Thankful Day 17: Happy Birthday, Henry!

Today my little Henry is 1! I remember the day he was born so vividly. I was 12 days late, and was being induced. I remember not sleeping. My mind was racing about what my body was going to to through, racing about who this little man was going to be. We woke up super early to get ready and call the hospital to check in. I remember being so anxious.

We spent most of the day hanging out as the pitocin dripped slowly into my iv. Everything got intense after my doctor broke my water at 5:30. 5 short, but intense hours later, Henry Blaine Yarkosky entered the world.

I remember them telling me that he definitely was bigger than Jack. The first time I laid eyes on him I said, "Hi Henry! Happy Birthday, little guy! I love you!" I will never forget that little guy with all his hair!

I am so blessed to be his mama. We have had quite a year. There have been ups, there have been downs. I am amazed daily at this gentle, funny, curious and happy little guy.

Happy Birthday, Henry! I cannot wait for our next adventure!
Love,
Mama

Thankful Day 14

Today my little guy is 3 years old! I am so thankful that I get to be his mama. I have learned so much over the last few years. Jack inspires me daily to be a better mom, wife and person. Being a mom is hard work, but the rewards are tremendous.

Happy birthday, Jack! You are a blessing to me, Daddy and Henry, and everyone around you. I am proud of the little man you are becoming. Love you, Bubba!

Thankful Posts 11-12

Day 11: I am thankful for family who circle around me and my little family and give us tons love and support. We celebrated Jack's birthday on Sunday and he was so loved on.

Day 12: I am thankful for quiet, slow days off, days where I get stuff done but also get to enjoy being lazy!

Thankful Day 7-10

I got a bit behind, so here we go!

Day 7: I am thankful, that finally after months and months of waiting, we have finally signed our refinance papers! This is going to save us a ton of money each month. It is also going to help during the holidays that we don't have to make a house payment until January! YAY!!!

Day 8: I am thankful for my job. I am thankful that I get to work with amazing people and teach some pretty neat kiddos. It is amazing that I get paid to do what I love!

Day 9: I am SO thankful for date nights. I love the nights that its just me and my Yark. The time we get to focus on us and celebrate our life together. Seriously, I am one lucky lady. I am also thankful for family who babysit so we can have time to just us.

Day 10: I am thankful for Saturdays at home with my boys. I am thankful that we get to hang out, get coffee, play and relax. There is no where I would rather be.

Thankful Day 6

This may seem obvious, as today is election day, but I am thankful that I live in a country where I have the freedom to vote. I am thankful that I can freely express my opinions, that my friends can express theirs (even if their Facebook posts drive me crazy!). I am thankful that I as a woman am represented and heard.

Today is a day to celebrate our freedom, no matter who wins or loses. I am thankful to be an American.

Thankful Day 5

Today is the anniversary of Henry's due date. He did not come even close to his due date, but the first anniversary makes me think about my ability to have my own biological children. Today I am thankful for my ability to get pregnant and carry a healthy child to term.

There are so many couples who try for so long to get pregnant. There are so many couples who feel the unbearable pain of losing a pregnancy. I have felt that pain and it is one of the hardest things I have ever gone through. Going through our first pregnancy and losing it, made me worry more with my future pregnancies, but also made me that much more thankful for the blessing I had of being able to be pregnant. My heart goes out to those who struggle to have their own child, or those that have lost a pregnancy. Today I am thankful for my littles.

Lessons from a two year old

A few days ago, I asked Jack what he wanted for breakfast. His response was, "ice cream!" As much as I love ice cream and would have loved to eat ice cream with him, I told him that we do not eat ice cream for breakfast. He was not satisfied with that answer. I asked him again what he wanted for breakfast and he again responded with "ice cream!" I told him that that was not a healthy breakfast and that we could have oatmeal, a smoothie or eggs for breakfast. He decided to throw a fit.

As I listened to him cry for ice cream, a thought passed through my head, this is what I must look like to God, it must be how we all look. I later began to think more about the relationship I have with my heavenly father. I began to wonder, do I really trust Him? Do I trust that He knows whats best for me? Do I trust that when He says "no" to me, or says, "not now," that He has a better plan for me, or is protecting me?

It makes me think about my job as a parent. It is my responsibility to care for and protect my children. Part of that responsibility is saying no to unhealthy things. I know what is best for Jack right now, and ice cream for breakfast is not what is best. Ice cream for breakfast is going to lead to a sugar high and a tummy ache. I don't want Jack to be sick, so I say no, we can have ice cream later. Our relationship with God is similar. Sometimes He has to say no to us to protect us from ourselves, from the things we desire that are not good for our hearts and souls. Sometimes He has to say no to us because it just is not time.

God loves us so much that He does say no. I love Jack and Henry so much that I have to say no. Not because I am mean or don't care for their desires, but that I love them so much I want to protect them and I know what will be best for them. When God says no to my prayers, or says "not now," it is hard, but I have to trust that He knows what is best for me. It means that I have to trust His will for me, even if I sometimes don't understand. I am thankful that God loves me even when I act like a crying two year old.

Thankful Day 1-4

I am a little late on beginning my thankful posts, but late is better than never. I love seeing what people are thankful for on Facebook posts. November is such a good time to stop and reflect on all the things God has blessed us with. My hope is to stop and reflect each day on something I am thankful for. Here is my catch up!

Day 1: I am thankful for my God who loves me. I am thankful that even though I do not deserve His grace and forgiveness, that He gives it to me anyway.

Day 2: I am thankful for my husband who works so hard to provide for our family. Friday he worked a super long day. I know it is hard for him to be away from me and the little guys, but he has such a servant's heart when he leaves us. God has blessed me with an amazing man.

Day 3: I am thankful for a warm bed and clean sheets. This seems so simple, but there are so many who are struggling, that are homeless. I am thankful that I have shelter over my head, heat to keep me and my family warm. My heart especially goes out to the people who have been hit by Hurricane Sandy.

Day 4: I am thankful for my coffee today. My kiddos did not get the memo that the end of daylight savings means an extra hour of sleep. :)

What are you thankful for?

Halloween 2012

Happy Halloween! I hope you had a fun day! We sure did! It was Henry's first Halloween and the last of his "firsts" for holidays. 

Matt and I both worked, but Matt was able to come home earlier so we could head over to Proctor Treats. We got the boys dressed in their costumes. Jack took some bribing with candy. He was not so sure of the whole dressing up business. We went back and forth this year on what he was going to dress as. The last two years he was a "Jack Themed" costume; a jack-o-lantern, and a lumberjack. My plan was for him to be a Jack in the Box (not the fast food guy, the toy kind). He saw Henry's puppy costume and wanted to be a puppy with Henry. Let me tell you, I searched everywhere for a toddler dog costume. No one makes them. I was super annoyed because all there is for little boys is super heroes. Jack is just not there yet. I finally just made the decision to make him a train engineer. 

Jack and I watched a train engineer video on Youtube, and he really liked what he saw. Trains are a big part of our life right now, so he was pretty excited.  I got his costume, and we actually got him to wear it and I think he looks pretty cute!

 

For Henry this year, I decided to make him a puppy. He is always crawling around with stuff in his mouth like a dog, so it was perfect!

I tried my best to actually get pictures of the two of them looking in one direction. This is as good as it got for a picture of the two of them.

We went to Proctor Treats last year and had a ton of fun. I love seeing all the little kiddos in costumes, and even some adults. It is a fun, family friendly event and Jack had a lot of fun. Henry squealed with delight when he saw the kids in costumes. Jack became very serious about getting candy this year. It finally sunk in that this holiday is about treats and fun!

My parents joined us again this year. Taylor, my sister, had to work (at the Proctor Starbucks) so my parents grabbed her dog, Penny and dressed her as a lobster. People got a kick out of my dad walking his "dinner"!

After we loaded up with treats, we headed home and got dinner ready and the pumpkin and luminaries ready for trick or treaters. I love that at our house we get a decent amount of trick or treaters. Jack had so much fun passing out candy. He sprinted to the door every time someone knocked.

Candy thief!

It is safe to say that it was a successful Halloween. Jack had tons of fun, as did Henry and the rest of us. Jack is slowly eating his stash and keeps asking where the trick or treaters are.

I cannot believe that it is now November. Let the craziness begin! First its two birthdays, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas! I love this time of year!

Henry's First (Real) Haircut!

Henry has always had a lot of hair. I remember them handing him to me after I gave birth and just seeing all that hair! He has never been bald. It has just slowly turned colors, with some patchy balding from sleeping on his back as an infant. Having all that hair means that it grows, and grows fast!

We did a little trim at Easter, but it was time for the real deal. We headed over to Wild Child Salon for Kids. Jack loves riding in the airplane there and watching Thomas while he gets his hair cut.They are a great place for kiddos!

Here is the before picture! His hair was so long in his eyes!

When we got to the salon, Jack decided Henry should go first. Henry was a little unsure of sitting in the car, but then he saw Elmo on tv, and settled in for the ride. Let me tell you, I was preparing myself for the worst. Jack's first couple of hair cuts were so crazy! He cried and screamed the entire time. I had to hold him down on my chest for them to cut his hair. Henry was the exact opposite. He just sat there so nicely.

Oh my goodness, he is cute!!

It was a successful hair cut! He got a little "report card," that said he was quite as a mouse. I was so impressed. Here is the after picture, well as good as it gets with a moving subject to photograph.

I cannot believe how my baby now looks like a little man!