Letters!

In an effort to try to have SOME sort of routine to the day, we have been having a little "lesson" every morning.  Right now we are learning how to write our letters.  They are pretty good at recognizing most letters, but not so sure about writing them yet!  I bought a few little educational coloring books from the dollar section in Target. Today we were trying "D" and "d".  Lilly did a little better, but Nate, our resident "lefty" was having a hard time.  They both decided it would be better if they turned the page over and colored smiley faces!

Whitaker family pics

Thank you!

Hi Mee-Ma and Papa,
Thank you so much for our stickers and the sweet letter you sent us in the mail!  We had to stop and read it with Mommy right away!  This morning we sat at the table and made pretty pictures with our stickers.  Mommy was very appreciative, as it got us out of her hair for a few minutes!!
Miss and Love you!
Nate and Lilly

A good night :)

So, I'm not going to pretend these last couple of weeks of me being at home haven't been a MAJOR adjustment, because they really have.  I don't know if we all have cabin fever from being stuck inside all day with this triple digit heat, or if the kids are craving more of a routine, or if they are just being three year olds, and trying to drive me crazy.  I think it's a little combo of all of those.  But one thing I have really enjoyed watching is Nate and Lilly playing together.  They love to run around the house and get into trouble together, and I love seeing them on the same team like that!!  I haven't taken pictures in forever, but tonight we braved the 100 degree heat (STILL, even at 7PM), and played with sidewalk chalk in the driveway.

 That's Miss Bossypants to YOU!

We had such a happy, fun, peaceful night tonight.  I almost feel like I'm on a high!  I cherish these days and nights where everyone is happy and in good moods.  It makes all other doubt and worry disappear.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

My NEW JOB and first week STAYING AT HOME!

As many of you know, big changes have been brewing in the Pierson household for several months.  To pursue my passion for photography (and ultimately my desire to spend more time with my kiddos), I started a photography business and have been building that business since the beginning of this year.  In this short time, I was positive that I needed to quit my full time job as a paralegal to devote my time to growing as a photographer and learning more about the craft as well as the business aspect.  My goal was to be a full time photographer and stay at home Mom by August 2011.  In mid-July, I bit the bullet and gave my two-week notice to my company, whom I have been with for the last seven years.  To my shock and amazement, they asked if I could work part time, and I accepted!  I approach it all cautiously, but if it works out, I think it will be perfect for all of us.  I get to spend more time with my babies, devote more time to my photography, and still get to go into the office two days a week, where I have grown very comfortable and made so many wonderful friends.  I was nervous about cutting those strings completely, and am very glad that I don't have to quite yet!  Brian is also getting to spend much more time with the kids this way, because with the shift he is working he can hang out with us all morning!

So I was a little bit nervous about my first week at home, but I have to say it went AWESOMELY.  Honestly, the kids really are in better moods during the day (so my babysitter isn't totally lying through her teeth.. hmmm) and we actually had fun.  The kids played together a lot, and even though we may as well be snowed in with the hell-acious heat, we found plenty to do inside.  The days passed surprisingly quickly and I only lost it once or twice! haha!  I made a conscious decision to not be too scheduled this week, and just relax and see how it goes with all of the changes.  Hopefully soon we can have a little more of a routine.  I'd like them to still be learning SOMETHING so they're not way behind when they go to school!   Actually, I've just always wanted to raid that cool teacher section of the dollar store, so I can go home and play school like when I was little, and this is the perfect excuse opportunity to be able to do it!!!

Thank you, God, that we are able to make this work.  I am unbelievably grateful and really do feel like I am living my DREAM! 

PS- If you live in the DFW area, and need a portrait photographer- look me up at www.lindsaypiersonphotography.com or call me at 682-888-3644!! 

To my Nate

My sweet three year old, big boy!  You are changing so quickly in so many ways, but the one thing that remains the same is your sweet little heart.  You are so sensitive and get your feelings hurt very easily. You hate to be in trouble and you are quick to say "SOWWY Mommy" through your tears so you can get out of "time out"! You have overcome several fears this summer, which makes me so happy!  When you are so fearful that you sit on the sidelines and watch instead of participating, it breaks me heart.  I am trying to understand that it just takes time for you to warm up and that sometimes you just don't want to be pushed.  The sweetest thing about you is that you always want everyone to be happy.  Tonight you fell off the couch, and Lilly laughed so hard that you went back and did it twenty times more, just to keep her laughing.  You love when she wants to play with you, or when she needs your help.  No matter what you're doing, if she needs you to help her with something, you almost always put it down and rush to her aid.  When Lilly is really upset, you try and comfort her, "Lilly, ok? ok?  It's alright, ok?" in the most high pitched comforting voice you can come up with.  It melts my heart.  In many ways you are vulnerable, and you need me, but you have learned to sit back and stay low key lately, because your sister has been so high maintenance. I feel like you are trying to help me out a little by demanding less attention, which only makes me want to give you more.

Your favorite things to do right now are play with your cars and trucks. We got you to start peeing on the potty by offering you a new hot wheels car every time you did it!! You love to play catch with Daddy too, and you're getting pretty good! You love to draw and color and you always want to show me what you colored. "Look mommy!" You are actually using your left hand to color, and even to eat. We think you're going to be left handed which makes us laugh, because when you were a tiny baby, your daddy would force you to reach for the rattle with your left hand by holding your right one, because he wants you to be a lefty (pitcher)- now that is hard core!!!

You have always blurted things out whether you say it perfectly or not, you want to try. You have always been so smart and so observant of everything around you, and you want to talk about everything you see. "Bocopter!" (Helicopter), School bus, boat, lake, "big twuck", "bocycle" (motorcycle), etc. You're so perceptive. One Saturday morning I was kissing you goodbye and I was holding my camera bag, on my way to a photoshoot. Daddy told you I was going to work and you said, "Mommy not going to work, Mommy going to take pictures!" How right you were.. :) You say your ABCs, count to 10, and sing tons of songs too! You are just about potty trained too, but you're a little farther behind Lilly- still haven't figured out the #2 thing. Almost there though!!

I've noticed that you like to watch for someone else to lead the way, and then you act when you are ready. One day you and Lilly were on the couch drawing and you always looked to see what she was drawing before you started. If I told you both to draw, say, a cat, Lilly would immediately start drawing something- anything- but you would always look over at Lilly's to see what she was doing first.

You're favorite thing to eat is EVERYTHING! You're like Mikey- you'll eat anything! You are my big growing boy (up to about 34 lbs!) and if you're awake, you're asking for food! Sometimes we hear you first thing in the morning on the monitor say "Animals Cracker, Mommy"! Every time someone walks into the kitchen for anything you say "SNACK!!". I'm not a good cook, but I know I can always count on you to at least take a few bites if I try something new!

My precious boy, you are definitely a Momma's boy right now. I know that one day you won't be so attached to me. You will think I'm dorky and you will stop giving me hugs and kisses all the time. You won't need me to kiss your boo-boos and wipe away your tears. But you'll always be MY sweet baby boy and hold a very special place in my heart. I'm so grateful to God that He chose me to be Lilly's and your  Mommy.  I love you!!

To my Lilly

Dear Lilly,
My feisty girl!  At three years old, you are seriously giving Daddy and me a run for our money!  You are super independent and will scream in the face of anyone who dares to even THINK about helping you do anything.  You go your own way, do your own thing, and anybody better think twice before getting in your way when you have set your mind to do something.  You love to draw and color, and I've noticed you have a great imagination.  While you're drawing, you talk about what you are creating.  Sometimes I see it, sometimes I don't!  But you always seem confident- like you know exactly what you're doing.  You're always talking up a storm (daddy tells you you're "full o' beans).  It seemed to happen all of a sudden- I think you were just waiting until you could pronounce everything perfectly.  You don't seem to want to mess with any cute baby babble, for the most part.  About two or three months ago you started singing songs pretty much out of nowhere.  What a sweet sound to our ears.  It was better than the best symphony!! It started with ABCs.  I had never really heard you say more than two or three letters in a row, and all of a sudden one night, you just busted out with the entire song perfectly!  After that you started singing other songs- some of your favorites are Mary Had a Little Lamb (all of the verses), Farmer and the Dell, Ring Around the Rosey, BINGO was his Name-o, A Tisket-A Tasket, Rock a Bye Baby, Row Row Row your Boat, and many more!  Recently you have even started repeating songs you hear on the radio.  You catch on so fast and seem to remember everything- I think you are going to have an excellent memory! 

And speaking of catching on fast, you have been potty trained for about two months now- YAY!  I'm sure you could have done it sooner, had mommy and daddy been a little more consistent about it.  You have already filled up your "potty chart" with stickers, and have started adding yours to Nate's (he needs all the help he can get)!  Since you go tee-tee on the potty so often now, sometimes we forget to give you your little reward of one or two little smarty candies, but sooner or later you remind us.  It could be thirty minutes later and all of a sudden it strikes you, "Oh Mommy,  I need candy.. because I forgot candy.. because I FORGOT!!!!" 

You are so impatient.  Like, more than the average three year old, impatient.  I have to say, the fruit didn't fall far from the tree there.  I'm so impatient too, that sometimes we get very frustrated with each other!  I should be more mature, seeing as I am the grown-up and all, but sometimes I know I'm acting like a three year old too (at least you have an excuse)!  I think you test me more than you test daddy, because he stays so calm, he's not as fun to fight with!  It's just been difficult for me lately because you're so strong willed.  Sometimes I really think it's gonna kill me, it wears me out so badly.  But as much as it exhausts me, I'm so grateful and proud that you are feisty and strong willed.  I know that if we can channel those things correctly, you are destined for greatness. 

You are cautious and observant, but adventurous and fun at the same time! You love jumping in the big swimming pool, and I'm pretty sure you'd jump in all by yourself if we'd let you! You are so smart, every day you amaze me with something new. The things you say, and the way you say them. The things you pick up on- truly amaze me!

Your favorite thing, besides singing and coloring, is playing with your baby dolls.  You love to feed them, diaper them, change their clothes, burp them, the whole nine yards!  You put them to sleep with a blanket over them, then pick up and repeat the process over and over.  Sometimes you sing to them.  You definitely have a sweet little motherly instinct!  You also love to follow Mommy around and do what I'm doing.  You watch carefully when I'm getting ready, putting make up on, etc.  You mimic putting on eye make-up with the play make-up I got you for Christmas, and sometimes you like to pretend to put make-up on everyone (watch your eyeballs, people)!  You don't get into your movies too much, and I think you could probably do without TV all together.  You may sit and watch for a second, but it doesn't keep your attention.  You like to play with Nate, SOMETIMES, that is, when YOU want to.  If it is not a suitable time for you, or you are not completely in the right mood for it, you will make Nate regret even trying!!  Sometimes you forget and break into silliness and laughter for a second, but then remember that he annoys you, and you go back to screaming at him to leave you alone.  A couple of weeks ago our air conditioner went out (Texas in July with no AC=not staying at your house), so we stayed the night at Me-Maw's.  We were all cozy in the same room, you guys on mattresses on the floor by the bed.  Nate was trying to be silly and just talking to himself, like he does when he is falling asleep, but you wouldn't have any of it because you were ready.to.sleep. "Mommy, tell Nate stop talking to me!!"  But you love your Bubba, and every night before bed you give him a big smacky kiss night night.  You don't like when Mommy or Daddy get on to him, and you are very protective of him.  When you are playing together, it is the sweetest sight I've ever seen, and if I could bottle the feeling it gives me to see it, I'd be RICH RICH RICH! 

You pretty much eat like a bird these days.  You always act like you're starving but when it comes right down to it, you don't want to take the time to eat.  You're not nearly as adventurous with food as Nate and you have no problem turning down everything that looks unfamiliar to you.  You stick with your favorites- Mac and Cheese, all fruit, peanut butter and jelly, cheese.. and even then, you hardly eat anything at all!  You LOVE milk and drink a ton, so I think that fills you up sometimes. After milk, you also like Apple juice and water.  Neither you nor Nate have ever expressed any desire to drink soda or chocolate milk, so we haven't given it to you!  I'm glad- I'd like to put that off as long as possible!  I think you still get PLENTY of sugar!

You are sleeping like a champ, from about 8:30PM until about 7AM.  You fuss a little more than Nate about going to bed, and think of about five different reasons every night to delay going to bed.  (I need to brush teeth (again), need to go potty (again), need to wipe boogies, truck drove by outside my window, etc).  You want to say our prayer by yourself now, and then have me repeat it after you.  One of my favorite times with you is sitting with you right before bed time, saying prayers, giving kisses and hugs.. no stress, no screaming, just you and me.. my favorite girl in the whole world. :) 

You keep me on my toes, baby girl.  But I'm trying to remember that as tough as this age can be, it's also one of the best.  I know sometimes I fall short, and I'm not the perfect mommy, but I want you to know that no other mommy could love her baby more!  You are my sunshine! XOXO