Favorite Moments

Since my last blog, I've been thinking about all of my favorite moments that i want to share with the world. Okay, not THE WORLD, the maybe 20 people who might read this... And for my records of course! So while the kids are sleeping, and my pie is in the oven, I'll jot them down! DO NOT read that wrong - I have a PIE in the oven.... not a bun!! (In fact, after having babies in 2009 and 2010, my new year's resolution for 2011 was to NOT have a baby this year!)
With a toddler, every day is an adventure to say the least, but here are some moments worth witing down.

-Right after Ryder was born, Rylee walked up to him and showed him "eyes, ears" Then she grabbed his nose and said "honk, honk!"

- Rob rough-housing with Rylee one night and he would fake cry. She would say "uh-oh daddy! Are you otay?" Then once he cried for a long time and she finally said "oh no! You need a paci!" (smart girl - at our house, when you cry, you get a paci!)

- Me: "ROAR!" .... Rylee"That's a lion! ROAR!" ...Ryder :"ahhhhhhhh" (even at 2 months he wanted to join in on the fun!)

- Rob gave Rylee sugars one night and she told him, "That was sweet!!" (We are always encouraging her when she is sweet to Ryder)

- After watching daddy do this for months, Rylee picked up her sippy cup one night and said "gulp, gulp, gulp..... BURP!!"

- Rob rocking Rylee to sleep one night and she was playing with her milk and some got in her eyes. She looked at me and said "owwie mommy" I said "what happened?" she said "I broke my eyes". ...a few seconds later, Rob said "sing your bedtime song" (a little song he sings her every night) She started singing a little song not even close to what he sings her. He said "Rylee did you just make that up?" SHe responds " haha. yea!!"

- Even though Rylee has had many little catch phrases for quite a while, some days it still seems so bizarre, that she is just a tiny little person with her own (very BIG) personality! Here's my favorite phrases

• Oh no!


• I don't even know!


• Oh Gosh!


• What did you do?


• Otay


• Okie Dokie


• Come on! Let's go!


• Yeah! (Her answer to everything!)


• SHe also always says "Please" and she can say "help" "hold me" and "Sorry". She is very polite! She ran into a pole one day at big daddy's house and told the pole "sorry" or actually "soddy" THen one of his dogs sneezed and she told him "bless you!"

- Lately she has been telling me "Sit in my lap, mommy!"

- Ryder stealing Rylee's toys and her telling him "no no Ryder... give it!!" Poor little guy just wants to be close to her and it gets on her nerves! It's funny to watch but also breaks my heart a little for him - because I feel his pain- I'm the youngest!

I gotta say, staying home with these babies is the best thing in the world. It's all I've eve wanted to do, ever! Since I was 5, people asked me what I wanted to be when I "grew up" and i said "a stay at home mom!" My dreams came true and I am so thankful. Very few people get to live their dream. I do - awesome godly husband (and quite the looker), and 2 perfect healthy kids. I'm not gonna lie - my house is messy ALL the time. It's a HUGE financial strain. I'm constantly exhausted and little crazy. But I love it and can't be anything but grateful! On that note, I gotta close with the chorus to a song by an extremely talented and famous musician (you may have heard of him - Rob Dubois)

"I wouldn't change a thing. I love the life we live. We ain't got it all, we ain't problem-free, but there's always you and me. And so I wouldn't a thing!!

(sorry no pics this time, it takes too long and I've got precious-little time before nap-time is over!)

10 months and another kid later.....

So yah - It's Sunday afternoon and everybody is napping. I didn't feel like napping, so I randomly decided to get back on the ol' blog. It has been a little over 10 months since I last blogged!! That's sad. Although, I'm sure it won't be the longest I ever go without!

What can I say? How can you possibly catch up on 10 months of a child's life? And 5 months of another? I guess I'll start there! On December 14, we welcomed our precious Ryder Caleb into the world. He is perfect. And THE sweetest natured baby I've ever seen-so happy. I'm in love. I worried so much about how I could possibly love another baby as much as I love Rylee Grace. Ha! It's possible! My heart just overflows with love for these 2 pure and perfect babies. Ryder is becoming a big boy already (5 1/2 months). He is eating baby food now and already trying to crawl. He can pretty much scoot wherever he wants. Just this morning he started talking alot more and for the first time saying "tha tha tha tha......" I remember the 5 month time period with Rylee and how that's when it seemed like everything started to happen. I cried myself to sleep one night this week over how fast my babies are growing. It's so bitterweet, because every stage is so fun in it's own way, but I just want to freeze time.

Rylee Grace will be 2 in less than 2 months. She's a little person now. Here's an example. After her bath the other night I said "Rylee, are you cold?" She said "I'm freezing!" We have real conversations. The times when I can't understand her are getting fewer and further between. She is so incredibly smart and funny. And gorgeous- I am struck by her beauty. This age is awesome because she picks up on everything. I can teach her something one time and she remembers. I don't care what anybody says about "terrible twos" I think it's so fun. Then again she has yet to really "throw a tantrum". She seems to get over stuff super fast and hardly ever fusses or cries even when she gets hurt. I am so enjoying getting to teach her. We play little games and sing songs. It's a blast! We wear each other out every day!

She has adjusted amazingly well with Ryder. Don't get me wrong - We are SUPER busy and I'm crazy all the time, but truthfully, having 2 kids is easier than I anticipated. Lately though, we have had to remind Rylee alot that she isn't Ryder's boss. She loves to tell him "no". It's hard not to laugh sometimes. She'll definitely want to boss him around. But I've got a feeling he will hold his own. He is already so tough - typical boy.

My brain is going crazy thinking of all that's happened in the last year. I will have to post more later - I could do this all afternoon. But for now, here's some favorite pics.

sibling love!!

he loves being upside down! so funny!

melt my heart!!

Rylee's first Easter egg hunt! (well technically her 2nd, they had one at school as couple of days before..)

LOVE!!

playing outside on a nice evening. Took so many pics and could never get Rylee to set her juice down!!

sweet happy girl

Ryder's first "swim" of the year. the water was too cold for him, so he just chilled!

Mine & Rylee's first swim! Bought a little inflatable pool that has already been worth every penny!

I love this! "Busted - I was supposed t be playing wioth my car and I got caught with the magnets!"