Summer 2014...

It seems that summer just started and now we're just a day away from school starting. Real school!  Big School! David Scott is so excited and his excitement about it is contagious. So rather than being sad about my baby boy going to school, I am excited at the new adventures he's going to have, the new friends he's going to make, and the new things he's going to learn. But before we get caught up in school, let's take a look at the Summer of 2014. 

We stayed home. A lot. Despite being without a kitchen for most of the summer, we haven't done as much traveling as we usually do. Typically, we make several trips to North LA for Scotty to play in various golf tournaments. But since his most-frequent golf partner now lives 1,000+ miles away, playing golf together is kind of difficult. Except when he comes to visit!  Lee came for a week-long visit towards the end of June. There were several rounds of golf played and even an uncle-and-nephew golf outing. DS had so much fun and is still talking about how Uncle Lee let him drive the golf cart. Although the timing wasn't planned this way, Scotty and I got to go back to Las Vegas for his work conference towards the end of Lee's week "home."  So MiMi and Mamaw came down to spend time with Lee and keep the boys while we went out of town. Side note:  Las Vegas was fun (again) but there are very few places I'd like to go to multiple times a year...and I don't know that LV is one of those. However, the beach is for sure!!!

We met up for a quick visit with our Law Vacay group in July. Due to Scotty having a trial and the ongoing kitchen reno, we decided not to go to the beach with our friends this year. But then Scotty got a midnight call from one of the guys suggesting we come over for the day Saturday which turned into an impromptu 3-day mini-vacation. And just last week, we returned from our annual trip to Orange Beach. MiMi and Mamaw met us there and everybody had a wonderful time. No sunburns. Gorgeous weather. Couldn't ask for more than that!

The kitchen renovation is almost complete and will probably have its own post once it is totally finished. Will it ever be finished?!?  We are totally over eating out for every meal. Over it. I can't wait to get back in there and start cooking again. And with school starting, we need to get back in a good routine in the evening as well as in the morning. 

May 2014...

The month of May has come and gone. We're still approaching Kitchen Reno (end of June) and have gotten most things on order but are still searching for the right paint color. I went to Phoenix for a work conference and the boys all stayed at home with Scotty. Everyone enjoyed Mama being gone...especially this girl. I don't think anyone enjoyed my coming back as much as the husband did, though!  We're also gearing up for a few trips -- Las Vegas (again) for Scotty's work, the beach at some point, and I'm sure we'll find something else to go do this summer...especially during the kitchen re-do since we won't have full access to it for a while. Good thing it's summertime and we can grill or eat sandwiches as alternatives to eating out for every meal. 

We're also getting ready for DS' preschool graduation ceremony mid-month. It's for all the kids at daycare who are starting big school in the fall. How did we get to this point?!?  

For two weeks in April/May, DS took swimming lessons again. The kid is a fish in the water. We're so proud of the progress he made!  It's certainly come in handy given all the swimming we've done  at home and at Gran and Papa's for Memorial Day. 

Drew is just growing and growing, it seems. He has a mouthful of teeth and is saying and trying to say so many new words...it's just crazy!  And I think, although I'm slightly impartial, that he just gets cuter every day...partially b/c his little personality is starting to really show itself.  His teachers tell me that he is so sweet with his friends and is the best baby, but towards us, he's going through a hitting and biting phase (please just be a phase!). And as long as he gets his way and/or is eating, he IS a sweetheart. I guess this is also known as the Terrible Twos. 

Other things to happen in May include a field trip with DS' class to see Disney on Ice and Mother's Day!  My sweet hubby always spoils me when it's any time for giving gifts. This year I told him I wanted a few sessions with a personal trainer or a gift card for some exercise classes TBD. But because he wanted me to have something to open, he got me some new workout clothes which I loved!  We also had a couple of trips to North La. both of which involved fishing off Mamaw's dock. 

The most exciting thing to happen in May was the birth of my second nephew -- Ridge Wentworth McGehee -- a mouthful of a name for such a tiny baby boy!  He was born on the 9th and was about 6 lbs and 21 inches long.  

Baby Ridge is doing so well and so is Boo. Anders is adjusting well to having his new "brover" around too. Hopefully that love for his brother will continue throughout their lives. My prayer for that set of brothers is the same as it is for my two boys -- to always be friends and love one another. 

I love my boys and am frequently reminded of what a privilege it is that they are mine. To be a mother is the greatest responsibility of my life. But to be THEIR mother is the greatest honor of my life. It's not always easy, and Lord knows we frequently have conversations about how frustrating parenting can be. But I wouldn't change any part of my life right now. 

10 Things...

1.  We are close to getting started on the kitchen renovation...finally. Meeting in the next week or two for final conversation(s).   Yay!  No more teal floor, countertops, and backsplash. And bye-bye stark white everything else!  We won't be sad to see you go. 

2.  We got a swing set a few weeks ago and the kids love it. Love. It. Drew can climb up the ladder all by himself. And although we do try to be right there when he's climbing, he has been super fast and climbed up before we could get to him a few times. David Scott calls the actual playhouse his office. 

3.  Drew can eat as much as his big brother at mealtimes. DS still drinks like a camel throughout the day. 

4.  These boys...they ARE my heart. Between DS spontaneously saying he loves me and Drew's sweet kisses...my heart could burst every time sweet things happen. Or when they're laughing. Or when they're being sweet and playing with each other. Or when they're wrestling. Or when they're sleeping. Being their mother is the reason I was put on this Earth. My (occasionally) sweet boys...what would I do without them?!?

5.  We got a black Tahoe back in August. Scotty is driving it for now, but I will eventually end up with it once we're ready to trade in the 4-Runner for something else (probably a car). DS calls it "Daddy's Batmobile."  

6.  Drew is saying so many words:  hey, bye, go, out, up, down, Mama, Daddy, David Scott (Da Cott), eat, yes, no, nose,  mouth, head, ball, bubbles, Lola (still living with Gran and Papa!), balloon. The other night, he told me, "Mama!  Get. Down."  He was ready to get out of his high chair. 

7.  David Scott starts "big school" in the Fall. I can't believe it. But I can. He's excited and is looking forward to making new friends. He can't wait to be a St. Luke's Shark!

8.  Drew is still going to sleep around 7-7:30 each night. DS is usually an hour or so later. This has given the hubs and I lots of time to...watch tv!  Getting to watch tv on a regular basis again has been glorious!  We've watched almost all of "The Wire" (skipped almost all of the last season b/c we became disinterested in it).  After that we watched the up-to-this-point released seasons of "House of Cards" -- awesome!  And presently, we are on the final season of "Breaking Bad" -- really good!  I have no clue what we'll watch next.

9.  Scotty surprised me with a new phone a couple weeks ago. I'm so excited to have the data capacity to take more pictures!  Maybe I'll now be inspired to write more blog posts more often. :)

10.  I can't really think of a tenth item...we are just not that interesting.  I guess this is the first weekend in almost a month that we've been home in BR the whole time -- trips to North LA, an adults-only weekend in NO, and Easter in Winnsboro. And now Scotty is gone for work which has had him traveling a ton the first part of this year. But I'm going on a business trip for a couple of days in mid-May. I hope being a single parent for a few days is survivable for him, lol. DS already told me he would be very good for Daddy. Of course he will be. And so will Drew...  :)

 

Bonus:  Scotty just had a birthday...34!  Here's a sweet pic of two young kids approx 17 years ago...

...And today!

Boy do I love this guy!

Catching Up...

Since I haven't made a timely post in a while, this will serve as a catch-up post for what's been going on this first part of 2014. In one word:  Sick. And not in a good way like "2014 has been awesome!" kind of way. But in a "we have caught every cold virus possible and been on numerous antibiotics while missing work and school" kind of way. Although Scotty and I did go to Las Vegas with the Duhes in mid-January, so I can't complain too much since we did have a great time. Our families kept the boys which helped out a lot so we were able to not worry about them while in Sin City. But other than that, due to the various ear infections, coughs, colds, fever, sore throats, etc., I think I was in the pediatrician's office every week for a month with one kid or another. Scotty ended up at Urgent Care just once with what we were sure was the flu but apparently was just an awful upper resp infection.  and for this Mama Bear, I've just soldiered through my sickness and am hopefully over the cold/sore throat combo I've had for over a month. 

What else?  We had Drew's birthday party in January. "Snow Days" were called for at the end of that month, which was...interesting since there wasn't much snow...enough to make a snowball, though!

In February, we had Valentine's Day and more sickness so not much fun stuff happened that month. 

And now we are in March.  The boys and I (and Katelyn, one of our baby-sitters) went to Memphis for my cousin Meredith's wedding. Katelyn had a job interview so she rode along and helped me with the kids on the 6-hour drive (Scotty had to work so he stayed home). The boys slept for a lot of the drive up there and back which was nice. And while we were up there, they were pretty well-behaved, which was even better. We got to visit with B&A and got to go to the Children's Museum where we met up with Gran and Papa and Anders. I think everybody enjoyed that visit. We also ate at our regular eating spots (Nagasaki and Coletta's...yum!). And of course, got to visit with our "Memphis" family as well. All-in-all, it was a great trip!  I wouldn't attempt it by myself with the two kiddos, but it was a nice, but quick getaway. 

And then of course, on my dad's birthday, we took the boys for ice cream. His favorite snack. I like this little tradition we have of celebrating Bud Bud's birthday. And I'd say the boys do too...

From a "fun" perspective, 2014 is off to a good start. Lets hope we've turned the corner on the sickness part. We ate our black-eyed peas on New Year's Day, but maybe we need to incorporate them into meals on a weekly basis!

Drew Turns One...

Baby Drew turned a year old on January 9th. We celebrated with a small family gathering (and a few close fiends) at the house the following weekend. It is I fathomable to me how quickly this past year has flown by. At some point, I know that we will have to start calling him "Drew" and not "Baby Drew," but he's still a baby!  Even if he is walking (some) and eating only adult food!  And in the next month or two, he will be moving to the toddler class at daycare...just blows my mind. 

Sweet Baby Boy. My Love. Drewsky. Drew-Bear. Drew-Baby. So many names for my Littlest LoveBug.  Here are your stats at a year old:

• 23 pounds

• 30 inches tall

• wearing size 3 diapers

• wearing 12/18-month sized clothes

• wearing 3.5 size shoes

• eating only adult food

• taking a few steps here and there and getting more comfortable

• 8 teeth -- 4 each on top and bottom

• still an excellent sleeper -- not a great napper, but I'll take that trade-off

• saying several words -- Mama, Dada, this, bye, hey. Watching you say David Scott's name is cute -- it's completely indistinguishable -- but you certainly know who you're talking to/about. 

You are loud, and raucous, and all boy. You love to eat, and I think you would absolutely snack all day if we'd let you. You love me. The most. DS would be a close second, though. And you like to be held. A lot. By me. Only me. But I'm ok with it. While you and DS will always be "my babies," you won't always be babies in the literal sense of the word. So I try not to rush things and just let you do things on your own pace which we've learned is very much your style -- when you're ready, that's when you'll do whatever it is we've been trying to help you do (ie walking -- you've been cruising on furniture and such for 2 months!). But it's coming!  Much like so many other milestones in life. You are such a smart and determined little boy.  These two things -- along with your cute dimple and beautiful eyes -- will take you far in life. We love you so much and are so thankful that you are ours. Happy Birthday, Baby Drew!

Love, 

Mama

Christmas 2013...

Christmas 2013 was memorable but alas, is over. For one, it was Baby Drew's first Christmas. Two, it was the second one we spent at our house. And three, we got to find out what Baby McGehee is...(a boy!  Sorry, Boo, you should update your blog more often. My almost-1-year old boy is older than your 2-year old in blog posts...).

Both David Scott and Drew seemed to love Christmas. DS is starting to understand the reason for the season...even if he gets a little (or a lot) sidetracked by all the presents. And Baby Drew spent most of his time this season crawling over to the tree to mess with ornaments, or pull down lights, or just try to get under the tree. I know plenty of people who don't put up a tree or who put up a really small one when the kids are little, but we are not some of those people. We went with a ceiling-grazing 10-ft tall tree this year...Note to Self:  9.5' would be sufficient for future years. 

Spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at our house was really nice. Traveling with one child had gotten more difficult with all the "logistics" involved. And last year, I was so close to delivery, that we had Christmas at our house and everyone pretty much catered to me (really nice!). So this year, with two kiddos, we asked out families ever so nicely about making some adjustments to our typical holiday festivities. Having been there and done that with us when we were kids, everyone was more than accommodating. So MiMi, Mamaw, and Lee came to our house Christmas Eve and stayed through Christmas Day. Then we left te day after to go to Winnsboror for Christmas with Gran, Papa, Boo, Dusty, and Big-brother-to-be, Anders. Both gatherings were nice, not stressful, and semi-relaxing. And although we were able to continue most of our respective family traditions, we did have to miss out on some. So who knows what we'll be doing in the future for Christmas, but I feel like we may have more holidays at home than we've had in the past.

My LoveBug...

Pre-Christmas excitement!

Really, Mom...more pics???

It's a Christmas Gift Explosion...

"Now can we eat banana bread???"

Baby's First Christmas...

Finally, Boo is having a baby in May!  She and Dusty found out a little before Christmas what the baby's gender was. But they were waiting until Christmas to share it with the families. She had a pacifier ornament wrapped up and when DS opened it (Anders was too involved in playing), it was revealed to be a BLUE pacifier!  Another boy!  A sweet baby brother for Anders!  Another nephew for "Aunkie Sayah" (Aunt/Uncle Sarah :/ )!  Another cousin for my boys!  And a FOURTH (!) grandson for Gran and Papa (and Bud Bud, too!). 

11 Months...

Drewsky,

You turned 11 months old on December 9th!  I can't believe you're almost a year old. Time has certainly flown by. You're starting to say little words here and there and it's so cute. Like when David Scott was a baby, we LOVE watching you reach each milestone, learn new words, and become your own little person. People are always commenting on how happy you are -- and you are a happy baby...especially if I am holding you or are nearby. My little Mama's Boy...I love it!  You have the sweetest smile and gorgeous green eyes; and your strawberry blonde hair is the cherry on top of all your gorgeousness!

Drew, currently you are:

• 28 1/2 inches tall

• 22.5 pounds

• wearing 12-18 month clothes

• wearing size 3.5 shoes but you're growing out of them

• wearing size 3 diapers but I'm about to put you in size 4s to sleep

• still on formula and taking about 4-5 bottles a day; we'll be moving to whole milk soon!

• eating a bunch of table foods but I still give you baby food too 

• saying words:  Mama, Dada, this, hey, bye-bye, Dav-s (David Scott). You've also said Papa and thank you a couple of times. 

• so close to walking!  You've taken two steps in succession a few times but that's all. You use everything as a prop to help you stand and cruise all over the place. It won't be long!  For now, you just go Mach-10 crawling everywhere. 

We can't wait to celebrate our first Christmas as a family of four -- and your very first Christmas!  

Love, Mama