A Morning Full of Smiles

Jude Scott was one happy boy when he woke up this morning.

The past few days he has let me know he's awake and ready for me to

come scoop him up by talking and cooing instead of crying.  

It's been great.  I love hearing his sweet voice coming from the bedroom

and I love being greeted by a big, gummy grin once I get to him.

(I was messing with the settings on the camera a lot, which is why some of the

pictures look way different than others.  I'm really trying to learn how to use the camera correctly.)

Peek-a-Boo, I see a Jude Scott through the blankets.

While I was taking pictures of Jude, Emma was running between the bedroom

and out on the balcony.  She loves being outside.  

I can't wait to have a house with a backyard for her to play in.

I know photographically this is not a good picture at all,

but this is the face I get when I tell Emma to smile for the camera.

She's so wild and crazy.

I love mornings like these.

Being a Momma...

...allows me to experience the most incredible kind of love one can feel.

...means I never think of myself first anymore.  My children always come first.

...provides me with ten rewarding moments for every challenging moment.

...is the easiest and hardest job I have ever had.

...brings a smile to my face every day.

...brings tears to my eyes.  Happy tears.

...is my biggest responsibility.

...shows me how incredibly precious life is.

...brings me the greatest joy I have ever experienced.

...means my every move is watched and my every word is heard.
...is the most important teaching job I will ever have.
...is all I have ever truly wanted to do with my life.
...causes me to think about things differently than I would have before I was a parent.
...makes the fact that I sometimes stay in my pajamas all day perfectly acceptable.  Pajama parties.
...means every decision I make will have some type of influence on someone else's life.
...demands a lot of patience, hard work, consistency, and compassion.
...allows me to be sing, dance, and be silly every day.
...gives me purpose in life.
...is truly a blessing.

Wordless Wednesday: Ocean Friends

There is something about these ocean friends that my babies absolutely love...

Being your Momma is Special

Once again, I started this post several days ago (on the 15th when he actually turned 2 months old).
I don't remember the last time I sat down to write a post and actually got through the whole thing.
I guess that's just the way things go in the life of a wife and a momma of two babies.
I'm okay with it though.  I love my life.

My precious little boy,

As you slept all cuddled up in my arms this afternoon you turned exactly two months old.
I don't think there was a better place for you to be at that moment.
As you laid there with your bluish, grayish eyes closed ever so gently
I listened to the silly sounds you make while you sleep and
and took in deep breaths of your sweet baby smell.
I looked back on and thought about our journey together,
 from the time you spent in my belly, to labor and delivery,
and to these first two months of being able to hold you and kiss you.
I thought about how special the entire journey has been.
As soon as I found out I was pregnant I knew it was you, a sweet little boy,
our Jude Scott, growing in my tummy.  I was so excited to have a little boy and to
finally give your Daddy a son.  Your Daddy and I knew you were going
to be something special, and Little Man, we were right.
You are so incredible, handsome, and sweet.
You give the cutest smiles and this past month you have
started to share them so much more.  They are contagious.
You smile when I walk over to you, when I talk to you, and when I
tickle your feet and tummy.  Each smile you give me makes my heart overflow
just a little bit more with love for you.

Being a momma to you, our one and only son, is really special

because I look at you and see your Daddy.

I see your Daddy in your sisters too, but it's different

seeing it in a boy.  It already makes me so proud.

The little crying spells that you have where your paci seems 

to only make you madder make me think that 

you are going to like to argue like your Daddy does. 

We put your paci in your mouth to try to sooth you and

get you to quiet down, but there are times when you want nothing to do with it.

You will take a few sucks but then spit it right out as if to tell us

no, I've got some things to say and you need to listen.

I think this is your way of arguing right now.

Most mommas might not think this is a good thing, but I don't mean

argue in a bad way because if you argue like your Daddy does

that means you are going to be extremely intelligent, passionate, and 

that you are going to have strong beliefs.  I think you are going to possess

all three of these qualities and that makes me really happy.

You are going to be a strong, dependable, and smart boy,

a son that is easy for us to be proud of.

Believe it or not Jude Scott, our first two months together have come and gone.

Thank you for filling them with more love, joy, and admiration

than I ever thought was possible.  I am so grateful and blessed 

to have the privilege of calling you my son. 

Our next month together has big things in store for us

and I can't wait to share it with you.

I love you more and more every day.  You are my perfect Little J.

Momma

I didn't really get any good pictures on the actual day, but here's what I did get...

Exactly 2 months old.  1:31 in the afternoon.

Cuddles with Momma before getting in the bathtub.

In the tub

Two month photo comparison

Wordless Wednesday: Brother and Sister. Love.

I absolutely love this picture.

Was it Valentine's Day?

*I started writing this post a week ago when it was a little more relavent.*

My blog dashboard and instagram have been taken over with 

everyone's Valentine's Day pictures of their gifts given and/or received,

and their kids all dolled up for the occasion.

I think I'm the only one who didn't dress my kids up

in cute little red and pink outfits for the holiday.

Don't get me wrong, all the pictures I've seen are adorable,

I'm just not a big fan of the so called holiday.  Never have been.

Personally, I think it's kind of stupid.

The gifts and sweet words that many of you received were probably great.

Some significant others probably put more time, effort, and creativity

into the day, gifts, and presentation than others, but nonetheless,

I'm sure love was in the air.

The same was the case in my house, not because it was Valentine's Day,
but because we were blessed enough to get to spend another day together.
I believe love is always in the air in our house.
I think my husband and I do a really good job of expressing
our love, appreciation, and respect for each other on a daily basis.
We do things for each other.  We make each other laugh.
We help each other.  We share the joy that our children bring us.
All of these things, plus so many more, are what makes our love so strong
and knowing that our love is so deeply rooted in each other and in our family
makes me the happiest girl in the world.
I love the fact that we don't feel like we need to
put on a big production to show that we love each other
simply because that's the norm in society.
Sure, we still do sweet, cute little things for each other,
but they are done randomly throughout the year
rather than on a day where many people have come to expect it,
which I personally think takes so much meaning out of it.

So instead of roses, chocolates, and a fancy night out,
my valentine was getting to spend a beautiful day at the park

with my two incredible kids.  I couldn't have asked for anything better.
(Emma's outfit does have hearts all over it, but I didn't put two and two together
until I was uploading these pictures on here.  I guess I was more festive than I thought.)

Jude enjoyed the time outside too.

He is such a handsome, smiley little boy.

The husband and I vowed to show our love for each through the little things of every day life.
Our children will learn how to love and how to be loved based on the example
that our relationship provides for them.  It is our mission to give them
the most perfect example we possibly can. 

Going Home

We got Jude's passport!

We are officially ready for our trip home in a few weeks!

I can't wait to spend some time at home.

This sweet little man has lots of people to meet.

And this wild little girl has lots of new tricks to show her family.

This trip home is more exciting than previous trips because it will be our last visit.

After this trip, the next time we go home it will be permanently! 

It's so cool to be able to say that.

As much as the husband and I have enjoyed our time over here in Japan, 

we are more than ready to move back to the states.

Yes it's beautiful here, the people are wonderful, and it's been 

an incredible opportunity, but it's not home

and it doesn't have two very special little girls.

There are no words to describe how much we have missed these two beautiful girls

over the past two and a half years.

They need their Daddy and their Daddy needs them.

Two weeks with them once or twice a year just doesn't cut it.

That's all about to change after this last visit home.

Cannot wait...

Picasso's got Nothing on the Williams Family

To me, there's no better way to decorate the house than with our children's artwork.

In fact, that and pictures of our sweet babies are the only things hanging on our walls

(with the exception of one wooden cutout of Oklahoma).

Sure we could go buy a random picture of a beach scene or a still life of some sort,

but they would hold no meaning to us.  They would just be there taking up space.

Instead, the husband and I have decided to display photographs and pieces of art that we are the 

most proud of and that bring us the most joy

We have had beautiful masterpieces created by my 

incredible step-daughters hanging up in the house for years now.

These paintings were done just before we moved to Japan.

Lilly made the two bigger ones when was three-years-old.

Raley made the smaller one just before she turned one.

Since Raley is now about the same age Lilly was when she made the 

handprint painting I am hoping to make one with her when we

go home in about a month.  Then I will make one with 

Emma and Jude when they get to be that age.

Lilly made these two paintings in school last year.

We were lucky enough to get them while we were home for a visit

and had the privilege of picking her up from school.

They went in a frame as soon as we got back to Japan. 

We have pictures that Emma has colored hanging up in the kitchen,

but I decided it was time for her to get her own canvas like her big sissies.

She had a good time creating her very own masterpiece.

The finished product.  I can't wait to get it hung up on the wall under Raley's.

Every time Emma sees it she says "good job" and claps her hands.

She is very proud of herself.

All of these paintings are very special to me and they will forever

hold a prominent place in our house.

I can't wait to get some wonderful creations from Jude.

I think it will be so neat to sit around with all our kids when they are older

and show them all of their artwork from over the years.

Some great stories and memories will be shared

and to me that is what family is all about.