How we Celebrated our E!

Y'all, we had the best time celebrating our E!  We opted not to do a party this year, and instead soaked up the day with just the five of us.  Here is how Everette spent the day turning TWO...

He woke up to the only thing he'd asked for... CUPCAKES!  And four presents from us - something he wants, something he needs, something he wears, something he reads.  (This is what we always do for birthdays!)

He also woke up to a room full of red balloons!

He loved opening his presents this year!  One tiny piece of wrapping paper at a time... ha!  His something to read was a book about superheroes...

His something to wear was his very own helmet, which he wanted to wear all.day.long.

And his something he wants was this awesome truck that sings and moves all around by itself!

Cupcakes for breakfast!!

And then we surprised our birthday boy with a trip to the zoo!  We knew we wanted to do something to make the day feel special, and this ended up being so so perfect...

Trying to hold up TWO fingers...

<3

He'd had about all the fun he could stand and didn't last long on the way home, falling asleep in his now forward-facing car seat!

Once home it was time for more presents from grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins, playing with new toys, macaroni and cheese for dinner (by request!), and some happy-birthday-singing and chocolate-cupcake-eating...

Sweet boy slept hard that night under his "something he needs" gift - a superhero blanket - made for a superhero little boy with love by his mama:

It was a very low-key birthday, but my hope is that our E felt loved and special and spoiled as he turned the big 0-2. <3

Everette is TWO!

Just the other night your dad and I sat on the couch after you'd all gone to bed...

"Can you believe this is our family?" He asked.  "Can you believe we have three kids?"

"No!" I replied.  "Everyday I look around and absolutely cannot believe this is my life..."

We then talked about how just a few short years ago we were struggling to grow our family.  We had our CK - your sissy - and our hearts ached to give her a sibling.  To create the family we'd both dreamed of for so long.

But it just wasn't happening...

...

One afternoon, in the middle of our losses and fertility struggles, your dad sat on our back porch in North Carolina and was asked by someone near and dear to him:  "How much money are you willing to spend to try to have another baby?  How far are you going to go with this?"

I didn't know about this conversation until recently.  But it doesn't surprise me one bit that your dad's response was,

"It's just money.  At the end of the day, it's just money.  This is what Jessie and I want - our dream is to create this family, and we're going to fight for it, no matter what it takes.  Because when I look back at my life, I want to know I did everything I could to make this dream come true.  THIS is what matters."

...

Everette, I can tell you with absolute certainty that you were worth every ounce of fight we put into getting you here.  I honestly have a hard time even remembering what my life was like before you were in it - you bring so much joy and love and happiness and energy into our family, and we are all better people because of you, sweet boy.

I cannot believe it has been two whole years since you came into our lives!  Your birth was the most emotional one for me, and I think I will forever look at you as my reminder to never give up, to never lose hope...

Every single day I am learning how to be a boy mom, thanks to you - my ball- and tool-loving, full-of-energy, nonstop, mischievous, silly, dirty, scraped-knee little buster.

A little buster who has crazy cowlicked hair and the sweetest little voice... a voice you'll here all day long in our house because you are a talking machine!  Honestly, your verbal development is amazing!!  You talk in complete sentences and ask questions nonstop.  I think you're trying to keep up with CK!

You always refer to yourself in the third-person, which I love.  You are inquisitive and stubborn and sweet and sneaky!  You're finally learning your colors, and right now I think your favorite is orange.  You think you can count to ten, though it goes something like this:  "1, 2, 3... 7, 8, 9, 10!"  You love macaroni and cheese and applesauce and your Halloween candy, and would prefer to snack all day long rather than eat actual meals.  In fact, you probably say "I'm really really hungry!" about fifteen times a day.

When you sleep, you still suck the first two fingers on your left hand while rubbing the back of your right hand on your sheet.  When I see you doing that, it reminds me just how little you still are. <3

You usually want to sing a song or two before we tuck you in snug-as-a-bug each night.  And you're still a great sleeper, just like you've always been.

And speaking of singing - it's one of your favorite things to do!  Twinkle Twinkle, ABCs, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Jesus Loves me... hearing your sweet voice sing is one of my most favorite things in the whole world.

One of my other most favorite things in the whole world?  Watching you be a brother.

You absolutely adore your "sissy" and you are so excited each day when it's time to pick her up from school.  You're finally able to keep up with her, and you make her tougher each day during your wrestling matches.  (Keep it up... she needs it!)

And I cannot even put into words how proud I am of you in your new role as BIG brother.  Your entire world was flipped upside down when Brooks came into our family in September.  And while it's been tough for you to learn how to be gentle with him, you really haven't shown an ounce of jealousy.  It's like you grew up overnight, which my mama heart can't take!  You want to help me with him and always want to make sure he's ok, and I can already see the love you have for him.  He's a lucky little guy, Everette, because he gets to spend his whole life looking up to you... <3

...

The other night, when your dad and I were having that conversation about our family of five, we started talking about you.  And specifically about what all went in to getting you here.  And he said...

"Gosh, I just can't even imagine life without him."

And I feel the exact same way.

You are such a joy, buddy.  From the minute you were born it was like you already knew just how precious life is, just how beautiful our world can be.  And living my life as your mama makes each day an adventure, makes each day a day I know will be full of tickles and smiles and laughter and energy and the best kind of noise.

I am and will forever be grateful for you..  My rainbow baby.  The one who painted a beautiful picture for us after so many storms.

I love you with all my heart and soul.  

Happy 2nd birthday, Everette. <3

-Mommy 

5 on Friday!

A quick Friday Five after a week that kicked my butt!

O N E
We had a quick, whirlwind visit last weekend from my big sister and her daughter, and it could not have been more perfect!  They made the long trip to meet our sweet caboose, and we are just so thankful that they did.  We squeezed in as much quality time together as we could in 24-hours... CK and E were in heaven!  And Brooks sure enjoyed all of the snuggles from his Aunt Lu and cousin Rals. <3

T W O
Everette is going to start Mother's Morning Out next week!  We've been so torn on whether or not to send him, but now that I'm two months into this mama of three gig, I really think it'll be good for both of us.  He'll only be going one day a week, but he is so stinking excited about going to "cool."  I know it's only MMO and only one day a week, but it makes me sad to think of having him gone!  I'm gonna miss him!!

T H R E E
And speaking of my E, tomorrow is his BIRTHDAY!  How is he turning two already?!  We've opted not to do a party this year, and will instead celebrate as a family.  I've got a few surprises up my sleeve, and can't wait to make the day all about my little buddy.

F O U R
I finally busted out my pump yesterday!  I have been so stressed about finding time to pump, because I really want to introduce Brooks to a bottle soon.  However, mornings are just chaotic around here - which is when I always pumped with CK and E.  So yesterday I finally decided to do it during E's naptime, when things are a little more calm around these parts.  Why does seeing this make me so excited?!  Haha #liquidgold

Anyway, stay tuned to see how Brooks does with his first bottle.  Fingers crossed he'll take it like a champ so I can have the freedom to run some errands by myself every now and then!

F I V E
Y'all, this morning I attended the most incredible funeral service for the most incredible woman.  I only knew her for two years, but she impacted my life more than she will ever know.  And she clearly impacted our entire community, as the church was packed, with several rooms used for overflow viewing, and a neighborhood church also housing over a hundred people who watched it live as the service was streamed.  I have had this ache in my heart since I heard of her passing, and have just been so moved by who she was as a wife, mother, friend, teacher, and child of God.  I know she is up in heaven so proud of the celebration today, and I hope she sees just how amazing she was and just how much she affected all of our lives...

"Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.  And you know the way to where I am going." (John 14:1-4)

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." (Romans 8:16-17)

Prayers for her family, her friends, her students, and our community -- may we all learn from the life she lived, which really was breathtakingly beautiful... <3