Our Shepherd at Christmas Chapel

First Auburn Game

We took William to his very first Auburn game in November. We tailgates with our good friends the Gillespies. William enjoyed playing games, running around the tailgate with his friends, TigerWalk, and watching three eagle circle the stadium. I'm sure it's the first of what will be many Auburn experiences!

The kids with Auburn Claus!

Tiger Walk

In the stadium.... Look at this angel boy!!

Thanksgiving 2014

A little out of order, but here's a snapshot from Thanksgiving 2014. How blessed we are to get to spend this year with family!

Christmas Program

With Grammy and Elias

With our neighbor Joshua

Awesome Ms. Ellis!!

William did such a great job singing in his program. He just loves to sing, dance, and praise Jesus! I hope he never loses that.

16 Months

Since he just had a check up, here's the latest with Graham!

-23 pounds and 31 inches long

-lots of curly blonde hair

-says "nigh nigh", "mama", "dada"

-signs "I want", "please", "milk"

-likes: brother, being outside, eating, wrestling with daddy

-dislikes: the word "no", the word "all gone", going to bed.

Williams World: Thanksgiving

Some things William is thankful for this year....

At church, he said "mommy and daddy, just daddy, the present in my heart, and crayons".

For the family meal, he said "Jesus in my heart".

Fall Fun

Talledega!

School Fall Party

......and Halloween!!!!!

Pumpkin Patch 2014

We had a great time with Frazer Kindergarten at Dreamfield Farms!

.....our buddy (and neighbor!) Joshua.

Graham had fun too!

Graham at 15 Months

This little guy keeps us on our toes! He is into EVERYTHING. 

Some Milestones:

-still taking 2 naps a day.

-sleeps from anout 6:30-6:30 each night

-knows sign language for "more", "all done", and "please".

-can mimic saying "thank you"

-can point to mama and daddy

-loves "Patty Cakes" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider."

-loves wrestling with brother and daddy, and LOVES being outside.

Williams World: Happy Tears

The kindergartener so have been practicing Christmas songs for an early holiday performance. Apparently, "Away in the Manger" really touches William. He told me "mama, when we practice that one, I always have to try really hard to not cry happy tears".

First Day of Kinder (Pics)

Very late posting, but here's my big boy's first day of school. It was technically the 2nd day of school. He missed the first day with a tummy bug. But he was excited and enthusiastic for day 2! Its going to be a great year!!

PS-It was also Daddy's first day of ACSC!

Graham Lately......

This little guy is on the move! He starting walking around 12.5 months, and not even a month lately, is getting quite steady on his feet. He's quick and hard to catch! He's also leanrned to sign "more" and "all gone" (finally!). He likes to shake his head when we say "no no." and loves clapping his hands and bopping up and down to music.

Love him!!

Williams World: Soccer and More

At William's first soccer practice, he ran up to me on the sidelines and said "don't worry mom, I'll still stop and give you hugs and kisses during games."

In the car yesterday, he said.."you know how to have a good day? Put your feet in the floor in the morning and yell 'THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE!'. Then you'll have a great day."

The Night Before Kindergarten.....

Dear William, 

 You are soundly sleeping now, with your "jitter glitter" under you pillow. Tomorrow is the big day.....your first day of "real" school. You are so ready my sweet boy. You are smart and curious and social and friendly. You are going to take kindergarten by storm. And yet, there's a big part of your mama that is sad. My baby is a baby no more. These preschool years have flown by too quickly. Starting tomorrow, I begin to slowly release you to the world. In 12 years, that release will be complete. My prayer is that you are a light for our Lord wherever you are. That you can maintain your innocence for as long as possible. That you will take advantage of every opportunity given to you.

 I have loved our first five years of adventures together. We were partners in crime day and night. And though now some things will change with school, some things will not. You will always be my baby boy.  And I will always be here to listen and hug you and encourage you. 

Go get 'em, buddy!

Auburn Fan Day

One of the best things about our new home is the fact that Auburn is only a short half hour away! We drove up for Fan Day, and are now appropriately excited for football season.....War Eagle!

One!

Happy First Birthday Graham!! Although it's a little hard for your mommy, your growing bigger every day! You are funny and sweet and full of energy and adventure. You keep is on our toes! You've begun to take a step or two, so I'm sure you'll be walking any day now. We enjoyed a birthday party with family at Grammy and Pops house. Although we don't have many pictures, you LOVED your smash cake and presents. Your brother and your daddy and I love you to pieces......thank you for choosing our family and making this last year so sweet and special for us.

Playing Catch Up

It's been a busy couple of months. We've moved to Alabama for Ryan to attend ACSC for 10 months. Road trip, moving truck, boxes, unpacking, birthdays, and everything else has taken precedence over this blog. But I'm back and will hopefully will be posting a little more regularly. For now, here's some William nuggets from the past few weeks:

Graham was crying incessantly in the car and we were all sick of it. William said "Mama, Graham is just like Queen Elsa (Frozen). He just has to "Let It Go"."

He was "kissing up" to me because he had been in trouble..."I sure am being loveness to you, am I Mama?"

Williams World: Important Things

Lately, William seems to be fixated on the word "important". I'm getting some of the most interesting questions, mostly while we're in the car....

"Mama, are clouds important to us? Why?"

"Is it important to always wear clothes? Can I choose not to?"

We were sitting in traffic while a crew fixed a power line. I made a comment about being impatient and William replied...

"Power lines are important. The men are doing something important. Be patient."

And the best one...

"Mama, it's important that everyone know how much Jesus loves them. Right?"

Right buddy.

10 Months!

At 10 months, you:

-crawl everywhere!!

-love your dog

-like being in your stroller

-babble and "talk" all the time.

-need a haircut. It's getting long and curly!

-wear size 4 diapers and size 9-12 month cloths.

-love to eat anything!

-take 4-5 6.5 ounce bottles a day

- take 2 naps

Loving the Pup

Since he has begun crawling, Graham is absolutely obsessed with all things Rudy. He wants to pull her, bite her, hit her. He crawls or her bed when she's sleeping. He has eaten her food, and LOVES her bowls. We empty her water bowl when she's not in the room and he sits and bangs and bangs it. I've tried other bowls without success. It HAS to be Rudy's bowl.

Crazy baby!

Fun Visitors

As we prepare to pack up and leave DC, our last visitors might well have been our favorites. Our friends John and Wendi, their 4 kids, Johns parents, and their Dalmatian stayed with us upon their return from living overseas. William has such a close bond with Isaac and Elijah. They were together nearly everyday in Turkey. They were his first real friends. Although things were crazy at times, it brought me so much joy to see these three reconnect and play as if no time had passed. Blessings! 

Mothers Day 2014

Dear William and Graham,

 I can't find words to tell you how lucky I feel to be your mommy. Sure, I am tired, and sometimes grumpy, and definitely stretched pretty thin. But how blessed I am! You both are growing and changing so quickly, and I know the days of having 2 little ones are fleeting. I am trying to live in every small moment, and make as many memories with you as possible. I love you both so deeply that so ethi es it even hurts. Thank you for choosing our family and letting me be your mom. It's the privilege of my life.

9 months

Likes: brother, being held, baths, going for walks in the stroller, swinging at the playground, 

          eating

Dislikes: going into the car seat, being put down :)

Milestones: size 4 diapers, size 9 and 12 month clothes, ALMOST crawling, 19 pounds

Q&A with a 5 Year Old

Favorites:

Song-"You Might Think I'm Crazy" from Cars 2

Movie-"Planes"

TV Show-Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol

Book-the Bible

Toy-Mac Truck

Restaurant- Silver Diner

Place to visit in Washington DC-Lincoln Memorial

Who is your best friend? "Caleb and Jackson"

What do you like to do with Daddy? "Go to a park"

What do like to do with Mommy? "Eating fruit roll-ups" (huh?)

All these answers will change tomorrow, but it's a snapshot of today :).

Pre Easter Snaps

Our sweet friend Leona offered (for free!) to take some family pics for Easter. These boys kill me with cuteness sometimes!

8 Months

What are you up to, Graham?

-you weigh around 18.5 pounds and wear size 9 month clothing and size 3 diapers

-your top front two teeth are almost poking through...that'll make 4 teeth!

-you can get up on all fours and are starting to scoot backwards

-you like food a lot, and will eat most anything we give you

-you are still a thumb sucker, and still love your brother more than anything else!

7 Months!

Happy 7 months to you Graham! You are getting bigger everyday. As can be seen from the picture, you were really interested in the sticker I put on you for the first time. You are getting better at sitting up everyday. You have learned to clap your hands and love when we sing to you...you clap and laugh! You really like your rice cereal, and most everything we give you...you've got a great appetite! We are still in size 3 diapers and 6 oz of formula a feeding. You still just have 2 bottom teeth. We love you!!

Date Night at the Kennedy Center

Williams World.....Valentines and Board Games

William and I have been working on Valentines for his classmates. I am writing a personal message of his choosing for each friend. Some things he has requested I write:

To Carla..."you're my little sweetheart".

To Jackson....."some times you make bad choices at school. Here's a valentine anyway".

To Daddy....."you're the best daddy for a little boy like me".

We have the board game Trivial Pursuit...William thinks it's called "trullio pursullio" and asks to play it all the time!

Morning Meeting

We've had a lot of snow, and consequently snow days, lately. We are ready to get back to full time school! On one such morning last week, a bored William got an idea. "Let's have a morning meeting, Mama". I'll get ready. He laid out a blanket and put all his stuffed animals on it. He wanted brother right in the middle. Then the meeting started. Monkey was having a hard time keeping his hands to himself and the Chick fil a cow was getting his feelings hurt. We hashed out the problems and then adjourned the meeting. I took a photo of the important event too. Hopefully our stuffed animal friends improve their behavior, although I must admit that I wouldn't mind having another meeting soon :).

Half Birthday Boy!

How is it that you are already 6 months old? You make us smile everyday, big boy. Here's what you're up to:

-you weigh 16 pounds and are 26 inches long.

-you wear size 3 diapers and size 6 month clothes

-you have 2 bottom teeth!

-you are starting to try to sit up, but. It quite there yet.

-you sleep all night now, from about 10 until about 6:30.

-your thumb is constantly in your mouth when you are asleep.

- we've just started solids and you are getting the hang of it quickly!

-your brother is still your most favorite person. He can always make you smile and laugh.

Williams World...Graham's Shoes

"Look Mama, these must be Graham's Tough Guy shoes".

Williams World: Melt My Heart

William, Ryan, and I were watching a movie together and I suggested we watch something else. His reply? "Daddy, Mama is our girl, we have to take good care of her."

A VERY Happy New Year!

After an amazing, amazing season, the Auburn Tigers got the chance to play for the BCS Championship. We decided to make the trip to Pasadena to cheer them on. We stayed with Aunt Jenny and Uncle Matt and had fun reconnecting with family. The highlight for William was a whirlwind 

day at Disneyland and California Adventure, which is home to Cars Land. What awesome memories!!

5 Months!

Sweet Graham, you are 5 months old! You are finally sleeping through the night fairly consistently. You drink 6 oz bottles and wear size 3 diapers. You love to watch your brother, babble, and grab at any and everything you can find. You suck your thumb to get to sleep. We love you!