Twelve.

Twelve. 

It doesn't seem like such a big number. But, like most things, it all

depends on that which it refers to.

12 seconds... how long it takes for me to get you to stop crying by handing you a tray full of raisens.

12 minutes...

how long it takes for you to discover, be entertained, master and then move on from a new toy.

Twelve days...

how long it took from the time you took your first steps, to the time you were off and walking like an ole pro.

 

Twelve months...

how long from the time they placed my precious newborn baby in my arms,

exclaiming, "It's a BOY!"

until the time I watched you eat your 1st cake and open up your 1st birthday presents.

 

 

Happy Birthday, my big 1 year old boy! You are loved, cherished and adored by all of us.

 You have brought us 12 months of irresistable JOY!

We love you, sweetheart!!

eight.

Sometimes I wonder how it's possible that I could pick out your voice among a sea of a million - yet some days I can look across the kitchen and hardly recognize you.

I know I heard that little old lady who passed us by-  me a proud new mama, you a newborn babe swaddled in my arms - tell me that "it goes by way too fast." 

Surely, I thought- not too fast.

Surely, I thought- I'll remember every first, every last, every giggle, every tear...

Every moment.

And then the moments turned into milestones.

And the milestones into months.

And the months into years.

 

And then one day- eight years later - I thought of that little old lady and realized she must have been a grandmother.
And once a new mother.
With a newborn babe swaddled in her arms.

But I will not lose myself in a mess of tears over the moments that have passed, for those moments have weaved a beautiful tapestry of memories.

This year, especially, you have grown so much. What you've acquired in maturity, helpfulness, generosity, intelligence and loveliness-  my beautiful daughter-  is so much more than inches or feet could ever measure.

You are my helper.

My friend.

Eight years ago today - when they placed you in my arms- I thought I could never love anything or anyone more than I did right there in that very moment.

Last night as I tucked you into bed, (your long grown-up self nearly reaching from one end to the other), I told you- again- about the beautiful day you were born.
The day you made me a Mama.

And you asked me, "what did you say when I was born?"

The question brought me straight back to the hospital bed where I held you, all through the night,  snuggling you close to my chest- stroking your soft silky hair and feeling a brand new emotion I couldn't quite name, but that I knew I'd never felt before...

What did I say to you? Besides saying "I love you" - a million and one times- I also remember saying "I'm so proud of you!"

Oh, my precious Gracie girl- my first born- there has not been a day that's gone by in 8 years where I haven't thought those very same thoughts.

And if I haven't told you enough- please forgive me.
Because I want you to know today, and every single day,
how much "I love you" - and that "I'm proud of you!"

Happy Birthday, baby girl!
 

Birthdays, Lemonade and Handsome Fathers...

There's not a whole lot that I didn't like about last weekend.
Family.
Cake.
Sunshine.
Ice Cream.
Celebrations.
Pie.

Did I mention... there were a lot of dessert's?

And what's not to like about that? Well, except, of course- it reminds me that I really should hit the gym a few extra times this week (or once... yeah- that'd be good). Which also reminds me that last time I did go, I had to enter in a new (ahem...) larger number when the Precor asked for my age/weight. I'm talking about the AGE, people- not the weight, thank you very much! Though, I find it all circles back around again to the desserts- and I just may, indeed, find myself entering in a bigger number for both next time I go.

But even so, it was worth it- every last bite of Culver's ice cream cake. Ummm.

My favorite celebration this weekend was celebrating the men I love...
My "first love" (my Daddy)...

And the LOVE of my life (my kids Daddy)...

I'm pretty sure there are a whole lot of good dads out there, but I'm also pretty sure that my kids have been blessed with the creme de la creme. Watching this man with his kids is like watching your favorite chic flick movie over and over again.

It's safe. It's cozy. It always makes you smile. It never gets old.

And It always makes you feel good.

Oh, how I LOVE this man!

He's devoted to these children with every fiber of his being.

He delights in them.

He prefers being with them and spending time - just being their Daddy- over everything else this world has to offer.

I was lucky enough to have that kind of Daddy when I was growing up...

And now I'm married to the same kind of extraordinary man.

And in return, they are all just as crazy about him. You've never heard bigger exclamations of, "Daddy!!!!!" and seen bigger tackles than when Dad walks in the door from a business trip.

As a show of adoration, Ariana wrapped up her prized tootsie roll for her Dad and presented it to him on Father's Day. She proudly presented her gift. Watched, eyes wide and smile beaming as  he opened her gift.

And then, right after I took this picture - had I kept clicking away- the next shot would have been of her reaching her palm flat open and asking her Daddy, "Ok, can I have it back now?"

Yes, this weekend was bathed in celebrations... one right after the other. Birthday parties (more than just mine, Father's Day, Lemonade stands...

OK- so the lemonade stand was more like a celebration of being young and adorable enough to stand with your glass tip jar on the side of the road anxiously waiting for people to not only drive by, but to stop and get out and make your entire day.

So, here's to looking adorable...

And here's to being brave enough to wait on the side of the road with your glass tip jar for cars to drive by...

...and stop...

...so you can serve them lemonade.

I love summer weekends.

When it's sunny.

And there is dessert.

And a little lemonade to wash it down ;)

What plans do you have for this summer weekend?

Happy Birthday... Again, and again, and again and again

All right folks- this is it.... I promise! The last birthday announcement you will see from me (that is, of course, until this baby arrives sometime in the next 2 weeks ;)

My son turns 5 years old today! For some reason, when my daughter turned 5, it seemed much harder for me. But my little boy is still- well- my little boy, and I think he always will be.
He is my buddy- my sweetheart. He is so loving and gentle and sweet. He loves his momma, and his momma LOVES him!

I uploaded a few pictures of him as a baby- but, honestly, I was just too lazy to find, scan and upload pictures of when he was born. He was a little cutie. Just trust me on that. 8 lbs. 9 oz... head full of dark hair.

Here he is at around 4 weeks (and me looking like I'm 12). Seriously, it's getting me a little depressed seeing these pictures from 5 and 7 years ago when my kids were born... oh, how just a few short years and so many kids has aged me!!)



He was SUCH a happy, content baby. Truly just a joy...



Momma and her boy...



- a little bit of a skip in age here, but here is his at Age 3...

Age 4...

And Age 5!

Happy Birthday, Son. I love you!

And if 'this' doesn't put me into labor... I'm not sure what will!

You know it was my daughter's birthday, yesterday, right? So- why is there a picture below of my son and his buddies? Well, quite simply because my son's birthday is Monday... yes, 3 days after Grace's. This is a cute picture right? Alex and 5 of his buddies?



This is pretty cute, too- Grace and 8 of her girlfriends...




But how about if you put BOTH groups together?? Now it turns from "cute" to chaos!





Did you see all those kids in that picture? Actually, if I look carefully and count them all up, we are still missing a few of the kids in this picture- so visualize a few more thrown in there for the full effect.

I have to say, everyone ate nicely outside. At least, I think they did. I was sitting inside at the kitchen counter, enjoying my corn dog and pizza in quiet while my Auntie (who stayed for the party) actually supervised outside and took care of all the requests.

This was the "boys" table...




Here's my big (almost- on Monday) 5 year old opening some gifts.

And my sweetheart 7 year old about to blow off the candles from her Princess cake (which, by the way, an hour before the party was a plain white cake with balloons on it that said "Happy Birthday Grace"... seriously! how could they get that soooo wrong??... had to wait for them to make a new CORRECT one!)

And, no, I did not Photoshop and extra large belly on this picture of my myself. I don't often see myself from the side. And, believe me, I was just as shocked as the next guy when I took a look at this photo... now it's all making perfect sense why people are constantly staring and commenting at me in these final weeks. It is a bit startling. Not sure why I didn't take a load off and just throw the cake plate right on top of my shelf belly and waddle over there... maybe next time. Oh- did you think I was kidding? No... there will be a next time... tomorrow night- birthday celebration day #3 when the whole family comes over for the kids 'family party'.

Yesterday, for Grace's birthday, we took the kids to a big amusement park. It was 92 degrees. Pure sun. Not a cloud in the sky. I'd love to show you pictures, except I can't. My beloved Panasonic point and shoot -was stolen. Not joking. I'm always surprised at the depravity of man... (and actually, I should say 'woman' since it was stolen from the woman's bathroom).

I'm not sure which was worse- suffering through the heat or getting my camera stolen. Both were extremely unpleasant. But - the kids had fun and that's all that matters.

Next up, family party tomorrow and it ain't over yet, folks. More partying hearty for my son's birthday on Monday when we head to Chuck E. Cheese.

As for myself, as I started out saying...

If this doesn't put me into labor... I'm not sure what will!!