Almost 2

Life-celebration planning is officially underway for our Noah David.  I cannot believe this snuggly, mischievous, little artist...and by artist I mean can find writing utensils anywhere and believes the world is his canvass...literally...is almost 2 years old.  If you ask him how old he is, he either says "half" (meaning one and a half) or a very confident "five".  The same still-squishy baby who still sleeps peacefully wedged between Daniel and I regularly declares, "Me do it me self."  His independence is blossoming, yet his desire to be close to Mama and Daddy is still thriving.  It's a wonderful stage...one foot in the baby door and one foot out into big boy world!  He's a part of his birthday party planning this year, and is already anticipating the event!  I love birthday parties because I love celebrating life...especially the little lives that have so powerfully been used to change my life.  And this little life is

funny.

The big kids were playing dress up, so Noah David quickly got into costume...police man jacket, pirate hat and pistol.

After ND helped me pick these glasses out, he insisted, "Mine glasses, Mommy."  

His latest interest....riding in the baby seat at Wal-Mart, Target, Hobby Lobby...anywhere he spots them.

CHEEEEEESE.  I love his chicklet teeth.

He's given everyone their own nickname for his own personal use and amusement.  He calls my dad "Old Pops."  He calls my mom Nana, "Nanny."  He calls Heather, "Auntie Hella."  He calls Daniel's mom Grandmama, "Gam-mommy."  Cousin Jake is "Jakey". He beats to the tune of his own drum, and we like his beat.  In fact, we dance right along with him and enjoy the music and rhythm he brings to our lives very much.  The other night when I was rocking him to sleep, he held his lovie named "Duckie" up and sang in his soft sweet singing voice, "Holy holy duckie...holy holy duckie."  Then he put Duckie down and began to do the sign language for "holy."  I mean, I'm supposed to be poker-faced at bed time and stay calm and quiet, but how in the world do I contain the giggles with this little man's evening serenade?  Daniel Isaac and I laugh all throughout the day at the things ND says and does.  His humor is just one of the many things we love about him and can't wait to celebrate his life at his birthday party coming up!  Noah David, you are quite the spark in our lives, and we love you to pieces!

Being a Mama

Being a mama means a lot to me...

Being a mama means two boys who greeted me at the bottom of the stairs at the beach Mother's Day morning so proud and eager to give me cards they had colored and dictated to Daniel....

Being a mama means proudly wearing the cape my boys gave me...

Being a mama means watching my big boy Spiderman-style climb the rock wall he couldn't get up last year...

Being a mama means using the "sports" setting on the camera a lot and watching this little speedy man flash by...

Being a mama means enjoying the warm little hand reach up for mine and inwardly longing he'll always want to hold mama's hand...

Being a mama means...gazing at the wonder of these two littles splash and play and giggle in the water spouts...

Being a mama means making warm chamomile tea with honey to soothe their sore throats...

Being a mama means letting this sick little snuggle-bug sleep in my soft Wonder Woman shirt if that's what makes him feel better...

Being a mama means snuggling wet, toweled chubby cherubs after bath time...

Being a mama means getting to watch my boys adore their wonderful Daddy...and share ice cream...

Being a mama means getting to be the one this one runs to when he feels like this...(don't worry, he is an Oscar-winning performer when it comes to expression and was over this bit in 2.3 seconds)

Being a mama means getting to watch the boys show off their newest toys to Daddy (DI chose this as his toy to spend his "spend" money on and saved the rest!)...

Being a mama means fun Saturdays like Opelika's "Touch-A-Truck" and seeing the wonder on my littles' faces when they see a helicopter up close...

Being a mama means getting to see these dimples and chubby fingers point all day long (feel free to admire the elbow dimples...sugar bowls...kiss puddles)...

Being a mama means getting to see my boys love each other and play together...

Being a mama means making superhero shirts with capes sewn on for my two little heroes...

(Shirts for sale, custom made. All proceeds go to fund our adoption. Contact me littletaylorlights@gmail.com)

Being a mama means getting kissed on the cheek regularly by the father of my children and the man of my dreams with a little light peeking through...

Being a mama means seeing my hero Daniel teaching our littles how to be heroes and seeing them fly while still in our nest...

Being a mama is not a role I take lightly. It's one I deeply enjoy...the good and the hard. The whiny days, the days laundry piles try to overtake our back room, the sick days, the testing days, the ones where even though the house is a wreck and my "to-do" list could wrap around a city block, we race to the car and jet to the park and forget it all to enjoy each other in the sunshine. The days where we sit and read, the days we play pretend, the days the boys submerge themselves into a pretend game and I actually get stuff done, the days where we cook together, the days where we all have good attitudes and snuggle in bed at the end of the day and drift happily into dreamland. My boys are a gift...beautifully wrapped yet even more beautiful and intricate and unique and wonderful as they open throughout each and every day. And the fact that they've been given to me...to cherish and open and watch grow and thrive is beyond miraculous to me.

We have another gift waiting for us in Africa. Maybe conceived, maybe not...maybe growing in birth mama's womb, maybe not yet. The anticipation of receiving our next gift is extremely exciting, and I'm already in awe that we...our family...our community will get the honor of receiving this sweet gift.

Daniel and I had our 2nd home study meeting today, followed by a dreamy lunch date...celebrating one more step in the process towards bringing baby home. Aside from waiting on paperwork, we are continuing to raise money and prepare our hearts and home for our baby, our Pearl, our "Bubber" or sister in Africa.

For more information on our adoption process or for inquiries to purchase custom made cape shirts, baby gifts, adult and children's aprons, email me at littletaylorlights@gmail.com.

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I love...

I love...

my boys holding hands...and Daniel Isaac so sweetly "watching" and protecting his little brother.

I love...
This view from under my shaded umbrella...both boys in Daddy's arms.

I love...
ND, DI, and Daddy digging beach holes and watching the waves rush in to fill it up. It's a pond to DI with a dam at the top and a pool to ND for him to jump in.

I love...
wet baby curls.

I love...
wet babies snuggled in sun-warmed towels with sweet sandy baby feet.

I love...
that DI thinks that this is an affectionate and sweet photo pose with his little brother rather than the choke hold it actually looks like.

I love...
that DI started diving..really well...on his own this week. He's so proud...but not nearly as proud as Daniel and me.

I love...
that this is DI's way to boycott my picture-taking, when in fact, he actually created quite a cute pic.

I love...

beach naps. They are the best. The rolling waves, the cool breeze, ND's rhythmic breathing, no where to be, nothing to do...except soak up this sweet sleeping baby and his soft squishy self and fan-like eye lashes without a care in the world.

I love...
messy afternoon treats.

I love...
Dad and Mom. (Old Pops and Nanny as ND teasingly calls them.) They are so wonderful...so generous and helpful and supportive and encouraging and loving. What fantastic memories we have with them! And Happy Happy Mother's Day to my mama...I sure do love her.

Sun-kissed

After several weeks of late nights and early mornings, this beach vacation with Nana and Pops could not have come at a better time! I daydreamed of the beach, a nap on the beach, playing at the beach, minimal laundry and dishes at the beach, endless smiles and giggles at the beach, closeness with family and friends at the beach...

Daddy, DI and ND before hitting the beach...ND's first time this year at the aware-and-into-everything age...

This little man was eager to get to the beach and stayed eager all day long...what a bright light!

I will never grow tired of that warm, wonderful feeling in my heart when I see our boys loving and trusting their daddy.  Hand in hand is one of my favorites...

ND thinks that EVERYthing DI does is cool and absolutely what he should be doing.  It didn't matter to him that his water-squirter was upside down most of the time...he was hangin' with his "Brubber".

Upsie daisy.  Getting up in a life jacket is even harder than getting up normally.  

Sweet Daddy and Noah David cheesin' on the beach.  Happy to be soakin' up the sun and waves. 

John David ("Babo") and my precious nephew Jake.  I love them.

Getting to watch this little man in action this year at the beach has been purely delightful.  He's right there, every step and doesn't miss a beat.  My dumplin'.  

"Old Pops" as Noah David calls him didn't act so old when he was summoned to the chilly ocean by Daniel Isaac.  

Pops, Daniel Isaac and the big blue sea. 

I heart wet baby eye lashes.  

I also heart cherry-red baby lips. 

Lunch at the beach...

I really really love him.

Muscles!

Daniel Isaac did one of his awesome little jigs before swimming.  I could watch his dance moves all day long.  He rocks.  

"Doggles!"

ND's favorite water hobby is floating on his back resembling a beached whale and causing great laughter and smirks.

I really really love him.

Cousins in matching pajamas = precious.

Night night from a sun-kissed crew!