Three Years

Three years isn't very long, is it? 

I'm sure we will look back on our ten year anniversary, or 20th, or 50th, and think: "We were so young and naive. What did we know about marriage after three years?" Not much, most likely. But I do know that you are my best friend, and that I love being married to you.

We've been together long enough for you to know that I become anxious over numerous things, including about what trials and challenges undoubtedly lie ahead. I'm not a big fan of the unknown. But it helps when I remember that I have my buddy by my side, and that we will handle anything and everything together. We've got a lot of marriage ahead of us, babe, and so much left to learn. It won't always be perfect. But I can tell you, I don't need perfect. I'm just excited about all the life we have left to experience, both the good and the bad, and I'm so happy I get to experience it with you.

Thank you for three years of always having my back, and for three years of teaching me about patience and humility. Thanks for helping me around the house, for changing Jace's diapers and taking out the trash without being asked, for working so hard everyday so that our family has everything we need. Thank you for being an example of consideration, and of thoughtfulness. Thank you for helping me learn how to let go and live without fear, and for understanding when I continue to fall short in all respects. For three years, I have been reminded every day that I married a person who possesses so many incredible qualities that I lack in my own character. And for three years, I've realized each day that I also married a person with seemingly endless patience in regard to my shortcomings. I want to be better for you, and I promise to continue to try. 

I love you C. You are such an extraordinary father, provider, and husband. I'm glad you are on my team.  Team Plessman, three years strong. 

Bring it on, Year Four! We're ready for you.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the father of my baby. You are doing such a great job. Every morning when I go to get Jace out of his crib, he points to your mission picture on his bedroom wall and says: "Da!" And as we walk downstairs, he points to our wedding photo in the stairwell and asks: "Da?" It's like I don't even exist ;) Obviously, you have captured both of our hearts, and we are so very lucky that you belong to us. I love you, babe.

Happy Father's Day to my own wonderful Dad! You taught me how to keep my cool in the face of confrontation, how to be goofy and silly and fiercely competitive. You worked so hard to give us the best, and you have always been so loving and supportive. You taught me what is really important in a husband and father, and I owe you everything. I love you, Dad.

And Happy Father's Day to my kind hearted,service-oriented, people-loving, elbow-squeezing, hard-working, bear-hug-giving Grandpa Dee. I miss you every single day. We put a horseshoe pit in our side yard and played tonight, for you. You always have been, and continue to be, my hero. Thank you for being simply the very best. I love you, for always and always.

Late 16 Month Post and JJ's First Motorcycle Ride

Well, Jace's 16 month mark just came and went! He's does something new almost everyday, and he's getting so smart. And feisty. Oh, the feist! He's got opinions and ideas, and if I'm not on board, he doesn't hesitate to make his frustrations known. He also got to go for his first motorcycle ride with Daddy (don't worry Grammy and Mimi-it was just around the yard, and not too fast)! He had a smile on his face pretty much the entire time, and so did Colt.  After we put our little moto-man to bed, Colt got right on the computer to look up motorcycle attire for toddlers. Haha! I suppose I'll have to come to terms with the fact that I could be spending a hefty amount of my  future weekends at the motocross track/emergency room. 

At 16 months, Jace...

-Signs "more" when he wants more food or books, signs "please" (with two hands, ha! SO cute) to ask for help, and often pairs them together to say "more please!" The other day, when we were outside, he pushed his stroller into the driveway, signed "more please," then climbed up into the seat all by himself. Any guesses as to what he wanted me to do? ;)

-Has a few words, although he doesn't use them all the time: Fish (peesh), birdie (buh-dee), dog (da), outside (au-sah). "Fish" and "outside" are the ones he says the most. He also understands so much, and is a good little listener...most of the time.

-Is loving his cars and trucks. Toys, books, watching them pass by our house,-anything involving transportation, he's all about it.

- Loves to make me laugh, and he knows that when he laughs, I laugh. So he's started doing these super-forced, fake laughs, which of course then elicit genuine giggles from us both. 

-Can point to Christ when we read him his little book about Jesus, and when we show him the pictures of Christ around the house.

-Loves to dig in the dirt and gravel, fill up his buckets, and dump it all out into his lap. He can spend a half hour doing this over and over again.

-Can drink out of a big-boy cup all by himself, with supervision (he still likes to shake, throw, and turn the cup upside down, although he cries when he ends up with milk all over himself). 

-Is a good helper. He knows how to put the dishwashing tablet into it's little spot in the dishwasher, and only needs a little help shutting the cover. He does start crying when we shut the dishwasher, though. Sorry little buddy, no knives for you.

-LOVES to read, both on his own and with me. He reads in the living room, in his crib, and in his car seat. I love turning around in the kitchen and seeing him on his tummy reading a story. He also thinks "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" is the most hilarious book ever written.

-Still says "Bye, son!" whenever he hears someone say bye-bye, and he's started to wave goodbye a little more often. He is also still obsessed with our belly-buttons, and continues to torture me by slooowly sticking his tiny finger inside my notoriously ticklish button. He thinks it's hilarious. I know, we're a weird family.

No wonder I missed this kid before he was even born. He was meant to be here with us, and his infectious personality and sweet smile brighten our home and our lives. He's not a perfect child, obviously, but he teaches us so much and he fits like a puzzle piece into our little family. I love both my handsome guys so much.

Late Mother's Day Recap

My mama came up for Mother's Day weekend to spend some time with me her gran'baby. I completely understand; he is much more fun that I am. 

For my Mother's Day present, I requested that we hike Lake 22 on Saturday and have a picnic up there. It was a beautiful day, and so nice to be outside. Colt and Jace also made me a card and I get to choose a new dress. I love me some new clothes.

P.S. Jace's sense of humor is developing. There is a scene in Finding Nemo during which Nigel the Pelican flies into a closed window, and Jace laughs at it every time, no matter how many times we rewind and play it again. He starts to chuckle a few seconds before it actually happens, and as soon as that goofy bird hits the glass, he just cracks up. I suppose all the America's Funniest Home videos we watch actually made an impact. Just don't be offended if he laughs at you when you trip and fall.

Mother's Day

Sometimes, I can't believe this beautiful life is mine. 

I hope my sweet mom, my lovely mother-in-law, my amazing grandma's, and all of my sisters and aunts had a wonderful Mother's Day. <3 

15 Months

Ah, life with a 15 month old cutting crazy amounts of teeth in a very short period of time. Toothbrushes are the only thing that seem to ease the pain a little.

Jace is at such a fun age. The world is so interesting to him right now. Moving out of the apartment complex to a place with room to run around and explore has been really good for him. He's growin' up, ya'll! At 15 months, Jace...

-LOVES the new house and playing outside in the yard.
-Dances like nobody's watching. He shakes his head back and forth and stomps his feet to music he likes (or if he sees me and Colt having a dance-off, which happens more often than you'd think). When I turn the music off or change the song, he'll sign "more" (sometimes he makes the correct sign, but usually he's lazy and just claps his hands together).
-Has a library book called "First Words," and he will sit and stare all day at the "Things That Go" page. When we ask him to, he will point to the motorcycle, the airplane, and the car. Colt pretty much busted his buttons when I showed him that Jace can receptively identify the word "motorcycle." As far as Dad is concerned, that's all he needs to know.
-Says "dah!" and points whenever he sees a dog. He tries to chase them down, but they're too fast for him.
-Likes to take everything out of drawers, containers, baskets, and piggy banks and then put them away, then take them out again, and re-put them away. 
-Enjoys pushing his little walker alongside Colt when he mows the lawn.
-Turns his books right-side up when they're upside down.
-Knows how to go up and down the stairs all by himself. When he's on his own, he will slide down the stairs on his tummy, but he really likes to practice going up and down "like a big boy." His little legs just aren't quite long enough yet.
-Points with his fist. He doesn't extend his pointer finger, but when he hears a truck coming up the road, or an airplane in the sky, he extends his arm towards the sound and says "yeah?"
-Has cut 5(!!) new teeth in the last two-and-a-half weeks. Poor baby. 
-Suffers from some yard allergies, which is a bummer, since none of the allergy medications can be given before age 2. Mean.
-Laughs when he toots.
-Says "whoa!" when he drops or throws things that make a loud noise, or just randomly as he plays. Everything is just so epic these days.
-Will, when he really wants to be held, come up to me tearfully and say "mama baby, mama baby!" Melts my heart.
-Is  obsessed with bellybuttons (his own, as well as Colt's and mine). He lifts up his shirt to find it when we ask "Where is your bellybutton?" He also points to his nose when we ask him where his nose is, and can locate his toes as well, but finding his bellybutton is much more interesting.
-Can feed himself with a spoon, and gets mad when we try to save time by feeding him ourselves.

Oh little Jace-man, you are just the best boy. You make me laugh everyday, push my buttons like crazy, and are the first person I've ever wanted to eat all up. It's weird, but I can't help it. We love you to pieces!

Settling In

We moved in two weeks ago. We're all unpacked. The pictures are hung up, the garage is organized, and I finally found the set of car keys I lost the first week (Colt can rest easy now).

We love it out here. Jace can't get enough of the yard. The weather's been great, so we spend as much time outside as possible. And that's basically our life right now, in 100 characters or less.