Those eyes. Those lips. Those freckles.  <3

On The Move

This little girl isn't crawling yet, but she gets to where she wants to go. She scoots, rolls, turns, twists, anything she needs to do to get to where she wants. If she sees something across the room on the floor, she's going to get to it. And pretty fast. I can already see the wheels turning in her little head as she gets into her *almost* downward dog position.

The boys both crawled around 10 months. I think this one will be before then for sure.

Happy 9th Birthday, Landon!

Don't these always start the same way? Where has the time gone? How did we get here so fast? But it's true. So I'll say it again. Where has the time gone? How did we get here so fast?

My dearest, sweetest, most special Landon Cole. My lovie. My mama's boy. You're 9 today. NINE! That blows this mama's mind. I remember the day I had you - May 28, 2006. You made your daddy and me parents. We weren't parents before you. How cool is that? YOU are the reason we are who we are.

I've told you many times before, but I will say it again... there was a reason God gave us you first. I have never seen a boy love to "brother" like you. You are so caring, considerate, (rough and bossy at times, yes; but you are a 9 year old boy, not perfection), thoughtful, HELPFUL, entertaining, funny, and many other things that make up an awesome big brother. Carter Bear and Wrenn Bird love you so much. They look up to you and admire you. Keep that close to your heart and mind buddy. You are the example. I know that's a lot of pressure to be the oldest, the example, but you're up for it. Again, there's a reason God gave us you first.

Your daddy and I are so proud of you. You work really hard in school and except nothing short of (dare I say) perfection. We don't expect perfect. We expect for you to always do the best that you can possibly do. You constantly surpass our expectations. You have awesome grades. You love school, especially math. You test ridiculously well. You love to read. You're being considered for the AIG program (which is stupid hard to get into: you have to score in the top 95th percentile on a test, if so, you can take a 2nd test in which you have to score in the top 95th percentile on that test, if so, you can take a 3rd test in which you have to score in the top 95th percentile on that test, if so, you are then considered for the program). You have many friends at school and are respectful to your teachers.

You are now a Webelo Cub Scout. You have your whittling chip and love to go outside to carve a stick. You take first aid very seriously (like your daddy). And enjoy being outdoors and learning about nature.

You and your brother are constantly outside, most likely playing football or soccer. You've got a nice arm, buddy! You want to play tackle football in the fall. Your daddy is still thinking about that one; he is worried about your safety.

You LOVE to sing. It's amazing how fast you can pick up on the words of a song. And thank goodness I was given a singing and dancing partner. My mini performances are so much better as a pas de deux.

You love your Lord God with all your heart. I am so proud to be alongside you during your walk with Christ. It's such an amazing thing to witness. I pray everyday that you continue to see God and keep him close by.

I want you to know how special you are to me, your daddy, your brother and sister, your family, your friends, and people that haven't even met you yet! You're a kind, loving boy who is going to make an impact on the world.

“I will look after you and I will look after anybody you say needs to be looked after, any way you say. I am here. I brought my whole self to you. I am your mother.” 
― Maya Angelou

Happy birthday, lovie.

For Daddy Only

I've been told that these lips are for daddy only (sorry, boys).

The Bagleys Meet Ana

A few weekends ago, the Bagley Circus headed east to Carolina Beach, NC for a friend's wedding. All during Tropical Storm Ana. Bagley luck. :)

We were invited to their rehearsal dinner Friday night and their wedding on Saturday night. We had a little house rented across the street from the ocean. My in-laws were supposed to go with us to stay at the beach house with our babies while the Mr and I attended the festivities. Well...my sweet, little nephew Oakley decided to make his debut super early (the day before we were supposed to leave) so my in-laws were no longer available. After trying to give away a free trip to the beach during a tropical storm to a few folks, my friend and her son obliged. Thank you, Ms. Tracy and Chase!

We headed east at lunchtime on Friday and attended an awesome rehearsal dinner at Front Street Brewery in downtown Wilmington. At this point, slow-moving Ana was sitting about a hundred miles or so off the coast just chilling. The weather was still great. We had one good hour-long storm during the night while we slept.

We walked on the beach on late Saturday morning/early afternoon. The ocean was mad! The boys enjoyed playing at the water's edge (we didn't allow them to go in hardly any because of the strong undertow), and especially in the sea foam that covered the beaches from the churning ocean. We were approached by Time Warner News on the beach for an interview (why are you crazy people at the beach during a tropical storm?!). They interviewed me and recorded the kids playing. It aired that night and I had some friends in the Raleigh area that actually saw it! I haven't been able to find it online, but it aired. Yeah. I'm pretty much famous. Sweet Bird put her piggies in the sand for the first time! And we made a pit stop by Britt's Donuts! Mmmmmmmm!

 

 

 

 That night we attended their outdoor wedding at the bride's parents' home on the sound in Wilmington. The weather held out; we even saw a rainbow at the end of the ceremony. Nice touch! We moved into the huge tent for the reception and the bottom fell out. It was raining and winding like a tropical storm... The power went out. People cheered! The power came back on. People cheered! But we kept on eating, drinking, and dancing! Around 9:30 (about an hour before the couple were supposed to leave), the rain stopped and we thought it might be best if we head out. (Side note: When we arrived and drove down a one-lane dirt road and parked in a grassy field next to the house, I told Christopher that this probably is a bad idea.) When we left, there was a Mini Cooper that got stuck twice in the field. We were able to drive around that mud pit but got stopped at the end of the one-lane, one-way road out of there. One car had slid off the road up ahead. They were able to move that car over enough for folks to get by. Then the SUV in front of us got stuck in the mud twice. So, when it was our turn, the Mr floored it and slipped and slid our way out of there without getting stuck at all! (He's my hero.) What a great memory!

When we left Sunday morning, it was raining pretty hard and starting to flood. We met my college roomie for brunch and left the storm behind.

It was a great weekend for everyone, including Ana.

Teacher Appreciation Week 2015

For Teacher Appreciation Week, the boys sent in some goodies each day for their special teachers: snacks, a flower to plant (instead of one to just die), a mini sewing kit with a note that said 'you're sew awesome,' and a bag of fun/useful school/office supplies. My favorite had to be this questionnaire that I had them complete about their teacher, though. I hope their teachers enjoyed reading it as much as I did. I can't wait to do this every year!

Babies Don't Keep

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

 Author: Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Home

The kids and I recently spent a weekend at my parent's house in Virginia. I LOVE being home on the farm. The air is different. The greens are greener. The skies are bluer and bigger. And just being at home and with family is so good for my soul.

The boys had so many fun adventures while exploring. I love that I can just send them off and let their imaginations go wild. I have so many fond memories exploring the farm growing up.

See those 2 little boys waaaaaaaay down there. They walked miles on the farm.

They had a lot of fun getting spoiled by Nannie and Papa...lots of snuggling and a little farming.

This was my Granny's house, who lived next to us on the farm. I have so many special memories of my Granny and her house.

We celebrated my nephew, Adam's 8th birthday while there. The 4 oldest boy cousins had a blast together and Miss Wrenn got lots of cuddles, even from the youngest boy cousin, Wesley.

We also got to see my almost 94 year old grandfather, which is such a special treat. (I also taught my Papa what a selfie is.)

Zero to Sleep

I love how a baby can go from this...

to this, in a matter of seconds.

(And those eyes! Those lips! Those hands! Those piggies! Swoon! Swoon! Swoon!)

Circle Blankie

Carter was given his beloved "circle blankie" on his first Christmas (at 5 months old) and has loved it from that very day. He always slept with it and held it up to his little nose while sucking his thumb. While he held it, he would rub his finger on the corner of it. All 4 corners are rubbed thin and black (even when clean). Anytime we'd leave the house, we'd always ask, "Got circle blankie?" It went wherever Carter Bear went. We've spent many hours searching for that blankie when lost. Lots of trips back to the house to get it if forgotten. Once even driving over and over through a tobacco field on my parent's farm because he dropped it off of the golf cart.

By the way, he named it "circle blankie" after he started learning his shapes. I always loved that he called it circle and not polka dot.

Even now that he doesn't suck his thumb, he still sleeps with it. I'll see him snuggling with it at night when I go in to steal a kiss after they are sleeping.

The other day, while reading them a bedtime story, Wrenn grabbed it (she was laying on their bed with us). I watched Carter carefully to see his reaction. He just looked at her, smiled, and said, "awwww...she has my circle blankie."

And then I died.

Sigh

I looked over at Landon the other day reading on the couch and realized that my "baby" has definitely left the building. Look at those legs! We are swiftly approaching NINE and this mama heart is having a really hard time with that.

A mother holds her child's hand for a little while but holds their hearts forever.
-- Author Unknown