3 years

I have been thinking alot about the boys and I just cannot believe they are 3!  Here are some of my thoughts for them, hopefully one day they will read this.

Dear Nathan,

You were first, by just a minute. For a preemie, you were a chunker! I thought you looked like me right away. I brought you home after four long weeks in the NICU, and you and I had 6 weeks together before Noah came home. You were a sweet, snuggly easy baby. You used to sit in the Boppy and just take everything in. You crawled first, walked first and talked first. You haven't stop any of the above. You have the most sensitive spirit, you are very perceptive of everything around you. You love to snuggle, especially in the morning. You are a good, GOOD sleeper, and you always have been. You love attention, and "ham it up" You are also very protective of Noah, even if you seem bossy sometimes! Right now, you LOVE Mickey Mouse, Chuggington and Fireman Sam. I love you Nater Tater! Happy Birthday!

Dear Noah,

You were such a little buddy. You looked like your Papa Earl, and you still have his stubborness. Even though you were so sick, Mommy got to hold you first. Sweetest Moment. You are the most determined little scrapper. You were in the hospital for a long 13 weeks, and bounced back and forth until your big surgery. I will never never forget all of the people (hundreds) that prayed for you.  By the worlds' standards you are "behind" but by God's hand you are right on time! You have come along way with walking and talking and learning, we are proud of you. You love your choo choos so much and are learning to put the tracks together and all the names and places. You love books and stickers, and we love you, TT. Happy Birthday!

Love you,

Mommy

Yeah, its been a minute!

I haven't updated in a while. Not because I haven't had anything to say, life it just happening. Glorious, wonderful life.
Here is a little update!
We had a birthday party for my sweet, almost step-son Aidan! I am so blessed to have this little guy in my life. He has a big heart and is already an AWESOME big bro for the boys, who adore him. Aidan turned 8 on August 30th, and all of our parents and his Mom and Stepdad celebrated with us! We gave Aidan a bike and he scored a new helmet, some gift cards and a nerf gun. He was pretty excited!!

The boys started back to pre-school at Bascomb UMC. It hasn't been the easiest transition, they LOVED last years teacher and she is just across the hall. They still don't understand WHY they aren't in Ms Di's class this year. Nathan has particularly had a hard time, he doesn't adjust to change well.  Noah is still being evaluated for special needs preK a couple times a week, which will continue to help his speech delays. Although, his vocabulary has grown so much! We will celebrate their 3rd birthday on Oct 14th at my Mom's house this year ( and hopefully make it to the FAIR)

Derek and I are getting married on October 20th. I cannot wait. We are trying to keep things simple, but sweet and meaningful. We are keeping it small with just a few close friends and family and our church family. We are blown away by what God shows us each day about each other and His Grace and Love and Goodness towards us and through us. It is living a miracle.

Some pictures for you!

Greasy V

After a long day of church, naps and some impromptu furniture shopping, we decided the boys needed a treat! Off to... THE VARSITY! Ok, not the one downtown, but our very own Greasy V in Kennesaw! This was their first time, so it HAD to be documented with hats and an FO for each. I think they liked it!

 Noah

Nathan

Fill in the blank..

Just got back from our annual girls weekend in St Augustine. Every year this trip makes me think.. Especially about where I was the year before. This is the 5th year for us, and five years ago we only had one little one, Ian. Now we have 6 between us with another on the way. The last 5 trips have seen us all change a little or a lot. Marraiges, divorce and lots of babies :) Mostly just some really good girlfriends.

A good beach trip  is...

A late night drive that seems so short because the conversation was good.
Cupcakes and mint brownies.
Sunrise on the beach and Sunset on the docks.
Playing in the waves until you have blisters on your feet, salt in your eyes and sand, well, in unmentionable places.
Loving each others kids almost as much as your own. The same goes for each others Mamas.
And sisters in law.
Talking out our differences and loving each other anyway. Margaritas and Guacamole help.
Mostly just being with each other, catching up with each other and making each other laugh.

Love you girls!

What the Tanks are saying..

Every once in a while, I like to write about the funny things these kids do and say. I think that this age, 2 years and 9 months, is HILARIOUS.

Nathan has been a chatterbox, he can have a pretty decent conversation. He talks about his Thomas Trains, His Chuggington, His Mickey Mouse..He asks questions, wants His "gog" ( green stuffed lovey) to eat with him. This means "gog" is always hungry, and needs his face wiped after dinner He is obsessed with safety. We talk about his carseats, booster seat straps, and if anyone is in the back seat he asks "are you ok back there" He also makes me hang up the phone when I drive ( this is a good thing, I think) Nathan is such a tenderheart, if not a little bit sensitive and dramatic ( I claim nothing) He  loves to tell me to "Chillax Mommy, and Take a Pill"  Funny sweet boy!

Noah has really started talking in these last two months. He is putting words together so much better. He kept saying "ready to go" when we were on vacation. I thought he wanted the beach. SO I would say "where to?"   He would say "Mama's house, play choo choo train" oh dear, he is obsessed with Thomas, he could play all day. He loves "Rusty and Salty" So proud of this little man, he is sleeping better, eating better, talking up a storm and walking up the stairs on his own (with a spotter, of course) These are all big, big steps! He learned to move the step stool to the kitchen sink, turn it on, and wash the silverware in the drying rack. Needless to say, I moved the step stool upstairs.

Sweet boys! I am one blessed Mama!!

                  Here are some pictures from a playdate at DAC Kids with Sarah and her boys!

Life's a beach!

Sorry, its been a while! We spent last week at the beach with my family in Panama City. Despite my fears that it would be "redneck riviera" It was pretty nice, we had a good time! Although, for the record, traveling with toddlers is WORK, don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.


Here are some pictures!

I wrote this as part of an essay contest... but never showed it to my Mom!!! So here you go, Happy Mother's Day Dee Dee, wish we could be with you today!!!

Motherhood is...

Motherhood is....a roll of toilet paper. Yes, that is it, that sums it up. Confused? Let me explain. Two years ago, I was blessed with twin boys, who were eight weeks early. After weeks and months of NICU, heart monitors, feeding tubes and open heart surgery for one of them, my husband decided his family wasn't what he wanted, after all. So there I was, unexpectedly a single mom with two 6 month-old boys , and completely devastated. My family and church rallied around me, and God provided in so many ways, big and small. My parents, in all of their Godly wisdom did not throw money at us or beg me to move home, instead helped me get back on my feet. I know my Mother's heart yearned to do more, to move, take, fix and do.  Instead, she chose to show me that I could do it. She supported in small ways that made a huge statement, like toilet paper. You see, every time my Mother came to visit, she stocked up my linen closet with toilet paper and paper towels etc. It seems so silly now, but there was something so tangible and comforting in knowing that it was taken care of.  The first time I came upon the full closet, I stood and wept. I felt  the depth of my Mom's love and understanding that, even though she may not be great with words, her actions spoke her heart so loudly. She was able to help, love and provide without smothering us. Of course, my Mother helped in other ways, but for me, this one made such an impact.

 Almost 2 years later, I am more than able to buy my own toilet paper. And even though my children and I may not have the nicest and best of everything, we have so much more than what we need. I pray that through my every day actions, big and small, my boys will see they are loved and provided for. I pray that I can be the kind of Mom that never smothers, but enables and challenges her children, securing them in the knowledge that they are more than capable and equipped! And every so often, I am reminded of this myself, when my own mother comes to visit, and brings toilet paper.

PS, Mom I love you :)