Changes are ahead...

Time flies when your having fun...We have two weddings down and one more to go. My little brother just got married last weekend....everything was beautiful and couldn't have been more perfect. They were so cute to watch...so in love...and at the same time made me feel much much older! I made his groom's cake...he wanted it to be something soccer and he also wanted to incorporate the place where he proposed to her...the three crosses at Bethany Church...so I had to get creative. I have pictures posted below. I was very pleased with the soccer cake but not too sure about the cross cake.

With this rain we have been couped inside a lot...trying every chance we get to go outside, all the while we are melting in this humidity. Jack has to change his clothes after every outing because he comes in covered in mud from head to toe...literally. Avie is content just sitting in her stroller watching all the commotion. Lately she has been doing so much....she loves real people food and hates baby food. I have resorted to mashed potatoes, mashed carrots and bananas, and her favorite is gnawing on the end of a pizza crust! She just needs to hurry up and get a tooth so she can chew stuff. She can sit up by herself for a little while until she sees something behind her that she wants and then she falls to the side. She can scoot forward and backwards to get whatever entices her. She can say mama and dada...and knows when to use each word correctly...mainly she calls me for food! Jack, to me, looks like he is changing lately...I don't know what it is, but his features are starting to look more like a little boy and less of a toddler. His facial features are starting to change too, although he still looks like his daddy. I cant believe that in 6 more months I'll have a 3 year old and a one year old!

I cant wait to see the kids in their Halloween costumes....Jack has been running around with his Buzz lightyear cap on and his underwear saying whatever lines he can recall from Toy Story. I am planning on taking some fall pictures of them next week...I've been trying to do this for two weeks now....and I either cant find a hay bale or its raining! Hopefully I'll have some to post next week!

My little handsome man!

1/2 Year!

It's hard to believe this....

grew into this...she actually had more hair!

Avie turned 1/2 a year old on September 27. Crazy how fast these past 6 months have flown by! I am so in love with her...her soft, sweet, delicate manner. The way she makes me work so hard to get a giggle out of her...her bright eyed, melt my heart smile...the way her daddy thinks she's the most beautiful thing he's laid eyes on...her innocent ohhh's and ahhh's....her ability to suck her toes....her bald head...the excitement she gets when I come to get her out of bed....her grunts and calls....how she fits so perfectly in my arms....her love of blankets over her face....and how she thinks she can do everything her brother does, and no matter what he does to her....she loves him unconditionally! She is such a great baby...so perfect in every way:) Mommies are so partial to their children! I've been trying to savor every moment but sometimes I get caught up in the busyness of life...doesn't everyone!? I feel like I have been non stop lately...always having something to do....showers, weddings, birthdays....I think we have something going on for every weekend in October!

Lately I've had a gorilla living in my house! I was grocery shopping the other day with kids in tow...trying to make the rounds and grab my listed items. I ran into an elderly lady from our church...I don't know her extremely well but I know her face and she knows mine. We do the usual small talk..."hey how are you".... she then precedes to tell Jackson hello, in which he promptly greets her with a loud, mouth wide open roar, head flail from side to side, and last but not least fists beating against his chest! I decided that we would put Tarzan at the top of the closet until a later date...maybe next year. I was "slightly" embarrassed! How do you explain that to the elderly. To tell you the truth I don't remember how I justified that...maybe I just smiled and pushed my buggy right along, or maybe I said "Oh look Avie's smiling at you!" Anyway... I am hoping that this need for dominance subsides soon. I did have this quick thought of him being Tarzan for Halloween...but after my mental picture of a two year old thrashing around in a loin cloth, that didn't seem like a good idea!

I finally got all my fall decorations up...I'm so proud of myself and enjoyed every minute of it...the pumpkin lights around my front door...my newly decorated wreath....the creative mantle decor...pumpkin spice candles.... yellow, red, and orange leaves...and of course we had to put out Spidy the spider and Lizzy the black cat to complete our Halloween decor! Yes...I hear all the snickers in the background, but this is what keeps me myself and keeps me exercising that wonderful sense of creativity God gifted me with!

Wake Up Call

Every now and then I get a 5 AM wake up call from my bed side monitor. I usually dream that some kind of animal has gone rampant in my house. She does this high pitched grunt/strain...the kind that if I tried it, would cause my throat to burn and a hacking cough...but she is completely happy, and can do it for very long periods...I finally give in and go get her...by the way this is my child I'm referring to. I have become a pro at nursing while sleeping...I remember when Jack was born and I could only nurse with pillows strategically propped behind me...and HAD to have that bobby pillow....oh how times have changed! She nurses...and again I wake up to the grunting call....she has decided that she will not go back to sleep. I am in and out of sleep trying to put a nu nu in her mouth....she is 5 months old and she has never taken a nu nu...I was really hoping that on this early morning that today would be the day! Then I hear a faint noise that seems to get closer...sounds like feet slapping the floor...it is....Brother Jack has come to join us! He has brought all 3 of his stuffed animals with him, including his green blanket. I sit up, look over at my peacefully sleeping husband, and....for a few seconds I feel bad...then I shake him and boot him off to the couch...he quickly grabs his pillow and quilt and flees...this is a common scenario in this household and there is not room for seven in a queen size bed...I am counting the stuffed animals too! Avie baby is still working on her call....I don't know who she is calling but it is someone/something. Jack is still squinty eyed and trying to focus in on the source....Avie....ready to play...grabs a wad of his hair...I have to break this up...for I know Jackson will take it to heart! Okay Okay! I am getting up! I head straight to the coffee pot! I don't know how a little body can make so much noise! That is one thing I wish I had the ability to do... is wake up as happy as she does! She if full of smiles and giggles and I wish I could be more into it. After a cup of coffee I do use this time to my advantage....we play....just me and her....read books.....and snuggle! By 6...I am on my second cup and Avie baby is getting restless....all I have to do is put her in her crib...place her blankie in her hands and she is out in no more than two minutes. I so want to crawl back in bed with brother Jack....but I have things that need to be done....but am I doing them....NO. The sight of the dirty laundry sitting on the floor....the dirty dishes from the night before....and all the toys lingering so ever more...what I am trying to say is...none of that interests me...so here is my blog! I could so be a poet!

Growth Spurts

Our Labor Day weekend in Pensacola Florida

Oh how I hate cleaning out clothes that my two have out grown. Avie has moved up to the 3-6 month size and is fitting in some 6 months clothes....tear....! As I was putting away her out grown clothes I came across the preemie outfit she whore home. I held it over her with her arms and legs poking out about 5 inches longer than the outfit! I cant believe she came home in this just 5 months ago...I thought. Reminds me of just how fast they are growing. Jackson is outgrowing shoes before he can even get them dirty. I swear I just bought him a pair of tennis shoes 3 weeks ago and I cant even get them on his feet now....I am just glad I only spent $10 on them.

Both of my babies are teething at the same time! Never thought I would get to say that! Jackson is getting his last top two-year molars and Avie is getting her first toothie! Its been crazy, sleepless nights, double the diarrhea, and twice the snotty noses.....oh and lots of droll! I get so paranoid at the slightest of fever or signs of sickness lately with all the flu stuff going around. I am so glad that I cant remember getting teeth because I cant imagine how that must feel. Your gums swollen and stretched, then having a tooth bust through it...not fun!

I am getting in the mood for FALL! I so love the fall weather...decorating...pumpkins...mums...hallowen costumes...which I have already started looking for. Last year Jackson was a Jack-in-the-box..... This year I decided I would ask him what he wanted to be...even though he doesn't completely understand the concept or at least I thought he didn't. He tells me that he wants to be....Buzz lightyear....so he can say "Buzz lightyear to the rescue!" So my hunt is on for a Buzz lightyear costume! For Avie I am still undecided, but I saw the cutest little pink bunny costume, and since pink is very much her color I think I might have to get it.

Cake I made for my future to be sister-in-law's bridal shower

I am truely blessed!

My husband and I were just talking the other night about what we use to pray for when we were younger.

I remember praying that God would bless me with lots of children and a husband that would take care of us so I would be able to stay home with them...I may need to repray about the lots of children part, two is plenty right now...my husband use to pray that God would give him a beautiful, sweet, awesome wife *yes I did just exaggerate a little. God gave us both exactly what we wanted...and I am so thankful He did!

We were trying to think about what we did with our time when we didn't have kids...neither of us could recall...and that maybe a good thing. However I did think of things that I never imagined I would be experiencing.

Although this list doesn't even scratch the surface...Here goes...

I never thought that I would... come in contact with poo and pee as much as I do...loose my temper as quick as I have...not get a straight 2 hours of sleep...watch a baby sleeping...have milk squirting out my boob...get so impatient...hold on to my size 2 clothes, thinking that I will eventually get back into them...laugh and have tears in my eyes at the same time...put a baby's foot in my mouth...be so exhausted that I would give anything for a 30 minute nap...let a 2-year old eat Cheetos at 9:00 at night...wear jeans in July because I didn't have time to shave...never get to enjoy a bath by myself...hide in my closet...wake up in the middle of the night to check on my babies...watch Disney movies almost everyday...not care what I look like...dig in the dirt and play tractors...not mind spit up all over me...never get to go to the bathroom alone...make silly faces and sounds to hear a baby laugh...and do it over and over...stay up most of the night worrying...read the John Deere equipment manual to a 2-year old...over and over again...think that my child is the sweetest and the worst child all in the same day...get use to things breaking...be so in love...not mind smelling bad breath in the morning...lay on my living room floor under a sheet spread over some chairs...look forward to every holiday...remember the first and last time my son fell asleep in my arms...

and last but not the last...thank God everyday for what he's given me!

My week consisted of visiting my grandma on Monday. Jackson loves playing with all the trinkets and whatnots...keeps me on my toes the whole time we are there. We stopped by Hobby Lobby on the way home to get cake decorating supplies...I could spend all day in that store...if I didn't have kids with me. Tuesday I took Jack to play with the little girl down the street, then we went to Tuckers and picked out some shrimp. I wanted to boil them but then decided to fry them...we had hush puppies and potato salad too! Jackson couldn't help himself and ate them as they came out the fryer. Wednesday we took a trip to Jambalaya Park (Splash Park) in Gonzales and played with the cousins. The water was a bit cool but didn't keep them from playing! Today will be spent packing, as for tomorrow we are Florida bound. We are visiting more cousins and going to the beach!

As for now... I wish everyone a great Labor Day weekend!!!

Jambalaya Park

Randomness...

_Sigh_ It's another one of those days...curtains back, blinds open, windows up. I love this prefall weather...Its prefect for playing outside all day...laying on a blanket with the bebe and watching Jackson roll around with the dogs...and sipping on tea in the evenings. The only thing I have to complain about it is... mine and Jackson's sinus' are taking a toll. But I am so grateful that we have been healthy and sickness free for a long while. Avie is showing no signs of a stuffy nose and I accredit that to nursing. She must have hit a growth spurt these last few days because I feel that my nights are spent nursing every 3 hours again...its about time for homemade baby food! I did try her on some rice cereal but she acts like its the worst thing shes ever put in her mouth. In fact I've tried it several times, and every time she flails back in her bumbo seat...if she was able to physically get out...she would! I did give her some mashed carrots I made last night and she didn't seem to mind that much...they are a little more sweeter too.

Well I don't have a follow up on Jackson and Wee Rock, because he didn't go this Sunday. He fell asleep 10 minutes before I had to leave and I wasn't about to wake him up...or I would have had a repeat of last week for certain. I do think he is starting to like Avie a bit more...his new thing is he likes to wrestler her...and no I really don't let him wrestler her...I just let him think he is (now that I write this...maybe that's not a good idea). He lays down on his back and I fly her over him, and she grabs his hair...he thinks its hilarious and so does she! Then she lands on his belly and Jack thinks she is trying to tickle him...then he tries to push her off. So we are experiencing "some" brotherly/sisterly love! Avie is just so in love with her brother...she smiles and laughs at him more than she does me....and he doesn't even try. All he has to do is look at her!

Lately I have been finding random objects placed in random places...and I'm not talking toys here and there. The other day I pulled open the drawer in my kitchen to get a dishrag and I find a half eaten granola bar instead...Another morning I go to turn the toaster oven on and there is a DD battery inside (I wonder if that could be dangerous)...and last night, I open the oven to put some cookies in and find a bell....like a ding ding ding bell! I would like to think that I watch him closely enough, that I would notice him pulling up a chair to the toaster oven, notice a DD battery in his hand and see him putting it in the toaster...all I can think is...must have happened when daddy was "watching" him. Which reminds me of last night, when daddy was in charge of watching Jack while I bathed Avie. I was headed towards Avie's room to put on her diaper and p.j.'s when I notice the door is closed. Great!... I think to myself...wonder who's in there. I open the door to a room filled cloud of white dust!...he found the powder! "What do YOU think you are doing," I asked..."I cleanin up," he joyfully responds with dust pan and broom in hand! There are puddles of powder all over the carpet, and he is trying to "sweep" them up... hence the cloud of white dust! I think he realizes that he is not having much luck with this method and tells me that we need to use the vacuum! Man this kid keeps me busy!

Avie - 4 months

Jackson 2 months

She loves to sleep with a blanket over her face

This is how Avie feels about rice cereal!

Chocolate Face!

Wait...is that really My child????

I recently started teaching "Wee Rock" at our church on Sunday evenings. Its a childrens program based on music and bible verses. I've kinda had to tweak the program for the two year old class...obviously they are not at the level of memorizing bible verses on a short term basis. Anyhoo...I had a very interesting first day! My dear son is also in my class...something I've been looking forward to...something that him and I could do together...something important that I could instill in him. Trying to be the prepared and organized person that I am, I arrived early to set up my classroom and prepare for the lesson. I had my husband drop my son off closer to start time. I got to meet my two wonderful helpers...both of them excited to be part of my class and privileged of my child development background. I have a lot to show up to! I met Brandon for the trade off and Jackson seemed so excited about Wee Rock! The arriving activity is Play Doe...and Jack is the first to play. Everything is going well until the eight other two year olds arrive...and my son turns into an undomesticated child....literally! In his two years, 3 months of his life he has forgotten everything I have taught him! By the end of the class I really wanted to beat him....I spent more time...correcting him...breaking up brawls with him and other kids...retrieving craft materials from him...returning paper hearts that he had stolen from other kids....removing him from the tops of tables...turning off the water in the sink (why they have a sink at a childs level I will never know)...and trying to coax him to sit with the rest of the group. I was tired, exhausted, and most of all embarrassed...and no, I have never before observed this kind of behavior in him. I pretty much got Jack and ran out of there once all the other kids were gone. I got in the car and took a much needed deep breath. There were so many things that I wanted to say and do to him. But I began by asking him if he liked Wee Rock, he responded with "uh huh"....then I asked him what his favorite part was, he said "da wee rock". Although his behavior was completely unacceptable I tried to think of why he behaved the way he did...maybe he was jealous of the attention I showed the other children...maybe he doesn't know how to "play" with other children...maybe he needs to get out more often. I started telling him things that he did that were inappropriate...not listening, taking toys, pushing and hitting friends...and let him know that I was very upset with him, he responded..."I sorry mommy"...at least he was remorseful. Then I told him the things that I liked seeing him do. I had to think hard..."the heart you colored was so pretty,"....."and I am so proud that you tee teed on the potty."

So for now we will start out fresh...a new day...let's just hope that it's a better day....and let me just say that no amount of education and classes can prepare you for parenthood!