Mexico!

We just got back from THE BEST TRIP EVER. Truly, this was my favorite vacation. It was our 1st time to take Molly to the beach and it could not have been better. We went to the sister resort of one we had been to many times, and this one really caters to young families. I can't say enough great things about it. The amazing kids meals alone are reason enough to go back! There was a My Gym on site (same as Little Gym) and Molly could do have activities like decorate cookies when she was all beached out. So fun. Molly was a DREAM this entire trip. She was just an absolute angel. This is a trip I will never forget! So here we go.... a TON of photos!

View from our back patio

First dip in the ocean!

The humidity really fogged up my camera for a while. I HATE that these shots are dim~

Prissin on the beach

What a pose!

She looks like a little surfer in her swim top!

Me and my girl

I had to add this one. Baby Dear fever is at an all time HIGH. She is constantly with us! M would sit Baby Dear up in all sorts of poses and want me to take her photo!

The Little Mommy and her Baby Dear

Going to dinner

These next pics are of Molly and her "Mexico Best Friends". This was a HUGE paradigm shift for me. Molly was all about making friends and hanging with them this trip. Mommy and Daddy played second fiddle to her pals. It was so great... and so sad! 1st thing in the morning, she had to know where her girls would be eating, what pool would they be at, would they be at the beach, etc. And she would hang with them all day long, and barely even needed us. By the end of the trip M could swim by herself with floaties- even across the big pool. I remember laying by the pool and looking out into the middle of the pool. There was Molly in her floaties surrounded by a big group of little girls and they were just chatting and laughing. She hadn't so much as looked my way in an hour. I felt so proud of her, and I also got choked up (not shocking for me!)... she was a big girl with her own stuff going on. I loved it and hated it all at the same time!

Molly and her best pal Jemma- showing off some sea shells they found.

Molly and Jemma

Molly and her other bestie, Brita.

Molly looks so old and so beautiful in this photo to me. Sometimes I feel like a can catch a glimpse of what she will look like when she is older.

This cracks me up. My big girl could swim to the bar all by herself and order herself a strawberry smoothie!

How funny!

Queen of the beach!

Molly is already talking about our next trip to Mexico, and I can't wait either. It was so fun. We have finally gotten to the stage where traveling is a breeze- no gear to bring, no sleep issues.... just easy. In a future post I will write some of the funny things that happened, including the "professional" photo shoot from hell and the gourmet, 8 course super fancy dinner from hell- ha!

Musings on Molly

I haven't done a who-Molly-is-today post today and wanted to do one for memories sake. We had a big first in our home last Friday. 1st call to 911 and 1st time for a fireman to bust down our door to get Molly out of the locked bathroom! Yep- Molly locked herself in the bathroom. She was cool as a cucumber the whole time- telling me nor to worry she would "just live in the bathroom". Thank goodness her bathtub is filled to the brim with toys- she was more than entertained. When the kind firemen got the door open, she calmly began to show her all of princesses, asked them if they would like to go outside to see her bubbles and asked them why a policeman didn't rescue her instead. She is such a hoot.

Molly's OBSESSION with me continues. Kyle cannot get her in or out of the carseat, hand her anything, take her potty- anything. It is all about me. If I can't/won't do it- drama and hysterics may ensue. Sigh. Draining. Kind of endearing, but mostly draining. She is starting to have issues when I put her to sleep. She wants me to cuddle her all night and sleep with her. I went to the gym right after putting her down last night and Kyle said she got truly hysterical. Hope this ends ASAP. I LOVE that she LOVES me, but geez!

Molly loves her young babysitters. It is her greatest thrill to have a teenage girl come over and focus all her attention on her. We are SO lucky to have the world's sweetest sisters for sitters. The morning after they have watched her the first thing out of her mouth is "Where's Haley"? or "Where's Meghan?". So sweet.

Molly LIVES to do shows. She wants me to watch her dance and sing all day long. And she thinks she is GOOD. SHe tries to make her little friends and complete strangers watch her as well. I even have to make Topsy sit still to watch her. She CANNOT wait for her recital this May. This girl is not lacking in confidence.

Speaking of confidence- she will walk right up to kids ask what their name is and ask if they will be her friend. She always leaves the park, Chik-fil-a and Kroger with a new BFF. I was NOT like this as a kid and was pretty shy about making new friends- so I am really happy that she is not like me.

Molly has started to tell me stories that she makes up. They are hilarious. She comes up with kooky names for the characters, and they always end up getting married, going to a ball or eating a "delicious snack". I have started writing some of her stories and letting her draw the pictures. They are a riot. She also loves ot make up games. She'll say "lets play the wet rope game", or some other bizarre name and it always has very intricate instructions like " first, you spin around, then wiggle- then you pet Topsy, and then you touch your toes". FUN games, let me tell you.

She continues to be the funniest, sweetest, smartest girl I ever knew. Even the most draining, difficult days are not bad. I'm lucky to know her:)

Spring Days

I LOVE Texas Spring days! Nice enough to live outside- and not yet hot enough for the mosquitos and sweltering heat. Molly and I are outside every second we can be in this weather. Sidewalk chalk, bubbles, playing in the hose, playing on her jungle gym... even meals and snacks are eaten outside. We are going to soak up every ounce of it until our backyard becomes a sauna!

This is the NEATEST toy! Molly just dips one end, blows the other and makes bubbles! She LOVES to blow them for Topsy to chase!

Topsy in hunting bubbles!

A hose, some bowls and buckets make for hours of fun.... and easy parenting- ha!

Yes- he really is this cute! Thank God he finally calmed down- he was wearing me out! He still has a lot of puppy energy, but has started to enjoy curling up for some snuggles. His only fault is that he is a thief. He loves to snag something, run like the dickens and hide it in the bushes or behind the couch. I thin several of M's tiny princess accessories will have to live forever in our hedges out back!

Easter Weekend

We had such a great Easter weekend this year! Saturday the Olson's hosted a fun Easter Egg hunt and get together in their beautiful back yard. Molly loved seeing her buddies and scouting for eggs.... but the best part for her was digging into the eggs to get the sweets!

Easter morning we went to Church. After service, Kyle and Molly joined me for the Children's play upstairs. It was cute again this year. Molly HAS to stand up and dance/pose anytime here is any form of music playing. So- we found a nice corner for her to dance in! After Church we headed to Mimi and Poppy's for a yummy lunch. When M woke up from her nap she hunted for more eggs in the back yard. She scored even more candy that I have to get out of my house ASAP before I devour it all- ha!

Hannah and Molly doing what they do best... hugging!

A typical pose!

Easter Morning

Our family

WhirlWIND weekend!

Last weekend was a BIG weekend for us! Thursday Molly got to celebrate her Birthday with her preschool class and she was very excited to share treats with them. Friday was M's actual Birthday and she had the day planned just so. First was doughnuts for breakfast with Mommy and Daddy. Next was Target to pick out a special b-day swim suit to wear to swim school. She chose a "lovely" Ariel one! M chose Mermaid Cafe at Neimans for Lunch where she got her signature chocolate milk, grilled cheese and French fries... with a red velvet cupcake:) That evening, Kyle's Grandparents got into town, so after we all met for dinner, Molly got to stay the night at Mimi and Poppy's to spend some extra time with them. It worked out great for us, because Kyle and I got to go to Adairs that night and Kyle made his stage debut! His buddy is in a great country band call the Rusty Brothers and they invited Kyle to play with them for part of the evening. It was VERY exciting and so fun to see my guy up there. he did a greta job and had a ton of fun! The next morning was spent getting ready for Molly's party. She has been asking for an ALice In Wonderland party, so that is what we did! We had a seamstress make her an AMAZING Alice dress and I worked super hard on a bunch of fun decorations for weeks. We found a great park right on the lake to have it. Well.... it was the WINDIEST day I have ever experienced. EVER. Even in Kansas. It was pretty miserable. ALL of the decorations either blew away into the lake or we didn't even take out. Some of the food blew away. Even the decorated cupcakes blew off the table and landed in a heap:( I admit I did cry a few tears and then got over it. We had a dozen back-up cupcakes in the car that we ended up cutting in half to give the kids. We had just enough. The kids didn't miss the decorations a bit:) It was the type of wind that you couldn't even carry on a conversation in- it was crazy!!!! I think I am DONE with outdoor parties for a while! But- when all was said and done- Molly had FUN and got to celebrate with her family and friends and that is all that really matters!

Kyle on stage

Molly showing off her Alice dress!

With her new Alice doll

The smashed cupcakes...

Look at how the wind is blowing their hair!!!

It was so windy and crazy, I didn't really get any good party shots. I was too focused on not blowing away!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Molly

So, today Molly is three. I would be a liar if I said my heart wasn't breaking a bit and that I haven't shed a few tears today. I just can't get over how quickly 3 years passed. In the blink of an eye she went from a helpless 6 pound infant, to a kid. Boo Hoo. Sometimes I wish I could rewind time just for on day and hold her tiny body in my arms. I swear I wouldn't put her down and I would memorize every little thing on her sweet body. Okay, I am really bawling now! As much as I am mourning her past, I couldn't be more excited about her future. Molly is my little buddy. We are a team. I know that will only solidify as she grows up. Here are some things I LOVE about my little one:

1. She is literally gaga for me. Yes- this is smothering, but what a feeling to be somebody's sun and moon. I'm so lucky to mean so much to someone as wonderful as her.

2. She is so funny. The things this child says keep me laughing all day.

3. She is so girlie. What a dream come true for me.

4. She is very spiritual. Molly talks openly and often about how much she loves God and Jesus. If someone is mean- she says it is because they don't have God in their hearts. Her prayers will bring tears to your eyes, and make you chuckle, too! She uses her belief in God to help her when she is sad or scared. My number one wish for Molly is that she would come to know Jesus at a young age. I am so thankful this wish came true.

5. Her imagination. She is rarely "Molly" and I am rarely "Mommy". In the course of one day, both of us have been no fewer than 2 dozen people, animals or inanimate objects- ha!

6. She is calm.

7. She is compassionate. She cares about her friends, family and those she doesn't even know.

8. She is MINE! Sometimes I am just dumbstruck that she is mine. What did I do to deserve Molly? Out of all the babies in the world... I got her. I will be thanking God till the day I day for that.

As some of my friends have done- I'm posting pics of this past year of Molly. I didn't think she changed that much this past year- but these photos prove otherwise!

March 09

April 09

May 09

June 09

July 09

August 09

September 09

October 09

November 09

December 09

January 10

February 10

March 10

A woman I met at Church with 4 kids gave me this great idea. Each year on the child's Birthday, interview them with the same set of questions. You can compare how they change each year. So without further ado, this is Molly Ryan at 3 years old:

1. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Princess.

2. What is your favorite food? French Fries and Mac n' Cheese

3. What is your Favorite color? Light Blue

4. What is your favorite toy? Princesses.

5. What is your favorite book? Princess books.

6. What is your favorite place to be? Chick-a-play (Chik-fil-a!) and Vail

7. What is your favorite thing to do? Play in the playroom and snuggle.

8. What is your favorite animal? A cow.

9. What is your favorite song? Old MacDonald

10. Who do you want to marry when you grow up? Caleb (Kings of Leon lead singer)

11. Who is your best friend: This one made her nervous. She changed her mind at least 9 times. She settled with the answer "all of them".