Jabber.

One of the best things about being a mom is watching your children learn new and exciting things... to watch them grow their little personalities. A couple of days ago, Ethan learned something new... he learned how to sing to Justin Bieber - and it has got to be one of the most adorable things I have ever heard in my life.

So Cohen was listening to his iPod and of course singing (at the top of his lungs nonetheless) "Baby Baby Baby ooohhhhh" when suddenly I hear this sweet little voice behind me singing "Baba oooh babaaa oooh". WAY too adorable.

Funny thing is, I have always had a feeling Ethan would be more artsy/musical than Cohen. They both have such different little personalities. Cohen is very athletic and has been ever since he could hold a ball. It just comes naturally to him. While Ethan, on the other hand, will turn anything into a drum -- and now apparently enjoys singing too.

I can't wait to see where both of these boys take me next!

A walk in the wild.

Ethan experienced his first visit to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle yesterday... his favorite exhibit? Definitely the monkeys. It's only appropriate that my little monkey would want to sit and watch the monkeys for as long as he could. Cohen's favorite was definitely the dinosaur exhibit... although he found a new favorite animal in the African Wild Dogs. We even took one home as a pet afterwards - stuffed, of course. The rainy weather even cleared up for us for a couple of hours! At the end of the day, we were all exhausted -- so exhausted that Baby E was passed out in his car seat before we even left the zoo parking lot!!

Ethan wasn't quite sure what to think of the enormous dinosaurs. Especially when some of them decided to spit on him and Cohen! Yes... spit.

Soul Searching.

We all set out to try to find our path. Figure out our destiny. Fulfill our dreams. For some, that path is clear and easy to follow... but for others, that path consists of twists and turns and detours. We all start out with a clean slate... a chance to go anywhere. Along the way, the decisions and choices we make alter and affect where our lives will end up. All it takes is a single second, the wrong words, or an accident to change life as we know it. And then... we spend the rest of our lives wondering "what if". What if I had made a different choice that day? What if I never met that person? What if...

I believe that it doesn't matter how your life ends up or where it has taken you, as every place is a new lesson and makes you the person you are today. If you are lucky enough to know love in your life... to be in love... than you have lived. I have loved once in my life. Don't get me wrong, I thought I had loved many times before... but this one time changed my life. When you truly love someone, that love will never go away. No matter where the two of you end up, no matter the harsh words or actions... no matter if they love someone else. A hole will remain in your heart where that person once was.

In my case, an accident changed my path and life as I knew it. Two years ago, two little pink lines turned my world upside down and I watched everything come crashing down around me. I was left questioning how a person so tiny could be behind such huge life-changing chaos. In what most people consider to be the happiest time of their lives, I was struggling and hurting in a way that I never knew was humanly possible. I loved with every ounce of my soul and body. I felt complete. And just like that, with two little pink lines, everything inside me was broken.

That was two years ago... sometimes it takes two years to sweep up all the pieces and meticulously piece everything back together. Like a broken glass, it will never be completely fixed, there will always be tiny cracks... but those cracks soon become just a reminder of where you were and the strength it took to get to where you are now. That little life that turned my world upside down now carries a piece of the person that I loved with every ounce of my soul and body. That little life now completes me and helped heal me in ways I never knew possible. That little life has taught me kindness and patience, and how to slow down and remind myself of the important things in life.

Life doesn't care if your rich or poor. In love or all alone. Happy or sad. Life goes on... whether you want it to or not. Are there things we all wish we could have done differently or things that we wish could've have happened differently? Of course. We all have parts of our lives like that... I wish I never had to choose one or the other... I wish I could have had both. But that wasn't an option.... and life continued on even when I wasn't ready for it to.

Two years ago, I learned exactly how strong I am. What I can endure. And that I can survive. She may have gotten the diamond... but I got the world - and that little piece of my world is the glue that holds it all together.

Time Flies.

I have really been slacking on updating my family blog... but since I am starting a new job as a social contributer with a local marketing company I figure it would only look good to be able to update my own blog if I will be expected to update others! Life has been a whirlwind the last couple of months and my path has changed so much from where I originally was! Life is beautiful and I truly couldn't be happier right now. I feel as though my life is beginning to finally heal any cracks that may have been a distant memory of any brokeness from the past couple of years. Sometimes it's the unexpected that makes you realize just how amazing life truly is.

The boys and I have decided to kick summer off right and have been surrounding ourselves with good friends, family and sunshine! We had an AWESOME 4th of July. This 4th was extra special because it was Ethan's "Real" first 4th (last year he was just too little to have any idea as to what was going on). This year he actually got to see some fireworks, enjoy an amazing BBQ and even rocked out on the boat! This 17 month old is not the least bit afraid of water... in fact, he decided to step off the boat in the middle of the river (with adult supervision and handling of course). His big bro also got to share with him one of his favorite summertime spots: SLIDEWATERS in Chelan! Ethan LOVED the water - but hated the slides. Oh well... maybe next time!