Braids and PonyTails

How thankful am I that I have two adorable girls who (for the most part) are happy to let me play with their hair!!  And…I know there are so many precious things on this earth, but, I am pretty certain that sweet braids and ponytails make the list of Most Precious Things!  

Today was the first day I had ever put Wylie in “Big Girl Braids”  She was so excited that she got braids but Bess was getting PonyTails!  She kept smiling in the mirror and doing the “Home Alone Face”  (you know there face where he is screaming- except hers was from pure happiness).  But the minute I finished, I looked in the mirror and saw a little girl not a little baby!  It was bittersweet- I won’t lie!

 

If Wy gets her hair done, of course Bess wants to have the same pampered treatment!  I love how innocent a ponytail looks.  Ever since this summer, Bess has been a huge fan of ponytails!  The trick to ponytails with Bess is not getting her to sit still so you can get them done, it is convincing her to take them out of her hair before bath or bed!  Ponytails on this child completely melt my heart!

 

Now… if only I can teach Bubba how to master braids and ponytails since he has hair duty for the upcoming school year !!!!!

Happy Half!!

WHAT?!  I  C.A.N. N.O.T. believe Brother Ben is officially 6 months old today!  So, in classic motherly form, I will write the all famous mother sentence:  Where is the time going?  He is growing up faster than I can blink my eyes!!!  Seriously though, it really, really, no really, does feel like yesterday I was galloping hallways at Presby Hospital so the scary OB admit nurse didn’t send me home!  

6 months ago a beautiful baby boy joined our family and we continue to be eternally grateful!

Dear Bennie,

February 25th, 6 months ago, is a day I will treasure forever.  The anticipation of finally learning just who you were, knowing that I would finally be holding you tightly in my arms, kissing your sweet newborn face, smelling those indescribable baby smells!  I love holding you today as much and more than I did 6 months ago!  You are such a content child living in a very active household!  You are my calm.  You are my miracle.  You have my heart!  Your daddy and I are so very thankful for you and know that you have made our family complete!  We love you Lots & Lots!

I  Love you~  Momma

News of the Weekend!

 

It all begins like this

but pretty soon Ben’s little body takes action.

 

 

 

 

Yes friends!  He rolls and immediately rolls right back!  He has never liked his stomach so why did I expect him to like it once he could get there on his own?  At least we have made progress! 

Congratulations Benny Boo you are officially a roller! 

Shout Out to Doo Dad and Pop Pop

Ben just felt like wrapping 2 special men around his finger a little bit tighter! 

This little love continues to try really hard all morning to master the roll.  

I keep saying this but… any day now we are going to see this love on his belly!  Until then, Ben is totally 100% completely happy with eating his toes! 

 

Not sure how he does it but everyday this little love grabs on my heart strings more and more!  

Love you Lots and Lots Benny!

Armed and Dangerous

That’s right… someone around here is armed and dangerous!  With a library card that is!  This morning Wylie and I had a mommy daughter morning!  Wylie truly loves books and reading so I figured it was beyond time for her to have her own actual library card.  This morning, she was so excited about going to the “libe-air-e”.  She had the death grip on her bag and she wasn’t in the mood for anyone to dilly dally and interrupt her upcoming book trip! 

She was not one bit impressed by the length of time it took to actually get the card but once that part was over…the child was in heaven!  

I had told Wylie she could only pick out 5 book to put in her bag that we would be carrying home.  This was such a hard decision for her!  We would read one book and she would insist that it would come home with us but 2 seconds later she had decided she was more in love with some other book and it was in need of her bag!  Every time she would change her mind, she would whisper to me that she was putting it back on the shelf.  She acted like it was the biggest secret and didn’t want anyone to know she had found a better book! 

 

When I say the child was totally in her element, I completely mean it!  She really could have stayed on the floor of this place for hours!  After reading a book, she would just giggle because she got to get another one!  It was a priceless morning!

But need not you worry- I wasn’t the only one hosting the read alouds this morning!  No way!  Pretty soon, once this bookworm warmed up to her surroundings- she was the one leading the read alouds!  Bless the souls around us! 

And just when she thought the “libe-air-e” couldn’t get any better…. guess what book she stumbled across!   FANCY NANCY!!! 

The child was thrilled! 

In the end, Wylie “twisted” my arm into about 8 books in her bag but how could I deprive her!  She is only making this teacher and momma’s heart swell up beyond belief! 

In all honesty, while sitting there in the floor reading to Wylie this morning, I got a little puddled in my eyes!  I was so thankful for her love for reading.  I was thankful I had the opportunity to show her how important reading is.  I was so thankful that she wanted no one else in the world reading to her at that moment other than me.  I know, it was the public library and to some we were only surrounded by books.  To me, it was an absolutely wonderful and priceless morning surrounded by love on so many levels!!  

Can’t wait for a fun week of new stories to share with my baby girl! 

A Snip It of My Brain

Don’t you just wonder about people sometimes?  What are they doing?  What do they love?  How do they find themselves sucked into the depths of the internet each day?  Everyone always seems to have the coolest things going on, or know about the best deals or products and then there is me… loving my life but just a plain ol’ mommy in Target shorts and her hair on top of her head in a “ponytail”!  So I thought that since I am oh-so interesting, I would give you a snip of my brain!  And I thought it was fun…wish everyone would do this so I could just know what everyone is doing “Currently”!  

A Mommy Moment

 

Dear Babies, 

Right before my eyes you are growing and changing faster than I ever imagined.  You each are so full of spirit and life and you each have perfect personalities bursting at the seams!  There is a big chunk of my heart that wants you to remain frozen in time forever, always being a “little” boy and girl that fits perfectly on my lap.  That part of me lives for the moments when we are cuddled up together in your little beds, whispering to each other or saying our prayers.  That chunk of my heart wants for some things to never change.  I want you to always scream my name when I come home.  I want for you to always look at me and tell me I am your best friend.  I want for you to always ask for a kiss and a hug before shutting your eyes.   It is my prayer that you will always look back and say you have had a wonderful life and hopefully remember that the things I so badly wanted when you were little are the things that you will feel have made you life so wonderful .  I hope you remember our night time kisses, our silly songs, our special sayings.  I hope you know with every ounce of your being that you are four of the most loved children on this planet.   Never, ever in a million years will I be able to find the words perfect enough to tell you how deep my love is for you.  It is unimaginable.  It is constant.  It is absolutely true. 

While I realize you will continue to become bigger, smarter and older  – I know I will always look at you and say you are my “baby”.  I am so excited for your futures and all that they hold.  I can only pray that on the journeys you take, you remember how loved and special to my heart you each are! 

I hope you always know with every fiber of your soul how much I love you.

Lots & Lots!

Todays YEAHS!

YEAH #1 

It is official! Although this monumental event took place over a week ago, truthfully, I was waiting around on the possibly horrible after effects before I made our big announcement! After coming home from the beach and discovering our fearless Daddy had captured the poor little mousy who had decided to take residence under my sink…there was no turning back! I saw an opportunity and ran with it!  

YEAH #2

And if giving up Pappies wasn’t news enough… Guess who LOVES LOVES LOVES the big girl potty and wears Dora Underwear now! YEP- just like her sister, Bess has jumped on the potty band wagon and I am officially down to 3 diapers a day between C, W and B! Bubba’s wallet just got a little thicker but Target just frowned…oh how we love some Target diapers!

It all started with Bess’ obsession to carry around her potty! Everywhere she went, she took her potty. Bess and her potty… It did whatever she did! It was summer…I was more than fine with it. Over time, she decided lugging the potty was too bothersome and switched to the big girl potty! From there- we had ourselves a little tinkler! YEAH Bessie Boo!  

She is still very intrigued by the whole process as you can see!  Whew!  What a relief it is to have 3 who can go potty instead of me having diaper duty 24/7!  I have you traveling potty and Dora Underwear to thank! 

What a Zoo!

With the ridiculous temperatures that have been a part of our summer, some would think indoor activities are best.  And yes- I do agree.  However, Bubba and I thought a family trip to the zoo was one of the best ways to wrap up our summer!  So off to Columbia we headed for a family day of fun!  We were even joined by more fam when Cousin and Bess’ Bestie  Mary Cam showed up!

The kids were super excited about their animal tickets that Daddy got for them!  After that, we were ready to tackle the zoo and the 900 degree weather! 

First up…flamingos!  Who knew flamingos made such racket!  These feathered friends were a hit for the fam!  None of my children had any fear and fed the flamingo the food intended for the fishies across the way!  Mr. Flamingo sure did seem to enjoy the treat though!

The monkeys were a hit too!  Charlie just giggled as they swung through the air.  I guess we were there at the perfect time because those guys were going bananas (ha!) making such a racket!  Everyone was all smiles! 

The Farm is probably one of the best parts of the zoo trip!  The kids loved seeing all the farm animals and loved, loved, loved feeding the goats!  

The kids couldn’t resist some photo shots though!  Charlie found a lizard to ride!

Bess and Wylie thought the elephant was the best!

We were armed with dollar bills for all the animal feeding we were going to be doing and thankfully so!  The giraffe feeding was a super hit!  Bess had a ball feeding the lettuce to her new friend!  I love the giraffe’s too!  Such a fun animal! 

My personal favorite of the day was this guy!  It was oh-so-hot and this gigantic guy had it all figured out.  Shade and sleep!  I mean, how big is the turtle!?

Next up we were off to the aquarium for a visit with Brucey the shark and lots of Nemos!!  Charlie was sooo ready for this!  He even had chosen to wear his “Brucey” T shirt for the special visit!

  

We had a wonderful family day!  Yes it was hot but we survived thanks to water fans and cold drinks!  So glad we were able to spend the day with family and make a memory!