Things That Make Ya Go Hhhmmm...

Text from Ryan:  Christian me up about 5:45 to tell me that something fell in his room and was crawling around by his computer.  He said it had a long tail, 9 fingers, and a tiny flashlight.  Fortunately, for a clumsy rodent that is missing a finger he had awesome hiding skills and would crawl under his closet door every.single.time I tried to get it.  By the way, the tiny flashlight turned out to be just his computer.

Text from my Mom:  I forgot to tell you that Christian fixed my sinus headache with his "healing hands" and so Taylor had to contribute and decided to wipe my face with a cold cloth... but in reality it was some wet underwear of hers that were in the bathroom sink.  It got smeared ALL OVER my face before I realized it was her panties.  She was so serious and gentle, too.

Not a text, just something that happened:  Tay gave her sandwich a "butt hole" (I quoted that because we don't use that word in our house.  I prefer the word "hiney", but lately Tay has been on a "butt hole" kick and talks about them A LOT... and apparently she also distributes them.)  She then told me a long story about the butthole that sings.

This is an old story, but I had to let the initial embarrassment wear off before I could permanently log it on here:  We were at the store and I REALLY had to go potty.  I snuck a toot out.  JUST then I saw three people approaching.  (I think the only three people in the store besides us... just my luck.)  I played it off, thinking they'd assume it was one of my kids.  At the exact moment that the third person passed by, Tay ran up behind me and grabbed me.  Guess what her face smashed into?  Her head is just at rear-end level.  She yelled "EEEWWW!!!!  You stink Mom!!"  And then said it again, and again.  She totally blew my cover!  I tried to ignore her, but I have a certain laughing condition - one that should be called the-more-I-try-not-to-laugh-the-funnier-it-gets-and-harder-it-is-to-control, only that'd be way too long of a name. 

 

The fundamental job of a toddler is to rule the universe.

When does actual toddlerism begin?
One?
Two?
When they start making parents want to pull out their hair?
I have no idea.
Either way, Maven is on her way!
She has officially acquired a year's worth of this world's knowledge.
This makes her a genius, obviously.
And this year her birthday fell on Easter.
Double YAY!!  So, YAY and YAAAY!

She can say Nana (Mama), Dada, Dah-dah (baba, or bottle), Ni-ni (night night - she actually says this when she is tired), uh oh, HEY!, Hi, Di-di (bye bye), a kissy noise, and no no no no.  She is also a squealer.  Its kind of cute, but in an ear-piercing window-breaking high-pitched tornado siren kind of way. 
She can't say her "b" or "m" sounds yet.  Is that weird?
She helps me buckle her into her carseat by grabbing the bottom part and holding it up for me.  She knows what things go on her head and she always tries to put them there - hats, necklaces, bows, headbands, etc.  She loves buttons and pushes them on everything - her toys, the dishwasher, the car, etc.
She is also walking.  She actually pulled that stunt out of her bag o' tricks the very day of her birthday.
She would get so excited and start jumping when she first started that she'd fall.  Every time. 

 

Luckily, she has improved.

 

A favorite game of hers is to turn circles on the kitchen floor:

See how she puts one arm to steer?  She does that when she walks, too.  I told you she's a genius.

 

Another favorite game of hers is to pick on Tay.  She TOTALLY has it coming, though.  We smile and say "Aww.  Now she fits in with the family PERFECTLY."

 

She has also been known to bring us a diaper when she feels like she needs one.  Seriously.  At my dad's, she got her diaper out of my purse and took it to Kelli.  She ended up having a poo diap.

 

 

 

She has the survival skills of a wolverine.

 She rode up front over to the RV (right behind our neighborhood) and thought she was super big:

She looks so much like her sister!  Here is Tay at the same age:

 

 

I only snapped ONE flippin' picture at Tay's party.  Dang it.

 

We had a dance themed party since this girl loooves to boogie. 

 

I set up a dance stage in the garage like I did for Tay.  We also had music crafts and served POPcorn, POProcks, and Vanilla Ice Ice too cold  - ice cream.

At my dads, I did open up the camera on my phone and pushed the circular button. Ooohh... when I word it like that it sounds so easy, doesn't it?  Well, it is NOT.  Being on camera duty is a job!  I want to enjoy the party like everyone else. 

Okay.  Off of my soap box, or whatever. 

I brought all the presents that Maven got at her party over so she could open them.  We're busy people!  We never had a chance to open them!

Here are the pics from my dads house, Easter, her actual birthday, whatever you'll call it:

 Shane did a cupcake dunk on Tay

We also took her out for frozen yogurt. 

The kids went in their pajamas.

Maven sat on the table.

We were HIGH class!

We just needed a rusty maroon minivan with a Christmas wreath on the grill to pull it all together.

By the way, she doesn't let us feed her.

 

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

We dedicated Maven to the Lord.
This simply means we will raise her as a Christian and will do everything in our strength to guide in His path.
It sounds so easy, doesn't it? 
But what a tremendous job.
Its only setting her up for ALL ETERNITY!!!
Its our single most important job.