April 17, 2013

The Storybook Parade

Today at Lucy Mills' preschool the children had the chance to dress up like their favorite storybook character.  The boys and girls strutted their costumes,  storybook in hand, down main street waving at the mommies and daddies.  It was precious. 


Leading the pack was Lucy Mills' teacher Minnie Mouse, oh I mean Mrs. Pack.  She is a wonderful godly lady and has been such a blessing to my sweet girl. 


Here comes her class!


Did you spot Angelina the Ballerina in there?  After a morning debate over if she wanted to be Fancy Nancy, Pinkilicious, or Angelina she made the call to wear her ballerina outfit.  But "not the mouse ears mama...they might mess up my bow."  Well of course they would darlin'. 


She was the only ballerina in her class.  


Proud mama moments #1 - look closely and you'll see a pink bracelet on her arm.  Mrs. Pack gave Lucy Mills a "Caught Doing Kindness" bracelet earlier in the morning.  When I asked what she did she just smiled at me and said "I was just silly and laughing with Bryan." Hmmm...


Proud mama moment #2 - The children walked through the parents and onlookers twice.  Both times she waved at McClain, jumped out of line to give him a little hug followed with an "I love you Buddy."
Here she is reaching for him.  


The storybook parade was just one of the many adorable things her preschool does.  It has been a wonderful first year of school for her. 
Don't worry McClain, you get to go next year.  ;)


When I picked her up after the parade I snapped a pic or two of Lucy Mills and her superhero, Bryan. 


She is smitten.  


I've never seen her smile so big! 


We are so thankful for a wonderful year in Mrs. Pack's class. 


April 14, 2013

Keeping Up

Spring is here and I am loving life lately with my littles.  


Last week both preschool and CBS had spring break and the downtime from our routine gave me a chance to realize we are on the brink of summertime.  Usually a little panic grips me when I think about how I will entertain these two during the dog days of summer, but last week offered a hint of gentleness.  


We threw our "schedule" to the wind and enjoyed the unplanned moments in the week.  Taking walks by the lake, teaching Lucy Mills to ride her big girl bike, snuggling up together to read book after book,  and really just taking hold of the ordinary moments that make my life extraordinary.  Children are so teachable.  So impressionable.  So precious. 


Sweet girl is finally tall enough to reach the pedals on her princess bike and a day doesn't go by that she doesn't want to ride it.  Thankfully we live on a cul-de-sac.   


She is pretty proud of herself. 


Yet she still wants Mama to walk beside her "just in case." 


I didn't grow up wearing a bike helmet and never gave it a second thought.  After having some friends over to ride bikes one afternoon, Lucy Mills and McClain instantly insisted on getting bike helmets like Mary Wallace and Banks.  So off to Walmart we went to let the kids pick out which one they wanted.  I think McClain weighs almost as much as his Spiderman helmet.  


This boy loves his dog.  
Maggie puts up with a lot from these little ones but she sure does give us so much love.  


My neighbor asked if Maggie was spoiled and I have no idea what gave him that impression. 


I have begun potty training Coolio here.  We've had some hits and misses, literally. 


We enjoyed a visit from Grandmother and Grandaddy over Easter weekend.  The children light up for their doting grandparents.  


Our time was special - an indoor egg hunt, neighborhood walks, sidewalk chalk drawings, grilling out, and Trav and I even slipped away for a relaxing date night.  McClain is officially obsessed with ipads and cell phones.  He swiped Grandaddy's phone and enjoyed teaching him a few things about this technology. ;)


Over a month ago my best friend from my Columbia College days had her first child.  I had the privledge of taking sweet Mary Madison's newborn pictures.  


For the last ten years, Mary Madison's mom Cara and I have been dreaming about the day we would be mama's to our double-named little girls.  What a joy to see this wish become a reality.  


Lucy Mills is in love with Mary Madison - wants to hold her, feed her, share her blanket, her bed, everything with that sweet babe.  I was so proud to witness such a gentle, nurturing side of my daughter. 

I have seen both children grow in their love of learning.  We spend time learning and counting numbers, working on letters, and phonics, but I also realize they are 3 and 2 years old.  As long as it's fun and engaging we go with it.  Lucy Mills loves the memory game and has gotten quite good as it.  Of course I am biased but both children seem so smart.  They even teach me a thing or two somedays. 


I was doing laundry one day and McClain scampered in and started putting on Travis' clothes.  I thought I'd snap a picture now to capture how big the shirt it is my little guy.  Maybe we will hang onto this shirt and take another picture of McClain wearing it say, his senior year of high school.  


It swallows him now but I know I will blink and it will be just his size.  


He is almost as handsome as his daddy in it. ;) 

February 24, 2013

Still Here

Well life is just breezing right on by.  The moments turn into days, the days into weeks and months, and eventually I look back at the 'ol blog and am sad that I haven't documented as much as I would have liked.  I know in 20+ years I will miss the intricate details of these days being home with my children. 
However, time away from the computer means time spent making memories along this unique journey of mothering my little ones.  They are still small, yet so grown up, developing into neat little people whose company I have grown to treasure. 
She has blossomed from a toddler to a pleasant little lady with a mind of her own.  She enjoys preschool, especially the little boy with the blue-rimmed glasses named Bryan.  Apparently they like to "be silly together." 
Despite her pink, ballerina inspired assembles she enjoys playing any sport with a ball.  She is most at home outside on a sunshine filled day where she can kick, dribble, throw, or swing at a ball. This makes her daddy oh so proud.
She is in a big stage of being a daddy's girl.  He has been away traveling with work quite a bit lately, so she always asks for "special days" with daddy when he is home.  These usually include ice cream, chocolate, fried nuggets or some other type of yumminess that mommy avoids during the week.  While he is away she asks me what he will eat for supper, what color scrubs he is wearing, and then we always remember to talk about how thankful we are for our hard working daddy.  She lights up for that man. 
She has also been hard at work writing her abc's.  She is very good at writing the letters in her name.  Other times she will bring me a paper of scribbles and say "here Mommy, this says I love you very, very much."
My wild man.  I knew that with his laid back, easy going personality that he would never go through the tantrum-filled terrible two's like my first born did.  I was wrong. 
A mere month into his second year meltdowns, tears, and yelling no Mommy, no! with a pointed index finger became a daily reality.  We are working through it. Somedays you just have to laugh because he is so stinking cute when he gets mad. 
The most notable thing about this sweet boy lately is his talking.  Last week I had 5 people in a matter of minutes tell me how well he is talking and how much they just like to hear him speak.  I haven't found a word he can't say or at least that I can't understand him attempting to say.  I know this is so rare in children this age, especially boys.  I do enjoy how much he understands and can communicate to express himself. 
He loves to read.  He loves to dance during guitar time with Daddy.  He won't eat fruits but I can get a few vegetables in him most of the time.  He is so funny without even trying to be.  Yet also a charmer who knows how to get a smile out of someone; especially me when he says Mommy so pretty, you so beauutifuul Mommy.  Melt my mama heart every time Brown Eyes. 
I love that he loves his sister.  His sis.  He has gone from calling her Sissy Mills, to Sissy, to now just Sis.  Oh how I love the relationship these two share.  The giggles, the smiles, the teaching, the fights, all of it.  This is when having them a mere year apart is totally worth it because they are so involved in each others worlds. 
These days are not easy, but they are so, so worth every second of effort, exhaustion, and uncertainty.  I love these two babes with every fiber of my being.  I bet in the years to come I will reflect on these days as some of my best time spent.
Investing in them is worth everything. 

January 27, 2013

He's Two

On December 10th our sweet buddy turned 2 years old.


The joy that this little man has brought our family is indescribable.  He has the kindest heart, is funny without even trying to be, and can easily be described as one of those individuals who is just born happy. 


It seems like yesterday I was introduced to the wonderful world of boys with this tiny, 6 pound bundle of blue.

Two years later he is talking up a storm, infatuated with Dora the Explorer, asks everyday to read books, easily makes friends,  gives a loud bear-like rooooaaaarrrrr just to aggravate his sister, and is always ready to spot a Gamecock sign.

To celebrate the big occasion we surprised the birthday boy and his sis with an afternoon family trip to his favorite - Monkey Joes.

Enjoying a birthday Icee...and sporting some Elmo gear.





After all the Monkey Joes fun we headed home to enjoy some Elmo cupcakes and open presents.


I'd say he is one loved little boy. 


Happy 2nd year McClain.  You are our world.