Tobias turns 2.

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY BABY BOY!

(He has a little bit of a personality... )

Mommy wrote: I can't believe it's been that long and that you really are this big. You have changed so much in just two years it feels more like a decade has passed. You add so much to our lives. Our first baby who still gives snuggles and the sweetest kisses. You love to hide under any cover as long as someone hides with you. You enjoy the outdoors and mowing the lawn like no one I know. You also love animals and throwing balls much to your daddy's delight. You are stubborn and challenging and can throw epic tantrums with the best of them, but I wouldn't trade any of it. You are exactly who God created you to be and I am so thankful you are mine! I love you Tobias James.

(Outfit credit goes to my momma, she made the pants and bowtie for my sisters wedding!)

Daddy wrote: Tobias James, the hour I get to spend with you each morning has become my favorite hour of the day. Even when you throw water all over the bathroom floor and don't eat anything I try to give you for breakfast, I am so grateful to be able to have man time together. I can't wait to continue seeing your personality develop. I pray that you would grow to understand all that you have in Jesus. I'm so proud to be your daddy. 

(I asked him if he was going poop, he said "yes.")

(The hands in the pockets! It gets me every time!)

Aunt Cesca captures me and Wellington

I love when everything comes together so nicely. 

     I convinced Francesca to snap a few pictures of me and Wellington and the resulting images are magical. We dragged an unassuming stool out the side of my house and plopped it right in front of the massive tangle of vines taking up residence along our fence row.

     She took a few and then told me to move my leg here and my arm there and tilt my chin this way and I obliged because she is good at making me look good. It is impossible to hide all the baby weight and pudge, but she did a pretty decent job and I am very grateful.

 (this perfectly peaceful baby face makes my heart stop)

     Having my sister around during such monumental moments in my life has enhanced those moments and made them sweeter. Her joy and excitement is contagious, she's exactly the individual you want to share big news with because she will squeal and cry and make such a fuss that you cannot help but smile bigger and cherish the news better.

     My boys have no idea how blessed they are that she lives here. I know she brings qualities to their lives that I cannot. She gives them special experiences, teaches them lessons, and buys them clothes. She enforces my rules and breaks them too, as she should.

 (I think this will go in my gallery wall)

     She is an encourager. She will make much of your successes and challenge you through your failures. She is a true friend and companion, someone who will pursue you. Mama and Ty love their Cesca and I am certain Well's will too, it is impossible not to.

(such a little squish, I could kiss him all day)

Thank you for taking these photos Cesca, they are perfect!

Pumpkin Painting

     This was an ambitious activity for a one year old. I admit I was a little too excited about having a possible art student than I was concerned about thinking through what it would look like for Ty to actually paint a pumpkin. He wasn't ready. I wasn't ready. His dad was less than enthused and leery. I should have listened to him, but I didn't. So there's that.
     Our first attempt lasted for about a minute before paint was in his mouth and I was running inside trying to wash it all out. And the second attempt held his interest for about two minutes more, just long enough to snap a few pics and call it a day (aka. lick my wounds and admit defeat). I think I have a couple more years before this becomes a fun family activity. All I can say is sometimes you have to try it to figure out it doesn't work, anybody else with me? ... And maybe we can forget about the part where his makeshift smock resembles a ruffled dress . . . Parent fail most definitely, :/.

     Notice the red on his lips ... not blood, just more paint.

11 Months.

     Two posts in one day! Only because on principle I need to get these out of the way before his birthday on Saturday . . . gosh one year, it is just now starting to sink into my conscious. These 365 days went by so fast, I can only imagine how the next ones will go. You blink and it will all be over they say, I am starting to believe them. I am sure I sound like a broken record, forgive me, it is all a little surreal.
     At 11 months you could walk. Unsteadily and with many plops and redirections, but it did not deter you. You were just starting to get into everything, but had yet to become the tornado you are now. Your main interests were cords and remotes and pens. You loved to annoy the dog and still do, but there is less poking and slapping, you mostly observe, point and laugh now. In these pictures you had managed to remove the lid from the puffs container and subsequently you spilt them all over the floor all while mommy went pee. Our morning routine most days was pretty lazy. During this month you graciously slept till 8:30 most days and upon waking we would lounge in our jammies and you would snack on cherrios/puffs while mommy slipped in bites of yogurt and banana. Not because you did not like them, but because you were too busy playing to care. This was the month that you noticeably started to take an interest in balls, much to your daddy's delight. You loved to "throw" the ball, i.e. drop it while staring at the person encouraging you to hand it to them. You babbled all the time, your favorite syllables were da-da and ha-ha. You learned uh-oh while in Ohio with Mimi and Poppi and came home and forgot it. Even now you only say the uh part. This is the month you took a special interest in mommy and that has yet to wear off (secretly I love it). You started to show us the fart part of your personality. If we took something away from you you would clench your fists and grunt in frustration. Only recently have you started to throw tantrums which consist of laying on the ground and rolling around, ya, you are that kid. You were growing more hair, but it still stood up on end and gosh I love it. Dog food was your favorite snack no matter how many times mommy told you no. Our nap routine started to get a little longer, because mommy did not want to stop rocking you, especially when you would lay your sweet head on my shoulder. And to be honest kid, you are too darn cute for your own good. You force your mother to give you unsolicited snuggles and kisses all day every day that sometimes annoy you, but maybe, just maybe might be wearing off on you. Please stay this little for just a while longer.

Tobias in a bucket, 11 months and 2 weeks.

     Gosh how is it that my little Ty is almost one year old! Thinking through this past year I instantly want to clench my fists and grab the reigns before they completely slip through my fingers! Time whizzes by and yet each minute is fit to burst from the sheer amount of life packed in! This summer has been nothing but visit after visit from family, big milestones, travels and crazy adventures! I do not want it to end, but at the same time, I'm looking forward to the steadiness and routine that fall brings. Fall is by far my absolute favorite season! The excitement and energy that comes with the start of school carries into September when Gray and I celebrate our anniversary and now Tobias's birthday!
     As I plan Ty's big day I find myself conflicted. I love my boy more than can be said. He has brought so much joy and laughter into our lives. Things we didn't know we were missing all the sudden appeared and are now filled perfectly. I spend more time with him than anyone else in my life and each day is fashioned around him and his schedule. But as each new phase gets farther away from the tiny infant we brought home, life gets more exciting and fun! I definitely identify with the momma's who are not baby lovers. And even though I do not want to wish away these precious baby moments (and I am not) I look forward to the coming years as he starts to talk and we get to see more of his unique personality.
     In that vein, I love these pictures because they capture just a glimpse of his disposition. He is curious and independent, all boy, adventurous, unafraid, bossy, vocal, and good at letting you know what he thinks. He is stubborn, headstrong, determined, social like his dad, a lover of attention, spunky and funny. He is our handsome peach fuzz, our screechy ducky, and our stubborn fart. We love him to death and cannot quite remember what life was like before him, less fun for sure! :p