Papa is 85-years-young

A few weeks ago, my family and I headed back to Texas to celebrate my Papa's 85th birthday. What a great time and a milestone! I just love getting together with my family and getting to hear all of the stories that Papa has to tell of when he played softball, when he was in WWII, or whatever other random story from the past he can remember (which is way better than my memory now)! I just hate that I don't get to see all of my cousins more often like we used to growing up.

I guess the baker decided to change the spelling of Papa's name.


I love that McKenzie is starting to let her little personality shine around other people more. But, seriously, how could you ever hide your excitement from Papa?

These tired babies had the best seats in the house...in Lil and Mamaw Sue's laps.

Even though not everyone from our family was able to make it, the great-grandkids represented (sillyness, tiredness, and every other possible form included). :)



The grandkids, minus 3. At least me and Brant were both able to make it from AR!


The kids (all with eyes open)!


I just love this sweet picture of "Muh-tenzie" and Uncle Bebo!

I love how kids make you do the silliest things! Everyone had to follow Ethan in the field.
ME loves her "Choo-choo Papa" just as much as I do.

Lil got to show ME her rabbit and birds again while we were in Texas. ME loved 'em!

I'm really surprised that I made it back with Benjamin! I thought that Lil was going to keep him...it's just too bad we don't live closer!

Somebody is in 7th Heaven

I can't believe that we're closer to Ben's 1-year-old birthday than to the day he was born! Drew and I think that his months have gone by so much faster than it did with ME. Maybe it's because we're a little more "laid back" and knowledgeable about what to do with every cry and know that it will soon be ok, or maybe it's just that we're more busy now with two kids and working full time. Who knows? Either way, I'm really starting to have fun now that his tummy issues are better (read he's been off of his acid reflux medicine since Spring Break!) and I laugh with Ben a lot. His bubbly, happy personality is really starting to show now that he is completely aware of his surroundings and is sitting up. Usually he either is laughing at things or flaps his arms and kicks his legs whenever anyone comes in his sight. What a great feeling!

Happenings for Ben this month:

• Food-He's done well with all of his veggies since he started eating them last month, but he's not a fan of the carrots. He started fruits a few weeks ago and loves them, too. We'll probably start meats this weekend.
• Crawling-He can't crawl yet, but he wants to sooooo bad! Instead he's really gotten the hang of crossing his arms over the other one and turn around in a complete circle on his belly to get something. This usually works until he's scooted back far enough to get stuck underneath furniture.
• Playing-He's really into checking out anything that lights up and makes noises. Good for him, annoying for sleepy mommy and daddy. :) He also loves to pet Dixie or watch ME just be silly.


• Sleeping-He's still not sleeping through the night, but the stretches are for longer periods. Yeah for me! And I moved him to another country over Mother's Day weekend (aka I'm not using the bassinet that's literally 1/2 inch away from my side of the bed and I moved him to his crib in his own room). He's been staying in his own bed almost every night until at least about 1 or 2 in the morning, then he wakes up either hungry or his diaper has leaked and then I usually put him back in bed with us. Moms, do you have any suggestions on overnight dryness???
• Obsessions-He loves tags! You know the little white tags on dolls, blankets, or anything else? He could care less about the object that he's holding just as long as it has a tag that he can put in his mouth. Just this afternoon, he tried to get the tag from the toy in the picture above and put it in his mouth...not very successful. Of course, he still loves to blow bubbles with his mouth. They're just louder now! And he's biting, or chewing, on anything with his one front bottom tooth. Keep your fingers away from him if you want to keep them! That is one SHARP tooth!

Yummy! Elmo loves to have his bottom chewed on! :)

It's chocolate milk!

Even though I never actually heard the words "Happy Mother's Day" from my precious babies, I know they meant it. "It's chocolate milk" also means the same thing as "Happy Mother's Day". Drew told Mary Elizabeth to tell me Happy Mother's Day at the same time that I gave her a cup of chocolate milk. I interpretted the thanks from the excitement in her voice when she realized what I gave her. Just seeing Ben's sweet dimples and arms and legs flap around when he sees me and hearing ME's excitement in her voice over chocolate milk is thanks enough. :)

We...err...uh...they had a rather restful weekend (lying on my side of the bed on Friday morning while I'm getting ready for work at 5:30 A.M.). Can't you just feel the sister/brother love?

Ben decided to give me a few minutes to myself and fell asleep in his Daddy's arms. How sweet!

Last Friday, ME's daycare teacher invited all of the mommies to a "Mommy and Me" picnic for their lunch. I was so thrilled that my principal allowed me to take a long lunch break to be able to do this. She said my only requirement was to take pictures. No problem!

Since I had to wait for someone to cover my class, I was the last mommy to get to daycare. I felt like such a horrible mom when I walked onto the playground and found her sitting by the teacher without a lunch while all of her other classmates were with their mommies. But everything was better when she saw me and realized that I brought her a Happy Meal. Then the chocolate milk went all down her dress. Me, ME, and her two Happy Meal "dawbies" (aka Barbies). Is this the beginning of ME about to share my interest in Barbies?

It was so cute to see her interact with her classmates! While I was still eating, she wanted to show me everything that she could do. I kept hearing "Hey, Mom! Watch me!"

We spent the rest of the weekend pretty much around the house. I guess ME realized I needed some help around the house.

We attempted to spend all day Saturday in big-girl panties (obviously I'm talking about ME and not me). But one time while she sat on the potty, she heard Ben crying and thought that she needed to check on him for me. I love the help that I get around the house!

On Sunday, I was supposed to teach the 2-year-old Sunday School class, but once I got there I had a better offer. A dad offered to teach my class and allowed me to go help in ME's room. Ben was still at home with Drew. Then I sat through a really good sermon about being responsible for teaching our children their faith. It was a great lesson to be reminded of. After church, we had lunch with VeVe, then that night we had what was supposed to be dessert at McAlister's with LaLa and Dandy. Did you know that McAlister's doesn't serve their awesome desserts anymore? Luckily, Shake's is right next door. So Dandy took ME to get ice cream over there.

Dandy said he ordered her a "simple" dessert. Luckily she did go to bed when we got home!

Ben had to taste LaLa's present before we could give it to her. I guess it tasted all right. :)

All in all, I had a pretty good Mother's Day. I feel very fortunate that I am blessed with such amazing kids! I look forward to many more wonderful days with the both of them and I pray that Drew and I are both able to be positive examples of faith for them as they grow up. I hope that all of you moms had a wonderful "chocolate milk" day, too!

Who let the dogs out?

Drew's boss got to throw the opening pitch at the Travs game last week (do you think I'll throw it next week?) and his company was sponsoring the "Bark in the Park" benefit at the the Travs game. So we got to go support that. We took ME with us since there were going to be a ton of dogs. During the game, I walked her around the stadium to see all of the dogs and took her to the Kids Zone area. Where were the blow up slides when I had to go to ALL of those boring games when I was a kid? Somehow, ME knew exactly what to do on all of the inflatables and wasn't scared. After the game, which was a no-hitter by the way, the Baja Men performed. We stuck around to watch a little bit of the concert.

Looks like she didn't get her daddy's scared of heights gene!
Look at my brave little girl!

I think that ME just realized that somebody "let the dogs out". Ha! :) She wanted no part to do with the Baja Men!

ME's first concert. While waiting for the Baja Men to sing "Who let the dogs out", she decided to put on her own concert with "The Itsy Bitsy Spider".

Disney on Ice

My mom and I took ME, Ben, and McKenzie to see Disney on Ice a few weeks ago. They all loved it! ME so didn't look like she was enjoying at all, but as soon as we got in the car, she told me and Lala all about it. Then she came home and showed me and Drew how the characters ice skated.

Look at who's wearing a bow!!! Oh, and who's totally tuned into the ice skaters!

McKenzie danced just about the entire time!

She was just taking it all in.

Ben was glued on the lights and all of the movement.

Ben's 1st taste of "real food"

On April 17, Ben got to have his first taste of green beans. I'll let you look at the pictures and decide if he liked them. :)

Poor thing, he has no clue what's about to enter his mouth!
"What's this junk?"

"Seriously, what's the hype over me getting to eat food?"

Despite the faces, he's getting used to the food a lot better. He's now had green beans, green peas, carrots, and bananas since his first tasting. I think I'm going to start wearing a raincoat, though, when he finds a food he doesn't like because as soon as he decides he doesn't like one, he smiles and blows bubbles all over me. Lovely!

Uncle Bebo plays baseball

A few weeks ago, my brother, Brant, got to throw the opening pitch for the Travelers game. Of course, we all had to go and see if his old throwing arm still had any fire to it. Ha! We're so proud of him! I don't think I could even get the ball off of the pitcher's mound if I had to throw it. :)

His friend, Bradley, had to be on the front row for this event.
It made it to the catcher!

One of Bebo's number one fans. This was Ben's first baseball game and I think he really liked it. I also thought he looked like an umpire in this baseball outfit.

These sweet kiddos had the best seat in the entire stadium...Dandy's lap!

ME has some big news!

Ever since the Easter Bunny brought ME her "Princess Potty" book, she's been very interested in sitting on the potty. She's only tee-tee'd three times at home, though. But Drew told her daycare teacher that we're attempting potty training at home, and this is the report that we've been receiving almost everyday since April 15!

The Relatives Left

We stopped by the outlet mall before we headed home from Texas and ME insisted that she needed new sunglasses because she said it was "too bright me". She and Ben both were such troopers the entire weekend. But the second we left for LR, this is what she did.

The Relatives Came

I felt that this book's title was fitting for this blogpost. We've had several relatives come over the past month, we've gone to see some relatives, and more are coming today.

During Spring Break, my Aunt Vicki, Uncle Bobo, and cousin Allie came to hang out and meet Benjamin. ME loves her Allie! And I think if I wasn't watching, Vicki would've probably packed Ben in her suitcase.

Bedazzled boots (aka stingray skin) are the newest trend (according to my dad's store) and ME had to model for everyone. Allie is filling ME in on the newest technology.
Do brothers ever stop picking on each other?

My mom and I took the kids along with Vicki and Allie to the Big Dam Bridge. These three were fascinated with the barge going through the dam.

Ben wasn't that impressed that he was on top of the world's largest pedestrian bridge. :)

Do you notice something in her hair? She's been letting me put it up occassionally these days! Yeah! Oh, and this is ME's new pose these days. Not sure what that's about.

The next weekend, Papa and Lil came for Easter. We took them to Peabody Hotel to watch the ducks. If you've never seen it either in Little Rock or Memphis, you should do it at least once. My Papa said it was the best thing they've done in a long time.

Was this egg laid for Easter?

ME never gets tired of watching the ducks. And Ben was pretty fascinated to see all of them waddle around. I wish I took my video camera. ME was mimicking the ducks swim...pretty cute!

After the ducks, we rode the trolley. ME for some reason, really wanted to ride a bus with Papa during Christmas, but we never got to. So this worked just fine. Both of the kiddos loved looking out the windows!

They loved looking at the "Choo choo Papa," too!

The next weekend, my mom and I took the kids to Dallas for my Uncle Carl's funeral. Not that a funeral is ever a happy occassion, but it provided us a great opportunity to see relatives that we hadn't seen a long time and ones that we just saw one to two weeks ago. While my mom and I went to the service, Aunt Vicki and Uncle Bobo kept the kids. I know they all had a great time. Thanks Vicki and Ricky for doing that! I think I still have some rocks in ME's clothes. :)

After we went to the service, we stopped by my newlywed cousin Blake's house in Dallas.

ME loved their dog, Cali!

ME even helped Bobo and Blake do a little yard work.

"Are you sure you need to cut that limb, Bobo?"

Then we drove to McKinney to see my other cousin Leslie and her boys.

Ben and Tristan could be such great buds!

Why do I keep trying group shots of kids?

Me, Ben, a very tired ME, Ethan, Leslie, and Tristan

Before we headed back to Little Rock, we stopped by Lil's house to see my Papa's bunny and her birds. The kids loved that bunny!

Yes, we got in the rabbit's cage with the rabbit.

Ben had to tell Lala about that rabbit. He was "talkin' up a storm!"

Ben's really into people's faces these days, so he had to check out Papa's face.

I just love this picture! Two of my most favorite guys!

ME and Lil trying to get Pete to talk. A few weeks later, and ME is still talking about the talking bird.