M.O.B.

I can remember being in the third grade, and the boys were so bad and always getting in trouble. And as a young girl, thinking ahead, I did not want to have boys of my own! I wanted only girls. Coming from a family of three girls, I thought girls were perfect and easy, and I knew God would give me girls.

HA!

God clearly had other plans for me! He has proven me wrong, and has BLESSED me, and Paul, with two precious boys.

They are full of energy. Eat more than I ever expected. Only sleep when they HAVE to. Love to rough and tumble. Could play in the dirt or outside all day. Love going on outings with Daddy, whether to LOWES, or just to get donuts! Yet also love to help me bake cookies and muffins. Have imaginations that keep them entertained on their own. Are still learning to share. Can sit and listen to books. Give the best hugs and snuggles.

And are super excited to be able teach another baby BROTHER everything they already know!!

Baby boy #3 coming in July!

God Bless

In other news...

Considering its been just a little while since I've posted, please excuse my absence, a lot has happened!

Mainly, the boys are growing like weeds! Here's a little update.

Hudson is a budding 3.5 year old. He loves Legos, playing imaginary ____ (firefighters, trash man, school bus, chef, whatever it is for the day!), digging in the dirt and collecting leaves, rocks, and sticks, painting pictures, helping Mommy around the house, building train sets, and visiting museums and the library. He's been learning letters, numbers, and fun topics at home with Mommy, but is also looking forward to starting a part time K4 next fall. He has the memory of an elephant, and doesn't let us forget anything! His speech is slowly, but surely, improving, and he enjoys talking up a storm at home. However, he enjoys singing even more! He sings anything and everything, and even makes up his own songs! I think we have a musician in the family - maybe we need to start piano lessons soon!

Foster is our little character at a year and a half! He is full of personality and charm, and a little bit of spunk! He loves his big brother! He enjoys pushing trucks and trains around the house. He could swing all day, and the higher, the better. He is a picky eater, but loves yogurt, fruit, waffles, and eating chips straight from the bag. He is trying so hard to talk, and is working on a few new words. He sleeps well through the night, but is almost always up by 5:15 or 5:30am! He can be such a ham, he'll go stand somewhere and say "cheese" just waiting for me to take his picture! He's a love bug, and loves to snuggle in close. He, too, will be starting a part time 2K preschool program next fall, and I think it will be good for him to get out more and have some time with other kids and teachers.

These boys bring laughter, joy, sometimes tears and frustration if I'm being completely honest, but no matter what, they are a pure blessing to us. We've been in our new home town for almost a year now, and we've had so much fun together! They are growing up so fast, and changing every day. Every new day is a gift from the Lord, and we are blessed beyond measure. 

And in other news...we are ALL glad to be celebrating our new shirts from the Clemson Football National Championship!

Party of FIVE tigers, coming July 2017!! 

God Bless

a bad bad boo boo

This past Monday was a day no mother wants to live through.
We went to the gym just like we do every Monday morning. I dropped the boys off at the kids klub, and went upstairs to run. Not even ten minutes in, someone came and got me and told me Hudson had fallen and was crying and wouldn't stop. I got my things, went into the room, and sure enough, he was on the floor, crying, and even I couldn't console him all the way. He was holding his ankle and saying it hurt. The sweet girl who was watching them said he slipped down some of the stair on one of the jungle gyms, but couldn't have been higher than one or two steps up. Thinking he had probably just sprained or twisted his ankle, I immediately took them home, but him in the bed and got him some ice. However, after over an hour of it still not feeling any better, I feared the worst, and decided to take him to the ER. He winced and cried anytime I tried to touch his leg, had to move him, or asked him to try to move it.
We got to the ER, they took some x-rays, and admitted him. A little bit later, the doctor came in and told us he had fractured his tibia and would need to get a cast! My poor little guy!
However, he has been so brave through it all, and actually did really well.

Documenting and observing the swelling in his ankle

 Waiting in the ER. He got to play the iPad, which helped distract him from the pain and what was going on

 He was such a little trooper

 The fracture in his tibia

 Conked out on the way home with his leg propped up on a blanket. It had been a long, rough morning, so thankfully he was able to rest in the car

 He had to have a full leg splint for a day until we could get him to a pediatric orthopedist to get a cast on

 Back at home with his new, half leg, blue cast. He will only have to wear it for three weeks, which is a lot shorter time than I was expecting! They gave him some extra bandages, so bunny got a splint too!

He still wanted to play though, so after resting for a few days, we took a wagon ride to the park and he got to swing.

And of course, he gets to ride in the stroller now, which he enjoys! We went to the farmers market and they had a petting zoo for the kids. He didn't want to actually get close to the animals, but he liked seeing them.

He'll be fine! Without a doubt.

(Update - he got the cast off, and is doing just fine, now!)

10 months

Our little guy is 10 months old! Its hard to believe he'll be one year in only two months!

he is growing like a weed and getting so big

he has such a sweet personality, happy, funny, with the biggest and brightest smile

he is also developing another side, though! when he doesn't get what he wants, or he is told no, he will often cry and throw a little tantrum

he thinks "no" is a game - and will often ignore it, keep doing whatever it is he isn't supposed to be doing, and laugh the whole time

he is pulling up on anything and everything, cruising around while holding on to things, and starting to think about letting go. I'm sure as soon as he gets his hands on a walker he will be cruising and taking off

he loves blowing his lips, making sounds, and babbling 

he isn't clapping yet, but he has his own version of clapping and shouting "yah"

he is a wonderful eater! he loves to eat - meals, snacks, anything! he loves strawberries, pears, sweet potatoes, veggie straws, and caramel rice cakes! 

he loves standing on the couch and looking out the windows, watching the birds and cars go by, but especially when Hudson is near by and they can then rough house on the couch

waiting for Daddy to get home

he had another successful adventure! I took him with me to Nashville to celebrate my sister's birthday. He did so well on the plane rides, and had a lot of fun playing with his cousins, aunts, and grandparents. he just adapts and goes with the flow so easily!

Because life happens (two kids, endless to do lists, needing "me time"), I rarely get to just sit and hold him while he sleeps. However, while in Nashville, I took the opportunity to swing with him on a wonderful porch swing while he napped. It was honestly one of the highlights of my trip.

he still loves going to the park! With school letting out, though, and temperatures rising, I don't know how often we will get to the parks this summer. I'm afraid he'll get trampled by the big kids. maybe when he starts walking, we'll go more again.

opening cabinet doors and pulling everything out is a favorite pass time. unfortunately, he hasn't figured out how to put everything back just yet.

Ha! just playing with his tongue

he enjoys going out to eat, even though mom still packs all his meals. he's very social and enjoys watching all the people and things happening

this little playhouse is at our new house and he loves it! when we had to leave (because we haven't actually moved into the house yet), I had to pull him out of the play house kicking and screaming! he was so upset to leave. I foresee lots of summer days in our new backyard! we can't wait! 

he loves to ride in the little coup car, and again, pitches a fit when it's time to be done, but while he's riding (either driving or standing up on the back) he is as happy as can be

Happy 9 months Foster!

Little man is 9 months! How can this be?! 

He is full of personality and spunk! 

 He has learned how to climb and will climb on anything and everything. Nothing can stop him or get in his way.

 He loves to crawl and play under the table. Its like a fort for him. He's almost too tall though!

He has mastered climbing stairs...at the park nonetheless. He loves climbing them and then we slide down the slides together. If he could do more on the play equipment, he would! He enjoys chasing after Hudson and trying to keep up with him.

The tunnel is his favorite! He will just go back and forth, up and down. It's one thing at the park he can really do on his own. I'll play peek-a-boo with him in the small circle cut out windows, and he just laughs and laughs.

He's pretty much done with pureed foods. I started him with bananas, pears, and puffs, and then once he mastered chewing and swallowing we moved on to other things. And he loves being able to feed himself and choose what he wants to eat. And there's not much he won't eat! He does love fruit the most - pears, apples, and bananas never last long on his tray.

A before and after plate! Bread, roasted sweet potato and carrots, peas, and cottage cheese. The kid can eat!

 One of his favorite "activities" is pulling things off the shelf (and leaving them there of course). Whether it's a box of snacks, or a bucket of markers, if it's within reach, it'll be on the floor!

He's starting to get more "vocal" about what he likes and doesn't like. For instance, one afternoon I was pushing him and Hudson outside on their little car, which he loves, but was not happy when we stopped.

 He enjoys going for walks in the stroller or in my carrier. Just being outside makes him happy. I foresee a wonderful hot summer spent outside all day with these two!

Standing up and playing with Hudson is always a fun time. He's starting to walk around while holding on to things!

He almost always has something just in his mouth...not necessarily chewing on something, just holding it there!

Playing in Gigi's tuber-ware cabinet...again pulling out anything within reach

Playing outside at Gigi and Papa's! It felt like summer and he loved it! We can't wait to have our own big back yard soon!

 First bicycle ride with Papa!! He loved it, of course!

He's starting to talk more. He mumbles and squeals, but no mama or dada yet!

He's finally starting to sleep longer at night. He had been getting up every 3-3.5 hours even at night. But just recently, he's been going 6-7 hours, which has been amazing!

He's still taking 2 naps during the day, but I can see him consolidating those two naps into one by the time he's one! Usually his morning nap is only 25-30 minutes and his afternoon nap is 1-2 hours. Mama needs nap time, too!

He has two bottom teeth already. Maybe more to come soon?!

Happy nine months sweet Foster! We love you so much!!