Summer!!

This is my first summer not working and I am so excited (although I do have a few weeks devoted to work this summer, but I'll take it)!  This is the 2nd day home with my boys, and I am really trying to just soak it all in.  I long for days home with them during the school year, so I pray God helps me let go of cleaning and focus on them!  

We started "officially" potty training yesterday with Brooks wearing underwear all day.  I am so proud to say that he used the potty 6 times successfully and we only had 2 accidents!  It may just be the novelty of it, but I am pleased.  I will say to all you new mommas out there, boys will do it in their own time- don't push it! I have tried a few different times in the past very unsuccessfully because he just wasn't ready.  

Ramsey is quite the little spit fire!  He loves to make me laugh.  One recent move is to eat his food with his mouth like a dog.  I made the mistake of laughing at it the first time!  He is 17 months old now and I will have his 15 month height/weight stats next week (we are just a little bit late, haha).  He is always on the go, but tries to act like his older brother.  He even gets upset when he has a diaper on and Brooks gets to use the potty.  He is "talking" and repeating words all the time now.  New words: bubble, balloon, up, down (and more I can't think of now).

The boys helped move a playground to my parents house (which included some Popsicles of course)!

Check out those abs!!
My husband is hot (and put in a lot of hard work)!

Ramsey loved watching baseball, it was amazing how it kept his attention.  The boys are also already enjoying the pool this summer, lots of pool days ahead! 

We got to go to a few concerts this Spring :) 

And we all enjoyed a Memorial Day Camp out and Swim! 

What fun they make our lives!!

Simply Blessed

I'm not sure how I will be able to keep up with this blog!  It seems as though the older the boys get, the more difficult it is to find time to sit down and write my thoughts.  I hate it because this has been such a great resource for me to look back at and I know my kids will also enjoy it since I didn't do official "baby books."  I guess I'll just have to cut myself some slack (every mom needs that, right?) and get to it when I can.  And right now I can, so here it goes...


Boy oh boy are the boys growing and learning new things.  With each new age (and each new child) comes new, challenging, yet rewarding behaviors.  Let's start with the babe:  

RJ is starting to talk :)  His first word (that wasn't just sounds that we were guessing at) was "ball."  He says it alllllll the time.  My favorite story is when we were walking through Wal-mart and they had helium balloons strung up at each cash register.  As usual, momma was walking super fast on my way to get things done, and Ramsey is just looking at each balloon saying, "ball...ball...ball...ball..."  I got a good kick out of it once I finally realized why he was saying it.  In addition to "ball" he also says: daddy, mommy, paci, more, and bye.  He also says a slew of other words we don't quite understand yet.  I think he said "boo" for Brooks today.  

 

Ramsey or "Bubs" as he is often called in our house has also been giving great kisses, waving, and throwing the ball.  He is like a well-trained dog... we throw the ball and he brings it or throws it right back.  He is proving to be quite the athlete already.  If you turn your back for 1 second (and I mean literally 1 second) he will be on top of the dining room table ready to climb the hutch.  He climbs EVERYTHING!!  He also loves to play chase, can climb the ladder to the playset by himself, and has cut all his molars (in 1 weeks time).  

Brooks has become Mr. Personality.  He loves for people to laugh at his jokes, gives very tight hugs (even to other children who don't want them), and is very good at introducing himself.  Tim took the boys to the grocery store last week and he introduced himself to everyone "Hi, I'm Brooks" followed by, "this is Ramsey John, my dog is Munson and this is Daddy (or sometimes he said Uncle Tim)."

He also has a very intuitive and sweet side.  We have had conversations (started by him) about broken hearts, jet fuel, wanting a baby girl in our house (no, I'm not pregnant), who "painted" his eyes blue, and anything/everything about Jesus.  He loves to say prayers "all by myself."  When someone shows me how to save a video file so it's smaller I'll share a video when I caught him "reading" a book- little smartie pants.  

This often is followed up by his playful self.  He loves to give a "knuckle sandwich."  He also can be found running around the house naked screaming "NEVER!" for no reason at all.  And where he got this I don't know, but he also randomly says "ROCK N' ROLL!" in a very punk rock voice.  

All I can say is how blessed we are.  Thank you God for all of our incredible gifts (including scholarships for Tim, Tim loves his new profession, and mommy got a new position at work for next year)!

Brotherly Love... or Something Like That!

I'm learning that the relationship between brothers is much different than that of sisters!  My boys have started wrestling, pushing, fighting, and some hugging much sooner than I anticipated.  Sometimes my heart melts at their love for one another, but mostly I spend my time pulling them apart.  It's been a while since I updated, so here are a few pictures to document that we are still thriving :)   I have a feeling they are going to be 18 before I can sit down and pour my thoughts into a blog!  

 Making Rice Crispy Treats with O'ma

A birthday trip to the circus

A little snow.... 

 Boys will be boys

Fun at the park 

Until next time...

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.