jungle music, you think it's hilarious.  Mama also laughs and loves to watch you and Daddy dancing :) 


You are still my little helper around the kitchen.  You love to help empty out the dishwasher.  Mama usually gives you the Tupperware to put away, kitchen utensils that go in the drawer that you can reach (if you stand on your tippy toes), or if I'm really brave, you are in charge of taking cups or bowls from Mama and giving them to Daddy who is across the kitchen, waiting by the cabinet.  Emptying the dishwasher is one of your favorite things so much so, that typically when we're all done, you're mad and have been known to throw a full-blown fit.  Hmmm...I'll remind you about this when you're 10 or 11 years old and I ask you to unload the dishwasher.

Second to the dishwasher, you love taking everything within your reach out of the pantry and sitting it on the counter.  You've also become so clever as to shut yourself in the pantry...and lucky for you, the light in the pantry is motion-censored ... so you're never left in the dark and Mama is left to wonder what exactly you're getting yourself into. 

Your playtime has evolved into lots of pretending.  Your favorite is cooking, stirring and eating.  You feed your babies, and then give them lots of hugs and pats.  You also cook for daddy and his meals usually consist of eggs, Oreos, a hot dog (no bun because it's in the bottom of the toy box somewhere) and corn on the cob; Daddy's meal options are limited :)  You like to pretend drink from your tea cup, but not before cheers-ing your Daddy's tea cup first.

 

 

No doubt, I miss your babyhood days but something about this stage you are in now is pretty wonderful.  Keeping up with you some days is quite the workout, which is good because sometimes it's Mommy's only workout.  Daddy says you are a mover and shaker.  And we can already tell you are a smarty pants.  While your vocabulary may still be limited, it's pretty amazing at what you can comprehend.  I'm always amazed at how well you follow directions, sometimes even better than Daddy :)  And your personality continues to develop.  You can be shy around new kids or in new settings (we've had several friends celebrate their birthday's recently!) and at first you like to stay close by Mama or Daddy, but by the end of the party, you are playing with the other kids, running around trying to sneak food or drinks off of the tables and...showing off your belly.  You're a little bit ornery and a whole lot of sweet. 


You are a happy toddler, a delight to be around, and have brought more joy to our lives than I would have ever guessed sixteen months prior.  Not every day is perfect and some are more challenging than others, but we have learned to ebb and flow and figure it out along the way.  When you were still just a little bean inside my tummy, I tried to picture what it would be like to have a baby, who would eventually grow to be a toddler.  I can say it's really nothing like I imagined.  It is better.

Welcome to Toddler-ville.

We've officially crossed over into toddler-ville.  And there's no turning back. 

It's exciting and a bit sad...all at once.  I'm not certain exactly when it happened but we are definitely not in baby-land anymore.  My oh-so-sweet and adorable baby who was happy and content as long as she was fed, bathed, and changed, turned into an opinionated, ornery little toddler with a mind of her own, and that little mind can get mischievous from time to time :) (that's got to be a trait from her Daddy).  Of course, don't get me wrong, she's still sweet and adorable...but she's a toddler.

Since we're still new to this whole toddler thing, we're trying to navigate through this brand new stage as best as we can.  There are days where I look back at baby-land and think how simple and easy things were.  When her cries could be narrowed down to a short list of three options ... hungry? wet? tired?  And I find new self, kicking my old self in the rear.  I've been humbled more than once, to say the least.  But prior to having a toddler, it was easy to say "When I'm a parent, I'll never let my child ..." 

Now my new self is telling my old self ... never say never my friend.


I suppose she's a typical toddler.  She's trying to communicate with the few words and the sign language she knows; she's learning to express herself and explore the world around her. 

She gets frustrated from time to time because Mama and Daddy can't quite put the pieces together.  We had a minor meltdown while reading books just the other night.  Out of all of the books on the shelves, Mama just couldn't pick out the right one.  We tried to read all of her usual favorites, but she was having none of it.  Finally, I stood up and let her point and pick out the exact book she wanted.  It was one at the top, partially hidden behind another book.  Of course.  But it was the one she wanted. 

She gets ornery every now and again and tries to see how far she can push the limits.  How many times can I drop my milk on the floor during dinner time before Mama takes it away from me?  Or how long will she let me make "bumbling" noises or blow bubbles with my saliva during church (which causes quite the show for the people behind us and leaves spit everywhere...)?  And yes, mama, I saw you try to not smile at me.  I know you think it's funny :)

We've even experienced a handful of dreaded tantrums.  The throw yourself on the floor and bang your feet kind.  While we were making dinner just a few weeks back, Olivia was pitter-pattering around the kitchen...playing with Tupperware, pretend stirring and cooking of her own.  When I looked down at her, she was trying to put several magnetic letters all in her mouth.  After an attempt of "Olivia, please don't put the letters in your mouth." and "no-no."  Mama had to resort to taking away the letters, which left a very disgruntled toddler, who proceeded to dramatically throw herself on the floor in dismay.

Fortunately, we've been very blessed with a laid-back baby.  For the most part, she's very easy going and her frustrating moments or toddler tantrums are few and far in-between and never seem to last long.  And let's face it, we all have off days.  Even toddlers.  Thursdays that feel more like Mondays.  Mondays we desperately wish were Fridays.  But, it's a learning process...for all of us.  We're learning what it means to discipline and I'm convinced, disciplining is much more challenging than most things we were faced during the first year.  The toddler-Mama in me is looking back at the baby-Mama version of me and saying "I'm not sure what you're worrying about, this baby stuff is the easy stuff."  Of course, it didn't feel like it at the time.  And I'm sure the teenage-Mama version of me will look back at the toddler-Mama me and laugh and say "and you thought tantrums over magnetic alphabet letters was rough?"  I suppose it's all about perspective.

And this new adventure into toddler-ville has also brought with it a new found desire for independence.  I suppose if I think back though, it was probably around nine or ten months old when I started to catch glimpses of her want-to-try-it-myself-mama attitude.  And while the type-A mama in me wants to control the spoon with every bite to prevent spills and messes, the practical mama in me prevails and understands the only way she'll learn is to try it herself...messes, spills, spaghetti on the floor, yogurt in her hair, the whole nine yards.  And the term running upstairs carries little weight in our house these days now because little bean insists on crawling up each and every stair all by herself and scooting down them one at a time, often pausing in between each one to give her cheesiest grin and make sure someone is paying attention and giving her the applause she deserves.

Little miss independence has also turned into quite the helper around the house.  Although her vocabulary may be limited, I'm constantly amazed at what she comprehends and understands from what Kevin and I say.  If we ask her to find her boots or shoes and put them on, she'll wander into her closet and pick out one of her shoes and bring it back out to me.  I then send her in after other one and once she's found the match, she toddles out of the closet and plops down on the floor and attempts to put the shoes on her feet.  We're still working on left shoe/left foot, right shoe/right foot.  And the other night after dinner, she found a green bean hidden in the side of her high chair.  She immediately brings it over to the kitchen sink where I'm standing and holds it up to me.  I ask her to put the bean in the trash, and she goes directly to the trash drawer, pulls it out and stretches her arm up and drops in the green bean.  I'm not sure if I was impressed she followed directions or that she managed to convince me she ate all of her beans at dinner.  Regardless, I'm hoping this concept of following directions and being such a little helper continues into her teens ...

While our little toddler is loving her new found sense of independence, before this mama gets too gushy that her baby is growing up way too fast, I'm reminded there are still LOTS of things little miss can't conquer all by herself; things she still needs (and more importantly) wants her mama's help with... and I'm hanging on and savoring those moments too.

ONE

What a year it has been.

One year. 

I can't tell you how many times I've asked Daddy if it was really possible that our itty-bitty bean is actually one year?!  What a difference a year makes.  I can't believe how much has changed, how much we've learned and how much we've grown.  The one thing (amongst many) that you've taught me this past year is to live in the moment.  Soak it up.  Enjoy it.  I was never good at this before in my pre-bean days--- but as I reflect back on the past twelve months, I actually think we were pretty successful at soaking it up.  I truly feel like we've savored them, each and ever moment.

I would never have guessed how anxious and emotional I would be one year later.  On a day that was all about celebrating you, Daddy and I had a little toast of our own.  We did it!  We survived the first year as mama and daddy.  Phew.  Of course, you made it pretty easy on us.  Something that others remind us of quite often... But we also had our trying days (and don't forget sleepless nights) ... and all of the first-time parent worries that come with the first babe.  I would do it all over again though.  In a New York minute.  I'd get by on single-digit hours of sleep.  I'd stay up late reading baby books and washing extra laundry and cleaning pumping parts.  I'd take twelve weeks of maternity leave and then go through the agony of leaving you that very first time.  I'd do all of it over again, without thinking twice.

Because I know with all of those trying moments we had, we also had the best.  The absolute very best.  We saw your first smile.  I remember hearing you jabber for the first time and recording it to send it to Daddy and grandma.  We witnessed you rolling over for the very first time.  Daddy captured it on camera and sent it to me, my first day back at work.  I remember all of the milestones...crawling, walking, running, climbing and how proud we were of you in that very moment.  We've also watched your personality develop and grow... you are the sweetest, onery Schamberger I know.  Watching you investigate and learn every day...it amazes me.  Your babbling never gets old.  Mama, Dada, sshh (shoe), haaaa (hot), and every other consonant and vowel combination in between.  I remember hearing you laugh for the first time and it still gets me every single time.  Daddy is right on this one, you do have the best belly laugh and the best smile.  

It's true what they say, I can't imagine what life was ever like before you.     

You've blessed us and changed us far more than I could have ever dreamed.

And so, one year later, one year after Daddy rushed us to the hospital, one year after our lives were forever changed, we wanted to celebrate you and how special you are to us.  And because it takes a village to raise a child, we knew we wanted our village to celebrate with us too.  One thing is for certain, you are very much loved and couldn't be more blessed to have such great friends and family in your life.

Here's your birthday celebration in pictures...

Delish cupcakes and your very own cake made by your Aunt Anna...

 

 

The main event ... CAKE!  Much to our surprise, you loved the cake.  You haven't had many sweets in the past year, so we were a bit unsure if you'd dive right in to your cake.  Well... one taste of the delicious frosting and you had both hands in.  You also were very generous and tried to share with Mama and Daddy.  Daddy was brave enough to take a taste!

Needless to say, by the time you were finished, we had frosting and cake everywhere.  And you had a major sugar high ...

Table and chairs from Grandma and Grandpa ... you of course couldn't resist trying to stand and climb on top of them.

Your new car from Aunt Anna and Uncle Marcus.  They said it was the first of many cars they'd  buy for you :)

And even with all of the great presents you received, you still loved crawling in and out of the empty boxes.

 

Happy Birthday sweet baby girl!  We think the world of you and love you to the moon and back again!