18 Months Apart

I have recently been reflecting on having my children 18 months apart. I must say the first few weeks (minus the one where my mother was here and did everything) were HARD! I mean really hard. Like every day I felt like I had no idea what I was doing kind of hard. But then it slowly got easier. We all adjusted, I got a little sleep and started being realistic about life with two small children. And I can say now in all honesty it is so great.




Playing in "Coupe" together!




It was a tight squeeze but they didn't seem to notice :)




What our table now looks like. Saffryn in a chair like a big girl and Pierce in the high chair!


Saffryn doesn't even remember what life was like without Pierce. She asks about him all the time. She really enjoys seeing him smile and engage with her. She talks to him in the car seat now and is getting so much better at sharing my attention! Pierce is such a joy to our family and I cannot even remember what it was like without him. Yes having two can still be hard and a juggling act, but they are just the most special gift God has given us.




They love to pay together!




Daddy finds ways for both kids to play! :)


I cannot describe what I feel when I see them playing with each other. I love that they are going to be close. I love that they are going to be able to do the same things and go through similar stages their whole life. My heart feels so full. They are worth every single second of work they bring. Actually they are worth it times 5...no maybe 10...ok lets just say they are beyond special to us. WE LOVE YOU KIDS!!!!!!!



LOVES!



My sweet babies!

So to sum it up yes I really enjoy having them 18 months apart. Although I think I just enjoy having them. It doesn't matter how far apart they are. They are irreplaceable :)

"Pierce Together"

We were just recently very blessed by a neighbor! I have been looking for a double jogging stroller. I had my search narrowed down to two different brands...but could not decide!!! One day my neighbor stopped by and I asked her which double stroller she had used and if she enjoyed it. She tells me about it then proceeds to tell me she doesn't use it anymore and we could have it. WOW!!!! So incredibly generous!

When she gave it to us I showed it to Saffryn. I told her she and Pierce could ride in it together. She got SO excited and started happily screaming "Pierce together. Pierce together!!!!" It was so sweet. But what is even sweeter is seeing these two cuties actually riding together!

What a major blessing this was to our family! We have already used it several times and expect to use it even more when the weather is no longer 100 Degrees!!!!



Their first time in the jogging stroller together. Don't let their serious faces fool you they LOVE it!




I cannot get enough of my sweet babies! They fill my heart with such JOY!



Yes they were holding hands. Yes it was on their own. Yes it brought me to tears.

First Time

We have been talking about the potty in our house recently. We have been leaving the bathroom doors open (judge if you want to) so she can see us going to the bathroom. A couple of her friends have been sitting and using the potty, too! So she has been wanting to sit on the potty and go,too. So my sweet little girl has been sitting on the potty when it crosses her mind...and doing just that sitting! LOL. No potty at all. Not a big deal to us, I am not ready to potty train yet anyway. So I have just been letting her sit on the potty when she wants to and continue to talk about it and show her! Every once and a while she has told us that she was going potty while she was doing it in her diaper. We are getting closer :-)

So fast forward a little bit to today. She was sitting on the couch with me and I thought I smelled something. I checked her diaper and nothing. All clean. She looked up at me and said, "poopy". I said, " Are you about to go poopy?" " yup". Me, "Ok. Finish up." Then a little light bulb went off in her head and she said, "poopy in toilet. poopy in toilet!"

So we rushed to the bathroom, clothes off and on the toilet. She made a fake grunting noise and I figured it would be like before and she would just "sit". But then she got real serious and I asked her, " Is it coming?" She said, "It coming." AND IT CAME!!!!!!

Woooooohoooo! She is awesome! She flushed the poopy away and said, "I did it."!!! We are so so so proud of her! She is proud of herself! I really wasn't expecting success so soon!

Now we will continue to take cues from her. If she asks to go potty great. If she goes in her diaper no big deal. I really feel like for her to be successful it has to be on her terms.

Stay tuned for more adventures of potty time :-)

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Miss Independent

My little sass-a-frass (as my frind Terri calls her) is quite independent these days. She is doing so many things on her own. The other day while I was watching my friend's little girl Saffryn asked me for some crackers. I said, "no not right now, maybe when she gets picked up." I knew Saffryn was not starving and all I could picture was crackers everywhere while I am trying to play with/watch the other two children. Well Saffryn runs into the bathroom where we keep her step stool. She takes the step stool into the kitchen, opens the pantry and sets it down. She climbs up and grabs the crackers she wanted. She opens the box and comes to the living room with us and starts eating. I laughed so hard! What a clever girl!!!! How on Earth could I get mad at such great problem solving skills! Oh my Miss Independent please don't grow up too fast!

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No More

Of this:

Because:

I have had to say goodbye to our afternoon naps in my bed because he is now a rollie pollie! I am proud of him. He has been working on rolling over for quite sometime now. But I am also a little sad. I enjoyed our afternoon snuggle time in bed together. I guess that means I have to sneak more snuggle time in throughout the day! I love this baby boy!!!!!!

P.S. He is so funny. Once he finally makes it on his tummy he gets angry...LOL. Silly baby :)

puppies and toddlers

This is my top 10 list of why my toddler (and probably yours, too) is like a puppy...now before you get too offended just hear me out! You might be surprised at the similarities... and since I have had both I consider myself a reliable source...hehe! :-) ENJOY!

10:  They both have ENDLESS amounts of energy!!!!

9:  They never want to sleep in THEIR own bed...

8:  The toy that is in MY hands is the toy that looks like the MOST fun!

7:  POTTY TRAINING....need I say more????

6:  They can be guided using...FOOD AND TREATS!!!!

5:  They can DESTROY a room faster than I can clean it up...

4:  When it is quiet...be afraid...be VERY AFRAID!!!!

3:  They both run away from you and think it is HILARIOUS...

2:  They make me LAUGH A LOT with the silly things they do...

1:  But most of all they are so so sweet...and loveable... and cuddley. They have big, generous and forgiving hearts. They are loyal. They find the most special place in your heart. It is impossible not to love them and want to spend all your time, energy and money on them. Seriously...try not to fall in love with their sweet sweet faces...it is IMPOSSIBLE!

                                   

                                          

 I mean really doesn't this just melt your heart??? It does mine!!!!!!

Adventures of Bubby

Meet Bubby Mahoney!!!! He has been an important member of our family for quite sometime! He joined us when Saffryn was a baby!

Let me tell you a little bit about Bubby. Bubby has a best friend. His name is Bear.

Bubby and Bear do a lot of fun things together. In fact they have become almost inseparable!

Bubby has made some new friends recently. Back-Up Bubby, Baby Bubby and Ba Ba. They are not as close, but do enjoy occasional play dates.

Bubby has been on many adventures! He gets to see and do many things! Here are just a few of the things that he gets to do!

Wagon rides! So fun :)

Plays on the swings!

He takes time to relax, too!

Relaxes in his chair!

Takes a break on the fireplace.

Sometimes Bubby sleeps on the floor...but usually it is in a bed!

Bubby is very photogenic and has been to several professional photo shoots!

Bubby is a good traveler. He enjoys car rides, especially when his friends can come, too!

But there are times when he cannot go in and has to wait patiently in the car for us to get back.

Don't forget your socks and diaper Bubby!

He is such a social bunny and gets along with everyone!

But most of all Bubby is well loved by his momma. She takes such good care of him! He is never in want of anything!

One, Two, THREE!

Baby boy is 3 months old!!!! Growing fast and as cute as ever!

Stats: I am not completely sure of his weight and height. He will have a check-up at 4 months and go over those things. I am guessing he is over 16 lbs! He is wearing size 3 diapers. He is wearing 6-9 month clothes...yes he is a BIG boy.




He is now 3 months old! Big boy. P.S I keep getting my foot in these shots and it really annoys me. I forgot to crop it out of this one...


He is so sweet! He has a mostly laid back personality! He loves to be held and cuddled. He would rather sleep in our bed than his crib...(oops...lol)! Still has super blue eyes...and lots of cute and squishy rolls! He is super smiley and has laughed a couple of times!!! It is still not a full on belly laugh but it is cute little short
laughs. He has finally started to be calm in his car seat. He used to scream the whole car ride! We are making progress :-)

If the settings are right he will sleep through the night! He has started getting picky about things (like not wanting to sleep in his crib by himself). He still wont take a paci or bottle. Sometimes I wish he would so I could get breaks more easily...but mostly I just love having such a great bond with him.




Cute!


He loves when Saffryn talks to him and plays with him. He is going to be a daredevil I think because he already loves rough and high flying games with his daddy! He is a sensitive boy though. If a child is crying a lot he will start crying, too! He also gets really upset if Saffryn gets too rough with him. Poor baby! He has started putting weight on his legs and stands up (with help obviously). He is holding his head up so well and enjoys sitting and looking around at everything. He still has not rolled over but he does try :)




So happy!


He is just my lovey boy. I am more crazy about him now then ever before. I am trying to remind myself to hold him as much as possible and let him sleep and cuddle with me a lot because in a blink of an eye he will be 2 and in a big boy bed by himself!




Getting stronger on his tummy!


I can't think of what else to say about him right now. He is great. I love him. No wait I LOVE him!

Big baby blues!

Perspective

Today was one of those days were God gently and lovingly humbled me. This is not a bad thing. In fact I am very grateful that he is continuing to refine my character and show me my need for his Son. Here is how it started:

I was blog "clicking" and found out someone I knew from K-State delivered their child at 27 weeks. This special guy is literally fighting for his life at under 2lbs. Reading through this blog and looking at pictures my heart was so broken for them. I was amazed at their strength and ability to trust God during this hard time. I had got some perspective in my life.

Or so I thought....

Fast forward to a couple of hours later and Saffryn spilled some juice all over the floor. It was an accident and outwardly I handled myself very calmly and lovingly. But on the inside I was really annoyed. I JUST cleaned all my floors. As I was wiping up the juice (with my bad attitude) God gently spoke to me: "Do you know how many people wish they were cleaning up spilled juice from their child?"

I wanted to fall to my knees right then and there. How selfish I am. How ungrateful. How easily I forget the true suffering around me. How is it possible that I was just thinking I gained some perspective on life then a short while later I get annoyed with my children over virtually nothing! Now don't get me wrong. It is okay to have bad days with your children...but this was not a bad day. This was completely a lack of perspective. How could I complain about spilled juice when I have so much! Why do I focus on the spilled juices of my life and forget the many treasures God has given me? He of course was right. There are so many people who long to clean up spilled juice. Who want nothing more than to have a "bad day" with their children. How many times have I taken for granted my many blessings? How many times have I had a bad attitude? What else have I thought and said that I did not know the true meaning of?

To say I needed that little pep talk from HIM is an under statement. I am so grateful that he continues to guide me and show me his love.

When Jesus was on the cross he prayed: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34.

I now find myself praying those same words back to him. "Jesus please forgive me. I know not what I am doing...or saying....or thinking. I am so selfish. I am ungrateful. I am in desperate need of your forgiveness. I so easily lose sight of the treasures of this life and after life. Please help me see the world as you see it. Help me gain perspective. Thank you for humbling me. Thank you for guiding me. But most of all thank you for loving me. Amen."

Lessons

Here are some things I am learning in my crazy, hectic life with two children....with some random pictures I have taken the last few weeks!

• I am learning to enjoy the little things in life: uninterrupted showers, hot meals, full nights of sleep, a clean kitchen, reading a book...you get the picture :)

Putting up with a photo shoot! hehe

• I really really love my husband. He is so great! I am one of the lucky ones that found true love!





Playing!


• It's hard finding time to spend alone with my husband, but marriage is worth fighting for!!!

Super cute, even when crying!

• Laughter really is the best medicine and its contagious!!!!





This girl can get some CRAZY hair!


• My children are unique and have different strengths and weaknesses. I am learning to accept and enjoy them for exactly who they are. I am learning to build and encourage them according to what they need. It is fun and challenging!





Pool time!


• God really does care about the small details in my life and will guide and help me along the way if I let him.





Saffryn "sharing" her stuffed animals! What a sweetie!


• It is important to have friends that have children, too. They remind you that you are not going through this crazy journey alone. They can empathize, encourage and challenge your parenting, marriage and personal growth. They are priceless. Thanks friends!





Lounging


• An understanding smile and kind words from friends and strangers when you and the kids are having a hard day can really lift your spirits.





Cute!


• I appreciate my parents and in-laws so much more now! I honestly don't think I could do this without their support, brainstorming, laughter, love, countless tips and encouraging words!!!!!!!!!!!!! (yes it needed that many exclamations).





LOVE!


• Did I mention I REALLY love my husband!





Using his muscles!


• Routine, routine, routine! I am learning that my children THRIVE when I keep to a strict routine. It can be very hard for me, but it helps them so much!





Sometimes I find this when I go to strap Pierce in his car seat...hahah! Can you believe she does this all by herself!


• Good intentions will never beat out a toddler and infant. I have so many good ideas and intentions, but the follow through is very difficult when taking care of two young ones.

• There is always time for laughter, fun, hugs and kisses. I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!!