TP.

This week was, what I like to call, TP—tearful and prayerful. I was pushed and I was tested and as I laid in bed last night I was feeling very broken. John was out of town for four days, Ann Bennett regressed in her potty training (if you can even call it that—she is trained!), and Camp was sick, running a fever for five days straight…with life thrown on top of that. As hard as weeks like this are, they always show me my need for our Savior and for that I am thankful. It's when I'm empty, that I am able to be filled with His grace and love, restored and redeemed. I honestly learned a lot about where my heart was these past few days. And I am ashamed to admit it wasn't pretty. Today, I start year 33, and I am grateful to be starting it with a fresh perspective and a healed heart. God, let's do this. || And to the three little loves who left me undone this week, you're always worth it. This life with you and your daddy is everything I could have ever dreamed of and more.

hearts out.

Brooks's first t-ball season is going surprisingly well! These little guys are playing their hearts out and it is paying off—they are ranked FIRST! I took this picture after their game this morning. 

It doesn't get much cuter! Keep up the good work, RiverDogs!

campbell: nine months.

It was just yesterday I was writing your 8 month post and here we are, 9 months in—and out I should say! This month was a sweet one. You are truly coming alive and we are seeing your personality emerge.

We have so much ground to cover this month, so let’s get going and start with your second tooth. On February 16th, after your, what seemed to be new normal, fussiness, I noticed your bottom left tooth coming to the surface. Six days later on the 22nd, it broke through the skin!

The 16th and the 22nd are important dates for other milestones, as well. On the 16th, you pointed for the first time when asked, “where’s outside?” You now point to the light and our noses when asked and look in the right direction when asked where’s mama, dada, etc. And speaking of mama, on February 28th, you said MAMA! There’s no turning back. It’s mama all day, every day and I love it!

But, back to the 22nd, your tooth broke through annnnd you clapped for the first time! You officially wave when we ask you to wave and clap when we ask you to clap. You are so proud and we are too, buddy!

February 27th is the day of the tummy! You perfected pushing up from your tummy to sitting and you took your first nap on your stomach. Now you exclusively sleep on your tummy.

On to crawling...

You are officially rocking the sit to crawl position gig and are using that as your mode of transportation. On March 11th, you started taking slow “steps” crawling. Just yesterday morning you were actively doing the one legged crawl where you would drag your other leg behind you. I give it a week before you’re off and going places.

Words! We’ve got words—dada, mama, and “ba” or ball. You love playing with balls and on March 6th, you said ball! And speaking of loves, your loves as of late are playing “peep eye,” being outside, sitting up like a big boy in the bathtub, and your daddy.

Now, on to sleep. Oddly, you’ve been randomly waking up crying in the middle of the night, typically around 1:00/2:00. Some nights it’s early, only an hour or two after you fall asleep. It is almost as if you are waking from a nightmare. It’s very hard to soothe and calm you and heaven forbid we leave your side until you fall back asleep. It’s exhausting! It could be from all of the developments, mentally and physically, this month, or even your teeth. Hoping you grow out of it soon, because mommy needs to sleep!

 There are a few other things I want to note. First, you started making a scrunchy face this month, the SAME one your brother started making at 8 months. I just adore it and it keeps us laughing! Second, you inhale deep breaths of excitement when really riled up. Third, you are pulling up on everything, not to standing position yet, but enough to get you elevated with a few bangs and bruises on the way down. You also started screaming. In public. Not upset screams, just loud squeals. They’re so fun! And lastly, strangers are always commenting on how GOOD you are in public. Precious, easy going, Campbell, we love you so much bobo. You are such a gift! Happy nine months.