McCord is 2 Years Old!

Happy Birthday, Monkey!

Here you are at just 2 weeks old pretending to stand in front of the maple we planted in your honor...

...and here you are at 2 years old standing in front of your maple!  Both of you have grown tremendously!  Your daddy and I have had the ultimate pleasure of watching you grow and learn.  

We love you more than we ever knew we could love.  You have a kind and gentle spirit, you're quirky and shy, yet silly and rambunctious at times.  You are curious, affectionate, and you love to "fix it!" when anything breaks - or even if it isn't broken.  You have become the sweetest big brother we could ever imagine, and a big help to Mama and Daddy.  

Last night while you were sleeping, Daddy and I crept into your room and filled it with balloons and birthday decorations.  When you woke up this morning, there was no doubt in your mind that it was a special day!  We borrowed an idea from your cousins and placed a long red ribbon leading from your room, all the way through the house, to your birthday gifts.  You had so much fun this morning following the ribbon throughout the house to see what was on the other end.  There you unwrapped various tools, some army men, and a superhero cape with a hammer on it that I made.  It is good to be 2!

To celebrate your birthday, we took you out to eat lunch and you had your first virgin strawberry daiquiri.  We went to see some heavy machinery on a lot where they are doing a lot of construction.  We played in your sandbox, ate cupcakes, played in the sprinkler, and even burned a couple of sparklers.  To top it all off, you and Wade got to take a bath together for the first time, and you seemed to enjoy that.  

Happy Birthday, McCord!  We love you!

Hunker Down with Finger Paint

It was 103 degrees today (!) so we hunkered down and pulled out the arts and crafts box.  Here's a quick video of Mc finger painting.  Unfortunately, Wade didn't make this video, but I love that you can hear him cooing in the background.  His little personality is starting to come out, and he's quite a smiley little guy.

...and look who's been trying to cuddle with his little brother. 

4th of July Cookies

Just popping in to share a great recipe that I found on Pinterest for "Firecracker Cookies." from a blog called Cookin' Cowgirl.  McCord and I made them this afternoon, and thought we'd share for all of you out there who are looking for something festive and sweet to make for your July 4th celebrations.

1 (18.25 oz) box of French Vanilla Cake Mix

1 tsp. baking powder

2 eggs

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 c. red sprinkles

1/2 c. blue sprinkles

• Mix cake mix and baking powder in large bowl
• Stir together eggs, oil, and vanilla extract in medium bowl
• Combine egg mixture with cake mix
• Add sprinkles
• Place spoonfuls on baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes

...And guess who turns 2 on Sunday?!!!

And...guess who had Mama and Daddy smiling at midnight last night?

Wade is 1 Month Old!

Happy one month birthday Wade!  

Here's a picture of you and your Daddy today.  We took this picture in our yard in front of McCord's Maple. When your brother was born, your Daddy decided to plant a tree in his honor and we took his picture in front of it every month to monitor his growth against the tree.  When we moved to a new house, the tree came with us as it has become an important part of our family's memories and traditions.  Your Daddy has already lined up the planting of your own tree in September after the danger of the summer heat has passed.  We can't wait for your Sugar Maple to become a part of our landscape and family tradition too!  In the meantime, we've decided to take your picture in front of McCord's Maple.  

Quick story about the shorts you're wearing.  I originally made them for Mc a couple of months ago and hoped, if I had a boy (you!) that I could make you a matching pair.  Well, something went horribly wrong with the making of the shorts, and they turned out about 6 sizes too small for your brother.  I even tried to squeeze him in them because I invested a lot of time in them making them reversible with a cowboy print on the outside and a red check on the inside.  I wanted to see someone wear them so very badly.  It wasn't long after that I decided McCord's monkey, Pawgee should inherit the shorts.  While Pawgee wore the pants well, he didn't wear them nearly as well as you.  Wade, you rock these preppy shorts!  Look at you and your cute self!

And here you are in front of Mc's maple pretending to stand.  Look how tall the tree is compared to you.  One day, you'll be big enough to climb it!

Just thought I'd include this picture of you wearing the shorts with the reversible pattern.  Same shorts as above, different side.  Boy am I glad they fit!

Yesterday, you were laying on a blanket in the living room watching your brother build things with his giant legos.  I walked into the kitchen for a second and when I returned this is what I found.  I think Mc is looking forward to the day when you can play with him!

And as you can see, you've started smiling!  Oh, how your dad and I love to see that smile!  It brightens up the entire room. 

Happy Father's Day

When Bo & I put McCord down to sleep at night we always sing him "This Little Light of Mine" and incorporate his name into the lyrics.  Lately he's been "singing" (read: humming/moaning) with us.  I always lay next to Mc in his bed and scratch his arm as we sing.  It is such a tender time of night, and sometimes it takes all the self discipline I have to make myself get up and close the door.  Sometimes I just want to lay there in the darkness, holding him as he falls asleep, listening to him breath and thanking God for our family.

Tonight was one of those nights.

Wade was especially alert for McCord's bedtime so I put him in bed with McCord and me while Bo & I read one of Mc's favorite books to him - Construction Alphabet.  After we said our prayers, we sang McCord's song and as usual, he decided to participate.  After singing the verse we made up with his name, I sang it again with Wade's name.  And there we lay - Wade sandwiched in the middle.  McCord, in his sweet and gentle way put his hand on top of Wade while singing his dedicated verse, patted him, and gave him a kiss.

As mothers and fathers, isn't it moments like this that we hope for?  Isn't it moments like this that we hold close to our hearts - promising never to forget.  I am so very thankful for our little family of four and for the opportunity to know the joys, challenges, frustrations, and celebrations of parenthood.

On this Father's Day, I celebrate the 3 fathers in my life - Bo, my dad, and my father-in-law - and am thankful for the influence they have on my sons' lives.  It is my hope that my two little boys will one day know the distinct honor of becoming fathers one day themselves.

Vintage School Desk

You'll never believe what my friend Lacey found at a yard sale!

Check out this amazing old school house desk she picked up for a mere $6!!!!  What a steal!  Somehow she knew that I was looking for one and snagged it for me.  Thank you Lacey!  I owe you big time!

McCord helped me scrub it down before he got distracted with playing with Rocky and the hose. 

And Wade supervised our work from the back porch.

Right now the desk is being used as a bedside table in the kids' room.  I plan to paint the metal portions of the desk and chair a high gloss fire engine red.  I've been inspired by these photos I found on pinterest.  Many, many thanks Lacey for sharing this great find with me!

Wade is 3 Weeks Old!

Happy 3 week birthday Wade!

Wade, I'm a sentimental mama and just had to include these two pictures below of you and your big brother wearing the same gown.  The first picture is of you at about 2 1/2 weeks old - a healthy and alert little guy.  The next picture is of your brother wearing the same sleeper gown on the day he came home from the hospital.  I packed it in my hospital bag for you to wear home from the hospital too, but we ended up asking for an early discharge because we just couldn't wait to get you home, and we didn't have time to change your clothes before leaving.  So here you are a few weeks later wearing the gown intended for you all along.  You can see it fits you much better than it fit McCord.

Wade in gown at 2 1/2 weeks

McCord in gown - leaving hospital and going home

And just for comparison, here's Wade leaving the hospital and headed home!

We were so very excited to get you home and start our life as a family of 4!

A few things have been in the works for you this week: (1) your daddy has been in communication with the local nursery to have a tree planted in our yard in your honor - we planted an Autumn Blaze maple for McCord and Bo's chosen a Sugar Maple for you.  It won't be planted until September when it's a bit cooler, but we look forward to taking your picture next to it each month to monitor your growth and the tree's - just like we did with your big brother.  (2) we had your newborn photo shoot this week - here are a few photos from the event.  You were alert and interested in what was going on around you.  It was so fun to document this time in our lives.