New Year, New Adventures

First of all, THIS BOY:

Cheese from the cheese

Good morning!!

is TWO! Hurray Ben! I think he had a much better birthday this year than last. Although, he still has yet to eat cake on his birthday!! We were going to have a grand party this Saturday but Texas and it's CRAZY weather decided to bring winter back so we are postponing. 

At two Ben is a rockstar. He is sooo cuddly but at the same time really adventurous - always climbing on something. He is in love with cars. Which he calls "big bus" - he actually uses this as a catch all phrase. The other day Ana was counting down to blast off on the swings (10...9...8... ... 3...2...1...BLAST OFF!) and Benny mimicked her but his version sounded like, "tree...dwuu...unn.. BIG BUS!" I secretly love this and don't want him to learn more phrases. But his speech therapist is working with him to say things like, "here we go!" or "small car" -- while I can see the value in having phrases like this I still think screaming "Big Bus!" at ridiculous times is cuter. 

Ben also loves stuffed animals. Froggy is still his number one but he has added Zoe's puppy in the mix.

Happy Birthday sweet boy - thanks for making it so easy to love you. I can honestly say that when I hear you wake up in the morning and I'm still in bed I actually feel excited to go get you up because you are so much fun to be around. Thank you also for bringing the drama level in this house down a few notches and for still loving to rock and cuddle. You are my favorite little two year old and I pray this year God continues to strengthen your little body and especially the muscles in your palate. You've made giant advances in speech this year and I can't wait to know more of what you are thinking! You'll always be my champion boy - we love you!!!

  

So, this also happened:

But of course Ben handled it like champ! As soon as he could walk on it (which was within hours) he didn't let it slow him down at all. It made going outside a little harder and it made Ben about 5# heavier but other than that he rocked it. He didn't even mind when his crazy momma made his wear a bag on his foot almost anytime went outside.

 

But that is certainly one adventure I will not miss! We were OH SO GLAD to get it off!! The stinky little unbathed for 4 weeks boy got an IMMEDIATE splish splash BATH!

I would also like to record that lately I am really enjoying spending time with my GIANT Ana girl. When Z is at school and Ben is asleep Ana and I get to cuddle or she helps me with laundry or begs me to read books or play with her. But sometimes she just plays quietly on our bed or in her room within her little make believe little people world. So fun to listen to. It is also fun to watch this part of her personality and how it enables her to thrive. She just -needs- time by herself during the day to recharge. My sweet, content introvert. She just looks nothing like a baby anymore - full on big girl. I keep looking at pictures of baby Ana and thinking, "I can never pick up baby Ana anymore!!!" That chubby little bundle of joy turned into a somewhat crazy and difficult two year old who is thankfully turning into a more even tempered, so beautiful almost 4 year old! 

          

Watching the relationship blossom between Ben and Ana is fun too. Our closest babes. Ana gets to big sister him and he just absolutely LOVES to little brother her. I love watching him bug her and the dynamics of that whole thing. I can just imagine teenage conversations with sprinkles of love in them. Not to mention he NEEDS her to drive him around. But they have something special that is definitely different than the dynamic between Zoe and Ana and Zoe and Ben too. As of today they are 2 and 3! That sounds like madness to say outloud!!

Silly things on the couch with daddy- her favorite!

I won her over to think cuddling is "fun" and an "activity" that we do together.  Lazy, pregnant mom for the win!

And this girl. Whoa. I am greatly enjoying the moving into kidhood stage in which there is much less physical demand on your body/time to do each little thing for your child! She mostly just runs herself most of the time and that is fun to watch. Her games are more complex - I almost never see her play with dolls to act out a "story" the way Ana does. Lots of drawing, lots of writing, lots of making gifts for people - definitely her love language. She can also successfully get my phone and text Matt, Tia or Mimi. Full on - text conversation. She loves it. We love her.

And also (its so obvious I haven't blogged in awhile) THIS:

 

Look what Matt got me for graduation! I LOVE IT!

 omg omg omg I am DONE with cosmetology school! 18 months of 4 nights a week alongside each Saturday spent at school. I don't even know what I am going to DO with all this time! I'm probably going to hopefully clean my house more often. (I had this thought yesterday that I never seem to need to buy more cleaning products... because I never run out...) I am totally going to miss all the crazy times with my school friends...

I got to give a speech and wear big boots and I brought about 1000 cookies for all the girls at school. It was really perfect - and although except Matt and our kiddos we didn't have any family there - it was the perfect amount of low key celebration for a Thursday night. It feels strange to have had this dream of going and then putting in the time and then coming to the other side of it - it's incredible really. I was telling Matt just how much of a really WONDERFUL experience it was and I am so, so, so, so glad I choose to go and I was there when I was. Because now - we are just waiting on THIS guy

Look at that sweet little bilateral cleft. I can't wait to kiss it!

 Baby Jack. John Henry. Because he is going to own a bank or be president or something. Solid. Name. John for my dad and Henry for Matt's grandpa. There is something about Ana referencing Baby Jack that just makes my heart swell up. Like he is this real thing that is going to happen. Even though I'm huge I still sometimes forget.

This was a little more than 4 weeks ago

I'm in my third trimester and this is by far the best I have ever felt with any baby. I also think this is the smallest in every other part of my body I've ever been with a baby. Thank you Jack for craving soup and salad! Also I'm chasing 3 kiddos. Also I had school to get me out and about all the time! We'll see what happens these last 10 weeks. Eee.. please be LESS than 10 weeks! Come on early boys!! (Z was 2 weeks + late, Ana 5 days late but BEN was 12 days early!!!)