Maui

Couldn't resist sharing this one~

Sam's new obsession - scuba diving!

"Hey Mom - I'm that one - I'm that one right?"

Always new things to make Hudson Smile! Notice his double jointed finger? Funny because he is starting to sign, but his little fingers get stuck doing it. To funny.

Aloha!

Jesse

My little Jesse Bear. I have recently discovered about Jesse that he loves to pretend - and loves to act, and pretend to be characters - dogs, cats, bears, lions, mostly anything ferocious really. He is so passionate. I love it. He responds quite well to directions when I address him as any animal really. He loves his face to be gently stroked, and will melt in your arms, close his eyes, and get this delicate smile of delight with any face stroking and gentle praise. He loves loves loves books - which is great for me, because I love reading him books. He is also starting to really love the quilt that took me two years to make for him. Whew! At least I made it out of big boy colors, it won't appear so silly when he has it on his bed in university. He isn't so into detail - and really loves adventure and one on one time.

Hudson

This is our Hudson. He is the happiest baby I know -EVER. He is just so easy going - often times I forget about him, he just wonders around following after his brothers, and just finds things to keep himself busy, like picking at a knot in the wood floor, or playing with lego. He goes to bed at 6 pm, and awakes up 13 hrs later - Reclined in his crib cooing and talking away - what a Joy. He has slept through the night from 5 weeks - yeah for Ade and I!

Starting to sign too which is pretty cute - epecially since he has some double jointed fingers that get stuck while he is signing. And he loves kisses and cuddles too - and singing - he sings and sings and sings -

Just wanted everyone to see an updated pic of our Huddy Buddy!

Little Buddy...

So I just discovered that Sam is getting older, and I need to allow him more room to be independent. The other day I decided to take him out for a paddle, and it dawned on me - I guess I could give him a paddle - so I tied it to the boat, and he paddled a good 20 min steady.

The water was amazing, calm like glass, the seals popping up their heads feet from our little kayak curious as to the intruders in their territory - we paddled to a little island just north of our little island - and soaked up the sun on the clam beach, watching the shoots of water spray up randomly from the clams. We feasted on almonds and fruit gummies - and then went exploring over the sandstone rocks and spied on all the unique flora and wildlife. Sam lead the way. What a brilliant - confident 4 year old.

I am not quite sure why I haven't thought of them being able to do fun things with me that I like, maybe because its been so "nose to the grind" just trying to keep our heads above water in these early years, that I haven't had much time to think at all really. But this was a very pleasant discovery for me - my heart swelled with pride as I watched him grip that way to large paddle and gracefully, rhythmically carry his weight to a small degree - and really enjoy doing it.

"Sam do you like this - are you having fun?"

"So much fun mom - I really really really like this. Just you and me - "

And as I was tucking him in that night he wrapped his arms around my neck and gave me a big hug and whispered "Thanks for taking me out Kayaking Mom - I really like that."

Gratitude - thankfulness - selflessness - this is all quite new for me being we're still in the thick of the toddler years - maybe the "nose to the grind" years are starting to pay off - what ever you call it - it brought joy to my heart.

These are the moments I want to remember - I want him to remember for the rest of our lives. These are the sacred moments in between the business of life that we remember as we drift off to sleep into dreaming where its hard to differentiate between the two. These moments I am thankful for.

Gifts of holiness - glimpses of heaven. Thank you God.