1 year

Maeve,

YOU ARE ONE!!!  Happy Birthday sweet girl.  You have been a complete joy and delight to us this past year and I feel so incredibly blessed to be your mama.

Each time I drive by the hospital I had you at I stop and dream a little about the day we first met.  Somehow and somewhere in my sleep deprived mind, I remember it to be like a little vacation with your Dad and you.  Yes, I was on heavy medicine so the memory of laying in a bed after surgery may have been lost somewhere.  Really, I just remember your fresh little eyes just entering the world and that, my girl, is a treasure.

But now you've grown and move around, laugh and play.  You are quickly becoming a little girl that dances when she hears music or calls for us to come get her.  You are learning to walk and watching you tremble to take your first steps makes me think some days I'm right there with ya.  You give sweet smooches and have your little Minnie lovey tucked under your arm most of the day.

You love your brother and try to sneak off on adventures to the bathroom and stairs with him.  You love to have your teeth brushed and can't help but giggle before I start.  You even have a skill to get some baby plug covers off in our house.  You are observant and shy, but smiley too.

I have loved dressing you in little girly outfits and putting big bows in your hair.  It's really be fun for my girly heart.  You usually sleep through the night and take 11/2 naps a day.  Sometimes just one.  We celebrated your big day with friends and family at a park in Charleston.  We picked some favorite colors and went with that as a
theme.

I pray this next year is a growing and thriving year.  I pray that as God shapes you that you will come to know and love him.  I pray that your Dad and I will be the forerunners in your relationship with God and will model a love for him in our family.  

Happy Birthday you 17 lbs 15 oz/16th percentile little sweetness.  Your mama sure does LOVE you!

10 and 11 months with Maeve

Its hard to believe our sweet pea is just a few weeks shy of a year.  This past year has zipped by!!  Maeve is the sweetest little miss and I love being her mommy!  As with the 2nd... there are less pictures and less updates but the overwhelming love is the same!  Maeve has been such a delight and joy to our family, it's hard for me to imagine what life was like without her!  

At 10 months Maeve...

- got tubes for endless ear infections... and Maeve became more chatty... on the ride home!
-  decided formula was not the worst thing ever.

- ate avocados like they were going out of style.  This makes me so happy to see my kids eat these!
- began crawling on those knees.  She has army crawled since 7 months and I thought she would never switch to up on her knees.. but she did.
-  continues to nod to questions.. cutest thing ever.
-  follows Titus around and thinks he's the best thing ever (ok, we all do).

-  started showing off her dancing.  She does a mix between a head bob and body glide.  It melts my heart.

-  began pulling up on everything and can walk some with her push toy.
-  Is around 16.9 lbs.
-  still has 2 little teeth.
-  waves

At 11 months Maeve....

-  began not waking up for a bottle around 10 to 11 and started sleeping 12 hours.  Not all the time but more consistently.  We are late on all this but finally did some sleep training.
-  moves constantly.  She is a happy little thing to explore around with her toys but loves to put everything in her mouth and likes to quietly sneak to the bathroom or stairs.  She has to be watched 24/7
-  continues to love to play with Titus.  He is really a good big bro to her.
-  has food opinions and loves to wave her hand no in front of her face or shake her head no.
-  learned to give kisses.  OH MY... this is my fav! She even makes the sound MMMAHHH.
-  calls Mama, Dada, Bubba, and sometimes TyTy (or something that sounds similar)

-  is around 17.9 lbs.
-  typically takes 2 naps a day but we often miss one being out and about.
-  is a snuggler.  She is in full on cry when left mode.  I love my little attached baby!

-  hung out with her first non-family sitter.  It was so fun to have a date with friends but we missed our babes!
-  loves pasta, green beans, avocado and squeezy fruit.
-  melts our heart.  Ryan says every time he looks at her little smile he wants to cry.  THE GIRL has her daddy wrapped tight.  Us all, really.

 We love you Maevey girl, smoochy pants, lovey, Mae Mae! :)

4 Matey!!

It's hard to believe Maeve is just a month away from 1 (updates coming) and Titus is NOW 4!!!!

Sunday night I went into my little guy's room and snuggled him a little extra.  It was hard to believe that it was his last night to be 3!  We celebrated and celebrated this little guy!  Last year we had a family party here in NC so this year was the year to have a bash!

We celebrated pirate style complete with mustaches.  Including babies, parents and kiddos, our house was full with 40 people!!  Our little man was shining all day!! We played and searched for hidden treasures that led us to a pinata (Titus calls it a peeata).

Titus is a BUSY boy.  He loves all things superhero, sports, and Army (go figure).  He is independent and likes to be in charge weighing in at 34ish lbs.  He def has a similar build to Ryan.  Although he is super active and busy, he loves to snuggle and would prefer to sleep in our bed every night (although he has yet to sleep with both of us at the same time).  This past year has required a lot of patience on my part and consistency.  At times, I've really failed but I can really see the fruit when we have a daily plan.  He loves his little sis so much (sometimes too much) and I am grateful for the sweet little relationship that is forming.

Titus is growing in his understanding of God and I look forward to the conversations we will have in the next year.  He is a gift to his Dad and I am I pray that God will use him mightily for his kingdom!

the witching hour

Ya know the hour right before your husband gets home?  Nap time is over (or at least the possible battle of rest time for a certain almost 4 year old) and it's time for dinner.  The dinner that is not pre-planned and yet to be pinned on pinterest.  You resort to spaghetti, again, and hope your husband doesn't notice that it's been on the menu for.. um.. weekly.  You have once again your mom uniform on and you are waiting on the call saying he's on his way.  Praise the good Lord.... HE'S ON HIS WAY!!! No need for a white horse because that little red truck that pulls into the driveway carries the man of my dreams.

If you're wondering what the Mom uniform is.... please please... take this as your preordained prompting to get in touch with a young mom and bless her.  If you don't know her well and she would not be comfortable leaving her kiddos..make her a meal!

Granted some days you feel like superwoman thanks to a 4 ingredient crockpot recipe that makes your husband think you are Rachel Ray.  The miracle of 2 kids napping at once happened and you actually had time to think clearly and get into the word.  Makeup was applied and hair was straightened.  Gosh, I love those days but I am sick of allowing myself to feel like a failure on all other ones.  Measured check lists are not where our identities are found.  Jesus is.  He's the only one that whispers to our confidence to work hard and love them well. We can do it!

So back to the witching hour.  I haven't found a full proof way to get through this but have found a couple things that help.

1.  Run upstairs and throw some bronzer and mascara on.  You may need to redo your messy bun.  It's all the rage so you rock that uniform, girl. If your neighbors see you and they don't know about "it".. they may think you exercise a lot in your home with the blinds closed.  I have yet to make peace with Jillian Michaels here.

2.  Get your kids having fun.  I know some people say pick up the mess, so talk to your husband, but mine appreciates a controlled fun atmosphere.  If he's not in the military, you may be able to remove the controlled part!!

Our go to plan right now is easter eggs on the floor and WORSHIP MUSIC BLARING.  I am loving Pandora Hillsong Kids channel.  It gets us all moving and smiling.  Even my sweet Maeve loves it and has some moves that could point an awkward teenager in the right direction!

3.  Get cooking with one eye on your kids.  Feel free to occasionally run in and begin a mosh pit with jumping and fist pumps. Your 4 year old will think you are spiderwoman with the web throwing move, so def include that!

4.   Embrace the witching hour.  As cheesy as it sounds, my goal is to turn it into the worship hour.  If you struggle with this hour, try it for a week and see if it is something that works for you!

5.  Maybe just maybe, Matt Maher's song "Your Grace is Enough" will come on and your will let that grace fall on you anew because motherhood is so stinkin' hard but so worth it.

9 Months

Maeve will be 10 months tomorrow which means I need to get one her 9 month update.

Wow, what a busy month!  We began this month with more ear infections and scheduling tubes.  The past 3 months have made for a lot of doctor visits with this little girl.  If you've ever had a child with chronic ear infections you know you go for multiple checks and rechecks.  The more we went to the doctor, the more we picked up other things which continues the vicious cycle! With this being Titus' first year in preschool, he has had his own sickness to share! We are overjoyed that we have made it 3 weeks post tubes without a visit to the doctor and regular sleeping through the night (someone pound on wood)!

Prior to the ear infections Maeve was babbling quite a bit.  Once the infections started, she stopped talking as much and just would nod her head.  Bless her heart.  Now she is back to babbling.  The funniest thing is when you put her in her high chair she will start saying "mmmmmmm mmmmm." She won't stop until she has her food! At 9 months our girl was 17.2 lbs. She is over the 75th percentile on height (really?) and still has quite a dome!  I am working hard to bulk her up more!  Although she does not love her formula, her new teeth coming in are helping her munch more table food.  She loves her solids!  Yup, she finally started cutting her first teeth!!

 This month Maeve finished nursing.  I was sad to do so, but my lack of milk became such a joke.  I know my time is ending when I pump for 30 minutes and get 1 ounce.  Maeve continues to only army crawl but has learned to go from tummy to sitting.

She is pretty attached to her mama (me) with a close second being her brother.  She loves her Daddy too though!! ;) Titus makes her laugh and she is starting to respond to him and follow him around!

Maeve has the sweetest little personality.  It's unlikely for her to be sad and she has recently started dancing when we turn on music.  I just can't help saying it's one of the cutest things I've ever seen!

Although it was a busy month with life stressors here and there, we feel so blessed to have these kids and this life.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Maeve, you are a gift.

4 months before 4

My Titus boy.  Oh.My.  You are just 4 months shy of your 4th birthday.  This is so so hard for me to believe.  You are a ham and keep us laughing.  You have quite the opinions and I love hearing your confident spirit tell me all the things you are great at doing!  You told me the other day you are studious!

You love your sister and are a pretty big helper to me.  I ask you to do favors for me and you do them! Now, you ask me to do favors for you too!   You LOVE being outside and would dig in the dirt for hours if I let you.   You are very physical and we are constantly reminding you to be safe with that little body of yours.  You are lean and picky.  Getting you to take another bite is stressful at times.  You are a strong willed little boy.  I had an outfit picked out for family pictures and you insisted on wearing your tie so we improvised.  You find SO much joy in talking to the big kids on our street.  They are sweet to you as you talk their ear off.

You LOVE Christmas and we are jumping in with both feet this year!  We don't go crazy over Santa, however, you do.  Despite our best efforts, your little imagination runs wild with elves, and the man with the hat.  That's ok.  Honestly, there's magic in your twinkly eyes.  My hope is despite the lights we'll see and the funny things our little elf will do, you will look to the Christ child and understand what it's all about.   We are doing our best to point to that amidst the fun!

You love legos, your nerf bow, and the little Christmas tree in your room.  We find you sleeping on the floor next to it each night when we go in to check on you and unplug it.

Although you are B-U-S-Y, you still ask for me to rock you some nights. Truth me told, I treasure it.  You will forever be the best surprise of my life!

month seven

Maeve, you are seven (almost 8) months old.  You continue to bring us so so much joy.  You are a delight to my heart.  

This past month has been a stressful one.  We made your first ER visit after you spiked a high fever.  Turns out,  you had a viral infection.  During the span, you were monitored very closely.  Now you have had 2 ear infections and an awful cold we picked up over Thanksgiving.  Between checks and rechecks, we have visited your doctor NINE times.  I just want my sweet girl to be back to normal again (prayers appreciated)!  While being sick, all you want is your mama.  I am so thankful God has chosen me to be that for you and there is no place in the world I'd rather be than holding my baby.  You will be staying close to me in a bubble the rest of the winter I think!

Between moving/settling in our new house and buying a car that died 20 miles into driving it, we've been a tired bunch.  Weary, really.   God's grace is meeting us here too in our exhaustion.  

Although you've been a sick girl, you have perfected the art of the army crawl and have mastered waving Hey and Bye.  You have us wrapped so tight!  You are pretty much on a four hour schedule during the day and usually wake up by 5 AM to nurse.  Thankfully, you go right back to sleep.  This time around, I haven't pushed the sleeping thing.  Your daddy and I can't bear to hear you cry at all so up one of us goes to put your paci in or me to feed you.  It's a short season and my blood pressure goes up just thinking about you crying.  I am pumping about 5 times a day now to ensure you get full feedings and I keep my supply up.  I am pretty weary with pumping but will go as long as I can. I am praying I can have enough milk to get you to a year.  

You are a trooper and maintain a laid back attitude despite your brother's pinches and hugs.  I try really hard to keep him safe with you, though it's a bit of a workout.  He really loves you though!  

Sweet Maeve, we love you so much.  You are such a gift!