A comparison of sorts

Holden crawling April 2007

Daniel May 2010

Holden July 2007

Daniel May 2010

I think they look very different with some similarities...what do you think?

Last Day of Preschool 2010

Today was the last day of preschool and true to Ms. Wendy style, she through a great party!  A BBQ at the park.  There were bubbles, chalk, swings, food (Holden had his first hot dog and liked it...I shudder to think of what was in it...oh well), and of course cupcakes with LOADS of frosting...Holden had a great time, Ms. Danica was there too!  And Holden even let me take a picture of he and Ms. Wendy without me in it!  We can't wait till next year!

Uh Oh...

See this cute face? Well he's seriously on the move now...pulling up on EVERYTHING, using anything he can push as a walker...and walking while holding on to our hands...AND laughing and smiling the WHOLE time, thinking he is BIG stuff.

Big brother is beginning to get a little miffed that little bro is in all his stuff!  This is going to be FUN!

First Blood II

Hmm I wondered how long it would take...How long until we saw first blood from Daniel...he is much more gung ho in the pulling up and letting go than I remember Holden so I have been waiting for it. Yesterday he discovered the stairs...I figured any day...yesterday he bumped his lip on the stairs and there was a little blood, but I figured it wasn't note worthy...

Today, now today has been a doozy...big brother has been a little rougher and Daniel just seemed extra sensitive... I headed up stairs for a minute...Daddy was downstairs getting ready to paint...with a ladder...yep, Daniel pulled himself up on the ladder(just his hand) and apparently slid down with top lip meeting bottom rung:( there was a lot of blood...he cut the part that connects the lip to the gums...but i can't see how badly, as usual he screams if I try to look in his mouth!

He recovered quickly so it could have been to bad, BUT I felt like mother of the year, just like Holden's first. I wonder how long until we see something like this.

Favorite Capture Friday

Silly Boys!

CRAZY MAN!

WHAT?!?

MOM YOUR BUGGING ME! FINE I WILL SMILE!

MORE NOODLES PLEASE!

Favorite Capture Friday

This boy loves him some pad thai noodles:-)

Mother's Day Tea (Preschool)

I love Holden's preschool:-) Ms. Wendy is honestly the best! Now I don't have anything to compare it to, BUT I am so glad I applied for a transfer and got him in her class! Thanks Catherine and Susan! Not only is it so fun to have a friend with her son in the class, but it is just such a sweet environment! Ms. Wendy LOVES on these kids big time!

So anyway, they were having a tea in honor of Mother's Day. I didn't know what to expect. Holden has been VERY quiet at all preschool parties, well when it comes to the singing performances. BUT he had been singing part of one of the songs at home so I thought MAYBE??? No he did a couple of hand motions, but no singing oh well...

I got to attend sans Daniel thanks to Tom. It was really fun, Holden was very excited about the day, the lemonade and cookies:-) And the gift...a totally cute BEE card, with a picture of him in a bee hat:-) He informed me he painted it himself. The pics of the gift and the next part are on my phone...haven't downloaded them yet sorry!

So I was prepared for the next part but again I had no idea what to expect. My friend had told me they ask the kids to draw a picture of their mom, and then they ask them why they love their mommy. I had NO idea what Holden would say...could have really been anything...but my sweet boy said, "because she reads me books before bed" He has been requesting me for bed a lot lately, and I love doing it...so I try to get Daniel situated, and then read to Holden...he really draws out bedtime now...and its hard because he wants to talk about what you are reading, but seriously two of his books with discussion can take almost an hour! But how can you say no?

I LOVED the tea! I loved being able to be there without Daniel and to really give Holden the time. It's hard to come by these days and I try to cherish the small amounts of just us time. So thanks Tom for letting me do this. And I am so thankful God knew that Holden would shine in Ms. Wendy's class:-) He is such a lovebug and it's taken ALL year but I think he finally participates in almost the whole class even circle time! Go Holden!

Wordless Wednesday

Mother's Day gifts:-)

I made a few gifts for Mother's Day...These pj pants for my mom are from the Amy Butler In Stitches book... I have a pair of these in a different fabric, I made myself for Christmas:-)

I used fabric I already had:-)  but I didn't have enough for the length...SO I added a little flair:-)

I also made new coffee cup inserts for the moms...and one for myself FINALLY:-)  You can get these travel mugs at Starbucks, and then I just make the inserts in Photoshop and have them printed...so fun!

Mine:-)

Happy Mother's Day!  Hope you all had a great day!

Mother's Day 2010

Yesterday I entered a contest at the Savvy Photographer To enter you had to choose to answer one of three questions...I chose number 3. what is the one thing you would want your children to know about you if you weren't around?

I answered: If I wasn't around, I would want my sons to know that I loved them and their dad but mostly that I loved an amazing God, and more than anything I hoped my life and the way I loved reflected that and they wouldn't have to be told.

I have been thinking a lot about this, about how my life looks to my boys. What will they remember about their childhood. Will it be how I loved and served my God through my love and service for others? Or will it be how I ran around like a crazy person before guests came, making our house presentable or creating the best meal? I hope it is the first one. The only way for that to happen is to live what I believe and love like Jesus loved. hmmm seems easy enough, but somehow life and self get in the way. Tom and I are trying to figure it out...that is what we talk about in our weekly times together...We are going through the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It really gets you thinking and evaluating...it's a good thing. Both Tom and I are in a place of anticipation. We both feel like God is doing something big in our lives, and we aren't sure what it is. We are pretty confident it is going to stretch us, and mold us, and most likely prune us. We will see how it plays out, but we are seeking God intently.

Back to Motherhood...this morning as I got a little time to myself and felt totally refreshed and full of hope, I reflected on the amazing gift it is to be a mom. I have two healthy and amazing boys, and being their mom is one of the greatest gifts and responsibilities that God has given me. I am truly blessed. I pray that God walks with me in this journey of motherhood, and that I will seek His wisdom in this life, and the journey of raising these boys. I pray they become men who seek God wholeheartedly. who are committed to what they believe with unyielding conviction, who love with the heart of Jesus.

To my boys, I love you.  I can't imagine my life without you in it.  Your smiles and laughter melt my heart.  Your relationship with each other already is joy in my soul.  I can't wait to watch your friendship grow, and to see you two figure each other out.

Holden, you are a sweet, sweet boy.  definitely a lover.  Quick with a kiss, or a rub...you are an amazing big brother, you are always ready to say, "I love you Daniel", "It's ok Daniel big brother is here", and "I can't wait for Daniel to be able to play with me"  amongst other great things.  You bring me such joy, you smile and I smile.  You are such a happy boy.

Daniel, wow we have only known you for a short time, but already you have stolen all our hearts.  Your toothy grin is beyond words.  You have a robust life about you, excited about the silliest things.  You are so much happier now that you can move around.  You ADORE your big brother, looking for him when he is not in the room. You smile and laugh as soon as you see him. His clowniness is HILARIOUS to you!

To Tom, thank you for going through this parenting journey with me.  I love watching you with our kids, and I love being the mama of your boys!

And mostly to our Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing me to be a mom!

Happy Mother's Day!

A Perfect Saturday

So today was kind of our mother's day at our house. Tom plays worship on most Sundays so no sleeping in on actual Mother's Day:-) So anyway, Tom got up with the boys, headed to the market and then made the awesome stuffed french toast you see above...it was this recipe...YUM!

After breakfast we headed out for a short walk, stopping of course at the park for Holden:-)  Daniel wasn't too impressed...BUT look how cute he is sleeping!  Love his little lounging leg!

Holden got some good swing time in, and then proceeded to run like a crazy man, for most of  the rest of the walk...which was cut short due to a fall and scraped knee...so he rode in the stroller on the way home...

He also got plenty of time on the slides:-)

Two of my boys:-)  I love being a mom!  And I love my boys!  I am blessed!

Favorite Capture Friday

From Holden's Mother's Day Tea at Preschool...Have I mentioned I LOVE Ms. Wendy!

Dr. Appointment

Today Daniel had his 9 month appointment...Just to remember his measurements were...

Height: 30"

Weight: 20lbs 5 oz.

Head: I forget but 86%

Growing well!

9 Months

Dear Daniel, you are now nine months, how is it that you have been out of my body and in our lives for the same amount of time that you were growing inside? It seems like you have always been a part of our family, we love you so.

This is what it looks like at 9 months in with you:-)

::Your smile is so infectious, I LOVE it!::

::Love your toes too:-)::

::You decided to crawl the day before you turned nine months, to the stereo of course, after mommy had told you no and removed you from it...you just bolted right back like you had been doing it for months, and you haven't looked back.  You now create much havoc throughout the day and mommy cannot just simply leave you somewhere for a second!::

::Also decided Saturday would be the day you started to say "mama" and mean it...it still comes out a lot but more often you seem to be actually looking for me or talking to me...you say "dada" a lot but not necessarily at daddy...and we are pretty sure your big brother is "baba" to you but the verdict is still out on that one::

::this weekend was big for you as you also decided it was time to start sitting up on your own, including in your crib, I think you greeted daddy at least once in the morning sitting up and playing while waiting for him:-)::

::You pull up on everything, the couch, ALL furniture, mostly mommy...and you fall on everything too:-)  just goes with the mobile territory...you have a hard head:-)::

::You only have 4 teeth, BUT as you can see from the pictures, you have more coming in...4 at once...like your brother we are earning.every.one...ugh, can't wait for that to be over!::

::Mostly likes to bite mama, BUT when the teeth are really bad will put toys in your mouth...food, well that's a different story you REALLY like us to feed you::

::You love yourself a mama cuddle::

::You love to be worn...and you especially love "helping" with chores while riding on my back:-)::

::You are definitely a boy, with grunts, squeals, sounds, and general boyishness:-)::

::See that tongue? it's out a lot...you were born a bit tongue tied, daddy and I think you are stretching it out so you can talk easier, it hasn't stopped you from eating well obviously:-)::

::Why is it you won't chew on teething rings, BUT you love yourself a good dirty shoe? I have to keep all shoes out of your reach, a hard task now that you are mobile::

::You love to eat, will open your mouth for almost anything...we haven't found much you won't eat, EXCEPT pureed baby food...we have seen you refuse to open for your food, but if it comes off our plate you open wide!::

::Sadly you have been banned from cereal, bananas, and anything dairy, but we won't get into that...it's on my must ask the Dr. list, we will see::

::you LOVE your mama, and mama's milk...you don't sleep through the night, and it feels like you might never...but right now I am ok with it...I know this time is passing fast::

::You are an amazing joy, we can't imagine our life without you in it::

::you are definitely our big boy...::

::I am betting Holden is our guitarist and you are our drummer, you love to make sounds hitting objects on each other or just using your hands::

::you are so proud to be crawling and pulling up, you think you are big stuff and your face tells us::

::you adore your BIG brother, you look for him in the morning, you light up when you see him, and quite often he makes you laugh your ridiculous laugh!::

::Holden was born to be your big brother, he adores you, he lives to entertain you and play with you, even in your new mobile state he has been more excited and less, "whats he doing all up in my business?!"::

::Holden allows you to pull his hair, try to remove his eyes, ears and cheeks, all the while laughing hysterically::

::Holden is currently your biggest fan, every accomplishment you make, he cheers you on and brags about you to everyone he sees...it's not just "daniel is crawling" it's EVERY move you make and what you do with it:-)::

::As your mom, I pray that this relationship withstands all the years and you will be great friends throughout life::

::I love being a mom to boys, and all that that entails, I am blessed, I thank God for you and our family::