Watching

you grow up so fast... I wish I could pause time, savor the sweetness of the moments spent with each one of you, but I know I have to relish them here and now as they are given to me (in what seems like fast forward).

Lochlan: you walked around the house today holding onto one of my hands and you couldn't wipe that proud smile off your face. You kept looking up at my face to make sure I wasn't missing any of your awesomeness - and I wasn't! You may not be confident doing it all by yourself yet, but you're a walking master! When you come to me or Daddy each day and lay your head against us just wanting to be held in a quiet moment (when we sometimes steal some pretty yummy kisses, that's true), we know how special that is and we treasure every chance we get to hold you in those moments. Your quick smile and deep laugh sets the whole household to a different tune. In the morning when I hear your voice, my heart skips a little beat, because I can't wait to see you!

Declan: last night during (seriously post-bedtime) snuggle time, I started talking to you about "this and that". You put your finger to your lips and said, "Shhh, Bundle is sleeping". Then, as I laid my head next to yours on your pillow, you placed your hands on my cheeks and said, "I love you so much, Mommy". The instant tears in my eyes were from overwhelming joy - you melted my heart in that moment. After laying next to you for 10 minutes or so, while you whispered about "this and that", I yawned. You wrapped your arms around my neck pulling me as close as you could and said, "Mommy, you're so tired". Then, you shut your eyes and "pretended" to sleep (with arms still wrapped tightly around me), so that I would take my cue to close my eyes and get some rest. Oh my word...

Madigan: This afternoon, you headed to the bathroom, and paused at the gate to turn around and say, "Mommy, are you sure you don't want to come?" When I assured you that I was going to stay in the kitchen to finish making the cookies you had requested earlier, you said, "Alright then, Mommy, I'll be back in a bit." I think perhaps it was the British accent that made your comments utterly delightful to me. Then, when I sat down on the floor to stretch out my sore muscles, you meandered behind me, wrapped your arms around my neck and laid your head on my shoulder. You are so much my action-man, always on the go, always finding a way to "do" something and when you take those little pauses to love on your brothers, your mommy and your daddy, they mean more than you will ever know.

Baby K: Your consistent poking, kicking, hiccups, bouncing and jostling makes me so excited to meet you. I know you're getting anxious for some more leg room, but just hold on little buddy - only a few more weeks to go. When I came home from the midwife last week, your biggest brother said, "Mommy, did you bring Baby K home for us today?" We're ALL excited to finally get to hold you!