Elijah is 2

Eli,

My sweet cuddly baby boy, you have brought so much love into our family. You have been the most snuggliest of all, and I love how you love me. Maybe it's because I thought you would be the last one,  so I held on to you a little longer. I love how when you wake up and call for me. When it's early I let you back into our bed, and you burry your head into my neck to the point of suffocation. You will have it no other way. I don't mind that it keeps me up, and I love to hear the sound of you breathing. You also had this period where you were so attached to me that you would get upset if I left for the bathroom without you. Now you ask for my "hand",  hold my pointer, and escort me to the bathroom.

You are talking so much and are picking up so much after "Nooowah" and "Wawee."  You do everything they do and follow after them and you fit right in-  legos, princesses, light sabers, trains and all.  However,  Noah doesn't like when you take his legos and throw them in the vents, and Chloe isn't too fond of you nibbling on her chapsticks.  Other than that they love to play with you and make you laugh. I love to hear you say, "E-I do it", "mommy(where) are you!" and you drive us crazy with the "bacuum."  At night you initiated mommy and daddy praying for you when we put you in your crib. It took me a while to understand what "pway!" meant.  Now you are faithful to remind us before our meals if we forgot to pway.  You are kind to say "mo pease" after anything you need, especially daddy's tickles. We LOVE your smile.  It is so contagious and you brighten up my days. You are a very loving child and generous with your hugs too.

You are learning so fast. I love how you say "owange", how you sing "hap birt day tooo you"  and your ABC's.  You are very determined to do the things you can't do and do not easily give up.  You love working along side daddy outside and helping me in the kitchen, especially when I make eggs.  You don't want to "just watch" and I have learned it's okay to lose a few eggs in the battle , (unless they are my pastured eggs). Right now we are all enjoying you as much as possible and love you so much.  I think you are in for a rude awakening when Grace arrives, but you will not be loved any less. I am actually sad to see you get older. These past 2 years have been memorable. The Lord poured out so much loving kindness over our family after our loss. We have gained so much through that trial.  Sometimes I fear the world you will grow up in, but our hope is not in anything in this world, but in Jesus. There is nothing more important or more necessary, and absolutey nothing more powerful than knowing who he is, why he made you and why you need him in your life.  I promise you will never find true love, joy, or peace in anything but in the one who made you.  Only he will ever satisfy you. We are praying that you all will live for Him and bring much glory to his name. He is so so so good, so faithful, and so worthy of all your trust and praise.

Happy Birthday Eli!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

                                                          

  1st "real" haircut

young Jedi

   always trying to put your feet up like mommy

 You had a blast being a part of Chloe's preschool party

                        your favorite gift came from our neighbor Ying, I hope you stop stealing theirs!

(party part 2)

Grace

Grace,

I am so excited to be pulling out this little dress. I first saw it on your sweet cousin, Alexa, and your Aunt Valerie has loaned it to me for you to wear this coming summer when you arrive. We are so excited to be adding another girl to our family. Your sister, Chloe, is over the moon. She is already preparing for your arrival and putting aside the things she wants to share with you. She knew you were going to be a girl because we already have 2 boys. Your brother, Noah, would have been content with one sister, but he is warming up to another girl joyfully. They both share with the world that you are coming, and they call you "Gracie."  Eli has no clue who you are and I'm not sure how he will feel about sharing his momma with another child. I'm sure he will learn to love you...eventually. In the meantime, your dad and I think of you and wonder who you will look like and what you will be like. We are praying for your safe arrival and for you to stop making me so sick. You definitely have been my worst pregnancy, but I know you will be worth it! We love you so much already and look forward to you being a part of our lives. We are so grateful for you. 

Love, 

Mommy & Daddy

P.S. Today  I felt you move for the first time :)

a budget for Noah's tummy

Noah, you seriously double the amount of food I eat and triple when it comes to tacos...

Mom: (While Noah is eating his 4th loaded taco) "Noah, that's going to be your last taco, ok?"
Noah: (responds with genuine excitement on his face) "And then I can have a taco salad?!!"

Fall & Winter stuff I never got around to...

I'm going to let the pictures do most of the talking...

I love Trader Joe's during the holiday season. Here's a time we got there at opening, and Eli ran to the back first thing for his sample and was very dissapointed.

Another soccer season with Nathan and Mr. B.

Gaver Farm...

Best Dad

Mommy ran her first 5K

 Trick or treat...

We hosted two Thanksgiving dinners with our care group and then with our friends and dear neighbors...

movie at Tayta's

Cookies at Mom-Moms...

dinner on the porch o a 70 degree December day

 Eli has a hard time staying awake at church :)

 school Christmas program

The kids at church put on a cute little play about the first Christmas, and Noah was a shepherd again, and Chloe was a sheep...

Praise the Lord for a blessed and happy 2015!

Noah is 6

Noah,

Today is your 6th birthday.  Recently someone asked me if I remembered the first moment I saw you. Of course I do.  I was so alarmed by how big you were I went into a serious state of shock.  However, I do remember them bringing you closer to me and looking at your face and thinking "his face is beautiful."  This past year you have grown a ton, not just a whole head in height, but your personality is slowly changing. You are still sweet and tender-hearted. You have on multiple occasions initiated buying flowers for me with dad when I've been sick. I absolutely love that. You are also becoming less shy and more confident in the things you do. You excelled in soccer this season and really enjoyed it.  You have learned how to read and write and really love school (and the lego table at school).  You are still the best of friends with Makenna and have made so many new friends at school. I really think the kids in your class are drawn to you because of your kindness.
You are becoming more responsible and doing chores around the house like taking out the trash and the recycle. You have set an outstanding example to Chloe and Eli of obeying the first time you are asked to do something, and we have seen them follow your lead.  Lately when I haven't been feeling well you initiated on your own cleaning and vacuming up your room and the entire first floor so "mommy doesn't have to do it." It's great to see you find ways on your own on how to bless others.  Chloe and Eli love playing with you.  Eli waits for you at the window when I tell him you are coming home from school. He loves when you wrestle with him and play light sabers with him.  You really make him laugh.
Next to your family, (I hope you love God more one day), but right now it's legos- all 20, 000 pieces and sets you have. I feel like our home has been conquered and defeated by them. Still, your life in our family has brought so much sweetness and joy to our lives. I love that your siblings have you as their older brother and love seeing how God designed you the way you are to be our oldest son. You are perfect for the job! We love you so much!

This year we had a low key birthday party with some of your buddies. It was 70 degrees in December so Daddy did some basketball and volleyball lessons with you guys and read some star wars.  It was a wonderful time for you guys.

so handsome :)

Chloe's encouragement

The other day I was struggling with fear and anxiety.  It was one of those days where I was just trying to focus on the task at hand and nothing else. Chloe came home from school as I was doing dinner prep, and shortly upon arrival headed to the bathroom.  I knew it was a number 2, because she began singing and then repeatedly started shouting, "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you! Psalm 56:3!"And as she finally concluded she then said, "Mom, now you repeat after me, "Whenever I am afraid..."  So I walked over as I repeated her and thanked her for speaking truth to me and how much mommy really needed to hear that. I told her I had a bad day and that I was feeling afraid. She then responded with, " But mommy, you don't have to be afraid. You just tell Jesus and you don't need to be afraid anymore."

I couldn't have been more grateful for her in my life.