abel's third birthday day!

this is three ladies + gentlemen!

we had a happy morning at home, complete with waffles, balloons, and party hats (per his request)! he thanked me no less than 8 times for his "party"... i mean, balloons and breakfast + he's calling it a party... i love him so! he got calls from all of his favorite people, and even got video messages + was able to "face" some of his very favorites. it was sweet to feel how loved he is by many, and I'm again reminded how lucky i am to call these two kiddos mine... and now a few photos from the day!

tiny kitchen help is the cutest^^^

later, we took abel bowling for the first time! he had fun, and it was so cute watching him carry and push that huge ball down the lane. oh! and his cake was a hit, both with him + with others.

^^^the face with the eagle is priceless, even in the second photo- still not so sure

besties.

what a happy day!

happy birthday abel love

i write this on the eve of your birthday, and when i wake up you'll be three.

...and it really feels that way ya know? that fast. like, I woke up and it's three years later. 3 years? no way. where in the world has three years gone, and how have you gotten so big and brilliant? you know your full name, and you love your little sister. you say things like "absolutely" and "i need my privacy", you encourage lucy with "good job, baby girl", and tell me when you don't need a bath because you "don't have toddler stink."

abel, there aren't even words to express our love for you. our firstborn, our son... you're everything and more. i've always loved the perfect mix of sweet & gentle, and wild boy that you are. your snuggles are the very sweetest, and when we pick you up from leaving you anywhere (even for 5 minutes) you immediately tell me, in your most endearing voice, "i missed you mommy." you never turn down a kiss or a hug & are one of the kindest and caring three year olds i've encountered. this all said, you're still out to give me gray hair early with every couch plummet, furniture scaling, and tooth cracking (no really... not one time, but TWICE in the time between your last birthday & now you've broken your front teeth... oy). you're wild and wonderful, and my prayer is that you always are. stay adventurous like daddy & continue aging me with your courageous & curious spirit, and stay sweet too. the best men in the world have a gentleness to them, and no matter the age, have never been embarrassed to hug + kiss their mamas ;)

tomorrow you'll wake to balloons & waffles, and you've requested an m&m cake, and like i am now, i'll cry a little because i just can't believe we are here again... celebrating another year gone by, another birthday with you! how incredible. after those real ugly cry few glistening tears, i'll spend the day (and every day) celebrating your most precious life, and all of the joy it has brought to ours and the people around you, every single day since you took your first breath and i held you in my arms. i love you abel... you're the very sweetest cake of life. praise God for you.

...and for a couple of my favorite photos from the year... but honestly, as i've said before... every photo has been my favorite photo at one point or another... so back scroll the pages of this blog to see some of them, a little trip down memory lane never hurt anybody :) 

**abel's 2nd birthday note & his first!

2 0 1 5 in review

happy new year! this was hard, because i love just about every post from the past year, but here is a little recap with a few pictures and links to re-live the magic of our 2015. looking back was as usual, so much fun and also like "where have my babies gone?!" but looking forward feels even more special. i can't wait to see what the Lord has for us in 2016. enjoy!

in JANUARY we went to hawaii + played at the beach... also here, here and here. abel said his first prayer - i cried real tears, and we celebrated the best two years of our lives... two sweet years of him!

   

in FEBRUARY we were, chosen by the honest company, lucy turned 5 months old, we partnered with shutterfly + shared some of my favorite mobile photography tips! and planned for exciting things to come in the following months!

in MARCH we got our moccs on in one of our very favorite collaborations to date, grocery shopped, i shared my heart, and we went to the springs and pueblo to visit family!

in APRIL we bought our house! huzzah! i started my own photography business, we celebrated one of my very favorite holidays - easter, and my sister and i went to hope spoken in dallas!

in MAY we had baths + giggles, got warm weather early! i told stories worth remembering, and we celebrated birthdays + mothers!

in JUNE we spent LOTS of evenings on the green grass, made progress on our house, attended the chalk art festival! and enjoyed farmer's market season!

JULY brought a very happy fourth! we went to california to see family + play at the beach! spent most of our time at the park, lucy turned 10 months and we got a new family member!

in AUGUST we shared a recipe for our happy, played catch up sharing photos, denied that lucy was eleven months old, talked about how easy like sunday mornings... aren't, AND warrior dashed like it was our job.

in SEPTEMBER we shared our family photos, lucy was suddenly ONE, we camped, took up two whole posting days sharing our time in estes park... & part two, and relived hawaii through little movies... now i want to go back AGAIN.

   

OCTOBER brought pumpkins and more pumpkins, an affair, and things i'll never tire of... and of course halloween.

NOVEMBER was quiet

we remembered my dad + had thanksgiving with family. one of my close friends got married and i was there to witness :)

in DECEMBER we paid tribute to both abel + lucy, played in the snow, ate lots of sweets, spent time with chris's family + enjoyed each other and a very special christmas.