We love Daddy

Sledding at Huntley Meadows after our big snowstorm

We found deer tracks and you wanted to follow them to see the deer!

Daddy making us laugh with his, "deer calls"

Daddy brought us carmel apples for a treat from his trip

I think I am in my glory days with you. When Daddy left to see the Bears game you cried saying you wanted to go and play football. After we took him to the airport we went to music class.

Shadden: (Pointing to men playing football in a field across the street) "Daddy!! Daddy!!!"

Mommy: "Hmm? Ohh! Yes. Daddy is watching football in Chicago"

Shadden: "You! You! You!!!" (squirming in Mommy's arms)

Mommy: "You want to go see football."

Shadden: "Yeah."

Mommy: "Someday, Baby. Someday."

Singing "Thumpkin"

Dancing a Conga Line at My Gym with Daddy & Mommy

You holding onto Daddy when he returned from Chicago!

Daddy has been busy securing his spot for Best Dad of the Year and we have been loving it!!! Not sure how he can manage to stay awake after consecutive sixteen and twelve hour shifts let alone, racing through pelting snow pulling you on a sled or playing ball and all your other Daddy favorites. Oh that's right! He loves you. Heaven knows love is the best fuel. Thank you dear one, for stoking the families fuel. You are such a bright light. You bring so much goodness Daddy and I can't stop marveling at you.

Everyday there are very small moments like noticing your tiny hands rubbing together in the big kitchen sink to get clean or when you repeat me and dance and make me roll over in giggles. You have this radiant energy that just shines Jesus like none other. It's such an honor to be your Mommy. You startle me at how quickly you are learning and growing. You don't like to leave Music Class or My Gym, or say goodbye. You ask to listen to music so you can do the motions in the car seat and sing along. You stop me when you are done reading bedtime books and ready for bed saying, "nigh ouu" and get off my lap to turn off the light. Before we leave the downstairs to go upstairs for bed you remind me to turn off all the lights. You always ask for, "one more" slide run, sled run, or puppet play. You hand Daddy or Mommy the large drill and hold the small drill asking to play tools. You make us feasts from your kitchen and paint us masterpieces to tape up on the wall. You know all your colors and pronounce them and count from one to two and four. Three got left behind somewhere. Someday he'll catch up. You like to play trains and tell me, "fra" when you get frustrated when the line breaks. You know your opposites and are learning sizes. You love to play pretend and act everything out. You race your horses up mountains and fly me to the moon and stars and always remember to feed your animals along the way. You like to wear new shoes and pick out your clothes and take them off by yourself. You wake up and ask for Daddy. You like to be held and have Daddy take movies of you for you to watch saying, "see." When you see yourself, you laugh and smile. You squint your eyes when you say, "see" and motion eyes because you know you see with your eyes and hear with your ears. You still eat beans and turned down a donut asking me for an egg and apple. I want to bring out the stun gun and slow time because you only have a few more months as a one year old and it already feels like you are two going on three.

Blanford boys running around outside together

You drove your car to the neighbors houses to play