Garden of 2010

Christopher has quite the green thumb. He has managed to turn our 1/4 acre yard in Cary into an impressive little "city farm" summer after summer.

This year, we've got tomatoes (~8 different varieties), bell peppers, salsa peppers, hot & sweet banana peppers, jalapenos, Chinese beans, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries.








We've gotten a decent harvest so far...but I will be up to my ears in veggies by the end of the summer! And sick of making and canning pickles, tomatoes and salsa!




So far this summer I have made a few blackberry cobblers, enjoyed some tomato sandwiches, and made one batch of dill pickles.


The boys really enjoy the garden. Landon loves tomatoes...he will eat them like an apple. And Carter had his first taste of a strawberry!

Where's Carter?

Carter has found a new hiding spot in the kitchen...under the table.

How Do You Do That With 2 Teeth Anyway?

Carter has been broadening his pallet lately with lots of different table foods. His latest have been Smithfield's BBQ, hot dogs and mac & cheese!

Father's Day 2010

The boys and I made a pillowcase for Daddy that matched the one they made me for Mother's Day.

Christopher & Landon enjoyed a daddy-son outing to see Toy Story 3, and we finished our night grilling steaks.

Rockin' The Big Boy Room!

Carter rocked his first day in his new class (he was in there most of Friday)...which makes me feel A LOT better about the whole situation.

He ate the school lunch for the first time (sloppy joe & tator tots) at a little tiny table, sitting in a tiny chair! Then slept ON A COT for the full 2-hour naptime!

Counting Cows

My Daddy and I used to "count cows" every evening. We'd drive into the pasture in Daddy's pick-up truck with the windows rolled down. He'd call the cows - "coy-up, coy, coy, coy" and they'd come running. We'd stop the truck, hop in the back and just watch. Sometimes they'd get close enough to the truck where I could stroke their face.

They were beautiful. The Mama's shiny black coats and long eyelashes. The wild red calves bucking and frolicking through the pasture.

If I close my eyes I can still smell the clover, feel the warm breeze and hear the calves calling to their Mamas.

I still don't know if we really needed to count cows every day or if it was just something for me and my Daddy to enjoy doing together.

Carter's Birthday Wish List

I cannot believe that it is time to post this (1 year already???)...

• Diapers (Pampers Cruisers size 4)
• Thick & fluffy hooded towels (not thin ones)
• Take & Toss sippy cups
• PJs (size 12-18 months, 1-piece footies with zipper) - my faves are at Children's Place & Carter's
• Spot books by Eric Hill
• Sand toys
  

You Can Take the Girl Out of the Farm, but You Can't Take the Farm Out of the Girl

I was born and raised on a tobacco farm in rural Southern Virginia. Okay, well not technically born on the farm...I was born in a hospital...but you get the idea. My Daddy still earns his living farming tobacco.

I have so many fond memories of my childhood. Until I moved to the city, I thought frog gigging, tagging calves and filling barns were pretty normal.

I'm starting this new series on my blog (You Can Take the Girl Out of the Farm, but You Can't Take the Farm Out of the Girl) to document those memories. And maybe my city folk will learn some things!

Stories to come...

Lunch Hours at Daycare Have Come To An End

I'm sad today.

Carter is moving up at daycare to the Little Waddlers room. He has been transitioning all week but officially starts on Monday. I have been going every weekday at 12:30 to nurse him for the past 9 months. Once he's in his new class, they eat lunch and go down for their nap around 12:00. So this means today was my last day going to nurse him at lunchtime. {sigh}

I'm going to miss those lunch hours with him. It helped break up my day and let me get a little dose of mid-day loving.

{sign again}

Finally...we have motion!

Carter finally crawled!

(Yes, he's just crawling at 11 months old...and there's nothing wrong with him! PS - If you are ever in a conversation with someone about their "slow" child, never say "He's not sitting up/crawling/walking/talking yet?" with a look of shock. This parent has probably been tormenting themselves for quite a while wondering what is wrong with their child and comparing him/her to every other child their age (and younger!) that's doing the things that he/she is not. They've had multiple conversations with their doctor about therapy and disabilities and have been assured that he's ok...as long as he makes progress with each visit, there is nothing to worry about. If they are talking to you about it, that probably means that they're finally ok with it and realize that there is nothing wrong with their child. Don't put that worry or doubt back into their head.)

And to top it all off...he pulled up to standing!!!

Maybe he'll just start walking (I mean only animals crawl on all fours, right?). Or maybe he won't walk until he's 18 months (or later!). Either way...I'm okay with it. My Carter is perfect.

S is for...

Slip-n-Slide: one that Landon wanted nothing to do with because the "yucky water will get him all wet". Seriously? I have scratches and rug-burn all over my stomach and thighs and the breath knocked out of me trying to get you on this thing!

A yellow foam letter S: one that I discovered in Carter's mouth as he smiled his big open-mouth grin at me...no idea where it came from or how long it had been in there (it was pretty soggy)!

Jump, Jump!

Sunday Afternoon Nap

Choo Choo

We took Landon to Toys R Us last weekend to spend his gift card and money that he got for his birthday.

He bought this wooden Thomas train set. You can add to the set and make a massive little railroad. Our plans are to get him a train table and continue to add to it over the years.

He has had so much fun with this little train set already.

I Heart This Face

Follow Me!

I put my follower option back up (to the right) - if you follow my blog, let me know! Just sign up as a follower!

There are still good people left in this world...

Last night, the boys and I went grocery shopping at Walmart. After I got all of the groceries, my bag, the boys' snacks, my drink leftover from McD's, the shopping cart cover and finally my 2 squirmy worms in the car, I said to Landon "Be right back buddy. I've got to put the cart away". About that time a lady walks by and says "I'll take it for you" and she took it back to the cart return about 4 parking spots over.

Maybe I was looking a little frazzled? Or maybe just one simple, kind act from one person to another. Either way, I was extremely grateful and I'm definitely going to pay that good deed forward...

Do something nice for a stranger today.

Yo Yo Yo - It's June!

Landon has been learning the months of the year at school. As with anything it is much easier to learn something if you put it to a song. They learned the months to the tune of a rap complete with a pose at the end!

His dance moves were so stinking cute in the first video so I had to include it even thought he forgot his ending pose. In the second video, he hit it perfect!

Operator, Please Connect Me

Come on Mom...I'm trying to talk on the phone here!


Okay, sorry about that..you were saying?

one of my favorites things to see first thing in the morning (besides my other 2 boys)...

Hello Gorgeous!

My Other New Baby

My friend emailed me a link to a Kate Spade Sample Sale today. Hello...Kate Spade up to 75% off. Yes, I know I just got a new one for my birthday but I couldn't resist. This sweet little thing is on her way to Cary, North Carolina. {swoon}

St. Louis

Why Are You Laughing At Me?

I've been a dental delinquent for the past 3 or so years. After my 4 year old braved his first dental appointment, I figured that I could put on my big girl panties and go. So I did and underwent the water pick...more like the pick axe to the gums. And I had 2 cavities. Great example to Landon. See what happens when you don't go to the dentist honey.

I went back today for my fillings. I was pretty sure I was drooling all over myself and had somewhat of a lisp, but had no idea that I looked like a stroke victim. When I came home and lovingly smiled at my husband, this is what I got...

Living at the Airport

Yay!!! Daddy is home! The Bagley household is dancing a jig to have Daddy back. And apparently Landon thinks he's been at the airport for 6 days. :)

(will post pix from his St. Louis trip in a few days)

Feed Me Seymore!

Carter has been chomping down on some table food the past few weeks. He is starting to prefer table food to baby food now. Some things that he's added to his pallet are baked beans, black beans, rice, pasta, couscous, French Fries, Goldfish, Cheerios, and tortilla chips!

Potty Stories

Two funny stories about Landon & the potty:

After Landon went poop, he yelled to me "Mommy, come look at all of these tiny curbs"...aka turds!

Landon has peed in public twice this past week...in Cary might I add. Once on the side of a busy road while we were walking and once in a wooded area at a local park. Yep, dropped his pants and mooned Cary. You can take the boy out of the country but you can't take the country out of the boy!!!

Picture Game

My friend Dana at Hancock Heir invited me to play a little blogging picture game.

Go to your pictures folder, open the 8th folder, post the 8th picture with its story.

Here's mine...



This was taken in February 2005 at Carolina Beach. Christopher and I were celebrating our 3rd anniversary. We stayed in this POS hotel that had a SPACE HEATER as the heat source!!! Benson's Landing...we will never forget the name of that place or the experience! It makes us chuckle every time!!!

Landon's 4-Year Check-Up

Landon went to the doctor for his 4-year check-up on June 3rd. He was 40.5 inches tall (60th percentile) and weighed 38.6 pounds (75th percentile). His BP was 92/58.

He passed his vision and hearing screenings. He also passed his "knowledge" tests like counting, identifying opposites, etc.

We did a urinalysis (yes, my big boy peed in a cup) to test for juvenile diabetes. We had some concerns due to his bed wetting, extreme thirst and extreme hunger. Thankfully, it came back normal. The doctor doesn't have concerns about his bed wetting. He said 30% of boys and girls wet the bed at night through age 5. We are doing everything right (no caffeine, get him to void before bedtime, and nothing to drink after supper). He just sleeps so hard and does not rouse when he has to go to the bathroom. We will just have to wait it out.

We will need to take him back to his allergist & asthma specialist to test him further as he is still dependant on a daily med for his breathing. Around 4, they can do tests to determine if his RAD really is asthma. I'll keep you posted on that.

He got 4 shots that he needs for Kindergarten (yes, I said Kindergarten...I don't want to even talk about this right now). Let me just say I'm not sure who was in the most pain...Landon or Mommy.

Landon is growing up right before our eyes...too fast. I still haven't figured out how to slow down time.

Cards From Heaven?

Landon helped me open some birthday cards that I got in the mail. He read one of my cards to me. According to him, it said "Dear God, thank you for our Bible story. Amen".

My New Kate

I have an addiction to designer purses and I am a little bit of a purse snob. You would never see a Target special on my shoulder (no matter how cute it might be). It's my one splurge. I don't buy a lot of new clothes or gadgets or really anything for me. Christopher spoils me with a new purse about once a year. My favorite designer is Kate Spade. I have 4 of her bags, plus a few other designers (Prada, Michael Kors, etc.). I could probably pay for at few semesters of college for Landon with my collection!!!

Here is my latest addition. Happy Birthday to me!

Single Mom For The Week

The boys and I dropped Daddy off at the airport yesterday morning. He is in St. Louis, Missouri for the week for a work conference.

I am already worn out...

And I miss my Christopher. It's hard going to sleep in an empty bed.

1 day down, 5 to go!

All For A Coca-Cola

Just wondering if anyone other than me & my sister-in-law understand this...

When I am drinking a soda, sometimes I am in the mood to drink it out of the can but sometimes I want it out of a cup. And the cup matters...sometimes I'm in the mood for a plastic cup (and different plastic cups are different too) and sometimes I'm in the mood for a glass. And ice or no ice. And if it's a go for ice, there's crushed versus cubed.

Yes I am serious...

psssstttttt...

today's my birthday! :)

The Artist

I picked up Landon from daycare yesterday to discover a large "rocket ship" drawn on the classroom wall in blue crayon...by my Landon.

Here was our conversation:

M: Landon, why did you draw on the wall at school?
L: Because I wanted to draw a BIG rocket ship.
M: Well, you know we only draw on paper.
L: But they didn't have paper big enough!

Seriously, I know I'm supposed to be upset and discipline him properly...but, the kid's got a point! :)

Note: The issue was addressed appropriately at home and he is cleaning the wall at school today.

X Marks The Spot

We have discovered the fun world of geocaching. Landon best describes it as a treasure hunt. Basically, there are little treasures out there EVERYWHERE. People hide random things in different types of containers (ammo boxes, cans, toothpick canisters, etc) along with a log. Using the published coordinates and a GPS, you locate the cache, sign the log and replace it just the way you found it. On Memorial Day, we tried it out on a few local greenways and found 5 out of 5 caches! It was a blast!

*There are some that are a little difficult when you have 2 kids with you. Some aren't so kid-friendly when it comes to accessibility. There was one instance where Christopher had Landon on his hip, and I had Carter on mine and we were trekking though the woods looking for a cache!



Landon finding his first treasure. This was a kid-friendly cache right off of the greenway trail, in a magnetic key box on the back of the park bench.



Whatcha got big brother?



Here's another cache of the day.

Pool Party

On Sunday, we went over to our friends' house (Jess, Rich & Laken) for a cook-out and to swim in their neighborhood "pool". I say "pool" because it's more like a water park!





The boys had fun playing at the house and at the pool.









The little ones were pooped from the pool. (And it seems like Christopher, Landon & I were just as pooped as we all took a 2 hour nap after we got home!)

Celebrate!

A conversation Landon & I had walking into church on Saturday night:

K: Landon, do you know why we come to church?
L: To celebrate!
K: What are we celebrating?
L (looking at me like I have 3 heads): Jesus!

Front Yard Fun

Landon's 4th Birthday

On Friday, Landon and I played hooky from work & school to enjoy his special day together.

We started our day at Marbles museum. Marbles is a two-story, hands-on kids museum in downtown Raleigh. Downstairs is full of little areas for pretend play like an ambulance, fire truck, boat, post office, grocery store, kitchen, & pirate ship. Upstairs is geared towards kids a little bit older and include a wood shop, a Lego area, vehicle design space & a sports area including a Hurricanes ice hockey rink.

*PS - I could not for the life of me figure out how to put together a car for Landon to race. After unsuccessfully trying to copy a 7-year old boy's car, I had a dad start one for me! And just to add my husband was no help when I texted him. His response was..."Can you make an L? Make that and put on your forehead. Can you make that?"

Here's a little video montage of our time at Marbles.



After leaving Marbles, we took a rickshaw ride around downtown Raleigh.



We watched a movie together on the couch late that afternoon. And went to get ice cream with Daddy & Carter after Landon's favorite supper (hot dogs, mac & cheese and baked beans).

It was a great day with my little guy...I guess I should say big guy. I didn't have a care in the world or any distractions other than Landon and having fun. I acted like a silly kid all day and laughed so much that my side was sore the next day!