Turning Two

I absolutely can not believe that my little Brent has turned 2! Today is his birthday and we celebrated BIG TIME this past weekend. We had family and friends join us for a Backyard Luau. We had a blast with water & sand activities, jumping, the Limbo, food, punch, and cupcakes! It was so nice to have everyone come together and enjoy each others company while celebrating another year with such a special boy. Brent was showered with many AWESOME gifts which he has spent hours playing with ever since. We wrapped the party up with a much needed hair cut from Aunt Steffy and a nice long nap for all who remained.

After 2 years together we have really grown to know you and love you more and more. Here are 5 things about you that make you unique and so easy to love!

1. You love to learn. I could just sit around the house and teach you stuff all day long and you enjoy it as well as make me feel like a smart mommy ;)

2. You are rough, tough, and loud just as all little boys should be!

3. You are such a neat freak. You put your toys back exactly the way they were before playing with them and even fuss at your friends when they aren't as efficient :0

4. You have such good manners. You stand on the other side of your bedroom door and beg "Please Mommy, out please Mommy" when you should really be sleeping. You walk around the house all day saying "Thank you Mommy" for things that I haven't done.

5. You make me a better person just by being my son. Although I'm far from perfect, I've never tried harder to be good so you can learn from me and grow up to be a righteous young man who makes his Heavenly Father proud.

Happy Birthday and I love you!

Enjoy pics from the Luau to the right!

Three Simple Words

May I just start this post by saying, I love being a mom. Sure, there are days where I want to scream (and I do) or shut my child in a room (and I do..baby-proofed and for just a few minutes) but days like yesterday always make up for those moments.

Yesterday, for the first time, Brent initiated saying "I love you". He has been repeating us when we tell him first for months now but never saying it on his own. We were playing in his room and he shut himself in the closet to hide. As he did he said, "Bye Mommy, I love you." I about melted when he said it! And then later in the day I went to put him down for a nap and as I leaned in to kiss him he looked up into my eyes and said, "I love you Mommy". I was beaming from ear to ear and had to call Brandon at work just to tell him (and rub it in). Not in a mean way. Just letting him know how lucky I am to be married to a man who works so hard so that I can stay home and have the best job in the whole wide world!

32 weeks and tired

This pregnancy has been such a breeze so far I have had absolutely nothing to complain about! As the end draws nearer the typical pregnancy symptoms are creeping in and I am really feeling pregnant these days. Mostly just tired, sore, and somewhat irritable (says Brandon). But mainly just tired. I have really been enjoying Brent's 3 hour afternoon nap by joining him :) I think my body is just storing up all the rest it can possibly get these last 2 months so I will be prepared for all the sleep I am going to have to do without come October.

Baby Owen is doing great and growing right along schedule. He moves ALOT and that's where some of the soreness comes in. Brent moved a lot too but I think Owen is stronger or bigger. Who knows? I can't believe I only have 8 weeks left! It has gone by so so fast! I can't wait to meet this little guy and hold him!

Annual Waves Vacation

Every year for the past 3 years we have gone on vacation with Brandon's family to Waves, NC. We always have such a blast and come back fatter and tanner. This year the weather was so nice and we spent almost every day out on the beach. The waves were BIG and the water was COLD. Brent had a lot of fun playing with his cousins in the sand and in the pool. We got him some wings this year (I forgot to get a pic of them) and he loved wearing them in the pool. It gave him complete independence to swim all around without someone holding him or having to sit in a floatie. We did have one rainy day which we spent at the aquarium. It was so nice to get away from everything for a week and spend time with family. Brent and I really got spoiled having Brandon around so much. We have really missed him this week!


Brandon and his Dad in the pool. No, his Dad is not a professional wrestler :)


I thought this pic was really cute. (No big foot jokes allowed!)


Brent and his cousin Kara in the hot tub.


By the way, just so yall aren't thinking I'm a terrible parent...we turned the hot tub temperature way down so Brent and I could get in.



The water washed up onto the shore past where we were sitting and made a little pool area for the kids to play in.




Brent and his cousins Kara and Deanna.