Birthday Boy!

The Birthday Boy is 2 YEARS OLD!!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Big Boy! Mommy and Daddy love you more than you will ever know. These have been the best and happiest years of our lives. You changed our lives in a way we cannot put into words. We love being a family with you. Every single day you make us laugh, you make us proud, you challenge us, and you make us want to be better people/parents/spouses. You truly are such an awesome kid; you are so happy, so lively, so silly, and so smart. We hope you always carry your sense of wonder and adventure and that nothing ever dulls that bright smile and happy laugh that you have. Two is going to be a big year, and even though you will become a big brother soon, you will always be our first baby. We love you so so so much, buddy!!!

Last night I was actually kind of emotional saying goodnight to my little 1 year old, knowing that today he would wake up and be a 2 year old. How does it happen so fast?!? It's so bittersweet; there is nothing that I love more than watching him grow, learn, and turn into such a cool little kid... but then, sometimes, I look back at pictures and feel like I blinked and would give anything to hold my squishy little baby again. I'm so proud and happy to be his mom. This kid is only 2... but has a BIG personality!

Last night he took his last picture as a 1 year old.

This morning he woke up to a cool surprise present. (Dad gets the credit for thinking of this one!)
He absolutely loved it!! But it's going to have to be a special thing that we only do occasionally because it takes up a lot of space! Most days Tony leaves early in the morning, but it just so happened that his car needed to have some work done, so we all 3 got to hang out, have breakfast, and enjoy the first part of the day together!

  

We were supposed to have family Christmas pictures on Sunday so I bought him a big 2 balloon... but the weather got bad and we had to reschedule. (Boo-hoo.) My mom even drove all the way here to Norman to go with us and help make Elliott laugh in our family pictures! So we took him to campus in hopes of getting a picture with his balloon before it deflated and was a total waste of $15.... but adventurous little E had other plans. He simply will not pose for pictures... he'd rather run, explore, play with leaves, or do anything else. Oh well, at least we got some cute pictures, even if the balloon didn't make the shots. Luckily, the balloon still had some air yesterday morning so I took him down the street to the wooden bridge (see pic above) and snapped a quick picture.

   

 

  

So Very Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!!

This has been such a great week! I'm so incredibly grateful for all the blessings in my life.

I never, in a million years, thought life could be so beautiful and happy. Truly. 

I am married to a man who pours his heart, energy, and love into his family. Not to mention, he spends long days pouring into others and then comes home to do even more for us. I have the sweetest, most happy, and adorable son who constantly makes me laugh and consider each day a gift. I'm carrying a second son who squirms, turns, and kicks my ribs and reminds me daily what a miracle life, pregnancy, and motherhood truly is. I have parents that love me unconditionally and often go out of their way to help/support/care for my family. And, outside my immediate circle, there is a huge army of loved ones and friends who make life even sweeter by simply being them.

I'm so thankful!  

For Thanksgiving we spent some time at Grandpa Anello's house where Elliott got to play with lots of cousins and "learned" to skip rocks down by the water... well, Jaxon skipped the rocks, Elliott just threw them in.

Then Daddy and Mommy got some time alone together, which was really really nice, and went to have Thanksgiving dinner out at the Lake House with the Dreiers. It was so nice to actually have conversations and relax a little bit without chasing around a toddler, worrying about what he's getting in to, if he's near the pool, or if it's bedtime... And not share dessert, because those Amish pies were ammmmmazing. Haha!

Birthday Party for the {Soon-To-Be} 2 YEAR OLD!

We had a fun time celebrating in Tulsa for Elliott's birthday. We took him to Chuck E. Cheese's and he loved it! He had so much fun with all his cousins, played so many games, got lots of cool presents, and even got to eat his favorite thing in the world-- PUMPKIN PIE! Seriously, no joke. The kid is obsessed with pumpkin pie.

Funny story about that: I think he was confused on why Mommy put candles in front of him in his pumpkin pie because just a week or so ago he got in trouble for climbing up on the dining room table and getting too close to a "hot candle that can hurt us"! Haha!

  
 

     

          

  

Just a little note to say...

Hey, Elliott...

Just thought you should know that we absolutely love being your parents. You truly brighten our days. Not that we weren't a family before you, but we really are a real family now. We never dreamed how happy it would make us to become parents and raise a child together. You are an awesome kid! We know you are going to be a great big brother to this new, precious little boy that we will be having soon. Watching you grow up truly brings so much JOY!

We love you.

 

  

Veteran's Day.

Happy Veterans Day to all of the men and women who have served our country. Thank you (and your families) for your sacrifices so all of us can enjoy the freedoms of this beautiful country. 

Every year my love, pride, and appreciation grows for this guy and all the different ways he has served (and still serves) others. Those Marine Days sometimes feel like a lifetime ago but they taught us lessons and helped us grow in ways that will last forever.

Donald Trump is President

Donald Trump was just elected our new president.

Donald Trump: 45th President of the United States.

This was an absolutely insane campaign season with such surprising election results.
It was between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton & Bernie Sanders.

I really wonder how his term will go.
Will it end up being historical in some way or another?
Will they make him shut down his Twitter? (I hope the answer is YES!)
Will America become more divided or find a way to come together?
This should be interesting.
I pray the next 4 years are as successful and peaceful as can be.

Dear Children, I will not put my political beliefs out here in the open for others to read/judge/criticize so if you're really curious, then someday then I'd be happy to explain all my thoughts to you!

Some good life lessons for all of us:
If you are someone who woke up this morning and is going to start seeing people as who they voted for, and not as the person you have always known them to be, then you are what is wrong with America. I will never think any less of any person who has different views that me, because some of the most beautiful, inspirational people I know will disagree with what I believe all day long, but at the end of the day they are still that beautiful inspirational person I have always known them as. Don't think less of people because some of their beliefs don't align with yours, and don't lose quality people in your life because you choose hate over love. 

Toddler Bed.

The time has officially come....

Due to the fact that this kid likes to climb and has no fears, we had no choice but to switch him to a toddler bed earlier than we wanted. He's not even 2 yet!! Sigh. He had been climbing out of his bed at home for awhile but took a really hard fall climbing out of the bed at Grandmom's house and we decided we just couldn't take any chances on an injury. Naps this week have required me staying in the room to keep him from getting out of his bed.... let me tell you, this kid will do ANYTHING to try and keep himself awake! He has conversations and laughs with himself, counts, rattles off colors, letters, or random objects he sees around the room... And despite the fact that I really wish he would just lay down and close his eyes, I gotta say, it's kind of funny to lay there in the room and listen to him! And if I pretend to be asleep he yells at me to wake me up! Also, he knows not to get up or put his feet on the ground so he will dangle his toes over the carpet and try to get them as long as possible to the ground without actually putting them on the ground! Haha. I've ordered a side rail so I'm hoping it comes soon!

I'm pretty sure Dad is going to have to take night bedtime duties. Haha!

    

October with Mickey (and more)

First, let's talk about the cutest mouse in town! 

Mickey is Elliott's favorite character, so it only made sense for that to be his halloween costume!

I think it turned out perfectly and he was happy with it.... except, not so happy after a long, hot day at the Fall Festival without a nap!

    

Next, let's talk PONIES. He loves them! Three times at different festivals/pumpkin patches he has ridden a pony and each time he was such a natural, happy little cowboy. Notice the second time that Dad wasn't even holding on?!

  

Through the month we had fun visiting a couple different pumpkin patches. 

   

        

The weather finally started getting nicer, which means we ventured outside more to the zoos (OKC and Tulsa) and parks around town.  

It's also interview season for Tony, so some nights E and I are on our own... which sometimes means a walk around the mall and dinner out. (Isn't he such a cute little dinner date?!) 

 
     

Other times we just hang around the house and play. Elliott has such a fun and crazy personality that there is never a dull moment. Some of the things that make me laugh: 

-He may have decided to start being a little bit of a picky eater lately, but corn on the cob is always devoured!!

-We have given him one of my old cabbage patch dolls to introduce the idea of "baby"; he's really good with her... most of the time! Is there anything better than a boy holding his baby and pushing a Tonka Truck?!

- One word: Accessories! Hats, glasses, sunglasses socks on his hands, socks + shoes, etc.,  have all become silly little fascinations. He's always wearing something silly!

- Funny faces, silly sayings, wild hair, climbing all over us, jumping on the bed, and so much more always keep us smiling and on our toes! 

                  

  

 

At the end of the month (Halloween) we got to celebrate Grandmom's birthday! We had a fun family night with eating, carving pumpkins, and celebrating her... and with her, there is so much goodness to celebrate!!