The Adventures of Piggy Sock Puppet

So Lily comes in the kitchen while I was cooking dinner last night with a sock on her hand. She was making piggy noises and telling me that the sock on her hand was a "piggy puppet". So I got out a black sharpie and drew a piggy face, ears, and tail. Next thing you know her little imagination was running wild...pretending she was the big bad wolf and blowing at her piggy puppet hand. I love to see her little 3 year old imagination in action, she is so stinkin' smart and quite the little actress! ;)

Expressions from His Toddler Heart.

Gabriel just turned 2 years old December 30th. However, he continues to amaze me not only with his counting ability, use of big words, recognition of animals, colors etc. but his emotional expression astounds me. This little boy has so much love. He is so willing to offer a sweet kiss or a soft hug. This morning I was feeding him an apple and I told him I loved him. He looked up at me and with the sweetest little voice said, "I love you too Mama."-the words every mother longs and loves to hear. He is understanding more complex sentences as well as using the appropriate responses...and I must say, the "I love you's." are my favorite responses he knows!

Where Did The Past 4 Years Go??!!

Seriously, where did the past 4 years go? It's hard to believe that the pictures above are of my now 3, almost 4 year old daughter Lily Irene. It seems like I just brought her home from the hospital yesterday. The little girl that I look at today seems so grown up, speaking full sentences, picking out her own mismatched clothes, and going to preschool. I was completely in awe of her when they first handed her to me in the hospital. I couldn't stop staring at her perfect little face. My last night in the hospital they brought her to me and I remember staring at her from 11pm until 7am the next morning...that's how much she wowed me. She had the most angelic little face and she slept so soundly...so peacefully. When I held her that night, as Daddy was sawing logs on the ever so comfortable futon next to us, I whispered to her "I will always protect you." I loved her more than life itself and I still do. I look at her now while she sleeps, in her big girl bed...and sometimes I still see that same little baby in her face. Becoming a mother for the first time, is an experience I'm not so sure I have the best words to describe. However, what comes to mind is: profound, beautiful, awe inspiring, amazing, contentment...and pretty much every other wonderful word you can think of...IT TRULY IS. I love you Lily and I'm so proud to be your Mama!

Gabriel's First Haircut AFTER (Jan 2011)

Here is the final cut! And believe it or not his hair grows so fast, now that it is March he is definitely ready for another one. Perhaps a summer cut...I'm thinkin' spikey mohawk?? We'll see!

"BEFORE" Gabriel's First Haircut-Jan 2011

So I finally got the pics downloaded of Gabriel's first haircut (January 2011-Age 2). This was a big step for "us"...well mostly for ME. Gabriel was born with a head full of silvery blonde hair. It was thick, wavy, and parted into the most perfect comb over. ;) As he got older and continued to grow, so did his blonde locks-they changed colors from silvery blonde, to strawberry blonde, back to light blonde, and now to a sandier blonde. He lost his waves, but his hair is very full bodied and hair that most girls would die for! But it needed to be cut. His hair was getting so long that it was constantly in his face. It was finally time for my little peanut to transcend into a little boy. Besides his little cherub face made it way to easy for people to constantly mistake him for a girl (even though he wears camo and shirts with monster trucks! lol-go figure!) So here he is in the chair getting his first hair cut. As busy as my little monkey is, he did VERY well...and he made it through...and so did I. ;)

Angel Gabriel~Captured by Daddy-March 2011

My gorgeous Gabriel...what else can I say about this little boy?!! I love to see his free spirit playing in the sand. He always has a smile on his face wherever he goes and truly teaches me how to live...free, uninhibited, and always happily. God blessed me with 2 amazing children and my heart is so filled with love for them each day, that it is hard to even put into words-this blog is merely an attempt. =)

~Beautiful Babies~March 2011

I really am a lucky wife/mommy to have a husband that is a great photographer. Tommy brought his camera on one of our jeep outings with the babies and here is a gorgeous picture he captured of Lily. He also caught some amazing pictures of Gabriel as well. I'm so blessed to have such beautiful babies...I thank my lucky stars...they are not only beautiful on the outside, but the inside as well!!