3...already?

We celebrated Jackson's 3rd birthday early this year with a Diego party at the beach. (Our desert 'beach' means near the river :) )  He's been asking for a Diego party for months now, and since we'll be in Canada on his actual birthday (Oct. 25), we decided to have it early and on a weekend when much of our extended family was in town. We actually had a weekend full of parties, Friday being uncle Kale's b-day, Saturday-Jackson's, and Sunday-Kit's Nanny's 90th b-day! So we ate a lot of cake and had a lot of fun.

So excited to be 3 that he held up 4 fingers instead!

My sweet niece at only 6 days old!

The party poopers!

The party animals!

Among our family that came to town, we got to meet our second cousins Liam and Ansley (2 months older than Hudson), and the newest member of our family, cousin Adah (6 days old). We also had a small family of bats attend, which we didn't know about until the end of the party and noticed the pile of bat droppings forming all around the birthday cake! Gross! Thankfully, they stayed in their little huddle and slept the whole time.

DC Trip

 A little over a week ago, we took a day trip to Washington DC with some friends. It was a fast and furious trip, but we had a good time walking the mall and seeing some of the monuments and the White House. We ate Lebanese food for the first time, walked in and around Dupont circle for far too long (wasn't planned), witnessing a cell-phone robbery, and road on the Metro subway (Jackson's first time and highlight for the day). We really look forward to bringing the kids back when they are older and can enjoy the museums and monuments more. It really is a beautiful place with much more to do than we could squeeze in a few hours with young kids.

Strolling down the "mall"

Strolled a lot that day!

Chasing squirrels

Seeing his first subway train!

Our Life as Nomads

We're coming up on the end of our term in Virginia. For the most part, it has flown by because it has been quite eventful! We had 3 weeks of major adjustment to our new temporary home, 2 viruses, 1 case of hand-foot-mouth disease, an earthquake (5.8), AND a hurricane (good ol' Irene). 

The boys have loved their school (minus Hudson's daily 60 second separation anxiety at "drop-off") which has really made it easier for us to be away from them much of the day. Being social butterflies (not sure where they got that from?), they have also loved being around people all the time. After school, we usually have some family time, then dinner (cafeteria style), play on the playground for an hour or two, and then do the family bed-time routine. So they get plenty of interaction with other kids and adults which has improved both of their language skills. 

Hudson has finally started saying some words other than Mama & Dada. He’s added ball (Ba), Bye-bye (he’s heard this too much lately L), up, dog (daw), and a few others that only Kit and I understand. Jackson has already been quite the talker and never lacked in this area. But we have noticed even more added vocabulary and understanding of new concepts that has been interesting to watch. He loves school and I think the structure has been very good for him. He comes home every day singing a new song or saying a new poem and retells the bible story of the week for us most nights. There are 4 great playgrounds here which he would live at if we’d let him and he loves to try and play soccer and Frisbee with the big kids. 

Big Life Changes Coming SOON!

Life is about to get really crazy-busy and just plain crazy! We are soon going to start a 2-month travel period, then 2 months of training, and then we'll be moving to South Asia in October! I'm slowly starting to prepare by tackling the closets and sorting all our junk and treasures as we decide what goes, stays, and needs to be sold. It is pretty exciting for me because it means our time is getting close. We've been praying about this for so long and with all the emotional ups and downs, part of me is just ready to go. I hate goodbyes but at the same time I'm trying to savor our last days and moments at home with our loved ones so we leave with good memories and full hearts!

Our day to day life is drastically improving (from my viewpoint) this week. Hudson has FINALLY started sleeping all night without us having to go in multiple times to "re-plug" his paci b/c despite being almost one, he is somehow "unable" to do it himself. So this last weekend I was fed-up of being tired of being tired, frustrated by a failed attempt at potty training jackson, and just ready to be over these two big milestones for the kids and for me! So after refreshing myself with a much needed review of Baby Wise II, I was armed and ready to turn this house into baby/toddler bootcamp! Things have gone so well with it all. We took away Mr. Paci for good and Hudson is now sleeping all night and napping better. We haven't had long periods of crying himself to sleep either, just 5-10 minutes each. Jackson is on day 3 of "no diapers" and undies only and is doing really well. (plus he looks so cute in his big boy underwear!) Had a few accidents but has really gotten the idea of it and is enjoying the rewards for sure. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel for brighter days without needed naps and changing 15-20 diapers! I see myself with more energy, patience, and time to play with the boys, read, and do anything else we want to do!

So life is looking on the up and up and I can't help but recognize it all as blessings from the Lord! I have been praying for all these things to happen for a while now and He is truly good in the big and small things. It amazes me He cares about the "little" things (like sleep) that are so huge to me. While I haven't been great at blogging, I think I'll have more "free time/energy" and more things blog-worthy to come in the next few months. This year is full of bitter-sweetness but God is good through it all and constantly reminding me of His unfailing love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. What an awesome God we serve!