Unsolicited LOVE!

Tuesday night you went to t-ball practice with Daddy and Brady.  You were having fun with Daddy as he was tickling you and playing while Brady was practicing with his team.  You were laughing with Daddy and you looked up at Daddy and, while laughing, said “Daddy, I love you!”  That is the BEST!  It is one thing to hear “I love you” after we say it to you.  It is quite another thing to hear it without first saying it.  Unsolicited love is the BEST!!!

Kindergarten is Kicking Off

I can’t believe it….we are here.  We are wrapping up 4K and getting ready for our future as a kindergartner and a family of a kindergartner.  A few weeks ago I registered Brady for kindergarten.  I had never set foot into Bluff Park Elementary before.  In fact when I went inside I had the realization that I have not stepped foot into a big school (not just a little preschool) since I was in school….WOW!!  As I walked through that big school and filled out all the information needed for my Brady Mac, I got sooo emotional…this is the start of my baby’s school career.   I got worried about so many things for him…mean kids, getting lost in that big building, using the big bathroom in the hall with strangers, figuring out how to get his lunch at the cafeteria, mean kids, getting abducted from the playground, mean kids……YIKES!!! I got emotionally, definitely teary.  I kept thinking: “If I am this teary just registering you in April…how on earth am I going to be in August when I actually drop you off here?”

"Geejus"

I have started reading this little "My First Bible" stories kind of book with Evan and, of course, there are several stories - and pictures - of Jesus in it.  He has really gotten into this book as he grabs it and wants to look at it all the time saying: "Geejus", "Geejus" and reaching for it.  Last night after brushing his teeth, the book was sitting on the bathroom floor and, when walking by it, he looked down at it, waved, and said: "Night, night, Geejus"...........love him!!! Too cute!!!

I DID IT!!!

Tonight Evan pooped in the potty for the first time.  He was sooo cute when he got off of the potty he and Brady were dancing around celebrating naked and we all kept saying: "Evan, you did it.  You went poop in the potty!"  He started saying (for the first time in the CUTEST voice): "I did it!"  Soooo adorable...he was so proud and so darn cute!!!

BRADYisms!

A few weeks ago we were going to meet some friends at the playground.  Brady wanted to know which friends we would be meeting so I told him.  One of those friends is my friend from Mom's Club: "Miss Paige".  I told Brady this and he said: "Miss Paige?......like in a book?" (very seriously). 

Hazeling....the weather was getting really bad prior to the tornadoes that came through Alabama.  It was hailing and we were talking about it while driving in it.  Brady later repeated what he thought I was saying and it came out "hazeling".  I explained that I had said "hailing" not "hazeling".  He said "you can say hazeling too if you want."  Okay : )

Blessed!

Tornado Alley....that is where I feel I live at the moment.  This past week was intense with storms throughout central Alabama.  More than 200 people lost their lives in Alabama.  Tuscaloosa was hit very hard....so much of it leveled.  There was so much devastation there that the University of Alabama has postponed graduation. 

In our neighborhood - right around the corner from our house...a 2 minute walk - there are huge, 100 year old (or older) trees completely uprooted like a giant plucked them out of the ground the way I could pluck a weed.  So many of these trees are on top of houses.  I have never actually seen devastation like this in person, only on television.  I drove down Park Avenue and a very small portion of Shades Crest Road (because it was blocked fully by very large trees going both directions) and just could not believe my eyes.  It was like watching television, not my neighborhood.  The sadness, relief, and joy I felt was insurmountable.  I felt very sad for those with homes damaged (moreso fearing injuries, or worse, loss of life).  I felt relief that this did not happen to us and all we had to worry about was power outage.  I felt joy that I just dropped off my fully intact 4 year old at preschool and my 23 month old and 11 week old were sitting right behind me, SAFELY, in our van.

A fear went through me like no other when I thought about just how CLOSE this is to my house, how many HUGE old trees I have in my yard, how my two oldest children sleep upstairs while Chris, Maddox and I are downstairs in the basement, and how Chris and I had NO IDEA that this was coming, heard nothing during those early morning hours, and were doing NOTHING to protect Evan and Brady sleeping upstairs.  I am certain the tornado went right over our house....thank GOD it didn't touch down on my sweet boys sleeping. 

The fear started dissipating as I thought about the simple yet heartfelt prayer I pray over my children every time I lay them down in their beds: "Lord, please protect Evan (Brady), please keep him healthy and safe....."   I quickly shifted from feeling frightened to feeling blessed.  Thank you, LORD, for protecting my boys.  Thank you for blessing my family and I.  Thank you for these reminders of what is really important and just how much I have to be thankful for.  Please, as I am blessed, help me to be a blessing to those in need at this time.  AMEN!!!!!

23 months old!

Evan is 23 months old and sooo spunky!!! He cracks me up and angers me everyday!!! He is on the move non-stop...ALL boy, ALL the time! He has the cutest laugh, the biggest, brightest smile, and has such a sense of humor so young. He loves to play with his big brother, Brady. He loves to "take care of" his baby brother, Maddox. He has so many new words, off the top of my head and some of my favorites are: "stawbehee" (strawberry), "sawdee" (sorry) - always accompanied by a hug, "choo" (bless you), "yesth" (yes, said very matter-of-factly), "boo" (blue, always pointing at the right color), "hep" (help), and we LOVE the way he says "hey" when he talks to Maddox...all high-pitched and old lady sounding : )....just like a little old grandma would!

With Spring coming to an end...and his 2nd birthday fast approaching...a lot of our activities for the year have wrapped up. We had our last story time with Miss Ne Ne this past Tuesday and we had our last music class last week. I am looking forward to some fun summer time activities with my spunky little guy.

He helped me wash the van last week before our trip to Georgia. He has his bathing suit and crocs on and took his job very seriously. He is a very determined little man...even when it comes to work.