three and 1/2. Homer:)

homer is 3-1/2 years old today!!! Definitely, the most...what's the word: interesting . exhausting . adventurous . entertaining . defeating . uplifting . enlightening . happiest . quickest . most satisfying . love-filled years of our lives:)

since turning 3, I decided to scale back on the monthly photos...we're shooting to grab a photo of him on his actual birthday and his 1/2 birthday...for as long as he's semi-agreeable;)

in the last 6 months, Homer's started Preschool. See HERE:) 
His 2, current, favorite phrases:
"are you kiddddddinggggg meeee??"
"comeeeee on, come on, come onnnnnnn!"
No personality at all, this kid;)
Potty-trained, has been for quite some time but not through the night yet. I fear this may take a bit longer:/
He's sleeping in a 'big boy' bed...aka. up off the mattress we had on the floor for him:)

he loves to cook and go to work with Jacob - I love both these loves as well:) He loves Minecraft - unsure how I feel about this yet:/ Homer doesn't get a lot of screen-time, seeing as we don't have cable. But he does get some time on the computer or our phones during 'rest time'. But we try to keep that to a minimum. With me sooooo pregnant, I've probably been taking advantage of his love for Youtube more than I normally would;)

this boy is full of stories, never stops moving OR talking. He's excited to be a big brother again...to a brother. He claims sister's "go crazy", so he prefers a brother;)

i can hardly believe how much he's grown in such a short amount of time. We just looked through his 1st year book the other night - he loves seeing himself as a little baby - and it just seems like a different time...like it never happened. I see him, as a baby...and I can remember it...but somehow it seems like a lifetime ago:( This growing up thing certainly doesn't get easier but I'm SO proud of our boy.

he also likes when I tell him how proud I am of him (when he sleeps through the night in his own bed or goes poop by himself or doesn't cry when I drop him off at school:). He says to me:
"mom, I like when you tell me you're proud of me! It makes me happy:)"

photos courtesy of: Courtney Smith Photography

painted toenails courtesy of: cousin, Rowdy;)

to 3-1/2 wonderful years with our little boy:)

xoxo.

homer smith goes to school = :) + :(

i'm going to try and write this post without using words that we've told Homer he can't use while in school ever;) It's gonna be hard cause me + emotional = slip of tongue;)

our first born. Homer Nicholas Scott Smith. He started school this week! I can hardly believe he's old enough to be going to school...I mean, he's really not. He's not even 3-1/2 yet but we decided to put him into a Preschool where he'll attend a little class twice a week for only 2-1/2 hours each day. SO very minimal and Jacob and I both really like it that way. He's so young and I don't want him to have to be committed to school more than he has to...yet:) At this point, I think we've agreed, that he'll do this same schedule for the next 2 years and then he'll go right into a full-time Kindergarten:) Eeeeekkkkkkk.

sooooo. Below is the emotional roller coaster that was the before, during and after of Homer's First Day of School!:)

first up...hair cut, walk and bath prior to the 1st day:)

1st day of school EVER photos at our house:)

I AM...

3yrs old

WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE...

a giant boy, like a robot

FAV FOOD...

popcorn

MY BFF'S...

rowdy and mega

1st day of school family photos at Courts!:)

We were lucky enough that Jacob was able to take a quick break from work to come with us on the 1st day! AND seeing as I ugly cried for an entire hour the night before...I was almosttttt completely cried out for his 1st day;')

these kiddos were so supportive and happy and excited for Homer's 1st Day! 

I mean...we are entirely too lucky to have this family:)

i wasn't sure how Homer would do with us leaving him but he did extremely well! There was some slight hesitation upon getting there but then off he went, playing with the toys and so so we slipped out - with some misty eyes from both mom and dad:') - while he was distracted! I am just so proud of him!!!!

the next drop-off, which I did solo (with Theo) took a bit more effort. This time the jig was up and he knew I'd be leaving. It took a bit to get him in the building...then to take off his coat and hang up his back pack...and thennnnn a conversation and quite possibly some bribing to get him IN the classroom - all the while he was on the verge of a breakdown:/ - but FINALLY...off he went!

we've been so lucky to have beautiful weather, so after drop-off, Theo and I go for a nice long walk and then home to get a few things done and then walk back to pick Homer up. Then on our walk home, we walk by the school his cousin's attend and chat with them and then we call dad and tell him ALL about our day. Every.last.detail;)

i wasn't sure how I would feel about this but this new routine, even though it'll be short lived with the baby arriving in less than 2 months, has been great:) 

homer had such a great first day that we celebrated with a walk - or as Homer now calls it: exercise;) - and some downtime outside. It was a fantastic end to the day:)

...luck is believing you're lucky...

lately I've definitely wished we could freeze this time in our lives...just for a little while. I like my babies little and I'm liking them starting a few firsts and I love being pregnant and I love doing it all with this man:) 

here's to a million more firsts...with a million more tears and a wholeeeee lotta love:)

"the older you get, the more you realize that it isn't about the material things, or pride or ego. It's about our hearts and who they beat for."

- R.A.

1+1+1=THREE

jeesh. 3 years?! I'm disgusted at how quickly that time has gone. And even more so at how my mind has almost forgotten that he could have been or ever was a little baby!:( Homer as a newborn...Homer as a 1 month old...nursing him...sitting up on his own or crawling for the first time...taking his first bites of food...first steps...It all seems a bit hazy. Now that he's 3, it seems he's never been anything but this age. And it's hard to imagine him as anything beyond this. 

what a privilege it's been to have this boy in our lives. My god. He's so good for us:) There are definitely times that we sit back and laugh (cry?!;) because I'm sure we're being punked with a child that has inherited some of our most awful traits;) - somewhere on the other side of this screen my mom and dad are saying "YESSSSS!!!!!";) But I wouldn't have it any other way. What better way to teach us the patience we most definitely needed to learn:)

we kept things pretty simple this year. Just our immediate family - as usual. Some jello and strawberries instead of a cake, who's leftovers I would have devoured at 11PM;) - and a small donut for the birthday boy - which he shared with his cousin:). Homer and I stayed up late the night before making a quick little 'table cloth'...which was the extent of our decor;) Oh, and who could forget the balloon I had to take a small loan out for...$12.99? Shittttt;/

i think he could just do nothing more with his life. Just eat donuts and live in our basement and drain our savings and I would still feel so much pride for him:) But I know better...our little boy is destined for some really, reallyyyyy fun and exciting adventures in his life:) 

 this photo actually makes me feel fat. All.They.Do.Is.Eat. ;)

favorite gift given goes to Uncle Jordan: Darth Vader Mask.

He didn't take it off for almost an hour;)

this might actually be my most favorite family photo yet!!!:)

and one last birthday gift the next day...his first pet: Gilbert the Beta Fish:) Thanks Aunt Mal Mal and Uncle Chris!!:)

if he can't touch Gilbert, he thought maybe he could blow on him;)

happy birthday to our sweet and sassy little boy:) It has NOT been an easy journey but it has been the biggest and best and most happy adventure of me and your dad's life. Watching you grow and become a little boy and loving you so hard...it's actually painful. Loving something as much as we love you can be a pretty scary thing and I know that fear and that love will only get bigger every day:)

we'll love you forever and ever little man:)

thanks again for all the gifts and the birthday wishes and for the beautiful photos, Courts:)
xoxo

and here's a refresher of a baby Homer. I can't look at these posts without crying like a damn baby. HOW!? WHY!??!;') HERE and HERE.

a-Homer's-eye-view.

after looking at the above photo, I know you're not going to know whether to believe me when I tell you that Homer is not currently being heavily - HEAVILY - medicated;) Those eyes though!??!?!:)

homes has been super interested in photography lately. And by Photography...I mean: taking my camera while I'm hunched over my computer, having forgotten I have children to raise, and taking at least 23 selfies, followed by a photo of everything. 17 times.:)

honestly...I don't think he sucks at it. See for yourself!!

 exhibit A: mom not being a mom. Oops;)

these are just so random and cute and perfect:) I love his little perspective:)

*these were all from a few weeks ago, during Christmas and long-haired days:)*