one year ago...

you came into the world with a strong cry and were welcomed into a room of smiles and tears as we held you with warm arms and big kisses. you were already so loved. i couldn't stop crying happy tears knowing you were safe and here with us as last.

 it is hard to believe a year has past by. from the first moments you were held in big brother's arms...

 to a year later. he will always protect and hold you safe. this i know. because he loves you so much. the bond you both share is so strong. my brother boys.

 lucas, you made us a family of four. and oh how perfectly you fit.

 i feel as though you've been here all along.

 those sleepy newborn days slipped between my fingers much too quickly. i'd go back and do them all over again if i could. kiss each of your fingers. smell your sweet baby scent. linger over each breath and coo you made. i'd do it all over. such sweetness you are.

 it seems like yesterday...wrapped up and snuggled tight. now you are exploring your world with a happy smile and giggles in your trail as you crawl and stand and test out the world around you.

 i remember our first moments together. i always will. i will hold them in my heart forever. you brought with you peace and calm and happiness. so much joy and love we felt for you in our first moments together. it has only grown stronger. we love you so very much lucas.

 i've cherished each day of your first year.

 and i'll continue to hold my heart still and remember....for each birthday...from your very first birth, your very first birthday celebration, and each one after that....i'll hold my heart still and i'll remember...those first moments together that changed our life...for the very good....so much good.

 our first moments together, all four of us.

 they wrap around my heart like a warm embrace. each celebration, each milestone, each moment we all share together, it makes my heart feel so full. so completely full. a heart squeeze.

 lucas, i hope you'll always know how very much you are loved. how much joy, how much peace, how much happiness you bring to our lives.

 i am blessed to be your mama, to watch you grow, to take joy in your joys. to laugh with you. to cry for you. i never knew my hurt could hurt so much before there was you and your brother. i never knew my heart could spill with so much love and tenderness for my sweet boys.

 being your mama, it is an honor.

happy first birthday little man!

 may this year and every year be as full as the love you have brought to all of us.

 you are always and forever

 our sweet baby boy.

we love you so very much lucas gregory!!!!

 

 

 

Happy Friday!

happy Friday.

warm air. backyard swing. family from Oregon for lucas' birthday tomorrow. fresh, yummy watermelon and a date night tonight. it is a happy Friday.


so much so, that here is a little 'happy Friday song'

 pushing brother in the car,

 and all around the backyard.

so.much.fun.

reflecting and feeling so much gratitude for my sweet boys. especially thinking back to a year ago and the feelings I felt as I had my last day as a mama of one and the hours spent laboring and then those first moments I held Lucas in my arms. How natural it was to become and be a mama of two. Oh how blessed I feel to watch and see the bond these two have shared, right from the start.

Ready to celebrate this sweet boy of mine on his very first birthday tomorrow with family!

 

Happy Friday everyone. Hope it's a good one.

 

rocking their cute, homemade monkey pjs from grandma.

4 years.

It has been four wonderful years! Happy Anniversary to my sweet husband. I couldn't have picked a better man to share in this journey with . You are the most amazing father to our children and the most devoted husband to me. I am blessed to be yours. I am thankful for the four years we have shared as husband and wife and excited to have many more. Always and forever yours.

casa de fruta

 

casa de fruta playgroup.

 swings. carousal watching. train ride. duck and peacocks to see. turtles and fish in the water. it was an exciting morning. if you throw in a nice melt down on the way home, i'd say we had ourselves quite an adventure. i forgot to take pictures of the 'gold mining' gem finding we did.

 swings and train ride.

 duck and turtle watching.

 

 we are slowly doing toilet 'training' Caleb goes every night before bath and now he goes every morning when he puts on his clothes for the day...i'm trying to let it be natural and 'child lead' more than just a constant every moment of the day training thing (but i'm wondering if I should dedicate more time to it?.)...i like what this article has to say about it (learning to use the toilet).
what worked for you? we have done underwear the past two days but caleb only wants to wear them in the morning time...I'm wondering if we should just spend a long weekend being really consistent? hm...never really thought too much on this particular topic....plus adding a crawling child to the equation has been interesting...i've resorted to putting lucas in the bathtub while caleb goes (although he goes by himself most the time, but i like to be in there sometimes to make sure everything stays in one place...if ya know what i mean!) so many people keep asking if he is 'potty trained' i would rather go on his readiness and i do not want to feel the pressure to have him 'toilet trained by a certain age' but i'm also wondering if maybe we should get 'serious' about it and dedicate more time to the matter now? i feel as though i've been really relaxed about the whole thing but am wondering if I have been too relaxed? each child is different and will go in their own time. I am going to keep going with his feelings of readiness and I know slow and steady is just fine.

thomas train unds and playing with the nativity in august. cause we're cool like that!

happy half way wednesday! the next few days have lots of fun in store! visitors. anniversary. birthday. we have lots of celebrating to do :)

never alone

i just love this song! the words are beautiful :) so i put some pics to it.

a crib gathering, book reading, french toast inspiring day.

lucas woke up from his nap, caleb heard him and dashed to greet him....this is what i found when i came in the room....and then both boys standing up smiling at me. love them.

 

caleb reading lady bug's lesson

caleb loves reading, especially certain books....so as you can imagine we've read several of them...hundreds of times....this means he has most of them memorized....here is a lil clip of that (I didn't catch him at the beginning but he always makes sure he 'starts at the beginning with the title' which i think is just so cute. he also says blue for each animal and then changes it up to the correct color at the end of each page...i just love watching his love of books continue to grow!)...

some of his favorite books include: eric carle's the very busy spider, mr. seahorse, brown bear. brown bear what do you see?, polar bear, polar bear what do you see?, panda bear, panda bear what do you see?; some others include a collection of animal books, butterfly's bath, ladybug's lesson, frog's friends (i am amazed at how much he remembers from what we read together), and now he really enjoys saying his prayers....he has most of hail mary, our father, and glory be memorized. it is the sweetest thing to hear him pray! and sing alleluia most of the day. i am loving this age right now. he's so verbal and just spouts out the most hilarious things!

{via image}

doesn't this baked french toast look delish? pioneer woman is to thank. This is my birthday breakfast inspiration for Lucas on saturday...along with some yum cupcakes for his birthday dessert and some bbq. I've been craving this french toast since I saw the picture last week! Now I have a great excuse to make it :)

Happy Tuesday!

pictures and a letter.

my sister so kindly let me use her camera to snap a few pictures of the boys this weekend. I wanted some moments captured as Lucas turned one. I can't believe how fast this year has gone. Gosh I love them. And I love their daddy. So please excuse my sappy moment at the end.

to my sweet boys. I hope you'll always know and feel our love. Each day and each moment, you both bring so much joy and laughter and love in our lives. I hope you'll always care for one another, protect each other, and be the very best of friends; just as you care for and love one another now. Your brother bond will continue to grow and I pray we can nurture it. Your daddy and I love you more than words can say.

Love,

 Mama