Lily's Golden Birthday

I don't think anything can be any lovelier than Lily. She is such a beauty inside and out. She is fiery and stubborn, but also sweet and helpful. She is silly and fun, but also smart and thoughtful. Now, she is 5 years old now, and it just about rips me into pieces that my actual baby is that old now. Lily remembers everything! She will not let you forget about what you said, but she also can remember so many facts after reading a book even once. I love that she has her own opinions and is not afraid of being who she is. I want her always to stay that confident, that would be my dream for her. 

Some recent funny stories about Lily. I was changing in my closet, and she was waiting for me to come do her hair, but I handed her my phone so she can listen to music, suddenly she appears in my bathroom with my phone, "say cheese!" she announces as I am standing there with only a top on and naked from the waist down. I start saying, "no, no, no," as one would do in this situation, and she walks away. She told me she hadn't taken a picture. 

Right after that, we were going through pictures and we came across one of Sam and I in our snorkel gear, and she says "and there you are with your blowholes." Huh? 😂 I said. "oh, our snorkels?" and I then ask her to repeat what she had said, because it was hilarious. 

The next day, I am picking her up from school, and Miss Mindy says, "Hey, did Sam tell you the story about the speedos?" Interest, quite piqued, I replied, he had not. She then says. "Well, Lily asked me if I knew what a speedo was. I told her, yes. She said, well, my dad has one. Oh?! Where does he wear his speedo? She told me at work. Then asks, do you want to know what's on it? Yes, I do. Flamingos." 🙌🏻 Yes!!

She is the absolute best. I can say without any hesitation, she is my best friend. 

Lily loves: listening to music, riding her bike, skiing, going on trips, coloring, practicing her letters, playing munchkin, and playing anything with her brothers

Talking about: dinosaurs and the ocean

Favorite animal: cat and unicorns 

Favorite food: dinosaur chickenese (this is literally what she calls them) and toast 

Does not like: zucchini 

 

 

Rowan

Oh man... looking at these pictures has me feeling all the many things that are in the realm of happy. I can''t look at his smiling face without feeling so much love for Rowan. 

Sam and I recently attended Rowan's IEP meeting. It was the first IEP meeting that Sam was able to join me. I was glad for that. I think he got to see/hear what I have been for so many years with the people who work so closely with Rowan, and that is: they know him, and they love him. They said in the meeting, "he sure does love your family." He said he talks about his family so much, and that that is all the people in his life he really needs. Of course, I do love to hear this, but part of me wants him to share himself with so many others. He has the ability to touch so many people's lives. 

Rowan has recently become such an impressive pianist. It started with the Journey song, "Separate Ways." We had been listening to that song, and he when we were at home one day he say down on the piano, and said, "mom, you know this song," and he began to play the beginning on the song. I was surprised and said, "Yes. I do!" Over the next few days he put together the whole song by ear. He has done that with "Rewrite the Stars," and "Walking the Wire" both songs done by the Piano Guys. I have been amazed watching him. He really has a gift.

I worry about Rowan. I worry about the way he is treated at school, which I was assured that he is well liked by everyone, and even has a couple of friends this year. I worry about the way his older brothers treat him...I worry if he is happy. I had a great conversation with him just a day ago. He had gotten mad a Jonah. When we were talking we drew some pictures of his happy heart, and we talked about what we needed to do to make sure it is happy. He explained to me that he was confused sometimes, because sometimes he feels really mad. He drew a heart that was half mad, and half happy, and wrote the word "confused." We talked about how we get to feel a lot of things, and that if we can make choices that get us back to feeling happy again, we will be that way no matter what was going on. He cried at bit, and I got to hug him, and tell him I love him. He is honest and real, and everyone could probably take a page from Rowan's book. 

Rowan likes: being with his brothers/family

Loves: Pasta and Bubbly Water, playing the piano,  playing with mad matter, 

Favorite subject: math

Does not like: waking up for school and getting his hair cut

Update: I just looked back...and noticed I had already written about Rowan for his birthday. But...I wrote different things for each post, so I guess this is what is happening to me at 40. That's nice.