Happy Birthday Crews!!!

9:55 AM

Birth - 5 lbs. 1oz.

Now - around 23 lbs.

{let me add that Crews does not have a picture of a cupcake covered face.  He loved his cupcake so much that he gobbled it up so fast I had to take it away so he wouldn't get sick.  Then he was mad as a hornet & I could not get a picture of him}

Sweet Crewsie Bug.  You've been my cuddle bug, thumb sucker, and fighter this year.  Your little heart murmur gave us a little scare at the beginning of your life, but I think it was just because you wanted some alone time with mom.  Boy have you become a Mamas' boy!  Just tonight I had to ask Daddy to hold you because you were following me around the kitchen like a little puppy crying because you wanted me to hold you.  You like to be attached to me, and i do not take it for granted.  I even made a baby sling to carry you around in on nights like these.  All too soon, you will be running and exploring on your own.  

One of my favorite memories of this past year was when you were about 6 weeks old.  You had terrible reflux and would barf your bottle up.  I was still nursing at the time, and I just scooped you up and brought you into bed with me.  I had somebody else feed your brothers, but we had the most special afternoon snuggling and cuddling.  And guess what, you didn't have any other problems that day?!  You just needed some cuddly time.  It is sweet because there are still days when you are fussy and all you need is to be picked up and cuddled by me - with a blankie.  I will always treasure that day, and hope that you still have some cuddling left in you!  

I pray that you will become a tender warrior.  Your name means cross.  I hope that you will come to know what Jesus did for you on the cross.  Why an *empty* cross is the symbol to eternal life in the future & ABUNDANT life now!  You have a soft spot in your heart for your family, and I pray that you will allow the Lord to work in your heart to spill out all of that tenderness on to other people.  Your heart doctor told me when you were about 3 months old that your heart just played music when it beat.  My mind can't help but wonder what will come of that.  In the future, if you can't carry a tune, we will look back at this one day & just laugh at how wrong we were.  If that ends up being true, I wouldn't be surprised at all!

I love you,

Mommy

Happy Birthday Warner!!!

Warner William

9:54 AM 

Birth - 5lbs. 7 oz  

1 year - around 23 - 24 lbs. 

 {after eating your first cupcake}

A year ago right at this time I heard your cry and saw your sweet face.  Dr. Kang held you up and said "Hey Mama."  Last year on this day my heart was split wide open with the love I had for you.  You cried.  You were the first one I got to meet and spend some time with.  Daddy brought you back to me when I was in the recovery area.  Your eyes were so wide and bright as you studied my face.  I will always treasure that moment in my heart, Warner...meeting you for the very first time.  We thought we were going to name you Crews, but I just didn't think Crews fit you.  You were the one who held your other brothers in for an amazing 35 weeks!  Well, you and God.. mainly God, but you were the gatekeeper & defender of your brothers.  Did you know that your name means Defender, sweet boy?  I pray that you are a defender of your brothers, your big sister, your mom & dad, your grandparents, but mainly that you would be a defender of God & His Word.  I pray that you would write it on your heart & fall deep in love with the Author of those words.  He will always be your defender, Warner.  Over this last year your little personality has taken off!  You have a soft & gentle laugh, but are quite fiesty when you want something and it doesn't happen right then and there.  It will be interesting to see if this plays out over time.  You also are my loud one.  All three of you can make quite a ruckus, but you will just be playing and started saying "aaaaaaahhhhhhh"  in the biggest boy voice that you have.  It is quite funny.  i love you, Warner, and can't wait to see how God molds and shapes you.  

Love,

Mommy

It's been a week since I've posted...

However, it's not like I've been negligent.  In my spare time I've been a cleaning out maniac...

Harper's Closet

Garage Organizing Started

Boys Room

Paint Living Room

My Clothes Swapped Out (Well Almost...swapped, not put away)

Garage Pantry Shelves Installed

Magnet Locks installed

So, now, little blog, you understand.  Any ounce of energy I had left at the end of the day (when I blog) was given to walking up the stairs and falling in bed.

I do have much to update about with some great pictures of the little ones!  Here are some where the boys look like they are in jail.  Every time I kiss them through the bars (they love that game...me on one side of the gate with them on the other) I tell them that this better be the only time I see their sweet little faces through bars like these.

And here is a funny video from Harper.  One day last week, we were sitting on the couch, and she put her tiny hand over my heart and said, "Bless My Heart."    I must say "bless your heart" from time to time.  I just cracked up laughing when she said it, though.  Here is a little video of her saying it to me.  Now, when she says it, she adds a little phrase to the end of it... "to the town."  I will have to see if I can record her saying that.  I think "to the town" came from The Wheels On the Bus ... 'all through the town.'  Not completely sure though!  Anyway, here's my sweet girlie.

"Bless my heart...to the town"

ML