Gigglebutt!

Ramsey certainly has a lot of personality.   Over the last month and a half or so, his verbal skills have really rocketed, either laughing his little rear end off at silly things we do or having a conversation with us in his own little language.  His coos are sweet and his giggles are quite infectious! 

 

 

 

 

Puppy Play Time

Riggs was born in November of 2013.  Soon Ramsey followed.  Connor's the veteran of the littler people in the house.

Like Connor had Wyatt growing up, Ramsey and Riggsy will grow up together, side-by-side.   While Ramsey isn't crawling around yet, his time near "Riggs-height" is typically in his musical floor bouncer (which he goes nuts for!) or his aquarium lounger.   Riggs is so curious about the little guy; he sniffs and licks (nicely!) and checks Ramsey out as much as he can (or, as much as we will allow until he can fend for himself!). 

While Ramsey is still a wee tot, of the boys, Connor is much more fun to play with outside!  He and Riggs play "soccer".  Connor has two soccer balls and kicks them for Riggs.  Around and around they go!  They play hard and have fun.  When they come inside, Riggs is tuckered out and Connor's cheeks are rosy.  But, within minutes, Riggs is laying by the door moping, wanting to go back out for more! 

 

 

 

"Hungry Mungry"

Today was Connor's annual speech meet at school.  Much like Declam, students present poems and rhymes to judges.   This year, Connor chose a humorous piece called "Hungry Mungry" which is about a gluttonous blob who eats everything.... really, everything, including himself!   Connor did a great job, especially with his gestures and voice inflection.

I took a video recording of the performance, but unfortunately, the file was much too large to publish!  (His poem was nearly three minutes long.)   So, I was forced to cut these pictures from the video clip instead!  

 

Spelling Bee Success

As he has for the past few years, Connor went to the Spelling Bee.  He was one of two students to advance from his 6th grade class.  This spelling bee is for kids from area Christian schools and Connor took 4th place overall.   Way to go, bud!

 

Ode to Our Mommies....

Happy Mother's Day Moms!

"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers." ~Jewish Proverb

 

What truly special gifts to the world mothers are.  I give thanks every day to the wonderful mother that raised me and the fabulous mother-in-law that I have been blessed with! This post is dedicated to the magnificent mothers in my life, to express the love and gratitude for everything they have ever done for me and my family, from the most routine of actions to the greatest of sacrifices.  You are extraordinary and loved beyond words!

 

In addition to my mother and my mother-in-law, I now also have a new appreciation for and hold even more dear to my heart the other exceptional women in my life who are mothers and grandmothers.  Their daily deeds and endeavors, ensuring their children have what they need to flourish throughout the day and for the rest of their lives is natural; something that they "just do".  Their children may not appreciate those things now, but when they get older and reflect, they too will realize just how special their lives have been with the love of their mothers.

 

Being a new mom to Baby Ramsey and stepmom to Connor, I am overwhelmed thinking about what a special honor that is as well.  Giving so much of myself to my family and receiving their love and support is what brings the most meaning to my life.  It is truly beautiful!  It is my deepest desire to give these precious children the very best and do everything that I can to ensure their happiness and success, albeit the smallest of acts or the most monumental of things. 

 

"I believe in love at first sight because I've been loving my mother since I opened my eyes" ~ Unknown

 

Pictures:

The first five pics are of Eric's Mom, Vicki, "then" and "now".  The next five pictures are of my Mom, Karen, then and now. 

Then, there's yours truly with my two special munchkins.

 

 

 

"Before I was a Mom"....

Before I was a Mom -

I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life
so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

~Unknown

 

 I love you boys! 



What are Riggsy's Treasures Today?

Riggs loves finding new "treasures".  These lovely items are typically hauled to the main entry door to the house where he then chews, sniffs, gnaws, eats, and just plain enjoys them.  WE, on the other hand, get to enjoy tripping over them! 

His favorite things are our spindles from the fence (thank you - we didn't like them anyway..?!?), leftover chunks of wood from a construction site nearby, tree branches, and now, apparently aluminum cans!  Good thing he doesn't have any silver amalgam fillings or other dental work!

Below are some of his newest treasures; a shake shingle, an iced tea can, a fence spindle, a piece of wood trim, and a hunk of bark that he hasn't yet gotten around to snarfing.  In another shot, through the screen door, he's laying down chewing on his branch collection.  I shudder to think of the things we DON'T see that he ingests!  Oye ve!

Flying Babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

SO comical to watch, Ramsey instinctively cinches his arms in tight, clenches his fists, and straightens out flat as a board when Daddy says the magic words... "Flying Babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy". 

If he were wearing a little red and gold bulletproof suit and helmet, he might be mistaken for a tiny Iron Man! 
As amused as we all are, Ramsey thinks it's pretty funny too, laughing and grunting while he's zooming around through the air.

 

The Amazing Grace Race

Last night was Connor's annual Spring Concert.  Each year, the Kindergarten and first grade students sing cute happy songs, the bands perform (this year, he and his band mates played "Kumbaya"), and the 2nd through 6th graders perform a play with a good Christian message, complete with a large energetic and animated choir.  This year, they performed "The Amazing Grace Race". 

Connor was a member of the cast vs. the choir; he portrayed one of the race participants.   In the midst of the storyline, the runners would jog down the walkways and through the crowd.  Instead of it being a play, it could have been mistaken for a 5K!  Connor's little cheeks were red and when the play was over, he bolted to the dining area for refreshments a heaping handful of treats to refuel his body!

 

 

 

 

Brothers... are... AWESOME

'Nuf said!

Pictures:  Connor & Ramsey; Eric and his brothers, Troy & Cory (and Dad Bernie in the fishing shot) - when they were little; and me and my "Big Brubby" Lance, when we were tiny tots.

 

Talkie Talkie... Er... Gruntie Gruntie?

Ramsey "talks"... a LOT!  He does a lot of "silent laughing" too.  Both, of course, are difficult to capture on video because usually by the time the camera comes out, he's either distracted with something else or he's looking at the camera, knowingly!   For those of you who haven't met Ramsey yet, here's a rare piece of footage of him chattering away to Nana Karen.

Ramsey's typical sounds include a silly happy laugh and noises that sound like a pterodactyl!