Zeke is 2... and a half!

Ezekiel, you are 2 1/2 years old! Your vocabulary skills are taking off like a rocket! Some cute, funny, impressive things you've been doing since your second birthday are:

2 1/2 years old today! (7/27/14)

-- The other day at supper we gave you a bowl of yogurt and blueberries, and you proclaimed, "I love blueberries!" Now you are starting to say it about other things too... "I love ice cream!" I love pizza!" You are starting to make associations of how you are feeling. Sometimes when I ask you how you are doing you pause and then say, "Just... good." You are doing pretty good with your manners too! You say please when you want something; thank you when it's given to you; and when someone else says thank you to you, you follow up with "You're WELcome!" It's the best! You are starting to use 4-6 word sentences pretty regularly. I can usually understand you; and if not, we can usually figure it out through context or actions. 

You look so grown up in your hoodie 

Enjoying some mexican food at On The Border 

-- We've started to ask you to make a "funny face" for pictures, because we can actually get a semi-smile!

-- You run most everywhere you go these days. And as you do, you let your jaw flop and make a "ahh/ehh" noise with every footstep.

-- Dora's still not too sure of you, but you keep trying to love her! Most of the time you are gentle. You have started to feed her when we ask (way to go!) and you tell her "no" or "move" when you hear us telling her the same things.

-- You do a pretty good job playing with your little brother! You are fairly gentle and let me know if something falls on him. (I'm trying to teach you to take it off of him!) Recently you have started acting like you're excited to play with him! I look forward to this more and more as you'll entertain each other!

Playing before church today

Blurry, brother love

Garden of the Gods (April)

-- You love anything with lines: electrical cords, hoses, and in this picture, scarves. You kept stringing them together from end to end.

April 3, Daddy's birthday

-- You really enjoyed taking Kindermusik classes from January - May. You got your very own harmonica. You learned to play several types of drums (which you totally showed your skills last weekend when we went to New Castle and you joined in while we were singing!!), learned about opposites in music like loud/soft, fast/slow, smooth/bumpy, and more. And it was great interaction with other kids your age.

Last day of Kindermusik

-- You're wearing size 5 diapers; we bought two packages of XS briefs for you. Adorable! We're going to start potty training soon.

You continue to love fruit, especially blueberries! 

Just so cute! 

-- At night you typically sleep from 9:30 pm - 7 am (notice I say typically!) and you take an afternoon nap, usually from about 1:30 pm - 3:30/4 pm. You do great in your twin bed! We usually read you a book or two, you like to have on your stereo (usually listening to "Frozen" or recently Vivaldi), then we sing a song or two, and then you go to sleep.

Snuggling with Curious George. Your current favorite show. (Or "movie" as you call all TV and movie watching.)

You tried so hard to not let me catch you on camera for this picture! 

Jogging in a circle to "The Jog" at Mommy's 5K in May. 

Mother's Day 2014 

Eating donuts for breakfast with Mommy on her birthday

I think you are so handsome in this picture! What a pose! 

Checking out your new rocking chair from Uncle Rob and Aunt Mardella 

Cantaloupe! While Levi looks on...

-- You took swim lessons the beginning of June. Unfortunately we were unable to finish, but you did so great! You learned to blow bubbles and you really started kicking even better the second week. You can touch on the kids' side of the pool and you started jumping in for me too! I was very proud of you and still hope we might be able to make up the last 3 days. You have been enjoying both spray parks in Loveland too!

Blowing Bubbles 

Zeke and Haddie 

-- You weigh a little over 32 lbs. and are approximately 37 inches tall. It's hard to measure someone who doesn't stop moving! 

You love being outside... and playing with this sprinkler toy! 

Zeke on his first pony ride during Berthoud Day (June 7, 2014) 

Visiting Pop-Pop's new house in the Springs. Eating ice cream. Sitting together, of course! 

-- You are wearing size 2T clothes, size 8 shoes. You have started taking off your sandals by yourself, they're velcro. You can't quite put them on yet.

Playing at Pirate Ship Park in Vail, CO (July 21, 2014) 

Chocolate cake? Or black beans? It's usually one or the other! I think this was actually chocolate this time. 

Getting ready to watch a movie with Aubry. You love playing with her! 

-- You did great as we traveled to NE, MO, KS, and IA for 2 1/2 weeks to see family and friends. You enjoyed looking at books, especially with your tag reader, watching movies on the new DVD player (especially while wearing headphones!), looking for tractors, backhoes, and bulldozers, and playing on your new LeapFrog phone on the way there and your backhoe on the way home. You also enjoyed eating snacks and did try to help keep Levi entertained some too. 

On the way home from the Henry Doorly Zoo... minutes from falling asleep! New turtle pillow from Grandma Pam

Greatly enjoying the sandbox at Grandma's house (July) 

Picking potatoes with Aunt Teresa and Uncle Paul 

Ezekiel, you are such a kind, gentle, thoughtful little boy. Can you believe you're halfway to 5 years old (aka Kindergarten)?! Mommy sure can't! You are starting to be funny and make us laugh. You surprise us by how well you remember things we've said or done. You are a super helper to Mommy -- getting the broom to sweep after meals, feeding Dora, watering the garden and flowers, vacuuming, getting diapers for yourself and Levi, taking clothes to the hamper, bringing things I ask of you. I pray you continue to listen to, obey, and help Mommy and Daddy as you get older. I love your hugs, kisses, and snuggles. I look forward to the days ahead with you. I pray you will know the Lord and walk in His ways and truth. You made me a Mommy and I will always, always be thankful for you. You bring joy to my life and are teaching me how to be more gentle and selfless. I could go on and on about more details and qualities, but please know I will always love you. I am proud of you. And I'm grateful to be on this journey of life with you. Love, Mama

We're Better Together

We're about to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary! It's hard to believe! So for this week's Friday's Photos I'm sharing some pics of Jeremiah and I as time, life, and marriage have shaped us into who we are today :) 

PS- the first few are out of order, but you get the idea! 

"It Takes a Village"

Last week I was reading to Zeke before naptime when the neighbor kid knocked on the door, called my name, and woke up Levi in the process. I was irked! As I took care of all of the above, put Levi into the living room to play while I attempted to get Zeke to nap, I began to think about how nice it'd be to have someone in the other room watching Levi for me so I'd know he wasn't swallowing something dangerous, getting into something he wasn't supposed to, or crying; and I thought, "It really does take a village to raise these children!" And then I started putting together this poem. Please know, I'm extremely thankful for all the help Jeremiah and others give me, and they do. But even so, being a mother of little ones can feel isolating for a few years and I'm realizing how important it is to make friends and be there for each other. I'm thankful for the village that is starting to rise up around me! 

Today I need a village

to hold my hand and cry. 

To say, "Oh yes! I do that too!

to share a piece of pie. 

Today I need a village

to offset all this noise. 

Ping! Jangle! Boom! Crash! 

Who makes these freaking toys?

Today I need a village

to help play man-to-man. 

To say, "I'll change this one's diaper," 

"You take him to the can." 

Today I need a village

to help me clean the house. 

How did these piles get so big? 

Oh great. "Yep. That's a mouse!" 

Today I need a village

so I can take a break. 

Give me a chance to read a book, 

go get an ice cream shake! 

Today I need a village

to have some grownup fun. 

Dance to Beyonce, sing with Lecrae

and watch Jimmy Fallon! 

Today I need a village

but a village can be hard. 

It takes humility and grace

to share each others' scars. 

Sometimes it's easier to say 

I can do it by myself

Please don't bother me right now

I do not need your help. 

Today I need a village

we all do, don't you see? 

Do you want to join my village? 
The smiles and laughs are free! 

To life... full of finding your village! 

7 Months Old

Levi, you are 7 months old! Here's what you've been up to the past month: 

- You want to eat what the rest of us are eating. There's really no point listing what you've tried because if it's on our plates, and I think it's soft enough, you've had it. Plus other things like Cheerios that Zeke puts in your mouth. Glad you're learning how to chew! 

- You continue to nurse 6-7 times in a 24 hr. period. 

- You weigh about 17 1/2 lbs. and are approximately 28 in. long. 

- You like to smack your lips; you say "da-da" and "ma-ma"; and just the other day you've started a throaty/growling/laughing type of noise. 

- You are moving forward! Not exactly crawling... more of a seal-move or the butterfly crawl. And you are fast! Especially if you see something you want, you get there quickly! 

- You are taking about 3 naps each day and typically sleep from 8:30/9 pm to 7/7:30 am. 

- You like scratching your nails on things, especially the back of our couch. You must like the noise it makes. You like it when I stand you up on the couch to hold on and face the back. I think it makes you feel like a big boy. 

- I took this video yesterday. Look how strong you are! Balancing and standing on the motorcycle! 

- You are starting to get the idea of drinking out of your sippy cup, but you still prefer my open cup best. 

- You traveled to 4 new states: Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa. And took your first trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo! You slept through most of it... 

- You notice more animals than Dora now. You are wary of peoples' dogs, but also very interested. You watch their movements and I really think this might be why you've started making that new noise. 

We were trying to get Zeke to come join us on the swing. 

- You like swings much better than your big brother. The ones at the park and the one at Aunt Teresa's house. You've grown out of the one we have at home. Oh, you really liked the hammock at Grandma Pam's house too! I took you out there for a few naps and you slept great!

- You are friendly to others and give them big smiles. You even let me hand you off pretty easy. But you always keep an eye on Mama and have started crying if you see me leave the room. When I take you back, you like to bury your head in my shoulder.

I couldn't resist using this picture. You look so put out :o) This was one of the stops on our way home in Colby, KS.

Levi, we love you so much! You bring such joy to our family and we can't imagine our lives without you! Happy Seven Months! 

Some Pictures

We just returned from our 2 1/2 week trip to the Midwest. I would like to write a little more about what we did, but here are a few pictures to placate you for now. Happy Friday! 

Lots of this...

And some of this...

2130 miles spent in their car seats...

And of course...

We had a wonderful time and are glad to be home!