dear Logan (18 months- part 2)


my growing, beautiful boy,

You are learning so much everyday. We are just now realizing that you understand everything we say to you, can follow any command, and probably understand the majority of the conversations you hear. You verbalize so much now, but unfortunately we still only understand a handful of what you say. You know everyone's names in our family, and even started saying GP this weekend. You can point to all of the different parts of your face and body, and also recognize them on other people. You love to read books, and play with anything that makes noise. The louder you are during playtime, the happier you seem to be. Luckily your little sister doesn't startle easily and manages to sleep through everything!

Walking is a thing of the past; now you love to run wherever you go. You still love to play with all kinds balls, and have quite the arm. Your grandparents bought your first basketball goal last week, and you know which one is your "ba-ball". You've also started saying football and pointing them out everywhere we go.

You are becoming such a loving, sweet big brother. You are always so excited to see your sister, and reach out for her when she's around. Just tonight you reached out for her in the grocery store until I brought her close enough that you could shower her with kisses. You don't seem to be threatened at all, and only want to be part of taking care of her. If I'm holding her on the sofa, you always bring every blanket you can find to wrap around her. I'm so incredibly proud of you.

You were recently named the "heartbreaker" in your daycare class. I'm not sure what other superlatives were given, but your father was quite proud of yours. With the amount of flirting you do with the ladies you meet, no one was surprised! You still love daycare, and it has been so good for you. You play so well with other children everywhere we go. You are happy to share, and easily brush it off when other kids are less than nice to you. I'm so proud of your character and personality.

We're quickly spiraling toward your 2nd birthday, and it blows my mind! Life hasn't slowed down since the day we brought you home. The fastest 18 months of my life, but by far the best.

always & forever,
Mama
dear logan letters to baby
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Adaleigh Rose (newborn photo shoot)

 








 I know I'm biased, but this kid is gorgeous.

 
newborn photo shoot photography
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watch me grow! (weeks 1 & 2 of Adaleigh)




52 weeks watch me grow
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4 years

One week after Adaleigh's birth, Nick and I celebrated 4 years of marriage. We didn't go on a fancy date or give expensive gifts... instead we gave the little ones extra hugs and kisses, and reflected on the last 4 years over a simple lunch.


In 4 years we have grown into a family of four, found success and happiness in our careers, and are currently waiting to move into our first custom built home. We have laughed and loved, yelled and cried... but we have done it all together. We have survived our first deployment and months apart during training. We have battled through the challenge of infertility specialists and miscarriage, and have been blessed with 2 beautiful, healthy children.


Nick and I have spent the last decade together. One-third of my life with the man I love. I have watched him grow into an amazing man, and the greatest father anyone could ever ask for. I'm grateful to have him, but I'm even more grateful that my children have him as their father. He is patient and loving, and there's nothing he loves more than his family.


Four years have taught me the challenge of marriage, and the need to work and grow together every single day. Our relationship has rarely been easy, but that has made us so much more appreciative of what we have and the effort we've put into growing our amazing family. Our story isn't perfect... we aren't perfect... but our love is everything we've ever needed and more. I hope more than anything that our children feel the love that binds our family together, and never once doubt the love we have for each other. I hope to teach them that commitment and faith will always overshadow any bumps along the road.


Our family will always be what I am most proud of in life. Every day that I wake up next to the man that I love is truly a blessing.
anniversary
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2 under 2: 3 weeks down

Finally... An update!

Life with 2 under 2 is crazy in the best of ways. It is challenging at times, but so amazing. This is the life I always dreamed of, and I couldn't feel more blessed or grateful for it all.




Logan has continued to go to daycare most days. He doesn't go everyday and I try to pick him up by early afternoon, but we decided it was best to keep him enrolled while I was on maternity leave. We wanted to keep him in a routine while the rest of his world was turned upside down, and he loves school! The socialization has helped his development so much. I'm also not supposed to lift him for the next few weeks, and I can really feel the difference on days that I cheat.




Yesterday I survived my first outing alone with the kids. I don't know what I was thinking when I decided to take an impromptu shopping trip to TJMaxx after picking Logan up from daycare. If I had really thought about it, I would have never gone. But instead of thinking I just did it, and the kids were angels! Logan was a little cranky at the end, but we survived without any major meltdowns. I walked out of there with my head held high. I don't think I could have been more proud if I had just won an Olympic medal.

Logan is really embracing his role as the big brother. He loves nothing more than to kiss all over his little sister. It must be the first thing he does every morning, and the last thing before laying his head down at night. He gets so worried if she cries, and doesn't like for her to be left alone anywhere. I expect things to change when she becomes a little more active and mobile (and capable of "borrowing" his toys), but for now everything is perfect.



Logan has also started warming back up to me since bringing Adaleigh home. He loves to steal a little snuggle time on my lap any chance he gets, and sits as close as possible with his protective little hand on my leg when my lap is already occupied. I've stolen back bath time duty, although Daddy still reads the bed time stories. Everything is falling into place.

I can't quite explain how perfect our family of 4 feels. Life was wonderful with Logan, but I feel like there was always a place waiting for Adaleigh to join us. It's as if I've been waiting my whole life for this exact moment. Everything smells a little sweeter when these two precious babies are around. It usually sounds a little louder, but definitely smells sweeter.



2under2
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2 under 2: sibling love


I wish I could say it was love at first sight. After all the tender moments between Logan and Adaleigh when she was still safely tucked in my belly, I wish I could say that from the moment Logan laid eyes on her he became the protective, loving big brother. I wish I could say he was happy to see her.
When Logan first entered the hospital room the afternoon that Adaleigh was born, he didn't know what to think. He didn't know where Mommy had been all day, why she was now swollen and lying in a new bed surrounded by tubes and cords, and who in the world was hiding under her gown and taking his place lying on my chest. He was very apprehensive to do anything more than give me a quick kiss, and was definitely not happy sitting next to me and his new little sister. He showed no interest in her, and wasn't sure how he felt about his Mommy anymore.
Luckily on Day 2, he started to warm up a little to the idea. He was finally interested in seeing who this new little baby was, and touching her hair and arms to see if she was real. We encouraged him to love her and kiss her, and to our surprise he started snuggling her tiny little body in Daddy's arms and didn't want to stop. She wasn't that bad after all.
Every day he shows a little more interest and love for his little sister, and is growing more protective of her. As soon as he gets up in the morning he runs to find her in the bassinet and give her a nice pat on the arm or leg. He doesn't like for her to be left unattended, and wants us holding her constantly. He worries if he can't find her, and brings her toys and pacis whenever she's around. Just yesterday I watched as he moved his activity table across the room, so he could sit and play next to the pack and play where Adaleigh was sleeping.
I so grateful he's adjusting as well as he is. Even though I am head over heels in love with our new addition, I hate that we've turned his world upside down. I will always feel guilty for stealing the attention away from him when he was still so young, but I hope that giving him a playmate and new best friend more than makes up for it. I know it will take some time for him (and all of us) to fully adjust, but I look forward to the challenges of the ride we're on. This is exactly the life I've dreamed of.


2under2 siblings
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She's here!

Introducing Adaleigh Rose Armstrong

 

born 8.08.13 at 2:22pm

6 lbs, 5 oz. 19.25 in

She's so tiny and perfect! We are over the moon in love with her. My heart melts every time I think of my beautiful, perfect family of four. More updates and thousands of pictures to follow!

 

 

 

 

 

 
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dear Adaleigh (3 days)

My beautiful little girl,

It was love at first sight. From the moment you blessed this world with your tiny, sweet presence, you have melted my heart. You have made me fall in love with being a mom all over again. You are nothing less than perfect in every way, and you have us all wrapped around your little finger.

You are a champion eater! I never thought anyone could compete with Logan's love of eating, but you sure are giving him a run for his money. You love to nurse, and thankfully we've breezed through latching and learning without any problems. I think (and hope!) we'll be doing this for a long time.

 

I love everything about you, and I'm especially fond of the little squeaks you make to remind us you're still here. It is the softest, sweetest sound to my ears. Most of your squeaks come while you are sleeping, and are often followed by a warm little smile across your face.

You're such a sweet little girl already. You rarely ever cry, and sleep through all the loud noise and chaos of your big brother running around the house. You will sleep for 3-4 hour stretches through the night, and always look so content and peaceful.

Our lives will never be the same. You are so much more than anything I've ever wanted or wished for. You will always have a piece of my heart and a special place in our growing family. My love for you brings tears to my eyes.

Love always & forever,

Mama

 
dear adaleigh letters to baby
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dear Logan (18 months)

 

My firstborn love,

Our last night as a family of three. Your last night as an only child, before you transition to your new role as the big brother. One last day of being spoiled with Mommy and Daddy's attention, without any distractions. One last day to soak in everything we love about you, that made us fall in love with becoming a family.

I hope you know no one will ever take your place. Our love will grow and our hearts will fill, but it will never change the love we have for you. You are our firstborn. The first to teach us patience and overwhelming, unconditional love... the first to make us a family. You will always be the one that made us question how we ever lived without you. You made us forget what life was like before children... before the reason we wake up and love life every day. You will always be so, so special to us.

Love always,

Mama

 
dear logan letters to baby
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