pop

happy day to my father,

who has had quite the

grandfatherly

year!

charlie,

dad,

pop.

we love you!

ten things

ten things about this photo~

1. i bought the quilt before i had any kids, hoping i would have a girl to pass it down to one day.

2. our clothes were coordinated according to me. as in, what i could fit into. well and then what was clean for everyone else. not many options!

3. lillie's outfit was made by a dear cousin ( the yard child )

4. lil' is crying due to her paci being taken away. the babe has loved it since night one.

5. sam is rightly pictured with his, because it is an appendage. most attached kid ever. and yet the very next week it was gone (due to his lips being rubbed raw from it)!

6. charlie's boots are much too small, though he still loves to wear them.

7. the boys were such good sports smiling and playing for photos. until 2 seconds after this shot. all downhill from it!

8. speaking of good sports..... a photo shoot in the sweltering heat while wrangling kiddos?

thanks babe.

9. it's all a "bit" imperfect, isn't it?

10. perfect

2 months

today marks the day~

2 months since lillie was born into our family.

months.

surreal.

everyone told me that

it's so different with a girl

so when she was born i was expecting something

well,

different.

but at the time i can't say that it was.

it was as unique as each of my other births were.

no more special.

no more amazing.

with just as much love.

but as each day,

week,

month goes by

things do grow bit more

different

around here.

and i don't quite know how to describe it.

sweeter?

softer?

gentler?

i don't know.

all is as crazy as ever. more so, actually.

and my boys are still

boys.

but we've all fallen for this precious little thing.

and can't get enough of her smiles, coos,

and high fives.

happy 2 months baby girl.

when life gets a bit crazy over the years

i hope we different ones can stick together.

(again, props to kelly cummings for the photos)

full

full.

it's the one word i may use to describe my life

today.

may 2011

lillie 3 1/2 weeks

* photo taken by the fabulous kelly cummings

hot fun in the summertime

born and raised here

and yet the summer heat is shocking every year.

instead of spending too much time dreaming of our summers in CA and NY,

we try to make the most of it ~

this one didn't need any instruction. just gave it a contemplative stare, and gave it a go. first time, and he was a pro.

this one, on the other hand needed a little help.

Easter

No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It's an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It's a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne ~everything~

to rescue the one he loves. It's like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life! You see, the best thing about this story is~

it's true.

a quote from one of our favorite books,

the Jesus Storybook Bible

which we read from Easter morning while all piled in our bed.

before diving into Easter baskets~

then onto lunch and hunting with family~

lil's first lil' hike

pictures only tell half the story.

these photos were taken during the better half.

the one of shade, fun critters, and happy boys.

the camera was put away during the other half.

the one where i realized that drinks and snacks were left in the car.

and little boys were crying for them.

and i was carrying them.

up hill.

after not exercising in 10 months.

but thankfully but lil' was the happiest of us all.

next hike not due until september.

at least.

sibling love

one of the most frequent questions i've been asked after having lillie is

how charlie and sam are doing.

and thankfully the answer is great.

of course i think there will be more challenges down the road, but for now they treat her like the princess she is.

quick to get her paci for her when she cries (even fighting over the job), showing her off everywhere we go ~ "you want to see my baby"?

and giving her toys to make her happy.

i only left the room for a minute...

much better than sharing their almonds with her

which happened when i was sitting right next to them....

but it was a good lesson for them to learn i guess

that no, i don't care how healthy something is,

it does not go in lillie's mouth!

glad they love her.

first play date (sleep date?)

we had our first play date a few weeks ago with new cousin levi

who is only 10 days younger than lillie.

the babies did what they do best~

sleep, eat, and poop.

while we new mommies did what we do best~

talked about

how many minutes of sleep we are getting, how nursing a baby is harder than once thought, how emotional this road is, and how thankful we are.

it was good.

though i hope being with all of us didn't

scare aunt courtney out of having more than one!

four.

in continuation of catching up,

my may day baby turned four.

we celebrated with family

and his closest buddies.

and new babies

(and tired mommies and daddies)

at one happy gg's house.

because baby sister was only 2 weeks old,

i didn't have to lift a finger.

gg and aunt lacey did everything

and made one little boy (and mom!) very happy.

"we" love buzz and woody around here.

the only thing he consistently asked for~

a "buzz with buttons and lights"

so mom and dad happily obliged

(though admittedly it was very hard for me not to buy something else....

that he might play with for more than a week....)

but there is nothing like seeing your baby's face light up with joy

(or sleep in bliss).

happy birthday baby.

i love you so big.