Jaxon's 4 Year Doctor Appointment

Brian and I both go to every annual doctor visit for the boys. We both love being there to see how they've grown and ask the doctor crazy parent questions. This visit was no different. Jaxon is now 42.25 inches and 43 pounds. The doctor estimates he will be approximately 6'2". In case you are wondering Eli was 2 inches taller and a few pounds heavier and is estimated to be 6'4" or taller.

Jaxon was awesome at this visit. We had to wait 15 minutes or so for the doctor to come in. While we waited I got a cute video of Jaxon making up a story about going on a boat, having soup, and finding a big bear with long hair and big teeth. The story seemed like a blend of Where theWild Things Are, Going on a Bear Hunt, and Humpty Dumpty. Once Dr. Sherrod arrived and announced Jax was in perfect health we waited for the last immunizations Jax will need to have until he is 12! We explained that the shots would hurt, but just for a minute. He was really pumped when he realized he gets 4 band aids.

When the nurses came in with the needles, I slipped out to pay the bill. We don't want my anxiety to carry over onto the boys. Anyway, I waited outside the door for the screaming. It never came! Brian said that Jax watched them give him the shots, got his band aids, and was ready to go. No big deal! I know one of those shots has a tendency to sting quite a bit. We were really impressed!

Yesterday Aunt Krissy left again for the boat. Jax was convinced that he was going with her. She told him that he needed to pack his backpack. He ran off and brought it back to her. He was very upset when she finally told him that she couldn't take him. Both of the boys are so attached to her. We did manage to cheer Jax up with the news that we are going to Houston this weekend. We haven't been in a long time and he talks non stop about cousin Kevin because he is soooo good at Castle Crashers. Eli is less impressed. He doesn't like Castle Crashers anymore and Kevin says bad words... like "poopy" : ) I have a feeling Kevin can win him over with a mean game of Pokemon.

The Ring Bearers

Brian and I brought up the idea of being ring bearers in Aaron's upcoming wedding. The conversation went like this:

Mommy: Uncle Aaron is going to get married in a pretty church. The whole family will be there and it is going to be really fun. There is only one problem. There are two rings and no one to carry them to the front of the church. I wonder if we can find two people to help him?

Jaxon: I'll carry one Mommy!

Mommy: Oh, thank you!!! Hmmm... I wonder who will carry the other one?

Eli: I can carry the other one!

Mommy: Perfect! There are two little boys and two rings!!! I wonder if we should get you a new video game if you do a good job?

Eli: Well maybe if they pay us we can get one!

Mommy: Uh, daddy and I can get you a video game if you do a good job. Guess what else?! You'll get to wear a fancy suit and shoes just like your daddy.

Jaxon: Mommy, I don't want to wear a fancy suit and shoes. I just want to wear my crocodile shirt. (He is wearing that shirt today. We bought it for him in Jacksonville, FL. It has a big crocodile on it and the words "Bite Me".)

Daddy: (smiling because he doesn't like wearing suits either) I'm glad we got him that shirt. He really likes it.

Mommy: I'll check with Uncle Aaron, but I really think to get the video game you need to wear the suit and shoes.

10 Years Today!!!!

Ten years ago today I was a bridezilla barking out all kinds of silly orders. Today I can't remember or even imagine what they were, but I don't deny any of the stories... sadly, they are probably all true. I do remember my wedding day as being perfect. It looked exactly the way I wanted it to, everyone I loved was there, I married the man of my dreams, and we all had an amazing time. I remember as we drove away, I looked over at Brian and thought to myself... "oh gosh, there is no going back. Am I sure?" Today, I'm sooo thankful I was smart enough at that young age to choose well.

The past 10 years have been filled with experiences both good and bad. Each experience brings us closer and changes us in some small way. Rather than seeing it as us changing as individuals, we are changing together as a couple. We offset each other 10 years ago to create a perfect balance between Brian's calm nature and my goal oriented take no prisoners attitude. He was able to bring me back to reality while I could light a fire under him when needed. Today the balance is still there, but we've moved along the scale. Both of us are not as extreme as we once were. In some areas we've completely changed roles, but we still balance each other out.

I've been thinking some about how we got together. We both remember the day we first met. The first day of high school. We were sophomores. Brian was afraid of me because I was so loud. We didn't get to really know each other until the end of our junior year. We double dated to prom both junior and senior years. Both years he took good friends of mine and I went with my boyfriend at the time. Starting at the end of our junior year, Brian and I gradually became close friends. I dated someone else for 4 years (junior year through 2nd year in college). For a long time, the three of us were inseparable. Eventually, my high school relationship started to fizzle. Brian decided to move to Georgia for school. Right before he let he gave me a letter (which I still have) telling me that he loved me. It took me a month or so to end my relationship with my high school boyfriend and start dating Brian. Once we were together (half a country apart), everything fell into place. It took us two years from then to get married, but we knew within a week or two that this relationship was forever.

We did actually break up once while dating. Not surprisingly it was because I was moving too fast and he was moving too slow. We were broken up for 2 months or so and were miserable the whole time. I'm certain that 2 months - a blip in time - helped us learn how to change and grow together.

Brian has been a huge part of my life for 16 years now! The past 10 have been amazing, and I couldn't dream up a better husband or father. I'm really hoping we beat my grandparents 65 years of marriage. I know that our lives together will continue to change us. I also know that whatever challenges and victories the future holds, I can count on my best friend and the love of my life to be by my side.

Eli Lost His First Tooth!

Eli lost a tooth on Monday. Actually, he let me pull it out since it was about to fall out on its own. He looked at the tooth and said, "it is so tiny"! Then he ran to the mirror to see the hole it left. The adult tooth is all the way in, and another is half way in so he looks like a pirranah with rows of teeth! I'm guessing the tooth fairy will be visiting again very soon.

The tooth fairy left $5 for this one. I'm not sure if it was because the tooth was the first one (and deserved a special amount or if that is the going rate these days). Eli asked for a video game and I told him I would talk to his daddy. Brian informed me of something I hadn't yet considered. Yes, we can get a game or several games for $5 on the iPad/iphones. He pointed out that the games available now are really shaking up the video game industry. It does make you wonder what the future holds in the entertainment industry.

On a related note, my dad downloaded a game on his new iphone that the boys had never seen. The boys immediately started playing it without any instruction. My dad was flabbergasted. I can't imagine what the next generation is going to dream up to top what we have today.

On the baby front, we are starting to gather baby stuff. Thanks to some gift cards from family members and a shopping trip with my mom we now have the pack n play, bouncer, and bottles. My inlaws brought us our old swing that was at their house. Things are coming together! Now if we could just agree on a name!

ConGRADulations ELI!!!

Eli graduated from Kindergarten this afternoon. The graduation was adorable. The kids read a few lines and sang a few songs. Eli recited the Christian Pledge at the mic. He was so excited to have Pawpaw, Mommy, Daddy, and Jaxon there to see him in his cap and gown. Eli is fiercely independent and more than a little stubborn. Jax spends a lot of time cuddling and hamming it up everyday, but Eli usually prefers a quick hug and then he entertains himself. When you get him in front of an audience though…Eli is such a ham! I have NO IDEA where he gets that from.

Grammy choked up a bit when it got time to talk about Eli and again at the closing. The real story here is how far Eli has come in a year. I know I’ve mentioned to anyone who will listen how well he can read (on a first grade level), but he can do so much more. He writes his numbers to 100 and can add and subtract. He kept a journal in class. He is also “graduating” from speech therapy.

Since his birthday isn’t until November, he starts kinder late. We put him in mom’s class a year early knowing he would start Kindergarten at our neighborhood school this coming fall. I wanted to make sure he had a great foundation. I know my mom at times got irritated with Brian and myself for not working with Eli as much as we should, but he was learning so fast I didn’t see any need to push him. His poor teacher next year is going to have her work cut out for her.

Also, Eli has a tooth growing in. We still haven’t lost a baby tooth yet, but I’m pretty certain that is just around the corner. Anyway, today was a great day and I was so proud of Eli.

Take me out to the ballgame!

The boys have started tball. I was a bit concerned about how long it would take them to pick up the game, but they have taken to it like ducks to water! They LOVE it! It is adorable to watch! Eli's team has kids on it that have been playing for 3 seasons now and they are really good! Jaxon's team is all new, but they are having a great time. I absolutely love watching them on the field with their baseball cap, glove, and cute little pants... SO FREAKIN CUTE!

This past weekend we took the boys to Waco to celebrate Christian, Kendra, and Kyle's graduations. The boys had a blast playing with the cousins. They don't know how lucky they are to have so many people ready to wrestle with them in nice clothes.

I'm now 14 weeks pregnant. We told people very early with each pregnancy, but this one may have been the earliest. I'm hoping to find out if it is a boy or a girl late next month. Hopefully that will help Brian and me come up with a name for this kiddo. Brian really wants to name the baby Trace mainly because it sounds like "tres" (3 in spanish). Okay, I'll admit it's a little funny.

Eli and Jaxon are wrapping up the school year. Eli is reading like crazy (on a 1st grade mid year level). His speech teacher and classroom teacher are both in agreement that he is more than ready for kidergarten. I'm so happy he won't be taken out of class for speech. They are completely blown away by his reading.

Jaxon is so creative it boggles my mind. The kid can build stuff with legos that actually resemble what he is trying to build. He is very excited about his birthday coming up. I've already been instructed that we are taking snacks to his class AND he wants to go with me to the store to pick out a birthday cake (apparently that sounded better than one of my homemade cakes).

Baby Number 3!

Brian and I finally started telling people our exciting news. We are expecting baby number three in November! I’m finding out that the third pregnancy is so much different from my first two. How to explain? First pregnancy: The idea is so exciting. I spent hours a day on the internet trying to find out exactly what you should or shouldn’t eat for each week of development. I worried a ton about everything to do with the baby, but I figured if I could just have a healthy baby the worry would all go away and we’d continue on to our happy ever after. I had grand ideas of the amazing parent I would be. I was completely in awe of the miracle of creating a life and all the changes going on in my body…. And oh I guess I was a little sick, but it was sooo worth it. Second Pregnancy: I’m sorry what?! I’m pregnant… really… huh… wow… WOW… I think I’m going to be sick. I’m already not the amazing parent I imagined with the first baby… now I’m going to be responsible for two!?!?! Eli will love having a sibling. We were always planning on having one pretty close in age anyway. Oh gosh! I have to go through nursing again?! Wow… WOW… Deep breaths… we can do this… we can do this… I feel sick again. Build in some hysterical laughter. Well, at least I hadn’t put away all my maternity clothes. Third pregnancy: Sigh… here we go again. I’m tired, I’m sick. Yes, I want another baby, but why in the world haven’t we found a way for men to bear children yet? There are new ideas for what you should and shouldn’t do?! Go away, I’ve done this twice with decent results. The old rules are fine. Yes, I’m excited, but I’ll be more excited when this stupid morning sickness goes away. Seriously, why doesn’t my husband have to be sick too?! I’m so tired. The other strange phenomenon is probably more with me than the rest of the world. It seems everyone around us is hoping for a girl. Brian is definitely hoping for a boy (I think he wants his own basketball team). I truly don’t have an opinion of if this baby should be a boy or girl. I did want a boy both times before, but this time around I’ll be happy either way. Everyone seems to think I should be dying for a girl, but I’m really not. I spent so many years teaching girls of all ages, dressing them up in pageants, and I guess I have just enough tomboy in me that I just don’t feel a burning need to play doll house with a little girl. I guess I’ve now got experience with both and I’m okay with whatever lays ahead. I’m definitely praying for a healthy baby. Jax had a short but scary stint in NICU and we have good friends going through their own stint in NICU. We have other friends that have fertility issues and can’t get pregnant. Honestly, it feels kinda greedy to ask for 3 healthy children, but here I am. More to come on the developing story. I’m fairly certain I’ll have a post on names coming soon. Brian and I have a really hard time coming up with names. He likes unique and sometimes very strange names, and I usually like more traditional names. We’ve compromised in the past by having a traditional name with a twist in the spelling. I know we would like to come up with a five letter name that the first three letters can be a nickname… Elias “Eli” and Jaxon “Jax”.