Prayers

So we have begun saying prayers with Matthew each night and it is so sweet to hear him express his thanks for all of the people in our lives. Each night be goes through the litany of people...and toys...and his house.....his friends.....his garden.....his lawnmower....his BuzzWoody.....his teeth....his sheets.....his bath.....his juice...you get the picture. Tonight he thanked Jesus for his "libary" and of course bookworm Mommy was so proud of her thankful little man. I too am thankful for the library though I don't seem to think about it during my prayers.

Innocence is.....

My little 3 year old seeing his first ice cream truck at the park today and pointing to it and saying

"That bus sings songs".

11 months.....TIME. PLEASE. STOP. PLEASE....

Another month has passed me by and my baby is growing SO VERY FAST. I am trying so very hard to hold onto all of these sweet baby moments but they are slipping through my fingers like sand.

You are consistently taking 4 or 5 steps at a time and we know you are on the verge of walking. Your appetite has yet to diminish, in fact you recently discovered refried beans and LOVE them. You are finally starting to play outside without immediately eating dirt/mulch/rocks. You still take a sample periodically but it is not the first thing you do anymore. Your climbing is completely out of control. You happily climbed to the top of an 8 foot ladder over the weekend and were so very proud of yourself. Your new favorite place to sit is in the middle of the dining room table, no longer is the table a "baby-free zone" for your brother. As soon as he gets his trucks/trains/blocks set up here you come, pushing out a chair, climbing into the chair, climbing up onto the table where you commence the destruction of his project. I am always alerted to the fact that you are on the table because your brother starts screaming, "No Timber, no on table" repeatedly until I come swoop you off the table which tickles you to no end. You have started signing more while saying "mo" and you get the biggest grin on your face when you realize that WE ARE COMMUNICATING and can get you what you want. You also love to put on hats when you find them laying around, just a few days ago we were playing with a hat and I swear you said "hat". We have been working on the sleeping and trying to cut out the midnight feeding session. You slept your longest stretch over the weekend....9 hours....WOW, I was enthralled! So you've only done this once but progress is progress!

We are encroaching upon your first birthday and I am so proud of you. I love you and all your sweet snuggliness....as well as your wiggliness. I cannot wait to celebrate with you but can we please make this month go by a little slower....please?!?!

Rocking with big brother

Teaching your buddy EK all about boys

Dirty faced little man

Doing a little backyard exploration

Happy 3rd Matt-Attack

In the months after you were born I was told 8,435 times to enjoy these young years because they pass way too quickly. After the first 300 times I kind of quit listening. I have discovered how right all those people were.

Three seems like such a big number for my little boy but alas, three years have passed since we met you and I'll say it again, we will never be the same. You have changed our lives in some of the most surprising ways. I still remember the moment I first saw you and how tiny all of you seemed except for those big wondering eyes. You looked at me and I knew I was changed forever. Those first months went by so fast and your dad and I worried about you and slept so little for fear that you would need us at any moment. You softened us and toughened us up simultaneously. You taught us what was truly important in this confusing world. You allowed two people who had know each other a decade see each other in a completely new light.

You have grown and changed at lightening speed and we have reveled in your limelight, watching you learn about this world with a smile on your face. You are such a happy, busy, independent little boy and make us so very proud on a daily basis.

Right now you are completely obsessed with garbage trucks. I literally plan our Thursdays around the garbage trucks appearance on our street. You are in a state of pure bliss as we sit in the driveway watching the garbage truck do its thing.

You are very determined and a little bit impatient when you can't make something work. You are sweet and often bless me with unsolicited kisses and hugs which absolutely tickles me.

You love to "help Mama" any chance you get. Cooking, cleaning, gardening, mowing, pulling weeds, sanding, painting, putting up your socks, collecting the trash, getting things for Kimber. You love to feel like part of the team and you are happiest when given a task so you can "help".



I hope your day was amazing, you have made my life amazing from the moment I met you.

Chattanooga, TN

A few weeks back we spent a fun weekend in Chattanooga. I planned the trip around the retrieval of a toilet for Nana and Gramps' RV. It was a fun trip, even if we left 6 hours after our planned ETD.

I packed food so we could eat a few meals in our hotel. Anyone with an almost 1-year old and almost 3-year old can attest to the fact that eating out is NOT a whole lot of fun, more like an exercise in deflection.

On Saturday we visited the Children's Discovery Museum which was AWESOME if not a little overwhelming. We are so going there again. We ate some pretty decent mexican food, partook of the most expensive ice cream EVER, and thoroughly wore two boys out.

Building a race car.

The world's most expensive ice cream cone.....and he didn't even finish it!

Mission accomplished

On Sunday we toured the Chattanooga Aquarium and while I feel like we kind of raced through it I am glad we went. Matthew was pretty impressed with the turtles and jellyfish and Kimber, well that kid is happy watching his brother. Outside the aquarium there is a huge network of pools, fountains and man-made rivers that were a nice FREE activity that both boys enjoyed.

The cutest shark bait ever!

After some pizza at Mellow Mushroom we were off to the Railroad Museum which was pretty cool except that we missed the last train ride, thankfully Matthew didn't realize riding the train was an option.



Chattanooga reminds me of Austin, TX in a way and we are HUGE fans of Austin. I think the town is a bit eclectic, very cute and seems to be growing. I hope to visit many more times.

Gettin' smurfy

Over the weekend we were out in the garage/yard hanging out and somehow Kimber opened an almost full quart of blue paint. We turned around and saw our diaper clad baby happily splashing away thoroughly enjoying himself. We quickly washed him off but not before getting a not so great picture of our little smurf.



The best part....I have little blue footprints on the concrete in front of the garbage can!

Girly Totes

I have been trying hard to come up with a repertoire of gifts for friends. I searched the internet a few months back and found this tutorial so gave it a shot. I think it turned out super cute and have since made another one for two little best friends.

The finished bag

Lined with a cute owl print for a little owl lover.

A weird anniversary.....

So all my planning for our 12th Anniversary went out the window.
The original agenda looked like this:

Saturday

• 7 AM Run with the girls
• 8 AM Shower, load last minute items for party
• 9 AM Leave to get Matthew's Birthday party set-up
• 10 - 12 Celebrate Matthew's Birthday with his buddies
• 1 PM Home, decompress, shower, get boys down for naps
• 2:45 PM Sitter arrives
• 3:30 PM Couples massage scheduled at Terrame
• 5:30 PM Dinner reservations at D&L Bistro
  

What actually transpired...

• 7 AM Run with the girls
• 8 AM Sitter calls to tell us she has stomach flu
• 8 AM Try desperately to find an alternate sitter
  
• 8:30 AM Load last minute items for party
• 9:30 AM Leave to get Matthew's Birthday party set-up
• 10 - 12 Celebrate Matthew's Birthday with his buddies
• 12 PM Learn that they make a SHOT for the Poison Ivy Will has been fighting for a week.
• 1 PM Home, unload, assemble toys, get boys down for naps
• 2 PM Willie leaves for the doc-in-a-box to attempt to get a shot.
• 3 PM Willie is still waiting
• 4 PM Willie still waiting, me a MUCH NEEDED SHOWER after a nearly 4 mile run and a birthday party in 100 degree heat, boys get up.
  
• 5 PM Willie is out of the waiting room but still no doc
• 5:25 PM The first doctor comes in and immediately goes and gets a more senior doctor to witness this apparantly severe case of poison ivy. SHOT ADMINISTERED......finally.
• 6 PM We eat leftover party pizza and cupcakes and are thankful for all that we have....especially the poison ivy shot!!
  

Thankfully, I called on Friday morning and canceled the massages since I figure the massage therapist would want nothing to do with massaging my husbands oozing rash.

There's always next year right?

30 Questions.....Stolen Idea...the sleep deprivation is gettin' to me!!

Idea stolen from Miss Zoot who stole it from other people. Great entry for a busy week.

30 Questions:

1. It’s 2AM and you are not home. You are more than likely:
In jail or the hospital or on vacation sans kids. I’m never not at home at 2am, at least now that I am an old fart and a mom!

2. What’s the last thing you spent more than $100 on?
A double jogging stroller.....pretty much like Prozac for me!!!

3. What do your bank checks look like?
Polka Dots

4. Where did the shirt you are currently wearing come from?
Target....I think??

5. Name something that will be on your Christmas wish list:
A nap....and I mean a good one!!

6. What color is your toothbrush?
Yellow and white

7. Name something you collect and tell us about it.
Books, I used to have a serious problem buying books but since we have transitioned from two incomes to one, not that big of a problem anymore, but I dig the library in a big way!

8. Last restaurant you ate at. Who were you with? How was it?
Mellow Mushroom in Chattanooga, TN. I was with my three boys and ate like a queen and enjoyed some beer as well. As always, it rocked in a big way!

9. Who was the last person you bought a birthday card for?
My sister

10. What is your worst bad habit?
Snacking

11. Name a magazine to which you subscribe?
People....a free subscription though....using up about to expire airline miles since traveling is much too hard these days.

12. Your favorite pizza toppings?
I like pineapple and ham but I never get it because no one else likes it.

13. Whose number were you looking up the last time you used a phone book?
No clue.

14. Other than family, who is the person that you love most?
Dr. McSteamy from Grey's....so maybe it's not love....just lust?

15. What is the last thing you cooked?
Beef Stroganoff

16. Name something you wouldn’t want to buy used?
Underwear

17. Which shoe do you put on first?
Seriously?

18. What is the last thing you remember losing?
My phone...thanks 3 year old!

19. What is the ugliest piece of furniture in your house?
Has to be the couch but I am way too cheap to buy a new one until all the little people are potty trained!!

20. Last thing you bought and ended up returning?
Cornhole bags

21. What perfume/cologne do you wear? If none, why?
Chanel - Chance

22. Your favorite board game?
Checkers...hell...I don't know.

23. What was the last board game you played?
I really have no clue.

24. Where did your vehicle come from?
A used car dealer in Montgomery, AL.

25. If a movie was made about your life what would the theme song be?
You're Gonna Miss This by Trace Adkins

26. You’re sad, who can cheer you up easily?
Any of my boys

27. What was the color of the bridesmaid dresses of the last wedding you went to?
Black

28. What house cleaning chore do you hate to do the most?
Anything that isn’t obvious it was done, like cleaning blinds or baseboards. I hate doing work no one notices so mostly I just don’t do it. AMEN

29. What is your favorite way to eat chicken?
Skinless thighs marinated in Mojo Sauce!!

30. It is your birthday. You hope the cake is?
A Cheesecake!!! Or Chocolate on Chocolate!!

A muddy proposition

In honor of our 12th anniversary.......this is the story of our LONG engagement.

It was a wet Thursday night and my college roommates were getting ready to go to City Limits, the bar in our college town. I really didn't want to go but they were being completely relentless, insisting that I go. I had a chemistry (I think) test the next morning and really really needed to study. Needless to say, I went. We had been at the bar an hour or so and up walks Willie, which was strange since he lived 90ish miles away, I then understood the roomies insistence that I come out that night. Of course I was thrilled to see him and off we went to the dance floor. After a few songs we went back to our group and he told me that he wrecked his truck en route to the bar that night. He assured me it wasn't too bad but wanted to show me. So off we go to the parking lot, once we got to his truck he told me to get in, I was confused and I wanted to see the damage. Quite firmly he said, get in the truck , I need to talk to you. So I turned around and climbed in, when I look back over at him he is down on one knee in the muddy parking lot asking me to marry him. WHAT??? I was shocked, I was thrilled, I was a wee tiny bit amused. Only I, the world's biggest tomboy would get propositioned in a bar parking lot. Of course I said yes and thus began the 18-month engagement and here we are 12 years later....still laughing and playing in the mud!

Riding the Potty Train...oh yeah!!

After trying and stopping , and trying and stopping, and trying and stopping....you get the point. 3 weeks ago IT TOOK. Everyone kept telling me it would click and it did!!! I am excited, for so many reasons, buying diapers for two was getting ridiculously expensive, Kimber trying to "help" when I changed Matt was comical...kind of, Matthew's need to "see poop" when changing Kimber...well...not so comical.

So my firstborn is now streaking around the house in underwear which is cute but bittersweet. I catch myself still thinking it is weird to hear the toilet seat going up or down when Willie is not home. I bought him some boxer briefs last week and after seeing his little booty in them really just wanted to return them immediately, he looked at least 5 in them and I am SO NOT READY for that!!

Tee-Tee was our first step and wasn't too awful hard. Poo-Poo was the part I dreaded. See Matthew is a "pacer". Some kids hide and poop, some kids sit and grunt, my kid performs a fast pace to get the job done. For months I have been baffled at how I would get him to stay still to poop when he has been pacing to poop for nearly 2 years. We came up with the idea of a PUSH PRESENT and we let Matthew pick out a big Buzz Lightyear at the store with the understanding that he would not get it until he pooped in the potty. We put it up within his line of sight but way out of his reach. After church on Sunday he kept asking for a diaper to poop. Every time he asked I took him to the Buzz Lightyear and reiterated the fact that if he pooped in the potty he could get Buzz down, well it worked!!!! I was thrilled, who knew I would be this excited about another person's bowel movements.

Once again, parenthood is never what you expect it to be, much harder and more rewarding than anyone ever lets on!