10 things I love about Henry

in no particular order . . .

1. his smile that peeks out behind his pappy
2. when he snores
3. the way he snuggles my neck if he's really sleepy
4. his giggles
5. when he talks or sucks his lips in and hums
6. when he sucks his thumb (shh, don't tell anyone)
7. the determination in his eye when he's chewing on my hand
8. the way he's always sticking his touge out but only on the left side of his mouth
9. how darn excited he gets when he's trying to grab something that he knocks it away
10. after nusing and he gets that milk drunk smile as if to say "thanks mom"

10 things I love about Katie

in no particular order . . .

1. she introduces herself to virtually everyone! "Hi my name is Katie. What's your name? Nice to meet you."
2. the way she talks about her friends. Although she's never been to a daycare, she seems to be able to make friends very easily. So when it's time to leave the playground / play date, she likes to talk about the friends she played with
3. when she breaks out into song at the grocery store
4. how polite she is. I take it for granted when we're at home but I always notice and appreciate it when we're out and about.
5. it's July and she's still God blessing Santa Clause! (I think he really made an impact on her and has a lot to live up to!)
6. her rock collection. She HAS to pick at least one up from everywhere we go!
7. how much she loves her brother (at least for now!)
8. the way her voice gets real squeeky when she pretends
9. the way she runs. Anyone who has seen it, knows she has more hip and elbow action than her feet can keep up with!
10. when she wants to snuggle and says, "I love you mommy!"

Happy 4th of July

Notice the dark clouds behind the fireworks! We got poured on! Thankfully they went ahead with the show between showers and we got home early.

Airport Reunion

We have had a wonderful long weekend with Scott home. No one missed him more than Katie!

I Survived!

Well I survived! I've made it 30 days as a single, stay at home mother of two! With only a short period of temp. insanity during the first few weeks. Scott comes home today and I couldn't be happier.

(not a picture of us but sure looks like it! HA!)

No inhibitions!

Need I say more!

How cute is he?!?

(thanks for all your help Jenna)

In the summertime, when the weather is hot . .

go swimming with friends,

eat popcicles,

run around half naked,

and don't forget to share your toys with your brother!

milestones

Henry rolled over this past weekend! (11 weeks old)

Play Date

We had so much fun today with Jenna, Caroline, Will, and Jack! Thanks for the play date and we can't wait to do it again.

Katie LOVES to swing, so that was our first stop at the park.

Doesn't every kid like to play in the dirt.

A little time on the slides

Henry, just hanging out watching all the fun.

Having a little fun of his own!

Nursing Henry - everybody has to eat right?

Back to the swings with Jack

Someone got tired of having her picture taken

A quick tea party with mom before we leave

Pizza for lunch

Nap time. . .

for Henry at least

girls will be girls

Fell asleep on the way home planning her escape back to Jenna's house

Nothing says summertime like...

a traveling ice cream van!!!

Katie sees and hears the ice cream man every afternoon and runs to the window (although she was more interested in the fact it has stickers all over it than what was inside). Well, I gave in and got us a drum stick to share. First of all, what a rip off! And second of all, I was unsure the toothless man could count back the change from a $5 bill for a $2 drum stick (and he certainly wasn't going to get any help from the 500 lb woman on a snack break in the front seat). But it was worth every dollar of it just to see this face!

PURE BLISS!!

This weekend was full of swimming,

(ice water takes a little getting use to)

(okay floaties and a tube may be too much but she forgets she's only two)

(working on his pool side "tan")

(suckers for everyone!)

family reunions,

and baseball games.

("go team! . . wait, where's my stickers?")

(don't worry Henry, it'll get more interesting when you learn the rules)

Henry's first giggles!

Last night was the first time Henry actually chuckled at something funny! It was so precious. I must say I have a real crush on this little man!

Katie's ABC's

Now that I got my video to upload, I had to go back and post this one of Katie singing her ABC's! And how cute is Henry tring to steal the show! She thinks it's funny now but it won't always work that way.

Summertime ingenuity

Before you see this video, let me explain how this went down.
First, I saw these kids playing up and down the street in front of my house on these tiny motorcycles. They caught my eye because they were in everyone's driveway. Then, I saw a young mother walking around the block with her baby in a stroller. This too caught my eye because I should be out doing that instead of eating cookie dough like I was. The street got quiet for a few minutes but then I hear the motorcycle again. My eyes peak out the window and in disbelief . . . I see the stroller being pulled behind at a relatively high rate of speed - and IT TIPS OVER!!! As the young boy is nonchalantly picking the stroller up, I realized that there was no child passenger (thank goodness). Once my panic subsided, I couldn't help but laugh and get out my camera!! Later, he got tired of pulling around an empty stroller and convinces his sister to go for a ride. Thankfully she was too heavy and they called it quits!

Time flies

Today is our seven year wedding anniversary and it seems like yesterday and forever ago. Our marriage started off rocky when Scott was deployed to Pine Bluff (yes, AR) after just 3 months together. He was able to come home for a day or two every two weeks or so (which doesn't seem bad once you've been married for a few years) but we were young and just starting our life together so it was difficult. Then just as things were starting to settle in, he was deployed again but this time it was to Iraq. He was gone for a year and a half (12 months in country) but we really grew as a couple, thanks to long (and expensive) phone calls and, on occasion, web conversations. This is were I must thank Jenna and her wonderful and patient family for giving me a seat at their dinner table at least 4 nights a week! We were able to conceive Katie on a welcomed R&R visit home and she was born just a few weeks after his deployment came to an end. She was baptised in the spring of 2007 in the same church that we were married. Now, just yesterday, Henry was baptised in the same church and our life couldn't seem more complete.

Everything's funner in jammies

Famous last words "I need my baby Henry!"

Where's Waldo?

So sweet

I looked everywhere for her!