Dinosaur Costumes

Happy All Hallows Eve from our little dinosaurs!

This year, Mc got to choose what he wanted to be for Halloween - it's so fun preparing for holidays with a 2 year old!  This is the first year he's really understood enough to get excited.  So when McCord said he wanted to be a dinosaur, I couldn't wait to make something for him that he would be excited to wear.  Of course Wade got a matching costume too! We've worn the costumes so much, they've been in the wash 3 times already, and Halloween's not even here yet.  

There's something about a little boy wearing a costume.  I've received so much joy watching Mc and Wade play in their costumes knowing I've given them the opportunity to feel invincible, powerful, playful, and truly magical.  I know the day is quickly approaching when my boys will no longer want to wear something I've made for them, but for now, the laundry and dishes can wait while I create something special for my two little ones.  This brings me such joy!

Here I am cutting out dino teeth with our cat, Jackson.  Everyone had a part in these costumes!

The tail pattern can be found here. I made a few adjustments, but it's basically the same. I had to wing it on the sweatshirts, and I'm so glad they turned out okay.

Wade is 5 months old!

Some day, when I'm awfully low,
When the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight.

Yes you're lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft,
There is nothing for me but to love you,
And the way you look tonight.

Wade, you cut your first 2 teeth 2 days before your 5th month birthday. Much to my surprise, you've also started scooting on your belly!

With each word your tenderness grows,
Tearing my fear apart
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose,
It touches my foolish heart.

Visit to the fire station with friends. 

A quick snapshot before heading to church.  I really think you're considering eating the camera. 

Your maple will be planted next month and we can't wait!

Lovely, never, ever change.

Keep that breathless charm.

Won't you please arrange it ?

Cause I love you, just the way you look tonight.

"The Way You Look Tonight" Frank Sinatra

New Blog Head

Don't you just love how Facebook reconnects you with people from your childhood?  Many thanks to Laura for creating a design for the High Cotton blog.  She just updated it recently and isn't it beautiful?!!  I am so very grateful!  You can check out her blog here.

Photography by Nicole Rogers Photography and Summer Barfield.  

While We Live We Love: A Visit to our Alma mater

Presbyterian College has a special place in my heart.  It's a tiny school, but it makes a colossal impression on you during such a formative time in your life.  I suppose that argument could be made about all colleges and universities, but PC is different.  It changes you.

PC is also where I met Bo. We have such fond memories of the campus, the friends we made, the professors, classes, and the weekend parties.  It is so special to us, that a few years after we graduated, Bo convinced the president of the college to have his secretary invite our graduating class to a Christmas Eve party at Neville Hall, an iconic building in the middle of campus.  I received a personal invitation from the secretary, and Bo and I drove to PC on Christmas Eve in 2004 to attend the party.  We arrived to find no one on campus.  Bo, having arranged an elaborate scheme to bring me back to the place we met, proposed to me on the steps of Neville Hall.  It was a surprising and romantic proposal, and one that held such meaning to us both since it involved a place we love. 

Neville Hall

Bo, McCord, and Wade climbing the steps of Neville

PC's motto is dum vivimus servimus, "while we live we serve."  On Bo's wedding band I inscribed, dum vivimus amo, "while we live we love" - a tribute to the place that means so much to us.

Because it's my alma mater, where I met my husband, and where we got engaged, you can imagine what a thrill it was to introduce our boys to the campus last weekend.  It was fall break, and not a soul was around.  The campus looked as if it belonged in a storybook - exactly how we left it when we graduated and closed that chapter in our lives.  It was so refreshing to find the pages untouched.  

PC has a great tradition of holding the graduation ceremony underneath the beautiful oaks that line the front horseshoe on campus.  We graduated under this beautiful oak, and now we can share it with our 2 year old.  

On Monday, Bo and I celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary, and I am forever grateful to PC for bringing us together.  

Happy Anniversary, Bo! 

Still my boyfriend. 

Wade is 4 Months Old

...and a couple of weeks!

Happy 4 month birthday Wade!  

Oh, how fun it is to be 4 months!  This month you started taking Kindermusik, took your first trip to the beach, and you've learned how to kiss.  Oh, how I love your open-mouthed slobbery wet kisses!  You have totally stolen our hearts with your sweet, easy-to-smile disposition and your brother has especially enjoyed playing with you this month now that you're getting into the exersaucer and jumperoo.  These past 4 months we've enjoyed watching your personality unfold and we could not have asked for a sweeter baby - all you demand is a quiet dark room to nap in, otherwise, you're a pretty easy going little guy.

At your 4 month check-up last week, we were shocked to learn that you weigh 16.14 lbs and are 27" long.  That means you fall into the 90th percentile for weight and the 97th percentile for height!  There's a reason we've nicknamed you "Chunky."  You really skipped over all of your brother's hand-me-down clothes in the 3-6 month range.  You're wearing 9 month clothing and we're loving every roll and crevice on your pudgy body!

Wade, I just can't get enough of you!  I love to hold you close to my chest and rub my cheek on your head, you are just so warm and kissable, and I enjoy carting you around all day.  I know all too well that these days are few and fast, and that one day soon you'll be crawling and then walking, and running to keep up with your brother.  I will mourn the loss of this stage.

Here you are standing with your Daddy on your 4 month birthday next to McCord's maple.  We'll be planting your Sugar Maple soon.  McCord is obviously too busy to smile for the camera, but he wants to be a part of the moment none-the-less. 

Litchfield 2012
Wade's first trip to the beach