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.

It's A...

You read it right.  We are expecting a little girl in December.  I wanted to wait, I really did but I'm so glad that I know we are expecting a little Miss in December.  I have so much work to do and planning.  Lot's of planning.  We have all the major pieces, the crib and dresser and stroller and carseats.  That stuff doesn't really matter to me.

What I am more focused on is the nursery.  It took me over a dozen paint samples and four weeks to finally decide on a color.  My poor husband was a trooper during it all.  He even volunteered to repaint the ceiling and trim in the room.  We landed on a nice subtle taupe.  Not too gray, not too brown.  Just right.

I want the accessories to be shades of coral and peach, with very little pink in the room.  Thank goodness for Pinterest, it found just want I was looking for in a color scheme.

I want warm colors with a touch of gold but not too girlie, more fancy garden. Let's hope my lack of a green thumb doesn't get in the way. 

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.

Potty Training Trials

We have been working on and off over the last 6 months to potty train Parker.  It has definitely been an uphill battle.  He seems to understand big boy undies, he knows not to pee in his Superman pants but we just can't seem to get him to poop in the toilet.

Kevin and I have both spent hours sitting on the bathroom floor, pleading with him to poop in the potty and assuring him that the potty won't hurt him.  His response, "the poopies won't come out".  I'm fairly certain we are more aware of Parker's poop patterns than what's going on in the news.

He spends most of his weekends in big boy underwear but when it's time to poop, he politely requests to change into a diaper.  Nothing has seemed to work and our bribes to give him "all the toys in the world" have fallen on deaf ears.

Until recently...We finally closed on our new house and at the neighborhood market, there is a bright and shiny white mechanical horse.  Parker has begged and pleaded to ride this horse.  I realized this might be my chance for a potty break through and I took it. I promised Parker that as soon as he pooped in the big boy potty, he could ride the horse. We have been talking about this horse for weeks, until yesterday.

Yesterday, at Mrs. Terri's, Parker pooped in the potty and last night, he got to ride the shiny white pony.

The joke was on me.  Parker insisted on wearing his cowboy hat.  Keep in mind, this was during rush hour at the grocery store and the machine plays a loud song, during the ENTIRE ride. Poor Kevin had to sit in the car with Cooper, while Parker took his ride. Embarrassing or not, if this trick works, I will gladly watch him ride the pony in his cowboy hat while the music blares.  

Pre-Candy. Post-Halloween. Crazy Kids.

We took the kids trick-or-treating in our soon-to-be neighborhood last night with the Willis clan.  It was such a great experience.  There were literally thousands of people walking around.  Every house was involved and we managed to meet a few of our new neighbors.  I am really looking forward to our move.

We stopped over for milk and cookies after we wrapped up our trick-or-treating and the kids all went nuts.  Keep in mind, this is pre-candy.  It was well after their bed time and they managed to drum up every last bit of energy they had for a bit of wrestling.  Cooper took this opportunity to snatch up the vacuum and get some extra work done.

Enjoy.

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.

Cooper Has Left the Building.

Last night, Cooper disappeared, completely.  We could here him but couldn't manage to find him...anywhere.  We could hear him, giggling to himself, so we knew that he was ok, but just out of sight.  After a few minutes of turning our bedroom and closet upside down, he located our little escape artist.

Kevin started the water in the shower to get move the cold water through the pipes and Cooper made his escape.  We found him, sitting  happily in a stream of warm water, in the shower, completely drenched. His mischievousness never ceases to amaze me.

These boys bring me so much joy. At times they make me crazy and drive me to the edge, but watching them do it together is worth all the stress.  They have grown to be such good friends and partners in crime.  They are the true loves of my life and I just can't imagine my life without them.

Santa Cruz Vacation 2013

This past weekend, we travelled to Santa Cruz with my parents.  We had the best weather and a really nice time.  Our trip was relaxing and fun.  The first night we took the boys to the boardwalk.

Parker was able to ride almost every ride. He loved rides that went "real high".  We put Cooper on his first ride.  He wasn't very amused.

As was expected, they both hated the sand on their feet.  My boys are definitely made for the pool instead which is totally ok with my.  I tend to hate sand on my feet as well.

They even learned to fly a kite with Grandpa.  Parker was much better at it than I expected him to be. Maybe he has a future in kite flying?

We hope to travel this fall to Kansas City and hopefully let the boys experience some snow.

Nap time is a Joke

The boys currently share a room at our house.  We have started trying to put them down together for nap time.  This works perfectly at daycare.  They both take a nap, with all the other kids.  It's a piece of cake according to their provider, Terry.  Little angels she calls them.  Yeah right.

I have proof that nap time, with two boys just isn't possible but very funny to watch.