To My Dearest Daughters,: August 2015

love knows no distance

So, as me and Dad are lying in bed after we get home from Arkansas we’re both going through emails and he gets one from his unit in Bahrain. He will be going to Bahrain for 3 months. Not only is it 3 months, but it’s October 4 – December 31. We stayed up quite late discussing what this means for us and how much it's going to affect everyone. We'd just been discussing holidays on the way home. It just goes to show you that there's something to the saying:

"If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans."

My first thought went to you girls. Holidays are a HUGE part of our family, and we realized that they won't quite be the same this year. But, it's just 3 months; we can do this! I hope that you both know just how much you are loved, and how hard it is for us to willingly put you in positions where you might feel sad because you miss one of us. But just know that these sacrifices that we are ALL making are for a bigger purpose.

When I married your dad, I knew what being to a person in the military meant. I knew that these moments would come, and I've learned to roll with the punches. You didn't sign up for this though, and for that I DO apologize. I know that being apart from him is hard, I really do. It breaks my heart to think that he won't be here to see y'all all dressed up for Halloween (we even have the costumes picked out for this year), to help cut the turkey for Thanksgiving, put up the Christmas tree, or even to open presents. But keep in mind, that as parents, we do what we think is best with the bigger picture in mind.

I read this quote a few years ago, and it really stuck with me.

"To love a man is to support his passions; to be in love with a man is not only to back his passions, but also to admire them to the point that his hunger for them becomes your own."

Your dad is a U.S. Navy Sailor. It's something that we've all had to accept, embrace, and be proud of. The dynamic of a military family is not something that many people understand. It's having to do a lot of work on one end, and always catching up on the other. I support your dad in everything that he does, and in turn, he supports me in everything I do. My wish is that one day you find someone who supports you in all your hopes and dreams, whatever they may be.

My hope is also that when you're older you see just how much you are at the center of all of thoughts and plans. I hope that you feel as proud of us as we are of you. We promise to try and make those 3 months as easy as we can for you two. We still have a month...and we fully plan on making the most of it. We love you. We will get through this. I promise.

roadtrip

As a family of 3 we've taken quite a bit of roadtrips. Now it was time for all 4 of us to go on a real roadtrip. We've gone to Corpus and Dallas, but those were all short drives (and thankfully you slept most of the way Ellie).

That all changed. We went to Arkansas this weekend. One of your dad's cousins had a 15, so we took advantage of the trip and also went to visit your uncle Ricardo. We hadn't seen him in 4 years, and Ellie, he'd never met you. This was the perfect opportunity for a quick getaway.

Getting ready to head out

Lufkin, Texas

I have a thing for sunsets

We stopped by and visited your Uncle Ricardo and your Aunt Debbie in Maumelle.

Not letting me nap

At the Quinceañera

I know the picture is blurry, but it's the only one I could get of you Ellie. You were running around the entire time.

That's you sitting in the middle of the dancefloor, haha!

Belly, this was also the first time we all danced at a party. You're usually very shy when it comes to things like that, but this time it was special. This was the first time you'd seen CHINELOS. (click on it for the full description) so we HAD to join in. This is the short version:

The word “chinelos” is derived from the Nahuatl word “zineloquie” which means “disguised.” The dance is one of many to develop after the Spanish conquest as native traditions and rites blended into Christian festivals. The dance became most developed in the state of Morelos.

Needless to say, you had tons of fun! After a late night, we got up early and headed back home.

Ouchita National Forest - Hot Springs, Arkansas

Back in good ol' Texas

Finally getting to cuddle with you. I've missed moments like this SO MUCH since we transitioned you to your room.

Y'all did great. Thank you for making this somewhat easy on us. Ellie, you got car sick twice (once each way), but we were such a trooper!!! Bella, thank you for being out our little helper.

I took today off. I needed to do some stuff at the new house today to make sure that everything is on track with inspections and all that. I've been there since 6am. I finished on time to surprise you at school. Since we had an hour to spare, we had a mini Belly & Mommy date at Mambo's.

Nothing makes me happier than hearing about your day. My back and legs are killing me but just knowing that very soon we'll have a new house keeps me going.

That and seeing this:

I love these moments that we have just for ourselves. They're rare, I know...but know that I will cherish these little moments forever. Your smile is contagious and it makes everything else seem a little less important.

2nd grade

Today is your First Day of Second Grade. Where is the time going?!?

First Day of Second Grade - Ms. Leff's Class

And, just to catch you up on all your past "First Days"...

First Day of 1st Grade - Ms. Selden's Class

Cinco de Mayo Celebration at your school

First Day of Kindergarten - Ms. Leff's Class

Pajama Day

Last Day of Kindergarten

First Day of Pre-K 4 - Mrs. Roberts' Class

Career Day.

You said you wanted to be a Mail Carrier when you grow up.

Let's hope you change your mind before that time comes.

Last Day of Pre-K 4

First Day of Pre-K 3 - Ms. Beaver's Class

Last Day of Pre-K 3

If we haven't said it enough by now, we're so very proud of you baby.

words from ms. selden (1st grade)

Tomorrow you start 2nd grade. In honor of that, here are some thoughts from your 1st grade teacher:

"I first met Isabella when she was a kindergartener, heading home in the dismissal line with a globe half as big as she was because, explorer at heart, that was what she wanted as her reading prize. I was teaching her cousin that year and, in our first conversation, Isabella very matter-of-factly informed me that I was going to be her teacher. I told her I’d keep my fingers crossed, but I had no idea of the scope of her determination! When I got my first grade roster the following year, her name was on it and, alongside it I was shown the letter she’d written to our principal politely requesting to be in my class.

I’m so thankful she was! Isabella was an eager and inquisitive learner that made every lesson better with her insights and questions. She was also a model classmate, diligent about her work and generous with her friendship. I don’t think Isabella got a warning the whole year, though once I did catch her passing a note during class. Prepared to give her a consequence, I unfolded the note and stopped- inside it were the sweetest words of encouragement for a classmate who’d been having a hard day. I don’t know many first graders with that level of compassion.

Isabella, it was an honor to have been your teacher and I can’t wait to see you soar!"

-Ms. Selden

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babies (from dad)

To my babies...

This is a test at this thing called blogging. I am not as fancy as your mother.

merpeople

So, the end of the summer season is almost here. We took one last trip to Splashtown.

Nagging at Bella, like always

Twins

It was a great summer.

Bella, you start school Monday. I'm so looking forward to seeing what you accomplish this year. Ellie, you're cuddled up on my lap right now dozing off.

Life is good. I love you.

beauty in colors

Dear Bella,

You are BEAUTIFUL.

I need you to believe this.

You may not always feel this way, and unfortunately people will make you feel like you're not. But when you are feeling down, I need to say this to yourself with all the truth and conviction that these words hold.

You drew a picture the other day. I don't have it to show you because I told you to throw it away. You drew a family portrait. It was beautiful. When it came time to color us in you spent a long time looking for colors. I asked you why. You responded that you couldn't find the brown crayon. You'd already colored your dad, Ellie, and me in a "peach" color. I asked you why you were looking for a brown crayon and you responded "because I'm not peach like y'all." You said you didn't fit in to our family because you weren't the same color as us.

My heart broke for you at that moment. I'd hoped that you never determined your self worth or sense of belonging based on something so inconsequential. I know this is just the beginning of a series of times that you will feel like you're not "something" enough. Unfortunately, we currently live in a society where we place a ridiculously immense amount of value on shallow things, such as one's physical appearance. I hope that things change, but if they don't: I pray that you know just how little your physical appearance has to do with your beauty. You are beautiful because you are a miracle. You are the very best and purest parts of us.

We had a long discussion about your portrait and we decided the old one wouldn't do. So you drew a new one. Our perfect little family: