July 4

Holidays.
I love holidays.
I love the food, the family and friends. I love the decorations and the smells and the smiles.
I love all the cute clothes kids get to wear during holidays. (And by the way, I had the boys the CUTEST little outfits picked out to order on ETSY, but waited too late to order them :( . They did end up having cute little red, white, and blue outfits that they wore Sunday...and would you believe that between church and lunch and then them getting into their swimsuits asap, I didn't get one pic of them in them???! )

4th of July is one of my favorites, I think. I dunno though, I think I say that every holiday. But there is just something about a holiday right smack dab in the middle of summer that makes you smile. The picnics and parades and cookouts and pool parties and flags...you just can't get much more American than that.

And we had a fabulous 4th this year. My stepbrother and his family were in this weekend, so we splashed around in the pool for a few hours on Saturday afternoon, then had dinner at Mimi and PawPaw's. Steaks and pork chops and squash and okra and potatoes...YUM.

Sunday morning we went to church, where I began helping teach the 2 year old Sunday school class!! I am so excited about this new commitment in my life. Those babies are at the most wonderful age...where they really begin soaking it all in like a sponge. They are anxious and ready to learn about God. I just love it!

After church we went to my Mamaw and Papaw's for our annual 4th of July cookout. After lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon outside, watching the kiddos, big and small, play in the pool. If that's not all-American fun baby, I don't know what is. (I took most of my pool pictures on Mimi's camera, so I am hoping to get them from her soon...then I will post them, too.)

We just spent today chillaxin' around the house...Brent worked in the yard...I did some much-needed tidying...the boys were just boys...and I love it that way.

We had our final 4th celebration tonight, at Brent's parents (Memaw and Poppy). I love it when holiday celebrations extend on past the actual holiday. Delicious :)

I have started trying to let Brody has a bit more independence when picking out his clothes lately, hence the cowboy boots with plaid shorts and aviator t-shirt. I love my silly boy.

Well, I guess now we enjoy what's left of the summer! We have bookoos of birthdays coming up in our family in the next few months. I can count those at holidays, right??!

Mommy Squared

This weekend, I celebrated my first Mother's Day as a mommy of 2!! I am so blessed!
It really was a wonderful day. I am so thankful to have 2 handsome, healthy, active little boys who call me Mommy. There really are no words to describe what it means to be a mom.

I spent alot of time this Mothers Day thinking. Thinking about the day that Brody was born...when I first became a mom. Thinking about when Beckett was so sick in the hospital when he was 2 weeks old, and when he was having CAT scans done of his little head and eyes. Thinking about how scared I was at the possibility of losing one of my children. That was fear like I have never known before...fear that grips you like a vice and refuses to let up. Thinking about the baby that we lost 2 years ago...who that little person would be today. Crazy that is has been 2 years. Thinking about all of the wonderful memories that I have with my boys already, and dreaming about all of the wonderful memories that are still yet to be made!!

I guess I just spent alot of time thinking about how motherhood just changes you - whether you mean for it to or not. You don't think and worry about the same things anymore. I am no longer concerned with things that I used to be...now my whole world revolves around these two little boys. And I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

Now on to our day...

Our little Beckett is an early riser...like he rarely sleeps past 6:30. So, when we heard him cooing and jabbering on the monitor at 6:15 that morning, Brent got up with him so that I could sleep a little longer. That was nice. I don't think I got out of bed until close to 8:00 - I don't know the last time I slept that late. When I did get up, Brody was still asleep, and this is what I found on the couch

Not a bad little face to wake up to on Mothers Day, huh?

So, we all got ready and headed to church.

Me and my little guys:

After church we had our moms over for lunch. Brent cooked for us - chicken and steak fajitas, spanish rice, beans, and chips with cheese dip. It was delicious!

Then Brody helped them open their gifts from us. We gave my mom a new pair of sunglasses and a cute little beach tote. And we gave my MIL new wind chimes.

I also want to say how thankful I am for my mother. We truely are best friends. We talk everyday, do everything together, and I don't know what I would do without her guidance and advice. And she is a wonderful Noni to my boys!


I am also very blessed to have a wonderful Mother-in-law. Believe me, I don't take for granted the fact I have a mother-in-law who loves me and my boys so much!

After lunch, we went to dance recital #2 for Brooke, then headed to church, then finally back home for the evening.

We ended the night with a little guitar playing before bed :)

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!!!

Viva La' Dancin'!

This weekend was Sarah Brooke's first dance recital!!! She was sooo cute did really good :)
This is her with her flowers and balloon and gift that Tara and I brought her...



Me and Tara posing with our little dancer.
Her "little dancer" charm bracelet
...with Mom
...And with Mamaw Sharon
Even this little dude sat through the recital :)

Night Out

Brent's mom does our taxes for us every year - free of charge - so to thank her for her work, we took her and my father-in-law to a Gaither's concert in Monroe last night. Brent and I both love the Gaithers. I think we were probably the youngest people there, but we thoroughly enjoyed our night. We left the boys with grandparents, and I know they had a blast. But I sure did miss their sweet litttle faces!

Springs Pics 2010

Comparison

I took some pics of Beckett last night that reminded me of some I have of Brody wearing the same outfit. Do you think they resemble?


Brody (9 months old)

Beckett (7 months old)

Look who crashed...

....In his jumparoo :)

He has started doing this alot lately. Not fussing himself to sleep or anything. He will just be jumping along, and we will notice him kind of zone out....then the jumping gets slower and slower...then he is just out. It's hilarious to watch.

And don't worry, I didn't leave him in here long...just long enough to take a picture.