happy birthday to our first boy

I can't even think about writing this post without getting emotional.  Not because, "I can't believe my baby will be 3!"  Well, maybe a tad...but, I am so emotional lately with Ace because I am just wrecked with gratitude because of this boy.  It is impossible to put into words how amazing this kid is, because words just sell his little heart short.

He is such a joyful soul. He turns heads and lights up rooms with his spunk and vigor(and his red faux, people never miss it).  He is becoming so thoughtful- the first cookie is always for someone else...even the ones with frosting in the Publix bakery! He's claustrophobic like his mama, lives for laughs like his daddy, and is probably THE loudest kid I know. Adventurous, precious, independent, social, loving.  I adore this kid.  His imagination is inspiring and entertaining(and thrilling for his artistic mama)!

Sweet boy, your zest for life, joyful heart, and love for your family cannot be manufactured, and are unmatched. I ADORE you. And I cherish every minute with you. I pray that you'll be bold in your continued discovery of and love for Jesus, and that it will inspire you to love others boldly and humbly and wholly. Darlin,' you are everything we dreamed of and so much more. Every bit typical boy- you love fishing poles, guns, balls, and superheros. And you've got a nurturing side that warms our hearts...even if it is a little anthropophobic. ;) You're so fun.  Such a little light.  Your hugs and kisses and, "I wuzz you"'s and "you da BEST daddy ever"'s are priceless treasures.

All the time, we are blindsided with a, "how did HE(you) come from us?!" your mama and daddy love each other and are so in love with this precious boy and his baby brother. What amazing gifts from God you are. Happy third birthday, my love. I couldn't be a prouder mama.

three

for my most beautiful friend on her birthday...

amazing, she is.  really.  even when she invited me to go out the night before her birthday with some other gals and fam and i assumed she was asking me to keep her babies...and then, when i didn't even realize we were out for her birthday...yep.  she still loves me.  and that isn't even the half of it.

gorgeous baby-maker, creative connoisseur, yummers biscuit-maker,dog lover, tender hearted, lover of art and all things vintage and/or antique, beautifier of a ridiculous amount of things (name it, she could probably make it look better- dirty hair? she makes it look fab),self tanner pro(we'll ignore the post-abigail orange feet)...and our hubs and kiddos get along famously.   

she has one of the most beautiful loves i've ever seen.  and shares it ever so freely and in abundance.  she smiles and laughs with her beautiful eyes...and it warms the coldest heart to its core.

an amazing mama whose grace and poise(and occasional clumsiness) is unmatched.  she somehow makes most things look easy-peasy and pulls it all off(you want to get invited to her kids' parties).

(remember when we dyed our hair dark and what John said it made you look like?!)

i am beyond thankful for her presence in my life...i wouldn't have survived life as a preggo or a mama without her encouragement, support, and house to go crazy in.  we are so alike and so un-a-like at the same wonderful time...making each other sane and pretty crazy sometimes.  

presh, gorgeous mama

the world is better because you were born.  happy birthday, Kara love.

Never Settle...

Brother, you're 30.  I think it's a good number for you.  You know, in case you were wondering.  You have always strived for the best.  In everything.  I so admire that in you...you are more of an inspiration than you know...well, actually, you probably do know.  I'd say you're pretty self-assured and realistic...

Lover of the Best Wife and the Best Dog (still can't believe you are a dog-lover, well Kansas at least)

Family...

Your Boys...

And golf...

Fun and Genuine...

You are an amazing person and I am so proud to call you my brother and have you as a friend. I absolutely love what you wrote a few years ago (yes, I got it off of Facebook). If anything could capture you in a nutshell, it would be this:

"Donald Miller in his book Blue Like Jazz states that "What I believe is not what I say I believe; what I believe is what I do." So in light of this new look on BELIEF, I am not sure that all of these things are what i do, but maybe just what i am aspiring to do, so in turn one day truly believe."

"I believe in Jesus Christ, in force balks and delay steals when runners are on 1st and 3rd. I believe in improving your lie in the fairway and the rough, and that we have been given every spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3) so there is no need for us to ask God to bless us, He already has. I believe in pitching backwards, I believe that you really will use what you learned in math class. I believe in using mulligans and if the mulligan is worse than your first shot then it doesn't count and that God shows more power through allowing us to make our own decisions than he would if he controlled them. I believe that we all have a thirst and God longs to satisfy it. I believe there are good curveball hitters, but no one hits a good curveball. I believe that golf is the only game that you can play, but never win, and that Pro Wrestling is real(not really but just thought I would add that). I believe in being honest, in throwing sliders, in stealing home, and that through a relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way experience an eternal, abundant, and fulfilled life."

You're also pretty good at predicting things, I guess...I'll never bet against you.

Love you, Titus!  Happy Birthday!