I never knew

Just how amazing being a mother would be.....

I can't even put into words the amount of love I have for my blonde hair, blue eyed babies.

Being a mom is the hardest, most enjoyable, most difficult and most rewarding job I have ever had. And I don't take a second for granted. I have been so blessed with my babies.

My Mia is 2 3/4's years old. She's super smart, funny, a tad defiant, quite sassy and acts JUST like her mama ;) Her attitude--guess it's payback ;)

Mia's learning how to share her mom and dad with her baby brother. She's very independent! Is slightly obsessed with youtube on the iPad (she watches music videos, learns the moves, and then performs them--hysterical!!!) Has memorized Llama Llama Mad at Mama. And she reads it every. single. night.

She knows her ABC's and all of the sounds the letters make, can count to 20, knows her days of the week/months of the year, her colors, her shapes, the 4 seasons and probably more, but hasn't shown us yet. She has learned so much at preschool this year and we THANK her Nina SO VERY much! :)

My Dane is 10 months. He is my little lover. His personality is really starting to come out. Eats EVERYTHING (I haven't found anything he won't eat!) He's crawling EVERYWHERE! Won't stay out of the dog bowls or off of the entertainment center. Talking/babbling a lot more. --especially with some intent to communicate with us! He says mama, dada, gaga, baba and we're pretty sure he says 'ball' because that is his favorite toy. He throws EVERYTHING and is still a bit clumsy! (go figure--look at his mother!) Has been doing WONDERFUL since his tube surgery...I think he got so used to me holding him becuase he was always sick and in pain that he still thinks I need to do that. Which, I will....because soon enough he'll be wanting me to park the car 100 yards from the door so noone can see he's with his mama ;)

He's sleeping well, eating well, growing like crazy. I'd call that a success.

I'm super close with my brother and sister.....I pray that these 2 share the closeness and unique bond that I share with mine.... This just melted my heart tonight when Mia carried Dane's bottle around and would not let me feed him :)

Life may be challenging and hectic at times, but at the end of the day......

when I see this....

everything else just doesn't matter.

I've got these little blessings.

With them and their daddy, we are a family.

She's so big and that kinda makes me sad......

She'll always be my baby :)

She doesn't even take baths anymore....

"I'm big mom, I take showers."

The past 4 years have flown by and it doesn't seem possible that we've welcomed 3 beautiful babies into this world.

Mia and Dane, you make mama's heart so. very. happy.

I love you.

Happy Birthday.....

Happy Birthday, baby boy.
3/28/2008 you entered this world
You left us an hour later.
What I would give to have you just a little longer....

You have shaped our family and changed us forever.
Your little sister and brother will always know that the most beautiful angel is always looking over them.
I'm forever changed by you......
always wondering what would have been.

I don't care what they say, it's so damn unfair.

9 months!

My precious and lovable little guy turned 9 months old on Wednesday!!!

He has had a rough 9 months, to say the least!!

7 ear infections

surgery for PE tubes

2 ER trips for intestinal troubles

1 ER trip for RSV

BUT--we are back on track and he is HEALTHY AND HAPPY!

Happy--if his mama is holding him!

He won't hold on forever....

so if I have to vacuum with him in my sling, then hey, I'll do it! :)

SO CLOSE to being able to crawl.

LOVES to stand up

Has 2, working on a 3rd, teeth/tooth :)

Has begun really babbling now that he can HEAR!!!

Watching himself on the iPad :)
He's just that serious!

And super happy when he's standing!

He's more than I could have ever imagined.....

Someday I'll have to let him go, but for now....he's going to be a super mama's boy :) hehe

8 months

For Dane's 8 month birthday--he will be receiving a fashionable set up PE tubes!!!
Friday we go in bright and early for Dane's tube surgery (I'm not quite sure why they even call it surgery--the procedure takes a whopping 5 minutes!) :)

Here's Dane playing with his new favorite toy, his basketball!
(I think it's the "chew factor" that makes it his favorite!)

He sure was cheesin' it up for me today!

Mommy and her mama's boy! He's my last baby, so I'll let him be my snuggler :)

He's not crawling yet. But man, he sure can do a nice plank! He must have learned that at bootcamp! ;)

He's getting stronger standing up for short periods.

Praying these tubes help get rid of his recurring ear infections :( We've delt with 7, yes SEVEN, ear infections since October.
PLLLLLLEASE work!
Love you baby Dane!

Happy Birthday!!

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY, JEREMY!!!

Hope you enjoyed your special day!
We love you!!!!

Haven't slept

...in 3 days...

because of the super, cute, little guy!
After the 3rd night of Dane waking up around 11 p.m. screaming bloody murder, we finally decided to take him to the emergency room.
After an x-ray of his belly and an enema and follow up x-ray, he is doing much better!
He had what was called an intestinal intusseception--basically his intestines had a 'kink' in them and needed to be straightened out!
Typically, the ER Dr. has to send a pediatric case like ours to Riley Hospital, but we were fortunate that the radiologist came in to do the procedure at 3 a.m.
The Dr. evaluated him today around noon and said everything looked good, and that there is a SMALL chance that this could happen again.
Praying for a full nights sleep!!!

Playing in the bed today at the hospital!
Thanks for all of your kind messages and concerns!!!

Better late than never!

SEVEN MONTHS OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dane turned 7 months old this past weekend. He wasn't in the best of moods....He wasn't sleeping, eating or feeling well--even ran a fever. My first thought was....teeth? Ears?

Dane is a total mama's boy.
Loves to blow raspberries.
HATES to be left alone.
LOVES when Mia talks to him.
Loves a nice, warm bath.
Hates having his shirts pulled over his head--he kinda freaks out on me.
LOVES to eat.
Has his 2 bottom teeth in!!

Dane has had peas, green beans, carrots and sweet potatoes so far in the vegetable department.
He has had pears, apples, bananas, peaches and applesauce in the fruit department.
We haven't found a food that he doesn't like--yet ;)

He's still nursing....I have been supplementing a bit of formula in his bottles to help him get ready for the transition off of breastmilk--I'm almost ready to be done...(I have a lot of boob issues--mastitis, clogged milk ducts--and I'm sick of fighting it!!) :) My goal is to have him off nursing by March!

He seriously has to MOST beautiful blue eyes....

Happy boy after eating dinner!!!

Chews and drools on EVERYTHING!

Trying to figure out this pincer grasp and self feeding thing.....hmmm. Might need a bit more practice!

And here was Dane on his actual 7 month birthday--sick boy :(

We went to the Dr. first thing this past Monday--and he has ear infection #5.
We go see a specialist in February to talk about the next step....possibly tubes.
We'll see.
Other than that, he's so wonderful!