Silly O

I don't know how Orien turned out so so silly. Brett and I are so totally normal...

Anyway, I just feel I need to jot down some of the entertaining things he has been doing lately.

(Keep in mind these things are obviously a lot funnier to me since I am the Momma!)

Shrugs his shoulders a lot

Carries around pictures in picture frames - will put them in his shopping basket and push it around

Goes #2 in Leah's dog kennel (a boy has got to have some privacy!)

When you say "spin", he goes around and around with a silly grin on his face until he falls

BLOWS KISSES!!! And will sometimes give a cheek kiss if he's in the mood

"Barks" in Leah's face when she does her howl-bark

Hugs with just his head (see photo below)

Hits everything including Mommy when she's mad...oh wait that's not entertaining, just really annoying

Of course there's more I can't think of at the moment. I've GOT to get some of this on video. But usually when I'm cracking up from his silliness, I'm not thinking about running to grab the camera! Check out the photos below. I caught O and Leah's daily snuggle session yesterday and got some pics of Orien dancing with some intense Mardi Gras beads.

Love to all,

PB

I think Leah's over it... (notice O's "hug")

He obviously has a problem opening his eyes for photos!

"Hugging" Mom after hitting Mom several times and Mom saying BE NICE to MOMMY!!!

Action shot (blowing kisses).

Such a cutie.

Bring It On

Leah in the fall leaves at the lake last Thanksgiving

Bring on...

Falling leaves,

Crisp mornings,

Park play dates,

Saturday college games,

Sunday NFL games,

cook-outs,

night dips in the hottub,

a mosquito-free world,

season premieres,

better TV,

paying less to the lawn guy,

a lower A/C bill,

jeans,

jackets,

scarves,

dog parks,

Halloween,

good hair days,

camping,

a fall shopping trip for O,

and most of all,

COOLER WEATHER.

Bring it all on.

(very ready for fall)

A Picture Can Say A Thousand Words

"Look Mom, my eyes match my shirt"

Leah: "If I stare hard enough, maybe he'll let me have a lick"

"I can't believe Mom is letting me walk around with a dripping red popsicle right now"

"Some privacy please?"

"Wait this string on my shorts is pretty tasty too..."

"Actually...it's really tasty"

"Oh Hey Mom! Here's a silly face for the camera!"

"squeak toy noise here>"

"My serious model pose"

Leah: "I have an extremely big face"

Leah: "And a very long tongue..."

"Mommy why are you down there?"

"Here's my best CHEESE face!"

"Aren't I the cutest thing you've ever seen?"

For the record, Orien's popsicle didn't drip ONE drop!

I'm glad I captured these moments this afternoon. I started thinking today how Orien will start preschool soon and we won't have every single minute of every day together. Although that is very much music to my ears, it's a little sad. Up until now I've been a full-time very-exhausted stay at home mom. It won't be like that forever. As each year passes, Orien will go to preschool for more days a week and I will most likely have another little one hanging around (and then maybe another?). It won't be just me and my studly little guy forever. And that's okay but it will be different. Bottom line is I need to cherish these times. Yes it's H-O-T (understatement) and the summer days can be long with a toddler at home, but our time together is PRICELESS. I am incredibly blessed to be able to stay at home with my son and give him all my love and care everyday. I thank God for that.

I also thank God my camera takes such quick photos...or I would've missed all of those adorable expressions :)

With love,

Patricia

Counting Down the Days...

BJ & OJ

Watching my two guys walk around the boating section of Bass Pro all wide-eyed will be something that will stick with me for a long time.

I see so much of Brett in our son. It amazes me! That boy will have no choice BUT to grow up loving to boat, fish, swim, camp, hunt and enjoy the outdoors.

My son is blessed beyond words to have a father like Brett.

Orien is a Smarty Pants, Gisele is an Idiot

"Some people here (in the US) think they don't have to breastfeed, and I think 'Are you going to give chemical food to your child when they are so little?' I think there should be a worldwide law, in my opinion, that mothers should breastfeed their babies for six months."

- Gisele Bundchen, model & apparently an expert on what is best for every mom and baby

Why do so-called "famous" people even think we will listen to them? I have never once thought 'Oh let me do what Tom Cruise says because he is sort of attractive and can kind of act. Anyway, this latest comment by Bundchen is no exception for me. The only reason I'm even taking the time to blog about it is because this hits a sore spot for me.

I breastfed for nearly two weeks. Then one day I couldn't. Who knows why...maybe a mixture of lack of rest, anxiety, not eating or drinking enough? But either way I dried up and that was that. Emotionally it was very difficult to accept the fact that I could not feed my child the way I had been excitedly looking forward to. Breastfeeding was magical and surreal almost. But the bottom line is it didn't work for me with my son. So we moved onto formula and wa-la!!!! He is a thriving, energetic, giggly, 16 month old!!!

And he's a smarty pants. So take that Gisele whatever-your-last-name is.

If there's something you learn quickly in mommy hood it's: DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS. Every situation and every parent is different and we have our reasons for what we do. Just respect others and DO YOUR OWN THING! Us parents have it hard enough just being parents and trying not to walk around like zombies 24/7. So lets support each other and lift others up.

Spread the love and forget the judgments!

Beach Bums

Yesterday we were all beach bums!

We hung out on the beach with the Oppermans ALL day and the kiddos did great. I never thought a beach trip would be so easy with a one year old. We stopped by the beach house afterward and took a dip in the pool. Our beach day was definitely one of the highlights of this summer.

Now, for the photos...

H!

Ms. Ems!

The little ones loved the chairs.

Perfection!

Lounging.

Sting ray...later there was a shark!!

Laura and her little man.

Thank God we had shade.

Someone got slapped with a popsicle.

Stopped at Bass Pro Shop on the way home.

The boys were in heaven.