Thomas

Milestones

Hailey turned 8 months today.  She pulled herself up to a standing position for the first time.  She has been pulling up to her knees for about a week.  Thomas pulled himself up to a standing position the day he turned 7 months old.  One month behind.  She is catching up though.  She crawled a month and a half after him.  She gained 2 weeks.  She can go up the 2 stairs in between our living room and dining room.  She can also go down them… just usually not in a very graceful way.  She has yet to get hurt though.  I am thinking it will just be a couple of weeks before Tyler and I start cursing the tile floor again…

Tagged: Hailey //

All They Need is Love

Max’s mom and I joke that we one day hope to love our children as much as they love each other.

These pictures are from their end of the school year performance. They sang “All you need is love” by the Beatles. The backs of their shirts said best friends forever and they had drawn a picture of themselves and their best friends. Obviously Max and Thomas both drew pictures of each other.

These two boys make my heart happy.  I love them!!  (Just not as much as they love each other!  :))

You can see the video of the performance by clicking on the end of the school year video on the right.

Tagged: Friends, School, Thomas //

The Past Month

The month of May has been a busy one. I have taken a lot of pictures of a lot of things. Some of them follow this post. Some of them go along with the post. Some parts of the post do not have pictures. Hopefully you’ll be able to tell what goes with what!!

Hailey turned 7 months old in May.
Hailey started crawling 4 days after that. Our life has not been the same since.
Hailey gets stuck under the couch a lot.
Forward motion is helping that.
We had Hailey dedicated on Mother’s Day.
Thomas woke up at 5am because he wet his bed.
None of us went back to sleep.
It was a long day.
It perfectly described what being a mother is and therefore was an appropriate Mother’s Day.
Hailey was so interested in the choir during her dedication that she faced them instead of the congregation.
The choir loved this.
Thomas and his friend Max went to an incredible birthday party.
Thomas found his love of farm animals.
He may grow up to be a farmer.
Or a vet.
We couldn’t get him to leave the turkeys and chickens alone.
He started officially swimming at this party.
His friend Max can do the breast stroke.
Thomas can’t.
Hailey got stuck under the couch again.
The weather officially got hot.
Then it rained a lot.
Then it stopped and we played outside.
Then it rained some more.
We met some new friends who moved here from California.
A boy Thomas’ age, a girl Hailey’s age. Perfect Match
Thomas has yet to figure out his Slip ‘n Slide.
I think that Hailey will first.
She loves it.
She loves all things water.
Thomas did not.
The reason he is just now learning to swim.
Thomas took pictures of Hailey under the couch.
Maybe we should get a new couch.
Thomas had his last day of school.
He sang his song nice and loud.
That earned him a toy.
He’ll do anything for candy and a toy.
He has worn an orange ring everyday this month.
He bit the first one an stretched it out.
It didn’t fit anymore.
My mom spent $3 in a quarter machine to get him a new one.
He has promised he won’t bite this one.
He hasn’t kept that promise.
We went to another birthday party. This one for Martha.
I didn’t take any pictures.
Thomas hates silly string.
At least being sprayed with it.
Tomorrow is June.
A big month.
I think it will be just as fun as May.

Tagged: Family, Hailey, Photography, Thomas //

Mother’s Day

My life has been filled with many wonderful mothers.  My mother is an amazing lady who gave so much to my brother and I.  I like to think that we know how lucky we are, but I don’t think that we always do.  Like all children we take her for granted.  My grandmothers are amazing women.  Both were involved in my life and cherished me.  My maternal grandmother is also able to love and cherish my children as well.  I have aunts who have also shown me how to be great a great mother.  None of these ladies have had easy lives, but through all that life has thrown at them they have come out on the other side as shining examples for the girls in my family to follow.

As an adult I have also had many amazing mothers in my life.  My mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law are both women that I would love to learn so much from.  They each give so much to their families.  I have friends who have taught me both how to be a calm mother to my babies and to deal with the toddler stage in a way that will hopefully shape the heart in a permanent way.  God truly has blessed me with many women whom I can learn a lot from, but without these two, I would not myself a mother.

On this Mother’s Day, I am not only thankful for the women who have made me the mother that I am, but also for the 2 who make me a mother.  I know that they will also take me for granted most of the time.  They will not always realize the sacrifices that I make for them.  They will not fully “get” what I do, but that is not why I do what I do.  I do it because I love them with a love greater than seems possible.  I love them with every fiber of my being.  And that, more than anything else in their life will be what will let them look back and be thankful for the impact that I had on their life.  My hope for them is that I teach Thomas to appreciate his mother-in-law and the mother of his own children.  My hope for Hailey is that she learns to be a good mother from the example that I have set.

On this Mother’s Day I am grateful, grateful for the past as I look at the shining motherly examples in my life. Grateful for the present as I look at the two beautiful babies that make me a mother.  Grateful for the future when I get to see my own children becoming mothers and fathers themselves.

Tagged: Family, me //

6 Months - I can’t even believe I am typing that

Little Hailey Bug,
The fact that a half a year has gone by since your birth is baffling to me. I honestly don’t know where this past 6 months have gone. But they have gone. And you have enjoyed every single one of them. To just say that you are happy isn’t quite the right description. It doesn’t do your personality justice. You are happy! But you are so much more than happy.

We started food with you about 3 weeks ago. To say that you were not a fan is putting it mildly. You said “No Thank You!” and you said it loudly!! We just kept trying. About a week later you decided that it was not in fact poison, but something that you could probably tolerate one day. Now, you eat 3 Stage 1 jars without even blinking your eye. Which may shed some light into the fact that you are still our very big girl. You weigh over 18 lbs. (90%) and you’re over 27 in long (95%). You just refuse to stay small!

Your personality is contagious. I think that when we go places and people don’t know you they get a reaction that they are not expecting. No matter who is talking to you, you get excited. They do not have to be a familiar face for you to love the fact that they are talking to you.  If I am holding you, you start bouncing.  You love to bounce.  That is how you show your excitement.  People just love you.  I was in a meeting at church the other day and you were kind of over being on my lap so I put you on the floor with your wipey case and you could not have been happier.  You rolled around and smile at everyone and played with the wipey case and just had the best time.  I don’t think one person left without telling me how adorable you were.

You have also recently really found your voice. And like the rest of your family you LOVE using it.  Your favorite thing to sa is “ahhh daaa daaa daaa.”  Your favorite noise to make is a growling noise.  You love talking it people and getting their attention.  The new love for you voice helps in getting your desired result.

You still continue to think that your brother is the funniest person out there.  I mostly agree.  The other day we were in a store and you were infant carrier facing Thomas and me.  You were looking at him and just started laughing.  I said, “Look buddy, Hailey is laughing at you.”  He replied, “But I’m not doing anything funny.”  He then looked up at you and said, “Hailey, I’m not doing being funny right now.”  To which you then started laughing harder.

In the past month you have gotten your 2 bottom teeth.  The first one came with no real teething symptoms other than drool.  And boy do you drool.  The second tooth, however, made you very crabby.  I could see it under the gum for days before I could actually feel it.  This made you not sleep as well and less content.  Although, your “less content” is still pretty pleasant. 

It really is such a joy to be your mommy, little Hailey Bugger.  More than enjoying getting to dress you, putting bows in your hair, picking out pretty shoes, I enjoy just hanging out with you.  You are such a fun baby and you have such a sweet disposition that I would love you even if you weren’t mine.  The fact that you are is just an added bonus. 

Love, Mommy

Tagged: Hailey, Monthly Letters, Parenthood, Uncategorized //

Since I know you have been sitting on the edge of you seats

We are here.  We are well.  Finally.  For the past month this has been a sick house.  Luckily it seems that only one of us was getting sick at a time, but that meant we were down for a long time.  Thomas will successfully get to go to school this entire week.  I am excited about that!!  He is glad to be feeling better and we have been enjoying the beautiful “spring” weather while it lasts.  I know within a month it will be too hot for me to truly enjoy being outside. 

Hailey is growing and getting cuter and sweeter everyday.  She was 6 months old on Tuesday which completely blows my mind.  I am not sure where the past 6 months have gone.  I am going to attempt to do a newsletter for her tonight.  I have a lot of cute pictures of her as well as her updates.  We really couldn’t be enjoying her more.

We had a great Easter.  Tyler’s cousin got married the night before.  It was a beautiful wedding and Tyler and I got a night out without the kids.  One of his preschool teachers babysat which we loved.  It was someone familiar that he loves.  Then we had Tyler’s family and some friends over Sunday night and had a great time.  The little kids enjoyed an Easter egg hunt.

We really have been having a great time around here since feeling better.  I think that we are appreciating getting out more than I normally would have.  In fact, we’re off to the park right now…

Tagged: Totally Random //

From Thomas’ View

This is a questionnaire thing that has been going around the internet lately.  I thought it seemed like a neat idea to freeze frame where Thomas is right now.  I asked him the questions and these are his answers.  You can tell from many of the answers that we recently went through some discipline issues.  Luckily, for the time being we are on the other side.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
            Excuse Me

2. What makes mom happy?
            For me to listen

3. What makes mom sad?
            If I don’t listen

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
            To make silly things

5. What was your mom like as a child?
            You liked your baby toys

6. How old is your mom?
            8

7. How tall is your mom?
            This tall (He held his arm up above his head.)

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
            You love to juggle (I wish I knew how!!)

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?
            Find me

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
            To find me (I’m not sure he understood this question.)

11. What is your mom really good at?
            You are very good at doing somersaults (It’s been a long time!!) 

12. What is your mom not very good at?
            You’re not very good at bouncing

13. What does your mom do for her job?
            For building

14. What is your mom’s favorite food?
            Carrots (I actually hate carrots!!)

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
            When you’re good

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
            Cinderella (I love this kid!!)

17. What do you and your mom do together?
            I love when you play Legos with me

18. How are you and your mom the same?
            God

19. How are you and your mom different?
            Jesus (I am not sure that he understood these questions.  I think he thought who makes us…)

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
            You give me kisses

21. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
            Target (I knew he was going to say this!!!)

Tagged: Thomas, me //

4 years

2,103,840 minutes of joy you have given us.

35,064 hours of laughter you have filled our home with.

1461 days we’ve loved you and been loved by you.

208 weeks of learning who you are.  And figuring out your ways.

48 months in which you have taught us to be better people, for your sake if for no other reason.

4 years.  You my son are 4 years old.  You are quite proud of this fact.  You love telling people this.

Dear Thomas,

In the past four years you have given us more joy than we could have imagined in our life before you.  Sure we knew happiness and love.  But not until you came along did we truly (or totally, totally as you’d say) did we get what it means.  You are funny, a little wild, incredibly smart, and a little quirky and I think that you are the greatest boy that I’ve ever met.

You fourth year has not been the easiest.  You are figuring how to deal with your independence while we’re having to figure out how much to give you.  This has been your hardest year by far, but I feel like we are finally getting over the hump.  I’m hoping that this fifth year is going to be your greatest by far.

You have a best friend named, Max.  You are happiest when you are with him.  I feel as though you have made one of your life long friends at the age of 2.  I love that you have found someone that you can truly be yourself around.  He gets you and you get him.  You both love super heroes, being fast, talking (a LOT), watching the two of you together makes me happy for you. 

At the age of 4 you are caring, mostly gentle, and sweet.  Yes, there are times that you make me crazy, get sent to your room, and lose priveledges, but overall you are a very considerate boy who really does want to be good.  You have a love for life like few others, you love people, candy, and candy.  We like to say that you are so sweet because you’re filled with sugar. 

My sweet Thomas, most of all I am glad that you are mine.

I love you more than anything,
Mommy

Tagged: Monthly Letters, Thomas //

The highs and lows of life

So in the couple of weeks since I last posted Thomas turned 4 and Hailey turned 5 months.  There should be newsletters written, updates about what they’re doing, etc.  I have mentally started Thomas’ 4 year newsletter in my head a hundred times.  Last week we were just having too much fun for me to actually write it.  We started the week by going to Disney, then we had Thomas’ 4 year check up which was traumatic to say the least.  They start caring a whole lot more about shots the older they get.  Then Wednesday we had his party at school with his bestest friend Max.  Thursday we had his party at home.  Friday we celebrate Purim at his school.  Then the weather was so beautiful we spend most of the weekend outside.  On Sunday when Tyler & Thomas got back from the park we thought he felt a little warm.  Could be from playing outside so I brushed it off.  For about an hour.  Then I looked at him again and knew he was sick.  Thomas has gotten his first ear infection and gotten his highest ever temperature in the past 48 hours.  He has been one sick puppy with his fever getting up to 103 degrees.  He is on day 2 of a really high fever.  So hopefully this week when I am done playing nurse and Thomas gets back to school I’ll work on some letters.  In the meantime, I’ll be passing out the meds!!

Tagged: Thomas //

Life through Thomas’ eyes (and fingers)

So Tyler gave Thomas an old digital camera.  This was something that he loved way more than we thought he was going to.  I have uploaded 20 of my favorites here.  He took about 200 pictures in the first 12 hours (10 of which he spent sleeping) that he had the camera.  About 70 of those were of his sister, at least 50 were from Monday mornings episode of Blue’s Clues (I’ll spare you all but 1 of those.  It must have been a great episode!), a bunch of just his fingers, and a lot of random wall spaces.  Enjoy life through my son’s eyes:

I did some gallery thing to make uploading faster so I can’t seem to comment on each picture.  I think they are fairly self explanatory.  Laundry, doors, blankets, toys, sister, parents, fingers, tv…

Tagged: Photography, Thomas //