2013 in Review

Life with 2 +1 on the way is busy busy busy. I constantly think about my blog and how I used to be really good about posting updates on the kiddos and the fam, but life happens and it's busy and it's the season I am in right now. Maybe 2014 will be better for me to blog and take the time to write...I enjoy it, and I know someday my kids will appreciate it (right boys?). So, to keep with my yearly theme....2013 in review

January:
Justin and I left the boys with my parents for 7 days and went on a cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. We swam with stingrays!

February:
Lots of fun outside sledding down our "hill" in the yard and playing outside! Brekan enjoyed crawling in the snow

March:
This precious little guy turned 1! He is such a relaxed/go-with-the-flow kid. He has a cute little personality, is funny and very adventurous (we call him our little daredevil)

April:
We welcomed Ramsey to our family and Kelly turned 30!

May:
Justin completed the Kalamazoo MARATHON! So proud of him!

June:
We took a trip to a water park with some friends and had a blast. Justin and I celebrated 5 years of marriage too!

July:
Coleman turns 3! He is such a bright, sensitive and energetic boy! We are so blessed to have him.

August:
We spent some family time relaxing in Holland for a long weekend and took the boys to the beach. They had a blast!

September:
September gets 2 photos. We announced that baby #3 was on the way and Coleman started preschool!

    


October:
We made it through another busy season with daddy being gone a lot and we found out that baby #3 is a BOY!

November:
Celebrated the end of a busy season by taking the boys on the "choo choo"/train to Chicago for a weekend to visit the Aquarium. Boy was that an experience taking 2 boys to a busy city, sharing a hotel room, etc! Busy, but fun for everyone :)

December:
We enjoyed getting ready for the holidays and watching Coleman's excitement grow as Christmas Day drew closer and it was so much fun hearing him tell us all about why we celebrate Christmas (Jesus' birthday). Brekan got into all the Christmas excitement as well and even brought some excitement to the day by being in the hospital for Christmas Eve/Day with what thankfully turned out to be only a virus and nothing more serious (like an intestinal blockage which is what we thought it was).

We are SO blessed! 2013 was wonderful and I can't wait to see what 2014 brings!

Coleman 3...continued

Sorry it's taken so long....

Here is an interview I did with Coleman on his birthday as well as pics from the birthday party celebration with family and friends!

Name: Coleman
Age: 3

What are you wearing right now?: my clothes

What is something you hope you can do over the summer?: go to the waterpark (we already went to a waterpark...he wants to go back)

What is your favorite…

food: macaroni and cheese (had this for lunch today)

cereal: rice krispes

color: purple (that's my boy)

movie: Nemo

snack: goldfish and graham crackers

TV show: I like Daniel Tiger, Chuck and Friends

book: Froggy goes to bed (just checked out from library)

song: The Lion Song (worhsip song called Like a Lion)

animal: Shaggy Shags (highland cow at the farm)

stuffed animal: sharpie (his dinosaur)

restaurant: Culvers

How tall do you think you are?: so tall 

How much do you think you weigh?: 32 1

What do you want to be when you grow up?: a train man 

How much do you think Daddy makes at his job?: i dont know

when I'm outside I like to: I like to play with daddy

when I'm inside I like to: play with Ramsey (not so much, I think he's getting tired of all my questions)

My best friend is: Brekan

My favorite thing to do with Brekan is: um, play downstairs

If I could go anywhere I'd want to go: in a airplane (daddy just flew over the house after taking a picture of the corn maze)

If you could be any animal what would you be?: i want to be a anyfing

Birthday Party pics! 

Coleman has wanted a Daniel Tiger Birthday since he started watching the PBS Kids show. I personally LOVE the show. It's a play off of Mr. Rogers (which I used to watch when growing up) It teaching great lessons like sharing, trying new foods, going potty, etc. So many catchy songs and just an all around great show to let my children watch. Coleman said he wanted a trolley cake (HA! yeah right) I don't think I'm that creative to figure out how to make a cake stand up and since there hasn't been any release of Daniel Tiger merchandise (well, now there is...and it's September), I came up with this idea. I bought cupcake toppers from etsy for $2.00 and my awesome mom came to the rescue by finding the trolley on amazon! So below you will see the "trolley" cake. Coleman LOVED it, which made me happy. The party was a success....lots of family and a few friends which was nice. He got spoiled with presents - all of which he loved and still plays with and REMEMBERS they are from his birthday (this kid has such a great memory). Can't believe my baby is 3!

Big boy got a fish! His name is Gordon

Coleman - 3 years old

Sorry for my lack of posting - 2 kids under 3, a puppy, and currently a massive kitchen mess project underway. Life has been busy - a blessing - but busy. More on that later, let's focus on the fact that today is July 3, 2013 and my first born is 3 years old. It's his golden birthday and he will never remember that because he's so young....oh well.

Currently it is 8:24 and 3 years ago at this time I was getting ready to meet my precious Coleman for the very first time at 8:40 pm. It was a long 2 days, but totally worth the wait. He is such a blessing to us. I love his energy, his joy for life, and his ability to remember everything! I love that he talks in paragraphs and doesn't stop from the moment he wakes up 'til the moment he falls asleep. It may get exhausting at times answering every single Why, How, Tell me about, Does this, etc. but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

He has such a kind heart and compassion for others and animals. He is learning to share, take turns, and be kind to his brother (something I think we will work on for many years with both of them). He listens and obeys to the best of his ability. He is smart. I can't believe that he will be going to preschool in the fall. I know it will be so good for him, and for me, but wow - to drop him off somewhere 2 days a week for the short time of 2 hours is going to be hard for me. I'm sure I have spent no more than 20ish days away from him in his past 3 years of life, and that's okay with me.

Here are just a few shots from today's actual birthday celebrations - the family party will be this Sunday, and hopefully a post and more pics to come on that soon!

 dinner at Red Robin

 birthday boy treat

 excited for presents!

 the big boy present!

 ball and glove to play catch with daddy!

 he's got a good arm - whipped the ball right at Justin!

How did he get so big so fast? Where have those 3 years gone?

 3 year balloon pic being taken on Sunday :)

Day Book - April 13

Thanks to my wonderful sister-in-law, Corie, who reminded me of how fun and simple these Day Book blog ideas are and they keep everyone sort of updated on what's going on around here. It also makes it quicker to post something =)

Outside my window:
Gloomy for the "what feels like forever" day in a row (really I think it's day 6) and there is no prediction for sunshine in the near future either. I'm ready to get outside and burn off some energy with my two boys!

I am listening to:
The washing machine spin around (1 load almost done and lots more to go), Coleman's ipad show he's watching (I'm hearing Goofy and Mickey Mouse talking), the monitor for little B (he'll be up soon).

I am thinking:
Of all the things we should do/get done this weekend but how I'd much rather just relax and enjoy doing nothing. Maybe we'll do a little of each.

I am thankful:
That Coleman has had some serious success on the potty the last day and a half. This was a VERY tiring, frustrating, hard week for me, but as of yesterday there were NO accidents and all successes! Way to go Coleman. We are only a few hours into our day and so far so good!

From the kitchen:
A mess on the island that never seems to go away and groceries that need to be bought.

I am wearing: 
Jean, long sleeve t with a layered tshirt over top, cozy socks and a ponytail. *All my hoodies are needing to be washed otherwise you know I would have one on*

I am hoping:
We have another successful day on the potty for Coleman. I'm also hoping for some warmer sunshine-ier weather.

I am praying:
For a close family friend who had a brain tumor removed two days ago. I'm also praying for another friend who's going through a hard time. Also praying that Justin has a successful run this morning (he's out running 20 miles in preparation for the marathon in 3 weeks!)

Around the house:
Fairly clean, but needs to be wiped down. Most messes are put away except for the lingering mess on my kitchen island. If anyone has a solution on how to keep this thing cleaned let me know!

I am reading:
SaraMae: Desperate: Hope for the mom who needs to breathe - AWESOME book!
Cesar Milan: How to raise the perfect dog - we get Ramsey next week Sunday!

I am watching: 
Recorded TV after the kids go to bed or take a nap when I have time.

One of my favorite things:
When my boys play nicely together and Coleman makes Brekan laugh and squeal with delight!

A few plans for the rest of the week: 
Next week seemed to fill up quickly for us. A couple play dates, errands, and maybe a trip to Holland for the boys haircuts. Oh, and date night on Wednesday! Woo-hoo!

A picture I am sharing:  I'm sharing a few

Before all the rain and gloomy weather came, we got to enjoy the park!

 

Meet Ramsey! Our new, beautiful red lab girl. We bring her home next week Sunday!

She'll be 7 weeks

Coleman has developed a love (and talent) for completing large size puzzles. Don't mind the "no pant" we were potty training!

My little helper B...he LOVES the swiffer vac!

Brekan - 12 months

If you look at the post below - you can see Brekan at his birthday celebration. Here is a fun update on all the wonderful things he's accomplished during the last month or so - with pictures of his adorable little self!

 

Brekan Randall - March 2, 2012

 

Brekan Randall - March 2, 2013

 

Brekan can:

*make the sound/motion for a/an: elephant, fish, horse, bunny, car/tractor
*touch his nose when you ask him to
*knows the signs for: more, stop, done, please, and milk
*has words/can say: mama, dada, doggy, duck, down, done, banana, stop nigh nigh (night night)

Some other neat things he's been doing -

*officially took 2 steps on Feb. 16 and has been getting faster and more efficient by the day. In just this past week he has officially decided that he would rather walk everywhere than crawl - we are very busy around here! With all the new walking that's been going on I decided that Brekan needed to start wearing shoes. I couldn't figure out why Coleman's shoes from when he was 1 weren't fitting Brekan. Coleman was a size 3 wide when he was 1. I took Brekan in to be sized and he's a size 5 EXTRA WIDE! YIKES - no wonder the shoes didn't fit.

sporting size 5 extra wide shoes - happy walker!

*Brekan loves to blow on a toy pinwheel that we have in our basement. If you hold it up to him, he blows on it - it's super cute

*Justin taught Brekan that if you say "blah or yuck" he will spit - this is helpful when he puts everything/anything in his mouth!

*He officially learned how to go feet first down the stairs - HURRAY!

*We started a new game with Brekan in the car where we play with the pacis taking them in and out of his mouth saying "BLAH!" really loud. Every time we get in the car now he starts playing the game and laughing. Have I mentioned that Brekan is a GREAT car rider? I'm so lucky!

*Got his first haircut! He was such a champ and looked like a big boy. Thankfully - he still has his adorable signature spikey hair!

*Brekan has learned how to sign/say "stop". It sounds more like "dah" but he puts his hands together and does it when we tell him to stop. It's quite cute - the word 'no' wasn't working for us, so I started using stop and that seems to be the trick for him.

*Our wonderful babysitter took the boys outside last week to play in the snow. I hadn't taken Brekan out to play in the snow but a handful of times, and he just sat in the stroller and watched. Had I known how much fun he was going to have I would have taken him out of the stroller much sooner. He LOVED it apparently - so the next day I took the boys out myself just to see and this little dude has so much fun crawling around and walking in the snow. I'm glad he got to "experience" the snow before next winter when he's almost 2!

 

 

*Brekan likes to climb on EVERYTHING! I think he is going to be my child who gets injured more often/or more severely than his brother.

*He can put himself to sleep for all his naps and bedtime. I love telling him it's time for "nigh nigh" and he repeats me, then nuzzles into my shoulder when I turn the sound machine on for a quick snuggle. Then I lay him down and he goes to sleep (most of the time, sometimes we have to go back in because he's playing and needs to be put back down) but I'm so thankful he puts himself to sleep!

We just adore this little guys personality. He is so happy and content. He makes us laugh everyday. We love how he is catching on to everything these days, he's constantly showing us new words and tricks he has learned. He is discovering his voice for talking and for volume the last few days which has been fun (lol). Because of this he is learning how to say "shhhh" and put his finger over his mouth.

Today he mastered a new trick of blowing a kiss - see the link below for how adorable this is!
BLOW A KISS!

Brekan - I love you more than you will ever know. I'm so blessed you are my second baby. You help me to see the good in each day and you make me laugh and smile! You'll always be my little B.

We had some wonderful 1 year photos taken of Brekan (and some of him and Coleman) Here are 3 of my favorites! Check out our wonderful photographer!

Brekan 1 year!

Happy 1st Birthday to my adorable little B! Yes, I know I'm almost a month late in posting birthday celebration pics. (such is life for this little dude and his mommies late month posts about his growth and awesomeness). BUT - this is my 100th post too! YIPPEE!

We had a small family celebration for his birthday ON his birthday (which fell on a Saturday this year). I spent a lot of the day reminiscing about my birth experience and how different it was from Coleman's. We had a few friends/mostly neighbors come by, family, and had pizza and cake (simple and fun). Brekan - of course, was a happy camper the entire time and did a great job eating his "cake" (banana muffin with a little frosting). The pictures will show how much fun was had...

Hi - I'm 1!

 

 

A little help with the candle from Big Brother Coleman

 

 

YUM!

 

YAY for Presents!