Cale's 2nd birthday...

My baby is TWO!! We had a wonderful day celebrating him on the 19th...he enjoyed being celebrated;) People would call to sing "Happy birthday"- he loved it! He would even chime in, "hapdy birsday to Cale!" We sang it, well, we've been singing it for a week! Matt got home early, we had a good dinner full of Cale's faves, opened presents-he has an AWESOME reaction to anything he opens. It was so much fun to watch. Then, we had cake (sang, AGAIN) and then we all rode on the Kubota for awhile because that's his MOST favorite thing to do! Here's a wrap-up in pics...sorry, some of them are blurry. My camera was on the wrong mode, he moves at light speed anyway and really, I'm not that good of a photographer!

Opening the boots he got from Daddy! He was SUPER excited!!

You can see his expression, he goes, "Ooooooo, I like this!!"

Again, super excited opening his buzz game! He LOVES buttons, so now he has some of his own to press! It might drive you nuts-so, but it satisfies!!

Loving on the Buzz that momma gave him! The poor boy has had no choice, but to carry around a princess so now he's got something of his own!

He LOVES mickey mouse, so Ella picked him out a Mickey T-shirt...clearly, he couldn't get it on fast enough.
Here we are in our awesome new T!!

I. LOVE. MY. KIDS!!!

Watching Buzz and playing Buzz...we just can't get enough!

Daddy and his kiddos! I'm one blessed momma!!

He was in SERIOUS thought...

Relaxation at its finest!!

She was a big helper all day! She helped me clean and wrap and didn't complain or ask one time if she was getting anything. She was honestly just excited, if not more, for Cale as he was. I am uber proud of her!

Yes, he tried to grab the fire, so big sissy blew it out before he could get it. He didn't mind...he said, "Own bow fire again!"

Riding the Kubota with daddy!
He got to drive...


....so did she!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CALE!!! You always smilin', diaper droppin', tomato eatin' son of mine!!

Birthdays are tough...

So we'll post more later. Right now we're chill 'laxin in our new boots, sportin our new Mickey "T" from Ella and playing with new Buzz toys!!

Thank you Lord for trusting us to care for such a wonderful blessing! Happy 2nd birthday, Cale....we love you BIG!!

A whole new ball game...

It's been almost two years since the Lord blessed us with Cale. Two years since we became a family of four, two years since we were introduced into the wonderful world of a "boy" and two years since our hearts grew yet a little bit more and we all learned to love in a whole new way. I learn something new about our little man everyday. Some things I've always known- like how kind-hearted and sweet he is, how much he loves his momma, wants to do everything his sister does and literally and figuratively wants to walk in Matt's shoes.


I never wrote about this, but only days after we had brought him home from the hospital I had layed down with him to take a nap. We were laying face-to-face and he was looking at me directly in the eyes. He was only days old, but had been holding his head up since day one! Well, he obviously couldn't crawl or scoot, but he used that "big" head and started moving toward me till we were nose-to-nose. Then, he fell asleep. He's been going to sleep like that ever since. It melted my heart then and still does everytime I think about it. He's changed a lot since then. Most days I can't grasp how much and I often wish I could slow it down.

The tubes have done wonders. When people said he would be a new kid they weren't completely off base. But, he wasn't so much different as he was just more alert and his vocabulary and clarity excelled immediately. He still has his own way of saying certain things...one of the many differences in boys and girls, I guess. But, as a mom we learn what these "words" mean. He drinks his juice out of a Toy Story sippy cup...he loves Toy Story. Today, in the back seat he was chanting, "Momma, Fwoody." I didn't know what he was trying to tell me and finally in all his frustration he yells, "Duice!" OH! You want Woody, you want juice and I handed him the cup. Yes, it's challenging at times, but I love learining how his mind works.But the boy has a purpose and sometimes it surprises me when certain things come out of his mouth.

He's busy, he's active, he's into everything. And, I don't know what's more exhausting- following him around or watching his mind work. You can almost see him thinking. He walks with a purpose. People who don't even know him can tell that right away. There is a reason he goes from point A to B and he knows what that reason is way before he leaves point A. He repeats everything Ella says immediately after she says it. I thought this would irritate her- it doesn't. When he brakes something he comes to you with what is broken in his hands saying, " I bwaked it." But, it's not what he "bwaked" that you should be worried about. It's when he comes to you and says, "I ficked it," that you should start worrying. See, "ficked" means "I had something in my hand that I found a place, crevice or hole to put it in and it's now gonna cost around $200 to fix". For example, the afrin bottle flushed down the toilet and the plastic playskool knife in the central vac suction tube were all "ficked" by Cale. I FINALLY figured out what this means. Now, when he comes to me and says, "I ficked it," I know to start looking!

He has a temper. It's bad. It bears grave resemblence to mine. I'm sorry to have passed that onto him. However, he is quickly remorseful and like Matt, he won't let the sun set on his anger. In that way he is very humble. I am thankful. I have a hard time disciplining him. He knows when he's done something wrong or when he's about to get in trouble and he gives me that "look". If you have a boy you probably know what I'm talking about. He uses his "puppy dog" eyes, lowers his head and innocently grins. As if that weren't enough he then runs to me giving me a big hug, sorry and I love you. I am putty in his hands! He knows how to read me like a book and tug on my heart strings like a puppet. We have a special bond...he holds my heart in his little chubby hand!

He will randomly stop whatever he is doing throughout the day to come and give me a hug and kiss...I cherish that. When he sits with me he plays with my hair and if I haven't acknowledged him in several minutes he'll grab my face and pull it toward his to give me what I call a "cheek" hug. I guess he just wants to remind me that he's there. And, I know it sounds crazy but sometimes I can feel him love me. Mostly when he's tired or going to sleep. He gets this intense look as if he's almost looking through me and my heart swells. This is usally followed by an , "I wa wa momma," which means I love you, momma. He has recently started putting together pretty impressive sentences. He loves buttons, pressing buttons and figuring out how things work. He loves taking thigs apart. He has good manners. He always says he's "sorry", "please", "excuse me" and my favorite is "gank you, momma." He always says momma after that regardless of who he's thanking. Sometimes he'll be holding a toy and just randomly throw it down, with great force I might add. I don't know why...I have explained many things to myself over the past two years with the phrase, "I guess that's just a boy thing." And he is. all. boy!!! Simply put, it's just a whole new ball game!

God grant me the wisdom...

We were in the car coming home yesterday, Cale was asleep. Ella took full advantage of his quietness and the conversation went like this...

Ella: Mommy, what kind of lakes do mermaids live in?
Me: Well, baby, mermaids aren't real, but if they were they would live in oceans-like at the beach.
Ella: Why aren't mermaids real?
Me: Because God didn't make them real.
Ella: Why didn't he?
Me: I don't know you'll have to ask him one day.
Ella: Well, how old will I be?
Me: Hopefully, that will be a long time from now.
Ella: Why can't I ask him in my heart?
Me: Well, you can. That's a great idea, but you have to listen for the answer very carefully. Because He speaks very softly.
Ella: Why does he speak softly?
Me: Because He wants you to learn to pay attention and listen for Him.
Ella: OH! (grinning.)

Ella: Momma, does God eat and take baths?
Me: Do you like to eat and take baths?
Ella: Yes.
Me: Then, yes, God eats and take baths.
Ella: Well, what does Jesus do?
Me: He sits beside God.
Ella: That's it?
Me: No, heaven has lots of stuff to do.

OH! The questions! She fills my days with joy and challenges me in so many ways. I have to pray often for the wisdom to teach her and answer her questions...whatever they may be!

Beach trip 2011...

...Better late than never. We went to Panama City this year. Of course it was nice to get away and the kids loved everything about it. They had a great time!! Unfortunately, we probably came back more tired than when we left, but that's the fun in it I guess! Here they are packed and ready to go!Apparently, Cale's glasses stay on better when he wears them upside down.

Ella was ecstatic about the pool...she was in it most of the time!

Cale, seeing what the ocean is all about...

Playing in the sand with daddy...

Ella and her "big" feet!

The "littlest" Mermaid!

This. Is. My. Love!!!

They were completely content!

Summer Lovin'

The fam

Trying it without the floaties...

My beach beauty!

This picture was HARD. TO. GET!!!

Cale leaked out of his diaper and this AWESOME ensemble was the ONLY thing in the entire store his size...he loved it!!

Ella got her hair wrapped, she is a very big girl!!

Ella and MeMe

Who doesn't love the beach at sunset....

Cale...getting sleepy!

Momma and Ella

Where is Cale???? Sleepy. So, not cooperating!

Princess dance camp

Ella had her first dance camp this week. It is a HUGE understatement to say it was a hit...she LOVED it. The week was princess themed (which, let's face it is right up her ally.) They danced to princess songs, made an apron, crown and wand which they used at their end-of-week performance that was today. She is really going to miss it, and is so excited to start in the fall...I am too!!


Day 1: She could hardly sleep the night before and had been counting down the days for weeks!




Day 2: This came to be known at "the best day ever!!"

Day 3: This day was "the betterest day ever!" Now that dance is over with maybe we'll work on some grammar;)

My tiny dancer:)

Day 4: The last day and the one she was most excited about since it was finally time for "the show!"

Cinder"Ella"

After the transformation into a beautiful princess!!

Ella and her teachers...it was a wonderful week and precious performance! I wish I could've done it with her!