Mia's First Haircut

Mia's hair has been looking pretty scraggly lately. I had mixed answers when I told people I thought she needed a haircut. Some people were concerned I was going to chop too much off (and I guess she'd look like a boy). Some people were all for it and suggested that cutting it a tiny bit would help it grow. Old wives' tale? I don't know, but I figured it didn't hurt since it definitely didn't look good the way it was.

Peter and Nate needed haircuts too, but weren't able to get them before we left for California, so I decided to let all three of them get a trim.

Before:

Baby Hooligan!

Front

Back

During:

She did pretty well and didn't wiggle too much.

Her brother was in the chair across the aisle, so usually
when she did  move it was so she could see him.

After:

Not too different, but better!
I don't know why I didn't get a shot of the
back, but it is still doing that cute curl.

I kind of wish we had picked somewhere else. The two girls who were there were not very good with kids, at least compared to the place we normally go at home, and it is not geared toward kids. And they didn't offer us a piece of her hair or give us a little certificate with the date of the first haircut or anything. But I'm glad we did it. It does look better and I can still put it in a cute little tiny pigtail that sticks out of the side of her head! It's hard to really mess up such cuteness.

Happy Birthday Nate!

We celebrated Nate's birthday on Sunday, March 3, instead of on his actual birthday since Sunday nights are easier for all of us, especially Nate's cousins who are in high school. This year he decided he wanted a Shark themed party. I know this is kind of shocking... Given how obsessed he is with dinosaurs right now, I fully expected him to want that to be his theme, but nope!

So far we've kept all of our birthday parties pretty small, and this year was no exception. It was just us, Nana and Grandpa, and Aunt Cindy and her family. That's actually a lot of people for our little house! We definitely need more chairs, but Nate had a good time and that's all that matters.

FOUR!

Under the Sea

Mia was in on the theme

Pizza!

I love sharks!

Showing off some gifts - he did a full 360

Spectators thinking,  "this kid doesn't need any more stuff!"

Where's Mia?

Peek-a-boo! Happy Birthday Nate! (Just what he always wanted.)

What should I wish for? Presents! Wish came true already!

Yummy cake!

Mmmhmm! Happy birthday to ME!

The next day (on his real birthday) he took a book and cookies to school to celebrate and got to have Moe's for dinner (a real treat for him). On Wednesday, Peter took Nate and his friend, Logan, to Monkey Joe's so he could at least have a little birthday fun with friends. All in all, he had a great birthday, but he's already talking about when he turns five!

Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)

One of my favorite lullabies to sing to Nate when he was a baby was Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) by the Dixie Chicks. When I first heard it I thought it was the perfect lullaby for a little boy and tucked it away for later. Nate loved it when he was a baby. If I sang it or played the song for him, he would calm down right away. It was amazing! I still sing it to him on occasion and yesterday morning I was feeling nostalgic for the "baby" years and decided to play the video for him. While the song was playing I was rocking with Mia and she leaned in for a hug, then Nate came in for a hug and I started bawling. 

I've been feeling like four was a really big birthday for some reason, but I didn't really know why. It's not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. Four doesn't mean anything - he's not starting school, he's still in single digits, he's definitely not a teenager, he can't drive or drink... Why is it such a big deal? Then a friend helped me realize - my first baby is no longer a baby! He's a little boy. He hasn't been for awhile, but it is just sinking in. Thank goodness I have my little Mia to hold onto for a couple more years!

Baby-Nate - 03/04/2009

Not-So-Baby-Nate - 03/04/2013

"Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)"

Written by Radney Foster

Performed by The Dixie Chicks

Dragon tales and the "water is wide"
Pirate's sail and lost boys fly
Fish bite moonbeams every night
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

The rocket racer's all tuckered out
Superman's in pajamas on the couch
Goodnight moon, will find the mouse
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

God bless mommy and match box cars
God bless dad and thanks for the stars
God hears "Amen," wherever we are
And I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed
Godspeed
Godspeed
Sweet dreams