Can't keep him away

No, I'm not talking about Alex. We can't keep James away from finding the camera and taking pictures of everything and everyone.  A rather nice photo of daddy.

My "Garden"

So, Gardening has always been a desire of mine, but I've never been successful at it.  Maybe that's why my husband didn't want to till up some land and make me a garden. He told me I had to grow it in pots.  So, I said, Okay.  The issue is placement.  Our yard does not have the best backyard for a garden. Very shady and no grass and floods during rainstorms.  The best sunny spots happen to be right next to our driveway, where some shrubs are.  So for my birthday, Alex dug up some shrubs in an attempt to get a garden going.  That was a month ago and the project has fallen by the wayside for now.  However, I keep helping him remember despit the many and more important other things has to attend to that a garden would be super great. 

These are my picking cucumbers. I can see 1 sprouting but it's really small.  The roots are in a pot but as you can see, it's spreading out quite nicely. 

These are my prized heirloom tomatos.  They are 2 varieties but I forgot their names.  One will be the small green kind and I forgot what the other one will be.  The camera caught a fairly good picture of the younglings. 

My Black Beauty zucchini's are flowering but only 1 squash is growing.  maybe they need to be out a pot but we'll see. 

This is my oregano, basil and chives.  The basil's been finicky this year even though they get plenty of water.  I have another pot of thyme and mint, parsley and even cilantro.  I think I'll have to pick some and dry it because it's growing so rapidly. 

Boarding School or the Military?

There was a time in my life when I thought I would be a great parent.  Then, I had James and thought, "Huh, this isn't so bad".  Then there were more.  Not that my 2nd child is a bad kid, I don't believe kids are bad, just need some help and boundaries.  However, my 2nd child always leaves me scratching my head and praying "Lord, please work through my inability to communicate to this child of mine". 

I've had to make a goal every day to keep things in perspective.  What's a big deal worth getting upset over and what's not.  Coming downstairs in the early morning and eating a cold cheese dog...not such a big deal.  Spreading Desitin over our couch....big deal.  For one, it's cloth.  Second, it's our only couch right now because our good couch is at our other house for the open house.  Does desiting come out and clean easily? No. 

Baby Poops

This is how it went: Ryan was sitting on the toilet and I was standing next to him.

Ryan: Baby poops say "mommy, mommy!"
Me: Oh yeah? What do daddy poops say?
Ryan: PBLTTTTP! (insert sound of motorboats)

Me: (laughing)

Beautiful

After Olivia's Birthday Bash, this is what I saw outside. It wasn't even an intense storm. Just some clouds and rain, but it was so beautiful! I usually only see rainbows in part and not very clear. This one was so clear I could see the entire semi circle, all the colors and I was expecting skittles to start pouring down on me. But it was so breathtaking that I had to thank God for all the blessings in my life.

Birthday Fun

Alex made her this wonderful chocolate cake. 

To Olivia,

I can't believe it's already been 1 year since you entered this world. After 9 months of wondering what you'd look like, me or daddy; Would you have red hair or blonde; Would you be real quiet like James or real loud like Ryan; Would you let me sleep for 5 hours at a time or would you need to sleep in my arms for the first month or so.

After you were born, we could tell your personality would be a bit like both of your brothers.  Your labor was longer than James' but shorter than Ryan's.  You weighed 7lb 11 oz, 21" long and had red hair like Ryan and big blue eyes!  I will always remember the first time I saw each of my little ones.  Somehow you knew I was your mom because you looked straight at me when I spoke to you.  Unlike the boys, you have always wanted to be touching me.  You're so content to be held by me or sit in my lap or climb over my legs.  I'm sorry to say, that it looks like you inherited a gap in your front teeth, just like me.  Hopefully you won't be as self conscious as I was and just remember that it will be fixed when you're old enough to get braces. 

The first time I saw you, you reminded me of your daddy.  But people now say you look like me, except for the red hair. 

You are content to watch and play with your brothers. Nobody can get you laughing like those two.  You look up to James and enjoy playing with Ryan.  They both think you're great and still call you 'Baby'. You're pretty quiet, except when you want some food or somebody takes your toy away. 

You are so smitten with your daddy and Pop Pop that it makes me want to cry every time you reach for them.  Happy tears! 

We look forward to the woman you're going to be and we pray that we will not mess you up too bad. Happy first Birthday and I love you!