Ezra - 2.5

And then there's this guy. In the full swing of being 2. He has recently decided that he is potty trained (what!? I didn't even have to do anything!) He loves to assert his independence and loudly declare "I do it!" about everything. He's also practicing his negotiation skills to try and get more jelly beans for going potty. I know you wouldn't guess it by this face, but also a little bit of a troublemaker and instigator of all things naughty.

What's your favorite color? Um, red!

What's your favorite toy? Um, my big Christmas tow truck.

What's your favorite thing about Mommy? Play with me.

What's your favorite thing about Daddy? Play with him.

What do you want for your birthday? A Tow Mater and a Lightning!

What's your favorite thing to eat? Drink juice and eat food.

What do you like to do with Cohen? Play big rigs and cars with him.

Do you want to go to school when you grow up? Yeah. Like Cohen. 

What do you want to do at school? Play blocks.

Why don't you like to stay in bed at night? Because I love you.

What's your favorite movie? Minions! 

How come you don't like to wear clothes? Because.

We attempted to take a few pictures of the boys for Gramma for Christmas. Ezra was feelin' the baby modeling. I told him to go stand up against the fence and the second picture is what he did. His first model pose. 

Cohen - 4.5 years old

This boy...he's getting so grown up and so smart. He's working on all kinds of things and making great progress at them. He is Mr. Serious and Literal who insists that we are NOT allowed to say "Say cheese" when taking a picture because cheese is a food in the refrigerator. A

nd also Mr. Goofball who likes toot noises and silly faces.

I thought I would ask him a few things and see what he said...He yelled these all back from the bathroom.

What's your favorite color? White and brown and grey and black

What's your favorite food? Mac and cheese

Why don't you sleep at night? Because...it's because...I don't like to sleep at night.

What's your favorite animal? Horses.

What's your favorite toy? My animals.

What's your favorite number? 9. (always 9 - When playing hide and seek he insists on counting to exactly 9, never more or less).

What's your favorite thing about Daddy? Playing.

What's your favorite thing about Mommy? I like to play with Daddy. (alrighty then).

What's your favorite thing about Ezra? Playing with him. I like to play big rigs.

Do you like school? No. 

What's your favorite book? Poop book. (Look inside your body book)

What are you going to be when you grow up? A man.

What are you doing in there? We're just cleaning the bathroom...

We interrupt this interview to see what kind of disaster "cleaning the bathroom" means.  

Oh, Christmas Tree 2015!

The Saturday after getting home from Utah, we went for my sister and sister in law's birthday breakfast and then Christmas tree hunting. Cohen wanted all the tiny trees (and tried to pull them out like big weeds, his summer fascination)

 

The boys LOVED riding in the wagon, I wish the next one wasn't blurry, they were loving it!

And then they couldn't wait to get home to decorate it! The biggest tree we've had in our little house in years! 

Teeny Tears Headquarters Trip

This past week, I got the chance to take the trip of a lifetime! We hopped on a plane and headed to Utah to meet THE ladies behind Teeny Tears, the diaper organization who has played such an important role in my life over the last 4 years. Originally, my mom made plans to go, asked me if I wanted to go, I didn't think there was any way I would be able to get away. BUT, thanks to my wonderful family and friends, we were able to work it out. But we kept it a surprise for Megan, who had NO idea I was coming. Her reaction was so worth it, she was definitely surprised. One of the best surprises ever.

(Diaper example)

We got to spend a few days with Megan and Vanessa, the ringleaders of Teeny Tears seeing all the "behind the scenes" stuff and helping them out with a few things. While we were there, they held a diaper party and there were several people that we "knew" online that we got to meet in person. It was such a special, encouraging day. I also got to meet another fellow TTTS mom that I knew but had never met. We processed 1000 diapers and made 2500+ tiny hats!

I also got to meet THIS amazing little fellow. Megan's son, a fellow TTTS surviving twin, just like Cohen. This kid is a fighter, through and through. I love him to pieces and may have shed a few tears when he popped through the door after school.

I give these ladies and tiny diapers a lot of credit for helping me keep my sanity over the 4 years. At a time when I could have fallen into a dark hole that I would have struggled to get out of, I threw myself into late night emails to Megan dreaming about how we could diaper the whole world. I sewed many tiny diapers to mail out. I found something productive and positive to do with my grief and love for Carter. I also found hope and friends who had walked similar paths.

As we found ourselves saying ALL week "Teeny Tears is about so much more than diapers". It's about healing and hope and community. In a world that can seem so dark these days, it's so great to know this group of amazing people exists that want to help make things just a little better for families in an incredibly difficult time. Many of the volunteers making diapers (and hats and blankets) are baby loss parents, grandparents, aunties etc. Some of them found the project after they themselves received a diaper and came to the group to start making them themselves. It's amazing what Teeny Tears has grown into.

It was so, so great to get to meet these ladies in person. It sounded a little crazy to jump on a plane and go meet our "internet friends", but I'm so, so glad that I was able to go. One of the best trips of my life. It feels a little bit like leaving summer camp and hoping and praying you get a chance to see your friends again someday.