The Arrival of Summer

I feel like I went to sleep last Thursday in May and woke up in July. It is so hot! Spring was short and summer has certainly arrived. We even got out the sprinkler just to be sure. School let out today. No more student's dirty looks. I don't have this big sense of relief quite yet. Maybe Tuesday when I don't have to go back and can sleep in a little bit. This of course will be my longest summer ever. It won't end until January! I am nervous and excited about the next seven months to be spent with my growing family! Here's to longer evenings ands lots of Popsicles.

The Ice Cream Picture

Last week some of our neighbor's made some homemade ice cream and invited us all over to share! I couldn't resist sharing these pictures! I think they liked it.

The Arrival of Lillie

On Adam's birthday Lille made her entrance into the world. Everything went well! She is of course adorable! I can't wait to meet her soon! Until then I will just have to steal pictures from Facebook like I do with my other niece and nephews!

The First Program

On Thursday Noah was in his first school program! We found out the two year old class would be participating a couple of weeks ago and that they would be doing 50's themed songs. I've been really emotional about it. He just seems like such a big boy. To dress him up for the 50's we put him in dark jeans and a plain white pocket T and Keds. Jennifer, my neighbor and the famous BB's mom, came over to be his stylist and gelled his hair back. BB was adorable in her poodle skirt! Jennifer bought Brooke and Noah sweet good luck presents, matching race cars, bubbles, and ABC flashcards! Nana and Puddin, Emy, Xander and Papa came in for the performance. The weather was not cooperating! It rained and stormed a bit up here but I didn't know how bad it really was a little south and east of us. There was a lot of damage around town. The storm delayed Emy, Xander and Papa. But they made it literally right in time just a song or so before the big debut. Noah and his friends were adorable! I was worried that Noah would be scared and cry on stage. (He has bee a scared of everything lately, fans to sprinklers, I think it has something to do with his baby brother on the way).But he did great. The video is awful, I think Aunt Emy has a better one, but Noah is the second one out who starts jumping up and down a lot. He saw Adam and continually called out for Daddy.

It was short and sweet.aWe came outside to find the weather calmed and double rainbows. Noah told us God made the rainbow for Noah :) He did. Afterwards we went out to eat at the only local restaurant. It was full of CH preschoolers. Nana and Puddin' brought Noah a congratulations present a puzzle and stickers with his name on it. He was adorable! I loved every second of it!

The Celebration

I had so much fun celebrating Adam on his birthday! He totally deserves the fuss but I know he doesn't like too much fuss! The day before his birthday Noah and I got Adam some balloons and made strawberry cupcakes. It is hard to keep a secret when your partner is a two year old! He managed to keep the balloons a secret but not the cupcakes. I made him a little birthday banner with my new cricut. I also made cards with my cricut numbered 1-30. I wrote thirty things I love about Adam and hid them all over the house and gave them to him throughout the day. We hired Noah's first babysitter. (Up until this time he stayed with family or Parent's Night Out at church. We don't have much of a social life :) ) Brandi, my intern (former intern that is) came and kept him. He was in heaven, I think he has a little crush! We went to Wentzell's Oyster Bar and sat by the river. I hope Adam had has much fun as I did!

The Happy Birthday to Adam Post

Happy Birthday love! I love you so much. How could that nervous girl in the brown sequin dress have known that she was holding the hand of the man of her dreams? You amaze me. You are patient and kind and funny and loving and intelligent and Godly. I had no idea that God would bless me with a husband who possessed more than I knew I wanted and more than I knew I would need. I am so very thankful for you and your thirty years! I am thankful for every experience who shaped you into you and every memory we share and the future that stretches out in front of us. Here's to the next thirty years! So glad I get to share them with you!I love you with all of my heart!

The Big 3-0

On Wednesday Adam is turning thirty! I have been thinking of ways to celebrate him since January. He is a hard one. He is humble and doesn't like for a fuss to be made over him. He diverts praise and compliments. So I decided on little surprises and small celebrations would be best. On Saturday we started celebrating. We started the day with a yummy breakfast with sweet friends from church. At lunch we met up with one of Adam's lifelong friends and his family. And then we finished the night with a family get together.I think I might have enjoyed the day as much or more than he did! I believe birthdays are best when they are stretched over several days. So watch out Adam for what else I have up my sleeves :) I love you so much Adam and thank God for your thirty years!

The Little Man

My little baby boy is growing up fast! Later this week he will be on stage for the first time singing and dancing in his school's end of the year program. Can you imagine?

The Top Twelve

It has been a busy weekend! More pictures and details on that later. For now.... check out the weekly Top Twelve on Domestic Ease. My friend Beth edits the Top Twelve Feature on Domestic Ease and a while back she asked me to submit one. I had a hard time narrowing down a Top Twelve or even a theme for a Top Twelve. But it was fun! Domestic Ease is a great blog featuring great ideas and a beautiful layout. Thanks Beth for the opportunity!

The Neighborhood Block Parties

Down the street on the corner lives one of our football coaches. He stopped me in the hall the other day and asked me when the block party started tonight. I was confused. Block party? He said it seems like y'all are out there with the kids every evening. I laughed. It is true. On our street there are 11 kids under four and three more babies on the way that regularly play outside together until the sun goes down. I love it. We share toys, Popsicles, treats like MB's homemade ice cream she shared last week, band aids, Benedryl, hugs, kisses, tears, swings, balls, bikes and lots and lots of laughter. I am so thankful for these moms and dads and their children. What wonderful memories of childhood we are building in those kids!

Last night I was coming home around sevenish from getting a haircut and color done. I round my corner and see seven children half of them in nothing but diapers and parents out in MB's yard. The kids are having an absolute blast running through the sprinkler. Their pure simple joy was contagious. And made feel twenty pounds lighter!

The pictures are bad so use your imagination.

The Brothers

Noah is a constant source of joy, energy, love, frustration, exhaustion, cuteness, wonderment, did I say love??

This afternoon I was just enjoying watching him play in the sandbox and using his sweet developing imagination. Miller's sweet little movements got me thinking about the two of them together. I could see them running around the yard together chasing Charlie. I got a little sentimental.

After stories Noah was in my lap and we usually talk about his Big Boy room or bed. You know easing into the idea of transfer. Tonight he patted my belly and said, "Miller's in there?" I told him, "Yes, do you want to talk to him?" Noah leaned down and said, "Goodnight Miller." Then Noah talked some more about his Big Boy room and bed. He asked me, "Who will sleep in there?" as he pointed to his crib. I told him Miller would sleep there. He looked up at me and smiled. "I seep in there too. With Miller."

It was the sweetest thing. I know they will fight. I know they will get into trouble together. But I can't help thinking about the sweet moments to be shared between them. I can see my crazy little Rover who is turning day by day into a little boy protecting his little brother and teaching all about racecars and dinosaurs.

Thank you God for my little boys. I love them so much! As much as I wonder if I am really cut out to mother boys I am so blessed and blown away again and again by the love I feel for both of them! Thank you!

The Intern

This was my intern, Brandi Hayes, last day at Bryant High. I am so sad! My friend Kerri who also had an intern this semester said, its like losing a roomate that you really really like and who does all of your chores for you. I agree! Brandi was like a roomate. Teaching can really feel isolating at times. You are on your own with this unique set of classes and personalities. I really enjoyed having her here to share it. She did an amazing job. She is gong to be a fantastic teacher. I really have to thank her for how healthy this pregnancy has been. With just the normal stress of school, prom and constant all day nausea I am not sure I would have made it this far. I think Brandi has really contrbuted to Miller's health and development. I am so thankful. I will really miss her friendhip and her partnership in my classroom! I wish her the best of luck in Opelika. I know she will do great and I know we will be in touch! Congratulations Brandi!

The First Mother's Day

This Sunday two of my sisters will be celebrating their first Mother's Day. I was thinking about it the other day and got really emotional. Partly because that's me, God made me an emotional creature and partly because I am pregnant and cry at just about everything. (And if you asked my students they would tell you I also get mad over nothing.)

Last Spring when my baby sister called to tell me she was pregnant, I was devastated. She was young and unmarried and this was not the future I had wanted for her or prayed for her. It took me awhile before I could really be excited about the niece or nephew she was carrying. Of course now I could not be more in love with my adorable nephew Xander. And I could not be more proud of the mother Emily is. She amazes me. She has truly been a natural. I tear up just thinking about it. She has a long and rocky road ahead of her but she truly delights in her son. And she loves the interaction between Xander and Noah. I usually don't have such a problem with words but I just can't express how full my heart is when I see Emy with Xander. I love it.

Robin had a beautiful miracle on April 14th. Her road to motherhood has been a long, painful and now full of joy and blessings. I love seeing images of her (and Chris too!) with Aubrey Kate. This new mother and daughter duo is an answer to so many prayers. Aubrey Kate is truly a reminder of God's faithfulness and love for His children. I can not wait to see them in person!

(I steal pictures from other people's blogs. I know it is bad. But this is from Aubrey Kate's newborn shoot. Please click here to see more adorable pics and see the photgrapher's website information.)

I am so excited for these two! Happy Mother's Day Emily and Robin! I love you both!!