chillin with the girls....

We had another playdate with Ava and Eme!

Luke and Ava waiting for lunch after they went swimming. How sweet are they?? Ava was "cold." Which is why she is all wrapped up in her towel. Luke obviously wasn't...LOL.

Luke and Eme. Luke was really wanting to help feed her her bottle...he even pushed my hands away when I tried to help. I don't think Emerson minded to much. :)

Thanks for inviting us over to swim! We had so much fun!!

went to the fair...

And this wasn't the only reason we went, although it was a close second. (If you look real close the black pig is enjoying a drink of water, while the pink pig drinks his slobber. Isn't that GREAT! ewwwww!)

The main reason is that we really wanted to have a good time with Luke. To spend some quality time with him as a family and show him some animals...and this was the very FIRST reaction we got....

Apparently, Luke did not get his love of horses from me. He was TERRIFIED OF THEM! He would even wrap his legs and feet around Brandon's body as we got close to a stall. We tried not to laugh at him...but it was pretty funny! poor guy!

He did better with the cows. Maybe it was because these were more in the open..while the horses were in a stall?? or could it be that Brandon and I walked around mooing so he would understand what noise cows make?

But you better believe when given the opportunity to pet one...he had no interest. But he wanted Brandon and I to do it.

He also enjoyed the goats and had no interest in the sheep.

Of course...another reason we wanted to go...ELEPHANT EARS! and apparently they were fingerlicking good!

Notice the concentration on getting the perfect bite. That's my boy!

We also went to the pavillion to walk around the booths and Luke was able to get a free blue slushie. he loved it.
But his MOST favorite thing there was this band playing and singing country songs. It was like he was drawn to it. I was holding him and he asked to be put down and then ran over to this tent and walked in like he owned the place.

climbed up in a chair, clapped his hands, and had daddy join him. This kid LOVES music.


All in all, it was a great time. He isn't quite tall enough to ride the boats or cars, but he sure enjoyed watching them too. Next year buddy...next year.

what a man...

Congrats!

***edit to add pics***

What a handsome little man you guys! Welcome to our small group Jakester! (I only have pictures of him with a few members of our small group. But don't worry, I'm sure we will get lots soon!)

Chris and Jenina holding Jake.

That is exactly how Chris held Luke for the first time too...hilarious!

Jenina holding Luke at the hospital (he is making one funny face at you Jenina!)

Paul and Emily meeting Luke at our house.

to our good friends Paul and Emily. Paul Jacob was born this afternoon (7-21)at 12:07 pm and was 7lbs 6oz 19.5 inches long. Jake is absolutely adorable. We love you guys!!! we can't wait to see you and meet your little man!

oh to be ONE again...

"Hey Luke! Whatcha doing buddy?? Your hat looks so cool. What a stud you are! But wait...is that someone's foot right behind you????"

"Is someone following you??""YES!! SOMEONE IS! It's daddy!"
I was minding my own business, cooking yummy BLT's and Mac N Cheese for dinner, when all of a sudden I heard 2 of Luke's toys moving around the house. Low and behold, Brandon and he were having races around the house...with "hats"...and going pretty fast! It was hilarious. and they were BOTH have a fabulous time. :) I love evenings like these!

***disclaimer-Tow Mater the ride toy was not hurt in the process :) ***

Fun in the Sun

Don't worry.....

We made sure he was safe.....
He had plenty of floatation devices.... :)

I love this boy

I am truely blessed. I have a healthy, handsome, amazing little boy. Who, before our very eyes, is growing into a big kid. I just can't believe how much he has changed even from a year ago. He is so independent now and knows what he likes to do and play with and say. I remember when I was pregnant, we used to always wonder what his personality would be like. Would he be funny? (I always thought he would have us laughing so hard...and he really does!) Would he be shy? outgoing? would he take after either one of us more than the other? But, now to actually see his personality coming out is one of the coolest things ever.

*

Here is a little man whom God created perfectly and who knew him before we did. God knew he would have us laughing so hard Brandon and I couldn't catch our breath sometimes, or would get so frustrated because he can't get his pants off as fast as he wants too to get in the bath, or would take pride in feeling like he is a big kid and can do things by himself. And to know that God gave us the front row to watch it all unfold still amazes me.

*

There are so many things that he has learned or done over just the past few weeks that we NEVER want to forget, but time is going by so fast, I feel like we already are. People always used to tell us when I was pregnant, "enjoy every minute, the time will fly by" or "blink and he will be 2" and seriously, it is like we have "blinked" because our little boy is going to be 2 years old in just a few short months. We have definetly enjoyed every minute with our son, but I wish it didn't feel like the minutes are so fast! Like I just want to freeze him right here where he is.

*

Thank you Lord for the gift of our son. Thank you for teaching us so many things through him and giving us the front row.

"blaaaaaannnnnnkkkkkkiiiiiieeeeeeee!!!"

This is part of our nighttime routine. everynight. we must go on a hunt for blankie. and bruce. Luke will go around the house yelling for Blankie to come out of hiding. It is seriously hilarious. I love this kid.

Happy 4th!

We hope you all had a fantastic weekend celebrating our freedom with your family and friends! We sure did and it was one busy weekend! Friday night we had dinner with my mom, stepdad, and grandparents and then went to the park. Luke got to sit in a fire truck with dad, but I didn't have my camera with me! It was cute.
Here he is having a snack before the fireworks. Nothing like some grapes on a nice summer evening!

Luke always thinks he needs to have a drink of whatever Grammy is drinking..in this case...it was tea.
Watching the fireworks with daddy! Here he was last year on the 4th. He was so little then! aww!
Saturday we stayed home and painted the outside of our house which needed to be done very badly. We have a few more things to paint...but it really does look better already.

Sunday we went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house to have a lunch and hangout.
Here is Brandon and Luke on the tire swing.

In his regular swing being pushed by grandma

and sitting with Aunt Kayla and Cousin Jayden :) well...he is in her belly though. Doesn't she look great??!! And here is the wiggle worm sitting with Great-Grandma Mayo. He just won't sit still for anything these days! sorry mamaw!
Playing Bocce Ball with the boys. L-R Daddy, Grandpa, Uncle Cory, and Uncle Dustin with Luke
Luke also got to go on a very cool 4-wheeler ride which I heard he loved. We had a fun time visiting with everyone this weekend and even though it was a 3 day weekend, we were sure really tired last night and wished we had one more day to spend together...doing nothing! That's alright though. We had fun.
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Here he is! Sitting in his bed right before his first nap in it. It's kind of a bad picture...but he is so hard to catch on camera these days.

we ordered the matching toddler rails that go with our crib on Thursday from Baby Depot and they said it was going to take 12-14 weeks to get them in!!! Doesn't that seem like an unusually long amount of time for something like that?? oh well...this will have do for now. He loves it!

update on the bed situation

Well, he pretty much LOVES his bed. and the past 24 hours he has slept like a champ, like nothing was ever changed. I have pics of him in for the first time and everything and I will post those when I get a chance. (we are in the process of painting the outside of our house which is where i should be right now...helping Brandon).

Yesterday morning when he woke up, it was seriously the most cutest (do those words even go together??) thing ever He woke up and said, "mommy! m0000000000000000000000m!! mommy!! mama!!!" which is typcial, but then Brandon and I just hollered (yes, I just said hollered heehee) from our room down the hall and said, "hey buddy, you can get out of your bed yourself!!" and then all of a sudden we heard....

thump

opening of his bedroom door

pitter patter pitter patter pitter patter

then he just stood in our doorway BEAMING with pride

and yes, I teared up again. I'm so daggone emotional!

He climbed into bed with us ("up up up up mama up up") and we snuggled for like 15 minutes. we cherished every moment...

They really do grow fast. You don't realize it until one day you look at him and think "wow...since when did he become so independant" I'm sure I will think those exact same things (and cry too) when he gets on the bus to go to kindergarten, or when he drives away in his car at 16...and definetly when he goes off to college if that is what he chooses to do. But for now...we are going to cherish every little milestone he acheives on his own, like getting out of his bed by himself, and cheer him on every step of the way! Way to go BIG BOY LUKE! love ya buddy.

Big Boy Bed here he comes!

Right now Luke is sleeping in his big boy bed. We actually took the front off of his crib and added a rail I found at a garage sale. He thought it was cool initially and then he realized he had so sleep in it and shook his head "no". But as soon as he was rocked to sleep, he didn't even know he was being layed down in it.
He is seriously too cute laying down there with "blankie" and "ruce" (Bruce for those of you who can't make that out :) ) and I might have teared up a little. But just a little. WAA! He has grown so fast.

hmmmm...

is he helping mommy?? or did he find a new place to play?