Brace Yourselves...

I think she is ready to start using the potty.

We've had some success so far.  Stay tuned . . .

Just Pictures

of my favorite little man. 

21 Months Old

Isn't she a sight for sore eyes?!

Sweet Girl went to a delightful Angelina the Ballerina birthday party last weekend for two of her best buds.  All the girls got to wear ballerina tutu's and Lucy Mills has pranced around in hers everyday since the party!
Lucy Mills you are loving life at the pool.  You scare me sometimes because you are pretty fearless around the water. 

You love dressing up in Mommy's clothes and shoes. As soon as you see me grab my shoes and put my hair in a ponytail, you say "Mama exa-zize" (mama exercise). 

You are so good about wearing your glasses.  Despite how things look, you have not given us an attitude about wearing them. 

You are a little hesitant when it comes to sharing with your brother.  But you are getting better about that - even sharing Lindsay and showing him your books.  He sure does love you Lucy Mills.

You are very into knowing your colors right now.  Aunt Marian brought you a colorful beach ball and you proudly announce the colors on it every chance you can.  You were sweet enough to even point out the colors to McClain. 

I love catching these moments of the two of you together.  
Thank you for bringing so much joy into our lives Sweet Girl.

The Pool is Open

And this little girl loved every minute of being in the water!  

As long as Daddy was nearby, she splashed and swam all over the pool. 

And played some fun games too. 

Last summer she could not even walk, and now she is jumping in and out of the pool all by herself. 

Super Buddy joined the fun and took his first dip in the pool.

He was such a cute little swimmer! 

It will be a fun summer with my water babies. 

3 Years

Today marks 3 amazing years with my best friend.

And we're still dancing right along, side by side. 

We've covered a lot of ground in three years haven't we? Here we are . . . three years and two babies later.

I love you with all my heart. 

A Fun Little Visit

My dear college friend and roommate Amanda came in town from Colorado this weekend.  We loved meeting her sweet little Sophie.  Sophie was born one month after McClain.  

Amanda and I graduated together, travelled to London and Paris together, and shared some fun times in our twenties.  What is amazing to me is now we are traveling on this motherhood journey together.  During our visit McClain couldn't get enough of Sophie.  

There is no reigning him in.

He loves the pretty girls. 

I mean, eat your heart out ladies . . .

because this little charmer is here to stay! 

Amanda - we loved seeing y'all! 

McClain's Dedication

Sunday we dedicated our precious Robert McClain Mason to the Lord at church. 

Our pastor said that it should really be called a parent dedication, because truthfully today was about Travis and I as parents, promising to train him up in the way he should go.  

Our prayer for both of our children is that they would fall in love with Jesus at an early age, and claim Him as their Savior.  We will do our best to love them just as they are, and hopefully guide them down a path of righteousness.  

Pastor Todd quoted "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children are a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are sons born in ones youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." - Psalm 129:3-5  Lucy Mills and McClain are our biggest blessings.  They are our arrows that will one day be cast out into the world - hopefully following the steps where God directs their precious feet. 

McClain you have brought an abundance of joy into our lives.  Today was a great day.

And today also wore you flat out! 

Family Outing

Lucy Mills had a little chat with Daddy this weekend,

and since she has been such a trooper wearing her new glasses, she concluded that she deserved a trip to Monkey Joes. 

I don't think it took much convincing.

Travis Lucy Mills had a blast.  

Even though these pictures don't capture her delight, she loved jumping and sliding on the blow up castles. 

She was game for all of it. 

I must admit. . . Mommy even had a little fun. 

Seeing a Little More Clearly

In February I noticed that one of Lucy Mills' eyes would not focus straight in photographs.  I mentioned it to our pediatrician, who then referred us to a specialist in pediatric opthamalogy. The waiting list to be seen for that appointment was months long, but Lucy Mills was finally seen in April. 

 The diagnosis?
 Well. . .  lets just say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  You see, right before MY second birthday I was diagnosed with astigmatism and far sightedness, and went on to wear glasses (and still do!).  And it seems as though my sweet girl inherited this not-so-appealing gene from me.  

But praise the Lord for glasses that can correct her vision and allow her to see her world more clearly now.  

When I first learned that Lucy Mills might have to wear glasses, I admit that the worldly, superficial nature that exists inside of me said: no. . .  what will people think about this baby wearing glasses?  Here she is so beautiful and so young, and now these frames will be covering up her delicate face for maybe the next ten years?! Since I was a child who had to wear the thickest, ugliest lenses, I could feel the pit in my stomach growing by the second.  Would my daughter be known as "the little girl in glasses too?" Would she be teased, have her glasses swiped off her face on the playground, and be called names like her mother once was?

The morning of her eye appointment I handed in all of the appropriate paperwork to the lady behind the desk, and sat in the waiting room with my 20 month old nestled in my lap.  As we sat there an African American woman came and sat across from us.  In her lap was her little baby, maybe 12 or 13 months old.  The little girl had both of her eyes crossed significantly, and she was hooked up to oxygen tubes while her mother lugged the air tank behind her.   Dear God in heaven, forgive me for getting caught up in the trivial part of this!  Thank you that I am not pulling my daughter's oxygen tank.  Thank you that my child will be able to see clearly. . . and maybe her mother will now too.  I also prayed for the little girl across from us and for her mother.  For the burden she faced in raising her daughter, who turns out was to have surgery on both of her eyes. 

So here we are.  The new glasses came in this week and I have to say that my sweet girl has not skipped a beat.  Turns out all of the how am I going to get her to wear these things thoughts that clouded my mind these past weeks, were nothing but useless worries.  You would think she was born to wear glasses or something the way she took to them.  She does take them off every now and then, but she always brings them right to me to put back on.  
My beautiful Lucy Mills - I am thankful that you are happier being able to see a little more clearly now. 

5 Months Old

5 months old . . . can you believe it buddy??

McClain, you are still the happiest kid on the block.  

The biggest change lately has been that you are finally eating more.  Check out those cheeks! 

You have found your laugh now and we sure love to hear your giggles.  Mommy will do some pretty silly things to get some chuckles out of you. 

You are still my smiley boy.  Every time we catch each other's eyes you flash that million dollar smile.  

You love your daddy and turn your head to find him the second you hear his voice.  My sweet boys! 

While you still like your paci, you have taken to sucking your fingers.  And sometimes your entire fist . . .

You tried out the exersaucer this month and you enjoy sitting in it.  You are still a tad small so we stuff a little towel down in there to help support you. 

You tolerate bath time much better these days.  Maybe it's these snuggly towels you like afterwards? 

McClain, we still can't decide who you look like, but you are such a handsome little fella so I'll claim you as mine. 

Always ready to flash a smile at the ladies. 

Oh, the preciousness...

We love every inch of you Super Buddy. 

All the way down to your little toes.