“We did it…we did it…we did it…”

Any parents out there can sing along to Dora’s version of the statement above…

But regardless of the song or not, Sean and I have survived (yes, survived) parenting two children for an entire year.

This time last year we were enjoying our final night being parents to one by dropping her off at the grandparents and going out to Olive Garden and for icecream before my induction the next morning.  We talked about what we thought Bauer would be like and how we thought Bree would react and if he would have red hair.  We talked about how quickly our lives had changed and how we were excited for this next chapter.

Fast forward though 365 days of the most challenging year of probably our lives and most definitely our marriage.  We have loved through it, laughed through it, yelled through it, sleep off and on through it, used hockey therapy, retail therapy, running therapy and some antidepressants…but we made it.

It feels monumental and just about right at the same time.  Tomorrow at 11:11am, Bauer will have been out of me and in the real world for exactly one year.  He has changed so much and so have we.   He has taught us so much and I believe Bree, Sean and I have returned the favor to him.  He is a handful and I bet he thinks we are too.  We’ve learned that it doesn’t always have to be pretty…that screaming and trying but failing to read minds is par for the course…but the love is there and some days that is all that matters.

As Bauer turns 1 tomorrow, the big sister turns 2 and a half.  No offense Bauer, but that we have survived half of her terrible two’s is maybe a bigger accomplishment than getting Bauer to 1.  She is one tough cookie.  And just when I thought that I had her figured out and was just going to have to ride out 6 more months of the unpleasantness, we’ve started a whole new chapter in the past few days.  You know those kids who just cry inconsolably in stores and you think in your head that their parents should take them out or discipline them or something…well, if you are ever in the Arlington area, I give you permission to think that about me.  Because I’ll be thinking it about me.  In 3 stores in the past 48 hours, she has had a tantrum of epic proportions that cannot be contained.  Twice I let her just cry as we walked out to the car and I physically had to carry her out of Target tonight to the car while Sean and Bauer payed for our purchase.  I’ve never seen her face get so red or her crying be able to last so long with no distractions big enough to break the cycle.  If this is the next 6 months of our lives, then year two of praying for patience is about to start!

I wish I could say that having two kiddos close together was one of my most brilliant ideas and that this past year had shown me my brilliance in no uncertain terms.  Let’s just say the jury is still out on this one.  I love both Bree and Bauer dearly and I wouldn’t change anything about them and our family, but 18 months apart has made this year really a challenge.  One that I almost didn’t think I was strong enough to handle.  But I made it and will continue to make it.

I obviously have not shown enough improvement in my patient qualities so God keeps giving me more and more chances to pray and receive more…

I feel like supermom going into tomorrow…presents are wrapped, party is planned for this weekend, Bauer is walking, Bauer is drinking whole milk (with a couple formula feedings thrown in for good measure), Bree seems geniunely interested in her brother and is excited to open presents for him, Sean and I are an unbreakable team, we are strong and our patience with each other is truly remarkable…in a nutshell, LIFE IS GOOD!

Here are a few pics of our red headed wonder child!

My friend Sarah was so gracious to take some 1 year old pics of Mr. B last weekend and this is one I absolutely love of him…love the mohawk!  More of her fabulous pics coming soon…

Can you believe only a year ago he was so tiny…he still sleeps with his cute butt in the air!


Ms. Two and a half year old has also changed so much in the past year…

So innocent to so confident!

Back to the birthday boy…Bauer got a big boy chair for his big present from Mommy and Daddy!  He loves Bree’s pink chair so we thought it would make a good addition to his room.

Both kiddos even let Mommy and Daddy have a turn….

Then the Bauer games continued…starting with Peek-A-Boo!

Bauer is all boy…balls are by far his favorite toy…any will do!

He’s a “crawl under everything”…



“dog-lovin’”…

“climb anything”…

“hockey playin’”…

“toilet obsessing”…

1 YEAR OLD BOY!!!

Happy birthday baby boy…we love you so much!  We can’t wait to see where the future takes you!