Too fast...

My babies are growing up too fast!

Today was Reagan's 2nd day of K3! She is such a big girl! Her first day was last Friday and she jus LOVED it! And I was so proud of myself for not doing the embarassing cry in front of an entire classroom of three-year-olds and their parents! Of course, I cried the night before, though, and then as soon as I made it back to the suburban after dropping her off! boo hoo!

She didn't even want us to walk her to her room the first day. She told us the night before that she wanted to be dropped off in the rider line like all of the other kids! But *we* ...yes, Andrew, too...weren't quite ready for that! haha!

So, today, though, I let her be a "big girl" and I let her out in the rider line and she walked with one of the teachers to her classroom (which, by the way, is all of two feet from the door where I drop her off)!

So, the whole time she's in school now, I'm missing her and wondering what she's doing. But as much as I miss her, it also gives me the opportunity to spend some alone time with Mallory...which is something we've never really had! It's hard to focus on all of the litle things that she does when I've got a hyper three-year-old running around me all the time.

I realized just how much I've missed (even though I've been here for it all) when I was sitting down at my computer today designing birthday invitations for Mallory's 1st bday! I was looking through all of my pictures on my computer and realized that I have soooo many of Reagan during her first year. Every little thing she did was captured on my camera! And I just haven't had the time to do that with Mallory! I know that most of y'all are probably thinking I never put my camera down because I always seem to have it with me...but for the most part, when I'm at home, I don't have time to snap pictures 24/7...I'm way too busy chasing kids around.

Of course, now that I've got a little alone time with Mallory each day, I'll be doing my best to remedy the problem! But sometimes, I wish I could just freeze time and they'd stay little forever! I know everyone says that...but seriously...Mallory is at the cutest stage right now. She's learned to wave...so she does it constantly now...and she gives kisses now...which is the absolute best! Soon, they'll both be "too cool" to give their mommy kisses! That'll just break my heart! Now I know how my parents must've felt! Makes me wanna go give them hugs and kisses right now!

Missing them...

This is my week at church to help with the toddler nursery room. Tonight, though, they didn't need me in there, so instead I went into the bed babies room to help my grandmother. We only had one other baby in there other than my daughter, Mallory...so, we had a lot of time to chit chat.
Tonight, while we were chatting, she mentioned my grandfather...Papa...a couple of times. He passed away from cancer about 15 years ago now...I miss him! He was actually my step-grandfather...but my biological/paternal grandfather passed away before I was born, so I never knew him. My grandmother remarried Papa when I was around two-years-old...so, he was my grandfather...my Papa...in every way that counted! All of us grandkids adored him! He was the grandfather who got down on the floor and played with you until WE were tired! The kind who would let you sit in his lap and read you a million stories...the kind who had enough patience to teach me the entire multiplication table when I was so frustrated because I just couldn't grasp it in school!
The very last time I saw him was in the hospital. He couldn't really talk much, but as I was walking out of the hospital room he winked at me...and I winked back. I'm crying now just thinking about it. He said so much in a simple wink! I think it was an "I love you and I'll be ok" wink.
He was one of the most Godly men I've ever known! So, I know where he is...he's in Heaven right now. Maybe he's hanging out with my other two grandfathers telling stories about the "old days". haha!
Of course, I also miss my other grandfather...Paw-paw! He passed away when I was 5 or 6. I was young, but I still have so many fond memories of him. He was the "nobody messes with my baby" type of grandfather! The kind who wouldn't allow anyone else to interupt him while Dallas was on...no one, but me! We had our special outings to the gas station down the street where he'd buy me Icees or a Sunkist or whatever else I wanted! We would play Checkers, and, of course, he always let me win! My mom is pretty much the same type of grandparent to my kids that he was to me! My girls can never do anything wrong in her eyes and get pretty much whatever they want at Maw-Maw's (my mom) house! She spoils them rotten...just like he did to me! But...I guess that's what grandparents are for!
I miss them...

Flower Princess meets Hello Kitty

Apparently, my daughter is not only a princess (as I stated in my first post), but she is a "Flower Princess"! She's given herself that official title! Of course, I'm talking about Reagan.

Today, she was the flower girl in a wedding for a couple from our church. This is her second time as a flower girl. The first time was for my sister Lauren's wedding last October. For that wedding, she did great practicing leading up to it and did wonderful at the rehearsal...but when it came time for the actual wedding day ceremony, she made it almost completely down the aisle, and then FROZE up! I was the matron of honor and had to come down the stairs, pick her up and carry her back up the stairs. And once she was finally on the stage, it didn't get much better. She was all over the floor playing...talking...throwing her flowers everywhere...But she was two years old...almost three.

Now at the ripe old age of three...almost four...she had this thing mastered. Today, she made it all the way down the aisle and up onto the stage all by herself! Mission Accomplished! She did however sit down and play with her flowers for a while...but she did it quietly...so I'll take it!

When the wedding was over, I told her I was so proud of her for being such a good flower girl. That's when she declared, "Mommy...I am NOT a flower girl...I am a flower princess!" My bad!

After the reception, I took Reagan and my youngest sister, Kristen, to Leap Frog in Madison to meet Hello Kitty. Kristen has been a HK fan for as long as I can remember...and Reagan has so much HK stuff that we could open our own store! They both got their picture and met her...but the lady working told me that Kristen was more excited than any of the little girls that had been in all day! haha! This is my almost 16 year old sister we're talking about!

Believe it or not, I actually forgot my camera...which is unimaginable for me since I just about always have camera in hand. Kristen had hers, though, so as soon as I can get a copy of the pics, I will post them!

Why not?

Ok...so, I figured "Why not?" Why not just give in and do it! Start a blog!

I confess that I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing or what I'll be blogging about! It's probably safe to assume that there will be A LOT of kid-talk. I love my kids, I love my husband, and I love my life in general! I'm a proud mommy and wife, so I may "brag" a little...I just can't help myself sometimes! But I promise not to be obnoxious about it! ;)

I thank God every day for the life he's given me! He truly is an awesome God! He led me to my wonderful husband, Andrew...whom I've been with for 10 years (married for almost 7 of those years)! He truly is my soulmate! Corny, I know...but that's how I feel! He's a big kid sometimes, but I love him for it...and he is the most amazing father in the world!

God has blessed us with two beautiful little girls! Reagan will be four in October...although, she thinks she's 14...and a princess! If you've met her, you know it's true! She's little Miss Attitude, but also one of the sweetest, most caring little girls you will ever meet! She really is such a giving and sensitive person! I can't imagine where she'd get her sensitivity from? And Mallory...oh, Mallory! She's only 11 months old right now, but she's already got quite a personality of her own! I can already see that she will be a strong-willed little girl! She's not much of a cuddler, but that just makes me appreciate those cuddly moments even more! But she IS a mommy's girl...which I love! Reagan was...and still is...Daddy's girl! So, I secretly (or not so secretly) love it when someone else is holding her and she just about jumps out of their arms to come to me! Melts me!

We don't have any pets right now! If you know us, you know we haven't exactly had the best luck with pets! Reagan has starting asking Daddy for a puppy lately, though...so we'll see!Although, our house is up for sale right now...so a puppy should probably wait until we know what we're doing!

Pluse, we have a lot going on right now anyway! Andrew's got two jobs...three if you count ebay! He's an insurance adjuster and a youth minister. He never stops! I'm a stay-at-home mom...with a lot of passions (photography and art being two of the biggest)! Reagan just started K3...today...my baby's growing up! And Mallory...well, she turns one at the end of the month...so, of course, I'm in party planning mode!

Never a slow day in the Nordquist household! Hopefully, that means I'll have plenty to share with all of you!