October 2015.

I snapped a few quick pics of Parker (3.25y) and Crosby (7m) during our family walk around the hood this evening. There are very few things in life that make me happier than capturing memories of their little lives on camera. Currently: Parker is all about the unrelaxed grin, while Crosby can't keep his newly discovered tongue in. 

He was SO ticked when that balloon popped. 

Mah munchkins.

We've got complete faith in big brother. 

I really, really love this drooly little lizard.

A HALF!

This cutie kiddo is A HALF. Half a year. Six months. Two seasons. He's OLD! And growing so fast. We love him so, and he tempts us (aka: MOM) into wanting three hundred more children. 

Currently: Crosby is figuring our army crawling and sitting up. He's tasting new flavors of vegetables and fruits erryday, and still a speed demon in the nursing department. He's in 9-12 month clothing, and his ginormous head is in the 88th percentile. He's easy-going and ticklish. Enjoys watching Bachelor In Paradise with mom, and Daniel Tiger with Parker. He also enjoys jumping in the Jumperoo, and can sit on his own for about two seconds before turning into a roly poly. He is still smiling from sun up til sun down. He sleeps better than his brother, has pulled out all of mom's hair, and loves his dad more than anyone in the world. 

Happy half, Crosiebear! You're THEEEEEE greatest!

Oh (almost) Three. You are Heavenly.

Parker's longest and most impressive tantrum of all time went down in the books today. 

Any guesses what it was about?

This begging, pleading, blue rocket ship searching (apparently the only way one gets to Heaven), screaming, jumping, tantrum dancin', questioning, baseball carrying and crying went on and on for three hours...even after making it known that Heaven is a one way ticket and he wouldn't be returning to his house or his family.

Doesn't appear he'll miss us much.

Mom, Is Der Cwassic Sywup in Der?

I'm not one to pay much attention to pretend, made-for-social-media type holidays. You know, the days you only find out about thanks to Facebook and an abundance of hashtags - #happybestfriendsday #happydonutday #happysiblingsday #happyhashbrownday 

Who really cares? Who has the time?

But today, I will care and I will find the time to celebrate a great love of mine. A cause worthy of much celebration. A thing that has kept me energized on the tiredess of days, and has me smiling on my saddest of days. I joke with Jordan about being in a really, really expensive and inappropriate love affair with this very favorite beverage of mine.

HELLO National Iced Tea Day. Nice to meet you. 

Iced, grande, no water, sweetened black iced tea, I love you. I really do. Especially when you mixed with 'cwassic sywup' and consumed through a green straw. I look forward to celebrating many more holidays together in as many exotic destinations as possible. You light up my life and pump endless energy and enthusiasm thru my veins. Because of you, I will continue to flee from my frugal ways and walk up the hill to spend $2.59 for a drink I could oh-so easily brew at home. But mostly because if I keep walking for ten minutes, I can getcha refilled FO FREE. Whoop whoop!

Now somebody, anybody, please explain to me why Starbucks isn't discounting their iced teas on such a day as this? Didn't they get the social media memo?!

Mothers Day 2015

Laura,

You deserve a trip to Tahiti, a week at the Salish, an aupair from France, a manny from Down Under, a Starbucks for life gift-card, a labor with no contractions, a massage a day, a chef from Italy and then a cruise to his homeland, a front row seat to Keith Urban, and a whole lot more "thank yous" for all you do for us as a family...but hopefully this Seattle Sunset candle and Nordstrom $ will do for now. You are one amazing mom! 

We love you, 
The boys

Waiting for Baby Popsicle.

As I waddle to and from MOPS, preschool, the grocery store, church, and our friend's and family's homes, people cannot help but take one glance at the big bump that is my belly and ask when are you due?

Soon, very soon. And thank you for asking, stranger in HomeGoods.

After that question, another question often follows: is Parker ready to be a big brother?

'Hell yah I am!' 

I wish I could put it into words - and I guess I am trying to do just that as I sit at my laptop and process the last nine months with Parker. From the moment we told him there was a baby in his mom's tummy which meant he was going to be a big brother, Parker has incessantly declared his love for 'baby Popsicle'. Although we have told him his brothers real name, Parker is dead set on 'baby Popsicle' and never skips a beat when people ask him about it.  

Many times a day Parker will stop what he's doing to hug, kiss, pat, rub or gaze at my belly, while throwing on a pair of drunk/googly eyes and slowly saying Mooooom. It's baby Popsicle! My baby brudder is so toot. He is already so loyal and protective, making sure no one tries to ride in baby Popsicle's car seat or step foot into his room. Parker loves to read his Big Brother books, and proudly wears his new title. Imma good big brudder, mom! Imma teach baby Popsicle how to pway baseball and gowf and basketball... Hey dad, I'm baby Popsicle's big brudder!

These little proclamations and sweet moments with Parker fill my anxious heart with so much joy, gratefulness and hope for what is to come. The bond that these little guys will build and the love that we're all about to experience for a tiny human we have yet to meet. We're on the brink of some major changes under our roof and I know our transition to living life as a family of four will feel overwhelming, exhausting, and frustrating at times...yet hearing Parker's enthusiasm, seeing his eyes light up when he talks about baby Popsicle, and feeling his little arms wrap themselves around my belly while he 'sloppy kisses' the baby fills me with so much excitement and peace as we watch, waddle, and wait for baby brudder to come home. 

Da Happy Crappy Oh.

Our often-articulate toddler threw me for a loop recently. He kept repeating a phrase that I just could not quite crack. 

"Mom! Sing da happy crappy oh."

E-I-E-I-O?

"No. Da happy crappy oh!"

Umm...say it one more time, buddy.

"You know! Da happy crappy oh. Sing it pwease!"

Hakuna Matata? Like from the Lion King?

This went on and on for many a'days, with me often reverting to singing a quick and awkward verse of Hakuna Matata, to which Parker would give me a sort of sympathetic aw-thanks-for-trying-mom kind of glance. We both knew I wasn't picking up what he was putting down, but instead of getting frustrated he just kept clearly, confidently and patiently repeating the same words. DA-HAPPY-CRAPPY-OH. Boy was determined to get me to understand his demand.

Then, it finally hit me, as we were dancing in the kitchen.

Da happy crappy oh is THE HAPPY SONG by Pharrell Williams. Naturally ;) Since our great discovery, we've sung, shuffled our feet, and clapped to many rounds of Happy. And happy we are.