small things

today was a day like any other...

did everything in my "normal" routine..

but one thing stuck out..

the screaming laughter coming from jude while gavin was tickling him.

it was heaven.

sometimes it's the small things

six months

the other leading little man in my life is half a year old.. well now he's almost seven months (so i'm a little behind). ohh i love him so. he's such an wonderful little baby boy :)

my three year old

really? i have a three year old? where in the WORLD has time gone.

gav is three and whoever said the two's were "terrible" really lied. the twos are wonderful, it's the three's that aren't. well, most days gavin is his usual self but with juggling naps and play, and his new brother some days are obviously way better than others. but i am lucky that he is usually such a love :)

gavin's current favs:
-tractors
-excavators, dump trucks, ect ect.
-riding his bike
-thomas and cars everything and anything
-swimming
-watermelon, cantelope, strawberries, raspberries.. any type of berries
-MOM and papa gerry, and grandma "beez"
-fair rides
-HORSES- probably precious, duke, lilly and cutter (and in that order)
-going on walks/runs with mom
-playing at every park that he can get to
-helping dad fix things
-his friends blaise and nora
-playing games and doing puzzles
-being the center of attention and entertaining people with his craziness
-adventure nature walks with grandma and mom
-watching jake and the neverland pirates (at least it's not elmo)
-sleeping with mom
-snuggling with jude and talking to him... it's adorable!
-BOOKS

i could go on and on but i'm going to end it... he's a pretty easy going kid, well for the most part.

i am beyond proud that gavin is growing up and becoming such a great little man. i cannot wait to see what the next year will bring with g. and i can't wait for him to start learning all new things at preschool!

being mischevious with papa scott at ashleys wedding.

drivin boats after the tractor pull at the willmar fair

this one might of been his favorite

gavin has a new love for puzzles... and he can put together a 24 piece puzzle like no other

 riding with reins.. SUCH a big boy!

riding his bike!!! :)

taking the dogs, grandma, jude and i for a walk... it took us almost an hour 

and of course his favorite, precious

all the beauty

there is something that is so pure and humble about horses.


as adressed in previous posts, i have been riding since i was three- and i mean, riding. my mom thought it would be a good "bonding" experience for us so she popped me up on a horse (even though i pouted because i wanted a pony) and set me on my way. by four i was riding completely alone in a round pen trotting along side my mom, and  being "ponied" on trail rides.


we haven't been out riding as near as much as we'd like, but this will soon change. my mom recently bought a new horse so now we can finally ride together.


we've been spending a large amount of time out at sue's house, housesitting and taking care of their animals while they are away on all of their adventures... it is heaven. i get up, get the kids ready for the day and head outside. all of us, jude included, stroll into the pastures and sit and watch the beauty that is horses. i feel completely blessed!


of course i come completely biased since lilly, the white, is my own and i've raised her since she was born, but they are all simply gorgeous!

of course gunner, my buddy was here for this gorgeous evening

its been a few

i feel like it's been quite some time since i last blogged, and looking at my previous post (july 5th) it has.
summer is quickly ending and fall is coming on soon. i am looking forward to the september/october weddings we have and of course.... halloween. and yes, my costume is already coming along quite well.
as much as i was looking forward to the slow and steady pace of a lull summer next summer, that will not be happening. this girl, well she is already a part of two weddings, two trips and two toddler kids. goodness! justine and anthony's wedding and now, katy has asked me to be a bridesmaid for the upcoming ballantyne/brandl wedding that will be taking place in montana. which for those of you adding it up is one trip, and vegas for justines bachelorette party... and the two kids part, yes just two, as in the ones i already have. NO MORE.
maybe this weekend i can catch up on my blogging. i've canceled all of my plans and am going to stay home with my sweet little boys and relax, and do nothing.

four months (a little over, but who's counting)

jude andrew is now FOUR MONTHS OLD...
seriously, time seems to be flying by. and to be honest i am okay with it. i enjoy the little newborn/infant time, but i am really excited for jude to be a toddler and up and walking around :)
here are a few things about jude:
-he is in the 80th percentile for weight, coming in at a whopping 16.6 lbs! and the 67th percentile for height at 25 inches.
-jude has decided to be a belly sleeper. he absolutely hates to be on is back. if he rolls over in his crib he will let you know and won't go back to bed until he's back on his belly.
-he loves his mommy, but hey who wouldn't :) daddy and gavin tie for second and grandma shari is defiantly number 3.
-he eats, a lot. 6oz every 2 (sometimes he'll push it to 3) hours..
-he adores his big bro, gavin. when jude is crying and i'm busy i'll send gavin over to talk to jude and he will immediately calm down. he smiles ear to ear at his big bro and loves when gavin "plays" with him.
-as much as jude loves to be with people he is usually okay being by himself... wait, not alone, but you must know what i mean... right?
-some say jude looks like gavin, but actually looks a lot like me when i was a baby. is that possible? yes, yes it is! and he has the most adorable little dimple right below his left eye and when he smiles, it melts my heart. and he smiles quite a bit so i melt all day long.
-jude makes quite a bit of noise. he likes to babble to me when we're in the car and when he's sitting in his highchair.
-speaking of the highchair, he also just had his first teeny tiny bit of rice cereal yesterday, and he loves it!

-as you can see in both of these pictures, jude loves his tongue... so so so cute! he is currently teething (so much fun...) so there is usually drool below this little tongue.

-we are very very blessed jude is a healthy and happy boy and are so happy to have him in our family.

a sneaky peek

we've had a beautiful last couple of days and i am lucky that jude was in a phenomenal mood to snap some new photos. i've only had a chance to quick upload them on my computer (too busy with two little boys ) so the editing will have to wait a day or two... maybe when it's yucky out they'll get done!

here's a quicky of jude today. almost four months old.