Crawford is FIVE

Weight- 39 lbs. 8 oz.

Height- 42.5 inches

Five. FIVE! Impossible. You, our sweet sweet Crawford boy are five years old. I feel like you have grown up SO much this past year. You are the best biggest brother and the protector of Lawson and Eve. I've been telling you that I'm not going to let you turn five, and you get so mad because you're SO excited about growing up. You are such a good boy, and we are SO PROUD OF YOU.

Here are a few things I want to remember about you at this age:

• You are SMART. Academically, you're way ahead for sure. Sure takes the pressure off me for the next year ;) 
• You still love all things construction. Like, LOVE. Diggers, cranes, cement mixers, backhoes, trackhoes, excavators, grabber excavators, etc. You know all of them and what they do and how they work. 
• You love your sister, but aren't super concerned with her. You mostly could take her or leave her. 
• I really believe you have the spiritual gift of encouragement. You are so quick to tell other people they are doing a great job - even if it is something simple.
• You like to make up songs. Like, super random songs about whatever you see or are thinking about. Usually diggers are involved. 
• You let Lawson sleep in your bed with you every night. Though, tonight (on your last night being four), you told me "when I'm five I might get longer so Lawson might need to sleep in his own bed". For the past month or so you guys say you are sleeping in the same bed so you can protect each other. 
• You are a little book worm! You love books, and I cannot wait for you to be able to read because I think it is going to blow your mind. Whenever we go to the "toy library" (which is quickly becoming our favorite place), you spend the rest of the day entranced in your books. And we gave you boys each a little book light so you can read in your bed until you fall asleep. 
• You have a tender heart, and you are always quick to pray for anyone who has a need.
• You have a sharp little attitude. I've started giving you a squirt of apple cider vinegar for back talk, etc. - and shock of ALL shocks - you think it tastes good!
• You are a joy to all of your teachers. I always love picking you up from BSF and Tuesday School because your teachers just think you are the sweetest thing ever (and you are). 
• You are excited about kindergarten! You've had it in your mind that you will start WHEN you turn five, so we'll have to figure out something to do and call school here pretty soon. We are going to be homeschooling, and you totally get that and are excited you'll get to be home with me! You have a few "school books" we have been working on, and you do such a good job. Your handwriting is getting very good.
• You love to paint and draw, especially diggers (duh). You've recently really been into doing art work (and being an "artist") and it is super fun. We've created a gallery wall of your creations in your room and I love to see your pride in your work!
• You have finally started to muster up some courage to try new foods. Peanut butter sandwiches and "daddy's cereal" are two of your new favs, and you eat them all of the time. You also ask "did I have this before and I liked it?" about what we're having for dinner a lot, and I can usually convince you that you have ;).
• You still nap! Even if you don't fall asleep, you lay down when Lawson does and "take a rest" for a good hour and a half. Thanks for that! And then you do a great job playing quietly by yourself or sometimes we do school during that time. When you do sleep bed time is definitely trickier unless we really wear you out, so I know real "nap time" is coming to an end. When you don't sleep you get mean from about dinner time to bed time and then you crash. 
• still say "meed" instead of "need" and I refuse to correct you.

Some quotes and stories I want to remember:

• "Dear God, thank you for making Chester better and then he died."
• When you saw a car on a lift at a repair garage- "Look mom! A car on a stick!"
• When an old lady walked by at the mall- "Hey! That's a rollator!" 
• Me: "what kind of day are we going to have today??"
  C: "a Wednesday"
• To random people at the pool at Sanibel in May "Hey guys! Look how big my feet are!"
• You realized the pocket in your underwear was a great place to store your toys.
• To a girl at Burger King who was going to see Finding Dory (which was to be Crawford's reward for learning how to go underwater) "Did you learn how to go underwater too?!"
• "I'm going to be a daddy when I grow up. Then I'm going to be a super hero! Then I'm going to be a stranger!"
• C: "Mommy, what do you want to be when you grow up?" Me: "your mommy!" C: "How 'bout a princess??"
• At the beach at Thanksgiving you prayed for the waves to not knock down your sand castles (overnight). The next day, "Mommy, remember how we prayed for God to send rain? God can do anything, so he can send wind to blow the waves away and not knock down my castles."
• To Ashley while moving: I'm going to go inside and see if they need my muscles. You watch Babu and make sure he doesn't pack the dog.
• Crawford: I know who should live in that castle house! The person who is in charge of our country.
  Me: The person in charge of our country in called the president.
  C: His name is Donald Trump!
  Me & David: How did you know that?!?
  C: I remembered!
• "Mom! 4 and 1 is sixteen!"
• One night (recently) you prayed "God, make daddy strong to dig big holes and mommy strong to hold big pans."

Whew. I love you, buddy. The Lord has given you such a sweet disposition and I know he has giant plans for your life. I feel so honored that He chose me to be your mom, and even more that I get to spend every day alongside you as you grow and develop. You are a treasure! 

Eve is {11 months}

Weight- 16 lbs. 10oz.

I actually know your weight this month because we've been to the doctor several times lately. Girlfriend, you have had an ear infection (well, two) that you just can't seem to kick! I'm hopeful that you're on the mend now. You are a tough little cookie though! There were a few terrible nights of lots of tears, but during the day I could just tell you weren't comfortable. 

At 11 months old, you...

• love music! You just bop along to the beat anytime you hear music play.
• drop your paci in your crib after nap time.
• have about 3.5 teeth, and they are all on the bottom!
• love bubbles! I was in your BSF class one week and you just looooved when we blew bubbles.
• say mama and are starting to say some other consonant sounds. We've heard a dada here and there.
• play so contentedly in the boys room and the play room, and in life in general. You are just so easy going and easy to please. Downstairs you love to get into the dog bowls and the bathrooms, but you can usually be distracted by food.
• pretty much love to eat anything. I have to be very thoughtful and intentional though or you end up just snacking on veggie straws and Cheerios. oops. But you love veggies!
• wear your hair in a tiny little pony tail sprout sometimes, and I cannot get enough of it! I know it's pretty silly, but I just adore every bit of girlie-ness in you! We are going to have so much fun together, baby girl!
• take a solid morning nap when we are home (usually around 10 for 1.5hours), and if we are out you'll fall asleep in your car seat for a short bit and be fine until the afternoon. Seriously, you're a trooper. I aim for 2 for your afternoon nap and 7:15ish for bedtime.
• still nurse quite a bit, and I'm so glad. I'm no where near done, so I hope you're game for a bit longer. 
• learned how to "blow kisses" and you just smack on your tongue. It is stinking CUTE. 

I cannot even believe the next update will be when you turn ONE. Daddy keeps telling people you are "almost one" and I don't think I'm going to allow you to have a birthday ever. It is literally impossible to imagine our lives before you, our girl!