Our little BIG man is 2

Happy Birthday Sweet Sawyer!!

On Tuesday you turned TWO and (not shockingly) it is hard for me to believe.  The only reason that I can justify to myself that you aren't a baby any more is that I already have another baby, AH!

To celebrate your big milestone we had dinner with some sweet friends and celebrated "goggy style"!  Since "DOG" which you pronounced "GOG" was your favorite & virtually only word for quite some time we went with that obvious theme and you were delighted.

There was hotdogs and burgers at your picnic table...

and of course there's was cake, with polka dots (what's a cake without them) and dogs!

The newest member of our clan, baby Joe, got to join in the festivities!

There was horn blowing, water squirting, cake eating, running, screaming & lots of frolicking in the (finally) "cooler" weather and by that I mean mid to high 80's!  We were so lucky that we got to still have your party because we had been out of our house for the 3 days prior with a faulty AC.  It was as hot inside our house those days as it was outside the day we celebrated.  One sweaty mess, but with several days of 100+ heat there's bound to be a little trouble!  We got it all fixed and threw together a celebration!!

Even mommy got in some time with her buddies.  These girls threw me a baby shower when you were still in my tummy, so it's such a special blessing that they are here to celebrate special milestones in your life.

Beanie, you loved that it was your turn to open some gifts, with just recently coming off of Griffin's birthday and you were a pro!  The Satvedi's got you animals and the Mick's got you a super hero cape so they covered the basis on your favorites!!

And after the party we did some soggy swinging to dry off.

Then on the morning of your birthday we woke up early so daddy could join us and embarked on a journey to our special birthday tradition, doughnuts!!

You went through an array of emotions as you entered your 2's.  We sang "Happy Birthday"...

and you cried...

ate...

and melted us with your happy smile.  Ha ha!  You never know with you funny boy!

Then we hit the arboretum for a class on fish, some playing and lunch out!

And we ended the day with Portillos chocolate cake, another family favorite:)!

Daddy & I's favorite part of your celebrations, you blowing out the candles,  it was hilarious!

And for your birthday you got a Dinosaur train, which you love.  In fact I started putting on your shoes the other day to go outside, and you emphatically told me no, and sprinted upstairs to play trains (and you NEVER pass up outside!!!).  The morning after your birthday I woke up to the picture above, you and Griffy straight from bed to play room to play Dinosaur train.

Sawyer Richard, 

The picture above is the first time we met outside of my tummy.  You were a miracle in my life in so many ways and this moment is one that I will never forget, my heart changed right as this picture was taken.  I have loved every second of your "baby" years.  I soaked them in as much as I could and kept you close.  I understood how fragile life is and how fast it goes, so I didn't want to waste a second not holding you.  I will admit that since Crosbi has come along we've had to "scoot you out the door" into toodlerhood and it's challenging at times.  But you are the sweetest big brother with all your kisses and the most hilarious little brother, copying all of Griffin's wild antics.  You are just really starting to communicate and absolutely melts our hearts.  Your smile lights up the entire room when you feel comfortable enough to let it slide across your face.  You are shy and smart and stubborn and love to get a laugh.  Your giggle makes us giggle.  You just switched over from your crib to a big boy bed with little to no issue.  We are SO thankful to you for that:)!  Your toddler run is too adorable to put into words, but trust me...it is cute.  When you are mad you have an ear piercing scream, whew!  You are living up to your middle name, and are just  a little RICHARD but I see a lot of daddy in you too.  It's such a privilege and a BLAST to watch you grow.  My heart aches to watch you enter into another phase of life because baby doll, you and I were a pair these last two years.  I have to say though, as you emerge and show us more of you everyday, I am so excited to watch you grow.  I saw a red head teenager and his mom out shopping just today and can't help but wonder about what it will be like to be out with you like that someday!  I love and adore you Beanie.  God has used you in drastic ways in my life already.  May this be just the start of a million more celebrations in a life that God uses a million more times.  

I love you my son.

mom

C Lu @ 3 months

Ahhhhh little Crosbi Lucille.

3 months already.  

Daddy just looked at you and me last night and said, can she really be 3 months?? 

My worst enemy with you so far seems to be time, it's just going to fast.

Other than that, I have no complaints!  I could literally live off off your beautiful gummy smiles.  They make us so so happy and you in turn are one happy girl!  You are pretty much sleeping a good chuck through the night and taking a few solid naps in the day.  You love to snuggle and be held and you aren't too excited about me setting you down...ever!  So I don't get as much done as I think I am going to, but I'm willing to give my "to dos" up for some C Lu loving any day.  You are out of 3 month clothes and the 3-6 month clothes are even getting tight, slow down silly girl!  You also love to "talk" back to anyone who will chat with you.  You coo and smile and have just a lovely conversation with whoever will join you.  So much more chatty than the boys already...such a girl!!  

You found your hands and LOVE your chubby little fingers, they are always in your mouth.

And you're always up for playing with those crazy brothers of yours.  I've caught both of them trying to calm you and play with you when you are upset.  Melts my heart!

and so does this smile.  

I am so caught up in you little one.  I love waking up to your face, getting quiet times in while your eating or sleeping, holding your tiny hands and feeling your tiny fingers wrapped around my thumb.  I feel humbled and grateful each and everyday I wake up and realize that I really do have three babes, one who is my daughter!

xoxo,

mom

PS: Next time we write one these, I bet you'll be sitting up or at least close!  You want to so bad!!!

his smile:)

Know what's gonna be there when Griffin says, "OH MY WORD!!!"?

his smile.

Know what my eyes are going to meet when Beanie gives us the pouty lip?

his smile

Know what for sure matches mine every time we see Crosbi flash us her famous gummy grin?

his smile.

Kids, I would recommend getting someone who you can share smiles with.  Not any time soon of course, but someday. It makes me ridiculously happy that when something funny or great or cute happens I get met with a wordless smile from your dad.  These smiles happen over a lot of things, but my favorite is when it happens because we both just fell more in love with one of you, thus with our family and each other.  So thankful for him & that we get to share the experience of you guys.  And for silent smiles just cause we get each other, that is priceless.  I am praying it for your lives too.

xo, mom

Born in the USA

Happy Forth!!!

We celebrated the birthday of the good ole US of A with one of our favorite traditions in one of our favorite places, ahhhhhhh....we sure do love Grand Beach.  Not too many places more simple and relaxing and fun.

We got in some swimming at the Bailin's pool,

and even Crozi got her first taste of the pool...which she clearly wasn't so sure about.  Ha ha, poor girl! I love both of our expressions in this pic!

My favorite girls:)

And, after a very lively debate, we decided on "Bieber Fever" for the theme of our float this year.  And then by default because no one had the energy to go to Walmart and buy Justin Bieber gear, we opted for the ever popular and classic "Americana"!  Hey, there's always next year to get our act together for a more elaborate plan!

Here is a string of attempted family pics....

and at the end of our sessions everyone felt like doing what Crosbi was doing.  So we quit while we were ahead, but got nothing too frame able!  Our memory of this forth will be HOT, HOT & more HOT!!!!

We spent the actual 4th at home just the 5 of us doing a whole lot of nothing.  And even though it felt a little like a wasted day, I was thankful to get some lounge time with my kids and hubby with no where to be and nothing to do.  After we forced the kids outside to take pics in the 100 + temps and had an epic fail, we retreated back to our beloved AC to do what is the next logical step after any stressful event (or at least my answer to most)...

make something with chocolate...

S'mores!

And they were delish!!  We could sure take s'more holiday fun...ha ha!  It always goes too fast.  

I am truly thankful to live and raise my family in this beautiful country (although not with out it's problems, what is??) where I can worship the God I love freely, feel safe & protected and have so many opportunities (to eat chocolate)!  I know it didn't come without costs, and I am so grateful for all that it took to get and keep our freedom!