Letters to My Two {8 months & 34 months}

Dear Cope,

At 8 months you are:
Eating baby food at 2 meals (usually a fruit and a veggie)
Trying some table food too (you've had noodles, peas, mashed potatoes and carrots)

Waking up during the night now to eat
Weighing 22 plus pounds
Taking 2 good naps a day
Growing up so quickly

Getting curls in your hair (mommy is so delighted)
Such a happy baby
Looking nothing like your sister did at 8 months

Starting a tradition this Saturday that will last a lifetime: Tailgating in Auburn
Trying so hard to crawl

So easy
So loved

Dear Simms,

You are almost 3 and I can't believe it! You are:
Rarely using a sippy cup anymore
Not potty trained (this is my decision to wait to do it, although you are starting to show you are ready)

Chatty chatty, with the sweetest little voice
Very imaginative and independent
Full of attitude (just being honest)

Silly
So excited to go to the Auburn game this Saturday and be at the bus
A night owl (obviously. these pictures were taken when you should've been asleep)

Loving school-you were so proud of your "All About Me" poster we made

Stubborn (although mommy and daddy can't seem to agree who you get this from, ha!)
So grown up. When did this happen?

Our friend and our daughter and we love to spend our time with you
Loved more than you will ever know

My Girl and My Baby Boy

My Girl:

is loving school! We've had a few teary mornings, but her teachers tell me she usually gets ok within 5 minutes of me leaving. It is so sad to leave her when she is like that. Luckily, we've only dealt with that twice. Whew.

loves coming home and playing in this heat. YES. Even after being gone all morning, and usually playing outside at school too, she isn't slowing down. We've had one nap since school started. That's ok though, because our afternoons are really special to me.

recited her first bible verse by memory this week! Dru and I are so proud of her, and so thankful they do this with them at school. {I hope I'm not the only one whose child just started doing this. I'll pretend like I'm not}

has an interesting variation on her words. Lightening=white man, Shade=shave, Kitty Cat=Bitty Cat, Home=Hone, Corn on the Cob=Corn on the Cone, Beetles=Needles. We laugh at her a lot.

My Baby Boy:

is growing up way too fast {and his size is showing it. I weighed him this week and consistently got 22.5 lbs on the scale. Yes, I had to re-weigh several times for it to sink in}.

is so special to me. I cannot even begin to describe it. I truly understand now what people mean when they talk about the bond between a mama and her boy. It is precious.

apparently likes to gnaw on a green bean every now and then.

And the other girl and boy that are in my life almost daily. How big they both are now!
Mary Margaret aka Mae Mae (almost 7 months):

Bennett (3 years old and pictured with his future girlfriend Lanier on their first day of school):

The First Day!

Simms' playschool started back today! She was so excited about this morning, asking me all week if it was time for school yet. I am so thankful that she likes going and wants to be there. Last winter was when she began going, but as a stay-at-home mom I was having such an internal conflict about her going somewhere. I mean, isn't that MY job to teach her all of these skills they learn? Then Cope was born. It was freezing cold. Simms couldn't go out and play. I was battling a pretty serious case of postpartum depression {another post for another day}. I felt so bad for her. Being stuck in the house, with a new baby that needed so much attention. So,after much prayer, I decided to let her try going for a few hours a couple of days each week. After all, the school was at our church. The church I grew up in. The church Simms' parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were all married in. There was such a comfort in knowing where she was and who she was with. It just felt right. She went and loved it! It did all of us good. From January until May she was there a few hours a day, 3 mornings a week. She learned so much. She blossomed socially. She was so proud of herself and we were so proud of her! And I knew that I wasn't a bad mama for sending her, instead, I felt like a better mama for it. We've enjoyed being together everyday this summer, but we knew she'd go back this year! How could we not send her? She adores going to His Kids. And as her mama, I want what is best for her. And this is it! Her first morning went great. I saw lots of tears when I walked her in, but surprisingly none came from Simms! She ran down the hall into my arms when I picked her up. I love her so much and am so proud of her! She can't wait until tomorrow!

Simms woke up to this. A book by one of our favorite authors and a card. OF COURSE, she picked out her bookbag. They don't even have to have a bookbag, but she wanted one, so I let her pick it out. It's quiet funny actually. I am so not into themey/character stuff. I just had to let this one go. My vision of a monogrammed bookbag will have to wait! Ha!

Walking out of the door this morning!

Heading to the car. She is so funny rolling that bag.

She was all about the camera this morning.

At the church this morning, about to walk in.
Here are Simms and Cope on her first day last January. My goodness how much they have both changed. I love them so.

Our baby boy...

..spent this rainy Saturday trying to crawl. Yes, crawl. He's ready, but hasn't quite mastered it yet. That's fine with me. The days are going by way too fast. Cope would try and try, finally get up on all fours, rock back and forth for a little while, then fall face first onto the floor. Then his frustration would set in. Sweet little boy.



He finally decided he'd rather do something he's become quite good at: sitting up:

Old Toys, New Tricks

We have purchased next to nothing toy-wise for Cope. And it is a good thing, because all of his favorite things to play with just happen to be recycled from his big sister! Don't think for one second though that she has allowed this to happen without first pointing out to him, "these are mine bubby. I will share them with you." Then, a "swipe" usually takes place. He doesn't mind, and will just pick up whatever else is in front of him! **And, I heard him making "MaMaMaMa" sounds on the monitor for the first time this morning! Such a sweet sound!

A Typical Day...

..usually involves Cope trying to escape for some peace and quiet at some point{he really is an old soul}

Simms will play on her own for a while until she realizes Cope has escaped her presence{this involves her playing with and pulling out the most random assortment of things, usually not her toys}

He hears her calling his name {I wonder what he is thinking}

He realizes he has been found {but I know he's glad. He LOVES her so}

She makes her way to where he is {bringing everything with her}
They picnic for a little while {she will loose interest in him fast}

And just like that she is gone

She's a mess. Literally. I pick up after her all day long. But I love being home with them. Some days,(ok, most days) are really long, but there is no other job as important to me as being with them each day. Preschool starts back up for Simms next Wednesday. I'll miss her in the mornings, but I know it is so good for her! She will go 4 mornings each week. Isn't her dress sweet? Her daddy brought it back for her from El Salvador!

Lilla's Birthday Weekend

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating this sweet girl's 1st birthday:

Everything about the party was so much fun. Probably because it was a 3 day event! Lilla's invitations and cake were centered around her lovee, which is a Bla Bla doll that Lilla knows as Susie. It all turned out precious!




The favors were ADORABLE:

{Cope's had a pirate on it}
And so were the children:


{I hate that I didn't get a picture of all of the children}
Simms was very happy that Charlie was back:

{She loves to tell us that he lives in Mississippi}
My sweet boy took a nap for most of the party:

{He doesn't normally fall asleep with a bottle and million toys by the way}
He did wake up in time for an afternoon in the lake:

Lilla loved her cake. She leaned right in and took a big ole' bite:

Simms just adores little Lilla:

And is never far from her side:

Happy Birthday Lilla! We had a great time celebrating your first year!!