Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Me and My Little Men

Thought i'd post these since i'm usually on the other side of the camera!

2 Months

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• You are wearing 3 months clothes and some 6 months
• You eat 5 or 6 ounces every 3, but mostly 4 hours
• We have moved up to the level 2 nipple and it has cut your feeding time in half and we are both so much happier!
  
• You have your last bottle around 7 or 7:30 and are in bed by 8:30 or so. You are still waking up once at night b/w 3 and 4 to eat. You usually go right back to sleep, but I am sooo ready for you to push on through the night. And then up again around 7 or 7:30.
• You absolutely LOVE your little play mat and will be content there for 20 minutes some mornings. You kick your legs with excitement when the star lights up and sings to you.
• You are full of smiles these days are are cooing and agooing up a storm! I LOVE it when you "talk" to me!
• You are starting to pay attention to Henry and will watch him as he tries to entertain you.
• You like your bath time now.
• Your favorite spot is definitely your changing table. There is a picture above it with 2 giraffes and you love to talk and smile at them. If you are upset I can put you here and you instantly calm down.
• The bigger you get the more you look like Henry. Your baby pictures look like you could be twins. I think it's the cheeks that make you look so much alike.
  
• You have really filled out and I no longer get the comment that you are SOOO TINY!!!
• Still like the passy to help you get to sleep.
• You are really great at napping in your crib at least once a day and this is something I am so happy about b/c your brother DID NOT DO THIS for at least a year!
  
• I am loving discovering your personality Manning and can tell you are going to fit right into this wild clan with no problem!!!
  

End of the Year...Boo Hoo Hoo!

Today was Henry's End of the Year party and I could cry a bucket of tears that this school year had come to an end. For one, I am going to have to brew up MANY activities for my kiddos every day for their sanity and mine. Luckily I have made lots of friends who are always up for play dates! And I hope to plan a few mini road trips to visit friends and family who also are trying to stay sane with their kids bouncing off the walls!
Secondly, this year has been so amazing on so many levels for Henry and for me. Ms. Barbara and Ms. Cheryl provided such a wonderful atmosphere for him to learn not only numbers and letters, etc. but how to BE in school. He has learned to play with others, follow instructions, self control when something doesn't go his way, and so much more. And I have learned how to be a mom with a child in school. I worked with some really great moms on a few of the parties and really learned a lot from them. And we've both made some great friends in the process!
I am so very thankful to be a part of such a great pre-school and look forward to the years to come with both my boys!

Happy 5 Years Angel!

I can't believe it's been 5 years! You are the most amazing husband and father and I am thrilled to be on this wild ride with you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do for me and our boys.

I love you!

What Up Dawg!

First Trip to the Dentist

Today was the day I had really not been looking forward to. I mean, who really likes to go to the dentist? And who really wants to take a THREE year old to the dentist? But Henry really surprised me and made his mama proud. He was such a big boy and behaved himself very well the whole time. Grant it he asked approx. 250 questions to sweet Ms. Deb the hygienist and insisted on holding the little toothpaste/cleaning stuff thingy that she had on her finger. And he might have even licked it a time or two, but who's counting!

He held his mouth open wide the whole time and was really intrigued by all of the high tech equipment.

Dr. Sander gave him a great report and said his teeth look great. No cavities, but possibly a developing under bite. Really, we're supposed to start worrying about such a thing at this age? Henry came away with a cool new blinking toothbrush and a couple prizes from the prize chest. All in all, his first trip to the dentist was a total success and I don't think he'll be dreading that annual trip quite so bad. At least not for a few years!

A Smile and A Fat Roll

Finally caught his precious sideway smile on camera! Will be melting the hearts of ladies around the world for many years to come!

And his little chickens are starting to fill out! Won't be long till his whole little body will be covered in them!

We Love the BUMBO!

Shiner!

Well, Henry received his 1st official SHINER last night. I took the boys to church for Wednesday night supper and after we ate all of the kids go out and run wild in the courtyard. Henry is one of the younger ones, but was right in there with the big kids. I was standing around talking to the other moms and Mimi when Henry came running up to us screaming and crying. I looked and he had clearly had a collision with one of the other boys and he lost. This kid was about 7 or 8 and the two of the collided going full speed.
I passed Manning off to another mom and Mimi and I took Henry to the kitchen for some ice. I was so proud of my boy as he cried for a only minute or two, shook it off, and was ready to go right back out there and keep playing!

He woke up this morning and it was almost swollen shut. I'm sure it's going to turn every shade of yellow and green and he'll have a little story to tell for a while.
He thinks it's cool and so do I!!!

Mothers Day 2010

This is our 3rd Mothers Day spent in Brevard at the mountain house and I think this was my best one yet. Generally my children have a "holiday" radar and act as bad as they/Henry can on any of our special days. But this year they were on their BEST behavior! Our short trip was packed with tons of fun, family, and food. On the way up Brad, Manning, and I stopped in Spartanburg to visit Cecilia and her two cuties. I could KICK myself for not taking pics, but i'm sure their will be plenty more opportunities for that. Henry came up later with Mimi, Pops, and D-Dogg. Everyone slept great this trip, even little Man Man.

Brad and I enjoyed a little bit of one on one time with Manning and he was such an easy traveler. I hate to put a tag on a child so early in life, but he is so laid back and easy going. I'm not sure if that is b/c he's the second child and really has to be or if it's that his parents are so much more laid back this go round. Whatever the case, he is a content little baby and for that I am grateful!

Henry had so much fun this trip and I don't think he tee teed inside once. He loved being with the big boys in the woods and in the creek. There were several checks for ticks throughout the weekend and thank goodness none were found. It won't be long before Manning will be out there with them, but for now he spent a lot of time with the girls.

On the was home today we decided to take a little heritage tour through our old stomping grounds and the place where this all began...CLINTON, SC/PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE. Henry enjoyed seeing all of the places where Mama and Daddy used to live and play....oh and study. And we always love reminiscing about this special place!

Both boys took great naps in the car and were so nice to their mother on her special day.
I am one luck mama to have such sweet little boys!

Happy Mothers Day to all you wonderful mothers out there!

Smoak's Beach House

Yesterday was a perfect way to kick off the summer beach months. We were invited to join the Smoak's and friends for an afternoon at their beach house and a delicious dinner of Beaufort Stew. Henry was sooo excited b/c the three Patrick granddaughters were going to be there, but mainly Ella. She's four and he's kinda smitten. As you can see from the pics my boy was in heaven with these two blondies!

They were inseparable and had a grand time together playing on the beach, running around chasing birds, climbing up and down the stairs, and sporting their Kentucky Derby Hats!

And Manning enjoyed being lulled to sleep by the ocean breeze on and off all afternoon.
It was nice to have lots of helping hands from some mama's who have braved this very beach countless summer days with their boys years ago.