Another Big Birthday!

Ramsey turned 1 year old on December 27th.  This little guy grew up even faster than the last!  I blinked and he is one.  I don't know if it is how busy we are or because he is the second child, but I'm going to be honest and say that his first year has been a blur.  I just can't believe how time is flying.  

Ramsey is running all over the place now.  He is trying to keep up with his big brother and all his cousins.  He finally repeated a word and it's pretty indicative of his personality with me... "up."  He is constantly wanting me to hold him, so one night this week he finally repeated "up" when asking to be held.   

Ramsey enjoyed his new cousin Annalea at his birthday party... he also loved the vacuum!

It seems to be happening more often, but the good pictures didn't end up on my phone.  I know lots of you out there got great pictures of Ramsey eating his cake... send them on over!

Now that Brooks is 3 I thought we might make some gains in the potty training movement... I thought wrong!  He is so against it, I've tried every trick out there, so now I am on to "wait it out."  I guess we just wait and see if he is still in diapers in kindergarten, haha! 

This little booger has also started having more tantrums (especially in church).  Everyone told me "3 is worse than 2" and so far that is proving to be true.  But it's also more rewarding.  He is able to express himself and share new ideas.  It's really fun to finally learn what he is thinking in his words.  One comment that pops in my head was around Christmas when he told me, "Jesus is a little baby and I am going to hold him."  

Brooks continually tries to wrestle his little brother (and Ramsey doesn't usually back down).  But Brooks favorite person to wrestle is his cousin, Maddox.  Brooks loves to watch the movie Frozen, especially the character "Olaf".  

Below is a picture of Brooks that I was sent while at work one day.  We are just hoping this doesn't mean he is going to want tattoos all over his body one day...

Tim heads back to school this week and I started back to work last week.  I'm preparing myself for the whirlwind that begins once Tim is in class and studying 24/7.  

Short and Sweet

Life is keeping us all very busy, so this is my best attempt at throwing up an update for the family this month!  

Ramsey is 11 months old and WALKING!  We have all been saying that once he realizes he can do it, that nothing will hold him back.  Well, he took his first set of 5-6 steps on Friday, followed by 12 steps, and then unstoppable!  

He still crawls when he wants to go super quick, but he's enjoying the new freedom of walking.  He is also beginning to use "mama" and "dada" in what seems to be the right time, but I'm still not calling it talking.  He is eating only table foods now, and has begun trying some milk in a sippy cup.

Brooks is blowing us all away with what he says!  He keeps a smile on all our faces, and we are constantly reminded of his ability to hear and repeat everything we say.  He loves to help out and is doing really great at school!  His teacher, Mrs. Tammie, makes him excited to go to school each day.  He is loving the Christmas season and asks me each day, "Is it Christmas day?"  He loves finding his elf, Mickey, each morning.  He is getting ready for potty training, as his birthday is next week and we have told him that there are not any diapers for 3 year olds.  We'll see how that goes... I'll keep you posted!  

Tim is staying super busy with studying... 8 finals in 8 days!  He has done amazing his first semester in the program and has set himself up to have all A's and B's.  I'm so proud of how dedicated he has been!  If you had told me 6 months ago that he would spend each weekend studying and not watching football I probably would have laughed.  But he has done it, and made me fall in love with his drive yet again!  

As for me, I think the above kind of tells my story.  Life is busy in a beautiful way.  I feel very fortunate that we have the opportunity to change Tim's career path and model for our children how to "do what you love." It makes me want to pull my hair out every now and then, but I know it is a blessing.  I am loving working at my new school!  I thank God for the 6 mile drive to work everyday, and I feel very appreciated while I'm there (can't beat that)!

There's a good chance the next time I get around to updating I will have a 3 year old, a 1 year old, a 30th birthday celebration for Tim, and Christmas (brace yourselves)!  

Fabulous Fall Adventures

10 months have flown!  But its a good thing we are still counting, otherwise I think I would forget to blog altogether!  Here's the little cutie:


He's cruising all over the place, refusing to eat anything except tables foods, and has started to sleep a little better (well, mommy finally let him cry a bit and that has helped)! 

And this little turkey had a take a pictures with the sticker too!

We visited Burt's Pumpkin Patch and the kids truly loved the giant pumpkins.  Brooks ran up to the first one he saw, threw his arms around it, and said "I love you big punkin!" 

We also took a fabulous hayride!  It was definitely genuine: there weren't bails of hay, it was just a bunch of hay on a wagon behind a tractor.  The boys loved the tractor, of course!

And yes, we did bring home a giant pumpkin! Tim carved it into Goofy before Halloween :)  

This little punkin continues to grow like a weed!

And then there was Halloween....  everyone came over to trick-or-treat at our house!  We got all the boys doubled up in clothes (because it was so cold), got outside the front door, and it started raining!  Talk about raining on our parade.  We came back inside and waited it out for a while, but we finally went out in the mist.  Everyone had a great time despite the weather!

 In our group there was Spiderman, Batman, a fireman, another Spiderman, Peter Pan, TinkerBell, Dorothy, and a Mad Hatter. 

 

The boys have also enjoyed the fall leaves!  It's a good thing they spend time with my mom, because I don't think I'd let them explore and get as dirty as she does (and I know its good for them, thanks mom)!

 And here are some of Brooks' adorable school pictures!

 And lastly, for my birthday I got canvas prints of our family for my wall (thanks Sandy)!  Check out the one of RJ next to Brooks (both at about 7 months), the family picture on the bottom, and the one of the 2 boys next to it.  I love them!