Love Unconditional

Lila Alta joined our family April 19, 2010 at 1:20 P.M. Unbelievably, she's as good of a baby as her big brother and is already all smiles and coos during her awake times. Big brother Bear has amazed me because everyone always talks about sibling rivalry and jealousy. Instead, this boy is nothing but LOVE. He wants nothing more than to touch and kiss his "sissy" as soon as he sees her. I swear that he was playing his own rendition of peek-a-boo with her the other day and even earned a smile from her in doing so.

I pray for their relationship to be so amazing. I know that he will love her so fiercly and I pray that she is the most compassionate, kind, and patient sister. But at the same time I want her to be a little firecracker who stands up for her big brother and is his champion and protector. Here are a few photos for your enjoyment.

Something to Make You Smile

My heart...My love...

Where Does Time Go?

Wow, it's been way too long since I've written. So much has happened in the last several months. I'm now 6 weeks away from DD (due date) with baby #2, and Bear has no idea how much life is going to change (actually, I don't think Mommy and Daddy do either). I've also started a business--Twysted Yarn--inspired by this little one I'm carrying. I'm crocheting and selling hats of all kinds.

But enough about that...what I'm learning from my little boy. I'm learning how to laugh harder than I thought possible. I can't believe what a ham he is. He picks up on everything and imitates all that we do: facial expressions, sounds, gestures. We laugh so hard and have so much joy in our home from our little man. Some of our favorite "tricks" are hippies (where he literally lays on the floor and does pelvic thrusts), chomps (where he stretches his mouth out real tight and chomps up and down), shake your booty (self explanatory), so big, "Where's Baby?" (where he pats, rubs, and kisses my belly), and so much more. Of course, he still sticks out his tongue and spits when he's being goofy or wants to get someone's attentiong (mainly Grandpa's since he knows how ornery grandpa is) and shakes his head like crazy to dance to music.

And all of that without crawling or walking or talking or reaching many of those developmental milestones that everyone expects him to achieve at this age. But really? How cute/fun are those things when he does all these others (and more) that I've listed? Milestones schmilestones. He'll get there in his own time and in his own way, no doubt entertaining us and making us laugh all the while.

What I've Learned in 2009

Happy New Year! I don't tend to make New Year's resolutions or get all sappy or reflective at the start of a new year. Instead I just try to live life fully every day so that I don't get to the end of a year and have regrets. In doing this, I've learned some pretty valuable things this year. Such as:
1. That family trumps all
2. That friends who value the same things as me are worth their weight in gold
3. How to fall more in love with my husband every day in light of him being an amazing father
4. That perfection is overrated
5. That all things happen in their own time; patience is a virtue
6. That being licked (kissed) all over the face by my child brings me joy
7. That health is far too often taken for granted
8. That good neighbors are irreplaceable
9. That people who are different deserve my respect
10. That my house can be messy and remain that way
11. That taking time out of my day for a phone call with someone is more important than my schedule
12. That my mom is an amazing woman
13. That tears at any time for any reason are ok
14. That tenderness, compassion, and kindness are the things we should value and praise in our children rather than their accomplishments
15. That the joy of the Lord cannot be replaced by any earthly thing