Things That Make Me Happy

Seeing these two in matching pants. It kind of makes me want to coordinate their outfits on the regular.

 

Ruby & Noah playing together. Every now & then I get a glimpse of how great it will be when they can really play together & I can't wait. This time it just consisted of Ruby dumping leaves & flowers all over Noah while he smiled.

 

Seeing this little guy hitting his milestones. I definitely look forward to the time when my babies can sit up & crawl & even walk. It just makes things more fun.

 

And seeing Ruby fully enthralled in the dress up stage. She has wardrobe changes multiple times a day & goes through too many pairs of high heels to even count.



The Great Outdoors

We spend most every day outside playing & soaking in this beautiful weather we've been having. I feel like we have to take full advantage of it before the summer heat comes & we're stuck indoors. I hope taking our kids on little hikes & walks will help them love the outdoors & appreciate nature as they get older. There's just something about being outside that makes our family really happy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Life Lately

 

 

 

 

Looking at these faces every day just never gets old. Ruby is becoming a little person right before my very eyes. She is talking up a storm & I'm in love with this stage where she can tell me what's on her mind & entertains herself with books & imaginary play. There was a time when I thought she would never entertain herself because as a baby she was so demanding of my time. She loves playing with "big kids" & the other day at the park she saw some older boys as she was climbing & yelled, "Hey boys! Look at me! I'm climbing!" Heaven help me. Sometimes she likes to act so much older than she is & I just want to make her stop growing up & stay in this toddler stage for a lot longer than she ever will. Noah is trying to sit up all the time even though he can't really do it yet & ends up folding in half after each attempt. It hasn't seemed to stop him, though. And slowly but surely he's letting me read to him more & more. I'm determined to make him a lover of books & I think he's coming around. He would be in heaven if I would sing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" to him all day long. He loves watching my hands as I do it all while keeping his mouth open wide in his big smile. These days at home with my kids are fleeting & as I'm deciding on which preschool to put Ruby in for the Fall, I'm starting to realize that I'm going to blink & the 2 of them are going to be in elementary school. I know each season of life will bring something wonderful, but surely these days at home with my babies will be some of my very best days. I want to keep them all to myself for a lot longer before I have to share them with the world.  



4 Months

Each month that passes with Noah is a little bittersweet. I know we'll never have another baby like Noah & I'm just trying to soak in my time with him while he's little. I've developed such a soft spot in my heart for little boys & have loved having one. There's just something special about little boys. At 4 months Noah is obsessed with his hands - eating them, staring at them, & trying to grab things. He's always laughing & smiling & still thinks his sister sets the sun. He's happy & calm & cuddly & I thank my lucky stars that he's ours. Happy 4 months baby boy!

 

 

 

 



Goodbye 2013

Happy New Year! I always love a new year & the chance it gives me to start fresh. I’m a goal setter by nature & so I love setting new goals & reflecting on the previous year. 2013 was a great year for our family & the major highlights for me were celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary, Tyler graduating with his MBA, Ruby turning 2, & I still can hardly believe that it was the year we became a family of 4. Noah has definitely been the best part of our 2013. I know I’ve said it before, but that little boy of ours is just the perfect addition to our family. I remember the year we adopted Ruby & I just felt like the luckiest girl alive & I’ve felt the same way since adopting Noah. Each time we’ve been able to add a baby to our family I just feel so incredibly grateful. Grateful for our beautiful birth mothers & grateful for a God that loves me & is mindful of me always. 2013 has also been a year where I’ve spent a lot of time on my knees in prayer, asking for direction & guidance. I’ve learned a lot & made a lot of mistakes & through it all I’ve developed an intimacy with God that has brought a greater depth of understanding for which I’m grateful. So 2014, I’m ready for you!