our family spent a memorable evening in birmingham's inspiring new railroad park

it was the perfect combination for a perfect evening...

beautiful surroundings

beautiful weather

beautiful sunset

but most importantly,

perfect company

our summer

i love summer; i always have. i love the sunshine, the green, the warm (yes, even the hot)... i love the music that nature makes in the evenings, late sunsets, chasing fireflies... i love the freedom and fun, the pleasure and play... summer is good for my soul.

we had a great summer. i can't believe it is coming to a close and fall is upon us so quickly (i do love fall, too)! we made a lot of wonderful memories this summer...

we played in the sprinkler

and went blueberry pickin' at nanie and grandpa's house

we explored and played in cool creeks with good friends

and watched uncle cole play in plenty of barons games, went to the farmers market, played on the slip-n-slide, visited cousins, ate lots of popsicles, celebrated precious little ones birthdays...

it is so much fun having kids and experiencing life with them, through their eyes-- the wonder, the excitement and enthusiasm, the joy...

he's 3

three years ago was one of the most joyous days of my life... the day you were born, the day i became a mom... the day my heart and capacity for love grew exponentially...

my heart both smiles and aches as i watch you grow so quickly.

there has been a lot of change and growth in this third year: embracing little sissy, and your role as big brother, starting "school", sleeping in your big boy bed, saying goodbye to your beloved paci, beginning potty training... all of these things making you less of a baby and more of a boy.

you are independent, and your motto is, "i can do it myself". you are cautious... oh, so very cautious. you are smart and inquisitive, outgoing and friendly, sensitive, active... along with all the joys of 3, there are also the growing pains. we are growing... all of us... together.

it's been three years of smiles and laughter, of learning and growing... three years of my heart being worn on my sleeve... i love you, bubbie.

we didn't get to celebrate your birthday exactly as we had planned because you got a stomach bug and didn't feel well. but we did the very best we could and you had a wonderful day despite the fact that you didn't feel well. happy 3rd birthday, little man.

one

i cannot believe that it was one year ago (today) that we welcomed our precious little girl to the world. she made a grand entrance, screaming so much that i feared the coming days and months. but she settled into her new world and life quickly, and has since been relatively "easy"(if any babies can really be easy).

she is so very sweet. she has soft, kind eyes that make you melt and wrap you around her little finger when she looks into your eyes. when she gets her feelings hurt (yes, she is most definitely a girl), she lays her head on the floor as if she is crushed and cannot even hold her head up.

but she's also sassy. she has been known to scream at her brother if he even comes near her and she doesn't want him to. she doesn't really defend herself against him outright-- just screams until mommy or daddy rescue her, or scold brother (in his defense, he is innocent sometimes). it will be interesting to see how their interactions take shape as she becomes smarter, more coordinated, bigger... brother may be in trouble.

speaking of clayton, he loves her dearly. he has heard us refer to her as "pretty", and has lately been calling her pretty (for example, today, as i was changing her diaper for her nap, he crawled up on the bed and said, "i want to see pretty"). that. is. adorable. he asks for her as soon as he wakes up from his naps (and yes, asks me to put her down for her naps when he is tired of her ;)

she is growing so fast. i love watching her grow. she is walking behind push toys, but has yet to stand alone, although i don't think it will be long. she is over baby food, and so far, eats anything we give her.

i am so thankful to the Lord for the sweet gift of sissy. she was handpicked by Him for our family. she brings so much joy to all of our lives and we love her dearly. i don't think i'll ever be able to tell her how much i love her, but i was made to love her.

i think clayton puts it perfectly when, as our family is all cuddled together on the couch or the bed, he says, "this is my family". yes, son, this is our family. i didn't know i could love so deep.

hollywood

clay recently said,

"nothing says glamor like two kids under 3".

how true!

we've been doing a lot of this lately...

if it is possible to feel slightly nostalgic about diapers, i do.

potty training is yet another step toward this little boy's independence.

our baby boy is growing into a big boy, one step at a time.

it is good, and right. but does it have to happen so fast?

firstfruits

it's summer around here, and there are signs of it everywhere...

from clothes that are dirty and wet from playing in the creek now hanging on the fence to dry... to the first ripe cherry tomato excitedly handed to me by our little gardner (and tomato lover who gobbles them up whole).

i love summer.

ten

she is my sunshine

my only sunshine

she makes me happy when skies are grey...

"you are my sunshine" is a special song to me and the kids. i sing it to them many times every day. the lyrics are the artwork in clayton's room.

they are my sunshines. they'll never know how much i love them (until they have children of their own). how perfect.

sissy is ten months.

she. is. precious.

she is crawling. everywhere. and fast.

she just got her first tooth.

she is beautiful. already. her eyes, her skin... wow.

her voice is raspy and deep. it's cool.

she is a mama's girl. boy, is she ever. she would prefer that i never leave her sight, or put her down. ever. yes, it can be challenging, but i'm ok with it for now...

because i know the day will come when her heart will belong to her daddy.

and i'm ok with that too.