"This year your highest priority will be your family."
-Fortune Cookie
Shortly after Lane's birth, Papa received a very timely fortune is his cookie. Having just become parents, our heads were buzzing with new thoughts: how to care for our child, how to get some more sleep, how to adjust to life as a family of three.
I think, up until the point we became parents, that James and I never really considered ourselves a family unit. I was still my parents' daughter. He was still his parents' son. Together, we were best friends who became husband and wife.
Then, Lane came and changed our world. Suddenly, we had decisions to make regarding a person we created and we were responsible for.
I was no longer daughter and wife. I was daughter, wife and mama.
James became son, husband and papa.
Mama and Papa became our most important titles.
Lane became our most important priority. We took our roles very seriously. We readjusted our way of thinking, acting and living.
Each day, at the top of my list, was taking care of the little things my child needed: clean diapers, warm clothes, plenty of time to nurse and lots of love and affection.
Papa's role was on a much bigger scale.
For him, his role as papa meant protector and provider. Deep inside he had a desire to shield Lane and I from any harm that might come our way - physical or mental. He also saw a bigger reason to go to work each day. For years, his success was based on his selfish desires. Suddenly, it meant so much more. Work became a way to make sure his family had a roof over our heads, foods in our tummies and a nest egg for the future.
When papa cracked open his cookie that night, his fortune could not have come at a better time. In the midst of our readjusting, we'd been hit with some very personal blows. We couldn't understand why this was happening or how to handle the situation.
The cookie answered our questions.
We healed our wounds and moved forward just how we wanted - the three of us. A family. A very happy family.
Then, last December, our hearts ached again with news of our lost pregnancy. For a year, we lived our life with Lane - never questioning that this child was meant to be ours yet wondering in the back of our minds if we would have another.
Our loss hurt our hearts.
Yet, we continued to move forward with hope. In March, I wrote
this post, wondering if one day we would pose for a photo that I could label first family photo as four. I included the photo above: taken on September 13, 2008, as we celebrated James' 33nd birthday. I was 27 weeks pregnant with our first son.
Saturday night, James and I decided to take a few hours for the two of us. We headed out to that same restaurant for dinner, some alone time and to celebrate my love's 35th birthday. While there, James and I shared some very private thoughts about our life, our child and the love we have for one another.
My mom and Lane had their own special date. When we returned home, we took this photo. I am 24 weeks pregnant with our second son.
It is hard to believe that two years has passed since our first photo dressed nicely with my love's hands on my bump. So much has happened to make the years pass by in the blink of an eye. So much love has been shared. So much learning has taken place. So much has changed.
All so much for the better.
Because, when we finished taking photos of just the two of us, we snatched up our dirty little boy and had him join us for a few photos of the four of us.
Our family.
How fortunate we are.
On Sunday and Tuesday nights, I've been packing a little sack lunch
Sunday, Me Maw Maw sent us home with some homemade veggie soup.
Along with some cheese crackers.
Did he like his soup? Me Maw Maw says it is made with love.
His belly was full.
We found a little place about an hour from home - complete with tractor rides, a petting farm and acre upon acre of trees dripping with apples.
And we let our boys be boys until their little legs couldn't run any more - literally Lane fell over from exhaustion at the end of the day - and their little eyes couldn't stay open any longer.
We played on the tractor before the ride began - posing for pictures and making us mamas laugh.
And let Drew take charge of the camera for some apple on the head shots.
Lana with an apple on her head.
And, of course, Drew with an apple on his head.
Sure, we got some stares from some of the other folks at the farm. But, really, we don't care. We like to goof it up a bit when we are out and about.
For the boys, the best part of the day was being together. Lane thinks Drew is the cat's meow. He will watch him patiently and then make a move - doing and saying exactly what Drew does.
It only took Drew one time of showing Lane how to pick a perfect apple before Lane became a pro. Although, I do have to admit, and give a big apology to the B.J. Reece Apple House, more apples wound up thrown on the ground than in our bag.
I couldn't quite get Lane to grasp that the apples were for eating - not for throwing.
Oh, and remember how I said we like to goof it up a bit.
Enough cheese for you? No, because we can get cheesier.
OK. I admit. The kids were not the only ones having fun. We did too.
But that's what this time is all about. This time before we welcome another. This time before Lane becomes a big brother. This time when he's still my only with another on the way.
Speaking of hearts - does this make yours melt. Look at that smile on Lane's face. Like I said, he loves Drew.
So do I.
So does Preston. There he is. Making he debut at the apple orchard. He's tiny and quiet and the spitting image of his big brother.
Oh, I could just eat all three of them up.
And just for fun. 
As if he needed a reason to hang around the house naked.
No matter which view you walk in on, you are sure to get an eye full.
Shortly after Lane's birth, Papa received a very timely fortune is his cookie. Having just become parents, our heads were buzzing with new thoughts: how to care for our child, how to get some more sleep, how to adjust to life as a family of three.
Saturday night, James and I decided to take a few hours for the two of us. We headed out to that same restaurant for dinner, some alone time and to celebrate my love's 35th birthday. While there, James and I shared some very private thoughts about our life, our child and the love we have for one another.
It is hard to believe that two years has passed since our first photo dressed nicely with my love's hands on my bump. So much has happened to make the years pass by in the blink of an eye. So much love has been shared. So much learning has taken place. So much has changed.
I dressed my boys in the team's colors, packed a bag with diapers and wipes, and sent my two loves off to the game yesterday.
First, we met Andrea and Paola at our meet-in-the-middle park. Us mamas treated the babes by letting them play on the big kids side of the park.
We even treated them to a little misbehavior.
Bouncing on the weebly woobly bridge.
Isn't he the cutest thing you've ever seen?
Later, we treated Andrea to the swings. We let the babes swing real high.
They thoroughly enjoyed it.
After the park, you treated the four of us to pizza at Z Pizza.
Remember that place? It is where I used to go after acupuncture and treat myself to some yummy gluten free pizza.
When the babes were done eating, Paola treated them to suckers.
As soon as we got home, Lane asked for papa. I felt sad for him so I treated him to a sink tubbie.
Then I treated him to his bottle in our bed.
And added an extra treat: a few minutes of Sesame Street.
He showed his gratitude by climbing in my lap and cuddling me for a few moments.
What a treat.
It made my smile real big - even though I miss you terribly and will miss snuggling you tonight.
After Lane went to bed, I lit a bunch of pumpkin candles in our room (don't worry, I'll blow them out before falling asleep) and treated myself to a cupcake.
Good night, my love.
I love you.
