Dear Kara,

{Note: I actually wrote this on Kara's birthday, I just never posted it because I hadn't included pictures - sorry for the delay!}

Today you are two, baby girl - happy birthday! When you were first born, I didn't really know what to do with you. For two years I had lived and breathed "boy" and suddenly I had the most beautiful little girl in my arms. In addition to soccer games, cars, trucks and bloody knees, I was now going to get to go to dance recitals, fix your hair, buy pretty dresses and paint your finger nails - you gave me the best of both worlds!

Your beauty makes me smile on a daily basis. Rarely a day goes by when someone doesn't comment on your big bright blue eyes. The way you cut them to the side and grin just steals your daddy and I's heart. You make getting on to you very difficult sometimes.

You are a very passionate child (read: dramatic :). When you are happy, you are the happiest person in the world, but when you are mad, well, it's not pleasant. You absolutely live life to the fullest and I know that you are going to teach me a lot about embracing each phase of your life.

Tall and thin has been a constant in your life. You stand 34 inches tall and weigh 26 pounds. Unless we are serving macaroni & cheese, rice, popsicles, fruit snacks, peaches or nilla wafers, you just aren't interested in eating. Until last week, you only drank milk and water - you have now decided you will drink apple juice.

Speaking of, your "security blanket" is a sippy cup. I'm not really sure where this came from, but you have to have one in bed with you to go to sleep. It doesn't have to have anything in it, you just need it. However, you still wake up once in the night at least 6 days a week. I don't know what it is, but you just walk into our room and we walk you back to your room. You've been in a "big girl" bed for about 6 months sharing a bunk bed with your brother. Naps are still in the crib since you are a light sleeper, but that will have to change very soon as Garison (and mommy) has his eye on that crib!

Dora, Dora, Dora, Dora, Dora, Dora....we hear you say "Gora" about 500 times a day. You love the show and anything that has that girls picture on it. Your daddy said you need an intervention - I'm afraid he may be right. At least your Spanish is coming along. Books are another favorite as well as cars, kitchen, babies and the work bench.

You go to school five days a week and you love it more than anything. Unlike Levi, you crave attention and school provides that for you since you are now the middle sister flanked by two boys. As a little sister, you enjoy keeping up with your brother and his friends - you don't realize that you are younger one bit. As a big sister, you like to "hold my baby". While you love Garison to pieces, sometimes I'm afraid you are going to drop him into pieces. I've got to keep an eye on you with him at all times - especially since you like to gouge his eye out and say "eye".

We love to travel as a family and this past year you added Hawaii, Florida, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri to your list which means you have 16 states marked on your map. You like new adventures and we look forward to having many more with you in the future.

Unfortunately you have had some jealousy issues with Garison being in the house and you are testing your limits on a daily basis, but we know these days will soon be gone and we thank God for making you uniquely you.

Love you!
Mommy

Related: Kara at One

Dear Levi,

Four years ago today, your daddy and I had no idea what our future looked like. We were just a young married couple trying to live life to the fullest. Little did we know then how much you would change our lives. As our first born, you have reaped the benefits and failures of first time parents in every stage of your short life. Thank you for hanging in there with us.
I honestly feel like I have blinked these past few years and here we are. I am amazed at how "grown up" you are now. You have met every milestone with flying colors and have generally been a very easy preschooler.

You are still a little guy at 35 lbs and 39 inches tall, but I have a feeling you will catch up eventually. What you lack in size, you make up in personality. Your quick wit and matter-of-fact commentaries keep us laughing. Although you are still a little shy whenever you enter a new situation, you quickly let your true self come through.

Your favorite toys are still Cars cars, but you have also added Transformers, Board Games and Lego's to the mix this year. You love to play Mario Kart on the Wii and play outside on the playground. I love to listen to you when you are in your room playing - your imagination amazes me! On the TV, you like to watch Clifford, Curious George, & Transformers. Besides "Cars", you also like the movies Kung Fu Panda & "Animal"gascar. Listening to music has become a new favorite and we are loaded up on kid's CDs these days - you like to have "dinner music" playing while we eat.

You are currently in school five days a week and absolutely love it. I think the structure is really good for you and you have some great friends there (Aaron is still your best buddy). You recognize your letters and numbers and have just recently started to figure out the letters that make up words. You can also write your name. At church, you are now a "Cubbie" in Awana and I love that you are learning new stories in the Bible and memorizing scripture - such a precious thing to hear!

Eating continues to be a battle with you, although you are getting a little better. Your favorite places to eat are McDonalds and Chick-fil-a. It is amazing how those are the two places with playgrounds :). Favorite foods are rice, "handaburgers", chicken nuggets, hot dogs, potatoes, yogurt, popsicles, mac&cheese and you would drink only lemonade if we let you. Dessert is often an incentive for you to eat - you rarely pass chocolate up.

I can't leave out your travels for the year. As a 3-year-old, you added Hawaii, Florida, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri to your list bringing your total to 25 states. I hope that your love to go on vacations never goes away - you share your mommy's excitement whenever we go somewhere new. You have a million questions, but your curiosity is refreshing.

As a big brother, you are the best! This past year, you and Kara ("Koko") have really developed a bond as siblings and it makes my heart happy to watch you all play together. At the same time, you both know how to push each other's buttons. Garison is your "little guy" and you are thrilled that he is here. You have helped mommy tremendously with the new baby and I honestly don't know what I would do without you!

I would be remiss to not mention that the last 2-3 months have been the hardest months that we have had with you. I think that you picked up on the stress we had both before and after Garison was born. We have expected a lot out of you on many occasions - more than a 3-year old should probably be expected to do and I think that has caused you to get frustrated and break-down a little more easily. We are trying to be more purposeful about spending time with you here lately and letting you just be a kid. You are such an important part of our family.

I love you so much and can't wait to see how you will grow this next year!
Mommy

Related: Levi at Three

The first two days with Garison

I'll be honest, Garet and I were kinda looking forward to our hospital stay this go round. We knew what to expect, so the anxiety wasn't there. Levi & Kara were with grandparents and if we needed a break from Garison, the nursery was waiting. I didn't have to worry about meals or cleaning and you have fewer visitors the third time around. I had a book, was looking forward to watching The Office on Thursday night and I actually had time to blog (there is a reason you have only seen one blog post post-hospital :). We enjoyed catching up on sleep and just spending time together meeting Garison.

It didn't take us long to get him in some Orange & Blue - War Eagle!


I'm including a picture of my toes here. The lady at the nail place put a design on them...I wasn't crazy about it, but I thought it would be a good focal point. Due to the short duration of labor, I didn't look at my toes then, but I had plenty of opportunities during those first few feeding sessions :) - not my favorite thing in the world.
I think this was about the first time Garison decided to open his eyes, so we tried to get some pictures. You forget how "puffy" they are those first few days until you look back at the pictures. Levi & Kara both have blue, blue eyes, so we are assuming Garison will follow suit, but you never know.
This was too funny not to include:
Here's his "old man" shot. Poor kid - I'm picking on him already!
These are two of my all-time favorite pictures below. All the people I love the most in one picture!
"What's up, fam - Little-G here"
An attempt at a family photo...notice that not one of us is looking at the camera. I have a feeling this will become a trend.
A little better...
Getting ready to take our handsome little man home:

I'm including this picture because our nurse forgot to cut off Garison's security tag when we left and we set the alarm off. We had to wait until security came and verified everything was OK.
Hanging out in the hallway:
Headed home to see big brother and big sister! The fun is just beginning!