Snow Storm Saturn

March 6th Charlottesville was covered in a thick blanket of snow.  It was exciting to wake up to a wonderland.  I sat staring out the window, watching the snow come down and it was then that we lost power. It was also then that I wished I had made the coffee before I had sat down to admire the snow.  

Here are all the pictures I took from that day

                             

Ben and his Bebe's (pacifiers)

Back in December Ben and I had been talking about saying good bye to his pacifiers.  We discussed how he can use them to buy toys when he was all done with them.  He was very excited about this and we put all his binkies in a bag and took off to the store.  

Once we got to the store, he picked out the big yellow dump truck but at check out time, he got a case of cold feet.  Fast forward to a couple weeks ago and he was ready to try again.  This time he about hit the cashier in the head with his bag of "monies" as he threw them on the counter.  Saying "Good-bye bebe's, I am a big boy!"  He was thrilled with his new cars and track.

Up until bed time. Then came the crying.  It was easy to remind him that he decided to give them away to get the cars.  He responded with sobs of "why??"  I held him and laid with him till he fell asleep.  The next morning he was up early, we are talking 5am early.  Lights on and pulling all the blankets off his bed, searching for a bink.  More tears.  It took a few nights of tears before bed, and a few more "why's??", then on the third night he told me "I don't have by bebe's, they are at the store.", and we haven't had a tear since.  We do now have a little boy who for the first time doesn't want to go to sleep at night, or take naps.  He is talking more and seems so much more 'grown up'.  Now it's mom pulling the covers off of the bed, and crying "why??"  Why do they grow up so fast?

Ben is Potty trained, Pacifier free, and packs more attitude then all four of his siblings combined. 

Reflection

Three years ago, we lived in this house.

We had four beautiful children, 

with one on the way.

(whoa, Nelly!)

Olivia was a first grader at Ponderosa Elementary School.

Claire and Paige were ballerinas, 

 Aaron was into everything,

and this guys here was about to become a law student at the University of Virginia.

(not bad on the eyes, eh?)

Then our lives began to change.  First with the birth of Ben,

Next with the move from Boise to Charlottesville.

We settled into our life here in Charlottesville, and time began to fly.

There were first days of school.

Halloween's

and many, many new friends have been made.

Here we now find ourselves back in the same place we were three years ago.  There is a move on the horizon and everything is about to change.  I am uncertain of what is coming but I don't fear it.  God has put amazing people in front of us and I am gleaning all I can from them.  I know there are new people waiting for me, and I won't let go of the ones we will leave here.

We are following a new path, unable to see where it will lead.  The bumps and overgrowth will make us stronger.  We will learn to bend with the wind, change with the seasons, endure like the sun, find peace with our pace, and rest in the calms.  Life is a journey and we are living it up!

33 Years Young

To celebrate the birth of the man who was made for me, we snuck out just the two of us for a romantic dinner. We giggled as we tried to capitalize on the last fifteen minutes of happy hour like a couple of kids.  We indulged in good food and spent more than we should have for a family in law school.  We toasted to this year and the changes it will bring.
To you Todd, The man of my dreams, the wonderful fun loving father of my children, and the love of my life! 33 Looks good on you!

Fall

Apple picking with the boys!

Field trips!

Colors!!

Oh happy day!

If you assume that in the first three months of life you change a babies diaper 10 times per day, then you will change about 310 diapers in three months.  Assuming you change 7 diapers a day from that time until they are one, you will add on about 1,890 more diapers.  Let's say they don't toilet train until two.  Changing about 5 diapers a day that's another 1,825 diapers.  Bringing us to the total of 4,025 diapers more or less.

Do you know what this means people?!  I* have changed over 20,000 diapers in 9+ years!!!!  So celebrate with me this HUGE milestone, and toast to Ben and his tighty whities!

*Disclaimer- Obviously I didn't change all 20,000.  I am very grateful for my wonderful husband who helps tremendously in all areas of parenting.