6 years later...

We celebrated 6 years of married life on Saturday.  Married life with children that is.  We stayed put all day long soaking in diaper changes, naptimes and loads of laundry while we waited for our one and only graduation celebration Saturday afternoon.  We didn't have any major plans and figured free food, beer/drinks and family would be the perfect way to spend the evening.  Turns out we couldn't have had more fun!

Riley was excited to see his cousins and Lyssa Lu was passed from person to person smiling and just going with the flow.  Someone actually asked me whose baby D was holding!  : )  It's hard to keep up even for us some days!

We flew out of there to drop Riley off with my parents so they could go and watch the Twins and Lyssa off with my sister for the night so we were officially child-less and a bit uncomfortable with it actually.  Pulling out of Katie's driveway I was a little sad.  I have never spent a night away from my sweet Lyssa and every night Riley has spent away from us we always end up going to bed just a bit somber with the reality of an empty house so going back to the party was rather challenging but after some small talk, memory lane walking and a few drinks we quickly realized that time together, alone (not really but alone as husband and wife instead of Mommy and Daddy) was the perfect way to commemorate another year of LOVE.

It was fun dancing and drinking (really rather responsibly actually!) while catching up with cousins and Aunts that we rarely see anymore.  Our whole s-ball team was there and it was really fun spending the evening with them since our team didn't play again this year.  Talks of next year of course followed and with a 1.5 year old we just might be able to pull it off.

Everyday I see something more in Derrick that I love.

Watching him with especially Alyssa has brought out a tenderness in him even more so than before.  It is a wonderful feeling knowing that we have found our perfect match.  In the ebb and flow of a busy life he carries me when I stumble and I keep things organized and moving when he can't keep a thought straight.  We switch on and off who gets which child in pj's and we hold hands after they are both in bed for the night.  It's a simple, humble, deeply rooted affection that doesn't require much work or fancy expensive gifts with lavish nights out.  It's easy and comfortable.  It's our simple life.  We work, we play, we live, laugh and love.

He is my everything and I could not ask for more.

Happy 6 years D...I love you.  

Here goes nothing

I have always wanted to enter these lash lovelies into a competition and finally got around to it over at

http://thepapermama.blogspot.com/2011/06/photo-competition-your-best-shot.html,

Regardless I am in LOVE with the owner of these lashes and this pic will always be a favorite to me just like the boy is! 

Sweet Treat

This girl of mine has been curing my usually insatiable craving for sweets all day.  She is a doll and I just couldn't love her anymore!

She is my new sweet tooth!

Lyssa Lu: 4 months

Our Little Lu Lu you are a JOY to be around.  Your first week with us was interesting.  Anytime they took you out of our arms you screamed.  You screamed for every diaper change.  You were clearly not ready for the 'real' world and we called you our little lobster because you would turn beat red as you cried.  I remember your first tears when they finally developed and started falling as you cried and they broke our hearts.  Looking back on you and our first 12 weeks together I can definitely agree that you were a "particular" baby.  You liked things a certain way and you always wanted to be held.  You are a baby that one needs to figure out on their own.  We know your cries. We know that when you start pulling your hair it's because you are tired and want to have a lovey over your face so you can fall asleep.  Baby crying usually means pick up and love on that baby but we now know that sometimes you want to be put on the floor to roll and play on your own (completely goes against every mothering fiber in my body).  We know you, we love you. (and if you must know your brother was an easier baby)  You are uniquely you and we wouldn't change a thing.

I find it interesting to look back on Riley and realize how very laid back and easy going of a baby he was.  He loved to be held, he didn't mind be put down, he slept good in his crib and didn't have crazy eyes when the lights went out, he ate good and was a great pooper but at the same time he was such a huge life changing event that it was at times so overwhelming.  You however are 'particular' and you like to be held a certain way (much like a football, looking out so you can see everything around you), you had crazy eyes every time the lights went out for your first 12 weeks, you are having some trouble adjusting to formula, but I haven't felt overwhelmed with you.  I appreciate your babyhood in a whole new way.  Perspective is everything. 

A peek at Lyssa: 4 months
*You are wearing size 1 diapers.
*You are eating 4 ozs every 4-6 hours.
*You are wearing 3 month old clothes.
*You are going to bed at 8:00-8:15 and sleeping through the night til 5:00 or so.  (you do wake up for a Nuk most nights a few times but stumbling into your room for a plug is much easier knowing we are going right back to sleep, in fact I think we have plugged you a few times and thought it was a dream!)
*You are easy to put to bed.  Eat, rock for a few minutes, insert lovie's on both sides of your cheeks, turn on your ocean and you are out.
*You can roll over now! 
*You must have a lovey next to your face while napping/sleeping.
*You love to sit in your Bumbo and wave around toys wildly since your motor skills are fresh. 
*You have found your hands and feet and you stare at them sometimes accidentely smacking yourself in the face as you try and figure out how they work. 
*You are all about chewing on your hands.  It is a wonder you aren't always dehydrated with all the drool that comes out of your gummy mouth these days.
*You lay content on the floor forever now as long as you have room to roll and watch us play. 
*You laugh literally everytime we get you dressed/undressed. 
*You think poopsie is the funniest word and it always gets the giggles. 
*You are so pretty with your blonde hair, sparkly blue eyes, perfect lips and rosy cheeks.  We tell you that all the time. 
*You have officially rubbed all the hair in the middle back of your head off.  It's cute.  Have I mentioned how much I love your hair flying around on the top of your head? 
*You have found your voice!  You love to hear yourself babble and girlfriend you are loud!  It's hard to talk over you!

You have your 4 month check-up Monday and Riley has promised to hold your hands for shots.  There is a good chance that I might want to clock the nurse adminstering the shots but I will try not to be 'that' mom.

We love you so much Alyssa Marie!