Thursday, September 8, 2022

Iris is SIX!!


























 Holy smokes did mommy drop the ball on your blog! I am going to make an effort to put more time into this for you and your memories! This year, you are in FIRST GRADE! You turned six a few months ago and you are all SASS!!! You like to run the ship, you demand attention. If mommy isn’t paying attention to you, you will grab my face and mov wit towards you. You will say “mommy, mommy, mommy!” Then cry if I don’t look your way when your trying to show me something. You ALWAYS want all of the attention. Eli and Deborah always say you are my favorite and that they are treated differently then you. I remind them that you are the BABY! That you need more attention, but secretly I know you do it on purpose because you want all the attention. You scream and cry when you’re out on time out. You hate being told no! You eat TERRIBLE. Your snack ideas are animal cookies and a popsicle. We fight over dinner time and vegetables ALOT! You don’t like trying new foods or things. You love crop tops and two piece swimsuits ( stop trying to be a big girl, slow down Iris). You want to be just like Deb, whatever she has you want. If she gets a dress you want the same one for you. Your personality is so strong, often to a disadvantage for mommy and daddy, because you will FIGHT to get your way! We struggled during Covid with you at home while Eli and Deb were on zoom , so we sent you to water of life for preschool because you needed time with others and time to shine with friends. You love swimming, your favorite color is purple, your favorite food is Panda Express or In N Out like your sister. You love yogurt, and cinnamon rolls, or anything sweet. You always want yo get a cake pop when you have alone time with mom. You are in kumon and getting super smart for first grade but you fight us to get your kumon done. You ride a bike like a champ, you love to get smoothies on bike rides. You are not afraid of ANYTHING. You love rollercoasters at Disneyland, and will even ride alone if you have to (like a row by yourself not without mommy). Yog are in your first year of soccer this fall and we can’t wait to see you play! I often think about what you will be like in the future, so strong willed and independent. It makes me both proud and fearful all at once. I know you will carve your own path, you just shine. You’re so unapologetically yourself. You say things without thinking them through (hello, your six) , but you are so brutally honest! You love to tattle tale on your brother and sister just to get them in trouble. You have no idea how lucky you are to have so much love around you. I always say “I wish I were Iris, she gets so much love and attention” Eli and Deborah SPOIL you! They take their turns bonding with you and showing you the true meaning of a sibling and love that comes along with that journey! Watching the three of you grow up together reminds me of exactly why I wanted children, to see that bond and watch you all grow together. 

You love going to papas house and helping with the “chickens” you manhandle any pet, love on any animal! Maybe one day you will be a veterinarian, your love for animals is strong. Every time you see a dog, you ask if you can pet it. You always want to go inside petsmart ti see the animals. You try to catch lizards outside (you can’t ever catch them) . You are pretty good at catching crickets! You give patches the most love of everyone in the house. 

You always find things everywhere we go. You are always scouting the ground looking for trinkets in nature or someone’s left behind goodies. You usually always score something you find. For example, at aulani you found someone’s googles at the pool and made them yours. You find money on the ground, or rings, trinkets. 

You are not a good sharer. You often think Eli and Deborah have to share everything with you, but you want to share nothing with them. 

You are growing up to be such an independent fun girl! You scare me like crazy though. You wander ALOT, you don’t listen, and you don’t like to hold hands when crossing the street. I often have to tell you to “hustle up, booty butt” when we are in a parking lot. Your nicknames are “tutti” “iris migillicuty” and boogaloo (which also used to be destiny’s nickname as a kid). 

Your hair is WILD and curly. You wake up in the mornings looking like a homeless person. We always say you have a birds nest in your hair and you get sooo mad. You don’t like styling your hair so you often look like a mess. You fight me over what to wear and socks and shoes all the time. You cry about your underwear being itchy and make me wipe your butt with a wipe alll the time. You make me check for patches hair in your butt a lot, and most times it’s there ☹️. You pee every five seconds. I swear you hold it or pinch it early because you don’t want to miss any minutes of fun. You love life hard, enjoy every minute of it. The world is yours, you know that it’s a wonderful ride! 

You broke your arm this past year, getting into the minivan on the way too Matt and Christina’s baby shower. We were running late (per usual). I was rushing us all out of the house when you raced to get into the car and fell backwards, landing on your left elbow. You fracture and dislocated it through and through. You went straight into the operating room and petrified mom and dad. The next day, Eli had his birthday party at a trampoline park (why did we take you) and you just couldn’t help but still get in on the fun (because nobody tells YOU no)! The day after you got your cast removed, you were jumping in a bounce house with Eli and he landed on your left arm. You cried and we took you into the ER again. Sure enough, you had broke you radial bone. We put you in a preformed splint and you had pain for quite some time. You are like a Gumby, always getting hurt and taking all the daredevil routes to scare mommy and daddy! 

I cannot wait to watch you grow, and I have bets on what it will turn out to be like. Let’s see if I am right! Happy six years baby girl, I love you more then all the words in the dictionary. 

Sunday, September 24, 2017

18 months old

At 18 months old,  you are such a smart girl. You can say 4 letter sentences. Your favorite is "could I see that?" "Could I have some" "gimme that" "I love you" "e-I" "Deborah, where are you?" "Potty"
You love playing in the sink with water, always try to "wash hands" so you can play in the water. You love Popsicles, being outside, walking, the stridor bike, being with Eli and Deborah, my gym, daddy, feeding patches, eating cheese and sticks, and drinking my sparkling waters. 
You are still breastfeeding but we are in the process of weaning you. You still hate goin to bed, when you hear te music on in your room, you run away. You want to go to bed with Deborah and Eli sooo bad but I think you will roll right outta bed with debs. She can't wait for you to sleep with her. Deborah absolutely adores you. Wants to wake you up and change your diaper, feed you oatmeal and get you dressed in the mornings. You have been an absolute JOY to have in the family and we cannot wait to watch you grow .. happy 18 months baby girl . 

Sunday, July 9, 2017

16 months old

My gosh is it so hard to keep up with blogging for three kids. And sadly you're the third so your memories seem to get neglected. That and you NEVER sleep at night so that makes it hard for me to ever wanna blog while you sleep. at 16 months you are STILL breastfed (yeah, we need to stop because you're needy, always crying for a boob in your mouth while awake), but its so sweet to cuddle with you during nap and bedtime. Knowing you are my last baby has been so bittersweet. I savor every moment, i try so hard to remind myself that one day you will sleep but damn are you a tough stubborn little girl. You typically go to bed when Deb and Eli do, because you REFUSE to miss a second of brother sister time. You are obsessed with repeating and doing everything your brother and sister do.
You are an AMAZING talker. At only 16 months, you have the vocabulary of a two year old. You can say mommy, daddy, Sarah, Eli, Deborah, iris, where r you, thank you, you're welcome, sit down, Popsicle, patches, outside, poppy (from trolls movie), night night, i love you, poppa, Nana, and many other words.
you have blonde hair and blue eyes, you love being outside, jumping on the trampoline, going on bike rises, eating popsicles, standing on step-stools, snacks. You hate being in your carseat, taking naps, and sitting in your high chair. You have been an absolute delight, havign you in this family has been such a blessing. Deborah and Eli adore you, follow you everywhere and make sure you are always safe.



Tuesday, April 4, 2017

ONE year and counting

My sweet little baby girl, you are ONE!!  Already walking, talking, sassy and sleepless. 
You started taking steps on February 1st, about two or three for a piece of a twizzler (I had to bribe all kids with candy to walk) . And less than two weeks later you were off to the races. You LOVE to climb, on the couch, on stepstools, on outside chairs and the kids jeeps. You love when big sister pushes you in a stroller or a bike ride to get smoothies. You get all fussy and the only thing that calms you down is opening the front of back door. The second you see the outside you are silenced. Knowing you are my last baby has been sad, but so bittersweet. I have taken the time to savor the moments, to cry at new beginnings and the endings of a "baby" phase. I will long remember these days, where it is madness and chaos in the house, but squeals of laughs and joy all throughout the day. And while everyday I pray for two naps outta you, you don't wanna miss a THING. And you know what? Neither do I. I always look at you with joy, knowing you were the last piece to the puzzle in my heart. That you have completed my life's mission. You have made me a mother for the last time. And you have made it oh so fun!!! 
You are STILL breastfeeding, I know I know, but it's sooo hard to quit. It's true when they say it creates a bond between a mother and her child. I enjoy the quiet with you, watching your eyes roll until they close and I quietly try to place you in the crib for a nap. I love knowing that you were kept alive solely off me for the first year of your life. I also love knowing that we stuck it out, even when it was oh so hard in the beginning to feed you. You have been a challenge since you were born, trying to find a balance, trying to keep the older kids quiet so you can sleep, trying to keep you happy while still giving your brother and sister attention too. But I wouldn't take it back for the world!!! Thank you Iris Nicole alexander for being born, for completing our family and for bringing us ALL so much joy!!! Happy 1st birthday my sweet sweet girl 

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

10 months of sweetness and sleepless

10 months old, you are magic. 
You can:
crawl
stand up on your own
stand for about 10-15 seconds at a time, but you won't take a step. You try to move your body forward but don't move your feet so you instantly just fall down. 
Clap your hands
Say DOG ( you and Eli both said dog as your first word) 
Walk with a walker 
Wave bye bye 

You HATE: 
Your car seat 
Changing your diaper 
Cleaning your face 
Mommy walking out of the room 
Drinking from a bottle (whenever mommy works you won't drink milk from a bottle) 
Getting dressed 
Putting shoes on 
Sleeping at night 

You LOVE : 
Brother & sister ( you hear their voice and instantly pop up from sleep) 
Food, mostly real food and not much baby food 
Drinking from a straw 
Being held 
Stroller walks outside 
The spa 
Playing with the dishwasher 
Balloons 
Being outside 

You are a super easy going baby, not much seems to bother you. But you DONT SLEEP!!!!! You take on average about 1-2 naps, not consistent on times or duration which kills mommy. You usually go to bed about 8pm and sleep one stretch of about 4 hours and then wake about every 1.5 hours for comfort nursing. It's driving MOMMY CRAZY. I don't want to make you cry it out because it breaks my mommy heart and I know you're my last baby. So usually I just suck it up and lose sleep. But the mornings are so hard with your brother and sister waking up early. Mommy has the babysitter Sarah come in and help in the mornings so I can sleep a few hours. Coffee is a MUST for mommy now that she doesn't get much sleep.  But you on the other hand, you would never know you don't sleep, you look so well rested! 
We decided to have a 1st and 5th combo birthday party for you and Deborah. The theme will be rainbows and unicorns. Deborah is so excited. Can't wait to celebrate you!!! This year has gone by so fast, it's hard to believe you are already going to be a year old!!! Happy 10 months Iris alexander 

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

SEVEN months of sweetness

my little lady, you are already SEVEN months old!!! And I remember everyone saying,  your third baby is soooo easy. They go with the flow, they sleep through all sorts of noise, they just adapt. LIES, all lies. You LOATHE sleep. You never nap. You are so afraid to miss out on anything. If you fall asleep in the car, the SECOND that car door opens, your eyes are wide open, ready to get up and play. You nap for maybe about an hour or two during the day. You rest your bones at about 7-8 pm and are up around midnight to eat again. Then up again at 0300, again at 0500, and up around 0700 with Deborah and Eli because you can't stand to miss a moment. You still HATE your car seat, cry every time you are put in it, unless I swivel it to forward seating (which no, I do NOT drive with your forward facing). You LOVE being outside,  walks in your stroller, your jumper, brother and sister (obviously) . Being carried in your ergobaby, baths, the spa, being held outwards (facing the world) , food (mostly real food and less purée food) . You can roll over, you sleep MOSTLY in your crib (mom learned after Eli not to let a baby bedshare for too long. You refuse formula, barely take a bottle when I am at work, and are super stubborn. You refuse to not be held by mom if she is in the room.  You are starting to have stranger danger.  Your hair is blonde, your eyes changing from blue to grey.  You wear size 3 diapers, you weigh 20 ish pounds. You're beautiful and mostly smiley unless you are sleepy, then you're hell on wheels.   
 

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Month 5

We spent your fifth month FLYING on our very first airplane trip to Chicago. We went to go see uncle Joe and meet your cousin Ryder Robinson. You did AMAZING on the flight TO Chicago. Not one cry, are on takeoff and slept for over half the flight then played for the rest. You did okay on your trip, a bit out of your environment. You sleep from about 10-3 and then wake about every hour to eat after your first stretch of sleep. You continue to sleep with mommy in bed ( a habit I need to break but really like the little sleep you do give me) . You weigh 17 pounds. You LOVE food. You eye everybody while they are eating. You love being held, seeing sister and brother, being outside, being in the baby carrier, your jumper and the water (pool or bath). You're teething something unreal. I don't remember your sister making a peep with her teeth coming in. Your brother struggled a little. But YOU, you cry ALOT. You put your fist in your MOUTH a lot. You refuse a pacifier. You HATE your car seat and any sort of stroller ride. I am holding onto even moment as we are certain you are our last baby. Writing that brings tears to my eyes.
Mothering has completed me, made a part of me feel while that was lost when your grandmother passed away 10 years ago this Christmas Eve. You are such an unexpected blessing to our family. Deborah and Eli love on you so hard it's not even funny. Eli tends to squeeze you a little hard but only out of love. Deborah is a mini mommy, watching your every move and telling me everything you need. She loves picking out your outfit for the day with a matching bow. She also LOVES to match you. Happy 5 months my sweet sweet second girl ❤️