Brother and sister...

I can't wait to see where this bond goes. How it develops. How it will grow in time. What trouble it will get them into.

Each day their bond grows stronger. And will day after day...

Trying new things...

Trying rice cereal for the first time. She wasn't quite sure about the spoon...

She'll get the hang of it sooner or later...

Cash and Ellie...

These two. Talk about an arranged marriage. Do they still do that? Well... If not, we may just bring it back for these kiddos. They are the epitome of love/hate. Mostly love. Actually, it's majority love. With a smidge of dislike, not hate. But what relationship doesn't have those feelings.

We will have to keep an eye on these two...

Big girl...

Trying to sit up in a bumbo for a long time is hard work. But she makes it look effortlessly beautiful...

A sibling kind of love...

It's a different kind of love. A love/hate kind. Mostly love. Very little hate...

Cash loves Presley Mae.
Presley Mae hates it when Cash kicks her in the face.
Cash loves taking bathes with Presley Mae.
Presley Mae hates when Cash splashes her.

See.... Love/hate

And I'm sure it will only get better from here :)

First bath together...

This isn't going to happen for too much longer :) but it's pretty precious for now. Not to mention efficient !

A little birthday getaway...

I spent my 29th birthday in the mountains of Colorado. With wonderful people and wonderful surroundings. Excellent meals were eaten and late nights were spent in a hot tub with a wide open view of God's perfect sky. We cooked our own steaks at a restaurant that has been around since 1862. We shopped. We napped. And we talked. Wonderful trip. Wonderful birthday.

No I'm heading home to see my kiddos...

Vacation time...

I'm on vacation. And it's my birthday. And I'm in Colorado where the scenery is perfect. The company is outstanding. The quietness is peaceful. And I can't think of anything I HAVE to do.

Relaxing? To say the least.
Missing my babies? Of course.

But... There is little something my kiddos should now....

You won't go EVERYWHERE with us. There it is. I said it. And it doesn't make me a bad parent. I look forward to trips as a family when you are older. We want to take you guys all over. But we also need time alone. Without you. To remember who we were before you. Not that who we are now is bad, because we are far better people now. But we need to have frequent reminders of why we fell in love. And why our relationship is so important to your development as little humans.

We love you both so much. But we love our marriage too. And that love requires work.

Okay, I'm off to enjoy my magical view for another day or so...

My babies...

My sweet babies. Just sleeping. Together. 

And I love it...

My first love...

This blog is typically about my babies. My sweet babies. That God chose for me to have. To love. To guide. To raise. And I am completely smitten with them. But...

The man that takes a back seat on the blog is my first love. And I can truly say that. I didn't love another boy until I met Noah. And what makes my love for him different than my love for my babies is the fact that I chose him. I chose to love him. I chose to marry him. I choose, daily, to support him. I choose to love him even when I don't like him.

Because we took vows. And we believe in those vows. And we stand by our vows...

"I, Erin, take you, Noah to be my husband. I promise to love,honor, trust and serve you in sickness and health, in adversity and in prosperity, and to be true and loyal to you as long as we both shall live."

I said it. And I mean it. And I stand by it.

Noah makes me happy. He makes me laugh. He makes me cry. He makes my mad. He makes my excited. He drives me nuts. He drives me to be better. 

Our marriage is not perfect. Far from it. But it is ours. And it is what we are making it. We have fun and we have fights. We agree and we disagree. But we are on the same page when it comes to our love for one another. And our commitment to one another. 

I sure do love this man.

Cash Ryan...

Dear Cash,

What did I do for entertainment before you?

I am your biggest fan and critic.

People probably think that I run your PR firm because of the amount I talk about you.

Do I see myself in you? Absolutely.

Does that scare the crap out of me? Absolutely.

You will be great in whatever you choose to do, but currently I just want you to be great at potty training.

I so look forward to things that are to come, but am extremely happy at the boy that you are right now.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE you, and am so happy with the special bond we have.

Love,

Daddy

Presley Mae...

Dear Presley,

Your mother is the master blogger, I on the other hand am better served using my words face to face. There are a few things that i want you to grow and realize, and if you do these few things you will grow up and make me one proud papa.

1. Know that you are a VERY loved girl. That being said, love yourself. Just because others dress, act, speak in ways looking for love, know that you already have it and you DO NOT have to sink to those levels.

2. Watch with a keen eye how to be a women. You have great women to learn from, your mother, grand mothers, great grandmother, and aunts. Don't hesitate to ask questions. Becoming a Godly woman will not be easy, but it will always be right. You are BEAUTIFUL.

3. Respect my honesty. Just know that I may not be the best person to ask a question when you just want a "right" answer, I'm going to tell you what I think is the truth. I don't do this to be mean, I promise.

4. Dress like a woman. Your mother LOVES buying you clothes. She buys them all the time. Everyone is always complimenting us on how your dressed. Keep it that way. I may not be the best judge on what looks good, but i do know what looks bad, and I do know what you will not be leaving the house in.

5. Cherish your family and learn their past. Did you know that you have Great Grandparents that were alive before A/C invented? The history of your family is awesome, wrap yourself in it and learn. Ask questions.

6. Play golf. If you can break 80 by your senior year of high school you get a scholarship. If you average around a 75 you can name any school in the country that you want to go to. I will show you everything that I know, but I will promise you one thing, I will NEVER let you win.

I look forward to watching you grow up and can't wait for all the time we will spend together. I am going to try my best to be a good father to you. All your needs will be met, all your wants will not. Notice how boys were never brought up in this entire post, lets save this post for a much much much much much much later date.

With LOVE,

Dad

Funny things Cash says...

Watching an episode of The Bible with me...

Cash: Mommy, where's Jesus?

Me: (Thinking he was talking about on the TV) Just wait. He will be back in a few minutes.

Cash: No mommy. He's in my heart.

Me: That's right, Cash. He is in your heart. (My heart swelling with pride)

Cash: He talks to me, mommy.

Me: What does he say?

Cash: (whispering) He loves me...

Fast forward to the next morning...

Cash is crawling around on my bed and farts...

Me: Cash Ryan! What do you say...

Cash: That wasn't me mom. That was Jesus

Well...