These are the good old days

There have been so many moments over the last several weeks that I wish I could bottle up and save for later. Since I don't scrapbook or baby book or write down anything...I need to use this blog to remember some of this cute stuff.

Here is an exchange we had with Paige at the breakfast table yesterday.

Paige: "We need to get a cross put on Tyler's head."
Me: "What for?"
Paige: "You know, when they take their finger and make a cross like this (on his forehead)."
Chris: "Maybe she's talking about Ash Wednesday?"
Me: (finally remembering) "Oh, you mean, we need to get Tyler baptized?"
Paige: "Yes, what does baptized mean?"
Me: "When you get baptized, they put water on your forehead in the shape of a cross. It symbolizes Jesus washing away your sins and making you clean."
Paige: "What are sins?"
Me: "Well, we sin when we say mean words or do unkind things..."
Paige: (thinking, then with a smirk and a twinkle in her eye) "You mean like when you put me in time out?"
Me: (staring, dumbfounded, knowing this conversation is not over...)

Then, there is my soft, cuddley, smiley Tyler...oh I love this age...almost 6 months old...loving to be held...smelling so baby sweet. I love his round cheeks. I love how he smiles almost every time our eyes meet. I love how he is quiet and content...(especially because Paige is talking incessantly and tends to be dramatic.) I love how when I hold him when he is tired and he is sucking his pacifier, he will look up at me and smile through his clear pacifier and make a sweet little "coo" noise. He is just scrumptious! And I am so thankful to have him in my life.

For different reasons, I LOVE these kids. I love my family. In life we inevitably suffer trials, so it's times like these when I just need to call out the JOY that's in my life right this moment. These are the "good old days" that we will talk about later.

4 Months and 4 Years...

4 Months old...Tyler has found his voice...



4 Years old...Paige loves Jesus. We were writing some Thank You cards this weekend and Paige insisted that we write a Thank You card to Jesus. So, I gave her a card and she wrote many letters. When I asked her what it said she said "Dear Jesus, Thank you for making me. Will you be there in Heaven to give me a hug? Thanks for loving me. Love, Paige". I was blown away...so I wrote her words in the card and will save it for later. Here is a video of me asking her about the card...if you listen carefully she adds in "a hug and a kiss" and asks if "He will be there when we are old?".

Summer with Grammy 2010

My super friend Stacey took some pictures of me, my mom, and the kids to commemorate our summer together. My mom has been the ultimate Godsend...throughout my life, but most recently this summer.

She cared for Tyler most of the summer so that he could stay in the house with me when I went back to work! She has incredible energy and also has a sixth sense about how to provide just the right amount of support when you need it. She did laundry, cooked meals, ran errands, played and loved on the kids, AND made our bed! We were so spoiled...and I even feel a little embarrassed letting you in on the amount of help she showered on us...but ultimately we are forever GRATEFUL for her kindness!

Here are some of the pictures of us...and quite a few of Tyler's cutie face:

So Big...

Tyler is 3 months old and around 17lbs! He has grown a TON in the last month. He is such a good baby...he only cries when he needs fed or a nap...otherwise, he is all smiles! Best of all, he has slept through the night for the past 5 days!!! Thank you God!
Here are some updated videos of him playing...

Chunky Monkey

There is no doubt that our boy Tyler LOVES to eat...He has been eating and eating and growing like a weed. It's as if he is growing before our very eyes! I am feeling so grateful for and am totally in awe of this infant stage. He started to smile around 7 weeks and at 11 weeks, he now is laughing and cooing...it's really cute. Add in some chunky thighs and this boy is just irresistable!! :)

Our smiley boy...

Pooltime at our 4th of July family get-together...

Tyler chillin' with his big sister...

Gearing up for his boxing match...

And you just gotta love these silly cousins...AND the dog that puts up with them!

Flippin' Cool

Chris got me this great Flip video camera for our 9th anniversary...get ready for some great movies - I am just getting started with this thing!

Mother Hen