Emmie Carolyn is 1 Part 1

This year has been the slowest year ever while still maintaining record speed. It seems like I blinked and a year had passed. 

The days were long and rough with a lot of sleeplessness in there. I remember telling myself daily, "If I can just make it through this first year" and "every day, I'm one day closer to it getting easier."

I don't know that my todays are any easier than my yesterdays. But I'm still thankful to be a momma to such wonderful babies. 
Yes, momma-hood is filled with cleaning up thrown food, wiping down tiny butts, coloring on everything other than paper, and phrases like, "don't take that from your sister" and "why did you pee on the couch even though you've been potty trained for 2 months?"
Some days I literally get so frustrated that I've had tiny hands all over me for the past 12 hours and I don't ever get to poop by myself and the house is a disaster and the copycat chickfila nuggets that I just made were enjoyed by no one under the age of 4 and we've had all of 2? 3? date nights in the past year. 

But. Momma-hood is also filled with tiny snuggles at 4am (yes, last night indeed), and "Mommy, I love you's" and giant smiles as you pick them up from daycare and tiny hands that love you so much they can't stand to NOT be touching you all day every day.
And THAT my friends makes it worth it every day. 

Today, my sweet Emmie turned one and my heart broke a little that my baby is no longer technically a baby anymore. 
  

The heisman

PS -Emmie Lyn is now walking and has been for 1 1/2 weeks. Look out world!

All the feels

My last teeny tiny baby will be ONE in five days. Someone please come hold me while I sob.

Christmas Part 2

For the past 6 months, J has declared that he wanted a bike for Christmas.

 Santa pulled out all the stops and got him this super cool paw patrol one! 

He's the only kid I know of that would rather just sit on the bike without it moving than actually ride it. He's TERRIFIED of going too fast and hates all inclines or declines in the road. The last time he thought he was going too fast, he THREW himself off the bike and the bike crashed to the ground. Glory. 

Hopefully he'll get the hang of it! 

James is 3!

Jan 2014

Jan 2015

 Jan 2016

Jan 2017

Jamesy,

You're three years old! 

You LOVE:

Bouncing, jumping, running, and dancing

Broccoli, carrots, apple sauce, and yogurt

Pizza, chicken nuggets, chocolate milk, and french fries

You have your momma's sweet tooth and love for desserts.

Right now, you're into monster trucks, tools, superheros, and all sports that include a ball.

You love all things related to your Daddy

You LOVE to be read to.

You love to talk (read as LOUD. so loud)

You DISLIKE:

Being disciplined (duh)

Greenbeans

Not getting your way

Sharing your toys with EL

We love you so much and are so thankful that you're ours! Happy birthday!

Christmas Pt 1

(Moment of silence - EL turned 11 months old like 3 weeks ago)

And, Christmas!

Things I will remember about our tiny family's Christmas.

1. EL chewed on EVERYTHING 

 2. James wiggled his booty a lot.

 3. EL was in complete destruct-o mode the entire time. Ornaments thrown off the tree. The nativity, SWIPED away. 

 4. When it came time to open gifts, girlfriend only cared about the snacks.

 5. James would open a present and immediately want to read it or play with it. He didn't care about the other gifts. It was a struggle to get him to open all the gifts. 

 6. Snacks I tell ya, snacks. (That's a consignment shirt - SCORE!)

 7. James ate half that can of pringles within the first hour. At one point, EL grabbed a chunk of pringles out of the can and stuffed them in her face. 

 7. She was interested in her presents for all of 2 seconds.

 8. He enjoyed opening all of his presents with his scissors. 

 9. Success! She liked it!

 10. There was a lot of reading with some Pringle munching

 (insert all the heart eyes)

 11. I officially have a leech. :)

A more in depth look at potty training

Sometimes when potty training, your kid makes it to the toilet on time and you rejoice with marshmallows and paw patrol.

Sometimes when potty training, your kid yells, "THE PEE PEE IS HERE" and you pull his pants down only to have urine burst out in full force soaking everyone and everything around except the toilet.

Sometimes when potty training, your husband forgets to put a diaper back on said child before nap time and then mommy has a ton of wash to do.

Sometimes when potty training, it's super cold outside and the easiest thing to do is to drop the kid's pants right there beside the goat house and poop. And sometimes the mommy decides that it's just best to leave the pringle sized turd right there in the yard because, hello, there's goat poop EVERYWHERE.  And sometimes your husband decides to do some random thing and walks the dreaded e-coli filled path into the backyard and straight to your kid's poop pile smashing it all over the back of his crocs. 

The end.