10 months ago...

10 months ago today, I spent the day playing with Thatcher at the lake - swimming, jumping, digging in the sand - followed by a fun evening with family celebrating the 4th of July and wondering when our little one was going to arrive.  It seemed like it couldn't come soon enough and I remember being very ready to feel the first labor signs that day.

 

After getting home from our adventures and getting cleaned up, sure enough, contractions started.  I enjoyed a quiet night to myself (who can sleep when they are about to meet their new baby?) as Josh and Thatcher rested peacefully.  After finally deciding it was time to go to the hospital just before dawn, we knew the big moment was getting close.

 

So many things go through your head when you have your first child and then when you are about to have your second, some of the same things pop up with a whole slug of new questions/emotions.  How could I possible love another child as much as I do Thatcher?  What's it's going to be like with two? ...

 

And then you hold your new baby and you realize that your heart can grow and grow and grow and that there is ALWAYS room for more love.

 

Odin Axel joined us on July 5th, 2012 and is and has been a wonderful addition to our family.

 

Now, life is a little crazy sometimes, but it's also fun, LOUD, and full of laughs.  We've learned that no two kids are alike, not even your own.  We've learned that a second child takes a lot and learns how to give it back quickly.  And we've learned that we all have a lot of love to go around.

 

Thatcher adores his brother.

They already seem to have a bond that will last a lifetime (and I hope it does!).

 

I cannot wait to see where these two boys take us but we're certainly ready for the ride! Thatcher is three and already ready for school and Odin is nearly walking, jabbering all the time, and trying to be just like his "big" brother.

 

 

Looking forward to what's to come and a little SUMMER!  The lake is finally free of ice and we've already geared up the sandbox for the season.

 

 

Bring it on, sunshine!

Time flies when you're having FUN!

I'm not sure where time goes...

but I'm almost positive it's lost somewhere in the middle of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, 3rd Birthdays, sledding, learning how to sit up, learning how to crawl, playing with cars, trucks and anything that moves, learning how to eat big people food and finding out that it's AMAZING,  learning how to ride a bike, playing with the Deacon and Indy, watching movies, making puzzles, coloring, and even enjoying a little quiet time as a family.

 

 

We've had a great couple of months and have kept very busy. I'm sure it will continue to way for at least the next eighteen or so years but it sure is FUN!

 

 

Now we're ready to get outside - going for walks, digging in the sandbox, planting the garden, building a shed, and the many other things that warm weather allows. 

 

Best wishes for a great spring!

 

And apologies in advance if the next post is 3 months from now  :)

A season of growth and thanks

It's almost Turkey Time and we are all looking forward to some time spent with family and friends celebrating and sharing the joys of the season. 

 

I'm not sure how we already got to mid-November.  It seems like it was just July - where does the time go?! 

 

On August 7th, we measured Thatcher (2 1/2 years old) and as we were playing downstairs just the other day I had him stand up to his growth chart again - he's shot up over an inch in the past three months!  And little Odin is not so little anymore.  He measured in at 26 3/4 inches (96%) and 14 lbs 14.8 oz (54 %) at his 4 month check up this week.

 

 

The past few weeks have been filled with fun times - camping, trick or treating, hunting, and, of course, just playing! 

 

Thomas the Train made his way through Starbuck and Glenwood, filling his basket with goodies,  and even made the Starbuck Times last week!

 

 

We were also fortunate to have some friends come visit us a few weeks ago and we'll thank Lisa for capturing some great photos of us, especially the boys, while she was here.

 
Family photos are nearly impossible with two dogs, two kids, and two parents trying to get everyone looking but we did manage to get some funny, candid, photos.  And even a couple of OK ones too.
 

 
All we can really say is that we are so blessed!  It's hard to be mad or sad when our days are filled with so many happy, smiling faces and giggles that make your heart melt.  It makes it easy to forget the occassional teary, whiny moments and make us thankful for everything we have.

 

Blessings to all of you this holiday season!

 

Now go enjoy your Turkey!

Adventures in Pictures

Here is a photo journey of our last three months.

 

Waiting for baby Phoenix to arrive (10 hours to go!)

Odin Axel Sherlin
7.5.2012

7lbs 1 oz

19 1/2 inches

The eldest boys playing at the park.

Fueling up the mower - it's never to early to start learning.

Odin on his baptism.

Potty trained! New John Deere truck picked out!

A trip to Great Grandpa's Farm

Feeding the birds at Noonan Park.

Brothers hanging out together.

 

Odin meeting his new friends (William, Lily, and Hannah) - babies of Mommy's college friends all born within 2 months of each other.

Playing at the spash park in Morris.

Who's taller?  Thatcher can make towers taller than he is!

Mommy and Odin

Brother's getting ready for their first day of daycare together.

Camping at Lake Bemidji State Park - so much fun!

All the Sherlin boys playing together - our everyday normal :)

I'm eleven weeks old and I can roll from my belly to my back!
(And I've got some great expressions too...)

Jeans!

Thatcher and Odin

Bath time... Thatcher is a good helper!

Odin has found his fingers... like Brother, like Mommy.

 

Our life is so full and so fun.  We love every minute of it!

Summer Fun

Since our last post, we have filled our days with fun at Trophy Lake.  We purchased a new kayak to take out on the lake.  Josh and Thatcher took the first ride together.  Thatcher lays back in Josh's lap like a little worm and enjoys the ride.

Cousin Brynn came to visit (with her parents, Jessie and Evan) the weekend Grandma and Papa Staples moved to their new house.  Thatcher loved spending time with all the company.  He also got to play with his other Staples cousins, Lucy and Ellie, the week before when they were in town.  He sure does love having playmates around!

We spent Father's Day in Glenwood (not much traveling once we got to the middle of June in case of an early arrival of Baby Phoenix).  Josh golfed with his dad in the morning, we got blasted with rain at church in the park and headed home to have a pizza party with Grandma and Grandpa Sherlin.  Thatcher surprised daddy with a new spotting scope and he gave us his best "cheese" face for the picture.

The past two weekends while we stuck around home (again, just in case we had an early arrival), we enjoyed hours and hours playing outside.  Thatcher just LOVES the water.  He goes swimming in whatever attire he has on, lays down and puts his face in, and splashes like crazy.  He found a love in jumping in the water and getting thrown around by anyone willing to toss him up.

And if swimming at the lake doesn't satisfy his outdoor pleasure, we head back to the sandbox where we make castles, scoop, fill buckets with water, you name it...  there is always something to do in the sandbox and it keeps us all busy.

I don't have any pictures to show but Deacon and Indy have been thoroughly enjoying the warm swimming weather as well.  Deacon "fishes"  while Indy plays fetch.  Both of them love having the lake so close (and it sure makes it nice for us too!).

We are anxiously waiting the arrival of our new bundle of joy and hope to have news to post soon.  Until then, we'll continue to enjoy the lake, the sandbox, the dogs, and even some fresh garden produce.  Hopefully all of you are enjoying your summer too!

Spring Update

The past month has been full of fun nights and weekends and even some project time (if you can imagine!).

Our basement is almost entirely finished, less some trim and doors and decorations, I suppose.  We will eventually get everything finished but we are certainly enjoying having a big play space and “carpet” and the “ABC’s Room”.  Here are some updated photos of our progress:

 

We enjoyed a wonderful Easter with Thatcher and the Sherlin clan.  Thatcher loved looking for eggs and having treats!  He liked the jelly beans but continued to call them “m’s” all week – I guess that’s what we get for usually only having M&M’s as our household treat.

Other highlights of our few weeks have included a pizza party for Mommy’s birthday, the return of Grandma and Grandpa Sherlin from Arizona, a trip to Anderson’s Nursery to see the animals near Easter, playing outside in the sandbox, throwing rocks in the lake, going for walks, and getting all of our projects done.  We have also enjoyed a lot of time with friends and family and have even been able to enjoy a couple of fires in the pit already!

We hope for more nice weather and look forward to getting the garden planted and a few more “to-do’s” done in the coming weeks.  And or course our biggest adventure is also getting closer.  Baby Phoenix is scheduled to arrive in just two more months (if not before).