Turning 33 and celebrating 9 years

This year I really wanted a low key anniversary and birthday.  With everything that happened with Fullback's face growth, I just wanted to be with my boys.  For our anniversary, we were able to go on a date the weekend before to Tucanos and shopping for a new suit for Mark.  It is always so nice to just sit at a table in a restaurant and laugh and talk and reminisce.  9 years has been so good to us and we are truly blessed.
On our actual anniversary, Mark had church meetings but still got me flowers and a new movie, Cinderella.  I made him his favorite dinner and then we just watched a movie together that evening.  I l truly fall more in love with my husband each day.  He is my rock and I lean on him for everything.

For my birthday, Mark took the day off of work.  I went to get a haircut in the morning after Shortstop went to school and then out to lunch at the Cheesecake factory with my sisters Rachel and Melanie.  We had a great time!  Then in the afternoon I hung out at home with my boys, we had dinner, Fullback and Shortstop decorated my cake, then we opened presents.  Mark spoiled me...again...and on top of some awesome little gifts, he bought me a Blendtec.  Love him!

Turning 33 felt weird but my life is pretty great.  I count my blessings each and every day and look forward to many more birthdays and anniversaries with my growing family.

Growing up

My little babies are growing up faster than I can record.  They are these amazing little people with a desire to learn and make people around them feel loved.  I watch them even now as I type and I can't believe how lucky and blessed I am to be their mother.
Shortstop has become so much more grounded since school, more focused and his desire to do right, which has always been there, is stronger each day.  He wants to choose the right, even to the point of getting angry when other people don't (something we are working on).  He hurts when others hurt and truly mourns with those that mourn.  He is funny and over the top silly and so smart.  He can't wait to have a baby sister and gets so proud when he teaches Fullback something.  He helps me clean, wants to cook, and still loves sports with his dad.  Dancing in the living room to Disney music is a favorite for everyone, especially this little hip shaker.
Fullback has become my little buddy again.  There were a few months of roughness as he was very much a 2 year old.  But since we have the mornings together, our relationship is back on track.  He loves to cuddle, loves routine, has a million questions each day and worships his brother...we call them Pete and Repeat because Fullback is Shortstop's echo.  Babies are his weakness and he can't not comment on every baby he sees and often asks "Can I hold him?"  We babysat my new niece one night and all he wanted was to hold her and when it was time for him to go to bed he cried and cried lamenting how much he would miss her.

 Sunday afternoons are tiring

 These two melt my heart

 Such studs!  They look like little NBA players before a game in the press room

Posers

Luke's face mole

Back in April, I noticed a tiny red dot/bump on Fullback's face.  It was almost not even worth noticing but I thought it was a freckle.  Within a few months it had grown quite a bit and made me and Mark nervous.  Everyone who saw it said we should get it checked out.  I made an appointment with our doctor who sent us to a dermatologist.  He said it was probably nothing but he would remove it and have it biopsied.  Hearing biopsy is the correct term but it was not easy to listen with my mother heart.  Fullback struggled as I can imagine since he was barely numbed but I had a sucker and a brand new toy car all ready for him.  We went home and snuggled and watched movies all day.  Two days later the dermatologist called and said it wasn't nothing but it wasn't something to worry about yet.  He called it a Spitz Nevus mole and said they are usually benign.  He did say he wanted to do a follow up in two months.  If it grows back, he wants to see us before the two months so we are watching it very closely.  The week was hard on my little buddy as we had to change the bandages and attempt to clean it.  I finally would do it after he fell asleep.  Shockingly he never woke up during those cleanings. Every so often during the day he would just look sad and point to his cheek and say "Mommy, it hurts.  Please help."  But after a week we could leave it uncovered and it is scarring nicely.  Hopefully there is not an update on this and we never have to worry about it again.  

Let me tell you...hearing words like lymph nodes, malignant, benign and surgery really changed my perception on everything.  Nothing but my family and the gospel is important.  This is something I have always felt but it was reinforced in full.  Petty things and comparisons, hurt feelings and insecurities, and even laundry and vacuuming can take a back seat to cuddles and reading stories and traditions.  Fullback is one of the biggest parts of my heart and I am so grateful for his little voice, his perfect kisses and his outstretched arms.

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