Valentine's Day, 2012

His banner over me is LOVE!

We woke up to our first blanket of snow of the season covering the ground this morning. What a beautiful way to start the day! I had two very excited little boys waiting for me to find the card they had made (with a little help from Daddy!). They placed it on the hardwood right at the bottom of the stairs where they were sure I couldn't possibly step over it without noticing! My most favorite kind of gift--HOMEMADE straight from the HEART! There's something about crayons and little fingers that were just meant to be--creating priceless works of art!

A little something for my first love...

unwrapped by my little loves

My big boys ate breakfast straight out of the box while watching the snowflakes continue to fall

then it was time to help clear the drive...

Well, Ike helped scoop while Wyatt through snowballs

Isaac LOVED the snow and lasted until Daddy made him come inside

This was Micah's snow experience... watching from the pack-n-play right up next to the door!

The boys were super excited to open a few surprises sent from Grandma....

It was a fitting day to capture a shot in their cute little snowmen outfits that Mimi gave them!

Longingly staring out the window, begging to play again!

Micah was a little overwhelmed by the balloons invading his space!

Mouth full of chocolate contest, I think?!!

Cake balls!

and heart pizza with Mimi before Mommy and Daddy headed out to small group....

Wyatt got his first set of squinkies (Wy calls them squinky winkies! :) from Mimi. Now to keep them out of the hands of Micah. Yikes!

and we had an evening filled with our small group playing the Newlywed Game, eating fun desserts, and focusing on the ultimate LOVE given to us by His grace!

Micah Jay at 10 Months

Our little man is a rockin' and a rollin' now! He's on the move... mostly just with log rolls across the floor, but he's able to get from point A to point B pretty efficiently! Watch out cause our world is changing. The baby gates are officially back up again!

He gets super excited to be able to pull himself up on furniture. It's so fun to just sit back and watch him relish in the new joy of his ability to something all on his own!!! It's the very simple things.... like finally making his way over to the door stoppers, then making a very loud rhythm of annoying noises while he watches his finger hit the spring over and over....it's these very simple things that delight Micah most right now with squeals of laughter and the satisfaction of accomplishment. He always looks around to make sure that someone else is sharing in his joy too!

So Proud! "Are you watching me? Do you see what I'm able to do?" I just know these are the words rolling through his little mind! He's very content to play on his own but will never turn down and audience or an applause! :)

Pumped up with ambition to crawl...

I think I can...

reaching and really trying...

The look of determination. Up on all 4... keeping those eyes on the prize.

this one leg just will not cooperate with the mission plan....

I'm not giving up. I think I can...

How do these legs work? They always seem to get in my way...

I'm done for today. Now I'm totally frustrated... Help, please?!

I give Micah lots of new 'toys' to keep him occupied while I'm cooking dinner...this evening it was a paper towel roll! Who knew it could be so much fun?

Wyatt got in on the creativity and wanted me to take pictures through the PT roll. They did turn out pretty cool, I must admit. Good imagination props to my Wy guy!

Micah Jay loves to be outdoors and could spend hours in the swing...

We take turns pushing him!

Micah, you are precious to me. You make my heart swell with JOY each and every day. What a gift it is to be your Mommy. You are loved!

2 Year Celebration!

We had so much fun celebrating TWO YEARS with ISAAC! Isaac's birthday celebration started a few days early while we were celebrating a late Christmas with the McCulley clan. Below, Wyatt is assisting Isaac every step of the way to opening his card and gift from Grandma and Papa McCulley! I LOVE the affection Wy is showing to Isaac and how tolerant Isaac is being in 'sharing' his birthday surprises with big bro....

Papa picked out a cool John Deer for Ike Bear!

Here's Ike giving Papa a "thank you" squeeze

Thursday morning, Wyatt and I snuck in early and filled the floor outside of Isaac's closet (ie his current bedroom!) with balloons and gifts....

Ike hardly had time to open his eyes before Wy was singing and throwing balloons at him!

Here's Ikey with his new spider man boots! He had been tromping around in the mud in Wyatt's oversized pair, so he was pretty excited to get some of his own that fit just right!

We had donuts for breakfast, of course... Isaac's got a thing for sugar, you know! I'm not big on the boys having much sugar, but birthdays are definitely the exception!

and his morning 'conference call' from Daddy! A highlight of EVERY morning!

Mimi and Poppy gave Isaac a super cool new toy and took him out for pizza!

Then in the evening, we picked up Daddy from work and headed down to Fritz's....

Our lil conductor is obsessed with trains so he was on cloud 9! He was determined to call in his own food order....

and then waited, waited, waited for the choo-choo.....

...to finally bring him his meal!

We had to stop over at the candy store to top off the night!

Then on Friday (yes, we tend to draw out the birthday experience into a week-long celebration!) Joe and I took just Isaac to open gym! He had a blast.....

On Saturday, we celebrated with cousins Ashtyn and Dax at Chuck-e-cheez

Isaac was not so fond of Chuck-E but loved all of the games and lights!

And Sunday we just spent the day outdoors...