We {Still} Do

Dear Mr., 

 Happy 10. 10 years of amazingness. 10 years of love, joy, and fun. 10 years of crazy times. At the risk of sounding like an old lady, time flies. Wow, does time fly.

 ~TEN~ 

 10 years ago we spent time at our "bachelor" and "bachelorette" parties. You doing god-knows-what at a strip club, and me getting crazy with my favorite girls. The week following was spent decorating, celebrating, and cooling off at the Glendive pool. It was hot in Glendive that time of year. 10 years ago you stood at the alter in Makoshika, holding little Colton's hand, and waiting for me to join you. You stood there in your white tux with beads of sweat forming on your forehead in that hot Eastern MT sun. I still remember your face, so young and fresh, waiting for me. 10 years ago I stood next to you and sobbed as I read my vows. A girl who rarely cried, especially out of joy, and I stood there sobbing, barely able to say the words that meant so much to me. 10 years ago we danced all night long at the Elks Lodge, with all of our closest friends and family. We watched as our family got crazy on the dance floor, air guitars and all. We shared happy memories with the people that know us best, and held hands through the night. 10 years ago we hopped in a car and drove to our hotel suite at the "Comfort Inn." You pulled out the 5,679 bobby pins from my pretty hair as I sat in the jacuzzi tub. 10 years ago we sat in the basement of the public library with those closest to us and opened the gifts they shared with us. Many smiles, laughs, and tears were shared as we read the special words people had to say, and saw the time people had put into their gifts. We couldn't believe how thoughtful our friends and family were. I still remember where we got each and every gift, and I still have every wedding card. 10 years ago we loaded on an airplane and headed to Alaska for our honeymoon. With wedding money in hand, we drove up and down that state, staying at little lodges and fishing for salmon. Just the two of us, we galavanted around that beautiful state, enjoying every minute. 10 years ago we started our life together. We drove to MI and moved everything we had to start our life.

 ~NINE~

 9 years ago we had just survived our first year of marriage. We had just survived a move across the country where we had no friends. We had just survived a year of law school and many new changes - most of which we didn't like. 

 ~EIGHT~

 8 years ago we had been through two years of Michigan. Not our favorite place and not our favorite experiences, but we were making it. We spent our weekends at coffee shops studying, and sometimes we would get really crazy and walk to the store for a Swisher Sweet Cigar. We were spending our days in hospitals in Ann Arbor dealing with your eye injury. We went through several emergency room trips, several surgeries, and several months of pain and unemployment. But we made it. We came out winning. 

~SEVEN~

 7 years ago we were looking forward to finishing our time in Michigan and moving to Spokane, WA. We couldn't wait to get out of there. We packed up our first baby, Pugsly, and everything we owned, in a MI snowstorm. We carried TV's and beds in a blizzard, just the two of us. We packed elk horns on a jet ski and headed West. 

~SIX~ 

 6 years ago we were expecting our first baby. We had moved into our new "fixer-upper" home and spent countless hours completely gutting it so it was ready for our family. We used family help and our own blood, sweat and tears getting the place liveable. We couldn't wait to meet our little one. 

 ~FIVE~ 

 5 years ago we spent our days chasing a toddler. She consumed our lives with happy times, and we revolved around her. Our marriage stayed strong and we stayed happy. Our little growing family kept us busy, and our jobs were a side note. 

 ~FOUR~ 

 4 years ago we enjoyed time outdoors, getting crazy with our #1 nugget, and traveling. We shared our love in Hawaii and showed T the ocean life.

 ~THREE~ 

 3 years ago we were thinking maybe we should have another baby. We spent the year enjoying our time as a little family and loving life.

 ~TWO~ 

 2 years ago we had just welcomed our new little man. Wow did this throw us for a whirl. We had a tough first few months with this man as we re-learned how to have a newborn. We powered through, always making sure to acknowledge how important our marriage was.

 ~ONE~

 1 year ago we looked at each other in awe as we discussed that next year would be our 10 year. We talked about what we should do to celebrate, and reminisced about the past. We talked about how blessed we are and how lucky we are to have this much marriage under our belt. 

 ~NOW~ 

 Now, we are ten years strong. We have powered through the tough times, and there have been many. Our marriage certainly hasn't been all perfect, but we always come back to the place we need to be. You still give me butterflies and make me laugh. You still call me on my shit, but let me go as far as I need to before calling me. We have grown up together, and learned from each other. And I know it's only the beginning. Happy Ten Baby. I {Still} Do.

Dear Baby Daddy

Dear Baby Daddy,

The man who holds my home together. The man who keeps me sane, and the man who makes my heart flutter. 

You were made to be a Dad. You knew what to do from the moment we saw the "+" on the pregnancy test. Your eyes twinkled at the thought of having children, and those blue eyes can really twinkle. You were giddy, you were happy, you never looked back. 

Your gentle touch, your gentle voice, your patience, your heart. All things that make you a great Dad. Your ability to wrestle without hurting, tickle without peeing, and love without fail. That's what puts you above the rest. Your selfless love, always willing to stay home with a sick baby, always willing to pick up from school, always willing to keep nuggets while Mama gets a sanity break. 

You hug like a teddy bear, you smile when you're proud, your eyes twinkle when you're really proud. You aren't afraid to shed a tear when worried or proud. You aren't afraid to give a kiss in front of the whole entire school bus. This is what we love about you.

Your love for the outdoors, your passions, your work ethics - all things you are instilling in your babies. 

We love every piece of that heart, every twinkle in those blues, and every hand you hold. 

Thank you for being the best Baby daddy  ever.

Love,

Baby Mama

Dear Baby Girl

Dear Baby Girl,

You finished kindergarten today. Your school held a celebration where we got to watch you walk across the stage for the first time. We love you so much, baby girl. We were bursting with pride all day, especially when your little picture flashed across the slideshow and you held up a sign that said you wanted to be a scientist when you grow up.

Welcome to First Grade sweetie. 

Love you baby girl. 

Easy Like A Sunday Mornin'

Hello Sunday Morning,

What a gorgeous weekend we have had with 80 degrees and sunny skies. We spent yesterday running, napping, and BBQ-ing. Papa came out and did a "sandbox expansion" for our little dirt man, and boy does he love it.

We had a fabulous BBQ with R's cousins and enjoyed great food and company. 

It's just an easy Subday Mornin'

Dear Life

Oh what a beautiful month we have had. Our days have been spent soaking up the sun, hiking, playing in the sand and dirt, and filling the bathtub with muddy water. We've been working in the yard and BBQ'ing every meal. The wheels on the nuggets' bikes are about worn out, and the sandbox is needing a refill every week or so. Summer is officially here and we have been loving every second. Summer means later bedtimes and skinned up knees in our household. What fun it has been watching J Bird and T Bug run through the yard making memories. Sometimes I just sit back and watch, and I can't believe this is my life. As I lay in the hammock and listen carefully to the sound of the nugget giggles and plastic wheels of Jax's trucks running up and down the gravel, I can't help but feel like the most blessed person on earth. Ahhh what a beautiful time it is in our lives.

Dear Jax, you are 2.

Dear Jax,

You turned 2 today! I can't believe it. You are such an amazingly awesome little nugget.

You talk like you're 5, using full sentences and words that make me laugh. Your new favorite word is "wow!" and today when I told you it was your birthday you said, "Wow!" 

You love to throw things, crash things, and make messes. You like to color on walls and tables, and make crazy. But you are also sweet as can be. You snuggle in and pull your legs up to get closer. You still let me cradle you and sing you songs. You love having your back rubbed at night and you often whisper when you're serious. 

We love you so much and had such a great time partying today.

Love,

Mama

Dear Jax 23 months

Dear Jax, You are 23 MONTHS. I can't believe you'll be TWO in a few short weeks. You are an old soul - you act like a 70 year old man in a 2 year old body. You saunter around and take your time to enjoy life. You are content just looking out the window of the car, pointing out tractors, cows, deer, trains, etc. You laugh with a growly, belly laugh that just melts all hearts around you. You talk like your Papa Jack and your Uncle Kyle...NONSTOP. You have a full vocabulary now, saying full sentences and carrying on conversations. Everyone can understand you quite well, and you love to make people laugh. Last week, Daddy said, "Jax, binkies are for nighttime. When are binkies for?" You said..."All time." You often just relax in the back seat and out of the blue I hear "love you mama." You are a clever little nugget, always keeping us on our toes. You are intelligent beyond belief - with one of your favorite activites still being reading. You recently learned to climb out of your crib, so that's made for a fun nighttime routine. Your Daddy will be setting up the big boy bed this weekend. You love your sister and she loves you, beyond belief. You also love to torment her, but that's for another blog. We love you so much, we can't wait to see what next month brings. Love, Mama