Fourth Birthday Letter

Gone are the days of those teeny tiny little infants that would lay on our chests and sleep for hours.  No longer can I carry them in a sling, or place them in a bouncy seat to ‘get stuff done’.  I am sad that I can’t remember exactly what it feels like to hold those fragile little babies or smell that newborn baby smell.  I treasure the memories, old and new, of these special times.  I want to file away the times that you gazed into my eyes with a look that said “I trust you.  I need you.”   Those first few weeks were filled with nerves and anxiety, with hospitals, doctors and nurses…and with complete love and adoration. The four of us became an instant family. 

 

I remember how Marley screamed her head off the moment she was pulled from my tummy and Merrick was quiet and still, so much so that I yelled, “why isn’t he crying?!  Make him cry!”  {funny, this first day was a good indication of how your personalities would be}  It amazes me now when I look at your little personalities and think…God knew from the start who they were and who they would become.   When I finally (a day later) was able to meet my babies I cried quietly and softly said “Hi baby girl. I know you.” And although I couldn’t yet hold my critical baby boy, I reached my hand through that incubator hole and whispered, “don’t worry, mommy’s here.” 

So much has changed and you are now big four year olds.  My hope is that in the words of this blog, I can one day sink back into the memories of exactly what you were like at 4 years old and treasure those like I currently treasure the memories of the last 4 years with you both.

Marley still our little peanut, still our little organizer, still our little CEO

Affectionately refers to herself as “the little one” and talks about her “baby feet”
Lover of Butter noodles & Plain bread
26 lbs…of bossiness, decisiveness and beautiful spirited girl
Size 18 month shorts/jeans; 24month – 2T shirts & dresses
Perfectionist, opinionated

Likes alone time, although she doesn’t talk about it, you can tell in her actions she appreciates it

Loves to ‘play’ tea party with you, but doesn’t let you do anything, you more or less just watch her play…but she wants you there
Says some of the best prayers – thoughtful prayers
CEO of our nighttime routine.  She dictates the order in which we can say our prayers, “mommy, what were you thankful for today?”  “mommy, what is one thing that made you happy today?”  “mommy, who do you want to pray for today?”  The order typically goes…Merrick, mommy, daddy, Marley.  Marley always goes last.
Want your hair to be super long like Rapunzel
Is a ballerina…and LOVES it
Loves everything girlly…jewelry, painting her fingernails, princesses, dresses
Also has a tomboyish side and can toss Merrick on the ground when necessary
Wants to be a princess when she grows up
Favorite color is pink
Favorite phrase: thank thank thank (think think think); Mommy I need you
Can literally recite the entire book ‘Pinkalicious’ word for word
You are working on not sucking your fingers anymore…and you are doing really good!  You will wake up in the morning and say, “mommy, I think I accidentally sucked my fingers last night” in the saddest voice.

You are spunky, spirited and downright stubborn…and other times your smile can light up a room and your sweetness melt my heart.  Don’t EVER change your personality…over the years I pray that you learn to “let your speech be gracious, seasoned with salt” Colossians 4:6

Merrick  Has a thirst for knowledge
Loves playing board games and doing puzzles – favorite game currently is Chutes & Ladders
Lover of Mac n cheese & PB&J
Neevvaahhh (never…when he is trying to say no, he will instead yell neeevaahhh)
Loves to cook, I call him “little chef”.  Favorite things to make – Waffles & Zucchini Cupcakes  
Starting to like spicy things, or at least likes to try them – likes jalapeño chips
36 lbs…of sweet, sensitive boy

When he gets in trouble, it hurts his heart.  He gets really sad and upset when we are upset with him.
Pretty much size 4T all around
Loves his tablet – favorite games – Angry Birds Space/Star Wars & Subway Surfers
Favorite phrase: I love you (the boy tells me he loves me ALL the time!  And I love it!), keep it easy squeezy
Favorite toy: remote control car, board games
Savors alone time with mommy & daddy – we call it special time
Favorite color is blue
still working on potty training at night (sorry for documenting buddy, we might want to look back at this later)
Avid Christian…not sure I can say that yet, but he is already discipling at school so much that they have to redirect his conversations to not be about Christianity…{so proud}
Wants to be a penguin when he grows up
Wants to have 16 kids when he grows up
Lover of space, the moon and planets

You are rough and tumble and sometimes need help controlling your larger than life personality (no worries, you get it honestly from your daddy), other times your thoughtfulness and tenderness utterly amaze me.  Your heart is bigger than this earth and deeper than the ocean…please don’t ever change that.  Even when kids tease you and say you are a mama’s boy or too sensitive…know in your heart that it’s an amazing quality that your wife will one day cherish your kindheartedness!  “Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:5

You both

… love reading bible stories and singing Bless The Lord Oh My Soul

…have slept in the same room since you came home from the hospital

…Fight often and love each other even more

…Melt my heart when you help each other or encourage each other 

…are perfectly designed by God

…are loved {SO MUCH} by your daddy and I

Happy fourth birthday my love, my loves

Thankful.

The Boston explosions.  Such a tragic event.  The news stations repeatedly showing the bombs that went off at the Boston Marathon finish line.  This is the first time that we have had to deal with the difficult situation of how to explain to four year olds what happened.  Do you sugar coat it, and act like it isn’t a big deal and hope they just forget about it?  Or do you use this as a learning opportunity to explain how there is evil in the world? 

We chose the latter.  We tried to keep the emotion out of it as we didn’t want to over inform them, but we did say that there was someone that did something terrible in the city of Boston and that we should pray for those that are hurt and their families. 

Merrick: did that 8 year old girl die?

Mommy: lump in throat
Daddy: yes buddy, there was an 8 year old girl that died
Merrick: how did she die?
Mommy: there was a big explosion called a bomb, like a big firecracker
Merrick: oh, a firecracker?
Mommy: but that little girl is in heaven now with Jesus
Merrick: oh, ok
Conversation ended

Before bed every night we say one thing we were thankful for that day and one thing that made us happy.  Marley dictates the order in which we are able to speak {grin}. 

Marley: Bubba, what’s one thing that made you thankful today?

Merrick: I am thankful that, that, that that little 8 year old girl died (yikes. maybe it was too early to talk about this. I almost stepped in at this point, but I am so thankful I didn’t) and that today she is able to be with Jesus and with God in heaven.  I am thankful for that today.
Marley: And bubba, what’s one thing that made you happy today?
Merrick: I am happy that that little girl is with Jesus today

God we know you are in control of everything.  We pray boldly for your peace to fill the lives of those affected by this tragic event.  We pray that you forcefully eliminate the enemy in that city.  Thank you for the safety that we experience daily and that tonight we are able to sleep soundly at home with our children. Amen.  

Latty Datty, we likes to pa-tay

It happened.

There’s no turning back.

The twins are officially FOUR!! 

In true Militia fashion we threw a knock out bday party.  Daddy has stopped contesting my innate nature to go over board and jumped on the bandwagon of helping me to completely overcomplicate the simple. 

We celebrated with…A garden Party

I always think of the invitations as the beginning of the party.  I wrapped them with twine and inserted them into rustic brown paper envelopes.

 

Guests were greeted at the front door...

 

 

 

 

 When planning the menu, I wanted to keep it simple so that I could spend time enjoying the party rather than cooking.  I served: farm fresh veggies with dip, garden ripened berries, capresse pasta salad (served in adorable little yellow striped chinese to go boxes), watermelon slices on popsicle sticks and sammys - Turkey & havarti, Chicken Salad Croissants & PB&Js for the kids.

 

 

 

And chips served in individual baggies stamped with M&M's initials.

I opted out of paper plates and used brown paper craft bags at the front of the buffet...kind of like a "pack your lunch" 

  

 

For the adults the hit of the party was the Booze & Berries Station

 
 

 

 

And mini plastic milk bottles for the kiddos

 

Farmer's Market Games included bobbing for apples, corn hole and old fashion swinging :)

 

 

 

 

 

 Sweet spring garden touches were sprinkled throughout.  The entire party was outside and I provided a basket of picnic blankets so guests could spread out and eat in comfort on the lawn.

 

 

Zuchinni cupcakes and Dirt Cakes {made with avacado!} for dessert.

PS- the kids loved both!! and they were healthy, preservative and food dye free.

 

 

 

Kids painted their own pots, planted their basil plants and took home their new herb to nurture and "grow" keeping with our garden theme.

 

 

 

 

We didn't open all the gifts at the party but we did let them open one each.  Can you tell Merrick was excited to get Roger the Space Shuttle and Space Mater?  And Marley was so excited to be the proud new mommy of Baby Princess Cindarella.

 

 In the end, it is all worth it when your daughter says, “mommy…can we please have the SAME, EXACT party next year?”  Success.  

 

Married...at 5

Merrick: playing with mommy's rings, acting like he is going to put them down the sink
Mommy: Merrick, don't do that.  We wouldn't want to loose them.  My rings are how the world knows that mommy belongs to daddy, and daddy's rings are how the world knows that daddy belongs to mommy.
Merrick: stares at me
Mommy: one day you might have a ring of your own
Merrick: eeewww, boys don't wear rings!
Mommy: well, one day when you meet a girl that you really love, you will be proud to wear that ring
Merrick: But mommy...I already have a girl that I love.
Mommy:  You do?
Merrick: Yes!  Mar-wee!  I love Mar-wee.  I'm going to marry her.  She's my best friend.  I'm going to marry her when I turn 5.
Mommy: oh...not 4?
Merrick:  {in that are you stupid voice} mooom, I can't marry her when I am 4.  4 is too young to be married.  I will marry her when I turn 5.