2013: Year in Review

Last year at this time, Banner was 18-months old, I was in pain with RA, and I was pregnant but didn't know it yet. And again, how things have changed! All GOOD! 2013 was a fabulous year! It brought so many amazing things and people into our lives, and I am grateful for such a blessed year.

This year:

• We found out I was pregnant only five days in to the new year. We celebrated our little bun in the oven and tried to keep it a secret.
• Then, we got to tell the world we were expecting! 
• We enjoyed lots of Mommy & Me time at "Banner's school," lots of play dates, story times at the library, and days up at the rec center.
• Nami was born, and we got to love and celebrate him!
• In April, we were able to share the news that we already knew - we were having another BOY!
• In May, I wrote about how my RA symptoms were mostly disappearing altogether. I was feeling so much better, and I continue to enjoy this relief that pregnancy brought me still today!
• We got to know and spend time with Blaire throughout the summer and this fall.
• We celebrated Banner's 2nd birthday. His splash park party got rained out, but it didn't stop us from having a blast indoors. 
• Sam's firm celebrated it's first full year.
• Uncle Marc & Aunt Debbi moved home, and we've enjoyed spending time with Michael, Brian, and Natalie when they get to visit.
• We enjoyed a summer full of "Camp Mommy" activities.
• Nami had his first surgery and did great!
• We had one too many garage sales - okay, four too many! Man, I hate those - but we did make a little bit of money.
• We found out Aunt Kira and Uncle Erick were going to give Banner and Quinn a baby cousin!
• We had a ceremony at the cemetery and unveiled Bubbie's headstone. 
• I survived the hottest months of the year while 7, 8, and 9-months pregnant.
• Banner started pre-school, he moved into his own big boy bedroom, and he got a new brother all in the same three weeks!
• Sam and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary. 
• We said goodbye to our life as a family of three.
• We welcomed Quinn Redding! And, oh my GOODNESS, we are in love!
• We made a wear-able ice cream truck that was barely worn. :)
• We raced for a cure again.
• We gave Quinn his Hebrew name. 
• We enjoyed visits from our out-of-town friends. 
• We celebrated every holiday with friends, family, and each other - from Passover (when I was miserably sick with allergies) to 4th of July to "Thanksgivikkah."
• In November, we were told my RA was/is in remission! Hallelujah!
• We donated to another Angel Tree Angel.
• The Ice Storm of '13 hit us, and we enjoyed 5 straight days in the house - with hot chocolate, "farshfallows," "some mores," and lots of fires in the fireplace.
• We watched Pitch Perfect more times than anyone should be allowed, we have memorized most Yo Gabba Gabba and Team Umizoomi episodes, and we can break into "The Ice Cream Truck Song" at any given moment.
• And, we celebrated birthdays of our friends, our cousins, our aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

And although both my boys have colds right now, we continue to feel and be so very blessed with all the amazing things that 2013 brought. It's always hard for me to say goodbye to the years that brought significant, life-changing events. 2009 - our wedding year, 2011 - Banner's birth, and 2013 - Quinn's birth. Years of change, years of transition, years of growth and excitement. I will bottle up all these feelings of joy, elation, gratitude, and love - and I'll take them with me into the coming year. I'm looking forward to seeing what 2014 will bring. I'm hoping it will bring continued excellent health and happiness. I'm hoping it will bring some exciting adventures for each of us - at work, at home, traveling maybe? It's sure to be a year of firsts for Quinn, of more learning, discovery, and friendship for Banner, and hopefully of more sleep for Sam and me!

Happy, Healthy New Year to you and yours!

Best Big Brother

I have to brag a little about Banner and what a fabulous big brother he is. I was terribly worried about how having Quinn would change my sweet boy, that he'd resent his little brother or Sam and me for having a baby when he was used to being the center of our world. Sam and I were talking tonight, though, about how lucky we are that Banner truly cares about and loves his baby brother. We were sharing some of the awesome things Ban does or says when it comes to Quinn, and I wanted to take a minute to just jot them down - for me to remember and for Banner and Quinn to see one day when they are older. I've already written about how Banner was handling the transition to big brother a couple months ago, but since then, he's fallen even more in love with Quinn.

The other night, my mom kept Quinn so we could stay at a Christmas Eve function longer with just Banner - rather than having to hurry home to get Quinn to bed or to unnecessarily agitate Quinn with lots of noise, people, and a late bedtime. After we left the event, on our drive home, Banner asked where Quinn was. "He is staying at Grandma and Papa's house tonight, remember?" I replied. "No, I want my Quinn with me. He needs to be at our house with Mommy and Daddy and Banner, " he demanded. I told him that it was Quinn's turn to have a night just by himself at Grandma and Papa's house - just like Banner has done before Quinn was born. The next morning, when I got home from picking Quinn up from my mom's, Banner was ecstatic to welcome Quinn home. He was waiting by the back door when I walked in, and he yelled, "Welcome home! I love you!"

 Other times, Banner is just so protective and possessive of Quinn. Yesterday, I met a dear friend of mine for lunch with her two boys. As her two-year-old reached for the cap to Quinn's bottle, Banner snapped, "No! That's Quinn's!" (And he says it so emphatically, with a heavy enunciation on the "QU"... "That's QUinn's!!!") This happens pretty much any time any of Banner's peers want to see, touch, or play with Quinn or "his" things. He even snaps at Sam or me sometimes when something of Quinn's is offered to Banner - a toy, a towel, a blanket. "That's QUinn's!"

And, this morning, I knew Banner's love for Quinn was so true, pure, and deep when he went to give Quinn a kiss. Kisses are abundant from Banner. He takes every opportunity to kiss on his little brother whenever the chance presents itself. He likes to lay in Quinn's crib with him and kiss on him; he likes to lay on the play mat near him to reach for a kiss; he likes to lean in to his car seat and give him a smacker; and almost every time Quinn is in the bouncer, Banner can be found bending down to kiss him. Well, this morning, Banner had a very runny nose. As I was pouring his cereal, Banner knelt down next to Quinn in the bouncer and was hovering over him trying to kiss his mouth. I asked him not to do that because I didn't want him to get Quinn sick. "Oh, Banner, please don't get in his face like that when you don't feel well." Immediately, Banner burst into tears, "But, I want to give him a kiss," he whined through his crying. Oh, my heart - it burst, it melted, it broke, it hurt - all at the same time. I felt so awful for stopping him, and I felt so overwhelmed at the love I could see Banner has for his Quinn. I told him he could kiss him all he wanted but to do it on his forehead, and that appeased him.

I'm just one proud mom. I love watching Quinn watch Banner. I love how Quinn is becoming responsive to his big brother. I love watching Banner light up when Quinn smiles at him. I love watching Banner be so tender, affectionate, and calming for Quinn. Sure, there are times when he has scared Quinn with his incessant, ear-piercing screams, but mostly Banner is so loving and sweet to him. I love hearing Banner say in his sing-song, soprano voice, "It's okay, Quinn. Don't cry. You're okay," as he tries to calm him when he fusses. I love how he wants to hold his hand, see him, greet him, and just LOVE him. True that this could end any moment - certainly when Quinn is mobile and wanting Banner's toys - but for now, I'll take it! So far, we're off to an amazing start thanks to Banner, the best big brother.

Holiday Highlights

Time to write gets away from me these days, but we are still busy and out and about this holiday season. We've been busy this week with lots of fun stuff - and some "Camp (Winter) Mommy" activities (more on that soon). But, we've mostly enjoyed time with family and friends doing our annual/traditional activities. No time to write a lot, so let these pictures speak for me. (I also realized I never posted Thanksgiving pics, so we'll start with those!)

Mr. Quinn at his first Thanksgiving

The boys were wearing "football helmets"

Sweet Brycen

Quinn fell asleep on Aunt Mischelle

Uggy and Nami

Feeling Baby Cousin

Annual Tree Pic

With Uncle Jason & Aunt Gayle on Thanksgiving night

With Vicki on Thanksgiving night

This is what "hanging out" looks like at our house. Caden talking with Uncle Sage while Kira enjoys some nice ball tossing over the "bump"!

And Mara listening intently to Banner

Quinn trying to figure out what is going on with all these people!

Silly aunts

Nami getting around the playroom!

The youngest cousins

With Jeff & Brooke

The sibs and their kids - sorry, Trey, I know you'd rather not appear in a blog post

There you are again, Trey!

Candlelight 2013 at Old City Park

My Love all snuggled up in the cold

Sam's favorite - the blacksmith

This year we went to the Chinese lantern festival for the first time

Christmas Eve - Uncle Brock and Brycen

Emma, Banner, Drew, Bennett, and Mallory at the "kids" table

"CHEEESE!" - what he says/does when he sees me about to take a pic

Colby playing with Quinn at Zaide's Christmas morning

Playing ball with Zaide

Trying to get a good pic with Mr. Quinn