the memory jar

I pilfered this idea from Pinterest many months ago, so I can't take any real credit for the contents of this post.

Sometime in the late winter, I noticed an idea of writing down quick notes of events or accomplishments throughout the year and stashing them away, then bringing them out and reading each of them at the end of each year as a way to mark the year's events.  We began our own version of the project in April, and read each of the little slips of paper together this evening, Ryan and I.  And, as expected, I cried at the end.

Most (or all) of the notes are focused on Blythe, her progress and accomplishments, and notable events of our year.  I wasn't originally intending to blog each of the these notes, but in the interest of preserving these memories on something other than small, easily-lost pieces of construction paper, I will list them below.  Many are the observations of moments that I otherwise would've forgotten with time (or already had), so it is special for us to have them - I don't have the iron-clad memory of some mothers :)

• 4/13:Your first professional haircut!  At B___ Salon with our stylist, S.  You sat in the seat with a booster and did well until the very end.  And since it was your first cut, it was free!
• 4/18:  You started saying "tweet tweet" when asked what birds say
• 4/19:  Papa got to see you for the second day in a row today, and said he wished he could stop time because you are so fun at this age
• 4/24:  B (next-door neighbor) said he can't wait for school to end so that he can play with "Bably Blythe" all summer
• 4/27:  I asked you to say "1, 2, 3" before starting the vaccuum and you said it!  After that it was only "Go Dogs, Go!"
• 4/27:  You climbed to the top of the neighbors' slide on their swingset all by yourself!
• 5/7:  You rode in the Burley for the first time!
• 5/8:  You said "amen" very clearly at the end of our breakfast prayer
• 5/9:  M (neighbor) heard you say "bye" instead of your usual "dye dye"
• 5/10:  You said "all wet" for the first time after playing at the sand & water table
• 5/11:  We bought you your first bike helmet today, and you love it so much you want to wear it everywhere
• 5/15:  Gran said that you said "Grandma" very clearly, twice!
• 5/16:  You said all of your cousins' names today!
• 5/21:  You said your first string of 3 words today:  "Mommy all done" at the end of breakfast
• 5/27:  You started saying Oscar's name this weekend!
• 6/1-6/3:  You spend 3 days with just Dad while Mom was on a trip with Auntie Jessie - and you guys even went to the cabin!
• 6/9:  Today was your birthday party!  We had a picnic at Elmwood Park with your friends and family
• 6/11:  Today you went pee in your potty for the first time!
• 6/29:  You climbed on top of the toilet to grab Mom's makeup from the shelf and started applying it :) 
• 7/1:  You put on both of your shoes by yourself before leaving for church!
• 7/4:  You said to Gran "you did a toot toot" when she tooted while you were on her lap :)
• 7/11:  Gran said that you drew a perfect circle at her house!
• 7/14:  Today you learned and said the concepts of high and low
• 7/18:  Mom and B played in the sprinklers with the neighbors.  At first you were hesitant and held on tight to me, and I secretly loved it
• 7/23:  Today you clogged the toilet for the first time, with paper towels
• 7/27:  You had a playdate at the neighbors for the first time inside their house.  You played with Little People and kitchen toys for over an hour, until it was lunchtime
• 8/9:  The neighbors babysat you for the first time tonight - just for 45 minutes, but you had a great time.  The fire truck showed up, too! (our next-door neighbor is a firefighter)
• 8/10:  Allie and Natalie came to visit you before they both went back to school for the year
• 8/19:  We just spent the weekend at Spirit Lake, and you had a great time riding on the board, playing with Allison, and discovering Elmo for the first time :)
• 8/26:  Today you moved up to the big kid room at the church nursery (2-5 year olds)
• 9/5:  You have started saying "makeup" (mee-mop) and pretending to put powder on your face
• 9/7:  For the past couple of weeks, when we ask you what color something is, you always say yellow
• 9/10:  Today you drew over 10 perfect (to Mom) circles on your Magnadoodle, and you were so proud!  I took pictures of it
• 9/16:  You love bossing Oscar around now that you have more words - "Oscar no no"
• 9/21:  Auntie Jessie gave you an Elmo for being in her wedding!
• 9/25:  You can count to ten!  5 and 9 are the most difficult to remember
• 9/29:  You have started kissing people's "owies" when they are hurt
• 10/1:  You can now say "Amy" instead of "Mimi"
• 10/1:  During naptime, you love to recite all of the neighbors' names in order
• 10/13:  This morning you heard Dad coughing and went upstairs from the basement to give him water
• 10/19:  Today you started saying your ABCs completely from start to finish!
• 10/19:  You asked Mom for a piggyback ride to the car after storytime today
• 10/26:  Today I said I wasn't feeling very well and you said, "Sorry, Mama"
• 11/1:  Today we went to the zoo with Papa for his birthday!  We visited the desert dome and aquarium
• 11/4:  Today you walked into the 2-5 year old nursery at church without crying or wanting Mom & Dad
• 11/7:  You voted with both Gran and Mom today!
• 11/16:  Today we had Jacob & Joseph (twins) over for 4 hours - it was fun and very crazy!  You were all jumping on furniture by the end :)
• 11/21:  Why do you nap so well for Dad but not for Mom lately?
• 11/22:  Today we had Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma & Grandpa's, and dessert with Papa, Gran, and Aunt Amy (and Skye) at our house
• 11/23:  Today, while reading Eight Silly Monkeys, you were able to say "no more monkeys jumping on the bed" very clearly for the first time
• 11/29:  Today you started saying "no thank you" instead of just "no"
• 12/9:  Today we had the neighbors over to decorate gingerbread houses
• 12/10: Today you wore underwear all evening and peed in the potty! Great job!
• 12/11:  Today we decorated the Christmas cookies that we all made together last night
• 12/11:  Today Mom picked up your ruby red shoes and snow boots, and you loved them!
• 12/12: You have finally found a favorite animal/"lovey" for the first time - he is a pink poodle and you named him "Foofoo"
• 12/16:  Today you wore underwear all day except for naptime!  Only 2 accidents - a great start!
• 12/18:  Today you put Foofoo in timeout during naptime
• 12/20:  Today was the first big snow of the season - you loved playing in it and helping shovel
• 12/27:  You went poop in the potty for the first time

After I had finished crying, Ryan eventually said, "but she has to grow up."  And somewhere within me I know that to be true.

January 2012:

December 2012: