Not a baby any more

I was so excited for James to come, I was watching the monitors while I was pushing and I saw the contraction was going away. Wanting him to come so badly I said "Come back contraction." Brett, the doctor and the nurses thought that was funny and the doctor said "Oh, the blessing of an epidural." James minutes old.

Beautiful blue eyes, I love looking at James's eyes! James 2 months.

Mark and James have been great friends from day one, when James was in his chair Mark would put his chair next to James. I hope they always remain close. James 3 months.

Great smile!!! James 3 months.

Carving the big pumpkin (thanks mom and dad). James 6 months.

Halloween night, what a cute little frog. James 6 months.

My Christmas Angel! This is one of my favorite pictures of James. James 8 months.

James got a jumper for Christmas and he would jump for hours, Brett and I couldn't believe he fell asleep in it as well. James 9 months.

James has always loved the kitty. Most of the time he likes to crawl after her, put one arm over the top, give a little yell and then body slam the cat. Thankfully our kitty is very patient and will just sit there until James is ready to get off of her. I guess James is practicing to be a WWF wrestler. James 11 months.

James first birthday. James 1 year.

James eating his first birthday cake, he was using his hands until he decided that was taking too long so he decided to dive in face first. (We have it on video however the video didn't want to load, sorry.)

Don't blink you might miss your kids growing up. This past year with James it has been just like that, it seems like just yesterday I was giving birth to him and now he is a year old and on the verge of walking. James has such a fun personality, even though he is only one he has already learned how to tease and wrestle with Mark, which can be both good and bad. He is very patient with Mark which is good because Mark is still learning that all the toys in the house don't belong to him anymore. James learned to give really tight hugs when he was 10 months old and when I am having a bad day there is nothing better than to get a great big hug from him. James has learned some things faster than Mark, like how to open the gait to the stairs, and he also puts things in his mouth more thank Markie ever did which can sometimes be a frustration for Brett and I. James really likes to read books and I will often find him in Mark's room with a book open on the floor in front of him and he is turning the pages looking at the book. James loves the bath and often times I think I get wetter than he does. James really has added a sweet spirit into our home and I feel truly blessed to be his mother.

Happy Birthday, James.

Firsts

I normally like to wait until the first birthday before I cut my kids hair because they always look so much older after their hair is cut. I know I am crazy but that is just what I think. So anyway, 3 weeks before James 1st birthday I was showing Brett that I could put James hair into pigtails, Brett decided it was time for me to cut James hair. I agreed so here are the before at after pics.

BEFORE

AFTER

He has definately lost his baby looks but he is still as cute as ever.

Another first for our family is Markie has started preschool. He has preschool for an hour a day, Brett takes him and I pick him up. Frankly it is a good thing that I didn't take him, I teared up just as I was driving away after I picked him up after he came out of the classroom. I am hoping preschool will prepare me for when Mark goes to kindergarten, however I think I still might be an emotional wreck.

Brett taking Markie to school the first day, Markie was so excited to be going with daddy.

Happy Easter!!!

This is the first year we have really celebrated Easter with Mark, and I think Mark had a pretty great year. We were invited to 4 different Easter egg hunts a neighborhood hunt, the YM/YW put a hunt together, our city hunt, and a family Easter egg hunt, which were a lot of fun. We also colored eggs which made for a fun Mark and mom project.

Mark using the 'magic crayon' on an egg.

Mark finding an easter egg in our flower bed.

This is how James enjoyed most of the Easter egg hunts. It was pretty cold for 2 of the 4 hunts and he is still to small to eat the candy in the eggs. Isn't he so cute!

While hunting for eggs around our neighborhood Mark fell he got a little owwie. Just the war wounds that come with having fun I guess.

Easter egg hunt at Grandma Schwieder's house.

"I found another one mom!"

After dinner and the Easter egg hunts Brett took the cousins on a go-cart ride. I think that was the biggest hit of the entire day. I am glad it was a nice day so the kids could enjoy the go-cart.

The Easter Bunny came to our house on Friday night/Saturday morning. When Mark woke up there was some string out side his door. I told him that the Easter bunny left a present for him and that he needed to follow the string in order to find his present. He didn't want to find it until Brett came home from soccer later that night.

Mark got the scripture readers as an Easter present. Brett thought since Easter was a more spiritual holiday it would be better to give the kids a more spiritual type gift. I thought that was a neat idea and a fun tradition to start. I hope we can remember and continue it.

Definitely Brothers

James's 1st bath

Mark's 1st bath

James @ 3 months Mark @ 3 months

James @ 7 months Mark @ 7 months

James @ Christmas Mark @ Christmas

James @ 10 months Mark @ 10 months

They have their own look yet you can still see that they are brothers.

Happy Birthday Markie!!

Three years ago, on April 3rd, I was blessed with one of the greatest blessings of my life. I was given the opportunity to be the mother of this adorable little baby boy...

Now see how he's grown!!!

Super Hero Mark

The newest cub scout

Holding baby James

Pioneer Day Primary Parade

Am I as big as an Eagle yet?

Enjoying summer

Mother-Son date (and yes we caught a fish)

Practicing artist

Buddies!

Cookies anyone?

I made it taller than me!

Fun with dad

My first pinewood derby car

Nap time for bear

I love computer games

Markie, I love you this much and so much more.

Markie, you have grown and changed so much this past year. You have your own way of doing things and you like to do things on your time, which can sometimes be a source of frustration for dad and I. You are such a great helper with James and the older he gets the more you enjoy him. You have watched me rocking or bouncing James as I have tried to put him to sleep, and I have caught you wrapping your bear in a blankie and doing the same. There have been many times when you have shushed me and told me bear is sleeping. You enjoy singing, playing computer games, cooking, spending time with dad, reading, playing soccer or basketball, and building/crashing towers. You have really started to love watching movies; your favorites are Cars, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Mulan. You also really love to watch the short Jack Jack Attacks from The Incredibles because the baby starts on fire, you are only three and you are already a piro, I am in trouble. You really enjoy nursery and are getting better at sitting quietly during church. You love the temple and will often wrap one of dad's ties around your neck and tell me you are going to the temple. You are very good at reminding dad and I about Family Home Evening and you always want to say the prayer, and you do pretty well without help (especially when we are blessing the food). You still are a daddies boy and you are dad's shadow when he is around, yet when it comes to reading a bedtime story or rocking you to sleep you still choose me. As I said last year, that time with you is something I will always treasure. I love you Markie, Happy Birthday!