This one is more...

more complex

more challenging

more rewarding

more responsible

more imaginative

more frustrating

more interesting than I ever thought a child could possibly be. 

McCord at 2 years old was quite possibly the hardest year Bo and I have ever had, but we all made it through, and there on the other side was a fascinating, remarkable 3 year old.  And now here we are another year older with the usual 4 year old challenges, but every once in a while we get a glimpse of this old soul as if he is an old man. 

Tonight after the boys were in bed, I made my way upstairs to wash clothes in the laundry room which is adjacent to the boys' bedroom, but I stopped before I got to the top of the stairs because I heard Mc singing.  He started participating in choir at church a few weeks ago, and it's not unusual to hear him "practicing" when he thinks he's all alone.  How I wish I could have recorded his sweet little voice singing his heart out to God in what can only be described as a stream of consciousness prayer interspersed with the days of the week and a few nonsense words.  It went something like this:

"I love you, I love you. Thank you for my cousins and my friends..."

A few days of the week were sung - not necessarily in the right order. Then,

"And God, can you please tell Santa Clause thank you for Catfish [my very special buddy whom I sleep with every night].

A few more days of the week...

"And thank you for my Batman castle. And all the parts that go with it."

...and then things got a bit muffled here, but I'm fairly certain I could make it out,

"But there's just one thing I don't understand, God. Why can't you just kill all the mosquitos?"


Absolutely delighting in the gift of hearing what's on McCord's heart, and half-crouched on the stairs, straining my ear to the crack in the door, I cried a happy, humble tear at the gift of being a mother. 

The days are long, redundant, and thankless.  And sometimes, many times you feel as though you've made a mess of things.  But every now and then you find yourself holding your breath, a heap of dirty laundry, and a tender moment.  And it makes it all worthwhile. 

Catfish and Batman

A Merry Little Christmas

What a special Christmas it was this year for us with one baby enjoying his very first Christmas, and his older brother experiencing the magic of the season as if it was the first time.  Oh, how we have loved telling McCord all about Santa and watching his little mind learn about all of these special traditions: learning about baby Jesus, seeing where "Elfie" our EOTS was each morning after an exhausting trip back from the North Pole, and I will never forget walking around the block in mid-November and telling McCord all about Santa.  I was pulling Mc and Wade in the wagon and Bo was walking Rocky, and we were telling McCord all about the big guy in the red suit, "...and he and his elves work all year long building toys for good boys and girls.  Then on Christmas eve, he loads up all of the toys in his sleigh and he and his reindeer fly through the sky, land on rooftops and deliver the toys."  Mc hung on every single word - it was just the most amazing thing his almost 2 1/2 year old mind had every imagined and he couldn't wait to experience it.

One night we met a bunch of friends at Krispy Kreme and drove around looking at Christmas lights.  All of the kids were bathed early and arrived at KK in their Christmas pjs - it was adorable!  Thanks Kasie for organizing!                                                                          

We love the Bosdells!

They treat our kids with as much love as their own!

Mc sawed down the kids' Christmas tree - he was more excited about the saw than the tree itself. 

Christmasville 2012 - one of our favorite activities this year was participating in the arts and crafts event at the library

This Santa was amazing!  He played the harp and sang Christmas carols while the children played the bells.  As you can see, Mc was entranced - I was too!

I've been doing a lot of sewing lately.  

A little outfit for Mc because he's very into "toy soldiers" right now.  We'll work on calling them "nutcrackers" next year.  

a coordinating jon jon for Wade

Some gingerbread love for Mc. 

Santa tshirts for the boys

A monogrammed bathrobe for my M-I-L with the grandkids names embroidered on the belt

a scarf for my mom with the grandkids initials

Finished a silhouette pillow of my S-I-L's third child to match the ones I made of her older kids a few years ago. 

The boys and I have been making some wintertime treats for the backyard birds and for Christmas gifts.  Used this recipe. 

Christmas morning sitting at the top of the stairs - a picture taking tradition in our household

Checking out his leaf blower

Santa also managed to fit this "Tiny Tractor," as Mc calls it, in his sleigh

This little guy smiles pretty much all the time - even when Mama stuffs his pudgy little body in a hand me down outfit (that doesn't fit) that Brother wore at Christmas time just so she can get a picture of Wade in the same Christmas pose as Mc at 6 months!  Thank you Wade for being so agreeable! 

First Christmas for this little guy.