Can't leave out Gage.

I feel like all my posts are about Lyla so I can't leave out Gage Timothy.  He is exactly (a little past) 2 1/2 years old.

Nope....he hasn't stopped.  Just as wild as ever.  But gosh I love that boy!  He is a trip.  Nothing he says surprises me.  Erik and I are always laughing at him.  He is non stop as he has always been but I wouldn't change a thing.

He is still in diapers, still in a crib, still slobbering....but he says he is NOT a baby.  "I not a baby, I a big boy".  We were debating on getting him a "big boy bed" but he hasn't tried to climb out of his crib so we are going to let it happen when he's ready.  He isn't potty trained.  Although he has went to the "potty" lots and lots of times, he just doesn't seem interested.  So yea, we aren't pushing that either.  We don't really put bibs on him anymore so his shirts are usually soaked.  I have no idea why that boy can't swallow but maybe one day.

He is obsessed with dinosaurs right now.  Lyla and I went to a baby shower a few weeks ago so Erik and Gage hung out.  Well they went to Wal-mart and bought every dinosaur they had, seriously.  He has at least 8 or so (Erik claims they were all $1).  He loves to watch "Dino Dan" which is a show totally over his head but whatever.

He is still going to Yaya's and loves it of course!  He has it made there :)  Yaya has taught him so much...colors, numbers, shapes, days of the week....you name it.  He amazes me with what he retains.  I would like to claim all his smartness but I can't.  We do read and he LOVES to read books but Yaya definitely does all the hard work.

I had so much to say and now I forgot it all.  Here are some pictures for your entertainment :)

Bounce House with Barrett.

Waiting on Lyla.

Batter Up.

"Feedin the Crow" with Grandmaw Allene.

Fire Station Visit with Daddy's Friend Rudd.  Chase came too!

No Fear.

One of my favorite pictures of all time.  Gage and Lyla.  May 2014

Sloang's 2nd Birthday!  May 2014

All Boy.

Crazy boy.  Summer 2014

We love Yaya!

Coffee/Smoothie Date with Mom.  April 2014

The Leash.  "It's my backpack".  Bless.  Just like Dora :)  July 2014.

4th of July @ the WWC

Gotta have Watermelon!  With Evelyn and Ben.  July 2014.

Cousin Love.

At the playground with cousins.

My boy.

Best Daddy in the world.

He LOVES to paint.

Loves to be in the big boy swing now.

Playing Memory with Mimi.

Outdoor movie with Sloang.

He is all about flashlights and hiding in the closet :)

Hangin' Out with Evelyn

He loves his sister.

He looks so sweet and innocent here.

Every little boy needs a cape. 

Cheeeessseeee.

Helping me make a stromboli.

Just hangin'

Gage and PawPaw

Gage, you are a gift to us all.  Love you buddy!

4 months....a little late.

Lyla is already 4 months....a week away from 5 months.  Let's just say its been crazy around our household!  Between starting school, a 2 year old that has nightmares, and a 4 month year old who is teething...sleep is a thing of the past.  But seriously, who needs sleep?!  Anyways....I do not remember time flying by so quickly with Gage.  I guess the second time around you aren't having to learn everything so it seems second nature and makes everything go so quickly...I think.  Does that even make sense?

Lyla is a little angel.  She loves to smile.  That's my favorite thing about her.  She has one little dimple on the left side, its the sweetest little thing.  She has rolled over several times and gets aggravated when she can't...the "tude" is already coming out, lord help us.  She's not really a fan of the swing anymore..or the bouncy seat.  She likes to lay on her back and kick.  She loves to be talked to.  Of course she loves to be held.  Duh.  What girl doesn't like attention?!

She is in 3-6 month clothing.  I'm not really sure how because she is a chunky little thing.  I thought she would skip that size but nope.  She spits up a good bit....just like her brother did.  Everyone says she looks like me, yay!  Gage looks like his daddy now (he looked like me at first) so I am glad I can claim at least one.

She WAS an awesome sleeper until about 2 weeks ago.  I think she is getting a tooth, I just don't know where yet.  She is waking up 3-4 times a night some nights and you can tell something is bothering her.  She is also slobbering but then again I have a 2 year old that wear bibs so you can't really go by that :)  We are trying teething tablets that seem to work sometimes.  She loves her sofie teether...she better, those things aren't cheap...thanks mom :)

We just love, love, love her.

Height:  24.25 inches (35%)

Weight:  12 lb, 14 oz (21%)

Gage loves her to pieces.  "Can I sit wif her?"

I would totally be upset if she wanted to play soccer because I know NOTHING about it.

No words needed.

Sweet girl.

There's the dimple :)

Big eyes!

The Baby Whisperer...April.

"I talk to her."

Hugging on Sofie.

I went to get her out of the car, opened the door and saw this, lol.  Love her.

Daddy and Lyla @ Chelsea's Wedding.

"What are you lookin at?  Yea, I turned over....surprised?!"

Short Hair Club.

The dreaded hair update......

So I basically have had a mullet for I don't even know how long.  I was wearing a hat literally everyday and "the wig" only on special occasions or when I felt like I wanted to "dress up"- as in wear something other than yoga pants or athletic shorts.  I was so tired of wearing hats (A.uno.one hat...I had one hat that fit me and I tried on millions) and I sure was not gonna wear the wig anymore in this heat.  I told Erik that I might as well just cut it off.  He didn't want me to but I am serious when I say...I.HAD.A.MULLET....and the mullet part was thin, like paper thin.  My hair was (and still is) falling out and I was just sick of it.  It wasn't like I could wear it down or in a pony tail.  I had to put it in this little nappy ball and wear it so I had some sticking out of my hat.  Why?  Exactly.

All my spots have hair growth in them (some more than others) so the hair that has grown back is pretty thick and its mainly on the top of my head.  I made the decision.  I wanted to get it cut.

Sooo....I did.  And for the first time ever, I cried afterwards.  Let me say, I'm pretty laid back and have never cried after a hair cut.  But as SOON as I got in the car, I started crying.  Yes, I was feeling sorry for myself.  Shame.  Shame.  I hated it.  I did not look like a girl.  I did not look pretty.  I did not have hardly any hair.  My hair has NEVER been even close to this short (except this one time when I was little AND it was permed but thats a whole nother' blog post- don't start laughing because I know many of you saw that beautiful 'do' I had in kindergarten).  So I got myself together and called Erik.  He asked if I liked it and I just started crying all over again.  Then I cried when I got to my moms to pick up Gage and Lyla.  But I promise...I haven't cried since :)  Its been a week and I've accepted it.  Do I like it?  Um.  No.  Not because my hair dresser did a bad job because she had no choice.  Its just short.  REALLY short.

I knew what I was getting myself into but I didn't think I would be so upset.  You know how when you have long hair you always wonder what you would look like with it short?  Well now I know.  I know I would never get it cut this short again, ha!

So.....here's to BIG earrings, quick showers, and even shorter mornings.  My hair IS growing back and some is still falling out but the hair you see on my head below...its all NEW :)  By the way....as if I didn't look hot enough, its growing back curly.  So when its in those awkward stages as it grows back, I'm gonna have an afro.  But hey, at least its hair, right?!

I am blessed and I know that.  No one said life is easy.  No one said "God puts us through it so we can't get through it".  There's a reason and whatever that reason is....i'm forever grateful.

Please pray that my hair STOPS falling out.  I can't even remember what its like to have beautiful, long hair.  I can't wait for that day again.

Me, Piper, Gracie, Lyla, and baby Grey :)

Love these two.  They have been there for me through it all :)