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.