We have a 2 monther

I'm stealing this idea from the best photographer I know:) Size 12 shoe vs 15.
Our kiddos will likely get their chub later on in life when it's not so cute.

And we're done taking pictures.

How has it been two months since this child exited my womb in the most dramatic and explosive way possible? She's a keeper and so adored. Makayla is very easygoing, loves car rides (where she'll sleep soundly until we slow to 10 miles per hour or stop), likes to cry at 100% volume with zero warm-up, loves diaper changes and bath time. She sleeps well now and is most fascinated with her crazy brother who believes she's always freezing, so he piles blankets on her body four feet high.

Tummy time, 35 years apart

This picture only confirms this child was created solely by her father. I had nothing to do with her production, except host her for 9 months. Ha! 

January

I think all boys like to try hair flare out

Eating is more fun like this

This boy is in love with his sister

Little sweetheart

It's the beginning of the new year and all is well. Koen is loving his sister, sometimes a little too much, and we're all getting into our new routine as a family of four! Makayla could not be a better baby. She's got her dad's disposition, chill and carefree. She's sleeping better at night and loves to be cuddled. Koen is busy as ever and we've started him in preschool one day a week. He loves it so much, and it's good for him to be with the other kids in a structured setting. Although, homeschooling is more challenging now because apparently I'm not a "real teacher". He says I don't wear teacher clothes so he doesn't need to listen. Ah, age 4. Justin and I are plugging away at the day to day and looking forward to our next vacation.

Ummm...

36 weeks pregnant with Koen

36 1/2 weeks pregnant with mystery baby.

Okay, so I just actually realized I'm huge. The top picture is me with Koen at this same stage in my pregnancy, 4 weeks to go. Even my shirt is showing stretch marks. Maybe they have my due date wrong? Maybe it's all fluid? Maybe this is what stretched out and four years older looks like? Let's hope this baby comes sooner than later. Yikes. In the meantime, it's black shirts from here on out.

Preggo/Family Pics!

This had to happen. Today. While we were still in our church clothes. Thank goodness for our awesome tripod and the ability to get these done in less than five minutes, because Koen had better plans and husband had football.

I am so thankful for this pregnancy. Other than three months of sheer terror that I would lose another baby, this has been quite an easy ride. The pregnancy insomnia is a fraction of what it was with Ko and I pretty much feel amazing. This baby is much more active than I remember Koen being, to the point that my doctors and I had a conversation about seizures in utero, and quite a bit larger at this stage of my pregnancy. November 18th is right around the corner and I'm trying to enjoy each wonderful day that I have left.

Koen is blissfully unaware of how life will change, and thinks Mom is cooking up a baby "grill" in there. He's lovingly named her Allie. If it's a brother, he is to be named Kaven. We may have other plans.

And baby makes four!

Seriously, best Mother's Day ever. We planted this lilac tree on the Mother's Day before Koen was born and every year at this time we take a photo by it. Somehow Koen seems to be growing better than the tree, which suggests I'm a better mother than green thumb. This year, Ko and I get to share this photo with our special guest and newest family member, who's cute face will make their appearance in the next Mother's Day pic. We prayed and waited, then prayed and waited some more for this day to come. With no idea what our family would look like in five years, we are so appreciative for a second God-given miracle. How could we ever take for granted how blessed we are to have these children in our lives? "Children" applies to us now, woohoo!! I love getting older because life is constantly providing new perspective and wisdom that hopefully we will successfully pass down to our kiddos as they navigate this world. We have learned so much about patience, staying optimistic and appreciating how wonderful our lives are even if the journey is not what we expected. Priceless.

Time. Stop. Please.

This is an older picture, November '14 perhaps? At the moment we have no snow, and it's much too warm for a coat like this. But, for the sake of getting something, anything, on this blog, this will have to do. This little dude is swiftly approaching 4 and it takes my breath away. I'm sad and enjoying the journey all at the same time. I'm taking my fourth annual trip to Arizona with him and each year is so different as he reaches different stages in his development. No more diaper changes, nursing five times a night so he won't scream and wake the guests in the hotel room next to me, or wild tantrums making the trip more interesting. We have a kid that can't wait to get on a plane "in three movie nights" (three weeks), will swim by himself (with a life jacket), knows to look out for golf carts driven by occupants who lost their licenses long ago, and will sit through dinner because we ask him to. Each year feels a little more like vacation, and we have the special bonus of Dad/hubs joining us this time!!

Ko's interests at just over 3 1/2 years of age are peeling paper off of crayons - really, peeling labels/stickers/decals off of everything, making fire-starter out of his books and finding new enjoyment out of baby toys. He brought to me a crate full of current, age-appropriate toys and asked to switch them out for the baby toys in the barn. Fair enough. Makes no difference to me once I remove batteries... We now have an imaginary friend, (who can blame him?), and a cousin who miraculously shows up when he gets in trouble. It was Henry, Mom. The kid cracks me up daily, and I find serious contentment in our quality time together. Father time, just please go a little slower, because soon he'll be 18 and I just don't think I can handle him leaving our home.