Herny Turns TWO!

Raise your hand if you are super cute and two years old!

T.W.O. I can't believe this little boy is two years old. I officially no longer have babies in my house. I'm not sure how I feel about that yet. But I'm even less sure on how I feel about having two toddlers in my house. Eek!

What a busy year. Changing from a one year old to a two year old might be my most favorite year. There's growth with every year, but there is something about the transition from a baby to a toddler that is so much fun.

Henry is funny, outgoing, rambunctious, sweet and snuggly. I'm so thankful for that last one (snuggly) and hoping it doesn't fade away.

This is what he does when I say "smile". He gives me this goofy smirk.

Having a toddler doesn't come without it's challenges of course. Henry is also stubborn and bossy. The boy can throw down the word "no" faster than I can even spit out my question or command. Henry can you...NO!. Even his yeses start with the word "no". Henry do want so candy?...Noyesss. lol.

 I'm pretty sure he thinks he's the boss around our house despite my power to put him in a timeout...which I most certainly use.

Henry now wears 2T clothes (3T pjs), weighs 28 lbs (79%), and is 3 ft tall (94%). He's a big boy, much bigger than Emerson was at this age.

Those eyes just melt me.

His best and funniest physical quality is his hair! It can put most 80's hairstyles to shame. I mean look at this height. It naturally sticks straight up and it's impossible to tame.

p.s. this is the smashed down and gelled hair version.

And of course we couldn't take some photos without Emerson. This maybe one of the most fun and challenging things about this year. Watching their relationship grow. They are so amazing to watch play together. They really do act like best friends. They always give big hugs to each other, especially when they've gone most of day at school without seeing each other. Their welcome hug could put tears in any mother's eyes. They also fight like brothers, which has led to more tears than I ever imagined. I definitely think the pros out weigh the cons on this one though. : )

Post photo popsicles for the win.

So what's next for this big two year old? A big boy bed and potty training! It will be a year full of adventure and work on our parts as we help him grow into a little boy.

And lastly, I leave you with these few funny outtakes. Not every photo can be a winner.

E Turns Three

Birthday's are no fun for mommies. It's the day we realize our "baby"  is growing up. Sigh.
Over the past year, Emerson has grown in small ways, especially in comparison to the first year of life. But I still can't believe how much he changed. It was hard this year because we seemed so focused on all of Henry's changes that suddenly we realized how big Emerson had become.

Here's just a few things I've noticed a change in:

• Bursting vocabulary. Talks non-stop. Likes to talk to others on the phone
• Has developed fears.
• Moved to a big boy bed.
• Potty trained.
• Has gained an attitude. I now know what they mean by threenager.
• Likes to play pretend more.
• Will actually sit and watch a show/movie.  
• Has started memorizing books.
• Can say and identify most alphabet letters.
• Says the Pledge of Allegiance. Adorable to listen to.
• Got his first tricycle and has mastered riding a two wheeler scooter.
• Has great hand-eye coordination and loves playing any sport. 
• Has completely lost interest in sitting in a stroller and prefers to walk.

And the list could go on forever!

We started his big day with a cinnamon roll breakfast and it's the only time he let me sing happy birthday to him. The rest of day he refused to let anyone sing.

His birthday fell on a school day on Tuesday, so we got to have a little party at school.

Yummy cookies our sweet friend from church made. She did a fantastic job of making them look like Blaze from Blaze and the Monster Machine show (his birthday party theme).

Henry really enjoyed getting to sit with the big kids and eat his cookie : )

When daddy came home from work we opened presents and enjoyed our birthday cookies. Emerson was only crying because we tried to sing happy birthday to him. He was fine as soon as we stopped.

The following Saturday we had his party at the park! It was really the perfect location for a bunch of toddlers to run around. Even the big kids that came really enjoyed the park. Simple. Fun. Free. How can you beat that?

Happiest of birthday's my sweet, three-year-old boy! We love you.

Smile. It's Family Photo Time!

Family photos. This is Jesse's least favorite thing in the world. I know that's a bold statement, but I promise it's true. I, on the other hand, absolutely love taking family photos! The struggle is very real between us.

So I obliged my husband for a whole year, but as soon as my baby turned one, it was time for some (dun dun dun)...family photos.

 Here are a few of my favorite from the shoot.

"Dear in the headlights" was a very popular look for Henry in this photo shoot.

My big boy! 

He looks so much older in this photo. I was so proud of how well Emerson did during most of the photos.

 Happy toes!

I nailed this one!

Love, love, love our brick wall background.

Such a fun photo set-up

This is my favorite! Love how it captures him just playing.

This is my second favorite. So much boy about this picture, it fits him perfectly.

Although the boys did great, it was not without it's tough moments and tears. Emerson was adorable though trying help make Henry smile for the camera. I'm sure we all looked ridiculous. Oh well.

A Life Update on Emerson

The Good. The Bad. The Ugly...and The Wonderful.

I'm talking about life moments with a toddler. Oh my, the past six months has taught me a lot about my little guy. Emerson is just so much fun at this age, and yet so very challenging. He makes me question every parenting decision I make, teaches me new patience daily, has made me pull my hair out, and yet still I discover a deeper love for him.

If it sounds like a crazy roller costar, it is.

Parenting a toddler is no joke, but watching him grow into the little man that he is becoming is so very worth it.

He laughs at his own jokes. He likes to play with his brother (on his own terms of course). He is social and yet shy. You never know which Emerson is going to show up (personality wise) when we are in public. He is very verbal. I often catch him singing Faithfully by Journey or There's a Fountain Free from our church song book. He likes to mimic everything! He loves his momma, but is attached to daddy's hip on the weekends.

The past six months has brought some changes. He's finally adjusting to having baby brother around (only took about 6 months, eek). He had tubes put in his ears and it made a world of difference on his mood since the ear infection were gone. Now, unfortunately, we can't blame his tantrums on his ears...its all him! We celebrated holidays, went on vacations, played and grew. All the while, I didn't think he was changing much, until I went back and looked at pictures. Emerson has changed so much! It's scary how quickly my mind forgets the baby he once was.

Each day he changes, each day he makes me smile, each day I laugh with him and each day he makes me mad and feel tired. But that's what it's like being a parent. You take the good with the bad, with the ugly, and in return you get the wonderful : )
 

Just after his second birthday.

 He looks like such a baby here!

 

This is our everyday norm. No pants and lot of tears.

I can't even handle that hair and those glasses. This was right before our beach vacation in July.

 Heart melted. Probably one of my favorite photos ever.

And we can't forget about brother. This was the first time Emerson ever asked to hold Henry. Made my world. 

Showing off our more feminine side.

First day back at Play School. It's like he grew up overnight in this photo.

 Sharing sweet hugs with brother.

Happy 2.5 years, Emerson. We have survived this far, let's make it to age three!

My Little Fireman and His Trusty Friend

Hope everyone had a happy Halloween! It rained (and rained) here in Lumberton, TX. But that didn't stop several adorable trick-or-treaters from getting out and about.

We had a memorable Halloween this year, due to the rain (flooding, really). We started our day by going to the Children's Museum, but by the time we came back, the rain had flooded our streets and we couldn't get through. So we went to our church building, hung out, ate our Chick-Fil-A and had many races around the empty fellowship hall. It was actually quite fun : ) That night we stayed in and passed out candy. Emerson thought he needed a pieces of candy every time we had trick-or-treaters come to the door. I may or may not have given in, because I was also eating candy.

Although we didn't trick-or-treat, the kids still dressed up and did several Fall fun activities the days leading up to Halloween.

Here's Emerson the Firefighter with his trusty friend, Henry the Dalmatian. 

 Getting ready to go to our church's Truck-or-Treat.

Emerson's school party.

 Pumpkin Patch time!

Henry's first time at the Pumpkin Patch. 

He loved riding around in the wagon.

A big milestone for Emerson was jumping in the bouncy house. He has always been too afraid to go in. I did have to go in with him and only one other child was in there, so I guess that seemed a little less overwhelming for him.

Happy Fall fun to all!