Happy 3rd Birthday Noah!!

Today is a VERY special day! My sweet angel sunshine is turning 3 years old today!

Noah is the sweetest little boy. He has such an affectionate, pleasing personality. If I had to pick one word to sum him up it one word it would be JOYOUS!!

God blessed our family so much when he gave us Nathanial Noah. Everyday with him brings smiles and hugs!!

I will never fully understand how I got so lucky that God gave these boys to me!! I will spend my life trying to live up to the honor of being their mommy.

Ballard Street Performing Arts Music Camp!

Luke had a great time this week (for the second time this summer) at the Ballard Street of Performing Art's music camp!

This week he learned to play the hand bells, auto-harp, keyboard and xylophone. Special guests were Mr. Jeremy on the drums, Mr. Rob on the guitar and Ms. Penny on the flute. And all though they were all extremely talented, Luke's favorite (by far) were the drums!

I was so impressed when I came to his music program today and he had not only learned to read musical notes on the staff, he also learned to play a song!!

Luke's excitement and progress has me thinking he might have a real gift here, so I'm enrolling him in the Ballard Street Kids music program this year and maybe, just maybe, some private lessons with Mr. Jeremy!!

My 3 Little Musketeers

I can't believe so much time has gone by since I blogged!! The summer brings a busy schedule and time has gotten away from me. I have a million cute pictures that need a story with them, but if I try to go back I'll be overhwelmed and never start. So, I'm starting now with an adorable picture I took of the boys playing.

Today was the first time all 3 boys really played together. They were building towers with their blocks and Cruz was knocking them down. It was such an endearing moment that I wanted to make sure I captured it.

I'm sure this is only one of many moments like these to follow in the years to come. I love dreaming about our future and imagining all the happy memories we will have together. We are a blessed family. I couldn't ask for anything more!!

Cruz Tries Cereal for the 1st Time

Last night I tried a little experiment with Cruz and let him drink as much milk as he wanted before bed. I was shocked to realize that he sucked down 6oz like it was nobody's business!

So today I decided that I really do need to start working with him on eating solid food. Last week we tried avocado for the last time with more ending up on the bib than in his tummy. Today we tried some organic rice cereal.

I think the consistency of the cereal was a little thicker and easier to stay in his mouth. Still, he doesn't really know how to swallow or what to do with it.

At any rate, we're going to keep trying because even though my chunky pumpkin is 90% for weight, I think he's hungry!

Noah & His Dump Truck

Granny and Gramps sent Noah a big surprise for finally completing potty training...a big green dump truck! What a HUGE hit! Noah has not stopped "picking up trash" from around the house since he got it.

He's picked up so much trash, in fact, that I had to find out what all exactly he had in there. I was shocked when I dumped it out to find (among other things) Lincoln logs, popcorn kernels, snack wrappers, straws, action figures, and an alien!

He loves this dump truck so much in fact that when I threatened to take it away this morning if Noah didn't take his medicine that he immediately took it without one other word!!

So, not only did this dump truck help incent Noah to potty train, it's also leverage for good behavior today!! YAY!!

Noah's End of Year Music Program at LAP

Monday night Noah performed in his end of the year program at LAP. I was incredibly sentimental that night watching him sing and dance. For one, it was only last year that Luke was performing there and now he's such a big boy, in kindergarten, reading and writing. Secondly, I will never forget how close we came to losing Noah as a baby after his surgery for pyloric stenosis. Every milestone, every music program, every day is SUCH a blessing with him in our lives.

The night ended with more sweet memories, as the teachers made us an entire, full-sized binder filled with pictures of Noah throughout the year. Seeing him last fall, looking like so much of a baby, made me realize just how much he's grown this year! My concerns about the teachers understanding what he was saying, transitioned in to whether or not he would ever be fully potty trained, and are now shifting again as I wonder how much he will miss the wonderful teachers who have become such a big part of his life.

We are blessed in so many ways, it's honestly overwhelming and incredibly humbling. I think all those thoughts were what caught me off guard and made me so emotional.

Next week is the last week of school and I'm organizing the end of year party with a special treat for each of the teachers. There's really no way to thank them enough for pouring out their lives in to my sweet angel all year!!

Cruz & His Baby Seahorse

Granny and Gramps sent Cruz the cutest little seahorse for Easter. It's tummy lights up and it plays super-soothing music. He is just at the stage where he is reaching and grabbing for things and he absolutely LOVES this seahorse

We keep it in his crib and, since he learned to roll over last week, he will roll right over, grab it and snuggle up to it. It's so cute to see him curl his body around the seahorse and bury his head in it like he's cuddling with it.

Thanks again to Granny and Gramps for the neatest and most thoughtful gifts!!