Happy Father's Day!

I love this photo for so many reasons.

Obviously, it is the cutest naked baby ever.

But after examining it further,

I love it for so many other reasons...

In this photo, Ty is sitting on his daddy's side of the bed.

And everything in this picture says so much about Baxter.

First and foremost, he made me a mom two times now.

And he is the best dad I could have ever asked for

to do this whole very-hard-and-exhausting-raising-kids-thing with.

The big laundry basket is such a testament

to how much housework he does.

He has never strayed from laundry, cooking, dishes, mopping, ALL OF IT.

On his nightstand is the baby monitor, a bottle and Mr. Potato Head.

He keeps the monitor on his side EVERY NIGHT.

He is always the one checking on the boys,

and he never hesitates to get up with them.

He has always been on top of the baby's feeding schedule.

Even when I'm nursing.

He knows when they need to eat

and works with me to schedule everything else around it.

Toys are usually everywhere, and he never complains.

In fact, we often look at each other and smile when we find

a toy car in our shoes or a stuffed animal under the bedspread.

Just behind Mr. Potato Head is a photo of me.

One that I gave him a long time ago (when I looked good ;).

He's always kept it there, and it just reminds me that he loves me.

Then, the guitars (THERE ARE MORE).

Many people don't know that he is very musically talented.

He plays the guitar very well and even taught himself a few things on the piano.

And I know that a lot of people don't know that about him

because he is the most humble person I know.

He is also the kindest, most honest, hardworking, empathetic man I know.

And all these things make him THE BEST DAD.

Happy Father's Day, Baxter.

We love you!

Ty at 11+ months!

This kid is wild!

And he has the hair to prove it!

Just over the last couple months as his hair has gotten longer

it has also become very curly. Like kinky curly!

Ty, you are so busy ALL THE TIME.

You have never once watched TV because you are too busy.

We have two baby gates blocking the stairs,

and still any chance you get you are hurrying up them.

You play hard and you sleep hard.

You wake up anywhere between 6:30-8 a.m.

and you are back down by 9 a.m.

You take another nap in the afternoon,

and never complain about going to bed at night.

You love bath time

but currently only like to stay in for a little while.

You are very indecisive yet determined.

You want to be held all the time,

but you also want the freedom to roam.

You constantly go back and forth from crying to be held

to crying to be put down. It's exhausting!

When you make up your mind to do something

or that you want something THAT. IS. IT.

There is no stopping you. Until we really put our foot down.

You wave bye bye, mimic many sounds,

clap your hands and just started taking steps yesterday.

You think Porter is hilarious.

And Porter has really taken a liking to you too.

We love you baby boy!

A Trip to D.C. Sans Kiddos

Mommy had to attend training in D.C. for a whole week in May.

I left Daddy to tend to the kids all by himself until Wednesday.

Then, he came up to join me!

EE so graciously took care of Porter and Ty and Scout while we were gone.

And we really enjoyed ourselves.

Daddy went to museums during the day.

And I met up with him in the evenings.

We walked all over D.C. and saw many monuments and museums.

I was really worried about being away from the kids that long,

but we truly enjoyed ourselves.

It was so nice to get away with the one I love most!