Fast Forward...it is 2014!

Holy overload!  Working and having two small kids is no joke.  Each moment just flies by.  I am trying to be focused on each moment I have with my kids.  Less distraction from the outside world and being present which in turns basically means no personal time.  Therefore no blogging time.  My downtime is full of washing dishing, doing laundry, picking up toys, hanging kid clothes, throwing my clothes in the never ending pile beside the bed, breathing.  Seriously, where does the time go?  I want to blog more.  Really, I do.  I don't like finally sitting down to blog (like now) and seeing that the last post was months ago.  How do I go back?  How do I best capture those moments that are now in the past?  So wishing I would have written more down.  But I didn't.  So here goes, another one of my almost famous "catch y'all up in one post" post.

Eoin is now 8 months.  He isn't crawling.  Until recently, he hasn't even seemed slightly interested!  All of sudden he is starting to get up on his knees for a moment or two.  He scoots and pushes himself backwards.  He is a big boy!  As people say, "that boy ain't missin' a meal!"  He is loving.  So loving.  He loves his mom.  A lot.  He cries when I walk away from him.  Heart strings are pulled.  He loves Leighton.  She makes him laugh.  Even when she isn't trying to make him laugh.  Even when it makes her mad that he is laughing at her, he continues to laugh.  Sometimes she makes him cry.  But only when she steals his toy.  We are working on making a trade.  Of course Eoin loves his dad too.  Big buddies.  Eoin still loves his eye contact and being included.  He enjoys sitting in his highchair and just being at the table with us when we eat.  He can feed himself puffs and Baby MumMums.

Leighton is a lovely 2.5 year old.  She is so smart.  She pays attention and understands.  Her speech is suddenly full sentences.  Funny, caring, sensitive, sweet, athletic, silly.  Those are words I think of first when trying to describe her.  I don't even need to mention her beauty because it is apparent through her personality.  But I am her mom, so I will.  She is beautiful.  She brings so much life to this house.  This is a child who was meant to be on this Earth.  She loves bible stories and songs, she loves the outdoors, she loves her friends, her family.  She prays every night for her Uncle Benny and the girls (three girls down the street).  Then she moves into praying for other people whose rotation is different every night.  Recently it was for Tyler's bird.  Tyler is our next door neighbor.  The bird is his dead stuffed bird hanging up in his house.  The day he got it back from the Taxidermist, he brought it over to show LB and he let her pet it.  She loved it.  She adores Tyler.  She worries about her friends.  She asks about them in such a caring way that I feel like she is going to be someone who I don't need to worry about.  But I do.  Remember, I am her mom.

So much laughter in this house.  So much love.  So many blessings.  So thankful.  While I wished I would have blogged about every moment, I am so glad that I lived those moments instead and fully took them in.  They are in my heart and that is all anyone else needs to know right now.  For now, take this update and know that it is with best intention to include more, more often.  We love and miss you all.

Annual Brown Family Christmas Tree Expedition

The Brown Family took off to Sparta, NC for the third year in a row to find that one perfect Christmas Tree. This year we all stayed in a cabin on a working Christmas Tree Farm.  What a fun experience to be surrounded by trees!  We enjoyed our time away from home and found the perfect tree while roaming the farm.  The cabin was situated on the side of a mountain and we were in a pocket with no cell service.  It was nice to feel disconnected while at the same time reconnecting with each other.

Enjoying late fall

Leighton has begun to help out in the kitchen, she loves to be a helper!

 This girl would be happy if she lived at the park

Such a sweet smile!  Check out that body control.  

 Soaking up all the natural light pouring in the window.  

These two snuggle on weekend mornings.  A very special time to us all!

Eoin's 3 Month Photo and Stats

Our chunky monkey is still growing like a weed!  Couldn't ask for a sweeter son.

Leighton turns 2! Part Two: Celebrating with Grandparents

After Leighton's nap, BB and Pops came over and we had a birthday dinner followed up with dessert.  LB loves owls so she blew out a number 2 candle on an adorable owl cupcake.  She opened more presents afterwards, what a day!

Then Grandmom and Danny G came to visit Leighton for her birthday and surprised her with a giant box of goldfish (huge success!) and with Little People Zoo set with tons of awesome animals.  Thanks to them both for making the trip and spending lots of time with LB!

Here is Leighton's 2 year old photo with her current stats after visiting the doctor for her 2 year old checkup:

What a ham...don't mind the food in her mouth!

Leighton turns 2! Part One: Party at Pullen Park

I can't believe how quickly time flies!  Having children certainly puts time into perspective.  There are just not enough hours in the day to love on your little ones as much as you would like.  Leighton has grown into a such an amazing little person.  She is a beautiful, fun, loving human being and has such a sweet personality.  I can't remember what life was like before her.  She brings us so much joy.  Time please slow down just a bit so we can continue to savor these small moments with this ever changing bundle of life.  Now that she is a big sister, she is even more of a special child.  The love she constantly shows us all is a blessing.  I swear if anyone ever even looks at her the wrong way they are asking for it.  Yes, she has ignited a protective side of us and we pledge to devote our life caring for and nurturing this sweet soul.  Here is to you baby girl, a wish for another year together enjoying all of life's simplest joys.  To the moon and back.

Here is a peak at her very special 2nd birthday.  We celebrated at Pullen Park with her best friends and BB and Pops. It was a gorgeous fall day!  They rode the train, carousel and boats.  Then the kids had their snack, LB opened her presents and they ran around.  What a perfect morning.  We came home for lunch and nap.

LB's Birthday Morning

Leighton's birthday giftbags for her friends....Pinterest, eat your heart out!

Fun times at the park with BB and Pops and her friends!

Halloween

Our sweet Leighton was an owl for Halloween and Eoin was a baby bumblebee.  We went trick-or-treating with Bb and Pops as well as our neighbors and their son Carter who is one of LB's best buds.  We had a great time and LB quickly got the hang of getting her special treats.  When we got home, she dumped out all the candy from her pumpkin pail and she was in candy heaven.  She didn't know what any of it was and called a Reese's Cup a muffin.  Too cute.  We let her gobble up some candy before sending her off to bed....an hour late!

Getting ready to head out!

 We stopped to pick up Carter

 Back at home