To My Westin

 

May 14, 2013

My darling Westin,

Happy fourth birthday, love! Each year as I sit down to reflect on your growth, I am always amazed at what a difference just a year makes. You are growing so strong and handsome! I am so blessed to be your mommy.

I know you're really excited about turning four! I'm excited with you but have to admit that it's just a little bit hard to watch you grow so quickly. These precious days we spend together are so fleeting and I know I will wake up one of these days and wonder where the time has gone. I hope and pray that your childhood will be full of happy memories and that you will always feel a warmth and fondness when you think back to these days. I know from here on out you will be developing real memories that will last your lifetime. Here's some things I hope you remember from this year.

• Our family cabin burning down-- I hope this will help you to always remember that THINGS can always be replaced, our treasures are in heaven, and like you said: “we can rebuild our cabin just like Bob the Builder. Can we fix it? YES WE CAN!”
• Catching your first fish at Fun Valley-- you reeled him in all by yourself and frequently made trips to the freezer to check on him later :) I hope this will be a pastime you and your Daddy & your Chief & Your Papaw will always be able to enjoy together!
   *Mario Kart nights with Daddy-- you two are such good buds! It's fun to watch (and listen) to you boys while you're playing the wii together. You're getting really good at it and I know he loves to play with you!
• Playing soccer for the first time! It may have barely resembled soccer, but you learned about teamwork, listening to instructions, & had a lot of fun in the process. I hope this is also a love that will stick with you and you will always find pleasure in athletic exertion. It's good for you!
• Planting the garden with Mommy-- I love that this has become “our thing.” You're involved in every step of the process from planting to watering to harvesting and I think you look forward to it just as much as I do!
• Nighttime stories and prayers-- you & Daddy have made it through several books this year and it's a part of your day you always look forward to. I love to hear your prayer life developing and watch you grow in knowledge and understanding of our Lord. Your prayers are heartfelt and innocent and I hope and pray that they also continue to be a rich and important part of your daily life. I pray that one day praying becomes just like breathing for you.
• Christmas! We made so many great memories at Christmastime this year :) I hope you will look back and remember ice skating, baking with Mimi, visiting Pop-Pop & Gigi and riding their train, writing letters to Santa & visiting him in Estes... and of course the anticipation of Santa's visit and the delight in your eyes when you woke up Christmas morning!

I'm SO proud of you, baby! You're good at everything you set your mind to being good at, you think of others' feelings, you love surprises almost as much as your Daddy, you are the most social little creature I've ever met-- knowing no strangers, you love deeply, you learn quickly... every day is an adventure and I hope that while you're making memories, you always remember how very loved you are! Loved by everyone who knows you, but especially by your mommy. There is a special “Westin” place in my heart that no one else could ever fill. I look forward to making as many memories together as God allows us-- and I pray that they are many and full of joy! I can't wait to celebrate you today! Happy, Happy Birthday!

Love,

Your Mommy

Since February...

Spring. {Colorado definition: practically the same as winter} We have had a very full spring... hence the lack of time to blog.  

Here's a quick overview:

SOCCER: We are officially soccer parents! Westin started his first organized soccer team experience in March and we have proudly watched as he has learned to play :)  Yes, there is quite a bit of running in clumps (and they don't stop just because the ball goes out of bounds!), rolling in the grass, tag-playing, shadow-following, etc... but they're learning and its CUTE. He loves being part of a team and we've loved watching.  Kreg is helping coach his team and I've loved watching that as well! Tucker has a very hard time sitting in his chair watching.  He wants to be on the field, kicking the ball, and its usually all I can do to distract/restrain him!

 Easter: Easter happened! I made the boys outfits this year :) I wish I could justify making more of their clothes, but it costs just as much to buy fabric and my time is far too precious these days.  But when I do get to whip out the sewing machine, I enjoy every minute of it and love to be creative with their outfits!  I was really pleased with how these turned out!

 We're not big on candy, so we tried to be creative with our basket-stuffing.  They did get some Double Bubble & Jelly Belly's though... you've got to live a little, right? :) It was so cute watching them both wake up excited to see what was left for them and the epic Easter Egg hunt was just that this year... epic! It didn't take them long!

Bunkbeds: The boys are in bunkbeds now!  It's going great :) Westin loves being on the top and got used to the ladder right away.  Kreg and my Dad built the latter and side rail to go on to our beds that we already had.  They were a little skeptical of my barn-red choice, but I think they agree now that it looks awesome.  Especially in a Superman-themed bedroom!

Neighbor Friends: Westin has discovered all the little kids around his age in the neighborhood and our house and yard frequently looks like this.  I love it :) It certainly presents its own challenges as he picks up things we don't want him to, but I am so pleased with the way he remembers wrong from right even when his friends are around and accepts that not everyone in the world lives the way we do.  I hate having to let him in to the world, but am glad we can ease him in slowly and hope and pray daily that he will be strong, courageous, and a warrior when it comes to standing up for what he believes in.  That happened faster than I thought!

Random Fun Spring Things:

 

Visitors: We were so blessed to get to squeeze in some time with some of Kreg's family in April!  We got a quick, surprise visit from Steve, Kreg's Dad, which was short but sweet. Then, we got to host the Hodges family (Kreg's sister, Kim & her fam) for a few days while they were out here to attend a friend's wedding. I love that my kids have cousins their age!  That's something I never had growing up and can see what a blessing it is for our kids.

Valuable Lessons We Learned:

Permanent marker does NOT come off of textured walls.  Not with anything.  We tried every trick in the book, the only thing that fixed it was multiple coats of paint.  Thanks, Tucker!

Ear infections: We experienced our first ear infection this spring.  Of course, it showed itself on a Saturday morning... a Saturday morning that happened to be one of the busiest this Spring (Kreg was playing golf first thing, we had company in town, Kreg was the best man in a wedding, I was photographing a wedding... we barely had time scheduled to breathe let alone take care of a sick baby!).  Poor Westin woke up in so much pain.  I've never seen him in so much pain!  My kids have never been on antibiotics and I wasn't looking forward to this being the first round... thankfully, we knocked it out without it.  I called my chiropractor who graciously met us for an adjustment (which calmed him down greatly) and gave me the number of a lady in town who could tell me how to treat it.  At this point, I was mostly concerned about his pain.  This worked SO well, I had to share... here's what she recommended and what we followed:

*Usnea Lichen (1 tsp 4xday for the first day, then 1/2 tsp 4xday for the next four days) This was taken internally just like an antibiotic to treat the infection internally.

*Nutribiotic (Grapeseed Extract) warmed, 3 drops in the ear 4x day for 5 days.  This was also to treat the infection, dropped right into the ear.

*Lots of probiotics (which we take regularly anyway so I tripled his normal dose)

*Essential Lavender Oil on a cotton ball, placed in the ear.  This stuff was miraculous.  I put it in his ear for the first time, and after crying almost non-stop for 2 hours, he immediately calmed down and said "oh, that feels better" and fell asleep.  I seriously am talking instantly. 

He wasn't quite himself for the next couple of days while he recovered, but by day 4 we couldn't contain all his energy.  I'm so thankful we are over that and hope that it's not something we have to do again anytime soon.  We have been SO blessed with healthy kids and I thank our God daily.  Multiple times daily! This is Tucker taking good care of his big brother during his ordeal :)

ANDDDD that pretty much sums up our spring so far.  Up next? The month of May... Birthdays, Anniversaries, Mother's Day, and this year, Kreg & I are getting away :) More to come!

As always, thanks for stopping by to catch up with our little family.  I pray our God's richest blessings on you & yours!

My Boys

These boys are growing and changing TOO quickly!  I have so much to say about 2013 so far but I feel more inclined to sit and talk about my babies a little.  

Westin: 3 years, 9 months {39" tall, 37 lb}

This sweet boy is so generous with his "I love you"s and "I'm so glad you're mine"s and "I'm so glad God gave me you"s-- I hope he's always so sweet, he just melts this mommy heart. His Daddy taught him to tell me, "Mommy, I love you this much (holds up two fingers about an inch apart), but it goes all the way around the world and comes right back!" Love.  Love.  Love.

He's brilliant.  The way he thinks and analyzes things just amazes me. Don't try to pull the wool over his eyes.  Don't ever think he's not listening.  Don't ever think he'll forget something you say.  He's learning to read and doing really well.  His favorite book so far is Hop on Pop. He always knows how to get where he's going-- if I turn a different way than we normally take in the car, he knows it and calls me out on it (and Colorado Springs is not THAT small OR that easy to get around) He can figure out any electronic game/video game MUCH faster than I can.  He's obsessed with Mario (we're talking the Super Mario Bros. Mario) and is always sporting his Mario costume from Halloween (except when I tell him we MUST wash it or we're going out of the house)-- it's about to unravel, I'm sure of it... and I won't lie, I will probably celebrate when it does. Also on the top of his list of favorites:  Sonic the Hedgehog, Iron Man, and Diego.

Recent favorite quotes: 
"I made a really bad mistake.  I spilleded some water on the floor over there."

"I wish I could fly like a bird-- all the way up to heaven with Jesus and then all the way back down to you!"

"Mommy, why do you and Daddy have the same bed?"  Me: because we're married.  "Why are you married?" Me: because we love each other.  "Oh, well then Tucker and I are married too because we love each other."  Me: Well.  That's wonderful.  But that's different-- you're brothers, Daddy & I are husband and wife.  It's different.  "Why?"  Me: Why don't you go play Mario Kart? 

Tucker: (almost)20 months {32" tall, 23 lbs}

This little boy has an incredibly competitive spirit.  Of course I shouldn't be surprised, it definitely runs in his blood... but it's funny to see it manifest itself in a 20-month-old.  He wants to be able to do EVERYTHING his brother does!  And he will keep trying until he CAN.  He potty trained himself at 18.5 months.  No joke.  He started telling me when he needed to go so we started taking him and within 2 weeks he was totally out of diapers and wearing his "big boy pants." I wish I could pinpoint when he started having conversations with us but it's one of those funny things that just happens and you don't realize it until one day you're like... WAIT... when did you start talking to me and actually making sense?  I LOVE to hear him and his brother carrying on conversations together!  He's quite the little show-off and you can frequently hear him saying: "At me, mommy!"  He's also quite the little singer.  I catch him singing anything he can and he always tries to sing along with everyone, even if he's never heard the song.  Both of my boys are cuddlers but this one I am sure thinks he's still attached to me at the umbilical cord. I'm not complaining... but it does make daily chores a bit more difficult whilst carrying around a 23 lb 20-month-old.

Recent favorite Tuckerisms:
"Oh.  Yeah!"
"Excuse my mouth"
"A drink NOW"
"Beesball"
"Dirty Bath" (usually in reference to the car that he wants to take through the car wash... sometimes in reference to himself)
"Oh my OODness!"
"Tay-Tay's LuLu's" (our fro-yo stop) 

I feel so blessed to be the mama to these boys!  Thank you, God, for blessing me with such beautiful blessings.  Please give me everything I need to be the right kind of Mommy and show me how to do my part in molding them into the kind of men you want them to become.  
 

That's a Wrap, 2012

I've been wanting to sit down to write this post for a couple weeks now, I just have not been able to carve out the appropriate amount of time!  I hope I haven't forgotten too many details already :)

The weekend before Christmas, we were blessed to take a mini-getaway up to Breckenridge for a little skiing & R&R.  Skiing for Kreg & Westin and R&R for Tucker & I :) Kreg's good friend & mentor, Doc Lambeth, invited us to come stay with him in his condo & we jumped on the opportunity... Not only did we have a great place to stay, but we thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent catching up with Doc! He spoiled us rotten & we're so thankful we got to sneak in a couple days with him while he was here. Our friends Lee & Melinda Reed were also headed up that way for the weekend so we met up with them as well.  This was Westin's first skiing trip and we were all SO excited for him.  We may have gone a little overboard on the ski gear, but we found good deals and it was all just so cute we couldn't help ourselves.  We put him in ski school and he LOVED it.  We went out to watch him that afternoon and his ski instructor told us "he is SO ready to go down the mountain with you.  He's just the best little 3-year-old!" Of course that made us super-proud and he finished the last run of the day with Kreg & Doc Lambeth.  SO fun.  Tucker & I fit in some hot tub time, some shopping time, some eating time, and some watching time.  It was perfect :)  

We LOVED having Kreg around so much with the way Christmas & New Years fell this year.  He got two five-day weekends in a row and we were SPOILED!  We stayed close to home for Christmas this year so we got lots of play-time in.  

Christmas Eve we started off slow, took the boys out to lunch, then came home and made brownies to leave for Santa.  We opened our gifts to each other that afternoon.  We had so much fun with gifts this year!  The boys are at a really fun stage to shop for because they're just thrilled with everything.  

After we opened our gifts to each other, we met my family for a nice dinner at Tucano's, a Brazilian Steakhouse here in town... we stuffed ourselves, then went back to my parents' house to open gifts with them and my siblings... three hours later... we were on our way home with two very sleepy boys!

Christmas morning gets more and more fun every year too!  Westin is 3 1/2 and this is the first year he's known what to expect.  I think the anticipation is really the best part of Christmas for me :) For him, of course, it's waking up Christmas morning to see all that Santa left for him! The one present he kept talking about and made sure to ask Santa for when we saw him was a "remote control Sonic car."  And that was exactly what he searched for first, even though it was much smaller than most of what Santa left :) The look of joy on his face when he saw it was just magical.  I just LOVE Christmas with these boys!

Did I mention it was a BEAUTIFUL white Christmas??  How much more perfect does it get??

After getting ready, we went to my parents' for breakfast burritos & to do stockings with them.  Then we all headed up to Denver to do Christmas dinner & presents with my grandparents & extended family. We spent the rest of the day up there and again, came home with two very sleepy boys!

We had a very low-key New Years.  We were thankful to be able to relax, reflect, and ring in 2013 by the fireplace, watching for my sister who was in Times Square this year. 2012 was a very crazy year for many people, but through everything we have felt so very blessed!  God has been so good to our family and we could not be more thankful!  We are looking forward to everything He has in store for us in 2013. We have lots of hopes & plans and we pray that they all work out-- but we find so much comfort in the knowledge that ultimately, plans never work out EXACTLY as planned, but they do work out for the good.  (Romans 8:28)