Okay, I Get It...

Yes, now I understand.  I cooked a big pot of spaghetti two nights ago and was lucky enough to have all five kids sitting in my kitchen hungry and ready to dig in.  The three older boys sat nicely at Sam's farm table while Jack and Landry sat in the booster seat and high chair.  I knew it would be messy.  Sam and Jack love spaghetti and they usually make quite a mess.  I only have one rule-shirts off...for some reason, stain remover doesn't quite get out that tomato sauce.  Ally has told me over and over again when I serve spaghetti, let the big boys eat outside on the patio and don't let the babies feed themselves.  Well, I let them all eat inside and yes Jack and Landry feed themselves.  They have to learn sometime, right?  I looked over 10 minutes into the meal to find the three older ones doing well.  Cade had made very little mess, Sam had quite a bit on him but it was contained to just a few areas and Cannon only had spaghetti under his armpit (don't ask me, that's just Cannon).  Jack was a mess but no more so than any other time and hey, he's a baby.  And then I saw her.  Landry Lee.  And I got it.  This is why Ally said I should feed them.  There was spaghetti everywhere...her hair, down her diaper, between her toes, in her ears...EVERYWHERE.  So straight to the tub she went, half a box of noodles stuck to her body and all.  And as I was on my hands and knees cleaning spaghetti off the floor, the door, the rug and even into the living room (????), I kicked myself for not listening to my big sister.

Sunday's Best

Sam went to "Big Boy " Sunday school yesterday for the first time.  He has never been to a class alone and never even been left in the nursery (no judgement, please).  I always took him into my class with me and that worked just fine.  Well, now he is older, Jack is here and we had to make a change.  I know it is good for him and he especially needs the interaction with other kids now...we still have another year before I am sending him to preschool.  He was excited to join Cade and Cannon at First Baptist, my childhood church and the church the rest of my family still attends.  It makes it a little easier to let him venture off into a new environment when he has Cannon at his side, my younger sister, Rebecca, is his teacher and Ally is lurking around in the hall between the two year old class and Cade's class.  From what I hear, he did great and he tells me he had lots of fun and wants to go back next week.  Thank you, Lord, for making this a happy experience for those three boys.  I pray that they always seek you with as much excitement and innocence as yesterday.

So Handsome

"Hey, man.  I really like your outfit."

Three Buddies

And They're Off...

2.5 Years

Samuel John

2.5 Years Old

Talking, talking, talking...every minute you have something to say..."Mama, I talk now" followed by a long story..."Just a Minute"...with emphasis on each syllable...everything is in just a minute..."Be back in just a minute"..."I have snack for just a minute"..."I go to Cade and DD's for just a minute"...tractors, tractors, tractors...buckets, combines, plows, trailers... you have so much knowledge about all these things...cows...moving cows, cow pastures, baby cows, mama cows, bulls...little cow expert...smart...incredible vocabulary...loves talking on the telephone...great memory...full sentences...farm boy...digging, working, helping...it's in your blood...sweet, sweet, sweet...becoming more and more loving and expressive about your feelings..."I miss you"..."Be careful, mama, 'cause I love you" (melted my heart, I'll never forget it)...Daddy's Boy..."Where's my daddy?"..."I call Daddy"..."I go with Daddy"...independent...thinker...worrier...Big Brother...loves Jack...misses Jack...wants Jack...tall...big feet...strong...handsome...looking like a boy now...no longer a baby (but always my baby)...loves family...play, play, play..."Please play with me"...singing...loves songs...loves having someone sing with you...from Johnny Cash to Old McDonald, you'll sing anything...beautiful brown eyes...somethings don't change...those eyes will melt hearts all your life...a wonderful, precious little boy that is incredibly loved and adored.

Always has been, Always will be...My Sunshine.

We Love G-Ma!

My boys are so lucky to have their G-Ma.  She adores them and they adore her right back.  She is wonderful to them, always patient, never raises her voice, doesn't give spankings (even when she should), acts interested in everything they do, spoils them with hugs and kisses and cinnamon rolls, lets them dig in the dirt, make messes and just be little boys.  She had two boys of her own, almost the same age difference, so she can relate to my days of dirty shoes, spilled cereal, dripping milk cups and brother fights.  Sam loves his G-Ma beyond words and little Jack is quickly falling head over heels too.  Sam loves talking to G-Ma, knowing she will hang on his every word, act amazed at his stories, cheer for his singing and praise his pants off.  Jack flirts with her, rolls and acts silly, walks up to her laughing and grinning for no other reason than he's just happy she's there.  Yes, my boys are very lucky...G-Ma is only two houses down, just a short walk to get that undivided attention that she sweetly gives them.  But I am the luckiest of all.  She comes and sits with them so I can clean, cut grass, run errands.  She takes them to her house when she senses I need a break and is always there when I need her.  I know I am blessed beyond words to have her in my life.  She is a strong lady, a fierce mom, a devoted Christian and an amazing mother-in-law.  She is understanding and loving, a wonderful teacher and loves her two boys and mine in a way that leaves no room for doubt as to where they stand. She is the mother who when she found out that Jody's college football coach had taken all the guy's car keys to ensure they couldn't leave campus, hopped in her car, drove 2 hours, and handed Jody another set of keys, in case he needed to get back home.  She is the mother who woke up early enough every morning to cook a full breakfast for her boys, tired or not, hectic mornings and all.  She is the mother who took a second job just to earn extra money so she could send Jody on a cruise for his high school graduation.  Her example of mothering is something I try to live up to.  Her boys know that she is always there for them, no matter what, forever and always. Sam and Jack will know this too, she'll make sure of it.  I pray that when my boys are 27 and 25 like hers, that they will know that I am always still right here, their biggest supporter, like her boys know...yes, this is my hope.  I count her as one of my dearest friends and I thank God for her.  

Sam told Jody tonight before going to sleep..."Daddy, I like G-Ma.  Yes, Son.  She's likes you too."  She sure does Sam (and Jack), more than you'll ever know.

                                                                         G-Ma and Sam

G-Ma and Jack

The first time...G-Ma and Sam

The first time...G-Ma and Jack

   

Like a Pig in Slop...

Yes, that's about the best way I can describe Jack when you throw a blanket and pillow on the floor and let him have at it.  This boy can flip, turn and roll like no other.  He squeals with excitement when he sees a pillow has fallen off the couch and rushes to it, falls on it and proceeds to flip and turn, trying new positions in his quest for comfort. Pillows and blankets quite honestly make him happier than anything I can think of. Happier than toys, bath time, food, milk, being outside and maybe even hanging on my leg.  His reaction to being allowed to roll on our bed is too hard to describe...pure bliss pretty much sums it up.  He dives straight into the middle of the pillows, buries his head so that all you see are those chubby legs and feet flipping and kicking as he rolls pillow to pillow, top of the bed to bottom, side to side.  I have no doubt that this little buddy's idea of a good time would be a trip to the sleep number store in the mall. I laugh as I think of what his reaction would be as he saw a whole room full of beds and pillows...JACKPOT!  So maybe that is an idea for a first birthday treat, or better yet bribery for trips to the mall..."Jack, if you are really sweet and let mama shop, I'll take you to the sleep number store before we leave."  Genius.  

Here are a few pics of Jackie-Poo diving into my duvet.  I was in the den trying to put my clean duvet back on my comforter before I was forced to stop for a while.  When he saw what I was doing, my bed-making was all over.

                                                                             Flipping...

Rolling...

Blowing bubbles... 

Sam couldn't resist and had to join in...

Whatever makes you happy, sweetie.

Farming...According to Sam Standley

Sam's favorite things these days are his red barn, his tractors, his farm animals and his farmers. I should mention that he asks daily, often numerous times, to go to the John Deere store...no toy store for him please...he prefers the "tractor store".  He loves building his farm, over and over, switching tractors, tending to the animals and putting the proper farmer on the proper tractor in a specific location on the "farm".  He is meticulous and exact and maybe a tad bit obsessive.  He would spend hours building and rebuilding his farm.  He begs anyone around to come and "play with his barn" and even adds a little entertainment...he loves singing "Old McDonald" as he builds.  All the animals are grouped together and each tractor has a certain trailer that it must be hooked to.  Meltdowns are pretty common, especially when the "farmer" refuses to stay in place on the tractor, the trailer won't stay hooked, or an animal tumbles over in the trailer.  But all in all, this little boy loves all things farming.  I am even amazed sometimes at how much he knows already.  I know he has been exposed to animals, tractors, trailers, etc... but where did he learn that only certain tractors are good for lifting the hay bails and other tractors are better for hauling his animals.  He knows where the fence should be placed so that each animal is inside and has a gate just wide enough for pulling his tractor into the barn for the night.  He takes each animal to their food (some animals eat from round hay bails, other from square bails...he has a system) and sweetly lets them eat, takes them back to the others in their group and gently lays them on their side for the night.  It is quite a sight to sit back and watch him.  It makes him happier than any other toy, game, bike, etc. that we could give him.  Yes, all this boy needs is to be able to create his very own "dream farm" and he is one happy little "farmer".

Bringing animals into the barnyard...

Carefully placing each item...

The end result...a perfect farm and a happy boy...

"Mr. Orange Farmer" after being told it's time to clean up...

1 Corinthians 13

I came across this in my Bible and found it to be really special.  I think we all can learn a lot from these words...

A Mom's Version of 1 Corinthians 13

And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

(1 Corinthians 13:13)

Though I lecture and harp at my children and have not love, I will be background noise to their rebellious thoughts.

And though I wisely warn them not to use the street as a playground , or they'll be killed: and though I patiently explain why snails live in mobile homes, and I give endless answers to life's other mysteries; and though I have faith that can remove mountains of ignorance-yet never hug my children-I have taught nothing.

And though I slave over a steaming stove with balanced diets and complicated recipes and even burn my fingers-yet never smile as I serve-I have not really feed them.

A truly loving mother suffers through unfinished sentences, clutter, nicks on furniture, sleepless nights and adolescent insults, and is kind enough to think her kids are the greatest.  A loving mother tries not to resent her children for being free like she used to be, and she doesn't brag about having never talked to her mom that way.

Real love considers a childish nightmare more urgent than her need for sleep; is not shattered by the title "Meanest Mom"; doesn't shame a toddler who breaks training or a teen who still spills milk; steadfastly refuses to entertain visions of escape; and does not smirk as her child trips over the toy he refused to put away (but with silent wisdom rejoices in the effective lessons of experience).

Mother-love has arms strong from lifting, a heart large with believing, a mind stretched with hoping, shoulders soft with enduring and knees bent with committing.

True mother-love never fails to point her children to the Author of Love.

Speaking Sam

Speaking Sam 101

"Mr. Orange Farmer"-Sam's new name for himself...

Orange-(Favorite Color) + Farmer (Favorite Thing) = Sam's Chosen Name

"Motorbicycle"-Refers to any tricycle, bicycle, motorcycle

"Bok-Bok"-Chicken

"My Byself"-Do things by himself...I hear this A LOT!

"DD"-Cannon

"At the"-Used instead of "to"...I go "at the" Mema's.

"Nina"-Nana

"Red Milk", "Blue Milk", "Yellow Milk"-Refers to which color cup he wants his milk in (high maintenance, I know)

"Pibow"-Pillow

Just a few of my favorites...he is saying so many new things every day.  These "Sam Sayings" make me smile and hearing him talk and create his own "language" is pure fun...simple, priceless moments.

Sweet Steps

Only a few days ago, Jack, you slowly and carefully took your first steps...the first steps to walk, the steps that will turn into running, skipping and jumping...your first steps into a whole new world for you...a world of adventure and freedom...independence.  And what only days ago were occasional, wobbly, hesitant steps have today become frequent walks full of balance and confidence.  You walk a little further each time and with each step your smile grows bigger and brighter and selfishly my heart breaks just a little.  Will you still want me to hold you or have those days passed before I was ready?  I marvel at your accomplishments and I cheer and clap for you with each step you take...but Jack, for me, can I have a few more of those moments of you tugging at my leg, snuggled on my shoulder rubbing my hair between your fingers, reaching your little arms up to me and pleading at me with those big brown eyes to pick you up?  You see, Jack, those are the moments that make this life so sweet, the moments that leave me in awe of all my wonderful blessings.  You will be running through this house soon and while the sound of your little feet will flood my heart with joy, I hope the end of each day will still find you cuddled up in my arms as you fall asleep.  So I promise to clap and dance and cheer for each new step and I promise to always be there to pick you up, dust you off and encourage you to try again...just promise me a few more precious moments with those arm stretched out, your brown eyes gazing up at me, just wanting to be held.  I love you...

In Memory of...

Boys of Austin Farm

August 1, 2008-September 9, 2008

Okay, I am officially back.  After countless hours, too many emails and phone calls, trips to search everyone's computer and a lot of worry, I have rejoined the blogging world.  As many of you know, I got the pleasant surprise last week that my blog had been deleted.  For those of you who don't know, Google owns Blogger and you now have to have a Google account to establish a Blog. Well, I was cleaning up my computer and decided to delete some web picture albums off of Google...you know what happens next, right?  EVERYTHING associated with Google was deleted, including my blog (quite a shock to me, I didn't even know Google and Blogger were "related").  So learn your lesson from me...back up your blogs!  I read countless emails and help group posts from others who had done the same thing but had lost blogs and photos that were 3 or 4 years old.  I can't imagine.  I am trying to find the rest of my old posts and am keeping my fingers crossed that Google will send them to me.  All I can do is hope at this point!

So a week has passed and I have stressed every day about not being able to journal the activities of my little buddies.  There is a lot to catch up on...so much to share.  I guess the biggest news around here is First Steps...Yes, I lose my blog on Tuesday and someone (I'm not naming names) decided it was time to get going and walk around on Wednesday.  Just my luck, huh?  So, I'll leave it at that...I must dedicate an entire post to that special moment.  

Lastly, please update me on your blog lists...just add "the" to the old address and hopefully those people who were following my site will be able to find it.   On a side note, I think I have an idea for a great business...Blog Backups, LLC or Emergency Blog Data Recovery or from the frame of mind I was in last week, maybe Bloggers Anonymous, which could serve those addicted to or driven past the point of crazy as a result of their blog.  After this past week, I could be the charter member.

11 Months

Jack, 

Where has the time gone?  Eleven months have passed and as I write this I can remember our first night together in the hospital just like it was last night...my brand new, precious little boy... I couldn't get enough of you that night and I still can't.  You'll be a year old in one short month and no longer a baby.  My last month with you as a "baby"...and as I sit here and wonder where the time went, my mind is flooded with sweet thoughts of you.  These are the things I love and adore about you and these very things make you you.  I love you more than you could ever imagine and my only wish would be that I could pause these special moments, make time pass slower, so that I could hold you in my arms a little longer.  Jack, these are my special, priceless memories of you...

When I give you your bottle before bedtime you always finish and cuddle up on my left shoulder, always the same shoulder, and nuzzle your sweet head close to my face.  Even if you fall asleep eating, you manage to flip yourself around and find your way to your favorite spot... 

When I lay you in your crib you rub your face back and forth and all around into your sheet. Maybe you are just getting comfortable, but this is something I see your Daddy do a lot too, so it must be in your blood... 

Your bottom lip always disappears when you sleep or are really tired.  It is the sweetest and most innocent look I have ever seen...

In the morning, after I get you from you room, you always point and make a long "SSSSS" sound.  I think you are telling me "See", and it never fails, you do it every morning just as we make our way to the dining room...

You are content with a lot of different people, but it doesn't  matter how happy you may be, when you see me,  I am the only person you want.  Yes, you love your Mama and I love being your # 1...

When you are sad, scared or your feelings have been hurt, you always poke out your bottom lip (the most pitiful sight ever) and try to fight back the tears.  When our eyes meet you start crying, every time.  Maybe you know that you don' have to be tough around me...cry if you need to...

You love to roll around on pillows and blankets.  You squeal in delight if there is a blanket or pillow nearby and you rush over to it, flipping and spinning and burying your face.  It makes you unbelievably happy...

If I am sitting on the floor with you, you always crawl to me and stop a foot or so away, flip around and proceed the rest of the way in reverse until you feel me behind you.  You lean back on me and fall out like you have crawled three miles...

If Sam is mean to you, you come crying to me, even if it really wasn't that bad.  People say you are tattling all ready and I think they may be right...

I could go on and on naming all the sweet things that have become your trademarks.  You are an amazing little boy and I am blessed beyond belief that you are mine.  You are and always will be my "joy baby."

The Many Faces of Sam

Every time I take a picture these days, Sam runs to me and says "I see, I see." This makes it a little difficult when I am trying to take a shot of him. He is usually in motion towards the camera just as I snap the photo. So we have to try, over and over, to take a picture. I can usually get him to sit pretty still by promising I'll show him the picture as soon as I'm done...if he is still. Well, now he comes to me asking me to take his picture just so he can see himself. He sits back and makes faces, checking to see how he looked after each shot. He loves for me to tell him an emotion and he makes the face he associates with that feeling. Most of them look the exact same, but he does have a few signature looks.

Scared...

Sad...

Happy...

Mad...

So this entry is just for Sam...a display of his "acting" ability. Who knows, he may win an Oscar one day. But for now, he will love admiring himself on the computer and I will probably have to show him this entry over and over and over. Hey, it's Sam's world around here and I'm just lucky enough to live in it.

Is There Anything Sweeter Than...

my Jack (or my Sam, too)?   Yes, I am convinced that he is the sweetest baby in the universe.  I think I could bottle his sweetness and sell it.  He loves his mama more than anything and he shows me all day that he thinks I'm the greatest.  He would stay on my hip 24 hours a day if I'd let him. When he's not on my hip, he's attached to the bottom of my leg, looking up at me with those big brown eyes waiting for me to pick him up.  But the sweetest thing, the image I want burned in my memory forever,  is the look on his face when I walk in the room.  It is priceless. It sure can boost a girl's self esteem.  Today Ally caught a glimpse of this on camera...not as big a smile as usual (he's not used to waking up with Ally and Landry in his room), but you get the idea.  I am one lucky girl.

Just waking up..I wonder where my mommy is...

Yes! There she is!

Look at that smile...showing all his teeth.

Hey, Mama...here I am!

It Looked Like a Band-Aid to Him

Sam got a lot of  laughs last night ...

Jody's cousin and Sam's buddy, Brad, was at our house last night.  He is a regular around here and Sam really loves playing with him.  Brad gets down on the floor with him, tosses him around and laughs at everything he does so Sam is his # 1 fan.  He even blames "Bad" as he call him for things. When I ask him if he did something, he'll say, "No, Bad did it."  Yes he tells this little lie even if Brad is not here or hasn't been here for days.  I think Brad has become Sam's scapegoat.

Last night Brad was here playing with Sam. They were in the middle of the den floor, all of Sam's tools were dumped out, Sam was hard at work and sporting his safety goggles as they worked on Sam's "broken" fire engine.  Brad hit his hand and told Sam that it hurt.  Sam jumps up and says,"Ok, Bad.  I get you a band-aid." 

 He walks up to me in the kitchen and says, "Mama, I get Bad a band-aid."

"Sure, Sam.  You go ahead."

He takes off, stops and looks at me to ask the same question I hear anytime he ventures down the hall, "Mama, nothing gonna get me?"

"No, honey.  Nothing's gonna get you."  Remember this boy is scared of the hall, the washing machine and popsicle boxes, so he needs a little reassurance from Mama that he is safe.

So off he goes, orange safety goggles and all to find "Bad" a band-aid.  He quickly returns and I catch a glimpse of him but he has made it into the den and plopped down beside "Bad" before I can stop him.  

And there, he presents Brad with a large box of tampons. Yes, that little booger had managed to find those at the very back of my bathroom cabinet and proudly marched into the den with his "band-aids".  

Well, I was laughing, Brad looked a little confused and poor Jody was beyond mortified.  I should probably mention that a buddy of Jody's that lives out of state and he only sees once or twice a year had just come into town and he and his wife were in the den as well.

Sam proudly reached his hand in that box, pulled out a handful and said, "Look, Bad.  Three band-aids.  I put on for you."  It was only after managing to open one (before I could jerk them away) that he realized these really don't look like the Diego band-aids Mama puts on my boo-boos.  But hey, he tried and he was being so sweet to help "Bad".  And I even made a mental note that nothing is off limits with a two year in the house.  I'll be making a clean sweep of my cabinets from now on before guests arrive.

Hey, It looked like a band-aid box to me people.

Who Needs a Jungle Gym or Trampoline...

when you have a couch?  Sam and Jack have both discovered that they can do fun tricks on it. Sam likes to pull his bean bag around and jump from the couch to the bag...over and over and over.  He jumps until he is sweaty and tired, or until Mama and Daddy make him stop.  He always says, "just one more time" and holds up his finger. Jack found out he could use Sam's small chair to climb his way onto the couch. He plops down for a second and then jumps up quickly smiling and waving as if to say, "Hey, folks...I'm up here now."  I hope they won't get hurt...I see a visit to Dr. Mann right around the corner.  

On a side note, look who was at my door this afternoon.  A pirate named Captain Skunk Beard (interesting name choice compliments of Cade) and Captain America. Too funny...except to Jack.  The poor boy left skid marks in the carpet he was crawling away so fast!

Smooches and Sunglasses

Smooches...

Look who's giving kisses...my sweet Jack.  Yes, they may be messy and he insists on keeping his mouth open, but I am loving all the kisses from this little boy.  I was a little jealous watching Landry lay kisses on everyone while Jack looked at me clueless when I would say "Jack, give me a kiss."  So finally he gets it and although he doesn't always seem interested, I'm thankful for each and every smooch he gives me.

Sweet Baby Kisses 

 Mama Steals a Few Kisses Too

Shades...

Sam woke up this morning needing a "Papa Fix" and insisted on calling Mema to see if he could come over. Imagine how thrilled he was when she told him Papa was in the garden and she would walk him down there.

  

Papa + Working Outside = Sam's Perfect Day

So I quickly got him dressed and we were off.  Sam turned and ran back to his toy box saying he needed "sunglasses".  Sure it was sunny outside, but this boy has never wanted to put on a pair of shades.  I don't know what came over him, but he sure thought he looked good and told me to take his picture.  On a side note, the two mountain dews were a gift to Papa.  Sam thought he may be thirsty...that's my sweet Sam, always taking care of his Papa.

My Good Looking Gardener