Sweet Shot Tuesday

I don't often get the chance to photograph my brother. Ironic since I know he's a bit of a ham. *chuckling*

These photos were spur of the moment and are blurry, etc. I was laughing and I couldn't figure out which button I'd mashed on my DSLR. *more chuckling*

The results are no less precious to me, though. Or funny.

Did you see his face?

Trust the Bubs to get someone to laugh!

Thanks for visiting! I'm linking up with Darcy over at My 3 Boybarians for Sweet Shot Tuesday.

18 months

Our E-man.

There he is.

A little blurry from being in near constant motion with food bits around that sweet smile.

Very shortly he will be 18 months old.

Wow.

Right now his favorite activities are climbing, exploring and running around after his big bro'. The climbing and exploring have given his daddy and me some hair raising moments while the sounds of good-natured shouting and laughter as he and the Bubs play keep smiles on our faces.

Yo Gabba Gabba and any music with a beat keep him shimmying and shakin'. It's so stinkin' cute!

He jabbers away in a language that only he can completely understand but we all "uh-huh" and "oh, tell me about it" as if we're all having a conversation with him. He loves that.

His favorite item, by far, is his "binky". His binky is a blue, cable-knit baby blanket that I bought extremely reduced at a local Ross store before he was born. It's very soft and we have to sneak it away from him to throw it in the wash.

His newest skill is, by far, our favorite. He's learned to give hugs.

Oh, how those hugs smooth out the rough edges of our days!

No photos...and that's okay with me!

I have not one picture for y'all to see in this post.

Nope.

Not a one.

And I'm happy about that.

Ridiculously so, in fact.

Why?

One simply cannot get a camera near a pool filled with water.

Especially when one is in the pool splashing her boys and laughing in gleeful abandon.

Woohoo!

Summer Vacation = Boredom and Teething?

When I was a kid in school, I used to look forward to summer vacation. I could sleep in, no homework, maybe take a vacation trip, trips to the beach, hanging out with friends...I'm sure most of you remember how it felt to be free for a couple months!

Now that I'm a parent, the meaning of summer vacation has changed. It means that I now have both boys at home all day. Two active boys. Two boys who want mommy's undivided attention. All. The. Time.

Of course, they want the attention for two entirely different reasons. The Bubs, who is used to having a scheduled day, wants to be entertained and given activities to do. I don't mind doing that for a while, but since I can't magically split myself into multiples, I have to insist that he find something to occupy himself while I tend to E-man/Hubby/the house. Perish the thought!

E-man wants to be cuddled and entertained most of the time because he's cutting 4 or more teeth at the same time (yikes!) and that makes him a bit crabby. I'd be crabby, too.

So what's a overwhelmed mommy to do? Give us time to adjust to a new routine, plan a few activities for all of us.....and set up the new little inflatable pool that Poppi bought the boys and have some fun.

It's summer vacation, after all!

Little Moments - Big Boys

As Moms, we all know that it's those little moments along the way with our kids that make life so great. A giggle, a discovery...moments of bliss wrapped up in the simple acts of being a kid.

I love those moments. I live for them. I've always tried to actively keep my eye (and ears) out for them because I know that they can be easily missed as I go about my day-to-day business.

Lately, I've been having moments of a different sort...

You know the ones. The moments that bring the stunning and bittersweet realization that your babies are, well, not babies anymore.

Sometimes I look at the Hubby and moan over how quickly they're growing up.

The Bubs is almost through with 1st grade and is getting to be so tall. He's already up to my shoulder!

E-man is walking everywhere and lets us see more and more of his little personality everyday.


Our boys. My babies.

Sigh...

So I went a little crazy with Picnik....

But it was worth it...How cute are my boys?!

Weekend Everyday Occasion moments...

We were all hangin' out in the living room yesterday afternoon. The Steelers, at that moment, were winning against the Bengals with the Hubs cheering them on and the boys were sprawled out on a comforter on the floor. The Bubs was watching Thomas vids online while next to him the E-man was happily chewing away on one of his toys. After the mess and upheaval of last week with all the continued construction, my being laid low with a nasty stomach bug, and all the usual craziness that goes on with having a busy family we needed to just BE. Be in our house, be together, be at rest...BE.

I happened to glance down and catch the funniest expressions on E-man's face as he tried to figure out what his big bro' was up to. And, as most of you have guessed, the camera came out! The Hubs snuck it to me so that neither of the boys were distracted. We needn't have worried. They were both so intent on what they were doing that neither of them noticed what we were up to.

Oops! I hear the E-man waking up from his nap...I'll leave you with these pics. Thanks for stoppin' by!!

Somethin' to smile about...

There they are. Our boys. How they brighten my world, y'all! When those two are together and happy all's right in our little part of the world. Of course, when little E-man is old enough to get into the Bubs's trains those moments may be a little less frequent!



The Bubs will be "graduating" from Kindergarten tomorrow. Oooohhhhh...insert big, heartfelt sigh here. My baby (who will always be my baby no matter how many times he rolls his eyes at me) is growing up. He's a smart, inquisitive, charming little guy that his Dad and I are quite proud of.



He's been Poppi's (grandpa's) buddy the last few weeks. Shopping excursions, contraband snacks, sleepovers, and laughter has abounded. Of course, since staying with Poppi is such a blast the Bubs now wants to move in with him! He did say once, however, that he wanted to stay with Poppi so he wouldn't be alone.

Who says children are always selfish and never think of others?

What a year this has been...uh, year in the terms of a school year. We've had great joys and a great sorrow. I know that more of both will come our way because that's what happens in life. I truly hope, though, that we're able to make the most of every joy and allow our Heavenly Father to see us through the sorrows. This is what I want our boys to learn from us.