JANE AT TEN MONTHS.

 I cannot for the life of me get this girl to look at the camera and smile.  She's been teething and is moody right now. Ten months and this girl is a mover!  She crawls everywhere, stands everywhere and looks at me like she's unstoppable. She loves playing in her little kitchen we made for her and the boys.  Lots of baby babbling, squealing and her first tooth just came out today!  Her favorites: watermelon, sweet potatoes, avocado, black beans, bananas, Yes- fine, she eats anything I give her.  She still sleeps through the night and loves her one looooong snoozy nap in the afternoon.  Little miss has been demanding that we read five times a day by yelling and pointing at where we keep her books on the wall. She will do this every time we walk in and out of her room.  Throws a complete fit if we don't stop and read those darn books.

Life with Jane is full.  She's happy, healthy and sweet- I couldn't ask for anything more.  I wonder how we'd ever get along without her.  She's brought so much fun and happiness to our home.  I love my girl and her patience with me as we've had to figure out how to manage time with three babes.  She just sits and waits her turn and if I've forgotten her (it happens) she lets out a little yelp and a smile.  Tonight we put all the kids in the tub together- I think it's the very first time they've all bathed at once.  Jane was thrilled to be in the big tub, she usually gets the kitchen sink.  She went bananas in there with her brothers, so big and proud of herself.  The splashing and dancing did not end until I made her get out.  She loves her time with the boys and daddy.  Nobody can make her laugh the way that Griffin can.

At bed time we still sing our lullabies and rock.  The boys never really let me rock them for very long or cuddle them too much- but jane will sit with me, her head on my chest and hold my hand.  She'll look up at me every few minutes and point to the things around her room.  I could just rock there in the dark with her forever, there's nothing I love more.  Do not grow up my sweet, sweet girl.

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE.

Seriously, what?  Did I really not post these Christmas card photos?  I'm slacking in the blog department.  Blame it on the day job- three kids has got me in some sort of haze, man.  Moving on.

If you think these photos look somewhat reminiscent of The Sound of Music, good!  This is exactly what I was going for in my head.  Look at that mountain please, does it not scream the hills are alive?  There was snow on the ground, the children were in sweaters, the baby had a bonnet, all good things.  I love my dress and I love that I found it on clearance for 12 dollars or so- one hour before this shoot.  Love me some Loft clearance racks.  

Also, how cute are my babies?  Every second I look up they're breaking my heart again, growing up and things.  Griffin with that cutie smile and a comb over.  Avett, sweetly talking to his sister.  Most days he just scares the crap out of her with his loudness and crying.  He just SO LOUD.  Speaking of crying, I do believe each child took a turn during this 20 minute frigid, sound of music photo session.  Poor lydia, she gets stuck shooting all of our family photos.  At least the good ones.

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.