Snow much Snow!

We've had a quite a bit of snow the past couple of weeks here down south.  I have to say I've really enjoyed every single minute of it, even if it has resulted in a few extra minutes added to our school day and a few holidays we've lost from now until the rest of the year.  While we've had our fair share of stir-crazy moments stuck inside the house I'd like to think we've made the best of it with mornings of snow cream, hot chocolate - and afternoons filled with snowflake sugar cookies and crafts.

Chloe enjoyed the first small batch of snow we had last week and "ice skating" around in our backyard, but after that she was quickly over it and it was too cold for her.  She prefers staying inside, drinking hot chocolate and snuggling up on the couch.  Yates, however, loves the snow and can't get enough snow cream, snowmen  or snowball fights.  He runs and giggles and tramples around in the snow tickled at the sight of his own footprints.  The sight of him so happy makes me even happier.

It's going to be hard to go back to reality once springtime really does come... but then again we will just have more to celebrate with our vegetable garden, flowers blooming and picnics outside at the park.  Until then we will spend a few extra minutes snuggled up to stay warm in the bed and eat a few extra cookies because after all, it's nice to slow down every once in a while and be snowed in with my most favorite people.

Choo - Choo Yates is Two!

// Choo - Choo, Yates is Two! //

This little man is two.

He is the sweetest, most tenderhearted, stubborn but yet loving boy in the world.  He's the coolest kid ever, and such a typical boy who would rather be outside making motorcycle sounds, playing with rocks and riding his 4-wheeler than anywhere else.  He loves his big sister, and to follow her around - but he is a leader as well and holds his own easily.  He'a got a cool, calm and collected demeanor about him and I have to say he does remind me so much of myself.

Lately he's been stuffing his face with pancakes, sausage, lollipops and strawberries - which he cannot get enough of.  He's putting together words to phrases, and even sentences which is so much fun to hear.  The best part is when he agrees with you.  He never says "yes," because he's too cool for that, obviously.  "Yes" is stated by a grunt as if to say, "um yea, that's it, you got it."  If you ask him the mornings of preschool if he's ready to go to he clearly says "no," and then replies with "home." If you ask him "why" it's because he wants to play with Papa, because Papa comes over about once a week and Yates loves, loves, loves his Papa.  He also loves everything orange- orange lollipops, orange cars, orange legos, orange crayons, orange popsicles.  And he has to have two of everything, two poptarts, two cups, two trains...  two means more than one and that makes anything better,

My little man is growing up.  And while I remember when he was a little baby boy like yesterday, I also am so proud of the big boy he is growing up to be. So much like his Mama, yet so much like his Dada.

// 37 weeks, 2 days before Yates was born //

Each one of my children were born at 38 weeks.  My water broke with both, which is extremely rare so I'd like to think they came into this world a bit unique.  My epidural didn't work well with either one, but especially with Yates, and I remember being in quite a bit of pain.  He came pretty quick into this world and knew he was ready... he knew what he wanted, which fits his (and Dada's) personality.

Fast and furious.  And precious... really, really precious.

// 1 day old, and completely perfect in each and every way //

// A wild 1 year old //

On his first birthday he wouldn't have anything to do with his cake.  He's a texture type of eater and didn't understand why the cake was spongy.  He now loves cake, but loves icing even more (again, just like his Mama).  I can't wait for him to taste the train cake Mama has made him this year!

We love you to the moon and back baby boy, and so much farther... much, much farther.

// xoxo //

Addicted to Love

Sometimes I wonder (worry) if I need my kids more than they need me.  I am that mother who goes in for a head sniff every once in a while (okay maybe two or three times) when they are napping just because I need an extra fill.  They both sleep in our bed most nights now, and while hubby sometimes complains of not sleeping well, I don't mind it- not one bit and worry about the time when they sleep in their own beds, in their own rooms, and we have our nights apart.

I have really rough and tough moments too just like every other mother of losing my patience and wanting to pull my hair out because having two toddlers is no joke.  But I blame the fact that I am so needy of their attention because I am a working mother and I can't help but envy those who get more time with their children- because if I am honest, early mornings and late afternoons aren't enough for me.  Chloe has so much to say now, and we have elaborate conversations about how much she likes the color pink and unicorns.  Yates is starting to learn his colors, Chloe is starting to learn her letters and I desperately want to have the time to teach them these things, to have some say in their learning and creating their own character.  To think I only have two more years with Chloe and three more with Yates before they go to kindergarten scares me, and I want to bubble wrap them and keep them tucked away in my arms forever and ever.

The fact of the matter is my family isn't just important to me, it's my everything.  I am so fortunate to have a husband who feels the same way I do, who is addicted to our children as much as I am and who shares my same feelings about the importance of our time together as a family.  I have never felt so complete as I do now with the four (five, including our first-born, bulldog Coach) of us, and for that I am extremely grateful.