| Courtney's Life

My Favorite Child

Thursday, April 9, 2015

I keep getting asked which one is my favorite? Which child do I love on the most? Which one do I think is the cutest?

The truth is, they are all my favorite.

I look at Jacob and think that he is the most handsome creature I have ever seen in the entire universe, and then I look at Chase and think the exact same thing about him.

I look at Riley and think that she is the most beautiful being to ever exist, and then I look at her handsome brothers.

I love how their hair varies from light brown to dark, and I love all three. I can't choose a favorite.

I love how their skin varies from pale white to olive brown, and I love all three. I can't choose a favorite.

I love how their eyes go from so light it's almost green to milk chocolate, and I love all three. I can't choose a favorite.

And then of course they do have common features that are easy to love. I look at each pair of feet, each little hand, nose, mouth...every time I get a smile, or a tongue sticking out at me, or a coo, or a laugh, or a cry whether it be real or crocodile and I can't help but smile because they are all so beautiful. Which one wears it better? I can't decide, I can't choose a favorite.

I was thinking how can I love each child so equally when they are so different? How can you not have a favorite?

It's like my heart grew three times its size in order to hold all the love. It must have, or it would have exploded.

I love the chunk, and how they are starting to hang onto you like a little monkey. How cute they look in their little outfits. The bows and flowers I get to put in Riley's hair, and Jacob loves putting them on too to be just like sister. The smiles! The coos! The sleeping. The laughing! Be still my heart.

And how Jacob now refuses to look at me for a picture, and has decided to run away from us at all times no matter what the situation. How he says "whooooow, whooooow", and is becoming so interactive! I asked him to go get his shoes, and what do you know he came back a couple minutes later with his shoes. He is constantly asking "what's that?" and then thinks about the word I just told him...sometimes he even tries out the word. He is always kissing his brother and sister and trying to play with them. He loves Sesame Street, and music! Every time a tune comes on he drops what he's doing, squats and bounces and waves his arms around. He is trying so hard to jump, and it just turns into a kind of gallop. He runs so fast now I have a hard time catching him! How he loves loves loves his Nana, he runs to her and laughs every time he sees her. And of course he'll do things for her that he won't do for me, like eat a pb&j sandwich.

I could watch them sleep forever, and better yet hold them on my chest while they sleep, and forever would not be nearly long enough to enjoy and appreciate how beautiful and peaceful they are as they sleep.

I could kiss and cuddle them every minute of every day for the rest of eternity, and it would not be long enough to show them how much I love them.

I'm so grateful for this opportunity God has given me, and that I have Robbie to share it with.

Ah...a perfect example of this running away phase he's going through

He fell down, then posed

Spring-My Favorite Season

Sunday, March 8, 2015

I've always debated what my favorite season is, because I like and dislike so many different things about each one. I love that I get to wear gorgeous sweaters, coats, boots and scarves in winter but I dislike being cold (or you walk into a warm room and you're already dressed for cold and don't have anything cooler to change into). I love summer's sweltering heat but dislike having to do any more than just sit in it, especially if there is no escape to an air conditioned home with a cool shower and ice water. I love fall's changing colors and the beginning of sweater weather and the cool after the summer heat, but I can't stand how cold it is in the morning and hot it is in the afternoon (is that just Fresno?).

But Spring, I can find no fault in you.

The cool mornings, the warm but not too warm afternoons with a cool breeze floating through the open windows and doors, the sun coming back to spend more time with us.

I don't know if I ever would love spring as much as I do if it weren't for Jacob.

After playing outside he smells like sunshine and warm dirt and grass. It's interesting how it's not a dirty smell, but an inviting and invigorating smell.

His smile and laughing in the sunshine as he tries to run across the green grass is infinitely more adorable.

Blowing dandelions has never been more exciting. After showing him I watch him as he tries to copy me, but not getting it quite right. He holds the dandelion as far away from his mouth as his little arm will reach and tries to blow the fairies into the air to no avail. Amidst the laughing and the blowing sounds, which are on the list of my top favorite sounds that kids make besides laughing and babies sucking, he gets a little frustrated and starts waving it around and then throws it on the floor as he stomps away (trying to run) smiling and laughing on to the next one.

Indy is a spectacular runner, the fastest dog I've ever seen (keeping in mind I guess I haven't seen very many dogs running), and very well coordinated. It reminds me of a horse barrel racing, except that Jacob and I are the barrels and we're moving trying to catch her tail.

Yelling at the cat trying to get her to come play, never gets old. And of course once she's down she becomes the obsession of the dog, which just adds to the fun.

Going down the slide, head first, feet first, on our bottom or on our stomach, slow or fast, slides are so much fun.

Finding the beauty in the rocks, dirt, pieces of grass he comes to put in my hand to show me. In the spring there are the blossoms on our tree as they fall all around us blanketing the grass.

The bees and the birds that are in the tree add the most beautiful background sound, making the air positively hum.

It's so perfect in the warmth, the sun, and the breeze, what's better than a naked baby? Running around letting the sun kiss your skin. Standing there (or running after him) feeling the sun seep through my shirt, and kiss my arms neck and face.

Spring, is absolute bliss.

Definitely, by far, my favorite season.

The Twins Birth Announcement: Take Two

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Just like with Jacob, I just could not work up the ability to take these pictures while they were "newborn". Between the baby acne, the lack of chunk, the eczema and lack of sleep, I just couldn't do it.

We finally went up to my mom's house for about 4 days while my husband, his dad, my dad, my brother, and God Bless my Uncle Ty (without whom we could not have done it, there is no way it would have turned out as amazing as it did) tiled our kitchen and dining room. I figured it wasn't a good idea to have Jacob in the house while there was wet stuff that needed to dry...I could just envision the tears and tantrums that would ensue because all he would want to do is be around the men and do what they were doing.

Since we were going to be spending so much time up there, I thought it would be a good time to take pictures! We waited for Jacob to be 3 months as well, and so I figured good timing.

Here are the results. Now if I could just make the time to get them printed out and sent to family and friends, we'd be really swell :)