Pray.

We had a very nice Christmas, but didn't take very many pictures. Moving on...

One day we were sitting down to dinner and James was being extra difficult. In order to help him focus on eating his food, I grabbed his hand and said, "let's say a prayer." On the spot, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind: "thank you God for this food. AMEN." That has been the prayer we have said ever since followed by a rousing "LET'S EAT!" by James and his dad. Of course James wants to say it every time we sit down for anything, dinner, breakfast, snacks. So, I am looking for some new ones. I know a lot of the little kids learn some good ones at their schools or churches, so I am asking for you to share your favorites. Thanks!

And yes, after the Lord's prayer at the Christmas Eve service James exclaimed "Let's Eat!" after the AMEN.

Only Andy

Oohhh, so much I should be doing right now, but I try to post something new once a week. Things have been hard because Andy was sick, then James, now Andy again, and I totally think James is going to get sick again! Anyways, here is a collection of pictures from the past couple of months of only Andy.

The first time he was in his excersaucer. The NP said that he might be crying most of the day because he was "really smart" and we should put him in this. Yeahhh, whatever.



Working on sitting up:


Starting solid foods. It is hit or miss at this point.



Sort of standing up...and hanging on for dear life!



At his 6 month appointment he was a little over 19 pounds and was 28 inches long. Didn't get any shots because he apparently had an ear infection. I was going to do that this week, but alas, another ear infection. Apparently, he is one of THOSE kids.

He got out!!

Trees and hills

When we lived in Dallas, I told people I couldn't wait to live in a place with "trees and hills". As I was raking the leaves from the trees up the hill, I couldn't help but wonder what the heck I was talking about. It is a new experience, that is for sure.

James loved it. He is ready to get to work with his rake and his bunny.


How do kids know exactly what they are suppose to do in a pile of leaves?


Ok, James didn't really care. He'll jump in the ivy.


Running through Daddy's well raked rows.


Poor Andy is too little. Maybe next year!

Green Paci Cookies

Sometimes you come up with something that makes you thing that maybe, just maybe, I might be a good mommy.

James loves his paci. It was a good thing for us because James was ehem, a difficult baby, and had a very hard time teething. The paci really helped with us. Our pediatrican is very pro-paci, so everytime we talked about getting rid of it, he would talk us back into it.

By waiting so long, you have a few options in getting rid of the paci. Sure, you can just get rid of it, but it is a little easier if there is something you can tell your child. I just didn't think any of the traditional method would work for James. I just didn't think he would understand the paci fairy, and he can't give his paci to a baby, because we have a baby, and he doesn't take a paci. (ugh, that is another post) The one thing about James...he can eat! and he loves sweets! So, I came up with the idea to use the paci to make cookies.

James actually had 3 pacis: red paci, blue paci, and green paci. I started the beginning of November by making blue paci cookies. After James dropped his paci in, I switch the paci with blue M&Ms. A week later, we made red paci cookies. The next week, well, Mark went out of town and I wasn't willing to chance meltdowns, so we waited until this week to make the green paci cookies.

Here are the ingredients:


One last suck:


Toss it in, James!


There it is!


Distraction, while I make the switch.


Ahh, James wanted to take a picture of mommy.


Dropping them on the cookie sheets.


Are they ready yet?


Yummy!


I give James one before nap and bed times. He does ask for his paci, and I say, "its in your tummy." Then he just goes to sleep.

Here is Andy. He doesn't take a paci, but bad mommy, I use a blanket! (and bumpers)

Band Practice

One of our favorite free things to do is to go to Tiger Band practice. James loves it! As you can imagine, there is lots of dancing. There is lots of running around and having fun, too. One time, when the band was taking a break, we went to see the drums and one of the drummers let James give it a try. Super fun! Here are a few pictures from the last time we went. And I mean a very few. This is what happens when Mark is in charge of taking pictures.



Here is Andy. He doesn't like it so much, but poor guy doesn't really have a choice.



During the regular season, the best time to go is the friday before a Clemson home game. At this time, they OUGHT to just be doing run throughs and not learning new drill. If you get there around 4:45, that is after sectionals and when the more interesting stuff starts.

Of course, the really best time to go would be the Saturday morning practice, but since they closed the Brook center parking, that isn't going to happen! Booo!