2 Year Old Stats and Other Updates

Weight: 26.13lb

Height: 35in 

Faith Ann is 2 and growing! Tall girl with very long legs and arms! Dr. Brack said "she will be long and lean like you." Then, Dr. Brack did not believe me when I told her I was just 5'4. I have always looked a lot taller than I am. She is projected to be 5'8-5'9. Hunter is projected to be about 5'10. Trent is projected to be about 6'1. So, we will see if these numbers are right. Based on the length of my arms/legs, I am supposed to be 5'9, but somehow I stopped at 5'4! And Scott is 6'4 and obviously has limbs for days! As long as Faith Ann is, she has tiny feet! She is still wearing a size 5 shoe, and prissy as can be! 

Faith Ann is blossoming and Dr. Brack was so pleased. Faith Ann was showing off her skills...she held a pencil and colored like a big girl. Dr. Brack was so amazed to see that she has proper grasp on the pencil, great hand/eye coordination! Her coordination is off the charts. She can jump on a trampoline like a big girl, skips, rides scooters, climbs ladders, brushes her own teeth, gets undressed, and more! She keeps up with her brothers and big kids on the street!

She makes the funniest facial expressions. She looks shocked when she gets in trouble. She smirks when she is trying to get away with something. She has an innocent/excited smile when we go to get her out of the crib. She squeals and runs in place when excited. She HATES bugs, like screams and runs the other way if any kind of bug is near by! She always says "wanna walk" when we get out of the car. She prances around like she owns the place, everywhere we go. Her confidence is above and beyond! Her birthmark is still fading, more noticeable on hot days. I honestly forgot to even ask Dr. Brack about it. Dr. Brack didn't say anything about it either, so it is slowly going away. This girl has never been to the doctor...except for wellness/shot visits- pretty impressive for the youngest that has been licking germs since day 1. That may say something about my grandmothers theory..."a spoonful a dirt a day keeps the doctor away!" Faith Ann is a free spirit and lives in the moment, she loves life!

She is a talking machine. She says "chhheeese" when we take pictures with a quirky smile. Her first words in the morning are "I want cereal." The girl loves cereal! She likes to pick out her shoes for the day. She twirls in a circle after I dress her and runs out to show her brothers her outfit for the day. Hunter and Trent always say "Oh my, sister, so beautiful!" She then proceeds to tackle them or grab their toy. Yet, she will hug Trent if she makes him cry. Her first words after nap is "Hunter home!" He gets off the school bus right before she wakes, so she anticipates seeing him! Hunter eagerly gets her snack ready for her...opens the granola bar or puts the crackers in a cup for her. Then gently hugs and hands her the snack. He adores her, and she enjoys being under his wing. She and Trent are playing buds, which means they play and fight hard! They can push each others buttons, but always rely on each other for fun and laughter! She tries to be just like Trent and always loves to pick him up from school...she runs into class and joins in, right next to Trent. She wants to be a big girl, but I just want her to be a baby forever!

She is independent, to say the least! She has a mind of her own and the attitude to back it up. My dad says "her attitude is always right around the corner." Meaning, she is so sweet and loving...but in just one second, she can be sassy! Her sassy means she usually folds her arms, pouts her lips, looks away from you, and says "noooo." And nothing can change her mind! On the other hand, she is so fun loving, free spirited, joyful, funny and friendly! As much as she is a little fire cracker, she still brings out the laid back side of me. Something about this girl makes me calm, live in the moment and enjoy life even more! I "stop and smell the roses" way more often ever since she graced our lives!

Her hair is to die for. So full, blonde and the most adorable curls! Her eyes get compliments daily, along with her spunky personality! She stops strangers in their tracks and brings smiles to their face. You can feel her spunk fill the room. She waves her hands and says "come on" as she wants you to follow her. She loves reading books and playing with my shoes. She loves watching me put on makeup and always wants me to put some on her....she puckers her lips and shuts her eyes for eye shadow! She gives the cutest biggest shuggies ever! Shuggie is what we call kisses! Everyone loves her shuggies, and she shares them with everyone! She is now beginning to love playing dolls and kitchen! And of course, she wants to do everything her brothers do...including wearing a helmet! But, she never wants to take her helmet off! In a nutshell, she is the perfect blend of funny and spunky. Sweet and sassy, Joyful and friendly. Smart and edgy. Brave and confident. Cuddly and independent! She is just perfection!

In other news...Tball is over!!! We had our last game and season party. So cute! We did doughnuts at the park while Scott handed out trophies. Trent has grown up over night, and he feels so big and cool with his very first trophy! It was funny to watch the boys get their trophy. Trent was quiet and tried not to smile. Got his trophy and went back to his seat, modest. Hunter was on the edge of his seat. When Scott said his name, he got a huge confident smile. Looked at all the parents, soaked up the moment! I am so very proud to be their mom. I know Scott was so proud to be their coach! Best Tball season ever!

Sweet cousin Ally came to the game and party with us. My kids totally admire and adore her! I snapped a quick picture of Hunter and Ally in the dugout during the very hot game! Hunter may be almost 6, but he still curls up and loves his cousin! Then, momma got to go out for a girls night out. My big bunco group went to see a mom comedian. All her jokes are about being a mother. It was totally hilarious! The girls enjoyed dinner, drinks and good laughs! I have made "girlfriend time" a priority in my life, and I am so happy that I have so many wonderful friendships. They keep me sane, and it is so nice to be cruising thru life with others that you can relate to and rely on! I look forward to lots of girl time with my sweet Faith Ann!

Speaking of spending time with the kids. I have decided to tackle swim lessons on my own. I had a realization that people in our generation are so quick to hire someone to do stuff, which I am guilty of at times. What is that really teaching our kids? Why can't I teach them how to swim? People load up their kids, drive across town, spend a ton of money, for a stressful swim lesson. And I remembered...my mom didn't do that for me? And I know how to swim! My kids did have basic lessons at my gym last summer, and we swim often, but we rely on floaties to ensure safety! I decided to ditch the floaties this year for the boys, so I am just reinforcing the basics and investing my time. It is amazing how much they have already learned.

 

I take them to my gym down the street, and I put 2 kids in the nursery and swim with one kid at a time. I spend about 30 minutes with each kid. One older man commented, "wow, a mother teaching your kids how to swim the old fashioned way!" Yes I am, and it just inspires me to do more the old fashioned way! In just 2 weeks...Hunter and Trent are swimming completely on their own! They are swimming, going under water, coming up for breaths and all! And we have made priceless memories! Faith Ann has no fear and is a great swimmer, she will catch on in no time.

We all went swimming with Parder (my dad) to show him our swimming talents. Scott and my dad were so impressed. I plan to keep up the lessons throughout the summer. It has been such valuable time that I will cherish! I already keep most things in our life simple based on old fashioned roots, but this just encourages me to keep following my gut, not the crowd! I like to do things my own way, some things may work, some things won't! Right now- having a dinner bell to wrangle my kids in, no Ipads, no apps, one TV in the house that is barely watched, minimalist "stuff," and lots of barefoot outdoor time is working for us. It's a learning curve for all of us, and for now, we like to do things the old fashioned way! Life changes, seasons come and go, but this simple season of life is so wonderful! I am embracing every second!

Said Goodbye 10 Years Ago

TEN years!!! So long ago. How have I made it this far without her? 10 years ago, I said goodbye to my mom for the last time. She passed away May 25, 2006 at 10:07 pm. I'll never forget that moment, those months leading up to it, those last 4 years of her fighting for her life! Her fight and faith have inspired me to push to be the best I can be every day.

Obviously, I want her here with us. However, there have been many blessings that have come along with being a motherless mother. My challenges have turned into blessings. My weaknesses have turned into my strengths. Her journey has given me such richness and perspective in life that I am forever grateful for.

She taught me so much. Growing up, she taught me the power of humor. The power of laughing at yourself and not taking life too seriously. She taught me the impact of always being there for people, and always being others cheerleaders! Not to be envious, but to rejoice in other peoples joy. She lived that by example.

After she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, it ultimately took her life 4 years later. During that journey, she taught me determination. Faith. Hope. Fight. Prayer. Power of friendships. Power of communication. Joy. Appreciation for the little things. This is where I consider my life to be blessed by her journey. These traits have given more depth to life than I ever imagined.

I know what a mother feels, thinks, regrets and wishes for on her death bed. As morbid as that sounds...it is a blessing that I got to experience this. I get the rare opportunity to live motherhood in reverse. From the deathbed, backwards. I have taken her wishes, regrets, thoughts, memories and instilled them in my daily mothering. I am living to honor her motherhood journey. And let me tell you what a blessing that is!

I make a conscious effort to learn from my mistakes rather than dwelling on them, not getting caught up in the hustle and bustle, or get stuck in the trap of being too busy to slow down, not to expect perfection from my kids, or wasting time worrying about how things look from the outside. Mom said, "following the crowd means giving up on Gods version of being yourself, being yourself is where you will find your true life." I have no interest in 'keeping up with the Jones'...that is such a waste of joy and potential. So, am I perfect?! HECK NO! I will have my own regrets, that's for sure! But, all of those lessons have given me such freedom in my motherhood. Thank you mom, really! I thank her daily for these lessons that I learned during the end of her life. Her words struck cords in my heart. I wasn't even a mother at that point, but I held her words close to my heart. And I am forever grateful for that.

10 years ago, she groomed me to be a mother. A mother that she wished she would have been in her younger years. She said as a younger mother she wasted so much time being hard on herself, worrying about this or that, trying to keep up with the cool things, etc. Then, as she aged she realized how much joy this stole from her. Joy taken away that she could never get back. Those words were trapped in my heart. I try my very hardest to live by these words each day. Keep motherhood simple. Keep childhood simple. Make your house a home. Stick to the roots...enjoy the moment, always be kind, listen to your gut, be yourself, don't sweat the small stuff, only worry about impressing God, and have FUN!

So, I said goodbye 10 years ago. However, the words in my heart and the memories she left behind have created a legacy that I try to live by. I have my weaknesses, but I rely on our final months together to turn those into strengths! Thank you mom for being my role model, my inner voice, and the one who inspires me to be the best mother I can be!

Happy Mothers Day and 2nd Birthday Faith Ann

May 8th! Faith Ann's 2nd birthday and Mothers Day. I LOVE that her birthday was on Mother's Day this year. I miss my mom so much, and this was just a little reminder that her spirit, laughter, joy, and memory continue to thrive in our lives! Scott had breakfast for me and the kids were dressed for church. After church, I went on a long run alone, so I got to take my time and listen to music. The kids all colored me cards. Then, Ally and I went to lunch while the kids napped. Then, we all ate Southwells for dinner, my favorite!

Faith Ann got a doughnut hole with a candle in the morning. We all sang Happy Birthday to kick off the day. She looked adorable in her new dress. The dress was handmade by one of my friends mothers. She said she made it in memory and honor of my mom. They were friends and she said it was an honor to make Becky's granddaughter something special. The perfect dress to wear on such a special day. 

Faith Ann also got her first pedicure! This was a family affair! The boys and Ally watched closely as I painted her toes. It was so cute. They all love Faith Ann so much. She felt like a big girl and loved the attention. I just love these toes!

She got a watch for her birthday, and she LOVES it! She wears it all the time. The watch plus her painted toes...she looks so much older! She acts so much older than she did just a couple months ago. Each day brings new discoveries, more laughter, new words and lots of fun! We wrapped up the day with going to Baskin Robbins for ice cream. Of course, another candle and more singing!

The rest of the weekend was fun too. Friday, Hunter had a bug play at school. He was a mosquito! They also gave us mothers day gifts after the play. He made me a nice plant and card. The card said "mommy is so cool because she is a ninja!" haha! Makes me laugh and so happy that my boys enjoy my ninja world as much as I do! Scott and I also had a date night for my friends birthday. We went to Redneck Country Club. It was such a neat place. This picture was pretty cool! Great weekend. Great 2nd birthday for Faith Ann. Awesome mothers day! And in memory of my mom, I am making a conscious point to slow down, keep life simple, enjoy the memories, make life adventurous, and live in the moment!

Faith Ann's 2nd Birthday Party

Sweet and simple! Faith Ann had a great little party. Rummel Creek Elementary just got rebuilt, and they have an amazing playground! We walk down there a lot to play. So, I knew Faith Ann would love to have a few of her closest friends and family come play! I loved her invitation. It was so sweet and girly. Here is the front and back of the invitation...

Cousin Ally made the cupcakes. The theme was "flowers." So, Ally made some adorable flower cupcakes. It was a sweet and personal touch to a simple party. I did "Faith Ann's Favorites." So, there were nutella sandwiches, fruit snacks, sprinkle doughnut holes, and fruit loop cereal...haha! Faith Ann was one happy camper! And of course, the party favors were beaded necklaces. Faith Ann always, and I repeat always, has on a beaded necklace (or 5!) It was so cute to see all her little friends with beaded necklaces on, celebrating Faith Ann!

Faith Ann wore a precious smocked flower dress and a cupcake bow! She was the belle of the ball. She even had flowers on her shoes. She spent the entire party playing with a huge smile. Bouncing from playground to playground, swing to swing. You could feel her joy!

She loved the spotlight! She stood in the middle of this circle ring, and the kids all sang to her! She danced and loved the attention. This was my favorite moment of her party. She knew it was HER day! Cousin Sam made an appearance, which is a big deal because he is 16 years old! So, his 2 year old cousin party probably isn't high on his priority list. But he came, and Faith Ann was excited as she puckered up and gave him a big ole shuggie. Glad it was captured on camera! And her best bud, Blake, fed her...true princess form!

Then, we all enjoyed Ally's homemade cupcakes. They were a hit! Then, we came home and got a bath before we opened gifts. She insisted on wearing all of her gifts. Go figure, she got piles of fun beaded necklaces. So she was on cloud nine! And some plastic heels, bows, a watch and other goodies. It was a great party. Sweet and simple! We love this girl too much!