Sunshiney-ness.

It's beginning to look and feel a lot like springtime (finally) and the boys and I took full advantage of the beautiful day. Ethan loved the freedom of crawling around outside after being cooped up indoors all winter. And Cohen finally got a chance to ride his bike! It was a much needed time for all of us.

Valentine's Love ♥

I have two of the most perfect Valentines and I'm so in love with both of them. Yes, I am talking about my beautiful baby boys (like always).

Cohen is becoming quote the little man (with an attitude to go with it). But nonetheless, he took me on a Valentine date this weekend to the (yes, Justin Bieber) Never Say Never movie. Me and my little Belieber enjoyed some much needed Mommy and Co time without the little bro. The best part though was when I couldn't stop singing one of the songs because it was stuck in my head and Co looked at me and said "OH MY GOSH MOM! WHY did I take you to that movie?! Now you won't stop singing Justin Bieber. Ugh!"
Cohen also went to his very first open call for John Robert Powers modeling school where he got a call back and a scholarship offered to him, but we chose to pass on it at this time (I am kicking myself a little bit the more I think about it). Oh Well, what's meant to be, will be.

Valentine's Day will always be very special for Ethan and I. He is truly my special little Valentine. One year ago on Valentines Day, Ethan was able to come home from the hospital... I couldn't have imagined a better, more loving gift. I don't think I put him down at all that day. I just couldn't believe that after 10 days I was finally able to snuggle him as much as I wanted without having to worry about wires and monitors... I haven't stopped snuggling my little Valentine since. I am SO in love with my little Mama's Boy.

Wishing Everyone a VERY Amazing Valentines Day!

Superwoman.

I am a single mom. Am I proud of this fact? Not necessarily, but I AM proud of my family. To become single wasn't my choice, but to become a single mom was. Ultimately, I chose loving the life of my unborn child over loving a man, which in hindsight, was a very easy choice to make. Any man that would demand a woman to choose between him and HIS baby is not a man at all...

I am a full-time student. On top of being a single mom, I am also a full-time student. My days are spent at school. My evenings are spent with my kids and after the boys go to bed, my nights are spent studying. I live off of coffee and Red Bull. I borrow hours from the next day in order to fit everything I need to do into my day. My days begin at 7 a.m. and end at 2 a.m. But I will be the first to admit that no amount of studying can even begin to compare to what I have learned through my children. They have taught me so much about loving and life and more importantly, LOVING LIFE. ♥

I am sole provider. This does not only pertain to providing for my family financially, but also with love and support. I kiss boo-boos and wipe tears. I have been peed on, pooped on and puked on. But being a single parent also means I get to claim ALL of the hugs, kisses and "I love you's". Every single moment is worth it, knowing that I, and I alone, am raising two amazing little men.

I am not a settler. I refuse to just settle with ANYTHING. I have watched so many friends settle with a man so that they wouldn't feel alone anymore - not because they were madly in love. I have watched too many people in my life settle on a job - just because it pays the bills - and then they get stuck. My life is anything but ordinary. It is EXTRAORDINARY. And I refuse to settle for anything less than perfect.

I am confident. I am confident in who I am and where I'm going. I believe everything happens for a reason and everything has a way of working out exactly as it should. I am confident that karma exists and I am content in knowing that she will deliver...

I am a survivor.

I am Superwoman

#1 PARTY!

Wow! E's first birthday party was a wild, crazy success. He had SO many friends (& FAMILY) there. We had a face painter for the kiddos (and some of the adults too) courtesy of Jump Around Inflatables, a ice cream sundae bar, yummy treats like my famous homemade red velvet cupcakes and lots of cake for the kiddos. Ethan LOVED LOVED LOVED his very own chocolate cake. This was his first REAL taste of THAT much sugar... which is probably why he was up until 11:30 p.m. that night! We can honestly say that the first birthday was a huge success!

E & his friend Lachlan

E & his friend Weston

Present Time!

Seriously, whoever started this tradition was probably not a parent themselves but it's still so much fun.

Totally pooped out.

My Prince....

Well, it's official. Baby E is a year old... So much has happened this past year and it has been nothing short of amazing. Ethan has brought more love into my life than I could ever have imagined. I have never met a happier, funnier more charming little man. I can be having the worst day ever, and all he has to do is look at me give me his uber-cheesy grin or giggle and it will automatically turn my day around. His laugh is contagious and his open mouth kisses are the best. He knows when he is being funny - like when he calls me da-da. I'll say "NO! Say MA-MA. No more dada" and he laughs at me, shakes his head no and says "da-da" while wrapping his arms around me. How can I not laugh at that?

A year ago, Ethan came into our lives on 02/04/10 at 11:57 a.m. He spent his first 10 days in the hospital with penumonia. Those were the longest 10 days of my life but I was by his side every single day... This little man is my prince and he has completed our family. Ethan and Cohen are perfect for each other and nothing makes me happier than hearing the two of them play... they can be totally silent and then all of a sudden both of them start laughing as if they are sharing a special inside joke. This was all meant to be. This is my life. ♥

Ethan Andrew

How do we go from this....

...to this precious angel...

...and now this little man...

First Haircut!

Yesterday, I took Ethan to Salon Couture for his VERY FIRST haircut by his Auntie Rachell. We totally Bieber-fied him and he looks so adorable! He always loves all the attention. He even had the paparazzi following him (i.e. Amanda and Apple Blossomland Photography) to capture the memory every step of the way! SO CUTE!

This is the first cut... and Rachell handing over the mullet for me to keep...

Of course, Rachell WOULD try to straighten it...

ALL DONE and Everyone's Happy!

Awwwww... a little Bieber.

1 Day....

Tonight I kissed my INFANT goodnight for the last time. Tomorrow I'll be snugglin' a TODDLER. My baby is going to be ONE. This past year has gone by just entirely way too quickly. I have learned so much from this little person who can't even talk yet. He has taught me strength, courage and patience. "Sometimes God doesn't give us what we want... he gives us what he thinks we need"

4....3....2....