Jax turns 2!

 Today is Jax's 2nd birthday. He has learned so much in the last year and has changed a lot. He's a sweet sweet little boy who has taken on the role of big brother quite well. He loves all things outdoors and his favorite activity is throwing or kicking balls all around our back yard. He has great hand-eye coordination for only being two and can throw and kick a ball better than mommy (but that's not saying much). He is really starting to talk (finally) he is still not putting full sentences together but he knows A LOT of words and can pretty much string the words so we know what he is talking about. For example the other day he was crying and I asked him what happened, his response was " Colt.....eye......hit". Most the times this works well, he gets extremely frustrated when we don't understand him though and pitches the most amazing fits. When I say "amazing" I don't mean that in a good way, he screams and kicks and throws himself on the floor dramatically. The next minute he's back up and giving us hugs and kisses and saying " Mommy, I wuv you". He is not very good about going to sleep at night, most nights he is out of bed 2-3 times before he finally goes down for the night. He loves to kiss his little brother Case all the time, he is constantly walking over to him saying " Hi Tase" and kissing him on his face. He loves to do everything Colt does, he no longer uses any type of booster seat because he wants to sit at the table like the rest of us. He loves to pray at the dinner table and at night and always says "amen" when we are done. His favorite thing is his lovie bear which he calls "bear", he loves to kiss it and hold it and always wants it when he is hurt or upset. He is a great eater who will eat (or at least try) most everything we put in front of him. He does have a love for desserts though which I am sure he gets from me and he loves to stuff his cheeks and hold food in them like a chipmunk. He LOVES books and when I say LOVES, I mean he really really really LOVES them. He would probably sit for hours and listen to me read to him if I had the time. Since Case has come we have spent a lot of time reading books while I nurse Case. Jax thinks this is the best thing ever and will bring me book after book to read. We love this little boy so much and can't wait to see what the future holds for him.

Happy 2nd Birthday Jax David....you are the exact image of your daddy lucky boy!

1 week old

Case Michael is one week old today. As always the first week has gone by much too fast. So far he is proving to act much like his big brothers did as babies. He is laid back, eats a lot, sleeps pretty decently and so far doesn't cry much (though I know that will change as he gets older). He is such a sweetie and we are all completely in love with him. The boys are both very gentle and careful around him, they always give him kisses and like to hold him. He fits in just perfect with our family and we love having him around.

Jax's 2nd birthday party

We celebrated Jax's 2nd birthday today. It was quite the whirlwind week with Case being born on Monday, I had already decided that we would do his party today so I didn't want to back out even though I was a little overwhelmed. I kept it really simple but I did want to make him his own cake. The boys (Colt and Jax) and I went out for some exercise that morning and then came back to frost the cake (I had already made the cake part on Friday).

We made homemade chocolate buttercream frosting. It is the BEST frosting, my friend Heather gave me the recipe. Last year for Jax's birthday I had made him a chocolate cake with buttercream frosting, so this year I decided to make him a plain white cake with the chocolate frosting. The frosting makes this cake!

The boys were all about helping me (and by helping I mean trying to get their fingers in the frosting as often as I would let them).

Case missed all the taste testing and chose to nap instead.

When Colt had asked Jax what kind of cake he wanted he had responded with "ball" so Colt informed me that Jax must have a ball cake. I can't take credit though, the cake was frosted and decorated by.......

....yep no joke Dave did it!
He loves that I am posting this on the blog, but honestly he is so much better at the little details and coming up with decorating ideas so I was happy to have him to do it.

Later that afternoon the boys all went outside to play for a couple hours and get the yard ready for the party. Dave had put his bandanna on and the other two wanted them as well.

I kept the food simple, I ordered a party sub from Tony's sub shop, my mom made fruit skewers, and we had chips and Crystal Light.

The weather was beautiful, I was so disappointed because all week long the weather report said it was supposed to rain all weekend. So I was thrilled when we woke up Saturday morning and it was sunny and stayed that way all day !

The birthday boy!

Hanging out doing his two favorite things.
Throwing a ball........

.....kicking the ball.

Cake time!

He loves blowing out candles and was so excited for his cake.

The cousins eating their cake.

Jax was seriously in love with his cake, he sat there after everyone else had left and finished each and every bite. He is like his mommy, he loves a good dessert!

Present time.
Jax started to open them up but was having trouble with the paper. He looked at Colt and said "help" so Colt helped him out. Very sweet!

The party guests.

Poppi and Memah got Jax a wheelbarrow and a bunch of gardening tools. Uncle Andy gave the kids rides in the wheelbarrow and you can tell by Jax's face that he LOVED it!

Uncle Andy, Aunt Kenzie, Cam and Cal gave the boys a Buzz Lightyear Jet-pack to share for both their birthdays. Colt was so excited, he has been asking for a jet-pack for the last year. We did have to tell him that he can't really fly with it on though!

Jax tried it on too and likes it as well.

You hit a button in the front and the wings go out and then back in. Both the boys have done a great job of sharing so far.

The party was very fun and Jax loved having everyone there for him. It was fun as always to get together with our families and the kids always have fun playing together

Family of 5

Brothers.

 Colt, Jax, Case.

I can't believe I have three boys!

 Giving Case some love, these two love love love having a baby brother.

They ask all the time to hold him and kiss him

Oldest and Youngest.

Colt is really good at holding him but always makes sure to ask first.

 Jax has done so well with Case, I think he asks to hold him more than Colt does. He's also very gentle and careful with him.

I am THRILLED to be given the opportunity to raise these 3 boys. I've had people ask me if I was disappointed that Case was a boy and the honest answer with no hesitation is "no". I love being a mom to boys, I am sure I would love being a mom to a little girl too but right now all I know is boys and they are the best as far as I am concerned. I have visions of my boys coming home from high school and college and wrapping me in these huge hugs like I see Dave do to his mom (and he still does it today!). I know there's going to be a lot of rough housing, wrestling, and stinky smells but there is also going to be a lot of outdoor adventures, love and awesome memories. Dave calls me princess, not necessarily because I am the "princess" type (though he says I act like a princess at times:)) but  because I am the only girl in the house, its something he has called me for quite awhile. Honestly, I love hearing him call me that, to me it means that he loves and cherishes me and would do anything for me. So I am pretty happy I don't have to give up that title right now. As Dave said "Queen doesn't sound quite as funny as Princess."

Baby Brother is a cutie!

Meeting Case

Dave's mom brought the boys to meet Case later that morning. Dave and I hadn't slept at all and were both pretty tired but we were excited to see the boys. They were thrilled with Case and they brought Case his lovie and were both so excited to give it to him.

I love the look on Colt's face here, he was so excited to hold "Case Michael" as he calls him.

Love my 3 boys!! I love saying that.

I was really nervous about how Jax would take having a new baby in the house, he is so attached to me but he has been great with it. He is still a mommy's boy but has yet to get upset about Case or mad about me holding him.

A very proud big brother!

My mom came to the hospital shortly after Case was born and got to hold him for awhile.

My dad came around 7 to meet him for the first time. Case was born on the day before my dad's birthday, my dad was really hoping he would make it to his birthday.

                           Auntie Dee Dee and Case.

  My best friend from high school Audra Cummings holding Case.

Poppi and Case Michael.

We named him after Dave's dad (his first name is Michael).

We came home to the boys waiting for us with signs for Case. Julie and Randee had helped them make  welcome home signs.

    They were so excited to have us home and I was so excited to be home with them!

Memah and Case.