Monsters and Monkeys

Mack, you're really big into dressing up these days.  Thank goodness for costumes!

And we ended the night with a fantastic choice of pj's!

It just so happens that this happened that night too...

 Nolan, you fed yourself for the first time!

And because Monkey #2 can't be outdone by Monkey #1, I present to you this...

September 8, 2011

Mackenzie and Daddy's Beach Birthdays!

What 3 year old gets to celebrate her birthday at the beach?  Mackenzie does!  Daddy decided long before your birthdays that he wanted to spend his birthday at the beach.  Well, because your birthday is the day before his, you got a beach birthday also!  We left for Panama City late Thursday night, September 1, 2011.  Daddy and I are big fans of driving long distances during the night because you two will sleep almost the entire way.  We found out a few days before our trip that a hurricane was a brewing down in the Gulf and there was a good possibility that it would rain most of our trip.  Well, it did, but we didn't let that stop us from having some much needed family time and fun, fun, fun.  

Rick and Trish were down in the area during the same weekend and came over for 2 days to hang out with us.  Between the rain storms, we would go down to the beach and play our little hearts out.  Nolan, you again thought sand was food and consumed mass amounts of it.  Mackenzie, you've been terrified of the ocean since the day you saw it for the first time.  Every time we've taken you in, you've climbed up us like a cat.  Now, remember, there was a storm coming in.  The Gulf was rather choppy and there were double red flags flying the entire weekend.  Double red flags means that the water is closed to the public and it's against the law to enter.  Well, no double red flags were stopping you from playing in the water.  We couldn't keep you out of the ocean!  Several times, the beach patrol had to stop and tell you to get out and as soon as he would drive off, you would run right back.  This terrified me, because all I thought, was one wave could take you right out and that would be it.  I know that sounds crazy, but I was so nervous all weekend.  We would have rather taken the nice sunshine and calm waters over the tropical depression Lee that came ashore, however, a rainy day at the beach is nicer than a rainy day at home!

Some fun facts about you right now:

*You love to press buttons, no really.  Whenever we get to go cups, the first thing you do is press all the buttons in.  It's so hard not to laugh at you when you say, "Can I press your buttons?"

*You've learned your phone number along with Daddy's.  One day you were walking around with a toy phone.  You asked me what your phone number was, so I told you.  You got annoyed because I said it too fast.  I said it 3 more times much slower.  The next day you spewed out the numbers and my jaw hit the floor.  

*Directions and places are pretty important to you.  You want to know where we're going all the time.  You specifically are asking what town we're going to or in.  You know you live in "Dowis", Granma lives is "Fwowery Branch" and works in "Lawrrrrencebille".  

*You have a new found love for banana peppers.  We ordered them on a pizza at Mellow Mushroom and you devoured them minus the pizza.  We have to be careful when ordering them when we're out, sometimes they're hot and not mild.

*Ms. In-de-pend-ent is your name!  You want to pick out your clothes (which sometimes causes a riff in our day), dress yourself and put on your shoes.  Because of this, we have to start getting ready much earlier than we have to be anywhere on time.  You did go to "Puglix" wearing hot pink shorts, an orange and black leopard print tu-tu, and a black and pink zebra print tank top not too long ago.  I had to let you wear it.  You came out of your room and said, "Mommy, don't I look gorgeous?"

*You're new favorite cereal is "Po-bo Pebbles"

*There's a giant billboard for a car dealership on 85N on the way to Granma's.  On it, it a huge clock, you refer to it as "The Tick-Tock Sign".

*Daddy taught you a new trick when playing with Nolan's tools.  That trick is, "Righty, tighty, lefty, woosy."  And that's only when you're using a "ranch".

*You're starting to broaden your food groups.  You'll eat spaghetti o's now and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!  You love all types of olives, even the greek green and purple ones.  Tortillini is a new favorite with butter and garlic.  

Mack, you're getting funnier and funnier with each passing day.  We love you so much it hurts sometimes. You give the best, tightest hugs and perfect little puckered up kisses.

September 4, 2011

Nolan-15 Months

Mackenzie and Nolan both at 15 months old!

Nolan, you are our ham that is for sure!  You are the funniest little thing around and you love to laugh at anything and everything.  You're favorite person is still Mackenzie and you will mock anything she does.  She climbs on something, you're right behind her, nothing stops you from getting to her.  If she's still sleeping when you wake up, you stand at her door crying while banging on it.  I try to distract you, but you always wind up looking for her.  You're lost without her on the days that she's in school and it's just the 2 of us.  I'll often find you quietly playing with her toys in her room.  You cry when we drop her off at school and you smile and giggle when we pick her up in the afternoons.

The biggest thing you started doing between your birthday and now, is your finally walking!  I'm not a fan of the crawling stage at all, and you were getting so frustrated with not being able to keep up with Mack, so crawling for you wasn't the most fun.  You've been standing on your own and cruising around for some time, but just like Mack, you were so hesitant to take those first initial steps.  Daddy and I joked that you would just one day stand up and start walking like it was no big deal, and guess what?  You did just that!  We were at work on August 15, 2011, Mack was on one side of the room and you were on the other.  Mack grabbed your sippy cup and you stood up and walked right over to her!  Of course, I got it on video and was so excited for you.  You haven't looked back and are a walking fool now!  You're not a fan of being barefoot on the grass and will often try to crawl on all fours with your knees off of the ground instead of walking.  If you don't want to walk, you'll draw your knees up to your chest and hang like a monkey.

You're teething again and it's been rough.  It appears that you're getting 4 teeth all at the same time...ouch.  This makes you cranky and you want to be held all the time.  You've been sleeping a lot more because of it too.

Right after your birthday, Mack taught you how to play peek-a-boo and "where's Nolan?"  You'll hang your head down, cover your eyes and then shout, "OOOO!"  You also love to do "so big" when we're changing you.  Just recently, when we say, "Night, night.", you'll put your head either on our shoulders or put it to the side like your sleeping.  When we get ready to take you to bed, you try to kiss us.  You'll tilt your head back, bring it forward to our faces and land a big, wet, slobbery (sometimes open mouthed) kisser right on us all while making a, "MMMMM-AHHHHHH!" sound.  You give high-fives to anyone that asks for one.

One night, Daddy was playing on the couch with you, and he asked you where your mouth was and you opened your mouth so big and make this sound like you were taking a huge bite out of food.  Then he asked where your nose was, and you pretended like you were blowing your nose.  Finally, he asked where your eyes were, you squinted your eyes so tiny while smiling from ear to ear!  Another favorite thing you LOVE to do, is whenever anyone is on the couch, you'll climb up, stand up right next to whoever it is, put your arms in the air and body slam that person.  You think it's the funniest thing.

You're still an eating machine, however, you're pretty tall and lanky still.  You've lost your baby chubby cheeks, but you're still a hefty boy.  There's only been a handful of things you won't eat, green beans (which is strange because Mack LOVES them) and olives.  You refuse to eat McDonald's chicken nuggets and french fries, you think they're better off on the floor, but you will eat their cheeseburgers.  And speaking of chicken nuggets, you're a bit of a snob about them.  You'll only eat Tyson's frozen all white meat ones, or chik-fli-a nuggets, that's it.

Just within the past week, you've really picked up on talking and jabbering.  You'll now say, "Peeeeese!" and "dan do!", Ma-Ma=Mack.  "MOMMMMMMMA" for anything you think you need all while opening and closing your hands, beeebeee=baby, uk=look, Iiiiiii!=Hi! and byeeeeee=bye and "juice".

You wear a size 4/5 shoe, 18-24 month clothes (although some 12 month clothes still fit), and you're blonde, blonde hair is really starting to come in and you have a little tiny curl in the back. You're sleeping habits are fantastic, and I'm pleased to say that you enjoy and NEED your sleep.  You generally go down for the night between 7-8 p.m. and sleep a solid 12 hours, sometimes more.  You still take 2 naps a day, one in the morning from about 10:30-noon and then again from 3 to about 5ish.  When you start getting sleepy, all you want is to be held, you get super cranky and do this funny roll with your body.  If we're holding you, you starting rolling all around like a fish, it's pretty funny.  And every night before I put you in your crib, you lay your head on shoulder and we snuggle for a few minutes.  (I LOVE this)

September 4, 2011

Mackenzie's First Day of Preschool 2011

Sweetheart, you started back to school again this year.  And you're back at the church.  Remember, you only started back in February of 2011, so this will be your first full year.  You're back with the same teacher, Ms. Teresa, or as you like to call her, Mr. Resa.  And you have a new assistant, Ms. Vickie.  You're in a young 3's class meaning you're with other children who's birthday's fall between September 1st-December 31st.  You're loving it!  It's a different classroom than last year, and I think it's much bigger with more toys that are age appropriate.  The best part, you get to go to the lunchroom to eat!  You love this! 

Walking into school.

Standing outside your classroom!  You started to get nervous at this point, hence the hands in your mouth.

After school...thumbs up for a great first day!

And while you're at school, Mr. Nolan, you terrorize your sister's room!

The Dog Days of Summer

August in GA is no fun.  It's too darn hot to do anything outdoors.  You start sweating the minute you walk out the door, and you poor kids get all red faced and flushed just at the thought of running around outside.  It's hard when the weather is like this, because in theory, it looks absolutely beautiful outside and you two just don't understand why we can't play outside.  Because of the insane heat, we try to find fun things to do indoors.

Mack, you have no pants on, and are sitting on top of pillows on the couch.  You're reading a free book from Chik-fil-a about the earth.  You love to read right now.  You look at the pictures, study them for a moment or two, and then make up a story to go with them.  Every once in a while, you'll find a random letter and tell us what it is.

We've become big fan of DacKids.  We've gone a few times now, and you guys really seem to enjoy it.  This was Daddy's first visit and I think he was impressed.

Nolan, you were loving the foam balls.  They would come flying by you and you would crawl right over to get them.

It was more crowded than usual on this particular day, and Nolan, you weren't so sure about all the big kids dipping and dodging around you.  I love how you know when to rest.  Shoulder snuggles are the best.

How many more can I hold?

 Is that a teeny-tiny smile I see?

Your most favorite thing to do right now, is climb up on the couch, stand up and body slam whoever or whatever is remotely close to you.  Stinker.

 How is it even possible that you look like 3 year old here?!

 We've been going to Granma and PawPa's every Sunday since Memorial Day and we're loving it.  PawPa came in after cutting the grass and found you coloring on the floor.  Naturally, he got right down there with you.

 I just love this.  Mack, you did all of this.  PawPa was just handing you the colors and you were going to town.  I love seeing this, because I remember sitting in one of my many classes (preschool curriculum, to be exact) and learning about the different stages that children learn to draw. 

August 2011

Colorado Wedding

Our dear friends Rick and Trish have a daughter that moved to Denver, Colorado shortly after graduating from UGA.  Lindsay has lived there for several years now, and met her prince charming out there.  Funny story, they both grew up in GA, Marietta to be exact, and both attended UGA.  It took both of them moving to Denver and a UGA sticker on Lindsay's car for them to meet and fall in love.  Groom Scott's father was the minister at McEachern for several years back in the late 80's and although Scott and I never had the privilege to meet him, it's neat to know just how close people's lives are intertwined.  Ok, back to the wedding.  Mommy and Daddy decided long before the wedding, that this was going to be a trip for just the two of us.  I had made arrangements for the both of you to spend 5 glorious days with Granma and PaPaw and boy, were you two spoiled rotten!  Mack, you some how convinced Granma that you only needed to rest everyday instead of actually napping.  There were pancakes for dinner, ice cream for dessert, picnics by the lake, trips to the mall, guitar playing, and pool splashing....all while Mommy and Daddy LIVED in the Atlanta and Denver airports.  Yes, you read that right.  You see, we thought we were being money conscience and used buddy passes from a great friend.  Little did we know, everyone in GA was flying to Denver the same day we were!  Daddy, luckily caught a flight to Ohio, I didn't.  From Ohio, Daddy got a flight to Denver.  I was stuck with one of Lindsay's bridesmaids who was also flying on buddy passes.  We decided to call it a night and spent the night with one of Ginny's friends.  Early Friday morning, we caught a flight to Memphis, and then to Denver.  We made it to Denver midday Friday, almost 24 hours after our first attempt to fly out.  Denver is a very neat city.  I wish we had more time to roam and explore, but I guess we'll just have to go back soon.  Lindsay and Groom Scott's wedding was held in the oldest (Methodist) church in all of Colorado and it was breathtaking. 

The ceremony started at 1:30 p.m., however, the reception wasn't until 7 p.m. that night.  This was our ceremony attire.

 And our reception attire.

 The wedding went off without a hitch and fun times were had by all.  I even somehow managed to walk the streets of Denver barefoot...eww! because my feet hurt so bad from all the dancing we did.  The day after the wedding, we went to a neat park to listen to a jazz band and unwind from the wedding.  I actually had to wear a sweatshirt in August, it was that breezy.

 Your Daddy is so handsome.

 Random picture, but every time I walked past this chair in the house we were staying in, I felt like it was smiling back at me!

 I wish I could say our flight adventures were over, but ha!  We arrived at the Denver airport bright and early Monday morning to fly back home.  Ha!  Ha!  Yeah, right.  We continuously kept getting bumped from flights, so I made friends with a great Delta employee.  After many tears were shed and a minor meltdown ensued, he had us ready and prepared for a flight to Detroit that connected us straight to Atlanta.  We were supposed to leave at 4:14 p.m., and arrive in Detroit with just enough time to catch our Atlanta flight that was leaving Detroit around 10 pm.  Well, bad weather delayed our flight to Detroit until after 6 p.m. and then when the plane finally arrived, we had to wait for a new crew to come in because the crew that was on the incoming flight, was already over on their hours.  There was no way were going to get our Atlanta flight, so we made the best of it and slept in the Detroit airport, clutching to our luggage for dear life while laying on the floor with a red Delta blanket and an itty bitty pillow.  The irony is all of this is, by the time it was all said and done, we paid more with all the changes we had to make than if we just bought 2 round trip tickets...lesson learned kids.  Speaking of kids, I have never in my entire life been more happy to see your smiling, banana covered faces in all of my life.  Mack and Nolan, I forgot to mention, this was the longest I've ever been away from you two.  Boy, I was glad to be home.

July 30, 2011

Babies, Brothers, and Lipstick

Mack, you have really started to pretend play.  It's the cutest thing to watch you read a book, dress and talk to your baby dolls, or play dress up with Nolan.  You make a lot of demands for Nolan, and I'm not so sure he fully understands everything you're telling him to do, but he loves to play with you.  Nolan, I promise, there are days that I think you know exactly what Mack is saying to you, however, you choose not to listen to her.  One hot, muggy, humid, scorching July day, I was folding laundry while you two were playing in Mack's room.  It got very quiet, so naturally I grew suspicious.  Below is what I discovered.

Mack, you were ever so carefully applying your pretend lipstick.

Look at that concentration.

Mack, you love to put your babies to sleep and you do it almost everyday.  This day, you were telling your baby a story and Nolan, you were just as interested. 

Nolan, you should have scooted away quickly!  Mack was teaching you how to properly apply lipstick.

Once you determined that Jo-Jo or Charlie (the baby's name changes quiet often!) you walked out into the living room and stated with your hands on your hips, "People we must be quiet, my baby is trying to sleep!"

July 20, 2011