1983

32 years old...Is that insane?!? I pause looking at that number for a long time. 32. Mostly, because I have a hard time accounting from about 28 until now...that is, until I look around. This house is cluttered with baby toys, I smell the intoxicating scent of Dreft laundry detergent, I hear Jack and Justin talking, as they do every night, while Justin tucks Jack into bed. Sometimes, I stand outside his door so I can listen to the two of them talking. They'll go over the day, say prayers, and talk...all of this usually punctuated with giggling and poking. "No poke!" "Yeah, POKE!" Jack says, as he digs his pointy little finger into your cheek. He's really cute and lovable at this age. He's always been so easy to love.

Jack is doing so much fun stuff. He pretend plays with his trains, giving them different voices, creating catastrophic situations, "help, HELP!" "Hi, what's you name?" "Need more coal." He's started fighting bed time too. "Two minutes, five minutes." "Eat mama!" Whatever he can say to prolong bed time. And he still gets up at the crack of dawn. He's gotten the hang of his mustang Santa brought him. He and Ella like trolling around the neighborhood. We went to the park this afternoon and Jack buried his trains in the mulch. That, swinging and going down the slide a few times, are his big interests.

Ella is a climber. That girl climbs everything! Under tables, on the picnic table, up the slide, up the climbing wall in the park. Just like her mama. I loves climbing trees. My favorite was the dogwood outside my grandparents house. I would sit up there after school on cool fall afternoons, smelling the leaves burning in the neighborhood, waiting for Dad to come pick us up. Granny came outside a few times to tell me she was worried I would fall out, but she never stopped me from climbing higher.

There is a lot of me in Ella. She is a fighter. If she wants something. She makes it well known and doesn't stop until its hers. She's going to be a strong leader one day. She brings comfort to people around her because she is so sure of herself. She'll probably be walking this month. She stands for several seconds unassisted, and she'll about twist your fingers right off your hands walking around the room. She loves to walk, and climb stairs. I must pull her off the stairs ten times a day. Well, I don't really pull her off the stairs. I let her climb all the way up. I'll pinch her thighs and bite her ribs as she climbs. It's fun. I can't blame her.

Ella is getting more verbal too. She says Jack, uh-oh, and baba (bottle). She can tell you what a monkey, lion, elephant, cow, dog, and duck say. She nods her head and says "yeah, yeah" when she wants something, likes something, or you ask her a question. I could have sworn today, she was saying 'want.' I'm not sure though.

The weekend of my birthday, Sherry and Cliff were in town, we went to Halls. They'd never been and it's always a treat for us! The joke of the evening centered around an exposed brick wall. We couldn't get enough of it but only seemed to comment on it or admire it or touch it (yes, touch it) as the waitress was coming to our table. She looked at us like we had consumed too much...probably correctly so. Either way, lots of fun.

Last weekend, mom and dad came down. They watched the kids while Justin and I went to dinner. It was nice to have an evening away. They are so great with the kids. Jack loves his Mimi and Pops!

After meeting Mimi and Pops out for lunch, we came back to the house. The next day, we went to the aquarium. 

This weekend, Aunt Katie came down. We went out on the town, something we've never done before. It was great to spend time together like that. We went to a roof top bar at Grill 225 and got martinis and a tuna tower. Then we went to Halls where we were squeezed in after a glass of Prosecco (time increment). We split scallops, okra, cream corn, and lobster mac and cheese. Man, oh man, that place is amazing. Really, the best food I've ever eaten.

Katie watched the kiddos for me while I went to a doctors appointment. She sent me this little nugget via snap chat. haha!

Katie is such a good aunt. Those babies love her like crazy.

Below, we're riding the train in the mall...

So between babies and family, that's where the last few years have gone. It's been a whirl wind and it's amazing how time speeds up the older you get. This year, I hope, will be no different...busy and full of love. It was nice to be surrounded by family and friends as my 32 year rolled around. Short of the stomach bug that struck the weekend after, I have to say it's shaping up to be the best one yet :) I mean, who couldn't be excited about spending another year with these cuties?!?

Or growing another year older with this hot rod? (Love ya honey)

Choo choo, Jack is 2!

Taking a moment to write about Jack's party. This boy is so lucky and loved! What a special day. His birthday was on Thanksgiving this year and who was the first balloon in the Macy's parade that we saw?? None other than Thomas the Train, of course!! Can you believe Macys had a parade JUST for Jack?!? :) On Thanksgiving, we went to have dinner with Justin's aunt and uncle, Sherry and Whit, on Folly Beach. They rent a beautiful beach house every Thanksgiving and have lots of friends and family. This year was a treat b/c we got to see Caroline, Jeffry, and Jen. They live in TN and it was a real treat to see them.

Jack is such an affectionate boy. People immediately fall in love with him. There's just something about his sweet personality, eagerness to please, and gentle spirit. As my mom says, "He's just a special one." Jack's party was the Saturday following Thanksgiving.  Sherry was a huge help in getting everything ready and as soon as my family got into town, we put them to work too. More about the party later, but first a few recent pics.

Jack has gotten into hiding lately. He loves to hide. He giggles and gives himself away...or sometimes he leaves his feet hanging out. But we always pretend, "where's Jack, I haven't seen him." And he just loves it. Jack loves getting into our bed to "hide! hide!" and he gets under the covers or buries himself in the pillows.

Ella girl started pulling up a few weeks ago! This pic was taken on 11/26/14. The first time I caught her standing up on the toy basket. She's sneaky and we've already caught her on the stairs a few times this week. She is great at it and is getting fast!

The night before Jack's birthday, Justin and I decorated a little downstairs. I made these pom poms for the dining room. They turned out cute but took a little longer to make them than I expected, probably a good 45 minutes. We put streamers over his door and 2 balloons in the hallway.

A few streamers downstairs and the chalkboard finished it up. The morning of his birthday, he was thrilled to see it all.

Here is princess on Thanksgiving. She and Jack had matching outfits. Her hair bow was a turkey. It was precious. I hope we can use it next year too.

 Jack had a few presents to open. He accidentally poked Justin in the eye with the pole to his railroad crossing signal. We have it on video and it was hilarious.

We sang happy birthday and let him tear into a cupcake or two.

What a precious face. Hard to believe he's 2. I can still remember the exact feeling when they handed him to me the day he was born. The weight of him on my chest. The way his foot kept getting caught on the blanket when Dr. Stickler was handing him to me. How warm he was. I snuggled him later that evening, just smelling him. He smelled so sweet. That's what heaven smells like, I think. Now look at him. A head full of golden curls, pouty lips, and a heart of gold. His great love is trains. His favorite food is pizza. He loves to drink "SPITE!" (Sprite)

We had a few outside decorations. I had the yard flag made. Sherry made the wreath.

Shannon and her crew were sweet enough to come down! Such a long drive! We had a great time together that evening. We watched the Clemson-Carolina game and then went to see the lights on James Island. 

Emma came too!

Oh, and Aunt Katie came too *sarcasm*...like duh, the guest of honor in Jack's eyes :) He loves his Aunt Katie so much!

 One of Jack's favorite party gifts was a ride on Thomas. I didn't even know this was in existence but it's something special. He rode it around the block and still climbs on it everyday.

Jack and Julianne played well together. He gave her a ride on Thomas!

 Ella took him for a spin too.

The cookies were made by a coworker. The cake was a lady in Mount Pleasant. The cake. OMGoodness the CAKE! It was delicious. The top layer was red velvet. And it was so moist and delicious! The bottom layer though, that was to die for. It was chocolate chip cookie dough with cookies and cream icing. Justin and I ate off that thing for a week. I don't want to even consider the calories!

The party was a hit. It was a lot of work, but it was all worth it. The balloon arch nearly did me in. Haha, it turned out okay, despite the pattern getting messed up in the end.  Jack really enjoyed himself, even though the train didn't show up at the end. We were honestly, perfectly fine with that! It had been a long day. Look at my handsome hubby. I couldn't imagine spending life, decorating for birthday parties, and raising babies with anyone else. Thanks for such cute babies honey :)

Below is our beloved BB and her husband, our pastor, Kevin.

The bottom left is the Halloween costume Thomas, repurposed as a coal toss. It was fun.

Bottom right is a pic of Jack tearing into the balls that Meghan, Daniel, and Emma got for Jack. They get lots of use everyday! Who wouldn't want a ball pit in their house??

Jack is a lucky boy. He has so many wonderful people who love him dearly and came to celebrate his birthday with him. I really am amazed at the love that surrounds him and all of us. We are so incredibly blessed and I don't take that for granted. There are so many people in the world that would give anything for a family. For babies. And I have two of the best. ;) Thanks for everyone who made his party so special!