Thomas is One!

Just pictures. Because you know how I feel about him turning one.

you'll notice how he does not care to open gifts....

Year 1 With 3

Today, Thomas is 1!

We, and I do mean WE, feel like we are finished having babies, and I had the vein surgery to confirm that. I am definitely finished birthing them. So, with our 3 kids filling our house and anticipating the days of not having a crib or booster seat or pack and play or getting to see what the world looks like at 3pm (which are bittersweet thoughts), I consider Thomas's first year to be the first year of the rest of our lives.

I do feel like we have entered into another phase in the life of our family. In many ways he is still a baby. Sippy cups, spoons and bowls and a crib and diapers and chew toys and outlet covers. But there are no more bottles to wash, no bouncy seat big enough to contain him, and clothes are utilitarian and not "so sweet". I am excited about this new year and the changes we will live through. There are, however, some lessons hard-learned from this past year that I will carry with me into our new phases of life:

1. Always have shredded cheese in the fridge. When dad works late, I found the same meal can make dinner and fill up a 7 year old, a 4 year old, and a 10 month old.

2. 4pm is not too early to get dinner started. And this is for a 6:30 dining time. And it's most likely reheating leftovers in the microwave.

3. 4am is the only time during the day I can sit and watch tv uninterrupted. So I did that, once, on April 29th, 2011.

4. For me to expect the kitchen floor to only need to be swept once a day is foolishness. It may be sufficient to say I should sweep the kitchen floor once times the number of people and pets residing in home.

5. The amount of time it takes in minutes for each human unit living in our home to get ready to walk out the door is 21 divided by the age of the person. And yes, that means I can get ready in nano seconds.

6. I am no longer allowed to judge mothers who are unaware that one of their small human units in the home is playing in or around the bathroom and it's accessories. I cannot always keep track of where and what everyone is doing. Thus, lesson learned is: close toilet lid for year 2 with 3....

7. A load of laundry must be done daily. Even Sundays. And leap days. From now until the end of time.

8. It counts as exercise if I squat while I pick up toys, dropped laundry, or snack crumbs off the floor. That means I exercise 5 to 6 times a day, which I bet is more than you and that makes me feel good about myself, unless you are doing the same kind of exercise I am.

9. I no longer avoid making phone calls at certain times of the day. I call when I can, because it may be the only time the whole year I have time. So sorry if you're phone rings at 7am or 11:30pm. It's because I love you so.

What, did you think there would be 10 Lessons? I have 3 kids, what makes you think I'd have time to come up with 10??!

90 Birthday Cakes

April 16 we celebrated Ryan's grandmother's 90th birthday. Her actual birthday is April 11. His brother and family came into town from Boone, NC, along with his cousin and her youngest (and only girl) all the way from Arkansas. Memaw was a social butterfly, not sitting until the very end when she was made to take a seat and enjoy the food from her birthday spread.

I really enjoyed watching the cousins play and laugh together, and I think some of these photos captured their personalities pretty well.

Just to give you an idea of Memaw's size, her eldest great grandchild is not quite 10 years old in this picture.

Memaw and her three children.

Thomas

The Truth Hurts

Nancy likes to push the tiny "shopper in training" cart at the local store. Usually she is right on my heels, following at a halting pace. Today was no exception.

Nan: "Mom, your bottom is shaking!"

Me: "hmmm. Side to side, or jiggling?"

After a pause in thought: "Jiggling."

Uh oh.

Easter

We were home for Easter Sunday this year for the first time since Nancy was a newborn. The past 4 years we were at the beach or the lake, not bad places to spend Easter. Here are some of my favorite pics, sans the yummy ham and deviled eggs. I love Thomas's outfit. A dear friend gave it to me shortly after his arrival, and she brilliantly and knowingly bought a 12-18 month size, even though Thomas was only going to be 10 months at Easter. It, of course, fit perfectly. Thank you, friend! Oh, and the rest of the family looks lovely in their Easter comfies. We worshipped Saturday, so I am not even sure I showered. Too much? Oh well.

A Trip to the Beach

Ryan and I decided somewhere after child #2 but before child #3 that if a pack and play is involved, it is not a vacation, but a "trip". We took a wonderful trip during Spring Break with some very special friends. The kids played so well together - correct me if I'm wrong, Kel, but I don't think we had one "sharing" fight? Conversation was great, got some running and walking in, a little reading, some shell searching, and the 10 of us even crowded the smallest restaurant on Edisto for dinner one stormy evening. It was a fun and surprisingly relaxing trip! Thank you, Keevers, and we love you!!

Thomas, first time at the beach. He ate it up. Literally.

Nan and friend!

A quick nap before shell beach

The walk to shell beach, complete with hundreds of crabs and beautiful marsh views.

Happy Beachers!

Yay! Beach!

Kate and "Calahayan"

This is for those who have lately told me they wish I posted more often. Thank you for enjoying the blog; maybe one day it will be something more, but right now it is what it is. A lack of posts does not equal a lack of goings-on. Opposite, really.

Based on the pictures I have uploaded in iPhoto and not on any true long term memories, today it is just a smattering of what we've been up to:

purging stuff

a resident wren

running

a new roof

a treehouse

a garden

crawling

beaching

meeting

reminiscing

All have been a part of life, some more enjoyable than others. Looking forward to a slower pace after Kate finishes her 2nd grade year.