Watching football with daddy.

     If I didn't have so much laundry to do, so many projects left unfinished, a baby to feed or who knows what else, football season would be my favorite. I know that a lot of those are horrible excuses, but sometimes I'm guilty of letting the To Do List take priority over sitting down and watching a game with my hubby.

     Thankfully I had boys and among other things, football games are included in our "raising them right" theology. So when a games on and it's not nap time or bed time, we encourage Ty to join in. Right now he's engaged for maybe five minutes before getting out his toys, but that (and the fact that he's dressed in head to toe team gear) warms his daddies heart and mine too.

He's learned the art of being distracting, but not too distracting. 

Or maybe Gray is just that concentrated ... the juries still out. 

     Gray can't wait till he's watching the whole game and talking terms and stats and I am just excited to witness it all unfold. There will be many hours of watching football together in their futures.

"Tobias, show mama your game face!" ... Man oh man do I love these two!

A morning outside with Tobias.

If I could bottle up all your zeal for life and apply it like perfume at the start of every day, I would.

     What the world must look like to one as little as you, gigantic, foreign, wonderful? Sometimes when I look at pictures like these I can imagine your awe. The world through your eyes, a beautifully scary creation rendered exciting within carefully constructed boundaries.

(Could you be any cuter sporting Auntie KK's beanie she left behind?)

     You love the outdoors, if I left it up to you you would spend all your time outside. I both love and dislike this about you. Rain or shine, heat or cold, no bugs or millions your enthusiasm never wavers (unless I mention Paw Patrol, but even then you are swayed only 50% of the time). I love this because if there is one place I can go to get refreshed it's outside. It's in Gods creation where I am reminded how small I am and how great God is. There is something very comforting in that truth. I dislike this because the heat annoys me and mosquito's are very literally the bane of my existence!

     Thankfully on this morning the air was crisp (my favorite kind) and the mosquito's were few. I had put Well's down for his morning nap and the three of us headed to the backyard to play.

     When Riggs wasn't standing at the back door wanting to be let in he ran around chasing squirrels. He made sure to give Tobias and his lawn mower a wide berth. He seems to be terrified of that blue and green bubble machine when it's at the hands of Ty. I can't imagine why? I don't know a person or animal who minds getting rammed and chased by a little squirt and his plastic mower ...

(I don't think my mom could have known how much he would love this toy.)

(The leaves tend to turn brown instead of all those vibrant colors like up north, boo.) 

(The sunlight that morning was just gorgeous.)

      He stood at the gate glued to whatever truck or bus happened to pass by. He would beckon to me frantically, desperately wanting me to share in his excitement.

(His little face! Those huge blue eyes, that sweet mouth and those soft cheeks, 

it's hard to express how much I love this boy.)

     He mowed the lawn five times over stopping every once in awhile to make sure I was watching or to investigate the nearest ant hill. He ended up transferring his hat to his mower, it was "coldy" and needed some warmth.

     He also drove to the store multiple times for various items mom forgot to grab. And he drove to work. He made sure to wave goodbye to me just like daddy does every time he leaves.

Oh to be little again. Don't grow up too fast baby.

Enjoying the little things...

like warm and sunny summer evenings spent in the driveway, drawing with chalk and lounging with family.

      We were home in Ohio the second week in July. My childhood home was abuzz with giddy anticipation and wedding prep was in full force. The third in line, Victoria, was getting married at the end of the week to sweet Dan.

     Dan is a Maryland native who courted my family so successfully my mother almost forgot he was whisking yet another daughter away from her. In the moments she did remember, tears were usually involved and it would make me think of the Kiera Knightly "Pride and Prejudice" quote when Mrs. Bennet says, "I often think, that there is nothing so bad as parting with one's children. One seems so forlorn without them." I can only imagine how difficult this phase must be for my mom, I hope I have as much grace as she does when I am going through it.

(It seems Vic was skeptical of whatever Ty was drawing.)

      In the best way we were all soaking up a little bit of extra family time. For most of the week is was the original six, laughing, talking, loving and annoying each other while doing the familiar-eating healthy, then baking dad's brownies and watching movies together all snuggled on the couch.

(T-O-B-I-A-S, I can hear them chanting it in my head.)

      We spent some time working in the yard (because that is where Vic was hoping the big shebang would take place), and lots of time discussing wedding details and arguing over the best way of doing things.

     We were constantly checking the weather and trying our darndest (yes I know that's not a word) to wish away the 100% chance of rain that was forecasted for the day of the wedding. We were unsuccessful, but the church turned out to be a beautiful backup plan. 

(My momma and two weeks old Baby Well's.)

     It was a week that despite having two littles was so full of ease, sweetness and good memories it made me wish for just a second that we all lived together, near each other in real life. But alas, we do not, so I will just have to fill up on family when I can and try and make it till I see them again.

(Always playing games and being silly with Auntie Cescee.)

     So there we were, my little pod of people, lounging in the driveway, savoring each others company and enjoying the little things.

(Spinning until you're dizzy...)

(and then falling down.)

Bringing baby Well's home.

Well's second week of life Nana and Poppa came to visit.

(she's the best Nana my kids could have, so selfless and generous)

     We spent more time on the porch and even went to church! Gray wanted a female singer and since I had someone to hold the baby (thanks Nana) I obliged.

(I think my pictures make it seem like this kid can never keep his clothes on)

     This was the week the epic tantrums and meltdowns started. I think the fact that this new baby wasn't leaving, finally hit home. Ty was in desperate need of some extra attention. We even had to stop the car to administer a spanking at one point. It seemed like Gray and I were constantly looking at each other and asking "what have we done?!" If only you could explain to an almost two year old how special it is to have a sibling ...

(I look at these pictures and laugh, he didn't stay skinny for long!)

     He's getting the hang of it now and as that week went on I realized that taking intentional time away from Well's, to love on Tobias, directly translated to good behavior. He needed me to acknowledge that he still had a place, that I still love him, and that I wasn't neglecting him.

     As silly as it sounds it was during this week that I truly realized, parenting is no joke. I was also desperately wishing someone had written a manual. Tobias has had rough moments before then, don't get me wrong, but when you throw another kid into the mix everything gets a lot more complicated!

But, we made it! That week is over. Even though the tantrums and meltdowns continue on, and some days play out like scenarios from my worst nightmares the days come to an end, the weeks pass by and the babies grow up. And when I let that sink in I start praying really hard that God would give me grace on those days. That on those days my children would see Him and not me.

(Our attempt to get a good family picture will continue, Ty will cooperate one day...)

     I want to take every moment and cherish it. I want to model and express with genuine honesty the importance of Christ. I hope my kids leave home knowing what Christ means to me and what living a life for Him looks like. Beautiful, messy, real, full of grace and mercy, full of forgiveness and love. I want them to know that living life to it's fullest means being rooted in the one who created and brought that life into existence. All else fades.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, 

and the darkness has not overcome it. -John 1:3-5

Tobias Mowing

     These photos don't really have much of a story other than, I really want to remember this time and how much Tobias loves mowing. We talk about it everyday. If he isn't mowing the yard, it's the porch, or my carpet. If I ask him to do something he usually says "Mow First!" Gotta love his enthusiasm.
     The awesome rain coat and boots are from his Nana. We are waiting for the weather to cool before bringing this outfit back out. I have a feeling he won't take it off once he gets the chance to wear it again. Possible Halloween costume? It's in the running!

At Home - October 2015

     These are old photos, but when I found them, I couldn't not post them. He still stands on a chair and looks out our front window except now (unlike in these pictures) he can push the chair himself and get onto it himself. And even though the window is still exciting, the kitchen sink has somewhat taken its place, because you know he's a toddler, and water . . .  enough said.
     Anything somewhat dangerous and new gets a lot of attention these days. Anything that deviates from the routine is enchanting. Looking out the window was one of those things, and if there is enough going on outside (like our huge renovation a couple weeks ago) it keeps his attention for quite some time.
     It's activities like these that make me wish we didn't have a TV. Television has its place, but I hope that when life gets crazy we don't forget to take a minute and look outside and let our imagination be captured and our senses excited to God's magnificent creation. There is a lot more to be learned at the  window than at our TV.

Nanny for the day.

     One of the joys of being a stay at home mom is that I have the opportunity to occasionally watch my friends children. The best is when you start nannying slightly before having kids. Then once your little one makes their debut you get to introduce them into the mix and watch some of your favorite people grow together.
     They learned how to take care of (aka. breast feed) their babies at the same time I did, they helped Ty try his first bite of avocado and cheered him on as he started to crawl and then walk. They selflessly brought him all the toys they weren't interested in so that he wouldn't chew and drool all over their favorites. And now they run away from him screaming while he happily squeals and chases them, both parties unaware that he's just copying them not really chasing them.
     It's hilarious and so sweet and just one of the many things I love so much about the stage I'm in. There are a lot of things to grumble about, but that is always the case and from where I sit, I'd rather be a glass half full kind of girl. So I'm smiling as I look as these pictures and choosing to believe there are always more things to be thankful for ... especially when it involves giggling girls on bikes and scooters and an entranced little boy with spiky hair meandering up and down a long driveway in the afternoon light.