FIVE

Hi. It has been an embarrassingly long time.

When we first met, I was about four months into my journey of motherhood. We are now on the cusp of that four month old turning five on the first of December. So, I've been thinking, what are some things I would look back and tell that young mother:

 

 

There are never enough snuggles.

Choose your battles.

Enjoy this time- even the long nights.

You'll cry more in the next five years than ever before. For good, bad and ugly reasons.

Welcome to the hardest job ever.

Welcome to the most rewarding job ever. 

Welcome to the best days of your life... It gets even better.

That girl is wickedly sassy.

You'll love her so much your heart will ache. Truly ache.

You'll love her so much you'll want to squeeze her guts out. You might even try.

You'll love her so much she'll make you crazy. She may even make you so angry you'll cuss.

You'll laugh harder in the next 5 yrs than you ever have.

 

Don't be so quick to immediately say "no." Hear her out.

She's so smart... Smarter than you.

She's fragile... Sensitive... Kind... And OHHHHH the drama.

She is social. She'll talk to anyone who will listen.

She'll be the best big sister (to a baby boy who will look JUST like her).

She's a daddy's girl, but will always look to you for affirmation. Give it!

You will not be perfect.

You will act irrationally. Ask for forgiveness (mornings are hard).

Teach her to love the Lord HER God with all of her heart, soul and mind.

 

Everything is going to be just fine. Enjoy that baby girl!!! 

Evelyn, you are NOTHING but pure pure pure joy! My heart overflows with love for YOU.

Happy 5th Birthday, our precious angel-girl!

Dearest soccer,
Our first date left a little something to be desired. It probably all started with the black jersey in direct sunlight. That isn’t conducive for the little Mia Hamm’s of the world.

Please note: She's sitting in the ONLY shade within miles.

Honestly, our first date was downright miserable.

I just knew that my big precious would own you. I just knew that you would be the best thing she’s ever done. I just KNEW that with her coordination she would “rock it,” to use an exact quote from said almost five year old. Instead, you deceived her.  You rolled way. Refused to go home to your goal. Found favor with better other kids.

Bottom line: You won. It was bad. Very bad. I hope she rallies before next Sunday at 1 p.m. Which, quite frankly, is another area where you went wrong.


At least little precious was happy

And, sadly, the hurt was deeper than a Capri Sun and cheese crackers could heal.
BUT… At least we looked cute for you. We sure did look the part.

 Until next Sunday,
Competitive mommy dearest

365 days new

You know, I don’t usually say the word “sucks.” It wasn’t allowed at my house growing up, but quite frankly, I SUCK at blogging. There I said it and I’m sorry, mom. BUT I DO! It’s awful. Of course, I find time to blog when we’re experiencing a monumental moment…like turning 1. I mean, in this blog world, he’s probably still nursing and being swaddled, but in real life an ENTIRE year has FLOWN by at warp speed and he’s now one.

This boy…. Oh my stars. He is the sweetest, most lovable, happiest, friendliest, chunkiest little love. He is truly happy 99.9% of the time. His sister is about the only one who can push his buttons, but she is THE best. She truly is.

I’m not sure of his measurements because like this blog, I’m behind on that as well. I think he’s coming in “CLOSE” to 25 lbs…give or take. Probably more give, if I had to guess. He is walking-ish, but getting better EVERY day (despite the bruises ALL over his forehead). He has been eating all table foods for MONTHS and recently transitioned to real milk. We are paci and bottle free… he is a true grown up, I tell ya. He is fairly proficient at “Da,” “MA MA MA MA MA” and just this week, “SHI SHI.” We are convinced that stands for “Sissy” and it makes her face light up. So, we’ll go with it.

 

I don’t think I ever went over his birth story. Of course, my memory now fails me on most details. We checked in the night before to be induced. Little to my knowledge, I was already three centimeters and contracting like crazy. I literally had no idea and was shocked. So, JB and I just got a “free” night at the hospital. As we have a tendency to do at the Black household, JBB came early the next morning on two wheels.

I LOVE being pregnant and I LOVE the delivery process because my babies come so easily. I KNOW that makes you angry, and I truly hate saying it because I know most folks have to put up a fight. I don’t know why it’s that way, but it is… and I’m thankful. So, he was here before breakfast and we got to enjoy his precious pink, soft self all day long. He was happy from the first minute…unlike his sibling who screamed her entire first hour, I think.

Like that-literally- we became a family of four. As I have reflected on his little life today, I'm so thankful for the Lord's blessing on our family with His gift of John Baker (perhaps I've never shared that he was named after my grandfather and my dad- as my granddaddy struggles with dementia, I'm even more thankful that he got to experience John Baker while his memory still allowed- talk about the Lord's perfect timing???). What a blessing he has been for 365 full days. We love him like crazy. He is just hilariously fun!

June

I think my last post was something like, "Is it May?" Now look at us... Is it June... And June 9th at that? Geez.

I have a nine month old and a 4.5 year old who is like 4.5 feet tall... probably not, but close. I have been SO bad with chair pics of JBB, so this will just have to do.

He's heavy. He's huge at close to 24lbs (last I checked), but he's still sweet and happy even when he's fighting an ear infection (he got tubes in May too), four top teeth coming in and a stomach bug that has lingered far far far too long. He started crawling in the last month- and he's rather fast, might I add. Recently he has started pulling up on anything that gives him enough resistance to do so.

We love being outside. EB got a tampoline for Christmas and we have jumped on that thing until we all should be about 20lbs lighter, but... we aren't. Recently, we added a little swing set to our overgrown-neglected for years-I'm sure there are snakes back there-backyard. WE.NEVER.COME.INSIDE.

We are just as exciting as always. We are ready for a fun, busy summer with a few trips looming. One of which we are taking this sass to D-I-S-N-E-Y, but she doesn't know it yet. I'm really type A and becoming more so with each passing day. So, the thought of the "D" word sends me into the fetal position. So, JB has taken full charge and we'll see what HE has in store for us... I haven't touched it with 10 ft. pole. 

JBB is still a wee infant, but it is so fun to watch these two laugh and play. NO one can make this little chubs chuckle like his big sister. It warms my heart so much. She...she just thinks the sun rises and sets with him. Don't burst my bubble, I know it will all change, but what PURE JOY it is in this season of our lives.

Is it May?

Remember when I used to blog? Those were good times. Things were documented. I have wonderful memories to go back to..... Poor JBB, in the mind of this blog, is still a newborn. Well... He has grown...

We had a six month birthday, a double ear infection, round two of meds for said infection, I was sicker than I've been since college with a mystery virus,  Easter happened, we turned seven months, EB grew like 67 inches and a third round of meds for said double ear infection, celebrated seven fast years with JB, had a little pink eye fun and that was our month(s) in fast forward.

 Been a FUN last month.

My porker is almost 22 lbs., has two teeth, is slowly crawling and is the sweetest thing I've ever seen, but only says "dadadada." I'm not too bitter because if I leave his sight alllllll hell breaks loose. It warms my heart in a twisted way.

 EB... Geeez! Where does time go? She's such a little girl.

 

 

She's so independent, a wonderful big sister and acts 13. I enrolled her in her last year at "school" beginning in August. I cried. Buckets. The very thought of her being old enough to leave the comforts of her daycare and the teachers that have loved her makes me physically sick to my stomach (not to mention the two block drive down the street). However, they have prepared her so so well and I look forward to watching her move on- I think... Through teary eyes. I am THAT person. It's terrible. BUT...for now, we'll enjoy one more year and love EVERY moment before big school.

 

Weigh in

Blast! I’ve let almost another month go by. I had such great intentions.

Since I last updated, we went in for JBB’s “4” month appointment and EB’s “4” year checkup. I say it like that because we were just a month or so behind. So, for the sake of 4 5 month stats and chair pic:

Here’s the precious man-child. Weighing in at 18 lbs and 10 ounces. Of course, 3 weeks have gone by and I swear he weighs a good 42lbs. He’s so happy. Bless his sweet self, he’s the happiest baby I’ve ever been around. He goes to bed laughing and wakes up laughing- he’s just infectious and contagious.

 

As for this girl, I went to check on her the other night before I went to bed. I gasped as I walked into her room…and promptly sat on the edge of her bed and cried.

She has turned into a little girl. We have lost all of the lingering baby/toddler details on her face, arms, hands, etc. Her look has changed so much in the last year. She has just really shaped into a little girl almost overnight. While the two of us go toe-to-toe more than I care to admit, it’s exciting to experience life through her curious little self. Sometimes it’s scary… I often need a script so I can answer her questions “appropriately.” Whew. I’m real sure I didn’t ask the questions she asks until I was maybe 10…better yet… 16. However, she is HILARIOUS. Truly. She has a true gift of quick wit. Of course, sprinkled with a “lovely” dose of sass creates a recipe to make you want to pull your hair out and/or double over in laughter.

Chair pic recap

While we’re catching up… I’m behind on chair pics. Sit back while we watch what four months can do to a “little guy.”

His first day home…in his chair.

1 month

2 months

3 months

And..well..manhood.. I mean, 4 months. We grow ‘em big at House of Blacks. This boy is hungry.

 

 

I know the quality stinks. Noted. I'm trying to do better with pulling out my big camera. Until then... it is what it is. Also, it's picture day at school...

He's pure joy... every single day.