Mother's Day Blessings

My two favorite Mother's Day moments...



1) Swimming with Grace and Jackson this morning and playing "dolphins" at the hotel pool.



2) Nursing Nora to sleep tonight at home safe and sound.

Moments Like These

I could live in forever.

On Mother's Day...

I am feeling especially grateful for these two beautiful little ones that I am so blessed to have in my life.

Wuv

It was kind of one of those days today. Not one of those kid crazy days (thankfully it was a good day for both Grace and Jackson), just one of those days where I find myself still in my pajamas at 11:00 surrounded by a mess. I'm not sure what I was doing, catching up on overdue things I guess... bills, school stuff, who knows. I remember looking around at lunch time thinking what have I done all day... and how am I ever going to clean up this mess.



But (just as the life of being a mother tends to go) minutes later all stresses were forgoten as I tried to keep my beating heart from escaping my chest- Jackson said I love you for the first time today. Well truth be told he proclaimed his love to Ryan first, but once he got started he didn't stop there. Throughout the day today he would suddenly look over at me, tilt his head to one side and in the most sweet little voice say "Aah wuv you mama". So, of course who cares about messes and eating lunch in your pajamas with this going on. Seriously, this boy knows how to melt my heart. I think I'm in wuv.

Reading Time

Though it doesn't happen everyday, when it does happen, the precious hour right after Jackson's nap is one of my favorite times of day. Both he and Grace grab a huge stack of books and we snuggle in her bed, one babe under each arm, and read... and read.

Trouble

Today I came out of the shower to a lot of laughing and Grace yelling from the other room "these stinkers are getting into trouble in here". I had suspected something was up because usually the two of them continuously entertain me throughout my shower. But after I hadn't seen either of them in 10 minutes I knew it was time to get out. And sure enough, these stinkers had made quite the mess.

Me and My Boy

Just little Jacks and I this weekend...
Grace and Ryan left this morning for his mom's cabin. So far today we have read stacks of books and cleaned a lot. I think he is enjoying having me to himself. If nothing else it means that he doesn't have to take turns listening to his sister's books (he is sooooo into reading lately). And I am enjoying all the cleaning I can do with one less little one to tend to. Though I do miss my girl.

18 Months

Jackson was 18 months yesterday. Since this blog is also my "baby book", I feel the need to gush (just a little) over my baby boy and the little person he has become in just a year and a half. I have not stopped being amazed by this little being and his determination to do, well, anything. He is persistent. Whatever he sees Grace, Ryan or I doing (or eating) he is certain that it is something he must experience as well. And the talking, I love the talking... and he is a chatter-box. Again he is determined to keep up with the conversations around him and I have lost track of all the words he can say. Not to mention he astonsihes me with what he understands. It is so exhilarating to be able to actually communicate with him. My favorite was the other day I asked "who wants an orange?" and from the other room I heard two little voices say, "I do!"



A few of my favorite current Jacksonisms
- When he hurts himself he comes running over with the hurt appendage outstretched in my direction for a kiss. After the kiss, he's usally happy again and runs away to play. Ahh,the power of a kiss.

- When we sing "Old McDonald" and get to "and on his farm he had a..." and pause, Jackson will shout "horse" every time. (Except that it sounds more like "hoose", which makes it even cuter.)

- When he is in the mood, he will go up to Grace, give her a hug and a pat and say "nice".

- He has his own baby ("Baby Boy") that he likes to put to sleep by holding and rocking him and saying "shhh shhh shhh". Melts my heart everytime.

- And his newest one... he said "bless you" today after I sneezed.

Oh how I love this little boy. And he's only just begining.

I miss

Her. She called tonight..."I ate chocolate covered ice cream today and it was not organic." Love.

Farm Streaking

This is the second day in a row I've turned around to find a pile of clothes and Grace running around with nothing on. The hardest part for me is to eventually make her put them back on. I don't want to be the one to stop all that fun. It looks so freeing- tossing off your clothes like that and skipping around in the warm spring sun. Tempting even. But, being the semi-sensible person I am, I better just leave the streaking up to Grace. I guess that's another joy of parenthood, to watch your kids try all the crazy things you won't.

Lunch

This guy just gets more fun everyday. I know it is such a cliche but I just can't believe how fast he is growing. He was eight months old yesterday. Eight months. That's practically a year. Can't believe it. Okay enough, I sound like an eighty year old. Anyway, here he is eating his avocados. And looking adorable as usual. Seriously, eight months. Can't believe it.

Moments

There is nothing more precious then these soft eyes peering at me as a little hand reaches up to touch my cheek. Nothing.

Thank goodness for little moments like this where I am forced to stop... and sit... and see what I have... and just how lucky I am.

Littleness

Just a little moment I want to remember. Little cups and bowls and spoons and forks used by little hands.

There is such a pull within me of wanting them to grow... and wanting them to stay. Just stay this way forever. The thought that one day all this littleness will be over is so, well let's just say I don't even want to think about it. I remember after Grace was born and she wasn't sleeping and I caught myself thinking "well I guess this is how the rest of my life is going to go, waking up every hour or two to rock her back to sleep". It was inconceivable to me at the time that she would ever change. And then before I could even blink all of that was gone. This time around I am wiser (ha!), okay fine, more conscious. Last night when Jackson woke up and wanted to just be awake at 2 in the morning (I wined a bit) but also realized this too shall pass. And after a deep breath, I reminded myself, I really am in no hurry for the passing, but instead would prefer the being. And the littleness, that I know will so quickly be gone.

That's My Boy...

Looking rather girlish in Grace's pink kitty hat (that still fits her by the way) but also so peaceful... and innocent... and just plain lovely. This is how I know I must have more children. I just can't be done gazing upon such delicate lips, and chubby checks, and glowing skin. I can't.

Naps

Ahhhhh. It is in these quiet moments (especially if the day has been a trying one) that I fall in love with my children all over again. I mean really how could you not. This picture was taken at nap time, but the scene looks the same at bedtime. Two moments carved into the day that are guaranteed quality time: stories, prayers, songs, and snuggling.

Chiny Chin Chin

I am in love with this chin. I've probably taken over a dozen pictues trying to capture it, but everytime I end up getting his chin... plus the three behind it. I finally realized I needed to take it looking down, which is how I see him everyday when he's in the sling. Seeeeeeee.