TWO

its been two whole years since we welcomed our sweet little miracle baby into this world.  we were blessed with Canaan at such a sweet time in our lives and to this day I am still in disbelief how lucky we are in having him in our lives to make it the most colorful it can possibly be.  

I was feeling sentimental and scrolling through old pictures and watching videos from this time last year, and my teeny, wobbly walking littlest baby boy has changed SO much.   

while I feel like this season with him as a tiny toddler has gone by extra fast, I absolutely love this age and these new milestones with him.  I am doing my very best to soak them in and not miss out simply because "I’m busy".   I catch myself saying "no" more and more and I know in the years to come I won't regret it!

so many memories have been made in this 2nd year with our little boy.

Happiest Birthday, my precious, precious Canaan Jude!

TWO YEAR STATS:

height 34.5 inches // weight:  33 pounds
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 Canaan Jude experienced a TON of firsts in his second year- even more so than his first year of life, might I add. he has gained a rather hilarious toolbox of words he uses at the most opportune times.. like when he gets in trouble with his dad and points to mama and says "dat mum" with the most adorable grin and vice versa.  

  I just love him so much!  I cannot imagine what this life of ours would be like if Canaan wasn’t exactly the way he is. 

he went on his first vacation..Rehoboth Beach

he ate ice cream for the first time.

he went to Build A Bear.

he got his first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth(if not more) hair cut...his hair grows like weeds.

and before that he had his first man bun hahah

he went to his first play..Charlie Brown.

he had his first allergic reaction and hopefully last.

he went on his first sled ride.

he started raising chickens with his daddy.

he learned his shapes and colors, and about half the alphabet

he participated in his first paint and slide

he watched fireworks for the first time and kinda liked them.

we visited the zoo a handful of times.. and our trip to the children museum was the most fun with this boy.

these are just a few of the highlights.  our life is so full.  with so much Canaan fun in between.

 EAT

Canaan has an incredible appetite.  this boy will pretty much eat EVERYthing you put in front of him. for the most part he’ll try what we offer him at the very least. he eats salad, kale, salmon, all the stuff a two year otherwise wouldn't want to eat. Canaan will also eat all day long if I let him.  

pasta, pizza , chicken, rice, mashed potatoes, PB&J.. ALL fruits, applesauce, and yogurt is definitely something he requests at every single meal time.  he requests ketchup any time we have some type of meat. 

Canaan is excellent with utensils – that fine motor skill came much easier for him than I thought it would.

  

for the most part Canaan will eat breakfast (which is usually milk right when he wakes up and then  toast with peanut butter or waffles, or pancakes, or french toast, or his favorite eggs), lunch around 12:30p before nap time, and dinner between 5-6:30pm.  we made the transition from whole milk to skim milk this week- we stick to about 16 ounces of milk, and 1-2 servings of yogurt and cheese every day.

SLEEP
this boy is like a dream when it comes to his sleeping habits. Canaan will go down without a peep of fussing, sleep 11-12 hours, and wake up beaming and ready for a full day.

Canaan’s usual sleep schedule is from 8pm to 7:00-8:00am with a nap after lunch (about 12:30pm) until 3:30pm-4pm.  

PLAY

I am obsessed with watching Canaan interact with other kiddos!  he loves to run run run outside and play hard.

pretend cooking, cars, pretend guitars, and drums, blocks, trampoline, bounce house, swinging, water play!! 

Canaan’s motor skills and understanding has tremendously changed over the last several months.  he loves puzzles and shape sorters. 

CANAAN JUDE

Ah, my BOY.  you are equal parts sweet and strong willed.  perhaps on some days your strong willed nature is tipping towards the 75% mark,  but for the most part you seem to be pretty even keeled.  there is absolutely nothing like your sweet smile and it brightens up the entire room.  we are complimented every single time we are out about your glowing personality and you just have a way about you that no one can put into words.  you consume everyone’s attention, and you know very well that is what is happening because you eat it up, boyfriend.  you know how I know?  random bursts into crazy side grabbing giggles, speed running like a nut job through the house and nose diving into the sofa.. and not to mention the loud "aaah ha's".  anything to get attention, you are right in the middle of it, Canaan Jude.

you are an amazing sleeper and usually a solid 20-30 minutes of crib play is required before you are ready to get up for the day.  any moment before then you can be the biggest grouch!  verbally, you are much more inclined to repeat most of whatever we are prompting you to say– your ‘I love you’ is one for the books, it's the sweetest thing my ears have ever heard- "I LUH YUU!" Your receptive language is near perfect-you follow and understand anything asked of you, your the best cleaner upper. 

you are really smart and have little problem understanding or problem solving- "cooking" in your kitchen will keep you entertained for hours.

you love to run and jump.  your running can be best described as bent knees, head forward, and arms flailing at this sides – running with the smallest steps in between – so it looks like you are bobbing up and down.  it is SO cute.  you love music.  music is in your soul, and you most definitely sing to your own tune.

you have your moments of wanting to be held.

you don’t let anyone pull a fast one on you.. oh no, you are far too smart for that!  

you are still laid back and with the most free spirit and sweet demeanor any one could ask for. you have changed they very most over this last year, and I have found myself to fall in love with you more and more everyday I spend with you. 

you have absolutely changed our life, Canaan Jude, and I thank the Sweet Lord every day for blessing me with you. 

happy birthday my teeny two year old! 

I love you, 

"mum"

All photos by Amanda N. Douthitt Lifestyle Photography

Happy Fathers Day to my husband!

A few (ok a lot) of my favorite photos of you as a dad-my second favorite title you have next to being my husband!

David, I caught a glimpse of our future in your eyes.

As two teenagers, I wondered if you were the one. I wondered if you were the man of my dreams and the father of my unborn children.

I recall how you said you loved me for the very first time. Those three words blossomed into our family’s future.

Then there was the time you took me on two fancy dinners two weekends in a row to trick me into proposing to me.

All these moments were like dominos in our life; blocks suspended in time, toppling over, crashing into one another, moving you, moving us to something bigger, something beautiful.

I couldn’t have imagined it.

Then as I cried and embraced you while bringing our little one into the world, you held me and whispered words of encouragement. I remember seeing the tears in your eyes as you caught a first glimpse of our little boy… everything clicked.

I love you deeply and significantly, but then you became a dad, and this love changed.

I saw how you held our son in your arms and snuggled him close. You would sit with him in the rocking chair and read stories to him-Indiana Jones to a 3 week old. A baby in your arms made my heart flutter more than seeing you dressed in your finest suit.

I appreciate that in my first days of motherhood, you went beyond anything I ever expected. I’ll never forget how you helped me succeed at breastfeeding and truth be told I never would have been successful at that without you.

I’ll always remember how you would get up in the middle of the night and would bring our hungry son by my side, you still get up with him on the occasion he wakes in the middle of the night.

I adore the way you play with Canaan. From eating all the food he creates to building blocks, to puzzles, to superheroes; you make his interests your fascination and priority. 

I adore how when I have a tough day, you encourage me to take extra time for me.

I admire your patience, your creativity, and your humour in this parenting journey. I love how when Canaan does something funny, you laugh so hard until there’s tears in your eyes.

I love how when you come home, Canaan runs to the door screaming “Da Da!!!”

He loves you so very much, and I do too.

Every day you charm me with your smile, your humour, and wit but it’s in these moments of seeing you as the father of our children, that I realize just how much my love for you has grown.

Happy Father’s Day!