Hilton Head 2013

We just returned from our annual beach vacation with the Stovall Clan in Hilton Head Island, SC.
As usual, it was soooooo nice. Thanks to Meme and Rayray, the entire family (all 11 of us!) stayed together comfortably in a beautiful house right off the beach.

Of course, when you take a beach trip with young kids, your schedule is a bit different from when you went as teenagers of young adults with nothing else to do but sit on the beach in the sun and read. Gone are the days when my sole concerns were getting burned and having enough reading material. Now, it takes about 40 minutes to get everyone ready to go down to the beach. Putting sunscreen on a 3 year old and a 10 month old could qualify as a punishment experienced in one of the lower circles of Hades. So far, the most effective trick I've found is to call the sunscreen "invisible cream," and pretend that once I smear it completely on Bird's skin, no one can see him. It was exciting for a few times until he started doing things like jumping on the bed and throwing things while chanting, "you can't see me! You can't see me!" But sun-screening aside, hitting the beach with my 2 littles was a whole new kind of fun!!

Jackson stayed busy every minute - digging, playing in the water, and running around. And he definitely enjoyed having his cousin Tensley around to play with (or boss around, depending on who you ask).

Levi wasn't a big fan of the beach scene at first. The first day, he just wanted to snuggle. No sand or water, thank you. As the week unfolded, though, he gradually developed a ravenous appetite for sand and an appreciation for warm tide pools. We even discovered that he would play and nap in the pack&play if we brought it down. Yes, it was like moving out of our house to transport all our gear down to the beach, but having a happy baby was worth the hassle!

While we were there, Jacin and I celebrated our 6th anniversary! Meme & Rayray kept the boys while we went out for dinner by ourselves at a Japanese steakhouse. It was AMAZING (for lots of reasons. I think I actually communicated several complete trains of thought and engaged in a meaningful conversation over dinner with my hubster without being interrupted!). 

It was such a great week, and I'm so grateful to have time with my family! Love you guys!

At the Speed of Light

It's happening. At the speed of light. And I just realized it.
Both my boys are growing up at warp speed. Today was Jackson's last day of pre-k. Okay, okay, it was only little league prek (as in twice a week playtime for 2 year olds while Mom gets a much needed break). But still, he was 2 years old when he started, and today when he walked in their end-of-the-year parade, he was suddenly 3! (Yes, I realize he turned 3 last month, but I think it just hit me.) His little class dressed up as doctors in keeping with the parade's theme: When I Grow Up I Want to Be...

If they had really allowed Jackson to dress like what he wanted to be when he grows up, he would have added a cowboy hat to the outfit and carried Tigger. He calls himself the Cowboy Doctor (and of course Tigger is his favorite patient. He apparently has amazing reflexes!) The parade was cute, but all Bird had to say was "It was hot. I wanted my sunglasses!" When we got inside, he wanted a picture with his friend John. Their friendship was forged by fire since it seemed to be John's name that kept coming up during the first part of the year. Ms. Carmen would sometimes meet me at dismissal after school and tell me, "Jackson had a rough day today. He bit (or hit, or pushed) a friend today." At first I was stunned and disheartened, but gradually I became grateful that the offenses weren't more serious (like... "Jackson drove his imaginary 4-wheeler over his friend or shot his friend with his pretend shotgun or hit his friend over the head with his play shovel"). Anyway, on such days, I would respond, "Oh no! Which friend did he hit (or bite or push)?" (Thinking to myself, we must be using this term FRIEND pretty loosely at this point). John's name came up again and again as the victim of Bird's random acts of prek violence. But after writing several "I'm so sorry my kid bit (or hit or pushed) your kid" notes to John's parents, they assured me that the boys were fast friends! And indeed, they seem to be. Maybe adults should just work out their conflicts like prek kids. Just sayin.

With his friend John

With his teacher Ms. Carmen

And since he's now such a big boy, he's not so big on stroller riding. Tonight at the park, he asked (and asked and asked and asked) to be granted an exit from the stroller so he could walk Rascal. I finally agreed (mostly because I couldn't handle the incessant asking!), and he did pretty well! Rascal was a bit skittish and unsure, but can you blame him? A three year old holding a leash that's connected to a chain around my neck would worry me a bit, too.

For the remainder of the walk, Daddy pushed the double stroller containing a lone, single passenger, whom, as you can see, had absolutely no problem whatsoever kicking back and letting someone else do the walking. And this brings me to Levi, who is growing up so incredibly fast! When Jackson was a baby, I spent more time worrying about getting everything right while maintaining my sanity! And all the growing and changing was neat and new. Now with Levi, the growing and changing makes my face happy but my heart sad because I know what comes next. I'm not ready for my baby to be a big boy! For now, I'm just rejoicing that he's a Momma's boy and still likes to take his bottles in my lap, sit with me to play in the floor, and snuggle with me at bedtime. I know my time for even those things is limited, though. Slow down, Levi! Slow down!

Levi Bug loves swinging!

It goes without saying that I understood so little about parenting prior to becoming a parent, myself. But even after becoming a new parent, I didn't grasp the fact that the ultimate goal is to let go. I'm just beginning to see that, and it makes me simultaneously excited and sad. But, I tend to over-think things and plan things that really can't be planned (and I know this about myself). So I'm desperately trying to forget tomorrow and enjoy each today (except that tomorrow is Friday, which means a weekend with Daddy home, which means HELP with the boys! Whew! Maybe I can get a nap and go to the grocery store alone. I wonder if Jacin will keep the kids long enough for me to exercise or get my toes done?).  See?! I told you. Think today. Think today. Today, I love my boys! (But I'm sure I will tomorrow, too.)

My 31st Birthday with my boys!

Some New Little Boy

A few weeks ago, our family joined Riverview Baptist Church. We love it there and are enjoying getting plugged in and serving. We've just recently started going on Wednesday nights, where Jackson attends TeamKid, Jacin helps teach recreation at TeamKid, and I hang out with the youth.

Tonight, several of the teenagers walked into the youth room and said, "Hey! There's this new little boy out there sassin' Mr. Todd! He's got his hands on his hips, and he's tellin Mr. Todd 'No!'"
With dread in my heart, I asked, "Does this new kid have a Mickey Mouse shirt on?"
They nodded their heads about the same time that one more teenager walked in smiling and said, "Yeah. It's Jackson."
"What is he doing?" I asked Bryson.
Bryson (Mr. Todd's son) related the whole episode unfolding outside: "Well, Dad was trying to get Jackson to go inside to class and he said he wasn't going. Dad said, 'Do I need to go get your Daddy?' and Jackson put his hands on his hips and said, 'Yeah! You just go get my Daddy!'" 

Needless to say we had to have a conversation when we got home. Jacin told Jackson that Mr. Todd (or Todd-o as Jackson calls him) is in charge at church on TeamKid night. I just don't know where this kid got his bossiness!

Busy Little Boys

The warmer and sunnier it gets, the busier my boys get. Extra energy abounds!

This morning, Jackson got his doctor kit and "checked me out." He checked me with his stethescope and said, "Yep. There are awigators in your tummy." He took my blood pressure, nodded his head, and said, "Good. It's seventy-five." Then he held my hand and said, "Momma, I'm gonna give you a shot, but don't be scared. It only huwts a wittle." The whole time he was "checking me out," he wore his cowboy hat. He says he's a cowboy doctor.

At dinner tonight, Bird said the blessing. Praying, he said, "And God, thank you for those storms. And I hope you're not scared of them. And you tell them what to do. Amen." He's just like his Daddy - no great love for thunderstorms, here.

Levi is crawling faster, pulling up more, and getting into everything! He's now holding his own bottle, but I still have to hold him in my lap when he eats. If I sit him on the floor to drink his bottle on his own, he likes to drink upside down, which doesn't help the reflux.

Love my busy little boys!

Bird's 3rd Birthday

Meeska, Mouska, Mickey Mouse! There's going to be a party at the Burns' Clubhouse!
And party, there was! We all had a great time celebrating Jackson's 3rd birthday last weekend.

All the kids (and Jacin) had fun on the inflatable we rented, and the adults just enjoyed hanging out and eating as we cooked out hotdogs.

Meme made the Mickey decorations - a banner (blanket), a wreath, and Jackson's bday shirt.

Levi also had a Mickey Mouse bib. Little Bug enjoyed hanging out and crawling around.

These are the Mickey Mouse cupcakes we made using oreos. 

Jackson Bird had a great time with his friends, and just loved being outside. He was particularly excited about opening presents! He got lots of cute and fun toys, including a wheelbarrow just his size! Perfect for my little "workerman." 

Happy 3rd birthday, Jackson Bird! We love you!

And He's Off!!

It's official. Levi's crawling! Actually, I'm a bit late. He's been crawling for at least 2 good weeks now. He's scooting around the house, getting into trouble - eating out of the dog food bowl, yanking on lamp cords,  pulling things out of the kitchen drawers, and grabbing rocks out of the fireplace. He's slowly learning what "No, no!" means, and when he hears it, he'll stop, turn around, and give you a big grin. He keeps me on my toes!

He loves to have his paci in his mouth while touring the house. If he can't locate his paci, any old thing (or sock) will do. And now that he's got crawling down-pat, he's adding pulling up and standing to his repertoire. He's just a little unsure what to do when he's tired of standing. Sitting down on his butt is a long way down for a little guy!

He's also learning to wave when you say "Hello" to him. At 8 months old, he's one cute little stinker!

And Levi LOVES to watch and play with his big brother. Thankfully, Jackson is often willing to play with Levi, although things can get a bit rough when big brother tires of the little Bug stealing his toys. My Bird and Bug enjoy playing on the floor, looking at books, and playing under furniture together.

 

And for both boys, playing in front of the windows is a favorite.

I have 2 active little boys who are ready for springtime! Can't wait for warm, sunny weather!

Easter

This year, it was Levi's turn to be sick on Easter. Poor guy had a cold virus, complete with 4 days of fever and lots of snot. But we had plenty of Easter fun anyway!

Bird enjoyed dying eggs and playing with the Burns cousins on Good Friday evening. Once the eggs were dyed and hot dogs were eaten for dinner, the boys had to go out and do an egg hunt trial run to practice for Sunday's big hunt!

 

Saturday we had an Easter Egg hunt at our church, Riverview Baptist. Bird thought he was big stuff getting to hunt by himself while Daddy watched from a distance. And he was thrilled to bring home a basket full of candy from all the eggs he found!

Sunday, Jacin and Jackson went to Sunday School, and Levi and I joined them for the church service. I sat in the cry room with Levi during the service, though, because he was still running a fever. Despite the rain and the sickness and a major temper tantrum, we managed to all get dressed up in our new Easter outfits. I thought the boys looked extra cute, but Bird couldn't wait to change from his shorts and loafers into jeans and boots.

And after Easter lunch at the Granny & Pawpaw's house, the annual Burns Cousins Easter Egg Hunt commenced. The rain tapered off just in time.

A good time (followed by a nice long nap) was had by all.
Happy Easter!
He is risen! He is risen, indeed!!!