you need to know {father's day 2013}

Dear Erik,

This Father's Day, more than any other, 

you need to know so many things.

I think of these things daily and I know that I don't say them enough.

So, it's important to me to write it-when you're having a rough day and need a pick me up, 

I hope this will be enough...at least for a moment.

You need to know that I never dreamed that a date at Giorgio's would have led to a marriage and four beautiful children.

You need to know that your love and sacrifice for our family is immeasurable. 

You need to know that Kieran, Anna, Tatum and Liam think that you are the bees knees, even when they are constantly calling for me. As soon as you are out the door, they are asking for you!

You need to know that you don't give yourself enough credit for being a great dad.

You need to know that even though you think it's silly I have to take a picture of everything, that these four sweet babies will not be little forever and you will cherish this when we are old.

You need to know that I cannot imagine my life without you and I am so blessed that you are my best friend, my love for life and father to four little hearts that we created.

And, I know you know...

that you

are so very, very, loved.

7 months {almost eight}

So much going on in our household that the month markers slip further and further out of reach when I try to document them on time.

My sweet Liam,

you are almost 8 months, but it still counts that you can wear your 7 month sticker.

At 7 months you:

wear a size 4 diaper and the only reason your big sister Tatum does is because of you (we didn't want to have to buy two different sizes!),

wear 12-18 and 18-24 month clothes depending on the brand,

roll over from front to back and back to front,

move around the room by pushing yourself to where you want to go,

eat and like all kinds of baby food and a lot of it,

make motor boat sounds,

grab anything you can get your hands on,

have no teeth, not a single one,

laugh hysterically at your older sisters and brother,

have finally been sleeping through the night this last week,

are taking two solid naps during the day,

are a cuddle bug...

and are very much the light to all of our days.

time trials {summer is almost here}

Last weekend was time trials for swim team.

It was Kieran's second year and Anna's very first. 

I had no idea what to expect and no idea as to whether I'd even get to take pictures, since it was 4 of them and one of me. 

It was a fun and exhausting day and all four of us made it. Amen, Hallelujah! 

I am proud of both of them, Kieran for swimming the fastest freestyle he's ever swam, and Anna for making it across the length of the pool all by herself, for the first time ever, in a timed situation, no less.

Though some may call swim meets torture (and believe me, I have always said I would never be a swim team mom), it's actually kind of fun. 

That, and summer is almost here!

It cannot come soon enough...

dearest anna {happy 5th birthday}

Dearest Anna,

I'm late again on your birthday post, but not to worry, I've made sure that I wouldn't let myself go too long before writing to you since just as quickly as you turned five, you'll turn six if I don't hurry up!

April 28, 2008 was a most beautiful day as it was the day that you came into this world!

At the tender age of five, you love: art, art and more art, My Little Ponies, Littlest Pet Shop, singing and dancing, makeup (my fault, but I don't let you wear anything except when you sneak my lipgloss from my purse or give me a kiss just so you can have some on your lips), Disney princesses, stuffed animals,  and anything colorful and sparkly.

You have a personality on you that goes for miles and miles.

All who meet you are drawn to you.

 Sometimes simple and sweet.

 Much of the time a jokester (and man, are you funny? Sometimes inappropriately so and it's all I can do to bite my tongue and not laugh!)!

You are one of the most independent 5 year olds I know.

When you are stubborn...

 boy, are you stubborn (and for the record, I do admit it's from me...there Mom and Dad, I said it!)!

My sweet girl, we have our moments. You are different than the other birds, as you should be! There are days when I wish that God would drop me a line, no a rope, or better yet, a manual for you.

There are days when "challenge" is an understatement. I am learning slowly, how to be the best parent I can be to you.

What I have always done from the moment you arrived and will do forever more, is to love you fiercely even on the hard days, to teach you all that I am able,

and to let you spread your wings...

 as you were meant to fly!

Happy 5th Birthday, my strong, beautiful, smart, funny, loving, girl!

My heart is filled with love for you, eternally.

Love,

Mommy

never would have dreamed...{mother's day 2013}

Tap, tap...ahem...hello? Anyone out there?

I haven't blogged in what seems like ages. Life has been a whirlwind since last month. 

We suddenly bought a new house and sold our current one (more on that later). 

We have been living in a staged home, which if you have yet to experience, is beyond difficult with 4 children 7 and under. I've kept up with taking pictures and have much to document prior to today, but in the meantime,

I never would have dreamed...

that I would be a mother to four children. Each of them with their own personalities, beautiful to me inside and out.

Motherhood has daily challenges, far greater than I could have ever imagined.

I have days of laughter and tears, days where I think that I've reached my boiling point and wonder if I'm good enough for them?

It's not that I feel as though I need to be perfect, I don't and I'm certainly not.

We are on this earth for such a short time and I just want to do right by them. 

All I want is to give them my unconditional love. On some days, I feel as though I fall short and I guess that is what most would call, human nature.

Next to my husband, they are my heart and soul, my everything.

Kieran, Anna, Tatum, and Liam, I love you with every fiber of my being.

Thank you for giving me the gift of being your mommy.

thoughts on a little girl i love...{tatum}

It seems strange to say it...a little girl.

She is growing into a little girl.

She is no longer a baby at the tender age of two years and four months.

She she is a kick in the pants, the bees knees, the butter to my bread.

She sings an entrance song when she prances into a room, most often accompanied by the words, "Super Tatum!"

She is my night owl, just like me, and on the car ride home from Easter helped me to stay awake by counting over and over to 100. 

She makes the number one hundred sound so fun and exciting. 

That's just her personality, so large for something so very, very, pint sized.

She is and always will be my baby, 

and she is most definitely,

a little girl I love.

and just like that {seven}

Seven years ago, right about now, I had eaten a piece of preggo pizza. 

I had had a glass of rootbeer.

I was waiting.

Seven years ago, I woke up in the wee hours of the morning to broken waters that signaled your impending arrival.

I'm typically able to write with ease, the words fly out of my mind and through my fingertips.

Tonight, I find it a struggle and the words don't come as quickly as I request.

I am overcome with emotion, filled with unimaginable love and joy for all you have given me.

I only hope and pray that I have given you the same.

 I am thankful that God gave you to me and your daddy.

You are the best big brother that any sibling could ask for.

I cherish you with all that I am.

March 27, 2006, the world became a better place.

And just like that my sweet boy, you've turned seven.

May all of your hopes, wishes and dreams...

come true!