Oh! What a week!

Team Park doesn't have many weeks like this one. I sat down this evening and mapped it out on my cute Erin Condren weekly calendar. I love Erin Condren organizational things these days. Here's a pic of my project, done by the light of March Madness on the tv. Appropriate.

One paper due.
Comprehensive exam due. You know, so I can graduate.
Three birthday events, one of those being for one of my best buds. I'm looking at you, Taylor.
Three short-term trip team meetings/gatherings.
One fundraiser.
Three meetings with three different folks, all whom I love.
It's Easter! 
AND, we close on a house. That we just bought.

Somewhere in here, I have two craft projects ready and waiting for Levi and Mama to do. Because it's Easter!

You can go ahead and pray for us. Please? I've got the joy, as the song goes… I'd just like to have it come Sunday. Here we go!

Good word

Aunt Leigh comes to town

What a treat! Because my sister lives on the other side of the country, I rarely get to see her for multiple days at a time. And, even more rarely is she able to visit at a time that's not during the holidays. So when she announced that she was coming this spring, her arrival date just couldn't get here fast enough!

I love my sister. I still have a dream that someday we will be neighbors, but until then, I'll take any time with her that I can get.

We did a whole lot of hanging out. We got pedis with mom, went shoe shopping, visited our childhood babysitter, went to a Thunder game and played with kiddos. Both of her nephews adore her, but her eldest nephew thinks she and Uncle J.J. hung the moon.

Here are a few fun snapshots of our sister time/family time. Go ahead and come on back, sisterbird! And bring that strapping lad you're married to with you next time.

Couch cuddles

Didi with one cool cat

Aunt Leigh gave him these sunglasses, and when he saw her put hers on top of her head, guess what he did!

Beautiful blues

Aunt Leigh carried her nephew the length of Bricktown. What a sweet aunt, and what a pretty pic!

Be impressed, folks. That's my seester. 

Teaching Little Dude how to hit the birdie.

Mimi showed Levi how to make whipped cream. He loves to help her cook.

The two of us with the kiddos and our childhood babysitter, who influenced our lives more than she'll ever know.

Three months!

My little joy baby,

This week snuck up on your mama. It held not only the first day of spring, but also your three-month birthday!

As I thought about this post, I began smiling at all of the things I love about you. To list them all here just isn't possible because, well, that list is endless. But here are some of the things specific to this stage in life that I can't get enough of.

I love that you are the happiest baby. You smile all of the time. Sometimes, you will even stop nursing just to look up at me and smile.

I love that you have begun laughing. Sometimes it's a simple laugh. But just last night, as your daddy was kissing on your cheeks, you gave the widest smile I'd seen from you yet (and boy does it look just like your brother's grin) and you belly-laughed. Beyond adorable.

I love your rolls. You have rolls everywhere, just as it should be. Rolls on your ankles and wrists, roll after roll on your legs, and rolls on your neck. It makes washing all of those rolls quite a process at bath time, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I love your fire power. You can blow out a diaper with the best of them, and I laugh every time.

I love that you cuddle. I'm still not sure how, but even when I lay you down with space between us, I'll wake up to a little baby nestled right into my chest. If you are having some painful gas because your mother forgot, once again, that marinara doesn't sit well with you and she ate it for dinner, the instant I pull you next to me, you relax and fall asleep.

I love your eyes. Bright blue, inquisitive and observant. And even though you are still a wee thing, I think that you have kind eyes.

I love your strength. When I hold you, your neck is on a constant swivel, looking around, bobbing back and forth.  I love to watch you stretch out those legs when you stand on my lap. Even though you outgrew three month clothes a few weeks ago, sometimes I put you in a three-month sleeper, and I'm waiting for your legs to split the seams when you start moving all over the place. Sweet boy, you are strong!

Baby Dude, you are growing too fast for this mama. But it reminds me to cherish every moment with you.

We love you!
Love,
Mama

Melt me.

On the way home from our first Thunder game in years, and Levi's first one ever, in an effort to re-focus a tired toddler up way past his bedtime, Gib asked a simple question:

"Levi, what are you?"

There was a pause, so Gib continued, "You are mighty."

And from the backseat, the sweetest little voice continued, "and compassionate and strong and gentle."

There are so many days when I am well aware of the mistakes I make as a parent and wonder if any of the things that I want to be impressed upon his heart are in any way being communicated effectively. But tonight? Tonight, my heart melted with reassurance and I nearly cried from the preciousness of the moment. What a sweet surprise.

Yes, Levi Blaze, you are all of those things. And so much more.