Four Years

Mark and I have been married four years. We celebrated our anniversary on St. Patrick's Day. Before we got married, so many people asked me if I was Irish...was that the reason we had chosen St. Patrick's Day? No, I was teaching and it was Spring Break. And that was that! No honeymoons or get-aways this year. But we did get to go out to eat! Mark sister Jody came to town just so we could go to dinner. What a blessing! So nice to eat a meal and actually chew our food....and talk to each other. Four years doesn't sound very long...but both Mark and I agree that, in a good way, it seems like we've been together much longer. I just can't imagine not being married to him!

And now updates on the kids. James is two and a half. Some days we think he is getting to be such a big boy. But other days I'm reminded that he's still so little. I'm thankful for those days because it's almost heart-breaking to realize how fast it's going! We love this phase of him talking more and more all the time. He really says the funniest things....at least we think so. Along with the age comes a good dose of independence and tantrums, too. So hard to know how to deal with irrational toddler behavior sometimes!

James loves the new (used) van we got last weekend. Every time we go somewhere he shouts, 'oh YEAH! Let's go on AVENTURE!' (aventure = an adventure) After we took these pictures, we decided to put an end to him sitting in the front seats. Too many buttons for a little boy to push!
Mark was 'stowing' one of the seats into the floor of the car and James exclaimed, 'Oh, FANCY!' What a hoot!!

Miss Clara Marie is turning into the sweetest little girl. Ever. She smiles at everybody and everything. She's not very interested in rolling over (yikes) and is really content being held. James was always a little more squirmy, wanted to be down on the ground movin' around. Clara is a cuddler...so far, anyway. I know, those could be 'famous last words' and next thing you know she's as active as her brother....but for the time being, we're enjoying her relaxed personality.

I took these on her 5 month 'birthday'. Little peanut.
(Thanks to Andrea and Lauren for loaning us clothes! Clara is wearing 6 month clothes now)

Clara has been chewing and drooling quite a bit. She prefers a finger....or two...or her whole fist...or teething rings. But she's not as wild about the pacifier as James was (and is still, sadly).

I'll never get over pictures of tiny toes. Too sweet for words.