Good Bye 2016.

While in the car over the weekend, Parker chastised me for using my phone too much.  Talk about a really wicked wake up call.  Put the phone down, disconnect and just be here, in the moment.

I am trying to remind myself that our life is the only one that matters.  I don't want someone else's Christmas, or birthdays or vacations.  I don't need to be wrapped up in photos from a life that someone else is living.  I need to remember every single minute of my own days with my babies, who aren't really babies any more.

In 2017, I'm going to try to slow down, take a few breaths and live my life, every day.

Wish me luck and sanity....

It's Been Too Long...

I can't believe it's been almost 6 months since my last post.  Life is busy to say the least and I've just been distracted.

We had an active summer with soccer, Cooper and Kevin's birthdays, a visit to DisneyLand and our first kid-free trip to Hawaii to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. Summer was completed with a new job for Kevin and a trip to Boston to celebrate the marriage of two of our closest friends.  It has definitely been a bit of a blur.

The babies are getting so big.  Hadley has two teeth now, she's beginning to walk and much to my dismay, she's saying da-da.  She just adores her big brothers and is tough as nails.

In an attempt to actually capture our kids while they are still babies, we found a local photographer and I am just thrilled with the outcome. The session was short and we were a bit stressed but our photographer was such a pro.  Our session started with Cooper requesting that the photographer "take a picture of his back".  Needless to say, she did, he was thrilled and complied the remainder of the session.  He's definitely my wild one!

Parker, almost 5 years old

Cooper, 3 years old

Hadley, 10 months

As I think back over the summer, I have so many sweet memories and I know that we had a great summer but I have so few photos.  I am going to once again, make this my New Years resolution - take more photos or keep in touch with my new found photographer.

And now, we are a family of five.

Our little Miss Hadley Grace has arrived.  She is here and she is perfect in every way.  They boys, Kevin included, are just over the moon for her.

She eats well, she sleeps well and she is an all around easy-going baby.  She made her grand entrance into the world on Monday, December 15th at 6:43pm.  She was 7 pounds, 15 ounces and just under 20" long.  She has dark brown hair that might be curly and two tiny cowlicks on the back of her head, just like her dad.  For now, her eyes are blue.  They look a lot like Parker's did when he was born.

She is a very delicate baby, much different from her brothers.  All of her features are tiny and sweet. She has long skinny legs and arms, tiny little toes.  I guess she is everything that a little girl should be...

We are so very excited to introduce her to the world and can not wait to watch her grow.

Whirlwind

taking a dip in the river, Summer 2014

I have been quiet for a bit too long so I thought that I would come back with a big bang...we are expecting baby #3 in December.

Things were just getting a bit too boring around here and a little too easy.  We only have one in diapers and Cooper seems to finally be past a bit of "terrible twos" that we thought might do us both in.

Santa Cruz Beach, Spring 2014

Parker is a walking, talking man now.  Into everything, questioning everyone and a bit too bossy at times.  He is basically pay back for the first 18 years of my life.  I have to laugh at times, if I were to put a wig on him, I would be arguing with myself.  He's really smart and at times, it's a bit scary but so very exciting.

ready for bed

Cooper is a menace and Parker's shadow.  Kevin often describes me as a Sour Patch Kid, first she's sour, then she's sweet, that's Cooper too.  He has a heart of gold and just lights up a room until you cross him, or he's tired, or hungry.  We try to keep him well fed and rested to combat two of the three.

visiting the Calaveras Big Tress, Summer 2014

Life is grand right now.  We are so very in love and it's hard not to be.  We have been truly blessed with two of the most wonderful little terrors ever put on earth and I can't wait until #3 rolls in town to mix things up a bit.

Our due date is late November/early December, December 9th to be exact.  All dates are great, except November 30th, Parker will never ever ever forgive me for that one.  (He still talks about "that one time when dad didn't bring my bat to the ball game"), 12:01 on December 1st sounds just fine.

Our Tree is Up and Only Four Bulbs Were Broken.

Our tree is finally up at Hatchers Circle and only four bulbs were broken.  Both Parker and Cooper were eager to help assist in this process.  After two broken bulbs,  we politely asked Cooper to sit and watch and Parker was only allowed to work with decorations that were guaranteed not to break.

I did my best to keep my favorite ornaments away from their tiny hands and at least 36" off the floor.  While I was busy focusing on the top of the tree, Parker was busy, making the bottom of our tree beautiful.

He worked furiously to put each ornament on the tree and as he finished, he jumped for joy and shouted, "I did it".  My heart melted each time.  I think there are approximately 20 ornaments between the two lowest hanging branches on our tree.  

He was so very proud of this work that I wouldn't dare move any of them.  He is growing into such a fun little boy and I am definitely looking forward to his reactions this Christmas.

Adios 7516.

We listed and sold our house within three weeks.  On the market right after labor day and under contract on September 12th.  It has definitely been a whirlwind over these last few weeks.  We managed to pack everything we own into a POD unit and ship it off to a storage facility.  

We have settled into Dennis and Linda's house quite nicely, back to where we started life in Stockton.

Now, it's time to find the perfect house. No rush this time, we have a long list of wants and will definitely wait until we find the perfect spot.

Back to Nature

I just can't help but giggle when I see a baby's butt.  These two love to be naked and being naked and outside is even better.  Last night, as I was getting them ready for a bath, Parker snuck out onto the back deck and Cooper quickly followed.

They both just laughed and laughed.  It was such a fun moment to be able to just sit back and watch them at play.  They are both still so innocent and pure of heart.  The simplest things really make them happy.  I hope that I can maintain this well into their adult lives.

Our lives are so full at times, that it's nice to be able to sit back at times like this and just appreciate the world around you, just soak it in and enjoy the moment at hand.

Cooper is 11 Months

Cooper is creeping toward being 1.  The last 11 months have just flown by and he is getting so very big! He still only has 6 teeth but he does big things with them.  He tends to bit toes and shoulders and then smiles.  It's hard not to laugh. He is just days away from walking but a bit weary of taking his first few steps.

Everything he does is big.  He eats big, he laughs big and he smiles big.  This kid has a heart of gold.  He finds pure joy in the simplest of things and just watching him interact with the world around him keeps my heart warm.

I can't wait to watch him grow and see the little boy that is will soon become. I could not be prouder of my little man.

The Giggles Get Me Every Time

Cooper just giggles. Just about everything makes him laugh. It doesn't take much effort, just a bit of an entertainment factor and off he goes. We recently got this awesome bath tub toy from my mom. Cooper thinks it is just great and it's made that much better by Parker holding it.

My Little One is On the Run.

A Family Favorite - Phantom Buck Teeth

My little one turns two today. My how the time has flown. Parker has grown from my sweet little baby into a boy. He has such a fun personality, so adventuresome and curious. He manages to impress me daily with his sense of humor and smarts. He's kind and sweet and pushy too. All these wonderful things wrapped into one package.

I'm so thankful to call him mine and so very proud of the little man he has become.  I am definitely looking forward to what the next year will bring. 

Happy Birthday My Love - Mom and Daddy love you so very much!