7 Years Old...No Way!

My Sunshine has grown from this...

To this!

I am still having a hard time with Miller turning 7.  He is such a fun boy to be a parent to.  Without a doubt he can press my buttons but he finds the laugh button the most.  The things that come out of his mouth just crack us up.  He still has a love/obsession of trucks, boats and trailers.  I am concerned that he might not grow out of it but simply grow more into it.  There is much talk of is that truck bigger than our's or is that boat bigger?  Boys and their toys!

Miller will be starting 1st grade in the middle of August and we are praying he has a fun year.  I know that school is not supposed to be "fun" but it should be a little bit enjoyable.  The countdown has started and I hope that some excitement will build with it. 

Miller is a ball full of energy that must be entertained 24/7.  He loves hanging out with his "best buddies" on our street, which is a lot of fun for us as parent's too.  A house full of kids running in and out and next door and across the street and back again.  It reminds me of my childhood.  He is growing a lot as a big brother too.  Let's face it 6 years apart creates a lack of interest, but he is coming around.  Occasionally I will even find Miller playing with Steven.  He still cannot understand why Steven cries but I think that has more to do with his hope that there would simply be no crying.  He detest the sound of a baby crying.  He will shove a pacifier in Steven's mouth before you can blink :-)

Honestly I could go on and on about Miller.  But as much fun as he is today and how sad I am that he is growing too fast too soon, I really cannot wait to see what the future holds for him.  He is my heart and he makes me so very proud to be his mom.  It will only get better!

Playing Catch Up!

There will be several post today.  Hopefully I will get everything in that I want to remember.  We have been pretty busy these last couple of weeks and we still have several busy weeks ahead of us and then the dreaded school year will be starting.  Miller is already on his countdown, this has been a question every couple of days, "How many more weeks before school starts?" It gives me giggles because every Sunday evening, David will look at me and say "I can't believe that it is 5 o'clock on Sunday?"  I think we really need to be reprogrammed, we are too busy focusing on the countdown than enjoying the time off we have. 

How many days until the weekend???  haha :-)  Happy Thursday everyone!

Another weekend = Another Birthday

So this weekend we had another birthday party in the family but this time it was for Grandma Rita.  David's grandma turned 90 last week and we celebrated her birthday on Saturday with an open house.  It was a huge success with a great turn out.  I however took very few pictures and I didn't have my camera out for the family photos.  Hopefully someone will send me one.  But I did get some pics of some of the kiddos.

This weekend will be Miller's birthday celebration as my boat loving, Dr. Pepper drinking and gumbo eating boy will turn 7 on Sunday.  Wow, it is hard for me to believe.  Where has the time gone?  So the next post will be all about Miller. 

Have a safe and happy July 4th everyone!

Here are a some of the pics that I did take on Saturday...

I trimmed the front of Steven's hair, can you tell?

 Speaking of hair, I have hair envy for this little girl's hair...love her curls!

 Steven and Meagan hanging out, everyone beware Meagan will be 16 next month!  Yep, legal on the roads!  :-)

 Getting some time in with little man, Brandt!

 Lauren having a seat on a pelican...luckily no sea gulls around :-)

Sweet Mess is 1, How Can That Be?

From this sweet baby....

 To this sweet mess!

Yes it is very hard for me to believe, Steven turned 1 on Saturday.  What a tough 12 months but you would never know it by looking at him.  We have our hands full, and I mean FULL with this little stinker.  Just a couple of fun facts on who he is today...

• Not yet a full walker but a mover and a shaker, none the less.  I think walking slows him down so crawling is his transportation of choice. 
• Eight teeth to bite you with and he uses them proudly.
• Picky eater but starting to come around.  He must know if he doesn't then he will not fit in. 
• Dada and Mama are spoken however Mama is usually reserved for moments of whining and there are more of those moments than we care for.
• Grunter and I mean GRUNT, caveman conversationalist.
• Dancer, watch out Miller, little brother is going to be ready for a dance off soon.

We visited the pediatrician yesterday for his 12 month check up and everything is great.  He is where he should be or ahead and we could not be more thankful.  Of course, we have also been paying the cardiologist some visits for bp checks and well let's just say that hypertension is here to stay.  That needs to be my outlook, yes maybe he will out grow it but it doesn't appear to be happening anytime soon.  Last Thursday we had a check and it was 118 and 116, and for the first time I was shocked.  He had fallen asleep in the car on our way so he was very calm half dazed sitting in my lap when it was checked...no way it could be high.  But it was and it was the 2nd check so we have increased one of his meds and go back next week.  I have been checking it and it is hovering around 109-110 range.  Not too good considering I am using a machine and taking it from his leg, which all points to lower results.  Hopefully it will be ok and the results next week will be better.  We return to TCH in the middle of July and will see what the nephrologist has to say.  Right now it is hard to dwell on the bp, he keeps us focusing on everything else about him and if we are not watching and paying attention to him, well he will just GRUNT at us. 

FUNNY STORY TIME:

David was told this about Steven:  There are a stack of papers that he always likes to go after at the office with Grandma.  Grandma and Aunt Julie tell him no and will swat his hand occasionally if he goes after them.  (We do a whole lot of hand swatting at home, too and we have done a whole lot of baby proofing because he is always where he shouldn't be)  Well he decided he still wanted to check out that stack of papers so he pulls them down and turns around, sticks out his hand and gives them a look as to say, go ahead swat my hand I did something bad!  Yep, we are in trouble :-)

Well I need to shut this down, I need my rest to keep up with him!  Happy Tuesday and I hope to write again before a month goes by...

Final Year Of Tee Ball Has Come and Gone

Well Miller has finished another and final year of tee ball and I am secretly happy.  Ok, I haven't made it much of a secret.  I love watching him play, swinging the bat and trying to run the bases but I could do without the intensity that accompanies the game.  This is TEE BALL...not the National or American league!  I mean we, (ok not me) take this stuff seriously and I cannot understand why.  But regardless of the fussing and arguing it was a great season and Miller had a good time.  Maybe next year his legs will run as fast as his mind thinks they do and we will be all good :-)

 Let me out!!!

 Some teams just had more power than us!

Our third baseman :-) 

 Keep your eye on the ball

Last at bat :-(



Happily Untitled Post, Just Cannot Think Of A Title :-)

Ok, so where has this year gone?  I mean really...we are already at the end of April.  Miller will be turning 7 in 2 months and 2 weeks.  Steven will be 1 in exactly 2 months.  Really?  I just cannot imagine how fast time goes.  Then I look back at this blog and remember the journey we have been on and think oh yes, that is where this year has gone.  But the great thing is that one look at both of the Silly Mess and the Sweet Mess and it is obvious that both have taken it all in stride.  Kids are resilient.

Miller will be graduating from Kindergarten, ok so no ceremony but they did take cap and gown pictures.  Anyone care to explain that to me?  We are not disappointed just find it humorous.  He is counting down the days until summer.  His only request is that he gets at least the first day off.  Poor child is not looking forward to summer day camp.  He also has some other funny request...for instance, today he asked David if his dad could come ride in the boat and if they could take his dad's truck so he could haul the boat.  If you know Miller, this comes as no surprise.  My child can identify trucks better than me, Chevy, GMC, Ford, etc and he can also spot a "hook" a mile away.  When he says hook he means hitch but for whatever reason he started calling it a hook.  The logic is there when you think about it.  I have often wondered when he would move past his fascination with trucks but it seems that there is no end in sight.  I guess he could have worse fascinations, right?  But he can get passed the idea of boat riding with his Dad and David in the same boat.  Not that we present any kind of animosity but that is just not us.  Oh and have I mentioned the story of Miller and the Insurance Man, aka Stranger?  Well a couple of weeks ago I took Miller to the insurance office to take care of a couple of things before I dropped him off at his dad's.  He proceeds to tell Insurance Man, aka Stranger that he has 2 families and that "my dad left my mom but she doesn't say that, she just says things happen."  Yep, Life According to Miller!  I know that the day will come when Miller starts to ask questions and starts to piece things together but there is no need to rush it.  So when he has asked (which started way too early) about what happened between his dad and myself, I have always answered "well Miller, things just happen."  However when he ask his dad, the answer is "It is my fault and I left."  I am trying to protect Miller and his dad is taking the blame but I am sure to the Insurance Man, aka Stranger it sounds like Mom is in denial!  For awhile, I wanted Miller to know the truth and now I just want Miller to know that he has 4 parents that love him and would do anything for him.  Time Heals :-)

Speaking of healing, Steven is 10 months old which also puts this past Friday as 7 months post surgery.  The only way you know is by the faint scar on his chest.  He is our little dare devil.  He is also the happiest little dude but he likes a schedule and it is not much fun to get him off of it.  If he does not hear the bath running by 7 he will remind you very loudly that it is time.  Unlike Miller, who would just take a nap in a pile of toys Steven likes to snuggle.  He crawls right up to you and will snuggle in for a good nap.  I have no problems with this as I usually fall asleep myself.  Oh how I love nap time on the weekends with him.  When we take him somewhere he gets all kinds of attention, people will comment on his eyes or his smile but my favorite comment is to hear how big he is.  I smile and think to myself, you have no idea.  Another thing I love to hear is Miller with Steven.  Whether he is secretly playing with him or loudly correcting him, it brings me joy! 

Now on to some pictures....

 A Little LSU Baseball

Hello Mike!

Time To Start Wearing A Hat!

 Pictures Like These Are Few & Far Between!

 Field Trip To The Zoo!

 Time For A Boat Ride!

I've Fallen And Can't Get Up, Help!

Too Good To Be True!!!

Summer is close, baseball fields are full, parks are packed, mosquitos are munching and the countdown to the end of school has started.  Oh to be a kid again! For me, this time of year means how can I squeeze more time in my day to spend more time with the kids doing things that are summer related and still be a good employee.  Oh the balance of life...Miller is counting down days of school, while I only get to count down hours to the end of a day.  So I am going to admit it, teachers I am JEALOUS!   Don't lie teachers, you know it is really a great part of your job!  And if your school is like Miller's you also get to end the year with some love from your kiddos for teacher appreciation week.  Can someone please check the calendar and let me know when Processor/Loan Officer appreciation week is?  :-)  However, we do have Mother's day approaching and so I want to wish all the Mom's out there a Happy Mother's Day.  As for Emily, aka My Mom....I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I am always very grateful for our Mother's Day "trip" and this year was no exception.  I love being able to spend time with you and to just be able to talk.  The times are rare when it is just us and it is time that I cherish.  This year has been a challenging year for me and I thank you for all the times that you listened to me cry when the stress and fear overwhelmed me.  I thank you for all the times when you told me how proud you were of me and how well you thought that I have handled these "interruptions."  Regardless of how big the challenges are or how huge the interruptions, I know that I will always have a fan in you and for that I am so very blessed!   I love you!!!!!

Now to explain my title for this post...

Guess who's blood pressure was high today?  Yep, Sweet Mess!  We had a follow up appointment with our cardiologist and his bp was at 115!  So we are now increasing one of his medications and have a follow up in two weeks.  Ugh...I was really praying that maybe he was growing out of it.  I knew it was too good to be true.  I even checked just a second ago, keep in mind he is sound asleep and it was 111.  And I am worried that the little guy might be feeling bad.  I cannot tell if it is from teething or if he is coming down with something but can we say Whine Pot, because that is what he has been.  But I guess I will give him a break, if I had people trying to squeeze my arm several times, sore gums and low fever I guess I would be a Whine Pot too.  Hopefully tomorrow will be the return of our Sweet Mess instead of Whiney Mess!

Hope you all have a terrific Tuesday!!!!