Zekiel's 2!

I know everyone says, "I can't believe my child is [this new age]!" But, for realz. 2. It's been a rough year with lots of screaming. I'm sure my hearing is permanently damaged. Screaming kids makes me lose it. It's been a long 7.5 yrs. I've got a perma scowl to prove it :( Sigh. Lots of wanting to be held only to be put back down a million times this past year. Lots of diaper changes. Do other people's kids poop 3 times a day?! I need to stop feeding my kids healthy food!

But, oh the joy! This boy and his infectious smile and his sweet tender voice (his real voice, not the shrieks). And, his blonde, curly locks. He is my favorite. How does one drive you completely mad yet, enrapture you with loyalty and self-sacrifice? Motherhood is such a maddening yet exalting role. So demanding. So fulfilling. I'm not sure if I will ever understand all the many intricacies. Oh, how we need each other- parent and child.

And, he was born on Christmas day. It's interesting people's responses when I tell them that. "Oh, I'm so sorry." I just smile. How to explain that this child's conception and birth were a true miracle? And, that I lost him, but he came back to me. Every Easter and Christmas I get to reflect on that. The Lord truly fulfills His promises. I'm grateful I have such a tangible reminder of that.

Here are some of my current favorite Zekielisms: booda (butterfly), weewoah (raining), shoozah (shoes or more accurately shoes on), yeh-yo (yellow). He says "mazing" and points outside so I'm not sure exactly what that means.

80% of the time I can count on him to throw something away for me if I tell him, "Go put it in the trash." He continues to call poop "boot" which we still think is hilarious. Recently he's been dragging the chair to the fridge so that he can reach the magnets.

A few weeks ago he climbed out of his crib for the first time. I think it scared him so he hasn't done it since. He's definitely not ready to sleep in a bed yet so I hope he can stay in a crib at least for the next 6 months or so.

Recently he's been very interested in blocks, the same ones we bought Azure right around this same age that she loved so much. It's fun to see him play with them. He calls them "boks".

He hasn't been napping very consistently anymore so the days he refused to nap, we just put him down to sleep around 6pm. A few nights this past week he fell asleep at 5:30pm and woke up at 9:30am! I'll definitely take that over taking a nap! We're trying to keep this streak going :) Parenting is so much easier if your children sleep 16 hrs a day!!!

 Christmas frolicking

 Grinch (spinach) pancakes for the birthday boy

He loves seeing himself on the camera

 Getting ready for our annual Christmas caroling at Hospice on Christmas Eve

My 3 beautiful babies!

Look at those curls and that tongue!

Family Home Evening with no pants

This is where his craziness comes from :)

Sweetest babe!

He sure does wear us out, but we love him so much and are so grateful for our Christmas miracle baby!

These pics are from our photo shoot back in September at Tybee.

Or, maybe he gets his craziness from me ;)

Azure turns 7!

Azure has grown up so much this last year. School has changed her and she is different than she was this time last year. We've always had deep conversations but, they are increasingly getting more deep. (ie- women & the priesthood, sex, and homosexuals) I can't believe that she will be baptized next year. She's so excited about it and has already told me that she wants a white cake. I have thought about my children's baptisms since I was baptized at age 17 and I feel like my heart will explode with joy and gratitude on that day. I pray we will be able to share it with as many family members as possible.

Vince gave his first talk in Primary the day after Azure's birthday. As soon as I announced to her that he had been assigned a talk she asked, "Can I help him give it?" She is such a little mother to Vince. I think often on Vince's baby blessing where Charles blessed them with a special relationship to be close and share many experiences which would strengthen him throughout his life. I pray that I am enabling those type of experiences in our home.

She is getting so tall. It seems like since she's gotten out of school at the end of May that she's grown over an inch! Wish I had measured. She took a reading test at the end of the school year and she's now reading at a 4th almost 5th grade level which is astounding!

The last week of school both her and Vince took swimming lessons. She is having a hard time with form and breathing. I think it's frustrating for her to realize that while she excels in things like reading, other skills don't come as natural.

Watching the sunset on her 7th bday in Beaufort, SC

Since Charles had decided to run a 50K on her bday, we did a skating party the day before. I loved not having the stress of trying to get my house clean and organized for a party. We did cupcakes at the Tybee Memorial Park right by the Tybee YMCA.

She also got her ears pierced by a Cuban woman that just moved here from Cuba! How cool is that?! We had always said she could get her ears pierced when she stopped sucking her thumb, and while she still does at night and in the car and while watching movies, we decided her 7th bday would be as good a time as any :) She looks so grown up now! 

She wanted a TMNT cake but, since they didn't have it at Sam's Club, she chose Star Wars instead. Charles has been watching the movies with her after Vince goes to sleep the past few months as a Daddy-daughter date so she wasn't disappointed at all.

One of the boys she invited (Garrett VanYperen) as soon as he saw the cake said, "You like Star Wars?!" That made me smile :)

 Love this pic of Colton and Zeke smiling at each other :)

 A little too much frosting and food coloring :(

This is her friend from her class, Bella who she plays ninjas with at recess so it was fun watching them play together.

 This is my favorite pic from her party. Such a happy birthday girl :)

 Vince was jealous. "Hey, that's the guy I wanted!"

I used to go skating all the time when I was in elementary and middle school so it was so fun to relive the experience w/ Azure and her friends.

The actual day of her bday we went to see How to Train Your Dragon 2. Such an amazing movie! So many gospel principles- family history to help you understand your true identity, the importance of having both a mother AND a father, the blessing of marriage and how that relationship changes the dynamic you have with your children, listening to the still, small voice (it isn't loud) agency and the power to choose, Satan is real and powerful, service-leadership. I should write an entire post just about the movie. Can't wait to see it again :)

Bday Breakfast- Spinach pancakes, a new fave!

And, this is definitely a girl after my own heart. She said she wanted to go to Chipotle for her bday lunch and wanted to get what I usually get. I said, "Are you sure you don't want to go to Chick-Fil-A?" She's such a big girl. I love her so much!!!

Staying up waaaaay past their bedtime to watch Daddy finish his 6 hour race!

Such a stud!

And, I'll just finish this post with how much I love Charlie, because why not? His dedication and determination blow me away. He is such a man of integrity who works hard and trains hard. I'm in awe sometimes that I get to be his wife. I'm so proud of his accomplishments and look forward to doing more amazing things with him at my side. Such a blessing to be married to someone who loves and honors me just as much as I love him. And, our 3 beautiful children is the icing on the cake.