3x2 = Yes, S-I-X!

Today I'm thankful for my three kiddos...

Breck Reid - 4.5 years old

Adelaide Pearl - 2.75 years old

Ainslee Rose - 1 year old

And the opportunity to babysit for some friends' kiddos...

Girl - 4.5 years old

Boy 1 - 2 years old

Boy 2 - 6 months

We decided to have a babysitter swap - we got their kids tonight, they get our kids tomorrow.  Hopefully this will be the start of occasional date nights for all of us!

It's interesting, because I've always wanted a large family - and six has been kinda the perfect number in my mind.  More recently we've talked about how difficult a larger family could be, and that for a while we'd like to wait before deciding if we have any more.  Nothing's changed on that front, but it was just interesting having 6 tonight... Not saying we'll ever have six, or even ever have more than our 3, but it was fun to have lots of energy and excitement for a night!

Hugs N' Kisses

Today I am thankful for crying kids - and the lack thereof this morning!

Nearly everyday for the past week or two, one of the older two (Breck and/or Adelaide) has come running out of the house when I leave for work to:

1.  Say they need a kiss and a hug

OR, (and this has been more prevalent, and what melts my heart:)

2. Come screaming out of the house to tell me that I forgot to give the other, or Ainslee, or Mommy a hug and a kiss.

Mind you, in the past two weeks, I have never failed to give anyone a hug or a kiss, unless they were still sleeping - and with 3 kiddos under 4, that HARDLY ever happens.

On some days, this has been frustrating because I am hurrying, or I worry about sending them back to Amber crying and upset - but overall this reminds me that my kids LOVE me!!  And, not only do they love me, they love EACH OTHER, because they are worried if their siblings or mommy haven't gotten their share of love from Daddy.

This morning, I was able to escape with no cries.... (I did have pass out 5 rounds of lovin' before I shot out the door!)

So, I am thankful that my kids make me feel love and accepted, even when there are days I might forget or not feel super loved and appreciated!

Long time Coming....

So, I looked back, and the last time I posted, I only had one kid - Breck!  Now, I have 2 daughters, Adelaide and Ainslee, to add to the mix of thankfulness, craziness, and fun!

Amber, my wife, has been encouraging me to remember the things I am thankful for - which reminded me that I had started (if you can call my previous feeble attempt a start!) a blog documenting what I am thankful for about being a dad.  So, I am going to again use this medium as a place to express my daily thanks for the things that I DO have in my life - my wife, my kids, my job, etc.

Today, I am thankful that for 3 days in a row Amber has made me a delicious lunch to have at work, and that keeps me on track as we are progressing through an Advocare 24 Day Challenge - 2 1/2 days down!

I am also thankful for the funny things that Adelaide says - yesterday was a happy day for her - she was telling stories, laughing and joking, not always the norm for a 2 year old little girl!

So - this is the first day of a new habit in showing thanks!  Hope you enjoy!

March 17, 2011

Dear Breck -

It, again, has been FAR too long since I wrote... Thanks for being understanding (I guess right now, you don't even comprehend, but I am hoping that someday when you read this, you will be understanding!)

So, there have been lots of fun things you have been doing lately.  LOTS of walking!  Lots of "talking" on the phone (or actually, any object that is small enough to be held to your ear, markers, remote controls, blocks, even the occasional bobby pin!).  And you are so cute when you talk.  You say "O" for "Hello," and then you jabber on and laugh and grunt!  It is the best!

You also have been OBSESSED with ceiling fans and light fixtures on the ceiling.... Poppa taught you to say "Go" when he would spin the blades of his ceiling fan, and so now you are always say "go" when you see something on the ceiling.  Also, when we ask you what a ceiling fan says, you shake your head back and forth, and make a "Revving" noise... very cute.

So, all in all, you are just SO much fun!

Thanks for being the best!  I love you soooooo much!

love you buddy!

love,

Dad

February 22, 2011

Dear Breck -

Thanks for learning how to walk... it is GREAT!!  And, wow, you are walking EVERYWHERE!  It is amazing how fast it all started!  Tonight we even went to the mall to let you walk and play at the Breakfast Food Playground!  You sort of stumbled around for a few days, and now all of the sudden you are whizzing around like a pro!  You sure are cool!  You also are really seeming to pick up more words... granted they are still garbled, but they are there!  Today Mommy and I got to go have an ultrasound of Baby B².  It was SO COOL!  Though we can't tell yet if you are having a brother or a sister, you can see all the amazing little parts of the baby!  God sure is pretty amazing in the way he creates us!

Well, Mommy is putting you to bed, and that means we will be going soon also!

I love you buddy!

love,

Dad

February 15, 2011

Dear Breck -

Thanks for the spontaneous kiss Sunday night!  That made my day!  I wasn't even expecting a kiss, I was just bending towards you tie your hat under your chin, and you just leaned right back, and gave me a great big kiss!  You certainly know how to make your daddy feel special!

I love you buddy!

love,

Dad

February 14, 2011

Dear Breck -

Sorry I haven't written in a few days - Mommy was sick with Food Poisoning, and it has just been a little busy!  Plus, I haven't made it a "habit" yet to blog daily.... I am working on it!

Today is Valentine's Day - truly one of the silliest holidays on the face of the planet!  I know, I know, it is all about telling someone you love them, but I don't need a special day, with lots of marketing and pressure for me to buy, in order for me to tell the people I love that I love them... Oh well... Your mommy and I do celebrate, just a little to make it fun, but we definitely don't go as over the top as some!

You have been taking more steps lately, and been even more cuddly!  I sure do love you, boy.... so, even though Valentine's isn't my favorite, I am glad that you (and your mommy, of course) are my valentines!

I love you buddy!

love,

Dad

February 7, 2011

Dear Breck -

Thanks for calling everything you love Da-Da... you call your Mama, your Bearpo, your Pacifier, your Bottle, pretty much anything you want, you call it Da-Da.  Sure makes me feel loved - but I also know it is just one of the easiest sounds to make, and since you are so smart, I don't expect you to do it forever, but thanks for doing while you do!

I love you buddy!

Love,

Dad

February 6, 2011

Dear Breck -

Thanks for loving to walk EVERYWHERE!  You are so funny lately with your desire to walk... you haven't quite managed to walk without support (only a few short steps), but that hasn't stopped you from finding things to support you and let you get around - whether it is your toy designed to walk behind, a laundry basket that slides easily, the kitchen trash can, a box of diapers, or this morning you discovered that your highchair has wheels and you could push it through the kitchen, into the entryway, and then down the hall back to the dining room. You are so great!  And not only do you walk, you STEER - so you hardly ever get caught on things in your way, you just plant your feet, adjust the direction of your "walker" and keep pushing!  I can't wait to see when you actually walk!

I love you buddy!

love,

Dad

February 4, 2011

Dear Breck  -

Thanks for making long days at work all better!  I LOVE getting to come home and see you and mommy - you always make me happy, because you are always excited to see me - you smile, and grunt, and bounce, and crawl to me - all at once!  You sure know how to make someone feel loved!

I can't wait to see you when I come home in just a few minutes - today has been long, and I need a Breck-fix!

I love you buddy!

love,

Dad

February 2, 2011

Dear Breck -

Thanks for cuddling with me on your bedroom floor this morning - even if it was just for a second!  :-)  You have never been super cuddly - - the excitement of the world around you has always held a stronger enticement than the desire to lay your head down - - but this morning (and quite a bit more over the last few weeks, to be honest) you have been willing to rest for just a second, and cuddle with me or mommy - so thanks for that!

We did get the big snow storm that was predicted - we got about 13", and there is about 18" on our back deck now from the blowing and drifting.  So, today I got to stay home with you and mommy!  We will play and have fun, and maybe venture outside for a minute?  Though you aren't a big fan of snowsuits, cold, and snow yet...

Hope you are having sweet dreams, as you are napping as I write!

I love you buddy!

love,

Dad

February 1, 2011

Dear Breck -

Thanks for getting us up in the morning... If it weren't for you, I might sleep all day! Even though I am still usually (always) late to work, now it's because I like to spend time cuddling with you and mommy in bed, instead of just sleeping too long.

Today we are supposed to get a HUGE snow storm - there is a Blizzard warning, and we could get 10-14 inches.... Indiana already has gotten a lot of ice last night, so we will see if it makes it up here!

Here is a picture of you early this morning... you don't usually scowl, you actually are pretty smiley, but the flash was bright on my phone. Even if you only scowled, I would still love you tons!

I love you buddy!

love,

Dad

January 31, 2011

Dear Breck -

You have been here for just over a year, and I love being your dad! I am so thankful for you - but I don't have a great way of recording just how thankful I am. Your mommy is VERY good about her blog, but I haven't ever taken the time to keep one myself... Til tonight. I was reading another friends' blog, where everyday she (tries to) write a simple note to her son (who is just a little older than you!) telling him what she is thankful about him for. It inspired me.  So, I am going to try to do something kind of the same for you - so you always know just how much I LOVE you, and LOVE getting to be your friend and dad! So, I will start with notes to you, and as you have brothers and sisters (which is only a few months away), I will expand to them as well... I may not always have the best pictures, though I will try to get some - or steal some from mommy - but the point is going to be just to let you, and your future brother/sister(s) know how much I Love you!

I love you so much buddy! I can't wait to always be your best friend!

Love,

Dad