HAPPY THREE!

Happy third birthday Henry Bear! Has it really been three years since that day I first saw your little head and big eyes staring up at me for the first time? My mind is blown. You're such a fun kid and every day I am amazed by how smart, funny, and sweet you are. We love you so much! 

Your birthday party was a lot of fun this year. You're making a few friends now and watching you interact with them on your big day was really exciting for me. I know you had a good time at your party because every day since you've told me in a sad little voice, "I want my birthday back. I want my friends to come back to my party." And I can see the wheels in your head spinning when you randomly ask me, "Mom? Am I THREE now?" 

You have grown so much in the past few months. You're starting to write your name, you're potty trained, and you going to school full time! Adjusting to so much change has been hard on all of us but you're pretty much handling it like a boss. We're so lucky to have such an easy going little guy. 

You really wanted a pinata this year!

Charlie

My favorite picture. When everyone was singing "Happy Birthday" to you, you smiled so huge and looked around the room at each person. I could tell you felt so special and loved.

Your current bff. You LOVE her!

The perfect picture to sum up your current "NO. LET ME DO IT!" personality.

Bunz hates parties. DUH.

The entire day you only ate: Gummy bears, cake, cookies, a bite of a hot dog, cake, chips, and cake.

The rest of the afternoon we shot rockets off in the front yard. You couldn't do it then but a week later and you're so good at it. Stop growing! 

Don't worry...dad will catch it....with his shirt. 

Turn and Face the Change

I've been absent from this blog for so long. The truth is, I've been overwhelmed with life. Overwhelmed with new feelings and change. Overwhelmed with how little time there actually is in a day. I used to love sneaking away to write down my thoughts here or share funny Henry things but lately I've dreaded even the thought. I also check in on some of my favorite blogs and notice their comment counts are thinning, their follower's list is plateauing, and their posts are few and far between. Is the blogging community of my early new-mom days becoming a ghost town? Does anybody still read blogs anymore? Hello...o....o....o...o. 

A lot changed for us the week we flew back into Savannah. We had such a great time in Washington and it sucked super hard coming home again. I miss having family around all the time. Also, I feel like I have more of an individual identity when I'm in Washington and I loose it when we come back. I over-think things, obviously. Anyway, the week we arrived, I started full time student teaching. I'm actually working at a public Montessori school and I really do truly enjoy every second of my time there. Of course, me starting teaching meant that Henry also started school. I thought for sure he'd love it because he's so social but you guys? He freeeeaking hates it. Every day he hates it. He screams until he's red in the face, "I DON'T YIKE SCHOOL! I DON'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL!"And it makes me feel like crap. He's only been going for a week and a half so I'm hoping this all just part of the adjustment process. Less time at home with him is incredibly hard for me too. I feel so guilty take him straight out of quiet, relaxed days with me and rushing him into loud, nine hour days at a crowded school that smells like Saltine crackers and cheap hand sanitizer.  

I keep telling myself that it will all be okay and only hoping that I am right. I can't handle having to peel his crying little body off of me so early in the morning, when all I want to do is snuggle him until he wakes. In other news, HENRY IS POTTY TRAINED. We're saving so much money on diapers and I'm alllll like hell yeah. What a relief. Oh...and this Saturday?......

Eeeeep! How did that happen so fast? 

I miss all of my readers and all of your wonderful blogs. Writing here tonight has inspired me again and I am really going to try hard to update this page more often. I've been having a ton of fun on Instagram lately, which has also contributed to my lack of blogging. If you don't already follow us, you should! It's how I keep in contact with the wonderful people I have met through this blog. Click the link below to follow me. 

And here's a picture of Bunz the cat being real cute, because.

Baking With Henry

My talented little sister, Carly, just sent me this video that she made. It's absolutely adorable! Thank you Carly!

Tacoma Christmas

Thank you Aunt Lisa and co. Henry loves his firefighter getup! 

We left my parent's house Christmas morning to spend time with Garrison's family in Tacoma. We've been busy since we arrived and I'm desperately trying to slow the time down. However, it feels like the harder I try, the faster the time passes. Already the end of this trip is in sight and I'm not ready for it to end. A lot of change is happening the week we get back to Savannah and I'm kind of freaking out about it all.  I'll unload all of that in another post though. For now, I'm going to try and soak up every minute of this time with family. 

Snow Big Deal (And Hello Instagram!)

If you can get gloves on a toddler in under 20 minutes, then you're cooler than I am.

Yesterday we took Henry to Mt. Rainier. The last time he saw snow he was so tiny, so I wasn't sure how he'd handle the cold. He has witnessed a lot of snow rescues on Go, Diego Go! though so I wasn't too worried. HE LOVED IT. Every five minutes he would stop to face plant in a huge hill, eating the snow and saying, "I'm a baby polar bear and I eat snow!" Halfway up the hill he took off his boots and ran in his socks screaming, "Haaaalp! I'm an amm-a-mul in trouble!" (Thanks Nick Jr.). And he denied being cold until the very last second. Seeing him so excited and not afraid to try everything meant a lot to me because being in super hot Georgia all the time, I worry often that we're raising a weather wimp. But that doesn't seem to be the case! Oh Henry, you're a true Washington boy at heart. 

Oh and hey, I'm on Instagram now. Only about two years behind everyone! Follow us by clicking the link below!

Home Alone

Someone's Confused...

Last night, while setting up the nativity scene, my mom held up Mary and asked Henry who she was. Henry said, "That's Mary!" Impressed, my mom held up Joseph and said, "And who is this?" Henry looked at the kneeling man with a cane and replied, "Poncho!" 

Getting a Christmas Tree: Washington Style

 So show me family....

 And all the trees that we would neeeed....

.....I'm sorry for that.

I've hardly written here lately because I've been so busy enjoying this time with my family. Washington only happens once or twice a year and each time the days pass by so quickly that I find myself stressing out about the day we say goodbye once again. Being back in Washington brings out so many feelings inside me, many of which I haven't felt in years. It's such a beautiful state with endless possibilities for adventures and I find myself wanting to hike through the woods and run down the (cold and rocky) beaches. There's just something so special about this place. I mean, they still play Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Radio Head, The Shins, and The Strokes on the radio for goodness sake. Who does that? Seattle does. Because it rules. 

It's so good to be home.