Dear Tripp,

Where in the world have the last 3 years gone? To say that it's hard to believe that today is your 3rd birthday is a huge understatement. I keep finding myself looking at the clock and remembering exactly what I was doing this time 3 years ago. In fact, as I'm typing this, 3 years ago at this time I was anxiously awaiting my epidural!

Growing up, all I ever wanted was to be a mommy (and a wife :-)), and on March 8, 2006, that dream came true. You came unwillingly into this world and immediately began trying to show us who's boss! In the last 3 years you have challenged, thrilled, and shown us exactly what love really is. I can honestly say I didn't know it was possible to love as much as I love you.

Every night for about 15 months you wanted us to read you a book called "Let Me Hold You Longer". It's a sweet book about cherishing a child's "lasts". I know we have hundreds of "firsts" still ahead of us, but I also realize that I've already experienced some of your "lasts". The last time that I gave you a bottle, the last time that you crawled, the last time you slept in your crib, and the last time you wore a diaper during the day are just a few. As the book says, I want to "hold on to every precious last" because I know time is going to get away from me.

You and your sister are truly God's greatest gifts to me. As He continues to mold you and shape you, I pray that you are drawn closer and closer to Him. I pray that as you get older, you come to understand that the only One who can fill the void you will have in your life will be the Precious Savior that saw fit to give you to us. There will never be a day that I don't lay you at the feet of His throne and pray His protection and blessings on you. I honestly cannot wait to see exactly where life takes you....but I really wish it would slow down some!

I love you, my favorite boy!!!!! I am honored to be the one you call "Mommy"!!!! Happy Birthday!

Bringing the Outside In

It's getting harder and harder to deal with the cold weather. We are all itching for Spring to get here and warmer days to stick around. When the weather is nice, my kids spend 90% of their day outside when they are at Mrs. Barbara's and they couldn't be happier. The days when they have to be cooped up inside all day become very long! Needless to say, it's been long days since Sunday! Most of their outside toys are stored in my garage right now, and every day they see their slide when we get home and park. Today, I let them bring the slide inside and it entertained them for an hour. Up, down, up, down. I figure if we can't go out and enjoy the slide, we'll bring it in and enjoy it. On a side note, I REALLY wish we had our backyard sodded and fenced in for the Spring and Summer. It would be so nice to be able to sit on the deck, read, and let them play free. Oh well...maybe next year.

I'm so hot, I gotta wear shades (that I left on for two solid hours, including playtime at Chick-Fil-A for dinner)

Move out of my way!

I'm sure her brother hit, pushed, or bossed her around!
This face gets me a lot of things I want and I'm learning to perfect it!

Trainin' 'Em Early

One day I will gladly turn over this chore! Teammwork will make it so much easier!

A Minor (no matter how small) Victory

Next weekend, Tripp will turn 3. I've said all along that when he turns 3, the pacifiers will become no more. I have been extremely nervous that I will not be able to stick to my guns. The pacis really are like his crack cocaine! I've decided that this week, I am going to start easing him into it. We've already been talking it up a TON and I think he realizes that something is about to happen. Normally, at night, he has to have about 5 pacis to be able to sleep. One in his mouth, one in each hand, and a couple spares just in case. He rubs the nipples of the pacis like most kids rub the edge of a blanket and it soothes him to sleep. Anyway, last night I decided that he could just have one. I didn't know how it would go, but we tried it. It actually worked! I couldn't believe it. He went right to sleep with just one paci. Now, he woke up at 5:45 this morning screaming because he couldn't find that one (hence the reason he's ALWAYS had more than one, I've been rescuing pacis for him since he was a newborn), but at least he slept until then. Another reason I've been nervous is because Tripp actually still sucks on the paci. It's not like he just holds it in his mouth. When he's asleep you can listen to him and it sounds like he is going to suck a hole straight through it. So, I guess in a way, he still has that need to suck on something. Most people would tell me this is ridiculous, but you are talking to a mommy that sucked her thumb until she was 8, so I can sympathize with him! We'll see how the rest of the week goes. Come Sunday, March 8th, it's bye-bye paci!!!!

One of Many

There are a countless number of reasons why I love having a little girl....just like there are countless numbers of reasons why I love having a little boy. However, one of the reasons I love having a girl is because of the CLOTHES!!!! After having a boy first, and being EXTREMELY limited in what I can buy for him that I think are cute, girl clothes are so much fun! Here are just a few of the outfits that I am dying to get Makinley in this summer!

LeT iT SnOw!!!!!!

My pink snug bug!Watching their daddy make snow balls!

Loving every minute! I thought he would never come inside!
Just taking it all in

Our "Spring Wonderland" house!

SNOW!

Okay, this is a very short post just to say that I CAN'T WAIT for my kids to get up from naptime so we can go play in the snow!!!! Pictures to come!