Things I never want to forget.

Thing that I never want to forget about my sweet, sweet kids.
I would love for this to be a running list that I come back to and add to every so often -- hopefully I will remember I want to do that.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Happy Birthday, Mommy!” {not at all my birthday, but was declared to me in mid-October because there was a candle on the table at the restaurant}

(my actual birthday; on July 31st)

The way that you both said “sick” when you were trying to say, “squirrel” for a few months.

They way you both love animals and would give your left arm to pet your grumpy kitty.

Reagan: the way you love your bunny and blankies; the way you twirl your blankie around in your hand (and in the air) right before you fall asleep.  We call this the white flag of surrender.  You’ll understand that better when you are older.

Parker: the way you rub your bunny ear under your nose when you're sleepy.

The perfection on your angelic faces when daddy and I sneak into your room every night to check on you while you are sleeping. 

“Mommy, I don’t like this cheese.” {Parker about an egg yolk}

Reagan: that way that you eat things top-first (toast with jelly, iced cookies, etc).

The way that you are both obsessed with all things TRAIN.  And Reagan, I love that you love trains just as much as Parker does. 

Reagan: The way you say, “Pawker,” like you’re from Boston; and that you call him “Parks.”

Parker: the way you say, “Park the car,” like you’re from Boston; and that you call Reagan “Reagy Beggy” like mommy does.

The way you both sing Thomas’ “Roll Call” song and dance yourselves into oblivion.

Parker: The way I worried endlessly about whether or not you would pull through the first few days of your life – and the months later when we realized that you were one tough cookie and would be perfectly fine.

Reagan: the way that you breastfed like a champ, and then stopped one month shy from turning 1 year old so we had to put you on formula for a month.  One. Month.

Parker: Eyeballs.

The way you both simply adore your daddy; and the way he is over the moon about you.

The way you love our extended families and crave being around them.  And let’s not even get started on the cousin trouble-making.

The way you share.  And then fight.  And then share again.

The way that you negotiate with each other and with mommy and daddy.  Or try to.

Your spontaneous hugs right between my knee caps.

The fact that you both love music and want to listen to mommy’s music, too. 

-One night in your beds before falling asleep; 2 ½ years old-
Reagan: {singing} “I will wait, I will wait, for yoooou!” (Mumford & Sons song)
Parker: “That’s a good song.”
Reagan: “Ya.”
And then you both started singing it.

The songs we started singing to you as infants and still sing to you every night before you fall asleep:Night, Night, Baby
Jesus Loves Me
You Are my Sunshine

When mommy tells you we can’t or won’t do something, you both say, “You’ll try.”

The way you both giggle when mommy changes the color of the nail polish on her toe nails. Every. Time.

The cuteness on your faces when you drink out of a straw.

Reagan: the way you say, "What's mommy talking?!" when you don't understand what I am saying.

The way that you both wake up every morning with a smile and a pure enthusiasm for life.

Parker: When you come in from playing outside before dinner, you yell up the stairs, “Whatchoo making, mommy?!”

Reagan: when you cry and say, “All done crying!” even though you are still sobbing. And then when you do actually stop crying, you say, “EYES!” because you hate having tears in your eyes.

Reagan: your strong personality and the fact that you already have an idea about how things should go – even the little things like your outfits, mealtimes, etc.  We love your tenacity and your conviction that has already rooted itself at such a young age.  We will appreciate it even more when you are a young adult.  And you help mommy clean, cook and take care of your brother in such a sweet way.  And daddy is scared that you are going to be pretty, so good luck with that.

(2nd Birthday Party)

(bows only stay in her hair for about 3 minutes.)

(Markers gone wrong)

Parker: your easy-going, chipper spirit and your ability to make yourself and others laugh.  And your occasional bull-headedness when things are not the way you were hoping they’d be.  You are like your mommy in that way; and as much as it frustrates me at times, it will be an important quality to have later in life.  And the way that you are tactilely driven and have to touch everything (just like mommy).  And you’re hilarious.

(Bullheadedness)

("Mommy.")

(Trains. and hair.)

At the Kinsey Family Farm this weekend:

"Where are the elephants?"
"I want to see the giraffes."
"Can we take an animal home?"


October 2014 - 
Both kids now call us "Mom" and "Dad."