What's up in the Life of the Taynors

So whats been going on?  The days are flying by, the boys are growing up, every week feels so busy and crazy!  But everything is really really good.  Here is just a quick update, again so I have something to look back on and remember this season of life.

-I'll start with me.  I just finished my first true year of real estate and I am proud to say it was better than I could have ever imagined.  Goal that was given to me from my team was for 15 homes.  That's because 15 homes means winning one of the big awards in real estate.  I agreed to strive for that but had no faith it would actually happen.  Personally I was set on 5.  I would be happy if I sold 5 homes.  Well guess what, I sold 15!  What?!  I can't believe I actually hit that goal in my very first year.  I am super super proud.  And what makes it even better, I really like the job.  Its hard work and I bust my butt to make it happen, but I am happy! And I feel like I found something I am good at, that I like, and I am making money to contribute to our families goals.

- Mike is next.  Career wise there were not major changes this year.  He works so hard all the time.  An average day he leaves the house around 6-6:30am and gets home between 6:30-7pm.  And that is not when he is traveling all over the place.  He is normally out of state 1-2 weeks a month.  During busy season he was gone every other week, but we have been lucky the last 2 months have been quieter.  But we think this upcoming year will be a a big transition for his career.  He has put 2 years into this position and his hopefully going to get promoted to a DM (that is the goal).  If anything major happens, I am sure I will be back to talk about it.

- Ryan and Patrick are in full blown activity and sports mode.  They both play baseball and soccer in the Spring and Fall, Ryan did the swim team in the summer at the Country Club and is doing basketball in the Winter.  Patrick is doing a Star club through our church.  They sure do keep me busy.  But at one point in the Spring when life felt chaotic, Mike and I discussed dropping some activities, but we realized being part of these teams, and having a Saturday full of sports games was actually one of our favorite parts of the week.  He loves spending the time as a family, the boys were so happy playing, we were in a great network of friends.  Somehow the crazy wild schedule was our happy place.

- Ryan is in 2nd grade.  He loves science, marine life, animals, outer space and all things non fiction.  He doesn't love ready, writing, spelling quite as much but he is getting there. I am grateful that he still loves going to school, has a great teacher Mrs. Thomas, and lots of good buddies in school.  At home he is loud and rambunctious but also loving and helpful.  He loves to make us happy.  From the minute his eyes open til the second he goes to sleep at night he is on the move.  Drawing, creating new inventions, making obstacle courses to be a Ninja Warrior, playing sports, hanging with the kids in the neighborhood... Ryan goes non stop.  He still has some struggles with focus, paying attention to one topic at a time, understanding personal space (like running and jumping on someones back to give them a hug isn't always appropriate, who knew).  But he is still a kind, sensitive, emotional, sweet boy.

-Patrick is in his last year of preschool.  He goes 5 full days this year, and he loves it.  He is funny, and spirited, and knows how to make people laugh.  He loves following in Ryan's footsteps.  Most of his days are spent wondering what Ryan is doing and trying to do it too.  He also loves playing outside and creating new games, but he can also be my cuddling cough potato. When he plays Mario Kart video games, he bounces and jumps the entire time, like a jumping bean.  Currently his favorite things are The Greatest Showman, Mario Kart, super heros, and unfortunately silly YouTube videos (the annoying ones of kids playing with toys). And just like Ryan, Patrick is obsessed with "his baby" Thomas. Both big kids love love love on Thomas.

- We have met a good group of friends.  Between the neighborhood, my work, and the kids sports we finally feel like we have a great system of friends that we enjoy spending time with and that have kids that get along with our boys.  It was strange to feel like the new and lonely person living in a town I have lived in my whole life, but finally its feels nice to have some great people around us.

-Daily life in our house is loud.  A lot of wrestling.  A lot of "he hit me".  A lot of running, jumping, throwing, climbing. A lot of fighting.  A lot of singing and dance parties. But at the end of the day, Ryan and Patrick cuddle up together in their bedroom to sleep because neither can go to bed at night without the other.

-This year we have some big goals.  Mike and I are going to St. Lucia for our 10 year anniversary trip.  We are also taking the boys on an Alaska Cruise in September.  Hopefully Mike will have some big moves in his job and I will keep growing mine.  But on a smaller level I hope to start getting back in shape, maybe start running again.  I wan us to get more involved in our church since we finally found a place we really like. 

Ryan is going to take some personal training for baseball since he really loves to play and the talent around here is so so good.  We hope for Patrick to learn how to ride a bike and how to swim on his own. 

I want to read 16 books in 2019.  I hope to get both boys overnight potty trained (we still have night time accident issues).  I want to live more in the moment... leave the dishes for later, and cuddle on the couch if they ask.  Play the game they want to play.  Go outside when they ask me to come.  I am well aware that they won't ask for "one more hug" forever, so help slow down time by being present.

Even though many days I feel overwhelmed, and overloaded in to-do lists.... life right now is so good.  I am happy and blessed and really enjoying this season of life!

Thomas is One! (Written at 18 months)

Wow- this takes the record in my most delayed post.  I am a full 6 months late on Thomas's one year birthday update.  Life has been wild!  All good but just wild.  So unfortunately this blog has been put on a back burner - way in the back where I can barely even find it.  But because looking back on these memories and stories is important to me, I am going to do my best to recap what Thomas was like when he turned one.  And if nothing else I can update on my 18 month old version of him :)

Some of the facts (again written as if he was exactly one)-
- Still not sleeping through the night.  Gets up once or twice a night to eat but will go back to sleep. 
- Not walking yet, but cruising and crawling all over.
- Still exclusively nursing.  He loves nursing and shows no signs of giving up.
-Thomas spends most of his days hanging out and going along for the ride with his brothers.  Most days are on a sports field or on a play date or driving around to Ryan and Patrick's activities.
- His actual first birthday, and our 9 year anniversary, was spent on the little league fields because both Ryan and Patrick had their last baseball game of the season.
- Thomas is tiny.  He measures in at about 5-10% in height and weight.  Only thing large is his head at 75%
-Baby Thomas is a twin of Patrick at this age.
-He is still so sweet, and cuddly, and laid back.  And boy does he love his Mama!
- Not really talking yet, just a bunch of rambling, but not much talking.


We threw Thomas a big first birthday party.  I always wanted a summer baby so we could celebrate with a big backyard party.  And that is exactly what we did.  It was surfer dude themed, and it was one of the hottest days of the summer.  But we had a TON of fun.  Lots of family and friends from all areas of life came to celebrate and party.

An update on when some of the major milestones took place-
-Started walking- 14 months
-Started sleeping through the night- 14 months
-Slowly weened and eventually stopped nursing completely between 15-16 months


And now at 18 months this is how I see him-

-Loving on Mickey Mouse!  The show, toys, his hot dog song.  He has entered Mickey obsessed.
-He also loves dogs.  Of "woof woofs" as he says.
- He loves loves loves to snuggle.  I think his favorite part of the day is when he comes in my bed in the morning for cuddle time before we start our day.
- He wants desperately to keep up with his big brothers.  Whatever they do, he does.
- He is determined and active- climbs up the outside of the staircase, up onto the kitchen table, moves couch cushions to climb up like a mountain, our of his high chair up onto the island.  Boy had no fear.
-He is strongly independent.  Wants to dress himself, go down the stairs himself, put his shoes on himself.  And gets frustrated when he can't keep up.
-Thomas loves to eat.  Some favorites are meatballs, yogurt, bananas, peas, all fruit, cereal bars.  He also must use a fork or spoon if everyone around him is using one.
-He generally takes one good nap a day from 11:30-1:30.  Works well with Patrick's school schedule.
- His dance moves are great!  He loves music, the piano, drums, and singing. 
-He has quite the arm.  Loves to play catch with anyone willing to play.
-When we are at home, Thomas is a pretty chill easy going kid.  Out in public is a challenge because he wants to touch everyone, explore, run away, and be  a free spirit.  This fall we had to stop taking him to his brothers soccer games because we couldn't keep him off the field!
-And lastly Thomas gives the biggest, tightest, best hugs.


My boy Thomas is truly a blessing from God.  I am incredibly thankful to have this little boy in our world!