The sun is coming

My favorite blogger dubbed this a "fussy February,"and she couldn't be more spot on.

I took time off the end of December and over New Year's and have been paying the price ever since. The  usual stuff coupled with double ear infections, stressful days, constant back pain, federal grants, working late after the kids are down, and....the list goes on.

Looking forward to the beginning of Spring, and a chance to get out and explore, breath fresh air, and get lost in a day with my family.

Easy Peasy

This little boy, who came into our lives so unexpectedly, is patient, quiet, funny, and so very easy.

He bumbles around looking for things to do, ways to entertain himself. 

He keeps himself happy and is amused by what is happening around him.

He eats like a horse. He could eat a horse. He eats more than his brother and sister combined, and sometimes the leftovers from their plates too. 

He doesn't like the word "no," and crumbles into a million pieces when we have to be stern. 

He recently tried to crawl in the fireplace with a blazing fire going. I found a couple puzzle pieces in the fireplace recently, clearly placed there on a day when no fire was present. 

This is my only beef with this child -- stay out of the fireplace.

He found this white ball Christmas morning and had so much fun playing with it. He was delighted to learn it was a tasty treat of white chocolate when he instinctively put it in his mouth, rolled over, and laid in the Christmas mess to enjoy a little peace of heaven. 

He could, without a doubt, remain at this age for eternity and no one would flinch, grow impatient, or imagine him a day older. 

He is perfectly perfect the way he is.

Three

My sweet, spirited boy turned 3 on Saturday. We spent the day bouncing, and jumping, and sliding, and running, and riding a merry-go-round.

The midwife told me when I was in labor that "he is going to give you a time of it." Two days of labor, and the at the peak of it (or should I say pique...), the Doctor came in to turn him, manually I might add. He turned right back where he wanted to be and came out when he was ready.

He hasn't changed a bit. He makes his Dad and I show up for parenting every single day.

He "WOW's" us with his amazing physical capabilities. I imagine him climbing mountains and playing sports, showing off his nimble and coordinated efforts, which seem so effortless (and I believe they are).

This boy, so full of life and humor, is equally good at digging his heels in. Just like he entered this world, he will not move until he is ready.

What fun we will have seeing who he becomes, witnessing what he can do, and  watching where he will go.

Kindergarten

New beginnings seem to be the theme around here, and this gal is managing the change like a champ. Bursting at the seam, she was so happy, confident, eager, and excited to begin school. 

It didn't matter that her brown shoes didn't match her black pants, they were new and she wanted to wear them. We pick our battles, right? What mattered is that she came home talking nonstop about what they did on the first day, and that she got to try tray lunch for the first time, and that Mrs. Swan showed off her artwork to the class, which made her feel so very special.

These new beginnings have been a tad bumpy, but we are clinging on to the fun moments, and this day was fun.

Perfection

Happy 1st Birthday, Lee

 (Color photos courtesy of Four Handz Farm, Black and White courtesy of his Mama)

Sweet little moments I'd forgotten about

It's amazing what you forget you've taken with your camera when you are unable to access the memory card, which was left behind in Virginia. Thank goodness for VCU staff willing to mail it 3,000 miles. 

These were a treat to find - pictures taken 8 weeks ago on a memory card that I thought was lost to me. 

I'm so grateful to have the pictures back in my hands again.

The kids have already changed so much since then.

My boys