three

Dear Liam Davy,
Happy THIRD birthday, my sweet! It is utterly unbelievable that you are three years old, but you are! You are such a big, sweet boy and we are so thankful to celebrate you!




Liam bird, you have grown so much this year! I am eagerly awaiting your doctor's visit next week to see just how tall you are, you are often mistaken for a four, or five year old because of your height! You weigh right around 40 pounds, I think you only gained 2-4 pounds this year. You have really slimmed up, your all knobby knees and elbows these days, little boy. You wear a size 4T in clothes and a toddler 9 sized shoe.




This year, you became a big brother. Wow, what a joy it has been to watch you two love each other. You are completely encamored with your "Bebe Jooode." Yes, you get frustrated when he takes something you want, but you always give him another option. So far, you don't fight with him--I know that day is coming. For now, I will relish your sweetness. You love to feed him, bring him toys, and pet his head. You boys laugh so hard at each other, and giggle in your beds in the morning. You absolutely love to bring Jude his paci and will often times stand next to the crib so that you can continue to give it to him during nap time. Absolutely precious.




You talk all the time and for the most part we understand what you are saying. You still jibber jabber from time to time, and you put your own spin on lots of words. You know all of your shapes, colors, can recognize numbers 1-10 and some of the alphabet. You are going to preschool at daddy's school three days a week and you are learning a lot! You have really sweet manners, which makes mommy proud. I'm raising you to be a southern gentleman, regardless of where we live.




Buddy, you are so very active! You love to play outside. You love to go and see new things! You have been going to a gymnastics class for a few weeks and it is one of your favorite things, you just love to play so much! You have absolutely loved getting to play with so many of your cousins so regularly now that we are in Colorado. It's a blessing to grow up with family the same age as you!




Liam, you definitely keep us laughing. You are always wearing a funny hat, obsessively carrying around a piece of garbage, or dancing around to your own music. I love your personality. You have this zest for life that cannot be stifled, you also have a double helping of stubbornness from your parents. Two was full of fun and challenges, and I'm sure we will battle all of your life, listening and obeying are not your favorite activities. But, you need to know that we absolutely love that you are strong-willed. You are your own little person and nothing, and no one, is going to stand in your way.




Your favorites right now: the mountains, motorcycles, any emergency vehicle, bicycles (sensing a theme?), school buses, Jude, aunt 'Risa (you are smitten), Skype calls with Juju/Endy, playing in "the boop" (mirror) with Grami, marshmallows, ice cream cones, "cereal rikka bars," green juice, splashing in the bathtub, reading the Bible with daddy at bedtime, riding in daddy's red truck, hexagons, My Gym, dancing, Peppa Pig, The Fresh Beat Band, Yo Gabba Gabba, Bubble Guppies, making silly sounds with your mouth, instruments of any variety, and books!




You are wild, wonderful, challenging, brilliant, sweet, silly, charming, and best of all, you are ours. For now, you are entrusted to our care and we are humbled and grateful for the opportunity to raise you, protect you, and point you to the Lord. Thank you for not always being easy, you have taught us so much. Your daddy and I are better people and more in love everyday because of you and your brother. Keep growing, but stay little.




Love you forever, and ever,
Mommy

Dear Jude: 10 months

Sweet baby Jude,

We really are going to need to change your first name to "baby." You are never just "Jude." If you look sick in these pictures, it's because you are, poor lamb. You have a yucky virus that is making you all congested and wheezy. But I still wanted to write you a letter today.


You are such a big, little guy! I can't believe how strong and sturdy you are. You are already bigger than Liam was at a year old! Way to go! You love to eat real food and are currently whittling your formula intake down a bit. You've recently been eating a lot of table foods (with only your two bottom teeth), you love whole banana, peas, salmon, tortillas, black beans, and have even tried risotto!


Buddy, you are so smart! You are very observant and love to figure out how toys work. You wave hello to everyone you see, even your reflection in a mirror. You can clap, when you want to. And can give a "low five."


A few weeks ago you started kind of crawling. I say kind of because you aren't actively crawling, but you can. You are mostly content to sit and play, but will crawl to get a toy if you really want it. What amazed me was that you crawled, learned how to sit up by yourself, and pulled to a stand in your crib all within about two days. Apparently, you are on a development spree! Good job! Now, maybe slow down a bit!


Love, you are so adored! Your mommy, daddy, and big brother are all smitten with you! And, you like us all just as much! You have a lot of extended family here in Colorado who are always ready to dote on you, you are a lucky little boy! You are so funny, when you get excited your whole body goes stiff and you let out a shriek, it's precious!


Right now, you are a bit of a mama's boy, which thrills me to no end! You are also a cuddle bug, so I get to hold you a lot! You "talk" a lot, baby Jude! You say a lot of consonants and baby talk all day long. You have started saying "mama" and "dada" intentionally lately, you have such a sweet little voice, it kind of reminds me of Gus Gus from Cinderella.


Some of your favorite things: bananas, screaming, jumping, eating grass, chewing on anything that will fit in your mouth, your brother, watching the dogs play, taking a bath, dancing, mama, your paci, and drumming on your high chair. Some of your un-favorite things: having your face/nose wiped, breathing treatments, when eating time is over, waiting on anything, and the end of bath time.


Baby Jude, we are so thankful for your big smiles and your passionate face grabs. We love your zest for life and love of having fun. We are so glad to have you in our family and are blessed to have the privilege of raising you, sweet one.

Love you forever, and ever,
Mama

On really being married...

Did you know that being married isn't about showing off gifts, and dates, and sweet things you do for each other?

Did you know that being married isn't about flowers, or weekends away, or even simple dates?

Did you know that being married isn't about spending tons of time together every single day?

Being married is about committing yourself to someone through the good, the bad, the ups, the downs. It's about supporting each other, believing in each other, and loving each other. Always.

It's about laying in bed watching videos of your kids, goodbye kisses before the sun rises, splitting child-raising duties, washing dishes, paying bills, rushing from one thing to the next...together.

It's about the tiny little mundane things that make up your every day. When you're living life side by side sometimes it's hard to see the person next to you--make time to notice each other. Love each other.

That's my two cents. :) Today is my 7th anniversary of being Mrs. Hawk. But today isn't what makes my marriage, it's in the everyday--the forever, and ever, amen.

Dear Jude: 9 months

Dear Baby Jude,

Happy nine month birthday! You are just exploding with personality and growth, I think this past month has been my favorite of yours, so far!


First, and foremost, your sleeping has improved by leaps and bounds! You have been consistently sleeping through the night (7p-6a) for a month now! Thanks! Nap wise, you're a bit more unpredictable. Depending on the day, you may take two 20 minute naps or two 2 hour naps.


You drink about 24-30 ounces of formula a day, in 4 bottles and you eat 3 meals a day. You love anything puréed, but have recently decided that textured foods aren't your favorite. And vomiting babies aren't my favorite, so I'm not pushing the issue.


Judes, you have really started to play a lot this month. You love to look at, and gnaw, on toys and you especially love to dance! Try rhythm seems to be in your blood, you can't stand to hear and beat and not bop your little body all over the place. Love it! You aren't really showing any interest in crawling, fine by me, but you are quite mobile, regardless. You scoot, and roll, and pivot to get what you want.


Baby Jude, you are "talking" a lot more these days! You can say "gah," "ba," "na," "da," and "ma." We are excited to hear you string those into actual words, you are definitely practicing!


You haven't gotten any new teeth this month, but I think we will see your top ones before too long. I also don't have your growth stats, we go to the doctor in a few weeks, but you are consistently wearing 9-12 month clothes. I feel like you weigh around 20 pounds and you seem a lot longer also, good job at growing!


Baby Jude, you love: being carried in the Ergo, anything involving Liam, chewing on toys, jumping, pulling my hair, warm bottles, mommy,snuggling, being naked, baths, music, and the dogs. You hate: textured foods, cold bottles, having your face/nose wiped, taking a nap when you're over tired, having a wet/dirty diaper, waiting for anything.


I'm fairly certain that you are going to be into everything, all the time, so I'm in no rush for you to be more mobile. At the same time, it's been so fun to see you becoming a bit more sturdy and interacting a lot more. You have brought such joy to our family in the past nine months, and we are looking forward to more fun as you continue to grow.


Love you forever, and ever,
Momma

Dear Husby: 30 years

Dear Husby,


Today marks the beginning of your thirtieth year on earth! I'm so glad that you were born thirty years ago, and I'm thankful that I get to spend the next thirty plus with you!



I didn't birth you, thank goodness that would be weird, or raise you. But I'm so happy to raise our boys with you as their role model! They have been blessed to have so much of your undivided attention at a young age. I'm so thankful that you've been able to stay at home with them while getting your master's degree. I think you will all be better off for that experience.


I'm so thankful that you are such a fun-loving, silly, annoying guy. You drive me crazy and push my buttons, and I wouldn't have it any other way.


Thank you for sticking with school, at least one of us can show our boys how to get multiple college degrees! A lot is about to change as you move into this year of teaching, and I'm so excited for you to get a taste of the end goal! Good job, professor!


You are my knight in shining armor, and I don't know where I would be without you in my life! I'm thankful that marrying the boy from Colorado, has finally brought us to Colorado.


I've known you an an unruly teenager, a rugby god, a rock-n-roller, a husband, an a&r guy, and substitute teacher, a dad, a scholar, and a minister, I'm so excited to know you more as you grow into more roles. I can't wait to see where life takes us. I'm so so so proud of you!

Happy 30th birthday!

Love you, forever, and ever,
Wifey