Summer time...

Summer has been flying by so quickly that I just recently realized that Beck's 8 mo. came and went and I never noticed. Without the milestone of a doctor's visit (he doesn't go until he hits 9 mo) I totally forgot about it. So, let me take this opportunity to update on what he's been up to. He's still not crawling, although I'm still not complaining. At the rate that this boy shovels things into his mouth, I'm dreading the day he becomes mobile. Just last week I intervened as he was trying to put a barbie bracelet (tiny little thing) into his mouth to investigate. FUN! He has started clapping, which he does non-stop, and has totally LOST the ability to say mama, which has been replaced with a never ending slew of dada's (not gonna lie, a little frustrating for me =)). I believe he has finally started to grow again, as evidenced by his clothes not fitting (yeah, the ones he's been wearing for the last 4 months).

We had his eye probed in an attempt to fix his tear duct. It was a standard procedure which took all of a minute and was done in the office. Turns out, Beck is one of those rare cases they see every couple yrs where his anatomy (some darn bone in his nose) makes it impossible to probe. With that in mind, the next move is surgery...BOO! But I tell you (and I don't want to get my hopes up) but the strangest thing happened. His eye has been completely clear for the last seven days (previously, he's never gone longer than MAYBE a day) and I'm not putting any drops or anything in it. The chance that it magically opened and fixed itself is slim to none, but something in me is holding out hope that this is the case. For now, we'll wait...as long as the eye is clear, no need to put him under and pay thousands (we'll postpone that as long as possible). And everyday I say a prayer that God heard my prayers and fixed this beautiful baby boy w/out giving his mommy and daddy MANY gray hairs during surgery.

With that in mind, enter a new eye problem. Part of me is excited that Beck's eye is doing so well, but that fear and worry has only been transfered from one child to the other. Lately we've been seeing Ky's eyes do this strange thing every once in a while where they won't completely line up. Welcome...strabismus, more commonly known as lazy eye. It doesn't happen often (i've seen it maybe 10 times ever) But its still enough to freak you out. If the problem isn't severe, they'll usually just patch the good eye for a while and let the weaker eye strengthen the muscles behind it. If severe, or gone undealt with, it can lead to surgery, glasses, and/or eventually blindness. We're hoping to get in a doc. apt. next week sometime. So like I said, one worry being replaced by another for the time being. You know what they say, when it rains, it pours. And Jason and I both feel like we're being tested right now, but that's alright, we gotchya Lord, and we're with ya all the way.

Other than the recent eye issue, Kylie has been having a wonderful summer full of swimming, playing with her cousin, and enjoying her two days a week at school. She loves entertaining Beck when she's home and practicing her writing. She's writing her first book this summer! (Its how I'm going to get her to practice her letters when she's not at school everyday) and so far she's LOVING it! She comes up with the ideas and I just spell it all out for her. She's also practicing her numbers by writing page numbers, and she really enjoys doing the illustration part. So far she has 10 pages! I'm sure I'll snap some shots when she does her cover page and finishes.

This week I celebrated my 29th birthday with my family who came over w/ pizza and a cake. I've heard of women (and sometimes men) having a problem with growing old. I'm not one of them. I don't in the least feel like I'm wasting my time away, quite the opposite in fact since I've started staying home. Wrinkles mean past smiles so I welcome them with open arms. You're only as old as you let yourself feel, and sometimes I get just as much enjoyment playing w/ the kids as they get themselves.

Here are a couple random pics...

Green Thumb...

I have slowly been mastering the art of gardening. I guess you can say I get it from my mom, whose house looks like something out of a magazine. I have a WAY to go, but really enjoy the challenge of it all. I love getting out there, 100 degrees and all! For me, its a way to relieve stress and take pride in our house! I love planting perennials in the back beds, but prefer annuals in the front just because of the color you get from them throughout the summer. This year, we put out geraniums and begonias, and so far, so good. EXCEPT for those stinkin' bunnies that have been riping stuff up left and right EVERY night. I have tried everything, and I do mean everything, from human hair (ky's after a trim) to used kitty litter, and nothing seems to deter them. They may be cute, but to be honest w/ you, I don't think I'd even flinched if I 'accidentally' hit one w/ my car. =) Enjoy the pics!

Happy Father's Day...

I wish I could say we celebrated big, seeing as Jason is the best dad out there! But, who am I kidding, of course he wouldn't let us. Instead we watched some world cup games, he made himself wings, and we played w/ the kiddos. But in all seriousness, I am so fortunate to have a wonderful husband who takes time to enjoy and interact with his children. I can always count on him to be there when needed, and many times, when he's not and just wants to be! So here's to you, dear, I love you, and your kids adore you!

Its time for PEYTON!!!

This summer I have the HONOR of watching my six year old niece Peyton three days a week, every other week. It has been quite an adventure! Kylie LOVES having her cousin around to hang with. But by the end of the day, between the two of them and Beck, I am EXHAUSTED!!!! Still worth it though! Peyton is teaching Kylie all about bugs and Kylie is teaching Peyton all about every Barbie movie ever filmed (reenacting while playing barbies of course). Sure, we have our daily battles, competition is fierce and everything HAS to be equal, but Peyton sets a pretty good example and I think Kylie enjoys having the more advanced playmate to keep her entertained. Here are a couple pics of the kids, one in their makeshift boat, one playing in the baby pool, and another one when they were wrapping the blanket around them as if it were a dress for two people.

Spray Park...

This week, I was able to take Kylie and her friend Makenzie to the spray park in Allen, while Stephanie stayed home and played with Beck and Ashlyn. I was so excited to have a big girl trip, I might have been more pumped than the kiddos. Listening to two four year olds conversations are HILARIOUS! I loved all the entertainment and watching both girls run around the playground and spray area. Makenzie was glad to pose for any shots, whereas my lil' one was running away any time I tried to pull out the camera. When I did happen to get a shot, Kylie of course tended to give me her cheesiest smile.

It has been amazing to watch them grow up together. I remember when they started hanging out (or rather Stephanie and I started hanging out) and they would be in the same room, but not even aknowledge one another, choosing different toys to play with, etc. They both have VERY different personalities. Makenzie is much more coordinated, active, daring, curious. Kylie is passionate, patient, calm, observant. But....over the years I think they have both given the other one a little bit of themselves, and they have become quite the playmates! I love these two girlies to death!!!!

Rambling thoughts...

When Beck was born, I started this blog as a way to express, to sometimes vent and sometimes brag. But somewhere in there it has become more of a day-to-day track of our busy life. Maybe that is because we are doing SO much, maybe because I'm almost positive I was a professional writer in a previous life, but every time I sit down to post, all I hear is duuuuhhhhh.....

So today, I'm going to write, and try to refrain (it isn't easy) from posting any pictures...ok, maybe I'll just post a couple...let's be realistic here.

Today, another school year comes to a close. Usually, I would be celebrating the freedom from some of the students that caused me hell all year, and lamenting in the fact that I'll miss my favorites when next years batch rolls through. Instead, Its 2 in the afternoon, and I just spent the last half hour rocking Beck to sleep, not because he needed it, or even because I did. I did it simply because I can.

There is something to be said for being centered. When everything in your life is lining up perfectly and you are deliriously happy, not for any particular reason, but just because. Just because you have a wonderful husband, two beautiful children, family and friends whom you adore, and simply, just because you love your life. That is where I am currently. Who knows the cause (I would put much of it towards the fact that I believe my hormones are finally getting back to normal after weening the lil' man) but I am very thankful for all I have, and I am wanting for nothing (well, maybe nothing more than holding on to this feeling forever).

Kylie went to school only two days this week. I'm not going to lie, I was worried about having them both home. Worried about her getting bored, me trying to handle both of them, etc. It was such an exhausting, yet WONDERFUL week! I got to watch both my babies do nothing but laugh (sometimes, at me, sometimes at each other) for two days straight. I am so thankful I made the decision to stay home. It truly has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Currently, there is laundry to be folded, and a house to be cleaned, but hey, I got it. know why? because in about an hour, when Beck wakes from his nap, I get to go in there and be the first person he sees. I get to steal the first post-nap smile. I get to cuddle with him for almost a full five minutes until he gets acclimated and realizes I am stealing precious playtime from him.

I am never going to get these moments back, and I am so glad that I realize that enough to soak up each and every one of them while I can.

Jason turned 29 yesterday. 29! And I'm right behind him! At our age, you can't even pretend you are young anymore. People are starting to ask about our 10 yr. reunion, and I just want someone to tell me where the time has gone! We sometimes look back at pictures from the day we took Ky home from the hospital. How we looked like kids, so green, so innocent. And now, well, the word veteran comes to mind. Now, its assumed we're old enough to have multiple kids. Now...I no longer wear bikinis to the pool....

I've been on a big quote kick lately, and this one (an old favorite that is making its way back into my life) has been very relevant. "Nothing is worth more than this day." Well said Goethe, well said.

Memorial Day Weekend...

Memaw and Papap made their way into town this weekend to see the kiddos! And although the weather was pretty roastin', I think they still had a great time hanging out with Beck and Ky. We went to the farmers' market in downtown McKinney, spent lots of time in the pool, and took Ky to get new earrings and a new BIG girl bike. She's been riding her 12", which she's really too big for, so we decided to graduate her to the 16" this weekend. She had so much fun riding it with mom, and she really enjoyed her new light up helmet and bike ringer. Monday we met up with Aaron and Stephanie and their girls at the pool, and then followed it up with a wonderful dinner where the girls got to play play dough, dress up, and even spent some time in tap shoes.

Beck had his eye procedure done last week and it really didn't go nearly as well as anyone hoped. The doctor said Beck's anatomy makes it hard to open up his tear duct by probing. And he will most likely need to have actual surgery (which may include drilling a tiny hole in one of the bones on the side of his nose). He will go back in later this week to check and see if the procedure worked (slim chance), but if not, Jason will handle this next surgery part on his own (the simple probing was enough to make me cry all the way home). Truly, I don't know how parents of seriously sick/injured children do it! Anyways, he's in the middle of cutting his fourth tooth (this one seems to be a tough one, giving him all sorts of problems) and is starting to attempt to actually crawl. I don't think it will be long till he is mobile. Kylie's out of school for the summer, and will only be going to whistle stop two days a week! I think the summer will be full of fun times!