HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY.

Baby Jane, 11 weeks.

This girl is so much fun... lately she's always smiling and happy.  She's growing at lighting speed and we really need to find a way to slow this whole thing down.  I love every day I get to spend with this little peanut, my baby janey.

HATS AND BONNETS ARE ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA.

Janey Bear at 2 months.

HAVING A GIRL MEANS I GET TO PLAY DRESS UP.

Baby jane will be 6 weeks old this week.  I'm still not sure how that went by so fast- I blinked and she's 6 weeks. Maybe it's the loss of sleep, but all the days are running together a bit.  We love her so much and I still can't believe what a good baby she is.  Just happy and content.  

THREE ANGEL BABIES.

Avett 2 years, Jane 5 weeks, Griffin 4 years

Honestly, does it get any sweeter than these three together?  Amazing how everyone cooperated for the ten minutes on my bed so I could snap some photos of them.  I look at these and I'm overwhelmed with joy- this is everything I've ever wanted.  

FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL.

Griffey could not have been more excited for his first day of preschool this year.  We talked all about his teachers and the new friends he would make, what he would bring in his backpack and what snacks he would have.  We talked about how important it is to listen in class and to be kind to others.  Griff wanted to make sure we were only dropping him off on the first day, not staying.  He was ready to do it all by himself.  Fearless.

I love this little guy.  I can't believe he's in school and we are taking back to school photos in front of our door.  Just yesterday he was a tiny baby and I had no idea how to take care of him.  Today he's my big four year old and I couldn't be more proud of the person he has become.  And, don't you think he looks like his daddy?

BABY JANE.

Our sweet little girl arrived August 27 in the late afternoon, three days before her actual due date.  We named her Jane Esther- after her late great grandma Edith Esther Sanders. Pictured above, Jane's great grandpa Sanders is holding her after meeting her for the first time- on her second day of life.  

Jane has been such a blessing to us.  I loved her immediately.  She is such a sweet baby and as easy as these newborns come.  It's been very different having a girl this time around, although much of it feels the same as when I brought my boys home.  Jane is so beautiful- she was born with the blonde hair and blue eyes, like her brothers.  She has been my biggest baby at 8 lbs 1 oz and that has made all the difference in her sleeping and eating patterns.  This girl took charge right away and has left little guess work for us.  I sense her determined nature already.  She has a simple sweetness about her that is undeniable.  The boys have been great with her, they love their sister.  We talked about her daily throughout my pregnancy, and I suspect it made the transition easier for them.  It really does feel as if she's been with us all along.

We love you baby girl.  I can't wait for the days ahead and I can't believe how lucky I am to be your mama.

I MISS IT.

It all feels like a fairytale, these photos of us last summer where we used to live.  While change can be a good thing and there have been many advantages to our current situation, it hurts to stretch when we don't want to.  I haven't been adjusting to our new city as well as I would have hoped and the strange desert climate and dry air have really taken a toll.  I've been missing the humid summer days at the beach and the lazy afternoons the boys and I spent, just us- running around in the sunshine and splashing in the warm salty waves. When sunscreen and bug spray could be found in my purse, the car and several spots around the house. When I'd find sand everywhere- even after I swore I had cleaned it all up.  When we never ever wore shoes, or pants, or jackets.  I'll treasure these moments forever, when the boys were this little. And how, even on the days when I thought this two kid thing without a paycheck was too much to manage, life by the beach always made everything better.  We never grew tired of this place and I'm sure we never will.

First Snow Play, 3/4/15.

We had our first real blizzard this morning.  The very first time there was enough snow to warrant the putting on snow gear process.  I can't look at some of these photos without laughing out loud- their puffy little jackets and rosy cheeks. The way Avett waddled around in his snow bibs and boots that were too big.  Griffin protested his mittens, until he realized it would be near impossible to throw snowballs without them.  Daddy helped them make a snowman and from our front window, they have regularly been checking up on "frosty".

I can't believe how big these boys have gotten.  Avey corrects me quite frequently, "I not a baby, I a big boy, mama." And I can't help but laugh and tell him how right he is.  He follows his brother around, watching and doing everything Griffin does.  I routinely get asked if they are twins by strangers, and it's not so far off- they are nearly the same size now.  Honestly, when did they get this big?  I really just blinked and here we are two years later, how did this happen?  And then there's the bittersweetness that comes from the constant changing and growing.  Oh, how I love and live for these boys.

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY GRIFFIN!

photo taken by griffin

Honestly, I can't believe he's four today.  I cannot believe the time has flown by that fast.  We've been so busy with moving to utah, Chad starting a new job, buying a new house and my pregnancy- that the days have just run together. Today, at the crack of dawn Griffin woke us to see his new birthday surprise.  He was so excited to wear his new helmet and ride his new bike that he couldn't be bothered with things like getting dressed or eating breakfast.  We headed straight outside to try it out. He was so cute trying to figure out the balance bike and I must say, as the day went on he got better and better at it.  I managed to get a few action shots- as he's not much for smiling for the camera these days. Avett wanted in on the action too, of course, and took his turn riding around.  Only in his undies because the potty training is in full force.  Do what yah gotta do, man.  We let griffin choose where we went to eat for lunch and dinner, chick-fil-a and subway, his favorites.  We went to the park to ride more bikes and hit baseballs off his tee.  He loved his homemade cake and the gifts that his brother picked out and wrapped for him.  It was so sweet watching him act proud of his new age and how he told everyone that today was his special day.

Griffin's current favorites at 4 include:
Spiderman, though he's never seen it and I still think it's far too violent for such a little guy
the color orange
earning rewards from his sticker charts
Robin Hood, Peter Pan, Toy story, Cars and Planes
Cheerios for breakfast
spaghetti for lunch and dinner (i only buy wheat noodles!)
peaches, pears or mandarin oranges (we call them peter pan oranges) as the fruit of choice
still working on the vegetable of choice, not really getting anywhere
wheat bread only, no white (how awesome is that?)
his daddy
his brother, sometimes
popcorn
the idea of his baby sister
his aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents
the beach
Charleston and the things he remembers about being there
texting
not wearing shoes, ever
choosing his own clothes, usually some character tee with basketball shorts

We love you Griffin!  We are so lucky and so proud to call you ours.