On marriage...

I remember a conversation that Austin and I had a couple years back talking about how we are partnered together to weather the storm. An inevitable storm that lies before us full of loss, sickness, missed opportunities, regrets and brokenness. And to me that means love more than anything. It's too easy to love in the good times, but loving when it's difficult? Yes, it requires a lot of work and conditioning, but creating a system of strength, assuredly knowing it can and will withstand the storm no matter the severity, no matter the damage. 

To me, that's true love. 

For better or for worse right? (Notice the vows don't follow that up with a quick under the breath "...only when its convenient.") I've been thinking a lot about that line for better OR for worse lately and I'm thinking it should be tweaked to: for better AND for worse because honestly, there's no "or" about it. You will feel immense love and great disappointment albeit, not at the same time. Marriage isn't necessarily designed to be difficult per say, but it does mean you will experience the polar ends of each emotion of "better" and "worse" and sometimes by default that becomes rather difficult. One moment euphoria and the other debilitating pain. 

Had you asked me 4 years ago what I thought marriage was about:

 I would have said it's about choosing somebody that you want to experience all of life's joys with.

I still stand by that statement, but as I've grown older and have first hand experience to the many ups and down of marriage. I would now change my answer to: 

Choosing somebody who plans to endure to the end beside me. Somebody who is ever present in every facet of joy and sorrow and everything in-between.  Confidently knowing full well that in the moments I feel broken, I won't feel lonely.

I know whole heartily that I married the perfect person for me. That while, marriage is a whole lot more difficult than previously thought, I know that the blessings that come from it outweigh the hurt feelings and trials. I know through thick or thin he's there and always will be and that makes me so very happy.

Things she says...

Maisie has been amazing us with her vocal abilities lately. We have been loving all of her observations, silly impressions and sweet compliments (the girl sure knows how to butter us up) . Every day she has us cracking up about something she has said or beaming with pride at the sweet and intelligent girl she has become.

Examples:

"I don't have issues!" But we all know thats a lie... haha

"I'm melting!" after spilling water on herself. Wizard of Oz really left an impression on her.

After I pointed to a picture of her that was taken when she was just a couple months old and asking her "Do you know who that baby is?" she responded with "That's baby Jesus!"

"It's _______ (stuffed animal's name) birthday. Can we make him a cake?" haha nice try.

"You're my best friend!"

After she forces us to pretend cry she hugs us and says: "Oh, don't cry. It's okay. Don't be sad."

"Don't worry. It's not a big deal."

"Let's watch Jeopardy!" Goodness, I love this girl.

"There's a puncture, we need to mend it." What the what!?

In a British accent "Ello, I'm Mai-SAY" "mum-may" "dad-day"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

"Can we take Kermit home please?"

"I'm so glad to see you!"

"5 more minutes!" when asking her to come over to eat usually when she's playing in her circus tent.

"ready or not, here I come!"

"I'm Woody! Howdy, howdy, howdy!"

"It's a bit too loud/quiet/cold/hot"

"I'm starving." I think she got that from me. I tend to be dramatic about my hunger pangs.

"It's freezing cold!"

"I... want... my.... mommy!"

"I've missed you!"

"My crib is beautiful... see no poops!" Yes Maisie once made a huge mess when she supposed to be napping once. I don't think we have fully recovered yet.

"Oh dear!" (also, oh bother and rats/drats).

Mommy, you're cute.

"Daddy is having issues." This happens quite frequently.

"You came back!"

"You're pooping daddy, aren't you? You're pooping!" Said very randomly (and casually) when we were all cuddling in bed early one morning. One of the funniest things I have ever heard.

"Let's all calm down guys."

"Look at you go!" Never fails to make me smile.

"Bless you ______." (who ever sneezed)

"Daddy's hair is pretty, huh Mommy?"

"Would you like some tea? Blow on it first, it's hot!"

"I'm so really really full." also, tired and hungry.

Miranda was reading Hamlet for school so there's been a lot of Hamlet talk around the house which led Maisie to say: "You're a Hamlet!"

"Austin! Sammie!" She thinks it's funny that we have real names. haha

Not only does she say funny things, but she also names her stuffed animals/toys odd names.

Let's see, we have...

A seahorse named Tom Tummy. No joke that's his name. We still have no clue how she came up with it.

A cat named Cute.

A dolphin named Obi.

A blanket named Wookie. (Sensing a Star Wars theme?)

A frog named Cha Cha.

A doll named Peggy.
A snail puppet named Marsall.

The iPad is called the Hi-pad. haha

Oh, and she just recently started coming up with nicknames for things like:

Gram for Grandma, Gramp for Grandpa, dipe (diaper), Kip (Kipper), Mais (Maisie)

This little girl cracks me up. She's feisty and goodness, is she smart! She always has something to say and I love hearing her cute little voice. If she's not chatting it up, she's either singing one of the many songs she already knows or making one up as she goes. Austin and I always talk about how she is a beam of sunshine. Albeit, and exhausting beam of sunshine, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
She truly brings so much happiness to our lives.

New Year's Day @ Riverfront Park

On New Year's day we decided to take Maisie to the downtown park to run around. We didn't think much about the weather and ended up not dressing appropriately for the freezing weather (seriously, it was 30 degrees!) and we were all shivering and shaking by the end, but Maisie had a lot of fun walking on the docks, looking at the Willamette Queen (a Sternwheel riverboat), visiting the ducks, looking at the giant acid ball globe and bumping into some dear friends.

Fir Crest Park with Diz

Our newly engaged friend, Kelsey (and her dog, Diz too) came down from Vancouver for a quick visit. We were all coming down with colds, but we decided to walk to the near by park so Maisie and Diz could run around and get some fresh air. Maisie loved throwing sticks, pine needles and the occasional handful of dirt for Diz to fetch. Maisie thought Diz was so funny until Diz tried to steal some kisses and then not so much haha.