UPDATE

Not too much fancy stuff to report on.  Noa is growing like a weed.  She all of a sudden sprouted from wearing 6-9 month clothes to 12 months.  I cleaned out EVERYTHING they kids have outgrown and have donated it.  I don't know how I had so much stuff in this house.  And I still have too much.  Noa is also getting some teeth.  4 actually.  At once.  That's been fun.  Lots of low grade fevers, fussing, restless nights.  She is a trooper through it all though!  Very happy and mostly calm.  Still out eats everyone in the house.  She also started talking a little bit.  Some people have expressed a little concern about her lack of vocalization.  But not me.  She has an older brother that talks for her, so she doesn't need to.  But, she can tell you what a dog and cat say.  And hilariously, she can tell you what my mom's cat Hoover says; pffffft! (hissing sound).  She can say "O-wa!", for Laura, their babysitter and my savior. 

Branson is still 3.  The horrifically wonderful three's.  He's either happy, laughing, and loving, or he's the opposite.  He is dashingly handsome, and makes me laugh every day.  Nothing can make me feel better than one of his bear hugs.  Even though I have to beg for one sometimes.  He is confident (finally!) in brushing his teeth, getting dressed, and going potty by himself.  Those things were a battle for the longest time.  I was terrified that I would send him to Kindergarten one day and I would still be doing all those things for him, (funny, right?).  He likes to show Noa how things are done.  And two weeks ago he had a little surgery to fix his tongue tie.  Simple 15 minute procedure that was harder on me than anyone.  I sobbed like a baby when he went on his wagon ride to the OR.  Then he screamed like a banshee for 2 hours when he woke up.  But after that you would have never known he had surgery that morning.  He was up jumping on his bed and asking for Popsicles.  The only down side now is that he bites his tongue a lot, trying to get used to the placement of it.

Ryan is still running.  Running running running.  It's time consuming, but so good for him.  I don't know how he does it.  I can't even run a mile, and yet I somehow have this idea that anyone who runs less than a marathon is not a true runner and wimpy.  Did I mention I can't run a mile?  I blame my husband, who runs 2 marathons at once for that. 

Keenan will be here for spring break next month.  I hope we can do something fun with him.  We have been so busy trying to sell the house, and running Branson to and from swimming, and with Ryan's running.  But it seems when Keenan comes we all get a much welcomed break from the normal chaos of our lives.  I'm sure I will have lot's of stories to update you all with regarding him next month! 

I was going to upload a video, but apparently I need a youtube account.  While I figure that out, here are a few recent pics.

NOA'S 1 YEAR PICS

isn't she stunning?  photos courtesy of Jessi Lemay www.jessilemayphotography.com

AND THEN SHE TURNED 1

When you have kids the time goes so fast.  I mean, when your in the middle of sleepless nights, nursing a newborn and potty training a toddler, it seems like one minute is a life time.  But the weeks and months just fly by.

My baby girl is 1.  A whole year old.  And she is sweet, kind, funny, happy, adventurous.  She possesses many qualities we didn't see in her brother.  Both my children are brilliant and bright, just in different ways. 

This year we have watched Noa grow into the princess her dad knew she was from day 1.  And now she knows it.  She is spoiled, but not rotten. 

For you, my sweet Genoa, I wish you happiness, and light at every turn.  I also thank you for the brightness you wake with every day (even at 3 am).  I hope for you to always love, and be loved.  It won't be hard.  I look forward to watching your growth and new joys springing to life every day. 

To both my kids: Please always love each other.  Even on bad days, just love each other.  Be each others best friend.  Be their rock and sounding board.  Play, experience, and create mischief. 

3

So, my Branson is 3.  Three whole years old.  I just can't believe it.  He is a young boy that loves to jump, run, yell and argue.  He is a picky eater and has an amazing sweet tooth, something we can share in common.  For his birthday he got a pet.  A fish named Charlie.  One of his chores is to feed Charlie every day. He is sweet to him.  He  has a soft spot for animals and it warms my heart.  Watching Branson grow has been this amazing journey.  Most days I laugh with him and cry at him.  He is my whole being.  He takes every ounce of my energy and I wouldn 't rather give it to anyone else.  He is in love with everything Cars, and Ryan and I got him a Mater quad for his birthday.  He reluctantly lets Genoa touch it, sometimes. 

Branson, my wish for you is that you always find a smile in your day, you laugh at life and stand up for yourself.  I'll always be here for a hug after time out, and a kiss goodnight.  I'm so proud of you and the young man that you are, thank you for amazing me every day.

POTTY BREAK

It's friday.  It's Nevada Day.  Not really, but for some reason who ever is in charge decided to make today the day of celebration so that there would be a three day weekend.  COOL!  Now when do we (moms) get a three day weekend?  Or maybe just a one day weekend?  A few hours? A bathroom break by ourselves?  No?

So much has gone on.  Mostly just with in myself.  As I sit here writing this I'm ignoring Branson's repeated "MORE" demands for toast.  I'm listening to Noa throw every single lego and bristle block in the house out of it's home.  I'm watching the dog out of the corner of my eye to make sure she doesn't get up on top of the table to lick the kids greasy hand prints from breakfast.  Again.  Oh and Branson is now screaming MORE.  Ryan is at work.  I haven't showered.  I've started a load of laundry only because there was an accident in the early morning.  We've been up since 5.  Nothing in the house has been cleaned, wiped down, put away or organized since about 8 pm last night.  So within 12 hours (only 4 have been spent awake) my house looks like I've never lifted a finger in it.  Everyday I sit back and take this all in.  I try to get up and get a shower before Ryan leaves for work, but that doesn't always happen.  It seems that if I don't get my morning shower, my whole day goes to waste.  I'm unable to catch up.  I'm left feeling anxious, defeated and all around down.  I don't know if this is normal or not for stay at home moms, I'd obviously like to think so.  I wish someone would have told me how much harder having 2 kids is than 1.  Not that it would have made a difference in my decision to have another, but maybe I would have mentally prepared myself a little more.  When one is sleeping peacefully, the other wakes up screaming for something which then wakes up the one that was sleeping.  And usually one if not both will stay awake demanding more and more attention.  It doesn't matter if its midnight or 4 am, this seems to be occurring more and more often.  2 nights ago Branson was up from midnight until 5 am.  When he finally fell back asleep Noa woke up ready for the day at 5:28.  Yay.  Mommy got a total of 2 hours of sleep.  I wish I could sleep like a husband.  They can sleep through anything.  (By the way, Branson is now screeching, snapping and snarling for MORE. He wants more toast with lots and lots of butter because he is big.  This is his third breakfast.  I'm feeling my gray hair grow in right NOW). 

Hopefully Ryan will return soon and give me a chance to shower so we can attempt to conquer the rest of the day.  We are supposed to carve pumpkins.  Tomorrow we have a party to attend and then a wedding and Sunday is our photo shoot for our holiday cards. 

I'm left wondering if I'll ever get that weekend.  Or just a bathroom break alone.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A DOOR

The following story is one of the cutest and funniest I have experienced with my boy Branson.  He is so smart, funny, and witty.  Here goes:

Branson has been a terrible two-er lately.  Love him to death, but he has.  When he is in time out in his room, he has taken to slamming his door.  Normally this is an action I wouldn't react to, and normally he would probably only do it once since it didn't get him any attention.  However with his sister sleeping just feet away, I can't let him do it.  So, I told him quite a few times he better stop or daddy will take his door down.  He didn't stop.  Ryan grabbed his tool box, went to work on the door and calmly carried it out to the garage.  Of course this prompted meltdown city from Branson, you would have thought we took away his Mr. Elephant or his nightly Dora or something important.  Anyhow.  We told him that he if he behaved the rest of the day he could have his door back tomorrow.  Periodically he would check in to make sure that was still the plan.  So "tomorrow" rolls around, and Ryan is doing some handy man stuff around the house with his tool box.  Branson goes and gets his (toy) tool box and heads into my room.  I hear him banging on something so I go in there and ask him what he is doing.  His reply: "I'm taking your door.  I'm going to put it in the garage.  You can have it back tomorrow."

I don't know why, but this tickled me to death.  Smart, smart boy.  We both got our doors back that afternoon. 

OVERCAST

Check out my beautiful children!  We've been having some overcast and humid weather in Reno the last week, and I'm loving it.  My skin and hair don't love it, but the rest of me does.  It's so nice to be able to go outside with the kids in the evening and not have the sweltering heat beating down on you.  Not that they notice.  The kids just always want to be outside.  Even if it's 100 degrees, or -100 degrees.  So after dinner we take it outside, jump on the tramp, climb the fort ladder, look for butterflies/grasshoppers/hummingbirds and dragonflys.