Love is...

this guy.

watching him grow.  watching him discover. 

he changed my life.  he taught me so much -

 how to laugh, how to play, how to live, 

but most of all, 

how to love.

Thank you so much my special boy, my Leon.

P.S. This is part of my 12 for 2012 project.  The theme was "love is..." and the technique was creative angles.

Total Stud Muffin

Leon just got some new church clothes.  He got his first tie.  He was totally stoked about it.  He loves Kyle's ties.  He's so handsome - a total stud muffin, in my opinion.

A little too often...

We've found Leon like this a lot lately. 

It's been happing a little more often than it ought too. Leon is transitioning to taking no naps.  I usually still make him take one, but then it means he goes to bed around 9 or 10.  If he doesn't take a nap then he goes to bed around 7:30 or 8.  It depends on the day what works best of us.  Luckily, it hasn't been too bad.

These Boys of Mine

I love 'em.  They light up my day.  I mean, who on this earth, couldn't get enough of seeing these sweet faces?

Leon LOVES Grady do much!  A little too much at times.  We constantly are telling him to be gentle and soft.  He just loves to hug, kiss, and hold hands with Grady but he doesn't know his own stregnth.  Fortunely, he isn't much of a fan of holding Grady.  The above picture is probably the 3rd time Leon has ever held Grady.

Leon got a Lightning McQueen coat, hat, and gloves from Grandma and Grandpa Allen for his brithday.  He thinks it pretty cool.  I taught Leon how to put his coat on by himself by having him put it on the floor, putting his hands in the sleeves, and then swinging it over his head.  It's pretty impressive.  Everytime he does it, he gets a big smile on his face and says "TA-DAAA!"

Grady likes watching Leon.  However, he looks at him like he's crazy most of the time.  I don't blame him.  I often wonder what that little baby is thinking in that big head of his.

Grady has a smile that lights up the WHOLE room.   He loves to laugh and smile when I'm talking to him.  He also loves to be loved on by mommy.  His eyes are so sweet.  They're so glassy and beautiful.  They're still brown but recently I've been seeing a little bit of green, like his mommy's.  Most of his thick, dark hair has fallen out now.  He still has a bit in the very back.  It fall out in patches so he looked a little funny for a little while, but it's growing back in - and it's still pretty dark.  He looks so much like Leon at times. 

You can see more of Grady's sweet smile by clicking here.

Grady's Blessing

Grady's baby blessing was this past Sunday.  He was pretty happy about it.

For those of you who may not know what a baby blessing is - it is when a baby is given blessings and his/her name during a special prayer performed typically by the father and other priesthood holders. It's a special day for the family.  Some of the things Kyle felt inspired by the spirit to bless Grady with were these:

• Continued health, contentment, and to grow strong
• A knowledge that your Heavenly and Earthly parents love you
• The knowledge to know that you are a Child of God
• A desire to seek wisdom
• To be a support to your mother and brother
• To seek guidance from your mentors
• To seek knowledge and learning (epecially of the gospel)
• A knowledge that service in the Lord's church leads to happiness
• To serve a full time mission
• And to be sealed to a worthy companion in the temple for time and all eternity

It was a beautiful blessing.  I feel very grateful for these things.  I felt so much love for Kyle, my family, and for my Heavenly Father and my Savior.   It was special day and I'm thankful that Kyle's family was so willing to come and be apart of it.

P.S.  And a special thanks to my SIL, Candy, for taking down a few notes

of the blessing so I'd be able to look back and remember it.