Lovely day, lovely day, lovely day....LOVE-LY day.

Love...

it can be shown, and felt, in so many different ways.

Valentine's day itself has never been much of a "romantic" holiday in our house. Ben is a bit of a Valentine scrooge...self-proclaimed. Nevertheless, we ALL enjoyed doing some things to be a bit festive in the name of love :)

I had a couple eager helpers to make, decorate, and EAT some cookies.

We made some hearts.

Christian enjoyed cutting them out, and then tape them to string.

We had "mail" everyday in the special mailboxes. I didn't intend on hiding the fact that I put the things in the mail, but both Christian and Noah would so eagerly ask if the "mailman" had come yet.

And, we painted heart footprints with "Love is true"...which was Christian's choice. I put Love is...and asked what to put. At first he wanted great, and several days later, right before I was going to paint the words, he said "no...Love is true."

Sometimes, it amazes me what he comes up with, it can be so deep.

Christian wrote out the names to all his valentine's in preschool..and we added some heart shaped fruit snacks. He chose his outfit for Valentine's Day...I had to hold back laughing when I said he could pick out something to wear for Valentines, and he said right away, "I KNOW! I will wear my black sweater, and black pants, and my fancy black shoes!!!" 

Oh my goodness, you do melt my heart somedays.

This little handsome valentine can have such a sweet, giving spirit...

I had taken him with me to pick out his valentine treats and cards, and when I asked what he wanted to get the people at school he said, "Well, I know what I can get Ms. Larisa. I want to get her a dress!"

I told him, "That would be such a nice thing to get her...I'm sure she would love that! But maybe we will give her what we give the other kids."

Late one evening, Noah helped me make some cupcakes (I had a red velvet cake mix for some reason in the cupboard...great time to use it up!). And oh my gracious...I made a mocha frosting that was SOOOOO good. I probably ate WAY too many cupcakes because of that frosting.

My little loves...

Christian was giggling so much, because Jonah kept touching his face and hair "tickling" him.

Oh how I love them. To pieces.

This year on Valentines, Grandma and Grandpa H. were here with us. 

They came down on Friday evening, stayed the night, and left late morning on Saturday.

The boys were quite happy to get to play with them.

Bubbles, bricks, puzzles, books, and cars!

It was so funny...Noah was referring to Grandpa H. as just "H"...said in only Noah fashion. Oh, it was cracking me up. He later put the Grandpa in front of it..but he can say things SO funny. It's said short, and kind of serious, and kind of like he's trying to talk with a low voice.

After naps, we went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

The matching valentine panda's..complete with matching hands in their mouths..showed Grandma some love.

For supper, we were invited to Mitch's...

what a surprise, and special treat it was.

(Noah's face is reflecting the guilt of both 'trying to see how close he could get to Jonah's face with his hand and pull it away' and also "booty bumping" on the bed, as though it was a trampoline.

Brothers, having a friendly game of shuffleboard. 

Ages 2 and 5...going on 22 and 25.

It was a really good Valentine's Day.

It truly was a lovely day, that was spent with some lovely people.

Jump!

For Christmas, we (the boys) got a trampoline from Grandpa & Grandma. Oh my. 

Over the past couple weeks we've had some unusually warm days. The first thing we did, was put up the trampoline.

There were a couple very eager helpers/jumpers.

This picture is hilarious...

By the following afternoon, it was ready to jump on.

Noah was very cautious, did not like to be bounced or moved at all! Christian on the other hand, was beyond excited! It was pretty sweet how Christian would try and help Noah get used to it. He could hardly stand having to take it easy while Noah was on there with him...so I let him have his own turn and he had a blast :)

Grandpa had to come over and try it out with them.

It didn't take Noah to get familiar with the idea of tumbling around on it...it would probably be okay if he had a bit more fear of getting injured. He now does "booty bumps" inside the house on the floor...

So much fun...and much more fun ahead! 

Thank you Grandpa and Grandma :)

Noah [update]

Noah, my dear..you are quite the little guy.

Every single day, you make me laugh.

In the last several months you have grown so much developmentally..I want to remember these moments as you learn and do new things.

You march to the beat of your own drum.

You can find the most interesting positions and places to relax in.

You are my little glasses wearing super hero.

You wear them like a champ. You want them on..hence, you obviously need them.

Most everywhere we go, at least SOMEBODY (if not many people) will comment on them, and how handsome you look. It doesn't faze you..you have no idea why they come up and talk to you..but I suppose its nice they are being nice.

"Gasses on, Mommy." 

This was first thing in the morning (I know your hair doesn't give that away at all!!) 

 You will also ask for them to be cleaned (especially after eating)..."keen dem, Mommy."

Occasionally, they serve as a toy.

"Peek-boo, Mommy!!" 

You always look so proud and happy when you know you're being silly.

You love puzzles.

You need some assistance, but you really do a good job at them...and they can keep you occupied for quite some time. Your favorite part is as SOON as its done you say, "wreck it up!!!!" and you wait to see if I'll help you take it apart quickly.

You love your brother a whole whole bunch.

You will often come up to him, "hold, Jonah??" "HUG Jonah (said like an old man)." or just the good old, "Heeeeyyyyy Jonah. Heeeeyyy." Very seldom do you cross the line, but it does happen, when you say, "pat, Jonah" and start patting his belly...when its gentle its sweet, but sometimes its like you check to see how far you can take it before he would get upset with you. You have also decided he makes good terrain for your trucks/tractors (as in..on his face)...this gets nixed very quickly!

You do love your Papa (as the shirt depicts)..and you love to color. 

You prefer "painting" which is really using markers, but will settle on crayons if you have to. You are a natural at holding the crayon AND at trying to stay in the lines...it is interesting to watch...how you just know what to do without ever being told. 

You love to be outside. 

"Shoes on. Jack-et on, Mommy. OUTSIDE. Yeah, outside Mommy!! Outsiiiiiiide!!!!"

You know the routine of going outside and it is so exciting :) 

You started out very cautious on the trampoline, and now its almost a complete 180..you need a little more fear of it!

We went to the arboretum...and oh, how you LOVED the "fishies". 

You would giggle and giggle at them. I absolutely love your laugh.

On a walk, we stopped at the playground. 

You are strong, you would not let go..."fall Daddy...falllll."

 You recently got a hair cut. 

Daddy does not want me to cut it short (he calls your hair beautiful), but the back was just getting out of control long. He approved of this...you are just a handsome little fella!

"Crazy hair"...you like this in the bathtub too.

Look at you!

When Christian is at preschool, or you have the chance to play by yourself...you play and play and play (all toys are free game I guess!).

You like books, you can look at them by yourself for quite some time. You also enjoy being read to..."wet-a-one" (another one) is said VERY often.

I love how you cross your legs. 

You love babies.

We know how much you love Jonah. But you love baby dolls and other little babies/children as well!

The other day, you were at Grandma's house tending to all her baby dolls..and needed to bring this one along with us to pick up Christian from preschool. You take your care taking very serious. That evening, we had church and you were taking care of all the dolls in the nursery there too! You enjoy giving the kids the same size as you or smaller hugs (sometimes welcomed, often times the receiving party is pretty skeptical). You're just a little love bug!

In the middle of the night this same night, you woke up crying...hard. We could not figure out what you wanted, and finally I brought you out to the kitchen so you wouldn't wake up Christian. I asked you, "WHAT?? What do you want Noah?" And finally you said, "Baby.".....so we found Baby Jack, and back to bed you went..completely satisfied. My, my, my.

And lastly..this is very exciting!! 

You have started using the potty chair. Whoo-hoo!!

You did it for the first time before your bath, and you seemed quite impressed with our reaction :) 

You seem to be getting the hang of it. You go...then immediately stand up and say, "A little bit!!! A little bit!!! Dump it out!" You hardly can contain the excitement :)

I will be okay when all your bathroom needs can be taken care of in there. But you will get there. You usually inform us by saying, "Change me....lllluuuuuccck (yuck)!" The other day, Daddy said, "Phhew, something stinks" and you promptly said matter of fact, "me!" It was true.

Other things you say or do.....

*You frequently use the terms "Yep" and "Nope"....very appropriately, but sometimes how you say it so serious and nonchalant, it cracks me up

*You sometimes say my name a hundred times a day. Take for instance, "Hold you, Mommy (you want me to hold you). Ok, Mommy (when I go to pick you up). Cozy, Mommy (laying your head on my shoulder when I pick you up). Blankie, Mommy (now needing your blanket to complete the cozy feeling). Ok, Mommy. (when I go to get his blanket)." Everything either starts or ends, or sometimes both, with my name. I know this phase will end all to quickly, so when you do it...I have to smile..because it is almost like music to my ears. Maybe its because I was nearly the last name you decided to say when you started talking :)

*"Fragile, Mommy." You call things fragile..even when they aren't...and it is so funny how you say it. You'll hand me a toy truck or even Play-Doh (which you call may-doh), and deem it "fragile"...so I say, "oh, is this fragile?" "Yep, Mommy. Fragile." (pause) Then you add "super, fragile." 

My favorite is when it really is something fragile...like a decoration at Grandma's house..and I say, "be careful, don't touch it." And you say in your old man way, with a sorta mumble, "Fragile, super fragile." and you may add in there a "gentle" while you go ahead and touch it anyway.

*You and Christian can be each others biggest pest! Oh my, you truly are in brother mode...where you can push each others buttons like crazy. You will yell out (Christian, in various sounding ways), 

"Shis-chen!!!! Shish-en do it! No, Shis--chen." And then you change your voice to a lower sound, "Shish-ennnnnn".

On the flip side...it is my very favorite, when you guys are each others friend....and you can play and giggle and carry on like you can't get enough of each other! (Those times are less often than the other, but at least I know there is hope for the future!)

*You started saying phrases and words in Spanish, and it is hilarious. You ask for your milk at bedtime in spanish "Leche, por favor, Daddy." You ask for your pants to be taken off before you lay down for your nap, "Pante-lo-nes off." (I was pretty proud for teaching you that...it is a fun word to say) "Te Amo" (I love you). 

You are so fun-loving, spunky, yet oh-so cuddly (especially when you first get up). 

We love you so much Noah.

Beautiful days

We've had some lovely days...

A visit to the arboretum to feed the fish...

Grandma surprised us with Sonic drinks at the Arboretum

One afternoon, we asked a friend to come play! 

Thanks, Owen...those two can sure carry on quite the conversations while they play.

Sidewalk chalk...Mommy's finest artwork.

A little light reading

 On a walk to Crosswinds...

 And much time on the new trampoline!

Blink (a look from ago)

I just saw this in my "drafts" that I never posted..I'm sure it was overlooked somehow. It was written 4/14/11, and Christian was 1 yr 8 months old at the time. The title of the post was "Blink"...and oh my goodness, it makes it that much more fitting now!! To think how little he was.....ahhh...I'm glad I have these memories.

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I feel like Christian is growing up..in SO many ways. Not only is he physically growing..which he appears to be doing in the height direction anyway. His facial features are becoming more grown up like a little boy..and I'm sure his almost bi-weekly haircuts make him appear more like a grown up as well.

Besides these physical things..he is creating a very wide vocabulary and way of communicating. Some of the ways he says things and the reasoning for it..are just so funny. His latest favorite "phrase" is anytime Ben isn't in the room or home he will say, "DAAA-E (Daddy), DAA-E, are you? Hi-ing (hiding) ?? " Occasionally, he will put his palms up and shrug his shoulders as if he were saying "I don't know?" Then he will repeat this, until I tell him where Daddy is. He also will go through the family really quickly at random moments.."Da-e, mama, papa" and he does throw in an unrecognizable word for himself (sorry to Grandma(s), he has said the word for grandma I think twice). He definitely knows his people if we do the "who's this" game. Identifying animals has been mastered, well maybe I should clarify how they are identified..by the sound they make of course. It's not uncommon for him to see whatever animal out of the blue on a book, or dvd, or whatever it may be..and say "BAAA" (in his mind sheep must have a very aggressive voice..and apparently cows must baa too, because no matter how many times we correct him and say "moo" he says, "no, BAA"). The other day I was in the store with him, and there was a very tiny duck on a package hidden amongst the display of curtains. All of the sudden he was saying "quak, quak...quak, quak". I finally found the duck, and that's when I officially decided his eyes are super good.

Christian's actions are more grown up, in that he is intentional. If he can't say verbally what he wants, he will tug on your pant leg and start pulling you to what he wants. His game of peek-a-boo, is like a cross between peek-a-boo and hide and seek. It gets a big smile, and lots of laughs if he's in the right mood. He recently started this routine of when I get ready for work, he will come into our bathroom (which is quite small, but it has two doors that make it so it is a loop through our bedroom, down the hall, into the dining room and back to the bathroom). If the door to our bedroom is open, he goes through, then shuts (or slams) the door shut...I then knock on the door loudly and say "hey", and he takes off squeeling with laughter through our bedroom, down the hall and back to the bathroom..and just before he gets there I get down so when he rounds the corner I "scare" him and say "hey" again. He LAUGHS, but not too long, because then he's already reaching and "uuh, uuuh"-ing at the door so I will open it to start the cycle again! I think if I let him this would seriously go on for an hour!! He can play with his tractors, trucks, bus, cars, (he says all those words pretty well) and legos for quite some time by himself. He also enjoys going through his library of books, and usually is pretty picky about what book he is in the mood to read. He'll bring it over and show you the book, I'll ask "oh, did you want to read ___" and he'll say "uh-HUH" and sit down on my lap to read it, each page usually. However, the little stinker has already tried to manipulate me. We will read him at least one book before bedtime (anytime between 8:45-10), and then pray and lay him down. Well, I was putting him to bed the other night and we were almost to the last page, so he reaches up to turn it back to about the 2nd page..so we get to almost the end again, and he does it again..stinker.

His eating habits are not consistant. It's kind of funny. Some days, it seems like he's a little piggy..literally stuffing his mouth full. And other days, he makes a huge mess..and refuses to eat any of his "favorites" (yogurt, pizza, cheese, cereal, chicken, cottage cheese, applesauce, spaghetti, bread). I think it's probably too soon to actually say..but I find it interesting how much he uses his left hand. I guess we'll see soon enough. I know Ben's family has several people that are left handed, so who knows.

He blows kisses, doesn't give out real kisses too often..mostly he wants to give kisses to other kids. He recently started giving "hugs"..which consists more of him standing there and you hugging him and he'll say "uuuuuuh" like you do when you get a BIG hug. I love it when he has his moments of being a love bug when we play..I'll lay my head on his tummy, and he will hug my head and pat it. His sensitive side has something to be desired maybe...the other day he saw me cry for the first time (no worries, nothing too tragic!), he paused, and stared..then started laughing at me! Like an all out laughing. I guess it was the appropriate thing to do in a round about way, because it made me get over it, and start laughing almost immediately :)

Oh I could go on and on. I just had to write some of this down because it feels like daily something happens that I know I will forget. It seems like sometimes I blink, and poof he's onto doing another new thing. I know that's what they're supposed to do..but man, it sure feels like it happens fast! He may be getting all big..but he'll always be my "baby".