Happy birthday to our little guy!

After a brief stay in the hospital and a few weeks on bed rest, my little Major made his debut at 3:04 am on August 28, 2007!




Major!

Where have the last four years gone?! I love you so much and you are such a blessing to our family! You are hilarious, adorable and so much fun.


Right now you like to: play football, cut with your scissors, play your new guitar, play with sidewalk chalk (especially with Ms. Tammy), ride your bicycle, sing and dance while watching Nick Jr., & you love to sing "Are you gonna kiss me or not?".

You adore your sister, admire your daddy and love to watch football and baseball with him. And I love the way you love on me, too!

You can be so serious and matter-of-fact, and you get that finger out and do some pointing with your serious talk! ha! When you cry and get upset you sometimes say "I can't stop cryin'. I can if you love on me." It is pitiful and adorable at the same time.

You call your tennis shoes your "blue-headed shoes". Gator bites are one of your favorite things to eat when we are out, since we have moved to Florida. Swimming in the ocean is such a fun thing for all of us and you really enjoy jumping over (or through!) the waves and playing in the sand. You choose the ocean over the pool!

You can count to about 20, you know your colors and shapes. When you write your name you write it backwards and sometimes we still catch you spelling your name "M-a-j-o-r-d-a-n". Sometimes you even write your letters upside down (like a teacher would do from her point of view trying to show you how to do it so it looks right to you!).


You are so special and I treasure every day I have with you. I have had the most fun this past summer staying home with you and your sister. I do get sad when I have to take you to school each day, I miss my babies!



I love you, little man!
Mommy

Major's turn!

Major started school on Monday. A new chapter for my sweet little boy. As all second children, he has been following in his sister's footsteps. Everyone at their previous school knew Ella Grace




and were excited when Major came through their class. The cook adored my precious boy (gave him a going away gift, still sends him pictures and letters!).

Monday marked a special chapter for him. He started a school where she had not gone before. I am so excited for him and for this school year.



He has been thrilled for school to start. We/I had to change him from a full-day site to a half-day site when I decided not to go back to work. Then, I realized and began to worry about the distance and time between their schools (about 15 minutes, but in 3:00 traffic what would that turn in to?!? yikes!). Luckily, I was able to get him in to our church's VPK, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm four days a week. I was SO excited when I received that email!!



Sunday, I asked Major if he wanted to wear his tree house shirt and his camo shorts and he agreed that would be his first day outfit. So, the next morning when I went to get it out of his closet and he decided he didn't want to wear it because "I don't want all the boys to follow me around!" ha! This kid is hilarious. In case you haven't seen this shirt it says:

Tree house rules:

1. All members must eat a worm
2. No girls allowed.
3. Tell no one the password

(He can recite it and takes it very seriously!)

And it was a gift to Major from my sweet Mee Maw, and his FAVORITE shirt!

So, we went with his Mickey shirt. And he did great his first day. I took him in, we walked to his door, I gave him a kiss, he wanted a hug and then a second kiss and off he went. He was such a big boy and I was surprised, I will admit, that he had no tears...yes, I cried. It's my baby!!

I joined the other parents in the worship center for a meeting and off I went. By myself.



He had a great day and was ready to go back on Tuesday morning. After we dropped Ella Grace off he kept saying "I want to be at school now. We are going on the playground." Ella Grace has to be at school by 8:35. So, we had her there about 8:15 and made it to Major's school by 8:25. Then, we waited for about 20 minutes before we could get in the car line, and then waited about 10-15 minutes before they began to receive the kids. During all of this waiting Major changed his mind. He didn't want to go to school, but wanted to stay with me all day! They took him, however, with tears and a struggle. I felt terrible, but going in with him would have just prolonged it all. About 10:15 I got a call from the director and she assured me that he was fine and fully participating. Amen!! And he seemed to have had another great day.

Today, I walked him in again. We got there about the same time, so we walked up/down the stairs a little and I waited with him inside before he could go to his class. He gave me a hug and kiss and no tears! Yea, Major!!

Major:
I pray this school year brings lots of new experiences for YOU! That you become confident in what you can do, that you grow in your independence, come out of that shyness you have, and make lots of new friends. I know you will be great this year. You are such a little man (despite how bad I want you to stay my baby forever!) and I love watching you in this new environment and when you have opportunities to say and do what you want!
I pray you will be a good example, make good decisions and be a friend to all of your classmates

I love you, Sweet Boy!!

She did it!

Monday was her big day. She woke up on her own and got dressed. I made blueberry muffins, as requested, and she didn't touch one. She decided to wear her hair down, with no bow, but pulled it back herself before we left. But she was rocking her pink shoes! We had a great morning (with pictures for Mommy!).




Ella Grace rode her bicycle to school, while I pulled Major in the wagon.






It was H.O.T! We parked her bicycle and took her helmet off, I parked the wagon and the three of us walked in.

My baby girl was watching everything in this new place.


As we walked her in the lunch room I began to be overcome with tears. Luckily, Major started to ask what the stage was for and I was able to turn away from her - I couldn't stand it! I choked back my tears and we found a seat at her class table. We sat with her a few minutes, then went to check on lunch account business. She got settled again at the table and then it was time for Major and me to depart. She was such a big girl.

The tears started to flow again as I snapped a couple more pictures.


Then, Major & I made it to the PTA sponsored Boo-Hoo/Woo-Hoo Breakfast. I was on the Boo-Hoo team, if you didn't know. We were able to watch their morning announcements on television, hear from the assistant prinicpal who also read a book to the group. It was a sad, sad day.

But, she did great (no tears from her) and we made it through. On the way home, I told Major I missed her more and he said he did - he missed her to the sky and back and I missed her as big as our house. You can bet we were both glad to see her Monday afternoon!

We talked about what she did during the day - only colored one picture (which later turned in to "a lot of coloring", didn't play any (which turned in to visiting and playing on three playgrounds), and a lot of sitting. I asked if she had to listen, and she said "definitely a lot of listening!" Ella Grace also remembered two friends' names - Cheyenne and Camille.

Tuesday we dropped her off in the car line. She kissed me before she got out of the car and made it to the porch. As I started to leave I saw the principal move and say something. When I looked she had that arm reaching for me and the saddest face on! I felt so bad, but I continued - it only gets worse if you prolong it. The principal took her hand and walked her in.

That afternoon, I asked her why she cried and she just said she missed me. But, she also had to take her lunch money. She told me it was "fun" to pay for her lunch. She had chicken nuggets on Tuesday which is her favorite AND she got the chocolate milk. She has said, though, that she doesn't like drinking out of the milk carton. Ella Grace came home with two pictures - Jesse Bear and a poem from The Kissing Hand. She also remembered two more friends names'.

Oh, to be a kindergarten-er again!

Oh, I can't believe tomorrow is her big day! I am not ready for this. I know she is, though. My tears started flowing before bed time and she reassured me it was okay. Then, she told me she was going to miss me and cried a wee little bit. And Major chimed in and said "I'm going to miss Ella Grace." Big changes for all of us.

Tonight, she had her bath, we painted her nails (pink with a coat of sparkles), I ironed her clothes and she told me how she wanted her hair fixed in the morning. We are planning to walk to school and, hopefully, Major & I will be able to stay for the "Boo-Hoo/Whoo-Hoo Breakfast". She has wanted really bad to take her lunch to school. I have encouraged her to try everything before we re-evaluate. I hope she likes school lunches!

I wonder who will have the biggest breakdown tomorrow morning?!



Ella Grace,


I know you are going to be such a success this year. Your fun, loving personality is going to stand out among your classmates.

You will charm your teachers and make fast-friends with your fellow kindergarten-ers. I pray you will be a friend to your shy classmates, stand up for others and be a good example, that you will always do what is right.
You know Mommy & Daddy love you to the moon and back, you always have a friend in Jesus.

My baby girl, you have grown way too quickly. I hope tomorrow is a fabulous day, and much easier on you than me.

I want kindergarten to be everything you hope it will be.


Much love, Gracie-Lou-Who!
Mommy

Ella Grace, Major & I made a trip back home on August 1. Monday was spent in the car mostly. We finally made it to Pop & Nana's around 6:30 cst. What a relief to be out of the car (literally, ha! ha!). It didn't take too long for that explosion I mentioned before

And then a little later, Nana had just let Ella Grace carry a small bucket of beads and told her to hold on tight so they didn't spill....when they spilled...

Tuesday we visited my grandmothers (a previous post).

And Wednesday we hopped on Pop's yacht and headed for the lake. The kids had a blast! Swimming, floating, these kids were so tired that night!

Helping Pop drive.
We stopped for a swim break at Goat Island. Here you can see those famous goats!

When we launched Major said there was a baby turtle on this log. I told him I would take a picture of it when we got back. He reminded me and still said it was there. Can you see it?
Yeah, me neither.

When we had our share of fun at the lake, we made it back to Pop & Nana's. I bathed the kids and we got to visit with Granddaddy, Grandmother, Uncle Chris and Great-Grandmother.

It was definitely a busy day!

One year ago tomorrow...

Jeremy was about to head off for his first three months of training in Georgia.

It was a Sunday.

We went to church.

Then we had lunch with some of our favorite people in Tuscaloosa.

Mrs. Sandi kept both Ella Grace & Major as tiny babies in the church nursery. We attended a Bible study class together at church, participated in GROW together and sat together many 'a Wednesday nights last summer and ate before church at the grill.



This year, we get to spend more time with them.

Thank you, Mrs. Sandi and Mr. Brown for all you have done for us and mean to our little family!

A visit with friends

Yesterday, Ella Grace & I went to Tuscaloosa for a short visit and to run an errand. We were able to meet up with some of our friends, scheduled at the last-minute.

First, we met Mrs. Laurie, Ellie & Sadie Kate at Chick-fil-a. The girls took up with each other like old times, it was perfect. I couldn't believe how tall Ellie was, and how much Sadie Kate and Major act alike! Unbelievable!




After we went to UA to deliver a couple of baby gifts and visit, we grabbed a quick lunch, ran an errand and were able to visit my friend Andrea at her work, and then caught up with Mrs. Amber, Gavin and Kurt. Gavin was pretty surprised that we were on his doorstep. His momma had just told him it was a surprise, it was a girl and not Ellie. He said "It can't be Ella Grace." And then, there she was!

Ella Grace took up more with baby Kurt than Gavin, but she has missed him so much and they mail each other pictures all of the time. Ella Grace still professes her love to Gavin, though! ha!





It is so great to have fabulous friends! We love the Mayos and Summers!

How I've missed them!

Today has been so busy. I took Major and Ella Grace in to "town" to run a little errand and get Major's hair cut. Afterwards, Mom, Dad, the kids and I loaded up and went to visit MeeMaw and Gran.

It was so wonderful to see them both! It made me miss being able to see them more often. I visited them both lots while I was in college and traveling through, and would take the kids for visits later on. I just want my kids to have fun with them, remember them and things they did together or had. My favorite is MeeMaw's junk. She was telling the kids today how she had gotten rid of the junk (which is just random plates, chains, jars, eater eggs, etc.). Oh, my! I thought Major was going to break down crying! He didn't, but he did ask for it a couple of times. Major cuddled with her and that made me really happy. I know she enjoyed it a lot, too! MeeMaw turned 90 back in March.




We ate a great lunch at a Mexican restaurant and went to visit Gran. Ella Grace and Major love playing with some old coins (aka poker chips) and dropping them in all these little dishes and baskets. They wore us out with this game. Gran just eats them up!

Major was tired before we left and really wanted his cup of water out of the car...more than he wanted his picture made!

It was a great day!