Hey, We're Still Alive

Hey! I bet you are all wondering where in the world we have been, and if we're still in the land of the living. We are. Life has just been carrying us a way. But in a good way.

Here is what we have been up to!

We had a third visit from my Mom, who was also joined by my brother Mikey and his daughter, Julia. Julia is 3 years old so it was a fantastic addition to the house for Preston

Preston is oh-so close to starting school! We have been working diligently with him to prepare him for everything from eating his lunch from his lunch box, to being able to put on and take off his back back, to talking to him about his new teacher, following instructions, and going to a "classrom" with boys and girls.

We had Preston's " Meet the Teacher" night this week, and it was lovely. I have been praying for his teachers, and it looked like God gave us a great one. Preston walked around the classroom and found every place the teacher had his name displayed and said, " Me, my name."

Brooks is just a not-so-great sleeper I have come to accept. He is still struggling, and we're still frustrated and so tired, but we're waiving the white flag and just waiting it out instead of trying to rack our brains over what else we can do.

Brooks began solid food about 2 weeks ago. We are skipping purees and spoon feedings all together and just going straight to real, whole food---( but in really large handle bar size chunks for safety). So far he has had red bell pepper, banana, peach, nectarine, squash and cucumber and carrots. Peaches are by far the favorite!

Brooks is also practicing with a straw sippy cup. I gave him one just to introduce the concept and let him hold it and get used to it, and he drank all of the water in it! He is a pro!!

Brooks is also doing a combo of scooting and crawling, sitting up on his own from a crawl position, and pulling up on furniture. Yes, this boy just turned 7 months TODAY. But no teeth just yet. But he is barely starting to grow some peach fuzz hair! who hooo!

Preston is eating much better, and really seems to have matured recently. He is truly like a little boy now. He fully understands everything and seems to communicate much more maturely. He is still brilliant....( said no mom ever..) and continues to blow me away with the things he does, says, or understands. It's uuhmazing.

He is soooo ready for school!! Its all he talks about. He walks around talking about his new teacher, "Mrs. Amanda", new school shoes, his backpack, his classroom...love it

Preston went to his first Braves game and he has seen two movies in the theater!

We have also started Preston with basic " chores", but we call them " responsibilities"--which are to clean up all his messes, of course, all of his toys twice a day, and also clean and wipe with a rag all of the tables in the living room. He actually will ask to do it on his own and seems to find it quite rewarding.

We did take Preston to the eye doctor for his blinking and eye rubbing. Vision is stable for now, although he did inherit Kevin's astigmatism, so he will need glasses at some point. We will monitor his vision regularly so we know when it's time. So for now, we are giving him a prescription eye drop to look for improvement and ignoring the blinking, per the doctor.

I start MOPS ( Mothers of Preschoolers Mom Group) this Tuesday at the church that Preston goes to preschool at while Preston is in school. I will go every other Tuesday. Dying to meet friends here!!

Preston is doing really well with potty training, and is finally back on track with pooping in the potty. Whew! That was a no fun phase.

We have had a lot of visitors this summer and are so honored. We have had a blast! Preston, especially, I think.

So that's what going on here---and here are some pics, too. Love and miss yall

Preston's First Brave's game with Dad and Uncle Mike and Cousin Julia

 Glory was scared of the thunder, so Preston asked to lay with her :)

He woke up from his nap and was dead set on laying with Glory on the floor and made himself a little bed with her

 Baby Brooks and Uncle Mike

 First bite of banana!

 And red bell pepper

 A sippy cup pro!!

 I've been hard at work with making all kinds of blends for the family with my essential oils

 Learning to open himself and eat from his lunch box

 Love this little love!

 Walk time and looking all cute

OMG, I cannot tell you how much this guy melts me. I swear he literally gets about 100 kisses a day.

 Wearing Mamma's sunglasses

 Preston having his first every Mom-made smoothie. I think these will become a daily thing. I can sneak all kinds of things I want him to have in these!!

 Yep, yep, look who is getting big and old on us! My mind and body VIVIDLY remember pushing this dude out of me and into the poo( I've never felt pain like it in my life) l--how in the world has it already been seven months?!

 Birthday party time---and with a dress up station! soo fun!

 Kevin and Uncle Mikey

 Look who is starting to pull up!

Preston refused to look at the camera---but this is Mrs. Amanda, Preston's new teacher! What a gem she seems to be. Very thankful



Sorry my posts are getting so far and few between--but this attempting to be a rockstar mom---( well, most days I settle with status quo) to a two year old who is the busiest thing in the world and a six month old who never sleeps and getting Preston prepared for school is time consuming, to say the least. The running joke between Kevin and I is why-oh-why can't we be content with mediocrity?! Some days I am sooo jealous of those who are. Some days I would love to be a Mom who could care less if my kids were in daycare, or breastfed, or touched and nurtured enough each day, or taught responsibilities or manners, or get enough empowering choices through the day, or get enough physical uninhibited play time, or taught to value the life of other living things, or are the ones who arrive for their first day of school and have never seen a letter or color,  or were given vitamins and DHA to stimulate brain development....ahhhhh.....and the list goes on. Yes, I really do all of this and much more. It sounds wild, but in action I do think there is a good balance. But, at the end of the day, I know my kiddos' individual daily potential and what they are capable of---and it is through having those in your corner who set the bar high that fosters and grows exceptional character and people, big and small. And we will give our boys every opportunity for them to be no less than great.


Okay...stepping down now. Love yall.

Oh My, Look at These Growin' Beauties

So I'm so in the moment with our boys and life, that it sometimes skips right over me just how much they have grown in a very short period of time! Wow, we sure are raising some handsome, sweet, loving boys. I am incredibly blessed.

So here's whats been going on:

Preston is sooooo excited about starting school in a few weeks!! We have been talking up a storm about going to school. We have preparing him, and talking about backpacks, lunch boxes, new school shoes, boys and girls, "instructions", teachers, play time, music, and " rules", and teaching Preston proper anatomical terms for his "boy parts" and basic safety and things that should warrant him telling mom and dad. He.is.sooo excited!! He absolutely looooves Brooks and is sooo loving with him. It just melts me. He asks for him as soon as he wakes up and walks straight to him and says, " Good Morning, Baby Brooks!" and then gives him  hugs and kisses. ahhhhh! And Brooks just lights up as soon as he even catches a glimpse of brother Preston. I just love it.

Brooks is sitting up beautifully. He is still not sleeping well and some nights we contemplate dropping him off at the local fire station. He is still oh-so-close to crawling. Lots of rocking back and forth. Preston crawled at 7 months, I think they will be right in line with one another--both early on their physical milestones. We moves his crib into our room, and packed up the pack n play. I'm just not ready for him to move to his own room yet. :)


Look who is six months!!!

Date Night with Mom. A night at the movie Planes, some movie treats,  a carousel ride, and some store hopping. Love love dating my sweet #2 guy! Oh how I have missed him.

Getting ready for school!

 Of course we make funny face while waiting on ' pee pee' to show his face

Lunch date with Dad at work! Whooo hoooo for "  BIIIIG" tractors

The way these boys love each other is incredible

She is the sweetest sweetest girl and both boys just love her too

I came out from our room from putting Brooks down for a nap, and I found Preston with his tow truck and wearing one of my shirts he had pulled from the laundry basket. :)

 Walk time:

Look at this beauty, guys

Yes, he is strictly breastfed still. LOL

 loooove this kid!

 This boy now dresses himself....but not successfully

Love you guys!  will post next weekend, hopefully, My mom is on her way back here again tomorrow, but this time with my brother Mikey and his daughter Julia. Cant wait!