::crosby dunkin::

crosby!!!

happy happy 3rd birthday!  (or as you say, "thumb holds pinkie down and that makes three!")

i can hardly believe you are three years old today.  and yet, i can't believe that you are only three.

 this is your first birthday that your pregnancy and birth do not seem so raw and traumatic.  this birthday i enter into celebrating you without reliving the pain and fear of your pregnancy nearly so much.  it is starting to feel more distant.  and like something that is in our past, but does not define our family.  and i praise the Lord for that!

you have grown and changed SO much in this past year.  you have gone from seeming like a little boy, to a big boy.  you moved out of your crib, wear underwear and are positive you can do all things independently.  you keep our family laughing and on our toes.  your spunk and determination are such and intricate part of who you are.

it has been amazing to see you become a big brother.  you love your sweet "dewwa may" so very much and she adores you.  for as rough and feisty as you can be at times, you are so tender and loving to her.  and it warms my heart to it's core.

you are such a blessing to our family.  there is not a day that passes that i am not reminded of the Lord's faithfulness to our family in giving us you.  you are such a miracle, such an inspiration and so much fun!

happy 3rd birthday, crosby d!  we adore you!!!

::birthday eve::

when asked what he wanted for his birthday, crosby has repeatedly said "all the toys.  and a balloon."

when pressed what he meant specifically by "all the toys" he would just become increasingly frustrated and yell "all the TOYS!" louder and louder.  so, since that was not too specific, we've taken a guess on his birthday gifts for tomorrow.  he may or may not be disappointed when he realizes he is not getting ALL the toys.

being the great aunt and uncles that they are, whit, duke & sam had a huge balloon shipped here and it arrived fully inflated in all it's glory.  cros was pumped.

it's super lame, but i'm actually a little bit phobic of balloons...they pop in your face, pose choking and strangulation hazards and somehow overwhelm me when i try to get them in the car.  so, i don't think i've ever purchased a balloon for one of my kids.  he couldn't believe he owned his own!  he was such a happy kid on his birthday eve!  and the box of course, was a huge plus!

thanks, whit, duke & sam!

sweet boy.  we are so excited to celebrate you tomorrow!  

::suds::

::snaggletooth::

a few weeks ago, i was shocked when i noticed the tiniest of tooth popping up through della's bottom gum.  i called ash and told her i could not believe that she was getting a tooth so early.  

to which ash replied, "early?  court, she's 8 months old!  most kids have teeth by now!"  

so true, ash.  so true.  lily, finn and crosby did not have even a hint of a tooth until they were one or older.  so, we were so surprised to see a little tooth popping through.

our sweet girl with her snaggle tooth.  how we love you...

::these ones::

it has started to snow here.

and whether we get a dusting or a foot, it matters not, school is cancelled for tomorrow.

since the kids won't be going to school, we decided to let lily, finn & crosby have a sleepover tonight.  it warms my heart how much they love sleeping together right now.  we pull lily's mattress into the boys' room and she sleeps next to the bunk beds on the floor.  we usually let them talk for 20 minutes or so before telling them it is quiet time.  i am not sure if it feels so sacred that they are afraid to lose the privilege, but when we tell them it is time to stop talking, they obey.  

before heading up tonight, they had been dancing and singing frozen songs at the top of their lungs.  so, they went up to bed a bit warmed up and amped up.  after we told them to quiet down, i heard a commotion upstairs.  after a few minutes, i went up to check out what was going on.  when i walked in, lily was sitting on top of her bed with no pants on.  and finn was sitting in his bed with no shirt.  they both claimed they were just too hot to sleep.  and crosby, sweet crosby, was perched in his bed with no pants.  and no pullup.  just straight up nude from the waist down.  i asked him what was going on, and he too, of course, was just too hot to sleep.

for a split second, i felt frustrated.  this is the precious time of night that ryan and i have to relax and connect together.  but, that frustration quickly melted as i realized how amazing it is that they love each other so.  and that crosby so desperately wants to be doing what lily and finn are doing -- even if he doesn't quite understand why -- to the point that he was willing to go to bed with no pants, like his sister, and no diaper either.  

these are the days...