My Big One Year Old!

Happy birthday Rhett! We are so blessed because you have completed our family!

We actually celebrated Rhett's birthday on Sunday so all the family could be there. As an added bonus, even Uncle J got to come! It was such a fun party. This being my third time to witness one of my babies turning a year old and I don't think I've EVER seen a child enjoy cake like Rhett did! When he finished off his cupcake he began leaning over and licking the icing and crumbs off of the tray! It was hilarious.



As a big one year old here are a few things about Mr. Rhett:
Of course he's been walking since he was 10 months old.
He follows his big brothers around and thinks he's as big as they are. ;)
He's cuddly!
He waves bye, bye.
He understands simple orders like "go get your blankie", "where's your paci?" "let's go to bed", "time to take a bath". Funny that something as simple as "no" hasn't been picked up yet... hmmmmmm... ;)
He sleeps from 8:30 at night until 6:30 or 7:00 each morning.
He still nurses first thing in the morning and right before bed. Not sure which of us will miss that more!
He wears size 5 diapers and 18 mo. clothes (in most things).
He loves cereals and fruits (baby food).
He loves spaghetti (grown up food) and chocolate!
He likes to look at books.
He likes to go bye bye but doesn't like to be strapped in the car seat.
He still takes two naps in the day, short one in the morning and longer one in the afternoon.
He loves to be a "hip baby" and I end up carrying him around the house with blankie and paci in tow! :)

I feel so blessed to be the mommy of these amazing little boys. Today I'm so thankful that Rhett was brought in to our lives. Happy birthday and I love you so much sweet boy!

The BIG day

Tomorrow is it. The day I send my baby off to Kindergarten. Well, not technically I guess, since he'll be coming back home with me and I don't actually leave him there tomorrow. Still, tomorrow is the first official day. This is the day that I've dreaded since Lawson turned one and I realized that, in fact, babies do grow up.

Lawson couldn't be happier. He really is excited about going. I'm so thankful for that. Since the end of pre-school last year he's been pointing to the elementary school building each time we drive by reminding us that that is where he'll be going soon. As if I needed a reminder...

Lawson should have a good year. Everyone tells me he has an EXCELLENT teacher (I just can't officially voice an opinion as I have not known her for longer than the 20 minutes we were with her at Kindergarten orientation--although she seems like a wonderful person). He is in a classroom with several friends he already knows or attends bible class with.

So why am I sad? **Just want to insert here that Lawson does not know that I'm sad. I've been very careful to keep those emotions hidden from him. I don't want a wonderful experience for him to be tainted or skewed by my personal feelings.** But, back to the question at hand, why am I sad? Why be sad when he's so happy? Is it that I don't like him growing up? I do want him to learn and grow and thrive...Is it that I'm sad that I'm growing up (dare I say **old**)? Maybe a little. But more than that I think that it's more that I feel like I haven't had enough time with him. Or like I just blinked or turned my head for one second only to look back around and find him running from diapers straight to elementary school. I think in ways no matter how much time we get with our kids, on some levels, it will never be enough.

But am I dwelling in self-pity? A little. Yes. Ok. Enough. Tomorrow is an exciting occasion. Tomorrow I get to send him off to school to be a bright spot in someone else's day. I've been selfish with those enough. Time to share him. Time to let others see what a blessing he is. Time for him to shine and make new friends. Time for him to grow and learn and thrive even more. That's it. I'm DONE with my pity party. I want to be excited WITH him and not DESPITE him. I've made up my mind! Could someone please convince my heart? :\

Long over-due pics from July 4th

 

Here are some pics we took on July 4th. We had a very busy day and did a lot of yard work but it was an enjoyable day anyway. Hope you all enjoyed a great 4th!

Thirteen again

 

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NKOTB baby!!! If you don't know what that is...well...you're just not a true fan who grew up in my era! Remember Hangin' Tough? The Right Stuff? I'll be loving you forever? What about Joey McIntyre or Jordan Knight? The big, BIG buttons, trading cards, posters that donned every thirteen year old girl's bedroom walls? New Kids on the Block, people!

Let me just start out by saying that from the moment I heard they were going to be at Mud Island in Memphis I wanted to go. Ok, so maybe that is an understatement. I asked my BFF to go with me but prior plans were already made and she couldn't go. I was searching for ways (and people) to go. For one reason or others, it just was not going to work out. Tickets were expensive, yada yada. So, being the responsible, grown-up adult I am, I put it out of my mind. Well, ok, at least I didn't pout about it--for long anyway. =)

The concert was on a Thursday night. The Thursday night before July 4th holiday. It was the Tuesday before that that I had a drs visit in Jackson. On the way to my appointment I was driving along when I heard an advertisement on the radio saying to call in to the radio station for tickets to see who? Yep, NKOTB! Certain that I would not get the tickets I called from my cell phone anyway. What did I have to lose? I was stuck in traffic anyway--what else did I have to be doing? Made the call several times, each time getting a busy signal. Finally, it rings!
Star 107.7--"Hello?"
Me--"Yes, I'm looking for some free tickets?"
Star 107.7--"You got 'um"
Me--"What?"
Star 107.7--"You got 'um! You do want them, right?"
Me--"Well YES I want them! Are you SERIOUS?"
Star 107.7--"Well, we'll have them at the station for you to pick up! Have a great time!"

We exchanged names and I picked them up after my dr appointment! WHAT???? This is CRAZY!!! I've never won ANYTHING!!!! I was on Cloud 9! Immediately called my husband, who of course was now going to get/have to go! He was thrilled as you can imagine. Of course I placed a few other calls. One to my sis-in-law, my BFF of course, and my brother. I was giddy...and thirteen again for a short while!

I just have to say this: I probably have THE most incredible husband in the ENTIRE world. He took off of work to take me to the boy band concert where (his words, not mine) the only men there were selling beer! He was SUCH a great sport--and I think even enjoyed a little of it every now and then. Of course we would not have been able to enjoy all of this if it weren't for my mom agreeing to watch my little ones for the night. (What? LIttle ones? Aren't I only thirteen?)

The concert was AMAZING! We had AWESOME seats and were SO close. The band members came up one row from where we were sitting and actually hi-fived the people in the row infront of us! Again, I was thirteen and just could NOT stop smiling!

I've decided that everyone should get the opportunity to go back in time for just a little while and be thirteen again! It's awesome and HIGHLY recommended! =)

I'll try...

 

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So, I know over the past couple of months I've been TERRIBLE at keeping up the blog. No one wants to hear my excuses; however several (you know who you are Pappy and Jordan) stay on me about updating. I know those of you who live away are especially interested in what we are doing. So as not to disappoint, here is a little of what we've been up to over the past couple of months. (I'll try to post a little each day over the next few days or so--but NO promises!) The pictures above were taken at Duck River. At the end of June my grandfather who lives in California came for a short visit. My dad's sister lives at Duck River which was where he was staying so we drove up there for the day and had such a wonderful visit. It was so good to see him. Deb, my aunt came with him along with his brother. I had not seen my grandfather in almost five years. Lawson was only 11 months old when we went to visit them. They had never seen Jagger or, of course, Rhett. It was so neat to see him with my boys. You could just tell how much he enjoyed spending every minute with them.

He and my grandmother recently purchased a house in New Mexico which is where my uncle and aunt live now. As it just so happens, Brandon's uncle and aunt live out there also. We have a trip planned for next summer to all meet in New Mexico and spend more time together. We are already looking forward to that!

A day late

Hahaha! I just realized that my "Wordless Wednesday" is actually a day late! How excited am I that, afterall, it is THURSDAY! Only one more work day this week! Woo-hoo! Just had to laugh when I realized I had done that! It's just been one of those days, well, weeks...ok, ok...years! =)

Wordless Wednesday

Oh, who am I kidding?? Anyone who knows me knows that I am ANYTHING but WORDLESS!!! =) I just love this picture of Rhett and the little tractor. This tractor has been in the family since my brother! Both my bigger boys enjoyed playing with it and we pulled it out for Rhett to try as well. We got tickled how he kept checking every inch of it out before getting on it! True boy! =) Happy Wednesday!