five years

It's been five years since our wedding day.

Five years, today.

I can't believe it.

In some ways, it feels like I can hardly remember life without him, but in other ways I can't believe it's only been five years. There's so many more we hopefully get to share. We're just gettin' warmed up!

He keeps me on my toes and there are rarely dull moments, but there's no one I would rather share this adventure with.

Happy Anniversary, my love. Here's to many more years to come.

and 2012? Well, I realized we really haven't taken many pictures together yet this year. We shall remedy that soon. And after I lose some baby-love-chub ;)

Here's to being young, John! We're at the prime of our youth!

gentle hands

Um, why is this the first time I'm seeing this trailer?

Choked up through the entire song. Beautiful. Anne Hathaway isn't my favorite, but she plays Fantine. Amanda Seyfried is in it as well and she is, really wonderful. Like in this movie? 

One of my personal favs as well as with the lovely Meryl Streep. I could watch anything with Meryl in it.

//

Jackboy has been having kind of a hard time using gentle hands. Well, that has been going on since he was about 1 1/2, but he just looooves to interact with his sister. I'm still trying to figure out how to react. Do I, let him cuddle with her/sometimes be aggressive in hopes that she'll be able to take it? Or do I helicopter-mom it and not leave the two in the room alone together? Because that's kind of what I've been doing. I try to remember that he's only two and doesn't know his own strength, but also, he's two and knows what I'm talking about when I say things like "don't lay on your sister" or "use gentle hands." In the below picture that is him "turning on his listening ears." We practice every day when he's having a hard time obeying and we turn them with the twist of our fingers. He is such a sweet boy and I know he means well and the last thing he would ever want would be to make her cry. When she does cry he says in the highest voice he can muster, "It's okay, Zoey. Ticky-ticky-ticky!" and tickles her under her chin. So cute.

Zoey adores him. She loves seeing him and when he comes in in the morning she kicks her little legs like the circus is in her very bedroom. (because it pretty much is.) I was running some errands today and Jack asked me to leave Zoey here and that he would watch her. They're going to be pals, I can just tell.

I see Jack outside playing in the yard, eager to meet neighbors. He asks again and again, "what's your name? What's your name?"

He's my little social bug. 

But Zoey-bird is different. I wonder if she'll be outgoing or a little shy. I was extremely social and John was a little more timid (which is kind of funny if you know us now.) I can't wait to see them develop in their sibling relationship. I dream of watching them explore the backyard together, create different adventures with their imaginations and I pray that Zoey will be used in Jack's life to slowing down and resting for a bit ;)

She isn't scared of Jack and when she gets too much of him she squawks like a little animal warning a fellow friend that they will attack if they are bothered much longer. Well, Zoey can't attack much yet, but I hope she one day will. And the wrestling matches will ensue on the floor, like when we were kids.

My little bird, resting on her mat. Praise God her head is looking much better and all the tummy time has made her one strong little girl. She's attempting to roll when she's on her back and has already flipped onto her back from her tummy. I can't believe we're already at four months. Time! Where is it going?

We play outside almost every single day. It's part of my Summer2012Plan. Jack loves it and I love his dirty little hands at the end of the day or asking to be pushed on the "baby swing" 7,000 times. I love hearing him talk to himself, mumble to himself (when we haven't gone out there to push him in said swing.) and line his little cars up on the patio. After he lined these little guys up he kept saying, "Ready! Set! Go!" and then raced in circles around them.

Believe it or not, each one of those cars is hand picked. He knows when one is missing, he's sad if I bring them insides and often times they take baths with him. His "favorite car" is the gray on on the right. "Sally" are the two light blue cars. Other favorites. Not pictured is one of Jack's fav called "sound car." It was John's when he was a boy and it plays a little tune and still works after years and years of use.

John recently changed his day off from Monday to Friday (since Sunday really isn't a weekend day, but a full work day.) I was tentative at first, but let me tell you what. It has been delightful! We have two full days to do whatever we need to do. We have two nights to watch a new movie (or an episode of Mad Men) or go on a date. He works Saturday nights too, so up until now we've only had Friday nights and Sunday nights, which, after a long day aren't much of a hang out night. ;) It's really been nice to get on a new schedule. I am loving it. 

We've gotten a chance to cuddle up in bed after everyone wakes up (which is early round these parts) and just admire little baby chub and little boys who love to jump on beds.

These pictures turned out so beautiful, I can hardly believe it. (thank you, natural lighting)

These two. They looks so different yet alike!

Zoey's eyes are almost navy! I love that they look like a night sky.

Okay, I'm done. Just some pictures for the grandparents ;)

Oh, before I go, last night we watched We Bought A Zoo. Have you seen it? Go and watch it. It was just perfect.

flashback

Zoey, 2012                                                      Jack, 2010

I just love comparing the two.

And yes. John is wearing the same shirt 2 years later. And he looks exactly the same.

I, however, do not. We're working on that. ;)

beginning of summer

A cold front came in this weekend and it couldn't have come at a better time. Just when I thought summer might be here to stay we get a nice little chill (low 60's) to remind me that the heat hasn't arrived. Yet.

We have been playing outside as much as humanly possible. I am dead set on teaching Jack to enjoy the outdoors (a life skill I didn't practice nearly often enough.) I love the outdoors, but preferred playing inside as a kid. That mostly had to do with the fact that growing up in Ohio it was often raining, snowing or just bitter cold. Summer days were often spent outside in an above ground pool, at friend's houses and exploring the woods behind our neighbor's house. Oh, summer. 

Since moving out west I quickly realized that the warm, Arizona sun could either be my friend or my enemy. After years of fighting it in the valley, I'm choosing to embrace it with these beautiful mountains and pine trees. It's not nearly as warm as down the mountain and on days that it is, I shall welcome it with a kiddie pool and a tall glass of iced tea. I'm done fighting the sun (that is there almost 344 days a year. ;) and want Jack to enjoy it as much as he wants. Because, this boy loves it. He would live outside if he could and has already asked his dad to sleep out there. Oh, young boy. Enjoy it. Run free. (and get alllll that energy out before bed time.)

Here's to summer, lots of time outside, playing in the sprinklers and eating Popsicles. and Childhood.

Here's what Zoey has been doing lately.

a dad and his boy. And the boy too busy to turn around for the picture ;)

Those adventure eyes with specks of dirt/boogers on his cheeks.

Jack after asking him over and over to look at the camera. I think he was telling me something. haha.

This is what happens when we ask Jack to hold Zoey. He loves her, he really does.

upload

 I finally uploaded my pictures from my phone. Yikes. I need to do that more often. 600 some pictures later, here are a few of my favorite moments of the last couple of months. (600 pictures in a couple months?! No way.)

I love having this blog as a memory keeper, a journal, a scrapbook, a baby book, all the above. So I'm determined to post more. To remember more and to have something to reflect on when another year has passed and see the beauty, trials and faithfulness of Jesus in the last year.

Today, John and I laughed on the couch before he left for Night of Worship at the square (TONIGHT! Last year about 6,000 people came and perhaps more this year. So excited to see what the Lord has planned.) I told him how when you're a mom it's hard to plan "free time" It's not like you get to clock out at 5 and then have an evening planned. Your roll just keeps on ...rolling. (haha) But truly. There are not many breaks, just little pauses and when I get an hour to myself I typically just sit on the couch and reflect, check facebook, listen to music, watch a show. Do very little productive activity. 

He laughed. And we talked about if its being lazy or just resting. I reckon a bit of both. All that to say, I want to be more proactive to write on this blog more. To capture moments again. Having two really does make the day fly by. I barely have time to shower (for reals. Sometimes I don't.) but these moments are passing so quickly and how fun to have something to show the kiddos when they are older and those times are gone.

Here are a few of my favorite latest moments. They're uncut, sometimes a little raw and show me in my pajamas. (yikes!) but more than that they are real life right now.

Zoey practicing tummy time.

MORNING TIME.

Jack had a restless night which ended with both guys in the guest room and John on the edge of the bed. Haha.

 Such a proud big brother.

Jack in his fort

Jack and his dad in his "space ship" reading a book

good 'ol Morning and Evening. Such a great reminder.

after nap cuddles with daddy

John and 2 and Jackboy

me at 2 months and Zoey

ever flood of nursing pads

Time. It goes to quickly.