Happy Birthday Little Man!

How could you not love this kid? Seriously. Could he have more personality?? Happy Birthday Charlie!

This has been our most difficult and rewarding year yet. The more I get to know you and your amazing little personality, the more I adore you. You have challenged me and your Daddy this year more than I could have ever fathomed a toddler could, yet it has been so good for us all. I have been humbled continuously, especially when you embarrass me in public and it has shown me how much I care about what people think about me. I'm working on that kiddo so I can set a better example for you. You have shown me how your tantrums aren't that different from my tantrums, mine just aren't quite as obvious. You have toughened me up Charlie. I think the Lord knew I needed somebody to show me the ropes. Lucky for me, I got you!

At three years old you are curious, smart, thoughtful, loving, excitable, and FUN! The grin on your face makes everybody light up, but especially your mama. You LOVE motorcycles, cars, boats, tools, all creatures from the sea, jumping in puddles and playing outside. Your fave four people in the world are Della, Mama Mary, Papa Mark, and Mama Sue. Your Daddy comes in next and even though I'm not in that very top list, I know you have a special place for me in your heart when I get a hug after nap, a kiss and an "I love you Mom".

I love walking in and catching you kissing Della, sharing a snack with her or giving her a toy you love. You and your sister don't get along all he time but it is so clear that you adore her and she is so lucky to have you for a brother.

Yesterday I was reading Proverbs 15 and so many parts of it seemed applicable to you at the age of three, Charlie. Tomorrow, I will sit down with you and read the whole thing but here are some specific verses I pray you will hear.

Proverbs 15:13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,and humility comes before honor.

Charlie, I love your cheerful face and your glad heart. I prayed when you were in my tummy that you would be a happy baby and the Lord blessed me with just that. I pray that you will be a happy toddler, adolescent, teenager and adult.

Thank you for the smiles you bring to my face. This has been the best three years! I love you buddy! I can't wait to see you grow!

Happy Birthday Della!

Happy 1st Birthday Della!!

Where a has year gone? My baby suddenly isn't a baby anymore, now you are a toddler. You crawl up and in everything. This week I have found you under the kitchen sink playing with dishwasher detergent, standing up on a chair and crawling down the stairs (you never told me you could do that!). You are the most opinionated one year old I've ever met and when you want something you tell me by pointing at it and saying "this". You are waddling all over the house and say lots of words. It seems like just yesterday you were just a newborn baby in my arms.

This has been such a fun year. You have been such a blessing to our family. Your brother adores you and is a happier little boy because he has you to play with. He constantly is reminding me not to forget you, to give you snacks, that you need your mommy. He is very concerned about you always. Your Daddy adores you even more and his face lights up the moment he looks at you. It is going to be hard for him to say no to you little girl because he thinks you can do no wrong. It is so fun to see him play with you, talk with you and cherish you. You have changed mommyhood for me. Since you are my second sweet baby I get to enjoy you so much more. The unknowns were gone when you were born and I had realized how fast this stage goes, so I have gotten to spend the last year just enjoying you being little and appreciating all your sweet snuggles. I have loved dressing you up everyday in girly clothes and what a mama's girl you are.

At one year old you love to eat, point, wave, snuggle, play outside, give kisses, chatter and get in to everything. Your best friend is your brother. You can't sleep without your binky or baby and you are scared of all stuffed animals that move. You have the biggest, most beautiful smile I can even imagine and the best part is you are generous in sharing it. I have never seen a child eat as much as you or throw a tantrum as quickly as you. You are just like your mama, Della, you love food and getting your way. Because you are so much like me little girl I want to share these verses with you as I pray they will be an encouragement to you as you grow. I pray for a content heart for you in plenty and nothing and especially when things don't go just as you desire. I pray that you would rest in the Lord's plans for you and know they are greater than your own. These are lessons your mama still is learning and I pray that I can be an example to you and teach you well. I also pray for you, sweet girl, that you would be a graceful pillar, strong and beautiful and a blessing to all that know you. You are a blessing to me little bug and I thank the Lord that he picked me to be your mama.

Phillipians 4:11-12- I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 144:12 - May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.

Della Speaks? And Walks?

Well, sort of. Before I forget, here is a Della (who is one in three weeks!) update. Words she says: -Mama -Dada -Uh Oh She takes about four steps and then falls and is pulling herself up from sitting without any help, just using her short, cute little baby legs. She is getting fat. For those of you that don't believe me because she has always been so tiny, it is true. She is still tiny, but developing a huge belly. Between that and her huge cloth diapers I can barely button her 12-18 months pants. This girl loves to eat, even more so than her brother, and I didn't think that was possible!

Big Week!

We have had a pretty exciting week around here!

Della is saying mama when she wants me. She is also standing on her own for a really long time and pulls herself up from sitting without the help of furniture or a wall. I think she might be walking in the next few weeks. Honestly, I hope not but we'll see! She also started sleeping in until 7:30am! Yeah! She sleeps for 13 hours most nights. Now if her brother would just remember how to do that!

And in the biggest news of all - Charlie is potty trained!!! I'm hesitant to say it out loud but I think it is true. He finally tells us when he needs to go to the bathroom and hasn't had an accident for almost a week. Lets hope this sticks!

8 Months Old!

Our little gal is eight months old today! She is getting so big and is just about the sweetest baby. She is still the happiest baby I've ever met and is so easy now that she is sleeping 10-12 hours at night and taking two regular naps. Her and Charlie are even overlapping naps which is such a blessing. So, here are some things that she is up to in pictures.

She has been pulling herself up and moving around the furniture for a couple of weeks. She has learned to steal her brothers toys and pretend cries (can you say dramatic??) when he steals them back.

She can climb up the stairs. This pic provided so you can reference our old disgusting carpet. She can even climb up the stairs in a tutu (thanks Mama Sue!), supervised of course. Notice the nice, new, comfy carpet. She can take showers instead of baths. She can dress up like a candy cane and grin so big she shows off her first tooth that popped through a couple days ago. She can play Legos with her brother.

She can wear fur. Just kidding, its fake. But, isn't it cute (thanks Mama Mary!)?

She can also make her brother laugh like nobody else can.

And she can share his snacks!

Lets see, what else is she up to? She says "mamammamamamam" and "dadadadadadadada" non-stop but I don't think it is actually in reference to us. She is working on waving. She puts her arms out for her mama whenever she sees her and she whines when I leave her all alone in a room. And she weighs almost 18 pounds! Isn't she just a little bug?

What a difference a few days makes!

Since I blogged three days ago, Della is sitting up consistently and is crawling all over the house. The only thing that stops her is her brother pushing her over or her running into the furniture. Wow! That happened so fast! Pics to come soon.

Big Day for Della!

I was pretty determined to wait as long as possible to feed Della. I'm not ready for her to grow up and feeding babies is a messy job! However, she has started wanting to nurse every two hours and ravenously claws at our food when we eat. I figured it was time. So, last night we introduced her to oatmeal. I was pretty sure she was going to hate it as she doesn't like anything in her mouth (vitamins and medicine) and is finicky about everything. At first bite, she wasn't so sure. But after a couple more she decided it was yummy. Then pretty soon she had finished the whole bowl and had this happy grin on her face. Overall, I would say oatmeal was a success!

Then I took her inside, cleaned her up and laid her down on the floor and this is what I found her doing. This is her first attempt at crawling although she looks more like an inch worm than a baby. All that oatmeal must have given her some energy.