The coolest park in GA!!

Wylie driving the fire truck.

Bradley walking across the wobbly bridge.


The adorable Ashley...love the pigtails!

Wylie having a good time on the tire swing!

Rachel riding the frog!

Bradley and Ashley swinging

Bradley driving the fire truck

My sweet Rachel playing in the sandbox

Aerial view of Rachel

Wylie and Ashley

Precious Bradley jumping on the flimsy bridge

Bradley ridin' on a whale

My sweet girl balancing on the tight rope

Rachel swinging

Today, we met up with our friends, Emily, Wylie and Ashley at the World of Wonder Park. This is the coolest park in the world! It's got a toddler side and a big kid side with multiple sized slides, swings, sandboxes, climbing ropes, sliding poles, and castles to explore. This was Bradley's first time to actually play at this park. He's been before but was too young to play and he absolutely loved this park!! Rachel and Wylie ran all over the place together and Rachel even made two new friends. Bradley ended up in the sandbox and threw sand on himself and another kid. I took lots of pictures and I'm going to post as many as I can.

Fixing things & Cuddling

Well, we didn't do too much today and it was very nice. I actually got to clean my bathroom (sort of) and tidy the kitchen. It doesn't sound like much, but that is a big accomplishment since it usually gets ignored on a daily basis. I had to do the bathroom because Nick has decided that he wants to replace the messed up tile around our shower. For some reason, maybe when the house settled, the wall shifted and so there are cracks all the way around the shower. We could just re-grout them, but it won't be as nice as replacing some of the tile. So, we had a tile guy come over to give us an estimate. Nick's also got the itch to replace the kitchen countertops to granite. We have formica right now, and we think it'll be better for re-sale purposes to have a nice countertop. We're not selling the house yet, but maybe in a year. I can't complain, because I'm going to enjoy having a nice shower again AND I'm going to love new countertops. So, we'll see how many more things Nick thinks of that will increase the value of our home AND make me happy!


On a completely different note, both my kids are cuddlers! They both love to sit and cuddle with me and Nick. Obviously Bradley wants to cuddle, which explains why he wakes up every night and cries until we come in there, pick him up and rock him. He's usually very content and just precious while we're rocking him and it's a very sweet time. Of course, it does get old when it's multiple times during the night or when you're just "dog tired" and have to get out of bed during the middle of the night. But, I try to remind myself that he's going to be big one day and not want much to do with me, so I'd better enjoy these sweet, needy moments while I can. Just today when he woke up from his nap, he just wanted me to hold and rock him in the den until he was fully awake. His little head was on my chest and he was watching tv, but he wanted to cuddle, and it was sooooo sweet! Rachel is an extremely affectionate cuddler too! And, she's the biggest "rewarder" when you do cuddle with her. She likes to say several times, "I love you, mommy" or "I like you, mommy." It's so sweet! In the mornings, she wants to lay in bed with us and snuggle or sit on the couch and cuddle for as long as you have the time to sit or lay with her. And, during Bradley's nap, if we're watching tv, she wants me to hold her or sit as close to her as I can. Again, with lots of rewarding sentiments the whole time. Anyway, I know my kids are the sweetest kids and that I'm so blessed to have been given the opportunity to to be their mommy. I hope I'll always appreciate this time when my kids want to be with me sooo much! I know one day I'll probably be the last person they want to spend time with! I love them sooooo much!

A new gymnastics class for Boo Boo

Now that boo boo is approaching her 4th birthday, she and her other gymnastics buddies were asked to move out of the 2-3 year old class and into another class. I was disappointed at first, because I really liked the Tuesday, 11am time slot of her class. The only other one that would work with Bradley's nap was the Wednesdays at 4pm class. That is a 4 and 5 year old class and she had her first one tonight. I wasn't sure how she would like it without her usual buddies in there. Luckily, one of her friends, Raquelle, also moved into this class, so she did know someone. The other 4 students were 4 years old and there was a 6 year old. (go figure!) Anyway, the class was so neat! The teachers did much more challenging things with the students and more was expected from the kids. Rachel did awesome!! She has the ability and was able to copy all the things the other kids were doing, she just had to be shown what to do. I was so proud of her! The biggest difference between her age and an almost 5 year old is the attention/listening factor. She still gets in her own little world at times and doesn't hear when her teacher says to do something. But, she caught on eventually. What was really funny was when she had to wait her turn. There was a lot of this going on and since she's not in school yet, her only exposure to taking turns and stuff is at gymnastics. She would get the grumpiest look on her face and cross her arms when she was asked to wait her turn. But, her little face would light up when it was her turn! She's such a funny little girl! I got such a kick out of watching her! She looked so cute and like such a big kid walking forwards and backwards on the balance beam, balancing on one foot and kicking with the other, doing straddle jumps and v-sits and pikes. She just looked like a little adorable gymnast. I would love for her to continue this on for years and years, but we'll see if it's something she continues to enjoy. I want to expose her and Bradley to lots of different things to see what they enjoy and want to excel at.

I also wasn't sure how bubba would do with this new time for gymnastics, but he did awesome! I took lots of snacks, and since he had woken up from his nap at 3:00, he was well rested. He actually enjoyed watching her and only got a little cranky at the end of the class. I know he wants to be doing the same things and playing on the equipment like he sees her doing. I hope I can start him in some kind of class once Rachel starts school. I know he'll love it. Raquelle's little brother, Eli, (15 mo. old) was there so he and Bradley shared some cookies and got in each other's faces a little bit. (in a good way!)

I decided to post some pictures from yesterday and last week to make the blog more interesting. The ones of the kids doing crafts are when Rachel decided to make a heart valentine for JuJu. Bradley HAD to color too, but as you can see, he wanted to draw on the chair AND on the table.

I had to include the picture of him in the blue lacoste shirt, because I didn't know it was a lacoste shirt until the receptionist at the pediatrician's office made a big deal about how she didn't know they made baby lacoste shirts. I didn't either because I don't even know what's so special about a lacoste shirt in the first place. (Thanks Leigh Anne, for Carter's hand me downs!)

Doctors, doctors, doctors!

We're all so sick of going to the doctor! One big reason is of course the $ factor. Those co-pays really add up and make you cringe when you think of other areas where you could have spent the money. But, the biggest reason we're so sick of the doctor is that we're tired of being sick! Poor Rachel and Bradley have had so many little colds and ear infections, I can't even remember them all. All I know, is that we have been to at least one doctor per week for December and January. We were back at our pediatrician's office this morning for Bradley's 18 month check up (which we had put off) and for a re-check on Rachel's last double ear infection. Good thing we went, because Rachel STILL has an ear infection. Poor little girl hasn't even been complaining about it although Dr. McCorkle says it looks bad and he's surprised she hasn't said anything. I chalk it up to the fact that she's a girl (and we know how tough we are and how we have a high tolerance for pain) and that the infection was sooooo bad she just knows it doesn't feel as bad as it used to feel. Anyway, we got to go back to Publix to get another 10 day prescription for a nasty medicine that she hates taking and makes her want to throw up. She took the first 1 tsp. pretty well. We took breaks between and drank large sips of coke. But, when I had to give her the last 3/4, she was done. She wouldn't cooperate or be still, so I had to hold her down and squirt it in her mouth while she was screaming and crying. Of course, most of it ended up in her hair and on her shirt. I hope the first teaspoon will do the trick, because I'm not sure how I'm going to get her to take the last bit for 9 more days! Poor Rachel!!!!



Bradley's 18 mo. check up went well too. Thankfully, my kids LOVE Dr. McCorkle and all the nurses at his office. So, rarely do they cry or get upset about being examined. I had to get Bradley naked so he could be weighed, and he was 25 lbs. 1 oz. ,he measured 31 1/2 in. long. His little head is 19 1/2 in. circumference. His percentages were: 35% for weight, 21% for height and 88% for head. So, even though some people might think he's a big boy, he's actually just right!! He's grown in all directions since his 15 mo. check up and is developing just right! The worst part of the visit was that he had to have a finger prick and a shot. The finger prick made him mad because the nurse held his hand still and squeezed his finger. The shot hurt because it was in his little upper arm. He also didn't like the bandaids, so he quickly pulled the one off his finger and cried for about 5 minutes until he calmed down. Bradley was really using his "angry eyes" today when he looked at Dr. McCorkle and the nurse. He had a very furrowed brow and his little lip poked out. I think he was mimicking daddy, because I KNOW mommy never has that look! (yeah, right!) Anyway, at least he doesn't have to go back until his 2 year check-up. Hopefully, Rachel won't have to go back before she's 4 either. We're hoping we can keep everybody healthy!

I know I've sounded dramatic here, because I'm very thankful that the kids only have minor illnesses that are treatable and that I'm able to care for them. I can't imagine how parents feel who's daily lives are made up of visiting doctors and specialists about very serious, life-threatening illnesses. Thank you, God, for mine, Nick's and the kid's good health.

Gorgeous weather

Well, today was an absolutely beautiful day! The weather was just perfect...warm enough not to have to wear a jacket and cool enough to feel a nice breeze.

We had to start the day at the eye doctor, having Rachel's eyes examined for the first time. She did so well, excited about being a big girl and having such an important doctor visit. But, when the nurse had to dilate her eyes, and the drops stung, she decided she didn't like the doctor anymore. She said, "I don't want to come to this doctor again, ever." Poor baby had no idea that she was going to feel something so uncomfortable as dilated eyes. The good news is that she has GREAT vision and doesn't need another examination unless we see something suspicious. Bradley was all over the place at the doctor's office. He's at such a curious and impulsive age. He wanted to press any buttons he could reach and he constantly closed the door, climbed up into the exam chair and tried to mess with the expensive eye equipment. Little stinker just can't be reasoned with and can't control his desires to "explore" wherever he is. "Bay" was with us and he wouldn't let go of him for a second, even though he was dragged across the floor and got sucker all over him and every other kind of germ. Poor "Bay". I don't know how much longer he'll last, or how we'll be able to replace it.

We ended up going outside this afternoon when Bradley woke up from his nap. Rachel wanted to take Dixie for a "walk". I don't know where she got the idea, but she wanted to put the untrained Dixie on her leash and "walk" her. Poor Dixie was scared...she didn't know what to think of the leash and wouldn't leave my side. At least she didn't take off and drag Rachel with her. Thankfully, Rachel only wanted to do it for about 5 minutes. We had so much fun playing on the playground and swinging.

A fun evening and a good night's sleep

I feel so refreshed today after having a full night's sleep. Since the kids were spending the night at their grandparent's house last night, Nick and I got to eat a really yummy dinner with our dear friends and then we got to sleep all night long without interruptions!

The dinner was great...Fogo de Chao in Buckhead. Lots of different kinds of meat and a fabulous salad bar. Then, we all ordered dessert. I had a yummy, chocolatey Chocolate mousse cake, but I tasted Nick's and Jen's dessert too: Key lime pie and strawberry cheesecake. They were all so delicious!!! The best part of the evening was chatting with our friends. We have known them all for so long and it's amazing that we all still love hanging out just as much (or more) than we ever did.

Although we really missed our kids, we sure did enjoy having the night off. Especially when it came time to go to bed. I thought I might be sad or miss the sound of 2 monitors and 2 noise makers in my ear, but I ended up sleeping GREAT! Nick and I crashed around 11:45 and didn't wake up until 6 for a bathroom break and then slept until 9:30. I'm sure we could've slept longer, but I knew it was time to get "back to the real world". We had taken the opportunity to re-paint Rachel's room and bathroom, so we had to re-load everything, do touch-ups and then go pick up the kids from their grandparents. We sure were glad to see the kids! They were a little aloof at first, but then they were very glad to see us. They had so much fun with their gege and papa and did all sorts of neat stuff.

Unfortunately, my batteries didn't last long enough to get very many pictures of our night out with our friends, but here's a shot of me and Nick.

We stayed home today...

We stayed home today and it was fabulous! It's always nice to just take a day to stay home, rest, do a little bit of cleaning and of course, PLAY!! We've had a busy week and with all the rain last night and the cold weather today, we stayed in all morning. We watched Toy Story 2, which is Bradley's very favorite movie for the moment. He brings me whatever movie is his favorite and says "THAT" very emphatically until we put it in the DVD player. Then, he's so excited that he squeals because his request was granted.

Rachel decided she wanted to build a robot because we had recently seen Curious George make one on his show. We got an old packing box and decorated it with some pipe cleaner arms, a paper plate head and pipe cleaner antennae. She loved this silly robot. We had to give him a birthday party complete with wrapped books (off her shelf) and then she made him a pretend cake, which was mini-marshmallows and ice cream sprinkles on a pan. She has such a great imagination. How fun it is doing something so simple!

We did manage to go outside this afternoon, although it was only for 45 minutes. It was still quite chilly, but we needed some fresh air. We had a great time riding on toys and playing with balls. And, we ended up in the backyard with the swings and slides. Bradley ended up in the sandbox even though it was so cold...he didn't seem to mind.

I really enjoy these lazy days at home. I know they are fleeting. Next year Rachel will start going to school 3 days a week and then she'll start Kindergarten the next year. I want to savor the freedom we have of not HAVING to get up and go somewhere every day for as long as I can. I'm so thankful that I don't have to get up and leave for work everyday.

The pictures of the robot are after it had been modified so that Rachel could actually BE the robot. (Thanks, daddy!) Also, there are a few of the kids playing outside...it was COLD!!