Time Flies

Radlee,

Yesterday you turned 1 year old, I can hardly wrap my head around the fact that you have been here for an entire year. I remember when we were in the hospital after you were born and I would hardly let them take you to the nursery, how when the nurses would bring you to me for your early, early morning feeding I would make a little nest next to me for you to sleep in for the rest of the morning snuggled up with me, I remember being fascinated with your perfectly formed lips "kissable lips" as Pretty Mom calls them. I remember after we brought you home standing for hours with you laying on your side in my arms, swaying back and forth, back and forth, to keep you calm. I remember the pride your big brother took in showing you off, taking care of you and introducing you. It makes me so sad that your first year is over - I feel like it went too quickly, like I didn't take the time to cherish every little moment, like I didn't take enough pictures, like I didn't write down every little thing you did. Maybe you know this and that is why you still snuggle into a "nest" on my lap, why you crawl all over the house to find me if I leave your sight, why you love to be swayed on you side when you are cranky and how I am still in awe of the curve of your lips; maybe you remind me daily that you still are and always will be my baby.

For as dependant as you are you are fiercely independent as well. You want to do things on your own and it only takes once or twice of showing you something that you can do it all by yourself. You love alone time, where you have undivided attention, this is when you bloom - you chatter and dance and perform. I cannot wait to see what this year brings and watch you grow and learn - you truly are a joy in my life and I feel so blessed each and everyday that you are here.

Thank you Radlee for making my life more complete.

I love you the most,

Mama

And a couple more....

Since I can only post 5 pictures at a time, here are a few more from Valentines day - and the very special birthday cake Grayson picked out just for me!

Chef Grayson - Getting ready to make Pink Valentine Cupcakes (with Sprinkles, of course!)

Look at the concentration frosting cupcakes takes!

Taste Testing

Little Chef Radlee

Have I trained him well or what? He insisted I have a "Princess Birfday Cake"

Our new look...

I decided that since I have been HORRIBLE about posting maybe a new look would inspire me... What do you think?? I will be better, I promise (haven't I said that before??)

The boys are great, Grayson is quite the little performer (as always) and rarely stops moving, his favorite activity of late is riding his Spiderman Scooter - in the house. Radlee is finding his sea legs and going to take off walking any day now! Birthday party plans are in the works for Radlee's big day next week - I cannot believe it has been a year since he joined us!

We have all been sick off and on since November - I can hardly remember the last day I haven't had to wipe a runny nose, remind someone to cover their mouth or not played pharmacist to at least one member of this family! I will be so relieved when this (way too) long winter will be over and we can air the house out of all the hidden germs!

Here are a few pictures of what I have failed to post over the past 3 months.... Watch for more to come!

Spiderman made an appearance at our house Christmas Morning!

Is that smile infectious or what??

Bathing Brothers

The best Christmas "Gift"

Sleepy eyed Radlee on Christmas Morning

C'mon Man!

Grayson has taken quite a liking to "Cookiebread men" this Christmas, all thanks to this commercial:

Yesterday we built a "Cookiebread House" of our own - He loved it, especially once he realized he could eat the candy!
Here is his impression of the commercial, who do you think says it better?

Update: Here are pictures of the finished house - Grayson made it at least 3/4 of the way through before he realized he could eat the decorations, it went downhill from there.

Conversation

Me - "Grayson, I asked you to stop running in the house"
G - "I'm not running - I'm Exercising!"

Happy Boy...

I never believed that 2 babies born into the same family could be so different. While Grayson has been easy going, peaceful and content since the day he was born, Radlee is the complete opposite. He is restless and I find myself trying to entertain him constantly - way to throw Mama a curve ball!! However, over the past month, Radlee is becoming more content and independant, he is having more and more moments of pure bliss - for him and I both. He is becoming more and more mobile, he has gone from scooching, to rolling to full on scooting in the past 2 weeks, he loves to feed himself - crackers, cheerios, bananas, avacados, whatever I put on his tray and he is learning to express himself more and more. Unfortunately this week that expression is screaming at the top of his lungs when happy, mad, tired, hungry, excited, entertained - all.the.time, I will spare you and your eardrums the video of that, if you want to experience it just give me a call!

The "Pun-tin" Patch

The weekend before Halloween we took the boys to the Pumpkin Patch. Grayson had so much fun feeding the chickens, riding on the hayride (which was pulled by a REAL tractor) and picking the PERFECT pumpkin.

If you had seen G that day you may have thought the kid had never seen dirt before, kicking it, jumping in it, picking it up and letting it run through his fingers - he is ALL BOY!!

Stirring up the dirt

In search....

Radlee's 1st Pumpkin

G created new Pumpkin Patch events: Introducing How to Ride a Pumpkin & The Pumpkin Push