Teagan is 23 Months Old!

Happy April my sweet baby girl! On April 30th of this month you will be two years old! I am simply amazed at how fast these years disappeared. I still remember the moment when the doctor told us we had a beautiful little girl. We didn't find out before the delivery and Daddy predicted all along that you would be a girl. His heart just melted for you instantly. He even had tears in his eyes as he held you for the first time, don't let the big guy tell you otherwise!

Today you weigh 26.6 lbs!

This is such great news as you are a pretty picky eater most days. Your latest love is for mandarin oranges and raisins!

You wear a size 2T

You wear a size 7 shoe

You are in size 5 diapers, you moved up! I promise, promise that we will begin potty training soon as we stick closer to home with the baby!

My big girl! You might collect the post and drink your milk with an Irish accent but you are a southern girl at heart when you insist with a new southern drawl that "Mommy! Come h-ere!" And I think you've picked up a couple of Mommyisms as you start many a sentence off with an "Anyway..."

You are changing your French poodle's diaper which just goes to show you are gonna be an awesome big sister and mommy's helper when the baby comes!

But you are still my baby and always will be. This month you've become aware of boo-boos and come to me with pretend ailments and pseudo tears that can only be cured by a kiss. You've also taken a cue from your favorite Wonder Pet, Ming Ming and say, "Daddy, it's serious!!" Could this be a sign of girl drama to come????

You love baby dolls and strollers! As much as you like pushing the baby dolls around you also like dismantling the stroller. New expressions this month include, "I broke-ted that!" and "I fix-ted that!"

After talking to my friend Jennifer about how slurpees were good for the soul and the fact that I hadn't had one in about five years I picked one up at Target...but you little munchkin, decided it was in fact, YOUR slurpee. I think I got a teensy, tinsy sip of it!

On the eve of The Masters this shot makes Daddy's heart happy. He so hopes you will be a golf pro and he can follow you round the world as your caddy!

Your sweet babysitter and buddy Madeline gets a squeeze in!

You've been saying, "I can't find it." and "I forgot." Hmmmm...that could be due to my increasing brain cell loss as the pregnancy progresses and you witness me search for keys, purse, cell phone, etc....

Your first MP3 experience! I wonder what other technology you'll have in your lifetime that we didn't as I grew up?

That's all for now Little Mouse. You have been such a joy and blessing. We simply couldn't imagine life without our Teagan and I can't wait to celebrate you this month! - Love, Mommy

Happy Birthday Sweets!

Today's post is dedicated to my husband, Brian (a.k.a. Swwweeeeeeeetttts!!). Happy February 15th Brian! This marks our eleventh year celebrating your birthday together!

People ask us how a lad from Ireland and a Texan ever came together. I have my very romantic version of the story and of course, you have your own funny side! The long and short of it is that we both relocated to Colorado for our jobs within a month of each other. When I arrived I knew very few people and was the only female in our office until a beautiful girl from Ireland moved out via Boston. Anne-Marie, who incidentally also has a birthday today (Happy Birthday AM if you are reading!!) and I became fast friends and shared a loft apartment together. We credit her as our match-maker and the rest is a happy history!

I feel so blessed to be your wife, Brian. There is so much I admire and love about you including your persistent optimism, sense of humor, and your ability to do well at just about anything you put your mind to. I love the way you adore a good old fashioned debate and will take the opposite side simply for pleasure and to keep the conversation running, along with your analytical side which has taught me ever so much to see the world in a completely different way. I marvel at your ability to remember obscure facts and numbers. If we ever do get caught on Cash Cab we'll be certain to risk it all on a video bonus! And I doubt anyone could question your love of soccer, rugby and especially golf. You have such an intense passion for that game and it makes me very proud of your dedication, yes, even on a busy weekend!

But most of all I love the way you make those around you feel loved. You are intensely loyal and forgiving even when I do something really stupid. Your greatest joy is in being a dad and I see evidence of this in each and every day. Thank you for making me a better person.

And now for a trip down memory lane with some of my favorite pictures (at least from the few that escaped our recent hard drive crash!):

I love this picture of you and your big sister Joyce!

You and little sis, Ita! Loving the wellies!
You, Joyce, Keith and Ita. In this picture you look so much like my own sister Melissa looked at that age! How wild is that?
One of our first New Year's together.

In New Zealand and Australia for our fourth anniversary (of dating). You've always been a huge All Blacks rugby fan and it was so cool to be there during the World Cup! I thought for SURE you would propose there...but no, you had me wait one more month! In the end you knew I would want my family to be there for the big moment and waited for our trip home for Christmas!

Then we were engaged for 1.5 years before actually walking down the aisle. Though this conservative approach to tying the knot drove me to distraction at the time it was well worth the wait! I married my best friend.

At April's wedding. I was a bridesmaid one month before our wedding. She returned the favor in May!

You, your Dad and one of your closest buddies from home, Gere. Exploring the mountains in Colorado.

I love this picture of you at your brother's wedding in Cork, Ireland. That was a magical day and you look dashing!

I had to end this post with a golf shot. This has to be your absolute favorite pastime and possibly where you are happiest? I love you to bits Brian and hope this year of going from a three person family to four is one of our best!!

- Mouse.

REMINDER FRIENDS:

Don't forget about our first giveaway! There are multiple ways to enter to increase your chances of winning between now and Monday so look at yesterday's (February 14th) post for more scoop!