Happy first, Anna!

Well, darling Anna.  I can't believe you are one.  Each day, we grow more in love with you.  You are by far the sweetest person in our family.  You are so easy-going, and you usually just go with the flow.  You are taking your time with everything...sitting, crawling, standing, and I'm sure with walking.  But, that is perfectly ok with me.  In some ways, I am so happy to see you growing, but in others, I want you to stay a baby forever!  You are very happy.  We love seeing  you laugh a smile, and every time you do, you scrunch your little nose up.  You don't say much, but you can say Wow and Dada.  I'm sure soon, you will say mama - I keep waiting for it.  You love clapping.  And you love dancing - well, actually, it is more like head-banging.  But, whenever you hear music, you bob your little head up and down.

We had a cake smash a few days before your birthday.  Grandma, Grandpa, Mimi, Gramps, Ryan, Kim, Meghann, Hunter, and a bunch of your cousins were so excited to see you make a mess.  You definitely have a sweet tooth - just like your mama.

You still have your big, beautiful blue eyes.  I think of my Papa all the time when I look at them!

Anna Elizabeth, I simply love you to pieces.  We are going to be great friends, I can already tell. Thanks for making my life even more special.

Oh what fun...

Christmas with kiddos is great.  That's the bottom line.  I was just thinking about how there are so many things that I wish I could remember forever, but I know I won't be able to.  So, I decided to write them down.

(Trying to take a Christmas picture with two littles is no easy feat.  After this one, Eli said, "Her cooperated!"  So, we were done snapping away.)

Eli has been looking forward to Christmas for weeks, and it was always a good way to keep his behavior in check the weeks preceding!

We spent Christmas Eve at Ben's sister's house, where  I finally got to taste his mom's infamous cinnamon rolls.  And, they did not disappoint.  Luckily, we didn't have to go door to door caroling to hand out the cinnamon rolls.  We just got to eat them instead!

We spent the night at my mom & dad's house.  The cousins exchanged gifts, and Eli got a remote control car, which was at the top of his list.  That night, when we thought he was already asleep, he said, "Dad?  I got a mote-trol car.  I so happy."  And, he went to sleep as happy as can be.  Christmas morning, when Eli woke up, I told him, "Merry Christmas!  I think Santa came last night."  He said, "No.  Santa didn't come.  He's coming tomorr-yo."  I said, "No, today is Christmas.  He came!"  He said, "Mom, let me check."  He ran to the window, peeked out the blinds, and said, "No.  He didn't come.  There is no snow."  A few minutes later, cousin Grace was in tears when Eli told her that Santa came.  We marched into the family room, and the kids were in paradise.


Anna love the wrapping paper and boxes better than any toys, as most babies do.  Very typical.  Eli was happy with everything.

Later that day, with full heart and full bellies, we took a Baum family picture - almost an impossible task with an unmanned tripod and a bunch of kiddos, but we did it.

...and a Go Spurs Go picture for good luck this season...

My parents are pretty adorable...and some of the very best people I know.

One of the highlights of this Christmas was spending time with Mom making the ragdolls that she made for each of the girls, to look like them.  They are adorable...and very special.

That night, as Eli was putting on his pajamas, he said, "Santa came.  He just came.  Oh my gosh.  He just came!"  I smile just thinking about how happy he is.

What a great week.  Filled with laughter, games, eating, a little bit of drama, and love.  I love Christmas.  I love my family.  I love the Savior.   

Life lately...

I'm more than a little behind in this journal of mine, so  I thought I would take a minute to sum up life lately.

Halloween this year was better than last, and I have no doubt that next will be even more fun.  My little babes were super-kids, and they were super cute.  Eli loved trick-or-treating, and Annie loved sleeping in the sling as we walked from house to house.

In November, Eli turned 3.  Of course, a super kid needs to have a super party.  So, that we did.  Happy birthday, little guy.  Life with you is one big adventure.  You are super.  You are smart.  You are funny.  And, you are simply incredible.

Other than these two awesome events, life has been pretty normal.  Our days are filled with...
stories...

and toolbelts...

and shopping...

and laughter.

And, now it's December.  I can't believe this year is coming to a close.  I love this time to reflect on what life is about and think about all of the things that make it so great.  I am blessed.  I am loved.  I am happy.  And, these people are the main reason...

(This was photo shoot take 3.  We finally nailed it.)

Are we there yet?

First long road trip as a family.  And, I might say it was a success.  Even though Eli did ask, before we even left the driveway the first day if we were at the mountains yet, things turned out quite well.  The babes were total champs in the car, and Eli became 100% potty trained.  Pretty awesome.

Two days up, with a pit stop in Roswell, NM to see the aliens, and we arrived...to paradise.

It was so nice to meet up with dear Arizona friends, the Humbles & the Murrays...and of course, Dave Johnson.  Gosh, we sure do miss this bunch.  The girls visited.  The guys fished.  The guys built a zip line, and the girls and guys rode it down.  Oh what fun!  Eli made friends.  And, I even got a lesson in fly fishing from my main man.  Beautiful weather, great company, gorgeous surroundings,but too short of time together!

We even went on the train ride from Durango to Silverton.  Yes, I did this as a kid.  And, yes, I remember taking the same picture of us through the windows of the train.  I'll have to dig it out of the archives (or mom's photo closet).

This was our trip for the year.  And, it was, quite possibly, the last road trip for quite some time.  I think we are still recovering (especially with the dirty laundry).  But, it was quite a dream.

Summertime

This summer has been great.  Seriously great...most days.  Yesterday was one of those days that wasn't so great.  It actually closed by me calling Ben at work to come home early to give me a break from the children.  Yikes.  And, at one point, I was actually grateful that I would be coming to work today.  I feel a little bad about that, but I am sure every mom has had one of those days.  Did I mention that last night, Anna slept a full 12 hours?  And, today at work, I  have been in and out of the OR and the ER, and this is my first chance to sit and breathe?  Serves me right for thinking that way yesterday.

But, August has snuck up on me, and summertime is almost over.  So, I thought I would document some of my favorite parts about this sunny summer!

• Ben taught Eli how to fly a kite.  I barely remember the time when Ben and I first met about 13 years ago, but I do remember him asking me to go on a date and fly a kite.  I can't even remember if we actually went or not.  Well, Eli found this old kite in a drawer (probably from one of Ben's dates) and got a little lesson from dad.  

• The Spurs won the national championship this year, which is a big freaking deal in the Baum household.  So, of course, we went to the Riverwalk to see the victory parade.  It was crowded, it was hot, and it was awesome.

•  Rainy days are the best.  Playing in the rain is even better.  And, Eli loves doing just that!

• We spent 2 whole weeks in Boerne, surrounded by family and fun.  It was a little paradise, complete with cousin time at the lake, Sea World, the pool, children's museum, wildlife park, and of course, the inside of the minivan.  Did I mention that I LOVE filling my minivan up with people I love.  I'm pretty sure the kids love it too.  After we got back, Eli kept asking where Cinco & Sadie were since they weren't in the back anymore!  And of course, July means birthdays for the head of the family, my dad, and the baby of the family, my little bro.  I love both of these dudes, like crazy!

• My two children are becoming better friends by the minute.  I love it. Each day, I love them more...and I'm pretty sure that they love each other more!

• Eli learned how to pedal on the tricycle all by himself.  He is pretty proud that he can drive all the way down to the playground and back.

• And, of course, potty training began.  This is a work in progress, but overall going well.  Except for yesterday...yesterday was terrible.  But, we are getting somewhere with this.  
  
  
  
  

• And, Anna is getting cuter by the minute.  I can't believe she is almost 6 months old.  Yikes!

• Almost every day, we go to Sonic drive thru, to get me a Diet Dr Pepper and Eli a slush.  He picks a different color of slushy every day.  It is a big part of my day, and I will admit that I look forward to Sonic happy hour.  But, I guess Eli is pretty used to it also.  Anytime we pull up into a drive thru, he starts saying, "Doca pepper.  Doca pepper.  Doca pepper."  I am addicted.