Happy 3rd Birthday to my baby boy!!

Dear Jacob Nolan,
This post has been a long time coming sweet boy, the last few weeks since you've turned 3 have been spent cuddling, rocking and sleeping, how I cherish holding and rocking you just like I did all those days in the NICU...all 18 of them! We've all been sick and because of your asthma you tend to get a little sicker then the rest of us. So we've had lots of cuddling and snuggling!

I look at you in unbelief today because there is no way that you can be 3 years old. How did the last 3 years go by in such a blur? How have you gone to being 3lbs in my arms to telling me, "I love you mother bear"... You love your Little Bear show so much and it just completely reflects the softness and sweetness of your heart and personality.

Daddy and I were so fortunate to watch you on so many ultrasounds while God knitted you together in my womb. You were always curled up and had your face turned away from us snuggling and so comfortable and relaxed. It amazes me that your same personality holds true today, you still love to cuddle and snuggle in your bed (with your face snuggled into your blankets just like when I was pregnant with you..mommy keeps moving them away and you go right back to them!) You like to stay back and watch everyone before interacting, you have to have your BIG sister with you at all times..except for when you are sleeping and you love to sleep!!

I'm so blessed to be your mommy and I will never stop praising God for giving me this amazing little boy who I know will be a warrior for God in a mighty way! You are so loving, compassionate and polite. I dont think many people have met a 2 and now 3 year old boy that says please, thank you and bless you all the time. They look at you in amazement where ever we are and I beam at your sweet spirit!

Your little face and soft voice holds my heart in the palm of your little hand! I love that we have the same hands and feet..mostly because thats all you got from me as far as characteristics go...you are all your Daddy! Your smile and giggle makes my heart soar.

My favorite time of day is when I tuck you in and then you whisper, "rock me mama" the sweetest request ever, we rock and then you ask me to sing you lullaby or Jesus loves me. I tuck away those precious moments in my heart because as fast as the last 3 years have gone by and my baby has become a boy. I know the next 3 will come just as fast.

Thank you sweetheart for making me so proud and humbled to be your Mother Bear.

With all my heart,
Mommy

Happy 3rd Birthday Mia Noel!

Dear Mia,
I can't believe that you will turn 3 at 11:45am today. You my sweetheart have given me the best years of my life. At times it still seems like a dream that I have a daughter, but not just any daughter I have you! From the moment I learned that I was pregnant I prayed that one of my babies would be a girl. I didn't want to miss out on the relationship that Nana and I have and I'm so thankful everyday for everything you bring to my life.
Watching you grow and change these last 3 years is amazing. We knew even in pregnancy that you were a feisty one. Every time we got to peak at you (almost every week) on ultrasound you were waving to us and showing us everything you could do...and you haven't stopped 3 years later.
At 4lbs 3oz and 6 weeks early you let out a scream at 11:45 am to announce your arrival, the sweetest sound I have ever heard. You demanded all the nurses attention at the hospital for 3 weeks and made it known to everyone even in the NICU that you were going to do things your way and go home when you were good and ready but not before then..ha!
We fell in love with you instantly! You are so much like mommy and daddy its scary! You have no problem telling us where you want to go and what you want to do and if its not in your plans for the day you have no problem telling us that too! I love that not only are you independent but you like to have Mommy with you and close because I know soon there will be a day when you wont need to be in my arms or holding my hand that extra couple minutes until you take everything around you in.
You love to 'mother' Jacob and all your babies! You want to help mommy cook everything and you love to paint! You love to dance for us and you started your first ballerina and tap dance class in January.
Jacob is your best friend and you can't stand to be separated from him. I can't even explain the relationship that you two have with each other, nothing seems to do it justice, but I pray that it will always be like this. You can make each other laugh like no one else can and no one is your biggest cheerleader like Jacob is! Its simply amazing and beautiful!
Most importantly you love Jesus and you love to tell us that He loves you most of all, and that He loves mommy, daddy, Jacob, nana, papa, Lola, Lolo....the list goes on! I love that your heart is so sensitive to learning about Him and that you ask us to pray with you every night. I'm so humbled to watch the work Jesus is doing in you and the plans He has for you!

You are the light of my life sweetheart, the laughter in my heart and I will always be so humbled and blessed to be called your mommy! Happy Birthday my love!

(stay tuned for my letter to my sweet boy that holds my heart in the palm of his tiny little grip)

Pioneer Woman rescues lunch

I'm in love with my new 'Pioneer Woman Cooks' book, the recipes are easy and down right southern family cookin'!! I think I secretly wish I was born in the south! So like many moms we were in a lunch slump, especially when one of my two will only eat pb&j, grilled cheese and chicken nuggets, weve tried everything, even sneaky chef and then he won't eat which isn't good when your almost 3 and
only 24 lbs! So today we all gathered round the counter country style (ha!) and made some good ol' eggs in a hole! They thought it was awesome and Jacob even had a bite...and then politely asked me to make him some chicken. Mia and I enjoyed our eggs in a hole! Thank you Pioneer Woman for saving our lunch!














-


Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wordless Wednesday...

Nana's antiques are not a toy....even if it does resemble your new tricycle!

The LONGEST POST YET (Part 1)December 2009 catch-all.....

Serioulsy the longest post of 2009...and its only Part 1, which is actually wrapping up our busiest month of the year. We like to look back at our past Christmas with the 'twinks'. They loved everything about it so much and are still asking if Christmas is done. They love hearing the nativity story and now were moving on and slowly introducing the story of Easter! Watching their minds grasp the birth of our savior and now His death so that we could spend eternity with Him is amazing. What a blessing it is to parent these two!

It was Mia and Jacob's first year actually loving their holiday pajamas, so excited every night to put them on!


We painted ornaments and made snowflakes!



...and gumdrop christmas trees!


...and bundled up (southern california style)for some fun playdates!


Christmas Lights!






....and in between busy holiday activities I walked in to find an activity they put together all by themselves..ha!



we even escaped to an adult holiday party hosted by my work.


The kids loved every detail of decorations this year, and if I happened to change something around my very detail oriented little boy noticed without skipping a beat!




Jacob decided since he didnt have a pony at home that he would use his sister and vice versa...seriously I have no idea where they come up with this stuff...ha!



We had dinner and decorated cookies, sang carols and exchanged wide elephant gifts with our small group at our Pastor's house...






Our church hosted a winter wonderland night at the town center!
Mia and Jacob both loved this mile high slide! They even went by themselves a few times!

It snowed!!

Our very own Brook James leading us in Christmas Carols!

Christmas Cookie Decorating with friends!

On Saturday we headed over to The Porters for some food, sugar and fellowship...did I mention the sugar?? After an afternoon of pure sugar enjoyment the kids proceeded to bounce off the walls until well after midnight!! It was well worth it though!

Here is one of many beautiful trays that were beautifully crafted by our toddlers and then eaten!







...and the sugar kicks in...pillow fight!!



Jacob says "what a cute group of girls, I'm crashing their bean bag"


"move over sis"