And Then She Turned One...

My Sweet One,

As I sit here on the couch tonight my thoughts are a jumbled mess as I try to think about how I could ever express to you in words how I feel about you. Perhaps the tears that are accompanying this letter can describe it far more justly than these ramblings from a mother so deeply in love.

I love you with such a fierce intensity.

I look at you every day and am in awe that you are truly my daughter.

I love being your Mother.

I love holding you in my arms.

The feel of your head on my shoulder.

The tenderest of moments when I nurse you in your quiet room.

The dimple on your cheek with each smile you give.

You are a gift.

Happy birthday Adelyn Verree.

I Know, I Know...

it's been a while...

But we're closing on our new home in THREE DAYS!

It's a whirlwind of a week. Packing, sorting, organizing, dreaming, and just SO ready to get settled in our HOME!!!

More to come later. I promise!

Chocolate Shake

Some of you reading this may have already seen this on Facebook, but I wanted to document it on here too. :)

Last night I came walking into the living room after putting Adelyn to sleep. I started saying something to Chris and he just gave me this look. The closer I got the more I noticed something all over Chris's face but I just couldn't place what it was. Chris said, "Do you notice anything?" Then I looked down at the pillow and saw it was completely covered in chocolate powder.

I guess just minutes before Grayson had come running in to the room with a large container of Nesquick, turned it upside down over Chris's head and said, "Daddy!" As soon as Chris looked up and saw what was going on he tried to yell out "NO!", but it was too late. The entire contents of the container poured down on his head.

What follows is the interview I had with Grayson after it was all done.

Ohhhh children. They keep us laughing that's for sure!

I'm That Kind Of Mom

I'm typically not a fanatical type of person. In public places where there are people I don't know I can be quite shy at first, and tend to just sit back and observe instead of drawing any kind of attention to myself.

But then days like yesterday happen when my little boys go to the dentist for their very first time.

And I'm the kind of mom that brought her camera.

And I'm the kind of mom that would ask one of the receptionists if she would sneak a few pictures of the boys for me since parents typically aren't allowed behind the scenes.

And I'm the kind of mom who got all emotional while looking at said pictures and had to wipe away tears in the middle of the waiting room because I just couldn't believe how stinkin' big my babies had become!

And I'm the kind of mom who saw my little men through a little open door in the back and whipped out my camera to take a pic of the cuteness oozing from that little dental room.

And I'm the kind of mom who has to explain to the woman sitting next to me after snapping the above picture, giving me all kind of "watch out - crazy lady in our midst" kind of looks, that this is their first time and I just had to have some pictures! She then smiled, after understanding that I indeed was not taking pictures of the receptionists like she originally thought.

The boys did fabulous. I was so proud of them.

They were both called back at the same time. Ethan looked at the hygenist, looked at me, looked at his brother, and said, "Grayson coming too?" Grayson hopped up off the floor where he was playing blocks and said, "Okay!" Off they marched.

The report was great. Their chompers are looking marvelous. The only slight concern at this point is that the dentist was able to determine in five seconds flat that we do indeed have two thumb suckers on our hands (or on their hands if you want to get all technical about it). :) The other day when I talked with the boys about the idea of giving the habit up before too long, they both looked at me with huge open eyes, completely speechless. I guess we'll keep working on that one.

Their sister on the other hand may not ever require a visit to the dentist. At 11 1/2 months old she has yet to get her first tooth. My sweet little gummy girl.

The Prairie

For the past few days we have escaped to the prairie.

Chris has been out of town attending a conference in Pennsylvania, so the kids and I decided that we would take advantage of the opportunity to come to Mom and Dad's house for a couple of days.

I love coming home.

There is just something about driving the highway out here. Gazing out over the horizon and seeing mile upon mile, until the sky and the earth appear to collide.

Last night Mom and I took a walk together. Talking, walking, admiring. The mushroom clouds filled the sky - in shades of pink and purple. It was a beautiful evening, a coolness to the breeze, and we found it hard to go inside.

After a day of running around the yard shirtless, picking and eating peas out of the garden with Ama, and swimming in the pool, Ethan exclaimed last night at dinner, "This is so fun. This is so fun being at Ama and Bapa's house."

Thanks Mom and Dad for providing such an awesome place to escape to. A place without traffic or confined spaces. A place where there are acres upon acres of land to explore. A place where fingernails turn black. A place where clothes don't have to match. A place where my children are so loved and so content.

A place called home.

Whirl

The karaoke party at Mom and Dad's was a success!

Dad and Mom singing I've Got You Babe (It's their song...and a karaoke tradition!)

Pop and MawMaw visited from Virginia

Adelyn enjoyed her first county fair out of the womb!

Aunt Mary with Grayson and Ethan

The boys loved the carnival rides! It was their first time riding. Ethan cried when the first ride stopped because he didn't want to get off. They rode at least ten rides that night and had huge grins on their faces for each and every one of them!

They even rode the Scramber with their Daddy. I could not believe my eyes! They loved it!

Daddy and Adelyn

A visit with Great Grandpa and Grandma for Adelyn and myself, along with my parents and Micah

Nothing quite like a walker ride!

Four pretty precious people in my life!