After 3 consecutive arguments in a row, all about random and pointless things, this was the conversation that followed:

Me: Gage, why do you always insist on arguing with me about everything?
Gage: I don't argue
Me: Yes, Gage, you do. Every time you ask me a question and I give you an answer, you say, "uh-uh, no...." and then you disagree with me.
Gage: No, I don't.

The kid is seriously driving me over the edge. My mom used to tell me how she used to ask me to "Please, just be quiet for a few minutes", because I used to talk too much. (Who, me??) I guess paybacks are a b*tch. I ask him that all the time...

And it doesn't work.

I don't think it did for my mom, either.

Sigh.

1 Year. We Made It! Happy Birthday to Bronson and Landon!

Wow. What a year! I have so much to say, and so much to express about this past year, but quite honestly don't have the time to put it into words at this time. I will save it for a post later this week.

But for now I'd like to share with you a few pictures of my "little men" from the past year.
We had a fabulous day celebrating yesterday and I have so many fun pictures to share. Again, I'll save those for a later post.

Happy Birthday to two little men that have (unintentionally) challenged me to be the best mother I never thought I could be!

First week home. Landon, Bronson
(I love how the nuks cover half of their face!)

Bronson Gary, then.

Bronson Gary, now.

Landon Timothy, then.

Landon Timothy, now.

4 Months old. Bronson, Landon.

Landon, Bronson

Brothers and Best Friends for Life~
Bronson, Landon.

4Years Old

Ah! I cannot believe I am even typing this out! Gage is turning FOUR years old on Monday. Four! It just doesn't seem possible to me that he is four years old already. Yet again there are many days that I wonder what I even did in my "before Gage" life. I mean...
did I really shower without hearing "Mom, are those your boobies?"
Did I really eat an ice cream cone alone, sitting outside of the Dairy Queen, and actually enjoy it?
Did I ever sit outside by myself on a warm summer evening and enjoy a Mr. Freeze pop?
Did I ever listen to what I wanted to in the car, instead of nursery rhymes or the "B-I-B-L-E" song by "Go Fish"?

I don't know if I ever enjoyed my life as much as I have these past 4 years of being a mom. They have been the most wonderful, challenging years of my life, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I remember standing in an empty, quiet nursery about 4 years ago to this date, staring at an empty crib trying to picture what it would look like to have a baby lying in it, sleeping peacefully. I then remember just a few days after bringing Gage home, standing in the same spot with tears in my eyes still having a hard time believing that there WAS a baby lying in there, and that he was all mine. I remember the first time I heard, "Mommy, I love you" come from Gage's mouth. He said it at bedtime and I stood outside his door and cried.

I wouldn't trade these years for any amount of money, time, fame, or fortune.
I wouldn't trade the whining, the temper tantrums, the vomit, the scuffed walls from dump trucks (that belong outdoors,) or the scraped knees and elbows from wrestling matches with the driveway (which always wins).

I wouldn't trade one second of the past four years of my life for anything except the guarantee that my little boy, my first born, will always remain little in my heart.

Happy Birthday, Gage Thomas Fox. You are an amazing little man. You are goofy, funny, silly, sociable, and you love your little brothers so much. You have since the moment they came home from the hospital. You love to play with your friends, you love to dance, you love to rhyme and sing outloud. When you get mad you like to beg, and whine until you finally realize you are not going to get your way, but you try.

You are fun. You are lovable and loving, and independent and cuddly.

We love you! Happy Birthday!

1 Year old, July 2007

2nd Birthday, July 2008

3rd Birthday, July 2009

Loving Bronson

Loving Landon

Being goofy, eating a S'more, June 2010