Thankful

Sometimes, I'll stand in the window watching Julian play outside in the backyard and fight back tears. Not only is it just so amazing what a little person he is, but his sweetness just kills me. I try to follow his train of thought as he picks a toy and drags it through the yard, talking to himself...stopping to look into the sky for an airplane he just heard and talking to himself about it. Seconds later, he'll spot something so cool that he shouts "Mommy!" so I'll come check it out and discuss it with him. He laughs at the dogs running around and throws rocks in the firepit and bangs on the window, cracking himself up.
At night, I tuck him in bed and tell him I love him and he responds with "lalaloo...choo" (love you too). He tells me to be "careful, honey" or says "there you go, honey", and when he wakes up in the morning he yells "Momma...Mommy...Mom!" until I come in and he can tell me good morning and give me a big hug.
And then there's my baby girl. I'll sit in bed holding her as she sleeps, admiring her long, dark lashes and tears well up as I study her perfection: Her soft little lips, her crazy after-bath monkey hair, and the way she nuzzles in to get just a little bit closer to me in her sleep.
Falling in love with your children is like nothing else. Don't get me wrong, I love Mitch and I happen to think our love story is pretty epic. But meeting your babies and falling head over heels is such an amazing experience. They're these little people...part you, part of the other person you love most in this world...and they want nothing more than you. There's just no way to understand how much being a parent changes your heart for the better until you've been there. My little family brings me so much happiness, I can't believe they're all mine.
I am overwhelmed by my blessings. I am so thankful for my babies, my husband and best friend, our families, our home, our jobs, our health...we have so much to be grateful for.
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." -- Melody Beattie

Three Months Old

I've had these pictures taken for about a week now...but for some reason writing this post has seemed so daunting. Maybe it's because I've got about 25 projects going on at once, a Christmas shopping list in my head, a mountain of laundry downstairs, a sinkful of dishes, a job, two kids, and a Daddy at conferences this week. Life is good...busy, but good.


Evie Girl is still growing like a weed. She's reaching out to touch us and her toys and has discovered her hands and how to get them into her mouth. She's such a talker and will smile and chat with you as long as you'd like. She's very social and would prefer someone in her face most of the day. I told Mitch that I think she's going to be more like him -- outgoing and chatty -- while I think J is more like me -- more reserved and a little shy sometimes. It's amazing to see how different two kids can be.

The girl loves to cuddle...

Julian is still collecting new words every day and I love hearing what he has to say! He has recently discovered Toy Story 3 and is now obsessed with Woody and Buzz. When we leave the house he asks "Woody come too?" His other favorites of the moment include painting and using "tamps" (stamps), making collages, and playing catch.


He cracks me up all day long with his new phrases and is becoming more and more loving with Evelyn. He likes to help burp her by patting her back and sometimes he'll just come pet her head or talk to her in a baby voice. He gives us hugs for no reason, says "I love you" out of the blue, and has started telling us "good job" and calling Mitch and I "honey".

Playing the drums -- another new fave

That's not to say we don't have our fair share of tantrums, time outs, and screaming. He is two, after all. But the tantrums are usually short-lived and he can be talked down and reasoned with fairly easily; he always gives hugs after a time out, and the screaming...well, it's getting better. :)

For instance: Here, I had to promise him a secret to get him over to me without a fit.

Love these kids.