Finally.

We've been a part of an investment for over 2.5 years, and it finally filed yesterday.  We're super excited to see what God has in store for us and cannot wait for the things to come.  Wahoo!!!

We started today by going to the aquarium with Grandpa, Grandma, and Aubrey.  The kids had so much fun.  We were chasing them around the entire time, I wasn't able to take any pictures, but trust me when I say they had way too much fun.  The second we got to the car, Leah asked if we could go back again.  We'll have to do it again very soon!

We ate a very messy dinner, and played with slime tonight.  Leah loved making hand and foot prints in it and sticking it to her legs.  Brayden wanted nothing to do with it, and actually cried when it touched him.  It's so funny to see him act that way, as normally nothing bothers him.  

Tonight Brayden refused to nurse before going to bed.  My feelings were a little hurt... I cannot believe how big he is getting.  He's almost 18 months old and isn't nearly as attached to nursing as Leah was.  I am going to try to nurse him until at least 2 years, but I don't know if he'll want to go that long.  He's almost always sleeping through the night now, which is amazing.  I didn't do anything different, just nurse him whenever he woke up and eventually he decided to go longer and longer.  It's a nice change!!  

My babies are growing up.  It's so much fun watching their personalities blossom.  I am so proud to be their mother, and I am so very blessed to call them my babies.  Cavan is such an amazing dad and husband.  I am truly fortunate to have him by my side for the rest of my life.

Show Love.

We figured out a few things about Leah the past week, and they seem to be working.  Every single morning, we would have a meltdown before we even made it downstairs.  This made the start of our morning, well... awful.. every single morning.  As much as I didn't want it to, it kind of set the mood for the day, and it was so draining.  I found the culprit... clothes.

Every morning, she would cry because she wanted to wear something she couldn't... on a freezing cold day, she wanted to wear a sun dress, or on a hot day, she wanted to wear a thick sweater.  If her socks didn't match her shirt she would cry.  If her shirt didn't match her pants - she would cry.  If her underwear didn't match her pants.. yep, you guessed it - she would cry.

I started getting her outfit ready the night before last week.  I showed her what I selected and made it seem really neat.  She was so excited by the morning to wear what I picked out for her, she didn't cry!  I was, and still am, amazed!  We have had 4 cry free mornings this week!  It is amazing!!!

We also started doing a reward system.  She has a "star chart" now.  Every single time I see her doing something nice, or she listens to me, or she is sweet to Brayden, she gets a star.  If she misbehaves she gets a star taken away.  If she gets all 8 stars by the end of the day she gets to stay up late and do a special project with just Mommy and Daddy.

So far, 5 out of the last 7 days, she was able to do a project.  I am in shock at how much this is working.  She is less whiney, crying less, she is being nicer to Brayden, and she is listening better.  It is so nice being able to say, "Leah if you aren't going to listen to Mommy, then I have to take a star away and we wont be able to paint tonight."  She almost always straightens up.  It is so very nice.

It is so nice to have these little "tools" to help us enjoy each other so much more.  I am so proud of Leah.  She is such a big girl, and she is growing up so well.

Brayden is hilarious.  He is starting to talk more which is totally adorable.  He still dances like crazy, and he only rarely has a little temper tantrum (but it's pretty funny when he does).  He loves cars, and could play outside all day long.  He is so sweet and snuggly, I just love him.

He is starting to sleep really well, which is amazing!!!  He still has a couple random nights where I am upstairs 2-4 times at night, but there are also much more frequent nights where he sleeps from 7pm until 5-6am!  It is amazing.  Now, if I could only get him to sleep in just a tiny bit!!!

The weather has been amazing lately.  We went to the beach again today, and the kids had so much fun.  Leah actually got brave enough to stick her feet into the freezing cold water.  She ran back and forth yelling and laughing the entire time.  It was so amazing to see how much fun she was having.  I love how much our kids love the outdoors.  Brayden was digging and eating sand the entire time.. I sure hope he outgrows that soon!!

Anyway... enjoy the pictures.  My camera battery was dead, so I didn't get any of the beach today, which was honestly a little refreshing since I got to run and play with the kids a bit more.

She loves him!

For the last 17 (almost 18) months, I have been very confident in the fact that Leah does not like Brayden, let alone, love him.  The past few days, she has changed my thoughts.  Occasionally I will see her hugging him, and not the -quick squeeze him as hard as I can then throw him to the ground kind of hug- but a sincere sweet hug.

Today, she did more than I ever thought she would.  I was in the other room, and glanced over to the kids playing in the pool (yes we have a pool in the house filled with balls and pillows), only to see Brayden snuggled up in Leah's lap.  Her back was to me, but I heard her clear as day, "I love you too, Buddy.  You're so beautiful.".  I melted, and grabbed my camera (of course!!!).  They sat like that for a few minutes while Leah stroked Brayden's hair.

Wow.  I am in shock.  I love it, and am praying this continues.  Her love towards her little brother kind of ended right after that sweet display, but I have been seeing more and more glimpses of it lately.  Oh I just love it!

We had a great few days, including a fun Valentines Day starting with heart shaped strawberries and pancakes for breakfast.  We have been enjoying the wonderful weather by playing outside and going to the beach.  What a wonderful life.  Enjoy the pictures (click the photo to make it bigger, I just uploaded a lot more than normal, and didn't want to take up too much space)!