Life is good at the beach!

Not that we had any doubts before, but James is certainly our child!  He loved everything about the beach; the waves, the sand, the sun, the pool, the snacks....life is good!  We took a 5 day trip to Gulf Shores over 4th of July.  It was crowded but the beach never disappoints.  James especially loved letting the waves hit him and throwing wet sand, of course.  We had a special visit from our friends who live in Gulfport. You'll see in pics below-Paul, Megan, Matthew & Thomas.  The drive home was not as pleasant as days on the beach; it was a little too long for our 21 month old.  However, we made it home safe & sound and are already looking forward to next year!  Pics below.

Randall, James, Matthew & Paul

 Matthew & James

James & Matthew playing in condo.

 Megan and Sweet Baby Thomas

 James took this picture of Paul....he's becoming quite the photographer!

 James at Waterville.  He seriously went down this slide 30 times.

 Just Chillin.

 One, two, three....Jump!



Bright Future

Our future's so bright; we gotta wear shades! :-)  Randall, James & I headed to Wooster, AR for Alivia's first birthday party.  Alivia is my younger brother's baby.  James had a wonderful time exploring "Livy's" room with his other favorite cousin, Emily.  As always on these special days, Mama is greatly missed but know she is celebrating from a much better place.  Happy Birthday Livy!  Pictures courtesy of Papaw. :-)

The birthday girl & her proud Dada.

Miss Emily

Mr. James

Livy & her proud Mama.

Me & Daddy

James, showing out!

James's first beach trip pics coming soon....

With Children

"In America, there are two classes of travel-first class and with children."  ~Robert Benchley

We survived our first long hotel stay with James at his very mobile age! :-) We traveled to Fayetteville for Dylan's graduation (our nephew) and a Razorback baseball game.  Although James and I saw very little of the graduation or game and despite four nights in a pac'n play, he traveled and slept very well.  He really loved seeing his cousins and enjoyed the hotel elevator very much! Congrats to Dylan; we love you!

Dylan's Graduation Dinner 

James at the after graduation party

 

James at the Hog Game

Randall and Daltan 

Shannon and Kim 

Dylan 



Easter 2011

He is Risen!

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3

My Mom remains constant on my heart & mind, but especially on Easter morning as I study my baby boy in his Sunday best.  My heart finds comfort though in the verses above knowing that because of Easter I will spend eternity in heaven with Jesus and see my Mom again! 

Randall, James & I are wonderful!  Randall's practices are thriving and as James gets older, my stay at home mom routine becomes much more easy and fun!  James is now 18 1/2 months old; 33 inches tall (75th percentile)  & 27 lbs. (50-75th percentile).  He LOVES everything outside and any kind of water play (hence the water table gift from the Easter Bunny)!  Below are Easter weekend pictures.  (We also had an Easter Egg Hunt at Papaw's (my Dad) but don't have those pics yet; will upload later).

Easter Egg Hunt at FBC-Ashdown

And their off....

 James, and cousin, Peyton

Grandmother, James, and cousin Reese walking the beam. 

 On the monkey bars!

 Dying Easter Eggs...."not sure about this"...

 Fun time play at Grandmother's with family!

 Dylan, Peyton, Daltan, Reese, Grandpa, Luke, Grandmother & James

Easter Morning.

 Water play!

 My Easter Best...a frown on my face but a smile in my heart!



So Big & So Beautiful!

James is getting so big & the weather is so beautiful! Thank you God for both!  James is now 17 & 1/2 months and feels so much more like a little boy than a baby.  We've been having a great time playing outside, taking walks sometimes in the morning & afternoon.  We introduced him to his sandbox, which is a lot of fun! He wasn't sure at first about the sand sticking to his feet and hands, but got over that quickly.  He continues to eat me out of house & home and has started telling me "tastes good" at meal time. This very much pleases the cook! :-) We look forward to a fabulous summer!

Swinging at the park.

A morning walk.

Climbing where he shouldn't.

 Sandbox play.

 "Vroom, Vroom."  Don't you love it when they make that sound?

"Look Dada!"

He stills love TV.

Beautiful!

James's Precious Smile

Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day,

With little time to stop and pray,

For life's been anything but calm

Since You called me to be a mom--

Running errands, matching socks,

Building dreams with wooden blocks,

Cooking, cleaning, finding shoes

And other stuff that children lose,

Fitting lids on bottled bugs,

Wiping tears and giving hugs,

A stack of last week's mail to read--

So where's the quiet time I need?

Yet, when I steal a moment, Lord,

Just at the sink or ironing board,

To ask the blessings of Your grace,

I see then, in my small one's face,

That you have blessed me all the while --

And I stoop to kiss that

precious smile.

--Author Unknown

Some Recent Pics of that Precious Smile...

Outside Play

 

 James still loves a bath!

My first popsicle & it was good!

James found the Capri Suns....his first experience...squeezing it is so fun!

He still likes a good game of PeekaBoo!