Random Rundown

Have not done this in foeva, but I have all of eight minutes to blog, so I thought I would share some random happenings...



- Warren busted my lip today at Costco in the bulk baked goods aisle. She didn't want to get in her cart, so she threw her head back at 90 mph. I strapped her in that cart so tight that I could barely get her out. Take that, Holyfield.

- I am seriously not trying to be negative, but I don't think I have told y'all about how my daughter loves to lick public surfaces. Water fountains, windows, stranger's pets, even tires. I'm just waiting for her tongue to fall off.

- We are bribing our child to sleep in his own bed all night. Lee bought him a "Bobbycat" (Bobcat) excavator at the "Tractor Store" (Rural King) in exchange for his compliance. This was not my idea, but I am so not above a little bribery if it means he will no longer sleep on my head.

- After shopping for shorts recently, I decided that they were all made for either lolitas under the age of 16 or great grandmothers. Not much in between going on.

- Last week, I decided to save the planet (in one day, mind you) and make my own deodorant, laundry powder, dishwasher detergent, baby wash, sanitizing spray and glass, hardwood and bathroom cleaners. So far, I love the laundry and dishwasher detergents, sanitizing spray and deodorant. The glass cleaner is nice and the bathroom cleaner is no good.

- I have started pinteresting again.

- Both of my children are out of school. I go back and forth between exuberance about the fact that we will have three months to meander our favorite family-friendly spots and terror at the thought of three months of grocery shopping with two small children. Costco, anyone?

XO to you and your loved ones - hope to share more soon about what is happening in our lives and to catch up on some of my favorite blogs as well (including yours;).

Peach is 23 Months Old



1. You wear size four diapers, size six shoes and anywhere from 18 months to 2t in clothing.
2. Your vocabulary has grown from a handful of words to phrases to sentences.
3. My favorite is "love you, mama."
4. Another popular phrase is "NO, Gaga (Walker)!!!"
5. You want to cuddle 24/7. You say "CUUUDDLE!"
6. Your favorite bow is the "blue bow." You insist on wearing that one even if doesn't match.

7. You constantly jump/swing/hang from furniture.
8. You sleep with Baby Helen, blankie, Lambie, a sippie and a book.
9. We sing four songs in the rocker every night before you go to bed: You are My Sunshine, Jesus Loves Me, Twinkle Twinkle and ABCs.
10. You usually stop me mid-song and try to take over, but then you get stuck and need my help.
11. We also pray together every night. You insist that we hold hands.
12.  You wave and say "BYE" after I lay you in bed.

13. Your favorite cartoon character is Dora but you won't sit still long enough to watch much TV.

14. Your favorite book right now is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. 

15. You are obsessed with shredded cheese and raisins.

16. You still don't like mushy fruit or veggies.



17. You adore animals. I'm pretty sure you were meant to live on a farm so you could chase chickens and horses all day. Instead, you visit Ruby on her farm.



18. You also flip over Maggie Sue & Harper's doggies - Louie, Eli & Molly.

19. Your favorite toy in any room is always a doll.

20. You spend a lot of time pushing babies around the house in your shopping cart.

21. You also love to play in my make-up.

22. You are 100% girl.

23. Nana says you remind her of one little girl in particular - ME!

Wren Love, you sweet rascal. You change every day. I decided to convert these pics to black and white because I want to freeze my memories of you at this age.

 

From precious words like "chocolate peeze" to the teeny ponytail I can put in your hair, you're less and less baby and more and more little girl. We are less than a month away from your second birthday, and I can say that in two short years you have already changed my life.

 

Thank you for reminding me of how much God cares for His creation (esp the furry sort) and for slowing me down for cuddles when I think I'm too busy.

 

I am so proud to be your MaMa, MayMay and Mommeee.



Spring Break 2013 - Sandestin

We don't typically vacation during spring break. We escape to the beach in the winter, summer or fall and avoid peak times.

 

Less traffic. No wait at restaurants. Great deals on hotels/condos. Wide-open beaches.

 

But this year, Lee surprised us with a last minute escape to Sandestin, FL.

 

We left after church on Easter morning.

Because we didn't want to miss the fun of celebrating Easter with our church family.

Walker & Warren were super excited and insisted on helping me pack.

Our minivan swagger wagon broke down the day before the trip, so we had to get cozy in the four door sedan. The kids actually traveled the best that they ever have in the car for a long trip, which was pure manna from God.

 

We spent four days at the Hilton Sandestin.

 

The weather was glorious. It rained one day, but other than that, it was perfect. The kids loved digging in the sand, watching the waves and splashing in the pool.

Walker got some practicing swimming in his puddle jumpers. Love 'em!

We also spent a lot of time on our balcony - bouncing basketballs, rocking babies and waving to fellow hotel patrons. Warren yelled "Hiiiiiieeeee" while Walker shouted "GO CATS!"

Of course we had to visit our favorite little beach-side town, Seaside.

It was just the short & sweet getaway that our family needed.

Wren is 22 Months

Baby Peach

So much I want to lock in my memory about this little firecracker.

1. Wren takes one nap a day (around two hours long) and sleeps at night from 8:00 p.m. to 7:15 a.m.

2. She is OBSESSED with babies. 

3. She loves to wrap them in blankets and feed them her mama milk:).

4. She also loves to read to them.

5. She is finally wearing bows again.

6. She went through a stage where she would just tear them out.

7. Like rippin' this mamas heart out!;)

8. Wren looks up to her big brother.

9. She knows how to throw colossal temper tantrums.

10. But she also knows how to turn on the charm.

11. She says "CHEESE" when the cameras come out.

12. No, that's not it. It's even bigger. Like this...

13. As you have probably noticed, she is kinda into picking out her own pajama combinations. Can you tell what her favorite top is?;)

14. I'm tellin' ya. This little girl lives life out loud.

15. Her daddy makes her say "cool" all the time. She will repeat just about anything.

16. She asks for "cuddles" sometimes.

17. But usually she is on the go - exploring and leaving her mark.

18. She wears size 4 diapers, size 6 shoes & 18-24 month clothing.

19. She loves to read books, sneak in the pantry for chocolate chips, wash her hands, do puzzles, send off family and friends from the front porch (BYEEE!!!), climb on the countertops, empty her pajama drawer, ask me to kiss boo-boos, go through my purse, listen to music, make animal sounds & brush her hair.  

20. She said "I love you" spontaneously for the first time last night (4/4/13)

21. My heart leapt with joy.

22. I love you too, baby Wren.

XOXO - MaMa

Walker is Four and a Half



My firstborn is four and a half.

 

So many things about this awesome dude that I don't want to forget.

 

Walker loves preschool. He goes to Mrs. Linda Ashby's class at First Baptist three mornings a week. They color, write, sing songs, ride bikes and eat yummy snacks.

 

I recently attended my very first Parent-Teacher Conference.

 

Mrs. Ashby (who happens to be a dear family friend) said that Walker is the most genuinely curious little boy she has ever had. And he is. He wants to know about everything in detail. She also said that he is very kind to his classmates, which makes this mama's heart pitter patter.

Current Interests:
basketball/UK, tractors/farming, construction, fireman/smoke alarms, the Easter story, cuddling mama, telling his sister what to do, watermelon toothpaste, playing computer games with Nana, writing new letters and shapes, drawing and building trains, sleeping in our bed, eating veggies with ranch dip, buckling his carseat, playing "not nice bulldozer" with daddy & Wren, making scrapbook pages with Mingie, watching Berenstain Bears, riding his new bike from Papa, spending time with his cousins and playing his air guitar (aka any household object he can muster:).

My Loveable Walker Man,

 

God has given you such a tender little heart. You are starting to really absorb the world around you.

 

You are curious about 'stuff' like tractors, but you are equally curious about people. You are very loyal to your friends (something your Mingie pointed out), but you are open to new ones. You have a rock solid team of supporters in your life - starting with me and daddy. And your sister.

 

My favorite times with you are when we snuggle in bed, conversations in the car and breakfast dates. Our bond is strong and deep. Even if you do get super mad when I make you share your favorite toys with Wren;).

 

 I pray that you will continue to grow into a young man who loves to read your Bible and to learn more about Jesus. That will help you treat others with love & kindness and give you wisdom to know what God has planned for your life.

 

Can't wait to see those plans unfold...

 

Love, MaMa

The Peach is 20 Months

1. You love your babies.

2. You call all of your stuffed animals “baby.”

3. Your favorite is Baby Helen.

4. You sleep in fleece footed jammies pretty much every night.

5. You eat oatmeal for breakfast.

6. Your favorite snack is a Cliff Bar.

7. You make kissy sounds when I say “I love you.”

8. You love to harass your brother.

9. You are still my little gymnast.

10. You do front rolls and climb up anything and everything.

11. You also love to steal crayons and color all over the table.

12. Your hair is finally long enough for a teeny tiny ponytail.

13. You insist on putting your shoes on by yourself.

14. You also love to wear everyone else’s shoes and clothes.

15. My favorite features on your sweet little face are your peepers.

16. They just scream HAPPY HAPPY, JOY JOY.

17. Speaking of screaming, you have been screaming to get your way lately.

18. I pretty much leave the room until you realize it’s not working.

19. But you haven’t decided to give up on that strategy just yet;).

20. I wouldn’t trade your little spunky spirit for anything – I just pray for the wisdom to know how to raise and lead you so that God can use your passion and strong will to make a difference for Him. Can’t wait to see it happen, Baby Girl.