HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAISLEY!

Our sweet baby Paisley turned one-year-old on April 24th. We had a little family celebration on Saturday, the 25th, complete with yummy food and chocolate cake. Our guests were Papa Powers, Uncle Terry, Uncle Mike and Aunt Lora, Uncle Trevor and Aunt Alyssa, and Cousin Brian. It was a beautiful day and fairly windy so we went across to the park to fly a kite. Even Papa Powers came! It was so fun and we felt so child-like and carefree. Paisley was in heaven getting to explore the whole park without anyone bothering her. It also was Grandma Powers birthday, whom Paisley didn't get to meet here on earth. We asked everyone, in lieu of a gift, to write a special note, thought, or memory about her and Aunt Lora put them in a beautiful scrapbook. We felt it was a great way to honor her and for Paisley to have something to know her Grandmother by. What better gifts could we all have given her? I did wrap a box of Kleenex for her to unwrap.

What I remember most about Grandma Powers is how happy and positive she was all the time. Through all of her medical problems and battle with cancer, I never once heard her complain. She would always downplay everything and do her best to convince us that it would be alright. She was always so complimentary and never criticized anyone except for President and Hillary Clinton. She wanted desperately to be here long enough to meet her precious new granddaughter, Paisley. She couldn't wait to kiss her soft skin and hold her close. Sadly, she didn't make it that long, but we like to think that she smothered Paisley with hugs and kisses in heaven before her birth. She adored her grandchildren and made each one of them feel special. She supported her children in their choices, always allowing them to find their own way.

My precious Paisley,

When I was pregnant with you the doctor called to let me know they found something alarming on the ultrasound and wanted me to get a more detailed and thorough ultrasound. He said that there was only one artery in the umbilical cord giving you the essentials for life, instead of two. He advised me to try not to worry and that we would take it one step at a time. My first thought was that I would rather die than have something happen to you. But after the initial fear subsided, I was overcome with a peaceful feeling that all would be alright, no matter what happened. Sure enough, you arrived without incident (to you anyway) and you were so peaceful and calm right from the start. Your brother couldn't wait to meet you and your sister was happy to have a new doll to play with. Your daddy cried tears of joy when he saw you and his protection over you began immediately. A happier baby there never was. You never cried, partly because of your nature and partly because I did my best to tend to your needs before you needed to cry. You were a good sleeper right from the start and as time went on, so did the amount of hours you slept each night. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't keep you from growing, learning and trying new things. I knew how important this was for you to do, but I just wanted you to stay that sweet newborn who cuddles and nuzzles into me. Your first smile was so thrilling! Those people who say it's just gas have no idea what they're talking about. Your smile was genuine, I could tell. And it was just as exciting to us as Gage's and Bella's first smile. Somehow I felt that we wouldn't get as silly about your first milestones, being such experienced parents (Ha!), but oh, how I was wrong. You weren't in a huge hurry to crawl and you certainly don't seem to mind not walking, despite the strawberries and raspberries on your knees and tops of your feet. You must sense that I'm not ready to relinquish your baby-hood. Your brother, Gage, can make you laugh just by looking at you. Your sister, Bella, talks to you each morning and night from her crib across from you and the two of you laugh and entertain each other in your own secret sister language. You frequently crawl to them and put your head on their shoulders for hugs. You love to give kissess, albeit open-mouth and extra slobber. You point to things and people in a frenzy, thirsting for knowledge. "Moo (your version of it)" was your first word, when asked what a cow says. This was followed by Dadadadadada. Daddy has you performing all his tricks, like his other two little monkeys did. You love to clap your hands and you get so excited at "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Pat-A-Cake". Especially, the part where I draw the letter on your stomach, which incites such giggles. When we ask you to say "Mama" you take the back of your hand to your mouth while making noise, simulating your best Mamamamama. You just barely this week started to say "Mama" without that. You are so chubby and roly-poly - all the more to smooch and eat up, I say. As I dreaded, you are gaining your independence little by little each day. You want to feed yourself, you want to get from Point A to Point B without being touched, and you want EVERYTHING that anyone else has in their hands. We are so blessed to have you in our family and are already learning from you. May you always remain peaceful, happy, calm and loving. Especially through the toddler and teenage years! May you feel our love for you and our desire for you to make good choices. May you know our Father in Heaven and His shared desire with us for your eternal happiness. May your siblings be your best friends and help to guide and protect you. And may your second year of life go more slowly than the first. We love you and want you to feel the joy that you bring to us each day.

THIS AND THAT

We went to the Easter Pageant at the temple for the first time ever. I can't believe I've never gone before. It's possible my parents took us when we were little, but I have no memory of it. We took Bella to our friend Karla's house and took her two nephews along with Gage and Paisley. It was so well-done and Gage was mesmerized. We were lucky to have Paisley be happy.

All of the little cousins got together for an Easter Egg Hunt and then devoured all of their candy. They were so wired, but had so much fun and got along really well. So well that we grown-ups were able to visit some for once! Gage was singing Primary songs as he was hunting for eggs. Uncle Trevor got a kick out of that. Bella was so happy to have Maya and Callie here. She loves the girls.

Gage went to play at the Narducci's and they did some Easter crafts. He made me this cute little bird's nest with little eggs and a bird on top. He told me to put it in a special place and to think about him when I saw it. I put it on the window sill right above the kitchen sink, which he approved of. He'll sometimes ask me if I'm thinking about him when I'm standing at the sink.

Aaron and his girls came up the next weekend to play! We went to a birthday party on Saturday at this fun park in Chandler. They have a great playground area and a splash zone. They also had water balloons for a fight that brought lots of screams and some tears too. One of the uncles of the birthday boy brought along this self-made train (out of a golf cart and some wagons tied together) and gave all the kids rides. And, of course, cake!! They had a ball! On the way home, Rob spotted a sign on the street corner that read, "Baby Turtles". He did a fast U-turn and needless to say, we now have two baby turtles. The turtle lady said they like companionship. They are named Myrtle and Crush. Myrtle belongs to my niece, Lily, who wasn't allowed to take hers home. Hmmm....a parent who tells their child no. That's an interesting concept. Actually, Gage didn't even get a chance to ask if he could get a turtle. Before he even knew what was happening, Rob was at the turtle table holding them. Thankfully, Bella was passed out in the car, otherwise we may have come home with 10 turtles!! I must say, they are pretty cute. As it turns out, Myrtle and Crush do NOT like each other and have resisted our forced attempts at companionship.

The kids love to help me in the kitchen with all sorts of things. They like to help stir, get their hands messy, and spill things. They ask me to turn on the music and dance while we make things. It definitely brightens the task of making dinner!

The binky fairy is about to pay a visit to Bella, but she can't decide if she should take Paisley's binkies too. After all, her goal is to take binkies from big girls to provide them for babies. Well, Paisley is a baby and really likes her binky. And we really rely on her binky, especially in church! I know I've said a hundred times that the binkies are going, going gone. Could you take them away from this girl??? Seriously, she walks around like this A LOT!

I took Gage to his eye doctor for his routine checkup. Or should I say routine lecture?? Here's the problem. The doctor wants Gage to wear this eye patch (it HAS to be adhesive and can't be a play Pirate patch) every day for 3-4 hours, emphasis on the 4. I know that this is necessary to make his eye stronger, but it is pure torture for both of us. I resolve every night at bed to be sure to make him wear his patch the next day, but for various reasons (excuses), it doesn't happen very often. After this visit, however, I've decided that the torture of being humiliated or given a scathing lecture by this doctor is much worse. Gage agreed and he's worn it every day since. Yaayyy! By the way, this is what he looks like when he doesn't consistently wear his patch. Sorry, Gage, this is just too funny.

We talked to Grandma and Papa LaDuke on Skype recently with the kids. Grandma asked Gage what he's been doing and he said, "Oh, this and that." Too funny.

Today, as we were driving in the car, Gage was teasing Bella and making her upset. Then out of nowhere he said that he missed Grandma Powers. He asked me if I remembered when she was in the hospital and everyone was crying (that was over a year ago and he was 3). He said that she died for no reason. I asked him what he meant and he said that Jesus died for all of us to take all of our sins away, but Grandma died for no reason. I'm simply not equipped to respond to this, so I didn't. And then he went back to teasing.