photo dump 2012

I wish I had time to upload each picture individually and tell you the great story that goes with them, but then, I fear I may never put these pictures on here. 

Here's the last month in a glance. I can hardly believe Zoey is almost two months old! Time has flown! 

 a weekend visit from Grandma and Grandpa Dickerson

 

 And the next weekend brought Grandpa and Grandma Smith (thank you Lord!)

 Jack, full of adventure and risk taking. Especially when mom is busy.

My dear cousins Kathryn and Mary and my Aunt Pat came up for a day visit. We pretended so much as little kids that we had babies (or rather, we pretended I was Marmee and they were my Little Women) and here we were, holding a real baby. Feels so surreal. and p.s. aren't they BEAUTIFUL?!

 A typical morning around these parts.

 After a quick bath. She looked too cute in her little hoody thing.

 Those eyes, I tell you. She's an old soul.

 It's getting more and more difficult to get a picture of Jack. He's moving all the time!

 Saturday cuddle. This last weekend.

 Oops, Jack is off again.

 Such a cute kiddo. He's busy talking up a storm and we can barely finish a sentence before he's repeated it. Oh, boy. 

some of my favorite things he says are:
 
"Hi Zooooeeeyyy!" in the cutest most shrill squeal.

"You ok, mommy?" anytime he falls on top of, throws a ball at you when you aren't looking or steps on your sore toe. 

He loves to sing songs, dance, play with his cars, eat fruit snacks, drink "coffee" and play night-night. A game in which he takes us into his room and turns off all the lights and gives us blankys and a pacifier. Not too bad.

 our heavy snow fall this weekend.

 A St. Patty's Day Feast. So delicious and filling.

 Loving on his sis.

Jack in the snow!

That's all for now..

Though hoping for more to come. The days and nights fly so quickly here. But the kiddos are snoozing for now, so I'm off to walk on the treadmill (be gone, baby weight ;)

Snowing in Spring

Living in Arizona the weather is never really "normal." Summer days in December and incredibly intense monsoons in July leave us with drastic temperature and precipitation changes within a weeks time. Kind of crazy, but I like it.

I have a weird fascination with weather. I remember being as young as a 3rd grader and watching the weather channel before school. I loved seeing what was coming that day and week. I have wonderful memories of waking up to very gray cloudy skies and thunderstorms on summer mornings. Thunderstorms that crept into swim team practice and forced us to evacuate the pool. I remember heavy ice storms and snow on cold winter mornings. If I close my eyes just right I can still remember the excitement of having a snow day as a kid. Growing up in Ohio, the weather changed every week. I loved it.

Needless to say, Arizona is sunny and beautiful and full of birds chirping and bike riding, but this midwestern girl misses a lil weather variety.

So when a snow storm was barreling through our little city, John and I were like kids again. We watched the lights flicker and got a flashlight, we put extra blankets on the kids and got ready for a great storm. There was hail, thunder and then deep blankets of snow. Oh, it was glorious.

And 70 degrees by Thursday? Well, alright. As long as we don't say farewell to winter permanently, please.

Before we know it Monsoons will fill our hot afternoons and the summer heat will be upon us. But not just yet.

//

Life with two is going well. We are figuring out our rhythm as a family and as husband and wife. Though not easy, it definitely is new and fun.

I think my most challenging days so far are Sunday and Wednesday/Thursday. John is gone nearly all day on Sunday and getting the kiddos ready, fed and out the door for church is kind of tricky. The hardest part is Jacks early wake up call. 6:15am yesterday. Yikes. John leaves by 6am which leaves me flyin solo. But Gods grace is so good and needed. He gave me the blessing of having Zoey sleep really well on Saturday night and then when Jack got up, He gave me for real supernatural strength to get through the morning, and feel alive. I tell you what, I was so thankful because on my own I am a pretty crabby mess that early.

But the day went well! Tiring, but good. Both John and I crashed on the couch later that night, watching one of our favorite shows. We were that tired. He said he tried to wake me up like ten times but I wouldn't have it. I don't remember that.

So thankful that my dad will be up here on Wednesday when John has a late meeting and an early morning meeting on Thursday. Thank you, Lord. Just the bit of extra help during these early months is so appreciated.

My two young cousins and Aunt came for a visit a couple weeks ago and it was awesome to catch up with them a little bit! Too quick of a trip.

These Days

A few more weeks in and I feel like I'm getting the hang of it.

We've been to church. Solo with two kids.

We've had a playdate. One to speak of.

We've gone out to dinner, the four of us.

We've entertained in laws and are on deadlines and have somehow survived early morning wake up calls from our first born.

Who is currently talking to himself in his room.

And man, it's been great.

Challenging at times, but good.

Around three weeks Zoey perked up an I wondered if she would ever nap again. Did I panic? Mm, yeah. A little. After seeking advice and counsel we began found our rhythm, which for us meant nursing a babe on both sides, even when she seemed to be in a milk coma. Since then, she's been napping so much better & last night she slept from 11-5. What?! Jack didn't do that for a year. Granted, around 8pm or so she begins a little munching fest, then gets a lil tummy ache, and soon conks out in her daddy's arms.

These new rhythms, I'm finding, are a little hard. I love them, I do. But they are kind of tricky. Every new rhythm has different beats and tempos. Poor Jack has been dealing with a few too many changes in his rhythm, I'm afraid. He loves his sister, but he's aching for some playmates.

Thus, that must be why they say 2 kids to 3 kids is a little easier than 1-2.

I'm so thankful to Jesus that nursing is going well & that this adjustment is much easier than the last one.

Jack has begun to talk up a storm. The things he says, man.

His favorite thing lately to say is,

"Watch this mommy-Zoey." because apparently we are one in the same.

He also, occasionally, lifts up his shirt and looks down there & says, "feed zoey?" sorry pal, that'll never happen.

He's such a fun kid & ready for Spring.

And I am too. After a chat with a dear friend I have high hopes for lots of outdoor time and swimming and eating lunch on the patio and just being. Because we live in a pretty beautiful place and it's time I embrace.

Yesterday I took my first walk on our treadmill. It felt wonderful. I listened to a Max Lucado sermon & even ran a very little.

...

On another note, I am loving the Once Upon A Time show. So good.