The Long Road Home: July 2014

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Visitors and More Visitors: Summer Fun

Wow, what an amazing last month it has been! We have been looving being loved on by so much family, and hosting them at our house for the last month! What a blessing it has been.

We had my sister and her daughter, Kala and Harper, here with us for three weeks, and then the day Kala and Harper flew back home, my Mom and two of my nieces arrived that same day. So cool!

The boys have absolutely looooved having so many people here and have been enjoying some cool adventures and outings. There have been a lot of fun first for Mr. Preston this past with with my Mom.

Here are some highlights:

Brooks went to the GI doc and he is now on Prilosec to see if he gets some relief. I'm still not sold that he struggles with reflux or acid issues, but we're just trying to rule as many things out as we can with hope this boy will sleeeeeep. So far, though, I can't say I've seen a huge difference.

Preston is doing beautifully with potty training! It was a really really rough first week, but once he got the jist, he really got it and has done really well. He still will go potty while asleep though. Working on getting him to call out for us when he's in his crib so we can take him potty. He looks sooooo cute in his little undies too!!

Brooks is now six months old and oh so close to crawling, and is sitting up perfectly. He is almost 20 pounds and 28" long, he is still a big boy comparatively.

Preston is growing and changing by the second, man! He signs and speaks so well, it's amazing. He is changing sooooo fast.

He is sooooo excited about going to school! He asks for his lunch box, back pack, and new shoes everyday. :)

My Mom and I took all the kiddos to the Georgia Aquarium last week----we showd up on daycare day---yah! LOL sooooooo packed with kids, kids, and more kids! P had no accidents and used the public potty like a champ.

Preston also went to his first movie with my mom and nieces! They did not see a cartoon, and, amazingly, Preston did exceptional and sat and watched the movie while stuffing his face with popcorn the entire time!

Kevin and I enjoyed a wonderful date night last weekend where we painted pottery together and sat and watched a local lawn concert.

And in other BIG NEWS, Kevin surprised me this week by taking my to see my absolute favorite artist in concert, John Legend. I awoke to a dress hanging in the kitchen with a note from Kevin telling me to be ready by 4 pm, and the baby sitter would be over then too. Everything was a total surprise! It was uuuuuhhhmazing!! Def a night I will never forget. The weather, the concert, John Legend, the friends we made at the concert, Kevin's thoughtfulness, all of it, was just perfect.

Sweetest boy ever, swaying his Baby to sleep

He was OUT after a long day at the Aquarium

Brooks loves his friend Easton

Making popcorn with Dad, he loooooves it!

Lookin cool out for a walk

Cousin Harper staying cool with a little fan while out walking

Brooks loves to watch and pet Glory

Kala and Harper

Love this boy!

He takes such good care of her

We make funny faces on the potty

Baby has to come to the potty too and watch and cheer P on

Reading like a big boy

Preston loves for B to sit with him in the highchair. He tells me, " Go, Mamma". He doesn't want me to hold Brooks and be in their moment.

He fell off two seconds later ....

What a big boy! Sitting in the highchair!!

Breakfast while baby wearing baby. He does this all on his own.

Sending Kala and Harper off!

He loooved his cousins!!

Baby B passed out at the Aquarium

Texting and driving!!

Who doesn't love making a mess with peanut butter?!!

beautiful!

He was enthralled~

Last night of having cousins here and Preston did not want to say goodnight

Love you all

Friday, July 11, 2014

Long Time No Talk!

Whew! It's been a while since I have updated, I'm sorry. Life kinda has a way of getting away from you when you have too small ones. :)

Here's what's going on in our corner of the world these days.:

My sister Kala is here visiting us with my 7 week old baby Niece, Harper. She has been here two weeks and will stay another week since Kevin will be out of town next week. Love having them here!

Preston starts full fledged potty training TOMORROW! Doing a '3 day' program---we'll see how it goes! Wish us luck!

Kevin had a wonderful birthday!

We had a fabulous 4th of July!

Brooks is huuuge, 19# and almost 28" long!

We have been "training" Brooks for the last three weeks to get him on a better sleep routine and moving away from cosleeping since he is so mobile in the bed, and it has been awful. Hard on all of us, but I'm sure harder on him, and it's heartbreaking.

Brooks has been dealing with "something", reflux, or some unknown pain trigger for the last 2.5 months which causes him to wake constantly and go into a full blown red-zone scream over and over and over and over all day and night--whew! we are exhausted. Just took him to a GI specialist today to see what it might be. New medications starting for a trial, and if no results, then some GI tests are in his future. The doc does not think it is " just him wanting to be held" and thinks something is def waking him and causing him discomfort. But he checks out good on his physical exam.

Preston starts preschool in 6 weeks and we just bought his lunch box and back pack. Preston is obsessed with " going to school" now and carrying his lunch box everywhere!

Preston's vocabulary is out of this world. He uses three and four words sentences, and uses words like " too" now. :) He looked outside today and said, " Mamma, rain!" ( it was not raining). I asked him why he thought it was going to rain and he promptly told me because of the rain clouds he was pointing at. He never ever ever ever stops talking, all day everyday. His little mind is just amazing, yall.

I am hoping my Mom will be here for another visit in August!, and possibly my Aunt Karen also!

Brooks is scooting everywhere and grabbing and pulling everything as intentionally as it gets. He is sooooooo sweet! Like, a true heart thief! I can't kiss this boy enough!

4th of July 2014: