Pensacola Beach

The boys and I are back from our Florida trip. We had a really good time, but we really missed Jason and was glad to see him Wednesday night.

We finally made it to Pensacola Beach, FL

Let me tell you, taking two small children to the beach is A LOT of work

But there were good moments

Houston just napped most of the time. Like our set up on the beach?

My dad and his wife live in Pensacola so we went to visit them. They watched the boys for me and I was able to get a few hours on the beach all by myself. I really didn't know what to do. I felt like I needed to watch someones kids, build a sandcastle or put sunscreen on someone.

On Monday my mom flew in to visit the boys and I and we stayed on the beach at Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville Hotel. It was SO nice. This is the pool.

Tropical Storm Debby came in on Monday and made the day very cloudy and windy. We never had rain and by Tuesday morning the storm moved out and was beautiful

Mom and Landon with his 4 year old attitude

We ate at several local beach restaurants

It's tough being 9 months old

Our last day was gorgeous and the pool was wonderful

Rest time

This kid can take a nap anywhere. He fell asleep with his teething ring in his mouth

And no Florida vacation is complete without the stop at the Peach Park restaurant

I really wanted to get a few beach pictures of the boys and I, but it just didn't happen. I don't think I even put makeup on the whole 6 days we were there. I was just to busy with the boys and if one was happy the other was not and vice versa. Just wasn't in the cards for us to take a family picture. O well that's life with small children.

My mom, the boys and I packed up the car and drove home ALL day Wednesday. It was fun, a lot of work and some slight attitude from a certain 4 year old. There really is no place like home.

Were back!

Were back from the beach. I drove 9 hours today so the boys and I are exhausted. I will post more tomorrow.

iPhone photos

Ever since I got an iPhone a few weeks ago I have been taking more photos with it than my actual camera. Its just easier and more convenient and lets face it with two kids that is what all I have time for. So here is what we have been up to iPhone style.

I found a clearance mirror at Old Time Pottery several months ago that I didn't know what to do with. I thought about hanging it somewhere but I really didn't have a great place for it to hang. Then last week a light went off in my head and I got crafty.

I took down our old builders grade mirror in our half bath downstairs. This is after I took it down. First I had to patch and sand the wall.

Then I had to re-paint the wall. Luckily I had some left over green paint from when I painted this bathroom last year.

The clearance mirror was silver, so I bought the .98 cent can of flat black spray paint at Wal-Mart and painted over the silver. Let it dry 

and presto a new mirror and a new look

I found these curtains at Target and got inspired to paint our dining room

Since I was going to paint the walls I thought a nice new shiny white trim would look nice as well. I still have not painted the walls just yet. That is next weeks project and I will post the finished product.

We had a new gate installed on our fence. Jason's project is to stain the fence so it matches

I took a break from house projects and took Landon to our local outdoor water park yesterday. We meet up with his "girlfriend" Ella from school

One of the ladies I work with is moving to another state for her husbands job so several of us got together last night and had a goodbye dinner for her. It was so fun and I just love the ladies I work with. 

This little guy is finally sitting up all my himself and looking cuter than ever

And this morning I caught Landon reading a book to Houston. These boys just melt my heart.

Well that about sums up last week and this week so far. Landon, Houston and I are traveling down to Pensacola, FL to visit my dad tomorrow and well return Monday. So Ill be MIA on the blog till then probably. Jason is staying back he has to work inventory for his company all weekend. Well miss him but the beach will make up for it. ;o)

Hope everyone is having a fabulous Wednesday.

Happy Father's Day 2012

Happy Father's Day to the best dad my boys could possibly have. I hope they know how good of a dad they have and what a great leader he is for our family.

We didn't do much today. We got up, went to church then headed to Jason's parents house for lunch. After lunch and visiting we headed home watered the plants and ended the day with a nice family walk around the neighborhood. Before church I tried to take a nice picture of my boys and this is what I ended up with.

Take 1

Take 2

Take 3

This I had to post because of Houston's facial expression

A nice fathers day nap

Happy Father's Day

Houston's 9 month wellness visit

Houston had his 9 month wellness visit. His doctor was more than pleased with his stats, the amazing progress he is making and all the catching up he has done. Here are the stats:

Length: 27.83 inches

Weight: 19lbs 15oz

Head Circumference: 44.1cm

% based on a preemie scale:

L: 89 percentile

W: 85 percentile

HC: 58 percentile

% based on a full-term 9 month old:

L:  30 percentile

W: 37 percentile

HC: 16 percentile

Our appointment was quick and easy. There were no concerns for us or for his doctor. She checked everything she needed to and he checked out healthy and strong. By the power of God and prayer our 2lb 7oz baby boy is happy, healthy and CHUNKY. She said she doesn't even see 1 year old's at this weight and at these stats, so she was super impressed with how healthy he is and how much he has caught up. We were more concerned for his head growth since preemies tend to have smaller heads due to lack of vital brain growth in the last trimester. Since Houston didn't get a third trimester we have to watch his brain growth closely. His head and brain growth is perfect, I think she said it grew several inches since his last check up 3 months ago. So his brain is growing and doing what its supposed to do. Praise Jesus! She did say we could introduce juice in a sippy cup this month. We don't need to go back till he is 1 year old. 

Praise God for the health of both my children

Wordless Wednesday

Race for One Less

Yesterday I ran/walked in a 5 mile race for the Race for One Less Ministry here in middle Tennessee. Race for One Less is a ministry that helps ONE less orphan and ONE less victim of human trafficking. The race proceeds will help restore a home for human trafficking victims in Middle TN, provide adoption grants, and support a safe house in SE Asia for women rescued from the sex trade. Not only was it FUN, but I raced for a very good cause.

The race started at 7am and I had to be there at 6:30am. Here I am at about 6:15am

I accidentally left my 839 number at home so when I arrived to the race I had to get another one, #977.

Some girlfriends of mine before the race

This was about mile 3

Three miles was on pavement and the other 2 miles was on a gravel road and through some corn fields. :)

I finished 

Here is my official time. Not that I was trying to win, I was just trying to finish. haha

I came in 128 place (haha) and my time was 1 hr 7sec.

I have a half marathon in October so this race was a good start to my training

Houston is 9 months old

Sorry I have MIA for a week. We just got back from vacation yesterday and I am playing catch up. We took the boys to the Wilderness Indoor/Outdoor water park in Gatlinburg, Tn. It was so fun and I will blog about that later this week. While we were there Houston turned 9 months old on June 3rd. I am in full party planning mode for Landon who's birthday is in 6 weeks and then I'm going to continue the party planning for Houston's 1st birthday in September. I have several upcoming busy months, good thing I'm off work till August. 

 Anyway here is what our chunky monkey is up to these days.

•  Weight: 20-22lbs (his 9 month wellness visit is next week so I will have more accurate info then)
• Size 3 diaper
• 12-18 month clothes
• He now has 2 bottom teeth, which explains the excessive drool
• Sleeps through the night, from 7:30pm to about 5:30am to 7:30am

• Eats 3 to 4 bottles a day at 7oz each
• Eats 3 baby foods a day
• LOVES yogurt melts
• Chews on everything he can get his hands on
• 
• Still bald
• Still have blue eyes
• Able to pick up toys and move them back and forth from hand to hand
• Not sitting up unsupported just yet, but very close
• Also he's very close at crawling. He get's in the crawling position and scoots back and forth
• His favorite song is patty cake 
• LOVES his Johnny Jumper and Exersaucer
• Rolls from back to belly and belly to back

Houston LOVES big brother and watches him all the time and just smiles

He still is a great baby, very laid back and very calm

We just finished VBS week and he was a big hit there. He is such a flirt with the ladies.

Houston we love you very much. I cant express in words how much we love you. You still amaze me everyday at the progress you are making and all the leaps in bounds you have overcome. I am so blessed you have you and your brother and the health and well being God has grated over us. 

I still cant believe you are 9 months old and have been home for 7 months. Your NICU stay seems just like a memory and I still cant believe we traveled that journey with you. 

You and your brother are my world. I am so happy that you both LOVE each other very much and the transition of having another baby into our home has been an easy one. 

Thank you God for these two miracle children.

Houston happy 9 months! We LOVE you!