Happy 2nd Birthday Chase!

In continuing with my "better late than never" theme, here is my 2 year old post for the son formerly referred to as Baby Chase.

Now that he looks like this,





and not this,





I can't call him Baby Chase any longer.

It is just Chase.

Or usually C H A S E ! ! !


Sweet Chase,

Happy 2nd birthday to you! You have changed so much over the past year.

You weigh in at 28 pounds (a mere 10 pounds less than that skinny big brother of yours) and are about 34 inches in length.

You are wearing size 2T-3T in clothes and a size 4 diaper.





You still are a charmer! You have added some snazzy dance moves to your bag of tricks. I have gotten some great videos of you busting a move. You love to "play" Let's Dance on the Wii and we also have random dance offs at home. You really enjoy music and you just have to move along when you hear it! It makes so many people smile to watch you enjoy yourself and I love that you have such an outgoing personality!


You are really coming along with the talking. You put together 2 words all the time now like "My Mama" or "Dada's hat." You know names of family members, animals, objects and are great at repeating what you hear. You are also doing great with being able to say animal noises and acting out songs like the Itsy Bitsy Spider and If You're Happy and You Know It! You also love to yell out AMEN after we finish praying at the dinner table.





You have discovered Elmo and love to watch Elmo videos. Aunt Rochelle got your some Elmo slippers for your birthday that you love. Aunt Erica got you a new Elmo video which I greatly appreciate as I could just about recite the other one in its entirety. If it isn't Elmo, then we watch "bug" which is what you call the Baby Einstein videos because they have the caterpillar on the screen in the beginning.





The biggest change in you is that you are asserting your opinion - especially when it comes to food. The little guy that would eat anything has turned into the little guy who basically wants to live off of snacks.

You have picked a slew of snack items that you like and turn your nose up at past favorites like a PB&J and chicken tenders. Son, I am going to need you to eat a PB&J. You and I have gone head to head several times over what you are going to have for dinner. You go into that pantry and start pointing and barking orders. It is definitely something we will continue to work on. If you are like your brother, we will have success about the time you are 4!

Speaking of snacks, you can put away an entire basket of chips and a bowl of salsa by yourself. When we go eat Mexican, we have them bring out your own salsa and chips because you are all about it!




You are still in Mother's Morning Out 2 days a week. You wave and say good bye to me and are happy to be there. No more tears is such a good thing. You love to do art projects there and love your teachers Ms. Dee Dee and Ms. Katharine.


You still love to look at books. You got several new toys for Christmas and your birthday but you don't have any one thing that you like more than books. You help me around the house during the day. You love to sweep and put clothes in the wash. Most of the time I am trying to pull the dirty clothes out of the dryer that you keep putting in but you have the general idea down.





You love Wyatt (who you call Bubba) and Morgan (who you call "E"). They both love to play with you. You and Wyatt wrestle and run around while Morgan is great to read with you and look at books. Sometimes you all just run around and around the house chasing each other. It is a loud house to say the least! Another thing you do is run to someone for a hug when you get your feelings hurt. Like if I tell you "no", you will turn and run to Wyatt with your arms out crying "Bubba." It is DRAMA! But we all join right in and hug you and try to make it all better.





We took you to the circus on your birthday! My friend Jan took her grandson Joey who is just a few months younger than you. We thought we were crazy for taking 2 toddlers to the circus but thought we would give it a try anyway. You and Joey surprised us by sitting still and watching the entire show! Of course the big ole tub of popcorn definitely helped keep you happy too.





It is fun being able to take you to events now that you are getting older. You LOVE animals so we think the zoo is the next stop on our list.


This past year has flown by. I know there are so many changes that will be happening this year for you. Your little brain is like a sponge and you are absorbing so much and learning so much. We all love you very much Chase and are so thankful to have had these past 2 years with you. We are looking forward to many more years of being your family!

Love,
Dada, Mama, E, and Bubba

October, How Do I Love Thee

I think October has to be my all time favorite month of the year.

I would have gotten married in October had there been a Saturday not trumped by Alabama football.




Not sure who Alabama was playing on November 4, 2000 but apparently my wedding ranked slightly higher.

October brings cooler weather, warmer clothes, and Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

Which means the Peppermint Mocha Latte isn't far behind.

October means Dit Dit gets a new Halloween themed outfit.




It also brings trips to the Pumpkin Patch.




Pumpkin Patch trips include tractor pulled rides complete with giggling friends.




October includes a night for kids to dress up and go to complete strangers' homes to get candy. And the strangers are nice and excited you stopped by. They don't even mind the 21 month old storming their foyer because he assumed we knew the strangers since we were ringing their bell.




And, oh, how all that candy puts a smile on the kids' faces. Some kiddos can't wait to sample the candy even though their picture is being taken. Just. Can't. Wait.




Just being outside when it isn't so blistering hot is fabulous.

Today Chase and I sat in the front yard, down in the grass, and just watched life go by.

The horses grazed, the cows mooed, birds chirped, and cotton trucks passed. And the shining sun made it warm enough to be out without a coat but the breeze made it cool enough to be glad you were in pants. Just pure perfection I tell ya.

And now November is upon us which means a month to reflect on all we have been blessed with and what we are thankful for. And it also means eating like there is no tomorrow. What are you thankful for?

"I'll be thankful when I am no longer on Thing 2 duty."

The One Where I Try To Nix the Naughtiness

Dear Chase,

I am starting to see a pattern emerge regarding your down time.

You know that whole "Idle hands are the devil's tools" saying?

Well, you kind of totally support that theory.

Sometimes I turn my back on you, so to speak, for a minute...

and this is what I am rewarded with.




You in the pantry pulling out every. single. sandwich. baggie.

You don't hide your waywardness - rather loudly announce that you are ALL DONE i.e. give me something else to tear up.

You also have a certain fondness for the cabinet where we keep the games with six hundred billion pieces.

As in open up every box, dump out the pieces, and eat the cards kind of fondness.




Now we are down a single orange in Candy Land, Mister.

Anywho, you have this wonderful, built-in defense mechanism also known as a STINKING CUTE PERSONALITY complete with ADORABLE EXPRESSIONS!

You are all "who me?"




"I am so just sitting here minding my own business."




"Who us? Steal a firetruck?"




"Nope, you must be looking for that naughty kid over there."




"The one with eggs all over himself and the kitchen floor."




"I believe he is is also known as your first born and original trouble maker. I kinda want to be like him."




Hmm, touche Chase. Touche.

Chase is 20 months...and 15 days

I have avoided this blog for the past couple of months - always finding something else to do instead of blogging.

But my mom requested that I start it back up, so this post is for her.

I am a little late on Chase's 20 month post, hence the disclaimer in the title and his little sign.

Dear Chase,

You are still our sweet little baby but you are looking more and more like a little boy each day.





You weigh 26 pounds and are 33 inches in length.

You are wearing size 24 months and 2T in clothes and a size 4 diaper.

You have 16 pearly white teeth. Your daddy is concerned about you having an over bite because you suck your fingers at night. But, there isn't anything we can do about it now. I am sure braces are in your future but you have a beautiful smile that lights up the room.

Overall, I would say that you are a good eater. You definitely have favorites - mashed potatoes probably being number 1.





You also love junk food like chips, ice cream, and doughnuts. When we go to Wyatt's soccer games, we bring a bag of snacks to keep you occupied so we can watch the game instead of chasing you around.

Here is some evidence of your sweet tooth. This day you were a sticky mess from eating (and drooling) on a sucker.





You have a great personality! You are very happy most of the time and you give out smiles to just about anyone. You crack us up with your expressions and looks. You love showing people your belly. You had an audience at a soccer game and you just ate it up.





Dit Dit is still your very best friend. He goes everywhere with us. All your little caretakers know about Dit Dit and are good about helping us keep up with him. I am thinking about writing a letter to Gund and sending them pictures of their much loved bear.





Now to the talking, or should I say the lack of talking.

I think most of it can be attributed to you being the "third" child in our family now. We have busy lives and I know I don't spend enough time going over words with you but I am working on that. You do LOVE books and love to look at them. I know the words will come in time, the more we practice.





You do repeat what you hear. Just this morning you were putting Dit Dit in your crib and saying "night night" which sounded more like "nigh nigh". You also tell us "all done" when you get your diaper changed and when you are finished eating.

I mentioned the time out chair in your 18 month old post but we really have not been having to use it. I am not sure what that is about. I think we are just too busy for you to get bored and get into trouble.





You are still enjoying the little matchbox cars from the Cars movies. Your new favorite toy is the soccer ball. I can tell you have been watching Wyatt out on the field because you kick the ball all around the house. You are actually really good for your age. You even throw it like they do from the sidelines. You are an observant little guy for sure.





You did a short stint in daycare because Mommy thought she needed to get a job. But you ended up being sick so much that it wasn't worth it after all. You had 2 or 3 stomach bugs and one of those had your tummy all messed up for 2 weeks straight. We have adjusted some things in your diet and you seem to be finally back to normal. You are now going to the Mother's Morning Out program 2 days a week. You went from being the oldest in your class to the youngest. I think you will be challenged but it was still hard to leave you in there with those "big kids." You have only gone once so far so it is too early to say much about it. I am glad I got to keep you at 1st Baptist with familiar faces and also for you to have some socialization time with other kids.





I think that is a pretty good update on you. We love you and are blessed to have you!

1st Day at WCA!

It seems like we were just here the other day...




...yet here we are!




Wyatt and Morgan had their first day of school this week.

Morgan started back to middle school as a 7th grader!

She is cheering for the middle school football team this year. She has practice a few times a week and games will start up later this month. Her plate is definitely full between that and her classes but she is excited about what the year has in store for her and we are too.

And my baby started Kindergarten!




His teacher is new to the school but has taught Kindergarten for the last 7 years. I think Wyatt will really enjoy her class once he learns what her rules are and what she expects. So far, so good. When I picked him up after the first day he asked if he could go back again tomorrow. And he has already decided he wants to go to 1st grade there as well.





I was able to take him to his classroom on the first morning. I saw so many familiar faces everywhere I turned. I ran into my sweet 4th grade teacher who is still there. The principal was my high school math teacher. The 1st grade teacher is a childhood friend. And then there were many parents I knew as well. It was definitely a little mini-reunion.

This morning I dropped Wyatt off out front and he headed inside all on his own. That was definitely tougher than I thought - watching that little boy walk into a new school all by himself. Fortunately, he found his buddy Lawson and they waited together outside the classroom until it was time to go in. BUT, I didn't know that until I picked him up so I was a little worried for him.

This is his little friend Lawson - although he is about a head taller than Wyatt!



Lawson's mom graduated with my brother Aaron and she is the sister-in-law of one of my "oldest" friends! I already feel like we have joined a great big family that we will cherish for years to come.

18 Months and Counting!

Sweet Chase -

So I feel like you were this age just the other day.




But here we are!



18 months old!


You weigh 24 pounds and are 32 3/4 inches in length.

You are wearing size 24 months and 2T in clothes and a size 4 diaper.

You have lots of new chompers! 12 total with 6 on top and 6 on the bottom. Those big molars that came through were painful but we got through it!


You have days that you are picky and don't seem to want to eat. Then you have days that you are eating everything in sight. Overall you are good eater and make us all laugh with your expressive "Mmmmmm" you give after tasting something yummy. Sunday you were begging peach pie with whipped cream off of everyone's plate. You definitely never pass up a dessert!


You make the silliest faces and expressions. One of your favorites is puckering those lips up!




Well, your little facial expressions and personality definitely make up for your lack of interest in TALKING!

First the walking and now the talking!

You do jibber all the time but you aren't really picking up very many new words. You have a handful of words you say - with Dada and Mama being the most used. Then you say all kinds of things and I can tell you are trying to tell me but you just don't have the words yet.

But I can tell you to do most anything and you totally understand what I am saying to you. You also can pick out animals or objects from books when I ask you to point them out. Your main way to communicate with me is to say MAMA very loud and point at whatever it is you want. I know you will pick up the words on your own time - just like the walking.


Something new we have just started in the last couple of weeks - TIMEOUT. Jeremy actually put you in it first and after he made you stay seated a couple of times, you got it.

This is the time out chair




and this is the timeout timer.



Just 1 minute is all the time you have to do for now! You cry really loud until the timer beeps and then you know you are free and I will be coming to get you.


You still love your Toy Story 3 push car but are also loving the little matchbox cars from Cars and Cars 2. You make the engine noises when you drive them around the floor or edge of the tub.


You now like to run everywhere instead of just walking. So the bumps and bruises are coming right after each other. You have 2 big boo boos on your forehead right now. All I can say is bless your heart.


You are very much loved, especially by these 2!

Worst Blogger Ever!

You know when you mean to do something...

but you get busy and you don't get around to it?

Then you get to the point that you KNOW you are really behind...

so then you start just avoiding it altogether?

No?

Well, me neither.

But if I did find myself in that predicament, say in relation to a blog, then I am glad to say that I am over it.

Yes. I am facing up to being a total blogger slacker.

I don't even have a good excuse.

My only excuse is monotony.

We play. We swim. I Zumba. We clean up. But that is rather boring to blog about.

We've had a few outings here and there but I just haven't felt motivated.

Until now.

So, with bated breath, I bring you...

PICTURES FROM FALLS MILL!!!




No, really, that is all I got.

But I AM incorporating pics from 4 years ago at the same location to bring the whole "then and now" feel to it.

See? Here is Wyatt with me by the falls when he was 14 months old.



And here he is by the falls at age 5.




Only this time around we got Little Bit with us too!




The great thing about Falls Mill is that there is so much shade, that I actually didn't even break a sweat - and it was an outdoor activity involving kids! That almost never happens for me.

And the water - FRIGID - which was perfect on a hot summer day.




Wyatt fished (netted?) for minnows,




Chase loved playing in the water with his little shovel,




throwing rocks in the creek,




and giving them the ole taste test as well.




Apparently I must watch way too many 'When Nature Attacks' or 'I Shouldn't Be Alive' shows because the whole time, I was constantly scanning the water and banks for snakes or any other scary creature that may rain on our parade.

I had visions of having to apply a tourniquet to a snake bite and had even decided Wyatt's shirt would probably work the best.

No. I. am. not. kidding.

I worry about these things - everything is all 'fun in the water' and then BAM - you are retelling your story on Animal Planet.

But it was all for not - the only rescuing we did was of a caterpillar that had fallen from a tree and was on a rock in the middle of the creek.

And a couple of little beauty tips for you...

If you wear a hat - you don't have to do your hair

AND

If you wear sunglasses - you don't have to put on eye makeup!

Genius!