1 Year!

Bernadette  is a one year old! That is crazy.  Time has moved way too quickly.  And, since she is so much smaller than Ambrose was at this age is even harder to believe.  She has so much spunk and energy.  She is on the move constantly!  She loves giving big slobbery kisses, and her snuggles are the best.  Her talking has continued.  She has a ton of words (momma, dadda, bubba, jesus, amen, kiss, duck, abby, up, all done, I do, I got, book, and I’m sure more that aren’t occuring to me this second).  She likes to play with dolls, and it is oh so cute when she puts them on her shoulder like she prefers to be hed.  But, she really loved to play blocks, legos, and kitchen too.  She will come up and force feed you her baby’s bottle making drinking sounds while she does it.  She has recently discovered the love of sitting and listening to a whole book, and will listen to it as many times as I will read it to her.  She also delights in being naughty.  You tell her no, and she thinks it funny.  In fact, she usually just does whatever she is doing faster! 

I made it to a year breastfeeding!  I am so glad we made it.  This was my long range goal, because it is so good for babies to be breastfed at least a year.  It is funny, I remember sitting with my friend Alexis five years ago, and relaying a story about how appalled I was to see a mom breastfeeding a two year old in public.   I remember telling her that when babies get teeth or can ask for it you should stop.  Little did I know how ignorant I was about both babies and breastfeeding.  Ambrose got teeth at four months, and I would have died to have been able to breastfeed him till then.  And, now I sit with a baby that has four teeth, and can definitely communicate her desire to nurse, and I can’t imagine just cutting her off.  That was definitely my “everyone is the perfect parent before they have had children” moment.   And, luckily, everyone is super supportive of us continueing breastfeeding.  My friends and family have even been entertained by the gymnastics of a nursing toddler (legs going every which direction under the nursing cover).  That doesn’t mean nursing is easy.  There are times which the idea of being done is very much appealing.  When she is on one of her nurse all day and all night kicks.  Luckily, I have a wonderful friend in my life that reminded me that this too shall pass, that what she is doing is totally normal for a baby that hasn’t been night weaned and/or in day care or mother’s day out, and that for Bernadette what I’m doing means the world to her.  And, after that discussion I was reminded about the scripture passage in Timothy when he talks about the importance of women have other women to help them and guide them.   I am blessed to have so many women in my life that I can turn to when I need advice. 

This year hasn’t been easy, but we have had so many wonderful friends and family members to help us along the way.  I wouldn’t trade Bernadette for “easy” baby if someone gave me the choice.  I love the baby God gave me even when she is clingy, or someone is sad because she doesn’t want them holding her.  She now spends more time happy than sad, and her smile is worth all the pain we went through in the beginning.   She has taught us all a little bit more about patience, and the importance of relying on God instead of thinking we can do it all ourselves.  My children have most definitely brought me closer to God, and I can only pray that they continue to love God the way they do now, with the sincerity and joy of little children. 

2 years

My baby boy is two years old (well turned two on June 26th)!  That is unbelievable to me.  I love him more and more each day, and it is a joy to watch him grow and learn about the world.  Right now he is obsessed with letters.  He knows them all, and finds them everywhere.  He still loves to read, and will bring as many books to me as I’m willing to read to him.  He loves to build, and likes to play vrrrmmm vrrrmmmm (a game where a push the car and he goes chasing after it).  He runs up and gives Bernadette random kisses (and sometimes chooses that he wants nothing to do with her).  Loves baths.  And his favorite tv show is Super Why (no surprise it is about reading).  He loves God, and will pray to Jesus throughout the day.  I am blessed by each day I get to spend with him.  We even have a night time routine where he asks to see his stars, and we go into his bedroom, turn on the star light, and I sing him twinkle twinkle and this little light of mine.  He  has also started falling asleep in his own bed at night.  My little baby is quickly turning into a big boy. 

11 months

It is crazy to me that you are only a month away from turning one.  You are my tiny, little, sweet, precious, adorable, smart, and so much fun girl.  Have the times you give me kisses by trying to bite my nose, and you laugh the whole time.  You have already given me little heart attack by climbing onto boxes, chairs, window sills, basically anything you can climb onto you do it.  You are fearless, and at the same time terribly more fragile than your brother is. 

You walk like a champ.   You love putting shoes on and off.  You like playing with your Ostheimer castle figurines.  The other day you held up the little star girl as said, “kiss”.  You already have a few phrases: I did, I got, All done.   You laugh is contagious, your smile mischevious, and I just love every second with you. 

10 months!

My baby is 10 months old.  That is crazy!  You are blooming more and more each day.  You have been walking for over a month know, and you are already on two word phrases (I got, I did ).  I think you are going to be yacking our heads off as you grow up.  Just like your mama!  You are a dare devil.  You climbed up the slide, and attempt to climb up any object you can.  You stood up in the child rocking chair and rocked it.  You touch the tv, and turn around, make eye contact, and laugh.  You have personality in spades for sure.   You love cars, the circus toys from Ambrose’s b-day party, and anything you can get your hands on (hence the I got).

Two!!!!!!!!!!

My big boy is two!  In some ways I can’t believe that, and in other ways it is hard to remember what my life was like without him.  We had a scare last week that left my down on my knees begging for God to help my son, and I knew in an instant just how much my life had changed …. just how much I loved my son…. just how scary it is to think that some terribly bad could happen.  Luckily, we were very blessed, and the seizure was just a seizure.  And, as usual, those that helped us commented on Ambrose’s size, and many talked about his sweet nature.  

I love my little man more than I can ever express here.  I love his sweet smile, his dimples, his crazy energy.  I love building blocks with him, and frying eggs on his toy stove.  And, of course I love reading with him.  I love that my son loves books.  That he can’t get enough of his ABCs, and that he loves it when I sing head, shoulders, knees, and toes.  I love his ambush hugs and kisses.  I love in his almost too long hair, his bright blue eyes, and the sweet sound of his voice when he uses his words. 

He is growing more each day.  He is beginning to verbally communicate more and more.  He still loves his fruit and veggies, but has discovered the love of ketchup.  He is an amazing big brother.  I am so so blessed to spend each day with him, and I can honestly say that my world would definitely be less entertaining and loving without him in it.  I am blessed to call him my son. 

9 months

You feel so teeny tiny to me, Bernadette, but in reality you are getting to be such a big girl.  You are clapping, waving, and just a day shy of turning 9 months, walking.  You are fearless, but you feel the pain of those fearless efforts very acutely.  You are super sweet, and give huge big slobbery kisses.  You love to pull hair, and attack Ambrose during his diaper change.  It has been so much fun watching you and him play together more and more.  You are also eating a ton more solid food, and just this afternoon you were begging for more mushrooms. 

I love you!

Here are the pics:

8 months

You are turning into one heck of a little lady, Bernadette.  You are crawling like crazy, standing up all by yourself, and walking along furniture.  Like your brother, you are an adventurer.  You attempt to leap from the couch to my rocker, onto the floor, etc.  You are already playing the part of annoying little sister.  You love to try to pull Ambrose’s hair when he is getting a diaper change and can’t move.    You are saying dadda, and a million other sing song babbles.  You are going to be a gabber. 

Bernadette loves having her picture taken, but with her desire to leap off things a picture session can quickly go from this:

to this:

Don’t worry!  I didn’t let her fall.

7 months

I still can’t believe Bernadette is seven months, and I really can’t believe that she has been crawling for almost a month now.  She pulls up on item all by herself, and is trying her hardest to stand up in the middle of the floor unsupported.  The little baby that hated bottles will race across the room to steal her brother’s sippy. 

I fully expected to have Ambrose to jealous of Bernadette once in a while, but I completely underestimated how much a seven month old would feel those emotions.  She can be totally happy, and then see Ambrose in my lap and start crying. 

I have had a blast this past month.  Ambrose and her are really starting to play with each other, and that is just so much fun to watch.

Cupcakes!

Here is a card I stamped using Stampin’ Up’s new cupcake punch.  Click on the picture to make it bigger, and to see more detail.

I’m a big boy now

Where did my little baby boy go?  Ambrose has grown up so much in the last few months.  He is a crazy climber.  As in, if he can pull up on it, stretch to it, or leap from it all systems are go.  We have had to regulate the basketball hoop to the playroom, because he was pulling it around in order to use it has a step stool to climb to things off limits.  He is still very much into container play, and will build with any type of block he can. 

I’m amazed by how quickly time passes.  And, I’m trying to enjoy every second of it.  Because, I know these days will go by just as quickly has his baby days went.