The past 10 weeks...

On Friday, my baby girl turned 10 weeks old! I can't believe how fast the time goes when you have a baby AND a toddler. 

In the past 10 weeks so much has happened! There is no way I'm going to be able to write it all down, but here are the highlights:

• Kailynn turned 2! (Dec. 9th.. which is technically a little over 11 weeks ago.. but shhhhh! It's still important!)
• Leilah was born!
• My parents and little sisters came to visit and meet Leilah.
• Devin got his first REAL haircut.
• Devin turned 2 and started talking up a storm!
• Leilah started smiling and laughing.

Three of those things, I am super excited about.

First of all, Devin getting his hair cut! I had been bugging Jr for weeks to let me get it cut. It has been an ongoing battle between the two of us since Devin was born. Jr always wanted to let it grow out, and then when it got long enough, we could cut it all off and donate it. Well the problem with that is that it needs to be 10 inches long to donate it, and it was so long and always getting in his eyes. He was constantly pushing his hair out of his face... It drove me nuts!

Finally, Jr agreed to take him to get it cut. And surprisingly, Jr loves his hair like this. It's crazy how just a haircut could turn Devin from my little baby, into my little boy!

Second, I don't know what happened, but Devin turned 2, and all of a sudden he won't stop talking! Kailynn started talking early, and A LOT. So, when Devin was 15 and 18 months, I was so worried, because he didn't seem interested at all in talking. His pediatrician reassured me over and over that he was doing just fine and that he would start talking when HE was ready. I continued to read to him every night, and I talk to him constantly, and all of a sudden, he just started talking like crazy! He went from saying maybe 10-15 words, to now saying between 75-100 AND putting 2 and 3 word sentences! It makes me so happy when my little boy tells me, "Ove oooo" (Love you)... or "Mommy pleaseee?"

Third... Leilah started laughing and smiling!!! I know I'm a bit biased, but she is the most beautiful girl in the world to me. When you have a toddler, you get so used to them playing and talking. Then you have a baby again, and they are so little and helpless. You become amazed all over again by the simplest things that you take for granted with your older children. Something as simple as a smile can brighten your whole day.

My children amaze and amuse me everyday... They make me a better person and mother. I can't wait to see what the next 10 weeks bring.

Backgrounds and Introductions

I had been thinking for a while that I wanted to start a blog, but I never got around to it. When I read about little Madison yesterday, I decided that I wanted to start one now... I want to remember each little detail- the good and the bad- and share that with all of our family and friends. 

Now for some background info...

Let's start with Jr and I...

We met in 2006, and knew right away that we would be together. By the end of the summer, we were inseparable. While I finished my senior year of high school, Jr moved from California to Colorado to work in the oil field. As soon as I graduated, I followed.

After a really rough year, of moving back and forth to California, and many ups and downs, we realized that we wanted to be with each other forever, and I moved to Colorado for good. 

Two months later, we found out that we were expecting! 

Seven months later, we welcomed Jr's daughter, Kaiylnn Emerie, to our family. (That is a story for another post).

Another two months later... and we welcomed our son, Devin Daniel, to our little family.

We were so happy. I never knew how much I could love someone, until I met my little boy. Fast forward a year and a half, through diapers and teething, court battles and child support...We're expecting again! We were ecstatic! We were both hoping that this child would be a girl... I had no complications with my pregnancy, but had almost every symptom in the book, which made those 9 months the longest of my life. At the end, I was counting down the days until I would meet my precious child.

On December 17th, 2010 at 1:34am...

Leilah Elizabeth was born... 6lbs 5 oz and 18 3/4 inches long. And our family was complete... At least for now!!

I know that this is a bit of a long post, but that really is the short version of our lives together! I'll fill more in as more back stories become important!

Love is all that matters after all...

Yesterday, a 4 month old little girl was buried by her parents. She was just 2 months older than my Leilah. I didn't know her or her family, but her story touched me deeply. She was a healthy little girl, who just stopped breathing...

I can't imagine what my life would be like without my Devin and my Leilah... 

Or without Kailynn...

So... I want to take 5 minutes out of my day to stop and be thankful. For my wonderful fiancé, who loves all of my flaws, understands me completely, and will forever be here for me when I need a rock. For my crazy children, who drive me insane, but also teach me everyday the meaning of love and never fail to make me laugh. For my family and friends. And for everything that we have. 

It makes you realize how the things that seem so big, are really unimportant. We get so lost in our day to day lives that we never take a moment to sit back and take it all in. There is a song by Carrie Underwood called "So Small" that sums this up completely...

"Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing

Is just a grain of sand

And what you've been out there searching for forever

Is in your hands

And when you figure out 

Love is all that matters after all

It sure makes everything else

Seem so small."

I may still get caught up in my life, but I promise that I am going to make a conscious effort to enjoy life, and be thankful each day...