birthdays and more

I now have a 3 year old! G celebrated her birthday this week with lots of pony and horse filled fun. We went to the mall to ride the "pretend ponies" and to visit build a bear to make a stuffed pony that sings "Let it Go". She also got to open presents at Mamaw's house. Then on Saturday we had her party at the pony farm with family and friends. She had a blast and cried when she had to leave the animals. Luckily we had a car full of presents coming home with us. Knowing she could open presents once home helped her calm down on the ride. We are so blessed to have so many family and friends who came out and sweat I mean celebrated with us.
A is now 7 months old. He is sitting up, rolling all around, and babbling more. He has no teeth yet and is still not consistently sleeping through the night.
Daddy also had a birthday this month. We let G stay up late. We built a fire in the pit on the patio, roasted marshmallows, ate smores, caught lightning bugs, and saw the moon & stars. G was eating marshmallows two at a time. It was great fun.
Our 4-H fair was also this week and it was HOT and HUMID. G wasn't bothered by it and loved the animals much more this year than last. Of course the horses were her favorite, but she also really liked the goats and sheep. Other fun animals we saw and petted were pigs, bunnies, and cows. Mommy, Daddy, and G enjoyed some ice cream while we were there to keep cool. A isn't old enough for ice cream yet so he just enjoyed some cold water from his sippy cup. He is loving his sippy. Sometimes it is just a good teething toy, but he is drinking some good water, too.

These three! So much love.

Riding Apple at her birthday party.

She loves horses.

Bath in the sink while our bathroom is remodeled.

Sippy!

Spent Daddy's birthday on the patio making smores.

MARSHMALLOWS!

Our two greatest blessings!

silly boy

7 months!

ponies and Disney World

G is pretty fascinated by ponies and horses right now. She has been for a little over a year. A couple weeks ago there was an event at our 4H center that included pony rides so of course we were in. G was thrilled at the thought of getting to ride a pony or horse (again). She was not thrilled, however, when we arrived and had to wait in line for over an hour. We made it threw the line and she couldn't have been happier. Her 3rd birthday is later this month and she is getting a pony/horse theme party complete with a party at the farm with a petting zoo and PONY RIDES!
Last week we all boarded a plane and headed to Orlando, FL. We spent two days in Disney World and the rest of the week swimming with Papaw, Nana, Aunties, Uncles, and cousins at the resort. G had a blast! She loved seeing the castle, princesses, and riding rides. She also loved the water. A tolerated the week, but at times he got over stimulated and melted down. It was a busier and HOTTER week than what he is used to. We also got to see and visit with great-grandma (Daddy's grandma) who we hadn't seen in a few years. It was wonderful!
Since being back home A has developed a new skill:  rolling from back to belly. Look out world - he is on the move. He is so strong! Vacation set his night time sleep way back. We are slowing falling back into routine. A good night is him sleeping a 6 hour stretch, then getting a diaper change and nursing, then back to bed for about 3 more hours. He likes to sleep with his lovey. I think he is working on a tooth (or two). He is really chomping on anything he can get his hands on and been a bit fussy. We've also battled constipation since starting solids. We've moved away from rice cereal and are having more vegetables and fruits. Prunes have become a staple in his diet because they just work!

Bedtime stories with Daddy.

Sippy cup or teething toy?

Riding Apple the pony.

So happy!

Riding Dumbo the Elephant (third time)!

In line at Magic Kingdom.

She loved it!

He loved the shade!

She met her favorite princess!

She was happier than her face shows. She was focused on Ariel (her favorite).

Wore her out. Thanks Papaw!

A little blurry.

Hugs!

Evening snuggles with my favorite girl.

She never sleeps in her car seat, but being up at 3:30am to catch a flight is an exception!

pool side

summer love

I've always loved summer. As a student I loved the time off school and spent in the pool. As a young adult I enjoyed all the freedom summer gave. Now as a parent I enjoy all the time summer gives me with my kids. This summer is bitter sweet because I've been so blessed with a long maternity leave that will end come Aug. I'm not ready, I don't think I'll ever be ready. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching - I just know how demanding it is and hate to think of how much I'll be pulled away from my kids. Its already started as I am forced to spend yet another summer moving classrooms and familiarizing myself with a new curriculum.
G will be three in about a month and a half! How can that be?!? She is so mature for her age. When she does act like a two year old we often have to remind ourselves that she is only two. She is thriving in her big sister role, most of the time. She loves to help Mommy. But she still craves attention and sometimes behaves poorly to get it. We are all adjusting to her growing independence. She loves, loves, loves horses. We are so blessed to have neighbors that board horses that she can see almost daily. She can take riding lessons beginning at age 4 so we will see if she still loves them a year from now. She also loves to sing songs, play dress up, go to the library, swing, swim, play in water, and just be outside. Running barefoot in the grass is also so fun for her.
A is 5 months old! He weighs about 21 pounds and still loves to eat/nurse. We are lucky if he goes 3 hours between nursings during the day. He has come a long way in his night time sleep, but is still not sleeping through the night. He is in size 12 month clothes! He loves to lay on his tummy and is beginning to enjoy jumping in his jump-a-roo. His favorite toys are any that he can get into his mouth to chew on, but he prefers his hands and fingers. He is napping with a lovey that seems to comfort him as he talks himself to sleep. He takes about 3 naps a day, most are about an hour long sometimes 1.5 hours. He is eating some rice cereal in the evenings. He has started to take a bottle (still Mommy's milk) from Daddy and Mamaw. He was NOT thrilled with this at first to put it nicely, but he's getting better.
G likes to hold her baby brother. She asked to carry him the other day, but he is two-thirds her size so she has to settle for him sitting in her lap. A thinks his big sister is so funny. She can make him laugh like no one else. They like to play and build blocks together and knock them down. Reading is something they like to do together too.

If he does tummy time, she does tummy time.

Working on perfecting sitting up!

She loves her screen time.

Trying to entice him to crawl with a few fun toys.

She loves the carousel.

sibling love

so brave

Hi Mom

her happy place

this face

Playing in the shade.

She LOVED this bounce house at a graduation party.

Jump baby boy.

time marches on

So it seems as if once a month is all I can manage to blog these days. The months are flying by, as I knew they would once we got into a routine, I started sleeping more, and the warmer weather got here. I am trying not to think about the fact that my maternity leave is already half over.
Easter was a blast this year. Holidays are so much better with kids. Seeing the experience through their eyes. We celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and the Easter Bunny stopped by our house as well. G loved finding eggs and seeing what surprises they contained. We don't do treats often and she was in chocolate heaven!
Last Saturday we took a family trip to Great-Uncle Jim's dairy farm with Papaw Tim. G had a blast seeing all the cows. She wanted to see them all (he has probably 180-ish), and we saw most of them. We walked everywhere. G kept saying, "Hello Mr. Cow!" and "More cows Papaw!"
It was fun being back there. It was crazy to see how run down my grandma's house is and I'm sure it was even crazier for my dad. I seem to learn something new every time I go out there. My Uncle Jim is like the family historian. He knows everything. My grandmother had 11 children, ELEVEN. I think about her often, especially on the days I feel overwhelmed with two kids. She spent the better half of two decades having babies, not to mention caring for the rest of her crew and helping out on the farm. And people, I learned she didn't have indoor plumbing until her youngest child was 3!!! Can you imagine?!? So, on my hardest and most tired days, I look to Jesus and know she is next to him probably laughing at me.
My son is continuing to grow at an amazing rate. He is not quite 4 months old and weighs about 19 pounds. My back hurts all the time but holding him is worth every ache. His sister loves to sit next to him and have him sit in her lap. When Papaw came over before we all left for the farm she said, "Bubby this is MY Papaw." Oh sweet girl is still learning to share all of her family with her little brother.
This spring has turned out to be a cool and wet one, but I know summer is just around the corner and then we'll all complain about how hot it is. So right now I'm thankful for play clothes & shoes that can get muddy and wet. And indoor plumbing so I can clean it all up!

so handsome

Easter morning - G was not into picture taking as you can see.

tummy time pro

Easter chocolate

Happy Birthday to Mommy!

This girl loves to play with Daddy's necklace.

sleepy head

Feeding the baby cows.

Letting the baby cow suck on her finger.

Enticing the cows to come see her with a snack.

Playing with his toys.

beautiful girl