Crying. all. The. Time.

My baby boy cries all the time.

If he isn't sleeping or nursing or maybe being fed some solids, he's crying. Sure sometimes he can be distracted by something for about 15 minutes before he cries again. Or maybe if I could hold him all the time he might not cry. Or just drive somewhere. 

But he's 11 months old and he cries a lot and it's wearing me down. I thought he would be over this by now but he's not.

Ten Months

Mr. Lucan turned 10 months on 3/24. 

From your little nose to your little toes, I can't get enough of your cuteness. 

You aren't crawling yet but you can sit up for a while. You have just started spinning around on your belly to reach for something you want. You act like you want to get out of my arms and crawl even though you aren't mobile yet.

You have started clapping and it's adorable.

You like puréed foods so it's really enjoyable making baby food for you. You really liked the gumbo I made for Mardi Gras.

You have 5 teeth now and have tried eating some puffs. 

You still scream plenty especially when you've had enough sitting in the grocery cart. 

People comment on how happy and smiley you are. I agree and sometimes I say that you are so happy until you're not.

You have no problem letting us know loudly how you feel. I'm glad you know what you want and need and you try hard to let us know.

I love you so very much and I thank God for you every day.

10 Years!

It was 10 years ago on the 19th that E and I got hitched.

10 years! 

Such a big milestone.

And if you have been reading blog for any amount of time, you know how I think that all anniversaries should be celebrated. It takes work to make a marriage work and each anniversary is a big deal. So be proud and excited year after year that you are still married. Thank God, thank your spouse, thank those who support your marriage. 

Here are some high tech photos of photos from that beautiful day...ten years ago:

Love Day

I kinda love to celebrate in our home...like a lot. There's almost no month without something to celebrate in our home. Between birthdays, national holidays, Christian holidays, Jewish holidays and cultural holidays, we have something almost every month. I think the only month we don't have some reason to celebrate in this home is August.

So, I adore Valentine's Day...always have...even in the years when I was in high school and college and wanted a boyfriend to celebrate with, I still bought cards for friends and family. I just love spreading the love.

Having children makes Valentine's Day for me even more fun.

The kiddos had parties at school leading up to the day and there were some snow days that week so FJ had time to work on his valentines during one of those days.


Here are lots of photos related to all things Valentine's Day-
Miss A's box she created herself for her party-

 FJ hard at work-

 Daddy/Daughter Dance-

 Making valentines at the retirement/nursing facility during our church's dinner with the residents-

 I hosted a Valentine playdate here and there were delicious snacks and a story time and a craft. My friend from church, Laurie, is so creative.

 

Valentine's snacks-

 Miss A before she went to school on the day of her party-

 Her loot-

 Making valentines and cut-out cookies at Gramma's that weekend (Gramma spent lots of time putting out all of these great materials for them to decorate their valentines and spent lots of time getting cookie dough for them to cut out and decorate. It was so organized and well thought out!) The kiddos really enjoyed this-

  

 From our valentine's day breakfast-

 Homemade berry sauce used for pancakes and for "pink milk"-

 L getting to open some of his first valentines-

 My main squeeze on our brunch date. We had the most amazing couple from church watch our kiddos for 6 1/2 hours!! We did some shopping and had a long leisurely brunch that was so wonderfully yummy.

 My littlest peanut-

 My littles and me-

 Miss A's paper from school. The last line. That is all.

 These hearts we put up each year as a countdown to Valentine's Day. Each heart has a verse from Psalms and each one contains the word-love.

 A most tasty little loaf of bread/cake we got as a parting gift from our brunch-

 Our little dudes checking out their valentines from mi mama-

On Valentine's Day, I hug my husband extra tight...so thankful to have a special someone on that day to celebrate and to have that kind of love to celebrate too.
I hug my children extra tight...so thankful to have little ones to hug and cuddle and open red and pink cards with and smile and laugh and giggle with on that day.
I send our extended family valentine cards to let them know we think of them so much and that we are always sending our love.

There's so much bad in the world that on a day to celebrate love...why not do it with gusto? Why not let everyone you love, know you love them even if they have heard it a couple thousand times? Why not let those you love, know you love them even if they have not heard it from you very much?
There's no better time than now. Do it.

Birthdaying in February

E had a birthday in February and we celebrated with a dinner out with friends and a dinner here at home. He also got a dinner at Grandma's house. It was a birthdaying week.

 This. Just this.

Dear E,
You know I like to have a reason to celebrate and I hope you know how much I love celebrating you.
You are so much fun and you make each day fun. I look forward every evening to you coming home from work and not just so I have some help with our littles. I look forward to our evenings together to just hang out and chat or catch up on a show we DVR'd.
You have a very forgiving heart and you are a rare find. Handsome, handyman, kind, forgiving, talker, movie watcher, loving father, the list goes on. 
I am so thankful you were born. I look forward to renewing our vows in just a few days. Another reason to celebrate you.
I love you, my love!