Everything Nice

I love... ...love... ...love... ...having a daughter. This little angel is 4 months old today. She is sweet, social, smiley, and beyond easy. She has been a great addition to our family, and has brought us so much joy.

Raising 3 young children is

Exhausting.

Challenging.

Chaotic.

And so worth it.

Prom Revisited

Last Saturday night Jason and I attended the annual gala (aka, fundraiser) for the hospital where he works. As you can see, it was a black tie affair. It was fun to dress up and go out together, and I got to find out what it would have been like to go to prom with Jason. All we were missing was the limo and the corsage. Except that I was in 8th grade when he was a senior, and that would have been creepy. We had a really fun date, and even won something in the silent auction (but it's someone's Christmas present, so it's a secret!).

There's something wrong with me

The other night I packed up Maddie's newborn (0-3 month) clothes and cried as I folded her little onesies...she's getting so big, so fast. I recognize how messed up that is. As I said to Jason, it's not like she's going off to college (although that will be here before I know it...excuse me while I go cry some more).

I snapped this picture with my phone before church on Sunday to show my mother-in-law that I finally bought Maddie some "girl" clothes (a dress and tights...which she didn't own before in her current size) and to show Jason (who was in Kentucky taking an exam) that I was on time for church. "So why can't you be on time when I'm around?" he wanted to know. Obnoxious.

Going to church with my 3 little kids was brave, reckless, and a little bit pointless. I had to pass Madeline off to someone (thanks, Christa!) and someone else came to sit with Ethan (thanks, Regan!) while I spent sacrament meeting putting Colin in time out. You might think the picture below is not a great one, since Colin is so blurry, but it's actually a perfect representation of my (and his) life right now.

Too adorable

Madeline is just shy of 3 months and we think she's just about the sweetest, cutest thing around. I love, love, love this stage. She's a happy, good natured, excessively easy baby. She's growing great. At her two-month check-up she'd gone from 40th percentile in weight to 70th. She's still getting up once or twice a night to eat, which I don't love, but she's so easy that I can't complain. She's a great addition to our family and we're so glad she's ours! Maddie was talking non-stop to Jason tonight so he took some video of it.

Congrats, Jason and Leanne!

Jason and Leanne have been wanting to do an adventure race together for a while. They found one happening in the Raleigh area, so decided to go for it. They competed in the 12-hour co-ed division...and won!!! They took first place in their division and came in second overall, beating out a bunch of all-male teams. I'm so proud of them. They researched, trained, planned, and obviously brought their a-game. Leanne's got pictures on her blog here.

You guys rock! Looking forward to the next one!!

Terrible Twos

Colin apparently got a hold of a job description for "Two Year Olds" and is striving to cover every possible angle of this delightful age. Lucky for him his mom still thinks he's adorable and entertaining, even if she does spend half her day parking him in his time out chair.

Colin turns 2!

Colin turned 2 on August 30. He is a little bundle of passion and energy. A lover and a fighter. A clown and effortlessly cool. He keeps us entertained and frustrated.

He got to celebrate his birthday twice, once with Grammy and Papa before they left, and once on his actual birthday. Grammy made him an ocean/fish cake. He's clutching the present she and Papa gave him.

Ethan told me Colin wanted a train cake, "cuz he likes trains."

Colin takes birthdays very seriously.

Showing off his presents.

With mom and dad. I can't get this kid to smile for the camera. He's a very happy kid until the camera comes out. Then he gets deadpanned or looks away.

He's healthy and happy and stubborn and independent. He'll say "Bye. Later." and go out and play in the sandbox by himself for an hour or more. I have to drag him inside. He's very tall...97th percentile for height and only 65th for weight. He just started preschool (and LOVES it). He adds so much joy to our family. We love him to pieces!