Happy Birthday to Marcus!

Marcus turned 2 on May 9th, and once again I'm behind in posting.  It's really been a crazy time for us.  We officially have a new fixer upper house, we are living with my in-laws, and Sammy and Marcus have been working through round 2 of a new sickness.  I feel like we've been sick since the middle of April.  This one has been pretty yucky, but they seem to be on the mend.

Anyhow, enough about us, this is all about Marcus.

He was by far my easiest birth and easiest baby.  But, once he got old enough to be curious, he's become a handful!   It's funny, we tease him about his large head, (it is a little large) but, maybe it needs to be big to hold all of his passion to learn about things.  He really does seem to have a desire to learn about just about everything he touches.  The problem is that he often destroys things in the process.  Marcus has really helped me to learn to let go of the stuff in my life!  I remember cleaning up a lamp he broke, (it felt like one of my last wedding gifts that was still in one piece), and I think that's the last time I bawled over something he broke.  It's just stuff that will be destroyed one day anyway.

He's such a sweet little love bug despite his precocious side..  He always has hugs and kisses to go around.  He loves to be doing as much as possible, but will still cuddle some to read one of his favorite books.  Right now he likes, "Are You My Mother" and "Snow".

He has quite the vocabulary for a 2-year-old, and has been talking for what feels like forever.  He speaks in complete sentences all of the time, and has no problem communicating what he does or does not want.

He loves to be outside exploring.

He is so excited when we see trucks, tractors and other big machinery.

He's my water baby who will find any water he can to get onto if it is not first offered to him.

He loves his Grandparents, and especially loves going for rides in the "beep beep", (off road vehicle) at Papa LaRock's house

We love you, Booger!

Visiting with Mimi and the boys.

A few weeks ago my mom and youngest brothers came to visit.  We had a great time with them!  We'd hoped to be in our new house by then, and hence would have had projects for my little brothers to work on, but that saga continues, and one day, when I actually know whether or not we'll be moving, I'll fill you in.  It worked out for my brothers to help out on my father in law's campaign for the Virginia House of Delegates.  It also gave them the chance to play volleyball with the HSLDA crew.  They seemed to enjoy that arrangement.  Jed especially loves him some volleyball.  Jeffrey, maybe next time we can get in some good basketball!

Here's our chubba, Isaac, ready to head to the train station to pick them up.  Yep, just want to show how much he's changed in these last several weeks.

Here are Mimi and Isaac spending some quality time together.  He loves to be held, (a lot like Sammy did when he was a baby.)  Mom helped me so much just spending time holding him.
Mom sang songs to him that I remember her singing when I was a little girl.  He really seemed to enjoy his times with Mimi.

Marcus also took to Mimi Cole pretty quickly, and still asks me, "Mom, where's Mimi Cole?  Can we go visit her?"  One afternoon Mom and Marcus went outside and they observed a moving truck together.  My picture's not that great, but it was a sweet moment.

He had a good time playing with my little brothers, too.  It was a blessing to have the extra hands especially when we were outside.

Speaking of little brothers.  Here they are hanging out in our backyard.  Well, they aren't so little anymore.  It's funny, I remember when they were born, and I can remember spending a lot of time playing with them and watching them.  It's kind of fun now to see them playing with my kids.

Sammy especially took to them, and one morning when Peter took them to the LaRock's house to work on the campaign, Sammy watched out the window, and with tears streaming down his face cried, "Daddy, don't take them, daddy don't take them away!!"

On their last day here, the boys stayed with us for the day, and then we had a small cookout on the back deck.  That seemed to make it all better for Sammy. :-)



And, here are some more photos of my little men enjoying their Mimi Cole!  We missed seeing dad, but hopefully, we'll catch up with him next time.

Guess Who's 4?

Sammy is!  His birthday was actually April 20th, but, I hope he'll forgive my late post.  Sammy was born on his due date, April 20th, 4 years ago.  We were excited, scared, new parents.  This was a whole, new adventure, and I'll be the first to admit, we had no idea what was coming.  But, looking back over these last four years, we wouldn't trade any of it.  Well, maybe the fussy first several months, or the defiant passion and drama that come out of this little one.  And yet, even things that I may view as negative, are God-given, and are things that make Sammy who he is.  I learned a lot about myself as I cried in self pity over my fussy, imperfect newborn.  I began to realize that God had given us exactly the baby that we needed to shape us to be more like Him.  I began to see just how impatient I am, (I had always prided myself mentally on just how patient I thought I was.)  In reality, much more than being married, my little man Sammy began to reveal to me just how sinful I really am.  Yes, God knew that I needed this little one right off the bat.

Sammy is such a little sweetheart and such a big helper to me.  He LOVES his baby brother, Isaac, and, is really beginning to play well with his other little brother, Marcus.  He runs and fetches me diapers and wipes for diaper changes, towels for spit up explosions, and, when I'm pinned down nursing, he checks on little brother mischief, Marcus for me.  He has the best imagination in the world and loves books, movies and songs..  He'll pick up lines from movies or books, and he'll create whole new stories from those lines.  He can take a random piece of paper, or a cup, or you name it, and imagine it's a plane flying over a cliff, or some other random thing.  I love to watch his little mind at work.  We have started a reading program, (paused when baby Isaac was born.), and he was picking up a lot.  I look forward to getting back into that with him soon.  He also enjoys painting with watercolors, and other creative type projects.

Samster is a social butterfly who will greet any stranger and try his utmost to be kind and fair to everyone.  His cheerful "Hey there" or "Hey man" has stopped many a folk on our walks or in the store.  His cheeriness makes people smile.

When I have a down time, Sammy instantly can tell.  He'll come, take my face in his hands and say, "Don't be sad mommy, be happy!"  Or, "Don't cry mommy!"  He's really trained me to fight the urge to respond emotionally to my circumstances all of the time. :-)  Like his daddy, he prefers mommy happy!

Sammy loves Thomas the Train right now, when praised for something will say, "I'm a good little engine, aren't I?"

Just last night we saw the Apple Blossom fireworks, and I will never forget the pure joy and excitement that poured from Sammy.  He is so full of joy and childish enthusiasm.  I love it!

Sam can't get enough time with his awesome daddy.  Whether it's a trip to Lowes, going fishing, wrestling on the living room floor, reading a book or playing frisbee, he loves him some daddy time.

Sammy is very cautious and responsible.  He lets me know if Marcus is doing something he shouldn't be.

Sammy is learning more and more each day about God's love and mercy.  It's my prayer that he will continue to grow in his understanding of his need for Jesus and the unconditional love and forgiveness He offers.

I am so blessed to be his mommy.  He is so forgiving of my sins against him.  I pray his little heart always stays so soft.

We love our Samuel and we are so very thankful for him!  Happy belated birthday, buddy!

Here are some pictures of our growing family.  Isaac is nearly 6 weeks already!  I'll post more information about him and the other two boys here soon.  For now, though, enjoy!

Few weeks old, and getting more alert!

Getting chub.  I think he's around 4 weeks here.

Proud, big brother.

Another proud, big brother.

Aw :-)

Oldest two boys heading up to bed.  They love their daddy!