Beach Fun with Family & Friends

We got to go to the beach!  It's been 4 years since Jimmy & I went to Amelia Island, Florida, where we spent our honeymoon 9 years ago.  We talked about bringing our future family there one day, and our dream was fulfilled!  Even though we had 3 days of rain and cloudy windy skies (thanks to Tropical Storm Debby), being wrapped up in a towel at the beach was better than enduring the blistering heat wave in Tennessee.  Just a day into the trip we had a grand surprise orchestrated by my sweet husband...my parents arrived and spent an evening and one day with us!  I knew they were coming to surprise the boys, but they came a night early and surprised me!  What fun!  I'm so glad they got to see the boys enjoying the beach and waves!  In fact, they helped ease the boys into it.  Aside from sand castles, shell hunting and wave jumping, we also ate some fantastic meals...Brett's Waterway Cafe, Sandy Bottoms and Townies in Fernandina.  We were also blessed to drive a little way south to St. Augustine and see our dear friends who generously drove up from Orlando to see us.  We love you Zakhary Family and appreicate you orgnaizing a wonderful afternoon for us!  The boys made instant best friends, which we thought they would.  Just glad they like each other because we hope to visit again as soon as possible!  Suffice it to say, Florida is our favorite vacation spot, and getting to have Family join us, along with seeing our best long-distance Friends just put icing on the cake!  Here's some photos from our trip...

Spring

As soon as I think I have a chance to post, someone wakes up from a nap (which is a miracle in itself to get them both down at the same time for any amount of time)...so as quickly as I can I'm going to try to get a few photos from Spring 2012 up here. 

Easter Sunday

(And wedding attire, they weren't in the wedding, just attended a few)

Hiking the trail behind Bud Ogle's cabin in Roaring Fork, The Great Smoky Mountains! (one of our favorite short vacation destinations) We were there for the weekend for my cousin's wedding.  I don't have a picture of us all dressed up at the wedding...yet...but here we are earlier that day...out in the woods! 

I plan to post wedding pictures, too.  It was beautiful and so much fun!!!

Our house...a normal day just the boys and me playing outside

(No, I don't normally put the baby in a basket...it just kept him from crawling off the table so I could snap a photo.)

January, Where has the time gone?

Wow! January is usually a slow month, and February is usually slower as, well, for me, winter endures and we await Spring.  But with this Spring-like weather...it hasn't been so bad.  We have been outside so much more than usual, and had a great month, which leaves me wondering..."Where has the time gone?"

We celebrated Carter's 3rd Birthday...

Carter's 3rd Birthday! Monster Trucks!

And Colby turned 5 months old...

Rolling, sitting up and...smiling!

Around three years ago an experienced mother told me a saying that sticks with me. "The days are long, but the years are short."  I tucked the thought away, but now I totally believe it!  I'm living it!  I can't believe it's been 3 years since Carter was our newborn baby.  Now he's our big boy.  I'm amazed at the things he knows and can do. He makes me proud, entertained and sometimes completely worn out.  But most importantly, I've learned more about love, care and family than I ever have in my life.  His love for his brother and Colby's fascination with Carter amaze me each day.  I cherish those moments because I suspect it won't be long before these sweet moments turn into fighting.  Haha! 

But back to the the saying above, I recently read an article on Kronos time (time of day) and Chairos time (special moments) and whether or not to carpe diem (seize the day and enjoy every moment).  Like the author, I've experienced a certain amount of guilt in moments I find unenjoyable and think to myself, "enjoy this because it will be gone so soon."  This latter thought usually brings me back to reality to handle situtaitons with patience and tenderness.  However, there are some moments (potty training) that just get my goat!  I will not miss potty training at all!  So I'm learning that as time is going so quickly to cherish these Chairos moments like the birthday party, Carter singing in the rain splashing in his rainboots. Colby rolling over only to greet me with the biggest grin I've ever seen in my life and falling asleep in my lap.  Rocking and singing with both boys in the rocking chair or playing tractors in the floor.  These moments will outshine those rough ones, and I know I'll look back on these quickly fleeting years and say, "Where has the time gone?"

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

3 months already!

I haven't been posting very often...sorry to those who've checked.  But I have been keeping up with Colby through pictures, video and jotting things down.  It's just so hard to get everything done around the house and keep up with two little boys!  Usually by nap time, mommy needs one, too!  However I promised myself that if I hadn't posted by 3 months, then I would make a point to post an update, and here we are! 

It's hard to believe it's been 3 months since Colby was born!  We must be having fun because time is flying!  He is so sweet!  We've settled into our routine now.  He's sleeping good, and growing like a weed.  Carter loves him, and gets mad whenever someone (like Aunt Big Sister) tries to take Colby home with them.  He has his moments where he wants us all to himself.  That's ok, too.  Pretty much everything, especially getting out has been easier this time around, probably due to the warmer weather and that I just know what I'm doing this time.  I also know each stage will be so short that rather than anticipating what's next, I'm trying to thoroughly enjoy every moment because I know it will go so fast.  He's already dropped a late night feeding, which means he's ready for bed around 8 p.m. most nights.  Yes, that's a great thing!  It's also showing me just how fast he's already growing up!  I have to savor my time with him while he's awake and wants to play because each day slips by so fast. Then while he's asleep, Carter and I get time together.  This stage is working out well.  I must admit those first couple months were a blur. 

Now we're starting to see Colby's little personality.  He's a very happy baby as long as he's kept on his routine for the most part, you don't disturb him while he's playing or sleeping, and either change activities or hold him when he starts to fuss.  He settles right back down, usually for a nap.  He's just content, and it's wonderful!  He's very curious and loves to watch his big brother, play on his playmat or listen to someone read.  And he LOVES bluegrass music! (and pretty much any music, especially if you dance with him.)  So to sum up since I hear one of them stirring from nap, the past 3 months have been wonderful, and I'm so thankful for my two sweet boys!

Baby Colby

Colby is one week old today!  I just wanted to share a photo and let you know he's doing very well!  Thanks to so many friends for the prayers, e-mails, calls and texts to check on him.  Carter is also adjusting very well.  He is basking in the glow of being a big brother!  He wants to cuddle and talk to Colby every chance he gets, and he likes to help Mommy & Daddy because he is "the big boy" as he tells us.  I hope to compose and post our delivery story soon because it was so great!  Wow, just this time last week we were anxiously awaiting our new baby boy and now we can't imagine life without him!  He's just as sweet and wonderful as his big brother!  We couldn't have asked God for a better experience, and we thank him everyday for the blessings of the past week.  Here's  a picture with more news to come.  Also, his jaundice is going away, and he's regaining weight and sleeping very well.  Born on Aug 17, at a hefty 9 lbs 10 oz, (yes, that's why I felt so heavy!) he was down to 8 lbs 12 oz on Sunday.  Yesterday he was back up to 9 lbs 3 oz with a  good doctor's visit.  As our sweet friend, Melanie, says, we got a "hunk-a-baby!" Love it!

A Most Distinguished Honor

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have arrived!  A most distinguished honor was bestowed upon me today.  But first, the backstory...

Sometime in my toddlerhood, I bestowed such an honor upon my own mama.  Sometime, somewhere, she enforced discipline upon my stubborn will, and I dubbed her, "The Meanest Mama in the Whole Wide World."  To challenge my toddler wisdom at the time, she must have been the meanest, right?  So there her title stuck.  Of course, now we fondly refer to her by her special title, and I'm sure she wears it proudly for loving me enough to take the time to discipline me.

So I can't help but smile this afternoon as I listen to my toddler yell at me from his bedroom, "Mommy, You're a Mean Girl!" (He prounounces girl as /gril/.)   And for me, I know exactly why he is telling me this.  After listening to him and his new Diego he just got today (from the TV series) talk for 20 minutes when they are supposed to be napping, I told him I would take Diego away.  They didn't get quiet, so I took away Diego for the remainder of nap.   He proceeded to bestow upon me such an honor as I gave my mama not that many years ago. 

I just wanted to inform you that I feel quite honored this afternoon to have such a similar title and hope I can live up to it and will wear it proudly!  (Of course, I also enjoyed his debate with himself that followed... "No, she's not a mean girl.  But she took Diego.  Mommy, You're a Mean Girl!")  I'm also looking forward to a big hug after nap.  :)

A Favorite Photo

One of my favorite photos

Weekend Away & Easter Morning

Jimmy & I enjoyed a weekend away or "babymoon" as it's called if you're expecting. We went to IKEA in Atlanta in search of big boy furniture for Carter's new room. We thought we had good luck until we found out shipping is $199 for the bed we wanted. So we just ordered a different twin bed on-line from another store for less and put that shipping charge toward actual furniture. We did, however, find some cool storage pieces there for Carter's new big boy room, in progress.

We also stayed in the same hotel where we spent the first night of our honeymoon eight years ago (May 17)! Wow, time flies! Aside from a few rennovations, it was pretty much the same and every bit as beautiful! The food is amazing there!

We shopped just across the street at Lenox Mall. With all those new and cool stores, it's funny I had the best luck at GAP maternity and Baby Gap. Of course, we got some things for Carter, too. I guess you could say I have my favorites.

We ate at a restaurant called Davio's in Phipps Plaza. It's the upperscale mall there. The food was good. I had Lobster Ravioli, but we just got a little tickled (in this really nice restaurant) about the tray that came with the bread. On it, they served "spiced goat cheese with pimientos," olives, and some tomato mixture. Jimmy said it tasted like Mrs. Grissom's pimiento cheese, and looked like they opened a jar of olives and can of tomato mush. Not to discredit the overall experience, but it just seemed a little pretentious. Sometimes serving butter with the bread is just fine if you really don't have any great "Iron Chef" take on the items. Needless to say, we had some good jokes about eating pimiento cheese for supper. Back to the mall, the Tiffany's store was closed by vaulted doors at night. Some of the stores were Versace, Armani and an upperscale version of what looked like Pottery Barn. There was a Lambourgini parked in the middle. Jimmy enjoyed giving it a good look. You don't see those everyday.

We're not really the type to go shopping on a weekend getaway, but it was neat to see what they have in Atlanta, and actually go in some stores, like Pottery Barn and PB Kids rather than just look at the catalogs. Yes, I realize I could have just gone to Nashville, but we wanted to incorporate a little getaway. I was surprised at how many of the stores in Lenox we actually have around here, and also reminded of how easy on-line shopping really is.

But shopping is not all we did. We got to take advantage of the hotel pool and spa with a prenatal massage for me, which were huge treats in themselves! My hips didn't hurt for a week. That was wonderful! We enjoyed chocolate covered strawberries, complimentary desserts and fruit-infused water. (Speaking of pretentious, Jimmy was not impressed with the lemons, limes and oranges floating in the pitchers of water. Meanwhile, I loved it.) I certainly wanted to take advantage of the R & R since I know that right around the corner life is about to get pretty hectic, but certainly in a good way!

I also wanted to share an Easter picture of Carter with the much anticipated Easter basket! Carter had a great Easter weekend and got to spend time with all 4 grandparents. Seems like we all had a special weekend! And the Easter Bunny came through because Carter got his "Alfie the Digger," too!

It's a boy!

We're having another boy! We're all very excited, happy and blessed to have received a good report from the doctor that our baby boy is growing normally, and this pregnancy is going well so far. Halfway into it, time is flying by! We hope to welcome him in August (24 is the due date), and also choose a name before then! I framed our ultrasound photo. For those who have a hard time making heads or tails of these types of photos: his head is to the left where you can make out an ear, he is facing downward, and his spine is along the top, which makes his little bottom to the right. His arms and legs are tucked up under him, and we saw 2 arms and 2 legs during the ultrasound. He was a very energetic and uncooperative fellow. The technician told me to tell him to behave before our next ultrasound in five weeks where they'll try to see all four chambers of the heart and get a better profile picture. I'm so excited I get to see him again in five weeks! Then we'll be on the long haul for August when we get to meet him in person! I framed this photo with a little poem that I reprinted below so it's easier to read. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have! There are lots of special little poems about boys, which make me cry they're so sweet, and some funny ones, too. This particular one is going on our bedroom wall.

Little boys are treasures

Who are worth their weight in gold,

And charm everyone around them

From the time they're minutes old.

They're Mommy's little darling,

They're a special pal to Dad,

And they bring the very happiest days

A family's ever had.

~Author unknown

Rain boots

Like my new rain boots?

We wanted to go outside Monday, but the ground was still a little wet and muddy. After putting on Carter's tennis shoes in the living room and getting dirt and mud all over my carpet, I decided maybe we need some rain boots. Mine have worn out, and he has out grown his! We wear them alot living in the country. Last time I wore them traipsing in the snow and water (not so long ago), my feet were soaked and COLD. Monday, we had to make a run to Wal-mart, so we decided to check out their stock. They're pretty cute, including the price tag. We got them home and tried them out even though we didn't need them by that time. Today we really needed them, and it looks like we'll need them in the near future. Carter wore his today in the rain even though we were just in town. They still helped. With Spring just around the corner, I'm looking forward to wearing out a new pair of rain boots.

So Happy for this Weather!

So I spared you the "snow" blog I drafted to myself one night as I lie in bed thinking that if it snowed one more time or the temps didn't start to approach 50 that I might have to pack and move to Florida! I'm not a snow baby. Well, thankfully this week is going to be amazing! We've already enjoyed a Valentine's Day picnic lunch with Daddy. He was happy to see us out and about, too. In addition to the snow and cold temps, Carter has had a rough go of it with a sinus infection and double ear infection that 2 rounds of antibiotics can't seem to knock out for most of January and all of February so far. He has run a fever again all weekend so we're headed to the doctor in the morning. After not being able to get out much, we sure were looking forward to getting out this week! I guess we'll be sticking to less crowded places until we know for sure what he has now. I'm so thankful for the backyard swing set and sunshine! Happy Valentine's Day!

My Review of SUN & MOON MAT

Originally submitted at UncommonGoods

Welcome guests day or night with this cheerful mat featuring a dual image of a sun and a moon. Hand woven from all-natural coir. Coir is a durable, absorbent fiber made from real coconut husks that is naturally resistant to mold and fungus. Stenciled with permanent fade-resistant dyes. Vinyl back...

SUN & MOON MAT

Great gift

By She likes unique gifts from Murfreesboro, TN on 1/3/2011

 

5out of 5

Pros: Cleans Shoes, Unique, Durable, Attractive Design

Best Uses: Decoration, Side Door

Describe Yourself: Midrange Shopper

This rug was a Christmas gift for my aunt for her outdoor patio. She loved it! It arrived very timely, and the colors are vibrant. It truly made a great gift!

(legalese)

Happy Birthday Carter!

Carter was born on New Year's Day two years ago! My how time flies! He had a fun 2nd birthday on Saturday with pizza, cake, balloons and gifts. We plan to continue celebrating this week with the Lewis side since it's hard to get everyone together at one time, and we figured what a better gift to him than a private audience with some of his favorite people on different days. He had a lot of fun!

Happy Birthday Carter!

And Happy New Year!

Carter visits Santa

Since Monday, Carter has been like a sinner going to confession over needing to see Santa. He was scared when we saw him Sunday, so at the Co-Op on Monday, I asked when Santa would be there so we could try again. The clerk, with a momentary lapse of judgment promptly asked his coworker, when will "Joe" be here to do Santa. Really? Whatever his name, I'm sure he's a great Santa, but a 2 year old is listening! They all just laughed. Carter was not satisfied with waiting until Saturday. All the way home he chattered about needing to talk to Santa, he continued convincing me with "he not scary, nice, Thomas Train, trucks, racecars and combines." He really felt the need to tell him exactly what he wants for Christmas! He didn't stop Monday, but continued Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday...he'd talk about it when he woke up, when we ate, and when he was getting ready for bed. We have a short video clip of him reminding us of how urgently he wanted to see Santa, assuring us he would go talk to him, "not scary, Santa nice," he said.

So Thursday night, off we headed to Belk. Susan said he was a good one, and she was right! He turned out to be a great Santa! First Carter stood at a distance explaining in his best details what he would like for Christmas. Santa as so attentive and patient! As Carter inched closer, Santa offered a high five, which Carter thought was cool. They ended up having a nice little chat while we snapped some pictures. He got a candy cane, and they wished each other Merry Christmas! What a great visit!

Turkey for Thanksgiving

(Carter feeding berries to the bird)

Did you ever think about what a moose eats? I didn't until Carter & I read his new book last night, Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting. The general plot is moose and friends go in search of turkey for Thanksgiving. The whole time the turkey thinks he is the main meal until the last few pages when turkey (just as the reader) realizes he is an honored guest, not the main dish. They eat leaves, grass, acorns, berries, moss and bark. The illustrations are detailed and colorful. It's a really sweet little story, but I'd never really thought about what the animals eat. I just kind of thought they just eat what is outside, right? So today Carter and I searched for and gathered up some of the items from their table in our own backyard. He made a colorful little buffet on a piece of bark we found, and fed all his stuffed wildlife friends including the turkey. If you have kids, this is a fun little book to enjoy together this week!

Haystacks and Train Tracks

Wow, already mid-November! Why did it just occur to me this morning that next week is Thanksgiving? Already? I guess because Beth & I were thinking of next week's playdate when it hit us both that we'll be busy most of the week!

I just wanted to share a picture of Carter from last week playing on our neighbors' haystacks and tunnels. This is what fall is all about right here! We really enjoyed being with Jimmy last week. He took the picture from on top of a haybale. He likes to take a few days off in the fall for a little work and a little play. The Clarks (our country neighbors) set up some haybales and tunnels for their church kids and grandkids and invited us to play on them, too.

Carter is also crazy about Thomas the Train, so through those tunnels he would say, "Choo choo." He wakes up in the mornings asking to watch Thomas. He only has 3 plastic (like bath toys) trains, so Christmas will be super easy this year! Santa load up on some train tracks and trains for our house!

Happy Halloween!

Tractor Costume

So last year I was way more on top of things with Carter's outfit purchased sometime in the middle of September, on a hanger in his closet so the wrinkles would fall out, and ready to go. This year, not so much. Thankfully this idea came to me slowly with still enough time to get it finished, so I wanted to share the process in case anyone else feels inspired to make a Halloween costume. (It was inexpensive. We figured less than $10!)

It started with a picture of a dozer/digger cardboard costume on a website I saw. When Jimmy & I decided the implements were too much to handle, I searched again and tried to copy a Kubota tractor picture I found, also using Carter's toy tractors and our real one (in the background below) as inspiration.First some different sized boxes that came in the mail with the Birthday & Christmas gifts I ordered started to resemble a tractor when they were sitting next to each other, so I cut them and taped them together. Then I remembered Jimmy had a can of spray paint for touching up our own (real) tractor.I used the whole can.

Then I painted some bowls and plates, a yellow stripe and piece for the grill on front. Jimmy bought some stickers. I added a triangle and red tail lights to the back. We found some touch lights at Wal-Mart ($1.50 for two, hard to beat!).

Then all the pieces jumped on the box and Wah-lah! Ready for one kid, insert in hole in top. Just kidding, there's really a lot of duct tape, Gorilla tape and hot glue on this little tractor! Carter loves it! It's just a little front heavy, so we're going to try clipping it to his overalls on Halloween night. Happy trick-or-treating!

(Photo of Carter in his costume to come Sunday.)

This is Carter...

The St. Louis Zoo...it's reputation preceeds it (quite literally, read previous post). But does Carter care about all those animals, well, yes, unless there's something better. A bit determined, particulary driven by the price I paid to park there, I was going to try to see those big old hippos if it was the last thing I did! The exhibit was partially closed, but someone said they thought we could still see a few animals. So here I go pushing the stroller with a tired little toddler inside promising we could at least see the elephants and maybe more. We arrived at the elephant exhibit and what did we find? "A scoops!" as Carter exclaims. He jumped out of his stroller as fast as I could help him and ran over to it. People passed us & even came back down the hill, and all the while Carter was enamored with this "Scoops." He didn't want me to take a picture of him all day, but now with the "Scoops" in the background it was one "cheese" after another! This kid! This is Carter!