Unplanned two-year Plan

In 5 years of marriage, Billy and I have managed to add three amazing members to our family.

Our first born, Will, came a month before our first anniversary. Emma, our busy middle child came about 24 months after her big brother, and 7 week old Owen, 23 months after that. Sure it's a little bit crazy at times, keeping up with three so young, but we couldn't imagine our lives any other way. When it comes to birth control and family planning, I often tease that we're on the "Unplanned two-year plan".

There have been many moments in our children's development over the last 4 years where I've thought, "this is my favorite age!". You know, those early stages of crawling, first words, cruising (and curiosity), and then of course, first steps! In these moments, I just wanted to freeze time...and savor every bit of that "firstness" since it doesn't usually last that long.

When Will started taking first steps, we were thrilled knowing he'd be completely independently walking in no time. To his (and our) frustration, those "first steps" seemed to last for what seems like years. He is sooooo smart, and his memory just amazes everyone. He has such a tender heart and the cutest endearing personality. He makes friends easily, and loves his family, and remembers names and adores his ginormous lab Jax. He wakes up eager to learn, is beginning to read and a quick learner, but getting his little body to do what he wants it to do, now, that's a different story.

Will has endured a number of physical therapy sessions over the course of the last 3 years and is currently enjoying a semester of therapeutic horseback riding. His unique genetic condition brings it's challenges, but his name certainly suits him. When he has a WILL to do something, his persistence is quite impressive.

So you can imagine on his fourth birthday, when I had that camera phone in my hand, recording a very imperfect video of my first born taking over 103 steps (you better believe we counted!), my heart was BURSTING with pride and excitement for what is next on his "to do" list. He has an open road of exciting adventures ahead, and for him, this was just another "Unplanned two-year plan".

Birthday Boy *Part 2* (finally)

It's pretty sad, seems like every time I make my way up here to my desk, I have to tear off another month's page on my calendar! Okay, so maybe moving up to the loft wasn't the best idea...seeing how all the action in my family happens downstairs :) It just seemed like such a great idea, having a new desk and chair to sit and be comfortable...yet we NEVER come up here!

I have far too much to catch you up on, and I'll start with my now 14 month old's 1st birthday!

Although we gave our boy a Jungle themed party, we enjoyed some homemade Mexican food...Billy's cheese enchiladas (Gma B's famous recipe) and I made some from-scratch refried beans and spanish rice...green sauce and chips! YUM! The Birthday boy slept through the meal, lol...but woke up to our loud family singing him a birthday song with his very own banana cream monkey cake (I made 2- a big one for us, and a little one for him).

It was so cute, how he talked to the cake as I brought it up close..and then he tried to grab it all up-fire and all! He actually didn't tear into it too bad, but he liked what he tasted.

Cousin Lucie came dressed in her zebra...fitting right in with the theme And Grammy couldn't let her go without a gift to open too :)

My little man is growing up too fast!

Birthday Boy (Part 1)

It's hard for me to comprehend an entire year has passed since my

"birthing day". As I put it to my husband earlier today, the scar still feels new to me. I know it sounds so cliche' but I can't believe how quickly the time flew!

We have a toddler. Wow! A year ago, he would lie so quietly in his bed, barely moving at all. He weighed a little over 5 pounds, and I could fit him in my shirt (we did kangaroo care quite often to keep his body temperature regulated). He didn't cry much, and showed much more interest in sleeping than eating. He looked JUST LIKE his uncle Aaron at first...which freaked all of us out. The little stinker didn't come until 2:54 in the morning, after 24 hours of labor with NO DRUGS (although that all changed when I ended up with a C-section)! He changed our world forever. It was flipped upside down and all in the right directions. We love him more and more with every day we know him, and he brings more joy (just like God promised us he would before he was even born) than we could imagine. That little laugh...those funny words...touching our faces...grabbing our hair (even though it hurts, it's sweet)...and now...the boy is opinionated, and he likes to eat! He even ate a whole hotdog the other day! He's bigger and cuddly and ewwwwie, we can't get enough of him! He smells yummy, and taste even yummier ;)

Mommy and Daddy love you Will Riley!

Today, our birthday boy had a nice normal day at home, where he LOVES to play with all his toys and has plenty of carpet to roll and roam around. When he finally went down for a nap (he's refused for the past 4 days~ I think he's TEETHING) I came in to find him like this....Lol he certainly moves more than he used to!

Our little birthday celebration was postponed when several family members decided to get the sickies...but when we do party, I promise to post some adorable pictures of my jungle monkey boy eating his banana cake mommy made for him!