three!

three is glee!

 

it was pretty sad for me when finn turned one and two...but three just feels right.  maybe its because i have a new little baby.  or maybe its because three seems to suit him and as challenging as he can be, we are enjoying him more than ever. 

 

i love how our day to day interactions have evolved as of late.  we spend less time trying to keep him safe and alive, and more time answering his questions about the world and imagining together.  he could sit and read books for probably an hour.  i used to get real nervous when it got quiet, but now, more often than not, it means he is sitting somewhere in the house working on a project, looking at a book, or pushing a car along.  he adores his sandbox and truck collection and has started making sound effects and making up games in his head.  he likes to help me cook and bake.  and he loves to take strolls down memory lane..."remember when..." is something i hear multiple times a day.
 

he still can make us feel like we are going to go crazy at times.  stubborn, he can be.  mean and mouthy too. but it is all part of it.  and i keep reminding myself that every challenging part of parenting so far has just been a phase.  so we work on it.  try new things.  and hope that preschool this fall will be the answer to all our problems - ha!

 

but we love every bit of this boy -the good and the bad alike!  he is our greatest joy so

 we were so happy to celebrate!

 

****

 

we pulled out the birthday box a week before and man, he was excited.  its the first time he really understood that his big day was coming.  he kept telling me how "beautiful" and "gorgeous" the decorations were, and every day when he woke up, he would ask me, "did my birthday came yet?"

 

we celebrated over the weekend with the grandparents and tantes.

 

he was so happy his party day had finally arrived.

 

a chocolate cake with dump trucks, mixers, and front loaders.  of course.

 

snacks and enchiladas!

 

what a cute little trio...

 

and pair!

 

oh i adore this picture.  henry david with his namesake!

 

and mimi has the sway down. out like a light.

 

presents!  what a lucky lad...

 

for weeks, he had been asking for a firefighter costume.  i was pretty happy to find one at Costco!

 

he likes the whistle best.

 

books are always one of finn's favorite presents.

 

and a real life fire truck to top it off!

 make a wish, dear boy!

lately...

hello!  my name is henry and i am beginning my second month!  so far, i have begun smiling for everyone, my baby acne is clearing up and i now have raging case of cradle cap - woo hoo!  but my mother still thinks i am one of two of the greatest things on earth ;)

 

****

 

oma days are some of the best days. 

 

i think i can officially say, this boy is potty trained.  i hope i didn't just jinx it.  it has been one of the most challenging phases of parenting - i think because this boy can be quite stubborn and he loved having power over me, but i am so proud of him.  he now likes "privacy" when he uses the bathroom.

 

 

henry met cousin pam!  she is such a baby lover.  and she is just the sweetest.

 

sometimes its so hard for him, with all the time i have to devote to henry.  so we made a fort and ate fruit snacks.

 

and yes, sometimes i dress him like a little catholic school boy just because its so cute.

 

tante em surprised us last Saturday and took us to the pool!  it was the best treat.

 

henry thinks tante em is his mother sometimes.  he simply adores her.  probably because she speaks his language and  always knows just what he wants.  its love.

ryan is just loving this smiling stage we have entered.

henry visited casa de kelly for the first time!

 

it was a fiesta!  with pops margaritas!  my favorite margaritas in all the land.

finn can always be found where the chips are.  and the guac.

i love this picture.  pops cooking and finn asking for more batteries.  poor pops, i feel like everytime we are over there he is always changing batteries.  what a guy.

 

mimi always has new activities for finn!

the hose and the sandbox.  two things that are lifesavers right now.

baby toes.

 

you're welcome.

obasan and willow came and brought some girliness to our boy filled house!

i can always count on willow jane for snuggles.

just a little art time.

she melts me in a way that only she could.

lately, finn has been obsessed with helping us bathe henry.  its pretty adorable.  especially since henry has begun really noticing finn.  he looks at him with such love...at least for now :)

we started another round of swim lessons last week.  finn was very excited to sport his new swim outfit from auntie cindy!

grandma great and oma even came to watch one day!

papa's surprise visits are one of our very favorite things.

 

these two kill me.

picture by finn!  its a funny thing realizing that this is his view of the world.

oma spent an entire day with us! as in, twelve whole hours. and after a crazy dinner hour (complete madness-i can't believe she didn't run away - i would have) all the kiddos fell asleep and we snuck out to homegoods to browse away.  i mean, it was like a slice of heaven.

mimi joined us at swim lessons one day too!  i am so lucky to have two grandmas nearby.  they make it so easy...i even got to head to Costco this day with just the babe - it was like a breeze...dare i say, it was even relaxing.  and the double bonus is that finn got some one on one time with his mimi.  he felt pretty special.

mimi showed up with a darling little flowered box with a pretty green ribbon and i instantly knew...janie and jack!  the store i won't even enter because its all just too beautiful.   henry loves his new little romper.  its still a little big, but i couldn't help trying it on regardless.  he didn't seem to mind.