Piggy Paint. Hi! Dinner Date.

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 270

     While Tobin was napping, I gave Adelyn a pedicure and manicure with this non-toxic paint called, Piggy Paint. How cute is that? As I held each tiny toe in my hands while I carefully applied the pink, glittery polish...I tried to fight away that ache in the pit of my stomach. The ache that comes with the realization that time is marching on. I've come across parents who say things like, "I can't wait till he's out of diapers," or "I can't wait until she's in school." I don't understand the, "I can't wait," crowd. And I know without a shadow of doubt that I feel that way because I watched Shane grow up. I held him as a baby. I changed his diapers. I fed him baby food in his high chair. Now, he's twenty. How? Like, for real, how is that even possible? Time passes so horribly fast. I sat there holding Addy's toes, remembering the first time I touched them. And the ache came on me so suddenly...

     So, today, as we sat there, I examined each toe while I painted. We talked. We laughed. We joked. We made plans for our evening. I held her feet. I smelled them. And when I was done painting, we hugged for a long time. Sometimes, I just need to hold my girl.

     Every single time I get Tobin up in the morning, or up from his nap, he looks at his stuffed animals, he smiles, he waves, and he says, "hi!" It is by far, by far, the sweetest smile, wave, and hello I have ever witnessed in my life. Sometimes, we sit in his room for a while, just waving hello to all his animals. My days are always happy with Tobin around. And today, while we sat and waved...that all too familiar ache returned. My boy will be one in 15 days.

     Had a dinner date tonight. With my sister. At her house. With all the kids. Love dinner dates with my sister. Highlight of the night? Giving all four kids a bath at the same time. Priceless.

     Thankful for my sweet little ones. Thankful for a sweet day with them. Thankful for the time I have with them. Thankful that I am able to be home with them. Thankful for dinner dates. Thankful for bathtubs big enough to bathe four babies in. Thankful for a day done right.

"I'm so excited!" & We love the sleeping pictures.

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 269

     It was another fun day around here. As the days always are. It was AJ's birthday. And because he had to work tonight, we had a birthday lunch. He chose, "bacon with a side of cheeseburgers," as his birthday meal. When I told Adelyn at breakfast that we would be going over to celebrate Uncle's birthday, she replied with, "I'm so excited!" I love AJ. He's an amazing guy. So sweet, and so humble. He's the big brother I never had. We are all blessed to call him family.

     I tried on three separate attempts to take pictures of my kids today. It just did not work. They were too busy playing. So, as I crept into their rooms tonight to take a picture of them, Matt followed me in. We went into Addy's room first. She was cuddled with her babies, Casey and Sally. After I snapped her picture, I whispered to Matt that I love the sleeping pictures. The first sleeping pictures I snapped were because I didn't have time to take pictures during the busy day. And not wanting to fail my Project 365 * 2, I snuck in to take pictures of them while they slept. It turns out actually, that I love the sleeping pictures. Matt does too. He says they look so peaceful.

     Thankful for AJ. Thankful that we were able to have a nice birthday party for him. We love birthdays around here! Thankful for sleeping pictures. Thankful for another fun day. Thankful for this sweet little life. I'm loving every minute of it.

Big Juicy. Damn Good Dinner. Gifts. My Girl. Bear Coat. Cricket. Red Leaves. Trees. (Big days require big titles.)

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 268

     It was a beautiful day. Beautiful. Lovely. Any day spent with the ones I love most is beautiful and lovely. Full of fun, adventure, and new things to smile about. Today's things to smile about are as follows:

1. My dad replaced the brakes on our Excursion, Big Juicy. Yeah. We named our Excursion, Big Juicy. What of it? All vehicles need a name. (The name of my old Ford Focus SVT that I bought brand new, and paid off, and owned free and clear, was Juicy. The licence plate assigned to me was JCY-and some random numbers. Since she was red, and her licence plate already said JCY...the name, Juicy, just stuck. So, when Matt and my dad came home one day with our Excursion, I came out to see them, and my dad said, "how do you like Big Juicy?" And the name stuck.) My dad spent his day, once again, helping us. I love him so much.

2. Even though my dad was fixing Big Juicy all day, the aroma coming out of my parent's house was seriously, intoxicating. My dad put in a roast chicken, and a pot roast before he started working. We ate like ravenous wolves tonight. We were all hungry from being outside all day. That, and it was a damn good dinner. Just like always.

3. My mom had gifts for me today. She went out and got me some new clothes. She's always thinking of me. Seriously, I don't know what I'd do without my mom. I don't know what I'd do without our weekly visits. I don't know what I'd do without our multiple daily phone calls. A girl just needs her mom, you know? So thankful for my sweet mama. She is one of those rare people who is always just, good and giving and kind. She always believes the best in people. She always loves. Even when the recipient of that love isn't deserving of it. I love her so much.

4. Today, more times than I can count, Matt came up to me, and hugged me. And kissed me. And held me. And smiled at me. And held my hands. And kissed them also. It made me smile, and it made me feel loved. But, then again, Matt always makes me feel incredibly loved. About a week ago, we had a disagreement about something. We were texting back and forth, and he texted me this: "Seriously...don't worry. I love you so much...just be my girl again!" I've been thinking about those two words ever since. My girl. I've been saying them over and over in my head. My girl. Just be my girl again. I replied with, "I'll always be your girl." So in love with my guy.

5. Shane has a bear coat. Enough said.

Hiding from the bear. 

Puzzling about the bear. 

More puzzling. 

More hiding. 

6. I caught a cricket to show the kids. I like crickets. They always remind me of Skipper. He would pounce on them. And then when they would lay lifelessly on the floor from being pounced upon, he would rub his head against them to try and bring them back to life. Yes, crickets remind me of Skipper. And of my childhood.

7. Green grass. Crunchy leaves. Red leaves. I love the red ones the best. Beautiful trees. I love trees. They are so beautiful and peaceful. So majestic and humble at the same time. 

     Thankful for amazing days spent with the best people I know. I'm blessed to have the best people in the world to call, family. I don't deserve such amazing days with such amazing people.

   

Family Portrait

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 267

     I've been cleaning all day. In between playing with Adelyn and Tobin. My back hurts. And I'm tired. And I still have a ton of laundry to fold. Mt. Laundry seems to stand tall and proud in this house. I had just finished cleaning the kitchen when I saw the art corner. I almost walked past it, because it wasn't too messy. But, because I want every square inch of my house cleaned tonight, I walked over and started to pick up. Addy's art corner is never really messy. It's always just...in use. She likes to get things out. And set things up in a way that makes sense only to her. As I picked up her favorite crayons--all the shades of pink, purple, and red--from a little bowl that was also filled with magnetic doll clothing, my eye caught something new hanging on the wall. A picture of us. Our family. Drawn in crayon by Adelyn. Four circles with the arms and legs jutting out from each center. There, among all her things set up just so, was a family portrait taped to the wall.

     It made me smile. And it made me feel warm, and home. It made me incredibly thankful that every square inch of this house needs to be cleaned and picked up and organized because I have two little ones to mess it up every day. Just the thought of Addy hanging her picture of us on the wall is enough to keep me warm all winter long.

     Thankful.

Apples and Peaches. And baking with Adelyn.

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 266

     Shane and I took Tobin to a little farm this morning. It has been in the Franconia area forever. Nall's Produce. It was a gorgeous day. A perfect day to go look at Fall things. And farm animals. Tobin loves animals. He reminds me of Shane. He was always an animal lover as a kid. Instead of cuddling with stuffed animals at night, he cuddled with hard, plastic animals. Tobin wiggled out of his safety restraints more than once today trying to see the roosters. He's my little Houdini. Shane and I decided to get two peaches, and two apples, and have that for lunch. The peaches were okay, but we kind of expected that. It's not peach season. It is however, apple season. And those honeycrisp apples were amazing. And all three of us had a lovely lunch of fresh fruit.

     Tonight, Adelyn and I did some baking. I love teaching her how to do things like crack an egg. Measure vanilla. Use the butter left over on the wrapper to grease the pan. Use the mixer. Oh, and how cute is this? Addy had a cup of tea with me tonight. I made her some Chamomile with honey and lemon. And believe me, she needed some Chamomile. It was so sweet to see her sitting there, sipping tea out of a pretty teacup.

     Thankful for Fall adventures. Thankful for peaches and apples. Thankful for time spent with two of my favorite guys, Shane and Tobin. Thankful for rooster sightings. The roosters made Tobin's day. Thankful I got to do some baking with Addy B. I just love teaching her how to cook and bake. Thankful for hot tea. And the peace and calm it brings. The days are just so very cozy when one drinks tea from a pretty teacup.