18 months and counting

My top 10 to my #1 lil man

1.  You love when you're daddy gets home from work... it might be your favorite part of the day.  As soon as you hear the door open, you start running towards it.  Then you spend the next hour on his lap playing w/ him.

2.  It's hard to find you without a bat or ball in your hands.  You can already dribble the soccer ball across the backyard.  You can pick up a baseball, set it on the tee and swing your bat to hit it across the yard.  Your father and I are so proud of you.

3.  Your absolute favorite word right now is 'stuck'.  Anytime you want help with something or going some where you say 'stuck stuck stuck' until someone comes to help you.  And of course then mama makes you say please ... which always results in a slanting of the head and a 'pease'  VERY CUTE.

4.  When you see me getting ready to leave, you will scream 'go' and then until I start getting you ready to leave too you will say "shoes" "socks" and "coat" constantly.  When I finally say coat too, you will run and get it for me.

5.  Whenever mama is cooking in the kitchen, you will 'help' by getting all the spices out of the cupboard and stack them.  I let you do this because I am super impressed that you can even get the awkward shaped spices to stay on top of each other.

6.  You will randomly throughout the day come over and hug me or daddy.  We absolutely melt every time you do this.  You are so sweet.

7.  I can count on at least once a day you charging at me or your dad w/ your sword yelling "arrrrrrrg."  We must run & grab a stick, bat or something to defend ourselves.  You are very good at swinging that sword.  You are learning to not swing at mama or baby :)

8.  You love your lil sister so much.  You always make sure she has a blanket on her.  You also love to give her kisses.  I hope you never lose that protectiveness to take care of her!

9.  You absolutely love playing w/ your cousins.  Whenever you guys are around each other you are always running around laughing.  

10.  After night time prayers when you daddy says Amen ... you either nod your head and say Amen or raise your hands high in the air and yell Amen.  Either one results in lots of hugs & kisses from your parents.

We love you so much Judah-bug.  You have been nothing but pure joy since the day you were born.  We are loving watching you grow up.  Happy 18 months buddy.

"say cheese"

christmas picture rejects.

(my sister Keri did a post of the pictures she was not going to use for their christmas card this year ... 

i LOVED the idea because you are still using the pictures ... just not for people's fridge :)

he loves his sister so much

but not enough to let her be in the picture

or enough to not eat her 

Eliana begging to stop.  Jude contemplating the wonders of life

AND she's done.  Jude has found something much more interesting up there

AND he's done.

turkey day

We are pretty lucky that on every holiday we get to spend time w/ 2 huge families.  We started the day off at the Carlson's house.  It was kid city up in there.  Between the food, balloons, puppet stage & gingerbread men, Judah did not sit still for one second.  He had so much fun playing w/ his cousins, uncles & aunts and grandparents.

Then we headed home for the Cupp thanksgiving.  Because some people couldn't make it, our kids were the only kids there.  So Judah & El got lots of attention.  And then when they went to bed, it was adult time!  It was so relaxing to just hang w/ family by the bonfire.  

We are so THANKFUL for being SO blessed.

lysol wipes are my bestfriend

judah is truly blessed to have such men of faith in his family.  Thank you grandpa cupp, uncle matt, uncle dwayne, uncle brian & daddy for praying over our sick boy last night.  jude has an ear infection & has not been feeling well for a couple of days.  Besides prayer & medicine we are disinfecting everything so my lil buddy can get better and gobble up lots of food on thanksgiving :)

little lady

Today Eliana is 3 months old.  Seriously, where does time go?  I feel like it was only yesterday that we were bringing her home from the hospital.  A few things I want to make sure I remember at this milestone age.  1. She squeaks.  Seriously ... like a mouse.  It is so stinking cute, I can't even stand it.  2. It's so easy to get a smile from her.  Basically just look at her & she will smile.  3. She is already sleeping a full 10-12 hours through the night.  I was blessed with great sleepers.  4. She is just the sweetest little thing ever.  Just ask her dad.  5. Although I absolutely LOVE her smile, some of my favorite faces she has is when she is just sitting there staring off into space.  Hence, the picture.  

We love you so much baby girl.  You bring us so much joy every single day.

hand me downs

You know those rare moments when you can get both your kids together & snap a lovely picture?  Yeah, today was not one of those times.  Eliana was ready & waiting to take wonderful pictures.  Judah, on the other hand, was not prepared to sit & wait for anything.  In fact, he wanted to be on the other side of the camera, the one taking the pictures.  At least I got a few of my lil girl!  The outfit El is wearing brings back so many memories for me.  I actually remember buying this for Zoey when she was only 3 months old.  And now my little niece is so big.  It brings me so much joy to see my baby in the same outfit 3 years later.  I am so blessed to have such generous sisters.

 Seriously!  Look at that face!  I melt everytime.

the jude man

My independent boy.  No matter where we are or what we are doing, Judah, as soon as he is free, will run off by himself w/o so much as a glance backwards.  I always have to keep my eye on this boy.  I am constantly yelling the words "Judah stop" or "Judah wait".  But this boy waits for no one.  He also loves to do things by himself.  Whether it is climbing up on top of our picnic table or as simple as brushing his teeth, he is one independent boy.  What I love the most about this ... after he has accomplished something, he looks at me w/ a huge smile.  Sometimes he even lifts his hands in the air and yells 'goal' (or maybe it's 'go' ... not sure:)  But he is very proud that he has discovered something new that he can do all by himself.  I just love watching this boy grow up.  

great finds

I can't really remember what I loved to do before I had kids.  Sad? maybe.  But honestly my absolute favorite time is right before the kids go to bed for the night and it's just my little family.  We all just hang out & have so much fun.  It's funny how kids change everything.  Even when they are not around, the things I love to do are all about them.  For example, my new obsession is mom2mom sales.  LOVE THEM.  I could probably go to one every single weekend.  I mean seriously, where else can you get 500 dollars worth of clothes for $33.  Nowhere.  Well, that's what I did today.  Lance watched the kids & I went to town!  

I have decided that shopping for girls is so stinking fun!  Probably couldn't have guessed that, huh?  However, I'm not sure you can truly appreciate it unless you have had a boy first.  When you go from buying hoodies & jeans to dresses & bows, it's true bliss!  OK I may be exaggerating a little ... but only a little.  Here are the great finds I found for Eliana.  (if it looks like there are a ton of clothes in this picture ... it's because there are :)

And I can't forget the great finds for Judah.  (if it looks like there are only 3 items in this picture ... it's because there are)  Like I said ... girls are just more fun to shop for!

i'm back

ALRIGHT.  So Lance (among other people) have been telling me that I need to start blogging again, but I have been putting it off.  AND you know how the longer you put something off, the harder it is to get back in to it.  AND then you say to yourself "it's been over a year since I have blogged, it would just be weird at this point if I started again."  Yeah, that's been my excuse.  However, the time has come to start again.  I couldn't possible put a years worth into one blog.  BUT I can do a couple highlights.  

My last blog Judah starting eating for the first time.  I'll be happy to update everyone that he is still eating.  

ANOTHER update:  we had a baby girl.  She stole our hearts since the day she was born.  Delivery? easy.  Thank you for that Eliana!  She is such a great baby.  At only 10 weeks old she is sleeping thru the night.  I have great sleepers!  She is smiling now too ... LOVE IT.  

I promise to TRY to not quit on this again (like how noncommittal I made that:)