March and April

to say that i have slacked in writing on my blog lately is an understatement. we have been so so busy, that i just haven't had time to sit down and catch up. i am actually having to look back at the calendar to remember everything that we have been doing.

easter was wonderful! we went to an easter egg hunt/brunch at the club on saturday and the girls loved it. all three of them found lots of eggs (candy filled of course) and this year, they all loved the easter bunny. no one was scared! easter sunday we headed to church and again, all three in the nursery, no tears! i think our little girls are growing up. at least preslee and mason. finley is just happy to be with her sisters. then lunch at drew's parents and another easter egg hunt. it was a nice day to be outside and with family and the girls were so pretty in their dresses. here is a sneak peak of some of the pictures.

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we went to the zoo with friends and the girls loved feeding all the animals. they are still talking about the different ones that we saw that day.

and this past sunday we took them to hershey to see the disney princesses on ice. it was amazing! they were so excited and got dressed up in their finest princess attire for the show. they were motionless in their seats for almost 2 hours. watching the girls idolize characters that i loved when i was their age was really cool. they are so looking forward to our disney trip in november with my family. i can't wait to see them when they see mickey up close!

the weather has been so nice, we have spent lots of days outside until it got dark. they are so ready for the pool to open so they can "swim". school will be wrapping up in another month and then we are off to florida and north carolina for 3 weeks!

Turks and Caicos 2010

i have finally gotten around to organizing and making photo books of our trip to Turks and Caicos. we had such an amazing time and the girls just loved it. they became quite the little swimmers and adjusted to the changes in their schedules like champs. it was so great to spend time with the rest of the beynons and get away from all the snow and bad weather that january/february brought us. here are our pictures.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Finley

can i tell you a secret baby girl?

i didn’t mind nursing. in fact, i loved it. it was one of my favorite times with you.

every night, when the house was quiet and your sisters and daddy were sound asleep, i would be working away at my computer downstairs when i would hear you stir. as you cried your urgent, frantic tears, i would call out, “mommy’s coming,” and run up the stairs, two at a time, to get to you.

when i opened the door to the nursery, i would see you sitting up, the back of your tiny hand rubbing your eyes. you looked so small and helpless, sitting there in the middle of the bed. i would scoop you up and you would instantly stop crying. “mommy’s here. mommy’s here.”

i would grab your bunny and your blanket and we would cuddle up in the glider. mommy and finley together while the rest of the world slept. it was bliss for both of us.

but, at 13 1/2 months, you have decided to wean yourself. i knew this moment was coming and i swore that i was totally ready for it. ready for that little bit of freedom. now your daddy and i can go out before 8pm for dinner and marissa can put you to bed. but, now that it is here, i am a little sad.

last night, as I nursed you, i knew it was probably the last time. i have been weaning you slowly, dropping one feed at a time. tonight you decided that it was time to say goodbye to our before bed feeding as well.

as you nursed, i wished that someone were there to take some pictures for me – a picture of your feet crossed, a picture of your eyes closed as you drank, a picture of your fingers tangled in my hair. i don’t want to forget any of it. i can feel the memories slipping away already.

last night as I rocked you to sleep, your arms wrapped around my neck, your body hugging me like a baby bear, i knew that as we end our mother-baby bond of nursing, we will replace it with other forms of bonding. there will be hugs and cuddles and kisses that magically heal. there will be snuggles at bedtime and long talks after lights out. there will be stories and secrets and giggles.

and one day, i pray, i will be there with you as you learn to nurse your baby. i will promise you the pain will end and the bliss will come – those early days aren’t easy. i will burp and diaper so you can rest.

and when it comes time for you to wean, i will take photographs so you can remember.

Happy Valentines Day!

last year i had these cute pictures of the girls with heart shaped lollipops and their valentine shirts on and a sweet post ready for valentines day. this year, i don't even have any of those lollipops, i did make the girls a shirt for valentines, but they haven't worn it yet because their school valentines day party was rescheduled due to snow and i almost forgot to buy drew a card. can you tell we have been busy, busy!

with the 100's of inches of snow that baltimore has seen over the last month, our tropical vacation rescheduled and my sweet one year old finley now walking everywhere, i haven't had much time to do anything. so, friends and family, know that our sweet little girls are even cuter than last year and i will post some pictures after their party on thursday.

happy valentines day from the beynon's! we love you!

3 Year Stats and Birthday Party Pics

last saturday, we celebrated preslee and mason's birthday party at the ultimate jumpzone. this has become one of our favorite places for playdates this winter and was the only place that the girls asked to have their party. so, with 25 kids, cupcakes and parents in tow we celebrated their third birthday. everyone had such a great time and i think all the kids slept really well that night.








and today, we went to see dr yeh for their three year appt. our girls are growing, but still peanuts. mason was 23 1/4 pounds (2%) and 34 1/4 inches (5%) tall and preslee is 27 pounds (5%) and 34 3/4 (5%) inches tall. they are off the charts for their developmental milestones. she was very impressed that they were writing few letters of their names!

Dear Mason

3 hours old

3 years old

mason,
your bright, blue, hypnotizing eyes are like a window to your soul. you are by far the most expressive child i have ever encountered. looking at you in all your innocence i see the compassion you already bear, the love and joy you embody, the hurt you occasionally feel, and the awe and amazement you experience in every passing moment of each day.

the "terrible twos" officially came to a close for you today. sure, you went bonkers your share of times and we've had our highly unpleasant battles of wills, but all in all, this year has been pretty awesome.

there was a shift this year. in the past, i've written about your shyness and your "slow to warm up" tendencies, but that has begun to fade away. usually at storytime at the library, you would just sit quietly and not interact. but when we went two weeks ago, things were very different. rather than quietly sitting on your carpet square sipping your juice box, you were leaping up to answer each of the questions. "that's a lion!" you shouted and then you roared. you were eager. you were confident. you were engaged. you knew all the answers. you were something so very different than even a month ago. and i was so proud.

this year, something also shifted in the way i viewed you. rather than viewing you as vulnerable, i came to view you as strong. so incredibly strong. and you are so incredibly responsible for your age. and sensible. and thoughtful. and empathetic. and observant. and funny. and beautiful. you, my little girl, are amazing. you are amazing as a person who has just turned three. i do not know exactly what you will do with yourself as an adult (other than preslee’s proclamation that you will be a fish), but you will be something. something fierce. something fantastic.

i do not worry how you will turn out. i think about your future all the time, but i don't worry how you will turn out.

i know.

you are an incredible little person with capabilities and traits that don't belong on someone your age. you will never be anything other than amazing. so i don't wonder.


i know.

i love you, i am amazed by you, mason. you are three, which is mind blowing but somehow not as devastating as i once felt the loss of your babyhood was. i am just loving watching you grow. watching you learn. watching you soar.


i was so lucky to have you be my baby. but i am far luckier to have you be my
daughter.

happy third birthday macey may. i love you,
mommy

Dear Preslee

my dear, sweet, stubborn preslee...you are SO much like me that it scares me. especially when i think what it will be like to deal with your fiercely independent personality in about ten years from now. the more i tell you to do something, the less you want to do it. if knowledge is power then you are going to be one very powerful little girl. you seem to know everything, including things we didn't teach you. having a conversation with you is like having a conversation with an old woman. you are wise, well beyond your three years.

you are very social, too and think nothing of holding your arms out to a room of children and adults for hugs. i love the way you look at me sometimes and say, "mommy", then just fling yourself into my arms for a tight hug and a kiss, right on the lips. you are so strong and adventurous. there isn't much you are afraid of. i love the way you always make sure that mason knows there is nothing to be afraid of. you are such a wonderful big sister!

you couldn't be more strong-headed and strong-willed. while those traits frustrate me, i understand them completely. your momma, sweet girl, is the same way. you are not afraid to speak your mind and i know this will land you in some trouble some day. but, you have persistence and i find that to be a key to success. you are going to be something big. your drive and passion for life is going to get you so far. there is nothing you can't do and i love watching you try and try again until you do just what you set your mind out to accomplish.

you are such a thoughtful little girl. i listen to you and mason playing and laugh when i hear you squeal because you found a new toy and want her to see it. sometimes you do hold her down and push her towards it with her obviously resisting, but the thought is there. you want her to have as much fun as you are having.

sweet preslee, you are SO independent yet so vulnerable at the same time. you are SO observant. so AWARE. and so very sensitive to everything and everyone around you. you are so beautiful. your smile lights up your whole entire face. you take my breath away!

i have enjoyed watching you grow and change every single day of these last three years. your first couple of days in life was rough, but you were such a fighter and came out all the more stronger. your passion for life amazes me. nothing escapes you. you notice everything. there isn't a minute for me to get bored because you want to talk to me every second. i love how happy you are in the morning when i come into get you. you have already gotten up, changed out of your pj's and gotten yourself dressed for the day. most of the time, you are sitting in bed reading a book. and every single day, you say to me, "mommy, i woke up" in the most excited little voice. you can't wait to see what each day will hold. you have such a zest for life! i love that about you.

i know that you are going to change even more in the next year. the days that you are my little baby are gone and now you are an independent, strong toddler. this next year, you are going to turn into an even more amazing little girl. while, i am a little nervous about that, i am excited to see what crazy adventures we will have together. i love you preslee grace, you are my first born and you stole my heart from the first moment i layed eyes on you.

happy birthday baby!
love, mommy