Quiet

My son is asleep after being awake since 6:30am. 

I am praying he will sleep in for me.

Signs

Signs are made! 

I asked Jackson to make pictures welcoming BeBe and Pop Pop to Georgia. 

He drew mountains, trees, and a lake with a boat on it. Yep, you nailed it, buddy! 

No nap

He has been awake since 6:30am. No nap. This boy is going to bed early. 

So is his mama.

Dramatic

My son is yelling "please...help...come back!" However, he doesn't need me. I should sign him for some roles in a new movie or show because he is very dramatic. 

"Mommy, what's that?"

It has started.......I have been waiting for 2.5 years for that question to be asked and the day has finally arrived. "What's that?" can be a exciting question which leads to more thinking for my young little thinker.

This has also brought about his "Mr. Motormouth" mode.  He has been talking to himself in his bed for almost AN HOUR. (nap? What nap?)  I have no idea what direction his thought process turns or where it is going next in his one sided conversation. However, it is fascinating to watch and listen to his mind work.

I am excited about this next chapter. I have been waiting to have some conversations with this little guy and I love having the time to do it. I love raising my son.

Whatcha doing boys?

A teenage boy was trying to start a fight on my front porch. I walked outside and asked "what's going on? Whatcha doing?" ( Very casual voice) The bully quickly ran away laughing. Seriously? On a person's front porch? What happened to "meet me behind the school?" Ha! :-)

Checklist

Checking off my list makes me feel so productive. 

7am

I think Jack knows that his daddy comes home from work at 7am. He just woke up and is calling his name. 

Oh the days... I remember when he slept until 8 am. It was marvelous. 

It is like that first week of school and your body can't get adjusted...but I am not learning to go to bed earlier.

Coffee time. :)

"Bug, mommy!!!"

Those two words kept coming out of Jackson's mouth repeatedly as I stood at the front door waving goodbye to my hubby as he left for work. I went outside to say goodbye and then immediately came inside of fear of mosquitos. Well, in that split second a palmetto bug (roach) jumped on my leg. Not realizing this, my son was loudly letting me know about the disgusting black thing on the back of my leg. I looked all around and couldn't see a bug anywhere on the floor!!! Ahhhh, then, I saw it. I did an impressive karate move and killed that sucker. 

Jack leaped into my arms in fear of my awesome karate move or the big bug that was flattened by my shoe. 

Now, I must go exfoliate my leg.

Home

Going home tomorrow. 

Happy to see my boy!!

Happy that my in-laws are coming this week! 

Happy that I can sleep in my own bed.

Sad to leave Orlando. We had a blast!

Sea world

We got a really good deal to go to Sea World. We are both very excited about our adventure tomorrow. 

After an evening at Downtown Disney this evening, I have to say this is one of the most splendid vacations. We are ready to see our boy, but enjoying our time!!

Disney or Universal Studios

We weren't planning on going to either one of these places. We sitting in a gas station parking lot making decisions. 

No toddler, Orlando, 3 days. 

Decisions...and, we decided it is a "no go."

No rain

Thank you, Jesus, for no rain at the beach wedding yesterday! 

To have my man by my side shooting the wedding with me and for an amazing couple to photograph made the day enjoyable and a memorable one! 

We worked hard, we sweated (all day...ew), but we felt like we captured some amazing shots of the special day! 

Now, relaxing and having fun is on the agenda for everyone!!

Rainy weekend wedding

We will pull out the umbrellas and make sure these two are hitched!! Tomorrow is a big day and Ben and I are photographing it!

Look

The look in my son's face when he sees his grandparents is priceless! So.much.joy.

Packing

I will pack Jackson's clothes days in advance, but usually pack my clothes at the last minute. Something happened and I hate packing now to go on a trip.

I guess I will quit procrastinating and get on it while my boy is sleeping.

Beeping and now potty

My Carbon monoxide detector decided to die because of low battery at 1:30 this morning. When I am startled in my sleep it is hard for me to go back to sleep. 

I think I finally went back to sleep at 3ish. 

6am, my son needed to go pee and feels the same way as mommy,except, mommy got back into bed quietly and tried to go back to sleep. Our little ladd is ready to see Daddy at 7:15a when he comes home from night shift. 

I will need lots of coffee today.

Rainy day fun #2

We decided to work with it. We are "over" the rain! We decided to party inside! 

Pinterest fail

I tried to make pretzels from scratch. Um, yeah...windows open and fans going because I burned them. Oh well! I had a fun helper in the process of making them. We had 2 survivors and the boys enjoyed them. 

The recipe was "so easy" and only 30 minutes. Yeah, if they were glutenous. My GF flour didn't do so well. And, it was not your typical way of handling dough...(see the lovely dough in the photo) haha

Cleaning mode

We are having a very special visitor on Wednesday, so our home is in cleaning mode! 

I love when people come over because our home gets all shiny again! 

Jack likes to compete with me on who can clean up faster. He says " I'm gonna beat you!!" It cracks me up and makes cleaning more fun!

Rain stick

I wanted to create with Jackson an art project that had to do with rain since it has been raining for almost a week. 

So we made a rain stick. Ha!! Beans and a random tube hanging out in our home. :)

Nap

What a glorious 2 hour nap! I needed that!

Jesus House

Looking forward to our service today at "Jesus house" as Jack would say!!

Chocolate lavender cake

Interesting and different, but not a repeat. 

Gluten free and great price at TJMaxx, but too earthy for me.

7am

Jack's new time to wake up daily. Currently, only one eye will open. Too early...especially on a rainy Saturday.

Firsts

My boy learned how to play harmonica and he had his first taste of Jell-O which he calls "yeah-yo." He llloooovvveeess it.

Friday!!!

I am sad that it is our last day as a family for four days, but excited about other things coming up.

GNO tonight and a wedding I am photographing next Saturday! 

Side note: these guys came for breakfast this morning. 

Zoo

We had a wonderful day at the zoo. My mom got in free too! The pass is for four people, not just 2 kids and 2 adults! Jack is free until march. The temps were amazing in the 70s, no rain, and Jack was in a super mood for not having a nap too!

NeNe gave him his Tiger shirt. He is "rawring" at the camera. 

Children's museum success

We had such a blast!!! Tomorrow, we are going to the Atlanta Zoo for free!!! So pumped to enjoy this time tomorrow to help my boy learn and grow.

And, the temps will be in the 70s!!! Score!!

Monkey

His new thing this week is that he has learned how to hang on things like a monkey. He is proud of his strength.

Skating

There Is a middle-aged lady in-line skating with a fanny pack on and a helmet on...up and down the parking lot at the playground sports complex this morning.  I think it's amazing that she is getting her exercise that way. Get out the move and do what you love!!!

5am wake up

Whatever woke me up at 5am was not cool. I just prayed for the hubs at work. Now, I need to try and go back to sleep. Gotta be ready for a busy, fun day with my boy.

Stairs and rocket

I swear I did not help my son with the drawing. I was cleaning his room and casually asked him what he was drawing and he said "stairs." Um, yep. I am one proud mama being an artist! (Left side is stairs. Right top side is a rocket) no joke!

Afternoon Craft: feed the birds

Saw this activity in all the magazines I am going through. Here is today's afternoon craft. It helped his fine motor skills in putting the cheerios on the pipe cleaners. We needed to feed the birds!

Hot morning at the playground

This boy loves the playground!! 

Tebby and Nobby

Jack's two favorite stuffed animals are for sure his bear and cat. They have to hang out on the couch for meals, or sometimes join us at the table. They are with him to sleep. He loves them. 

Tebby was thirsty this morning.

Bible Lessons from Jack's Perspective

Jackson realized tonight what "Jesus Loves Me" was about while we were reading from his Bible. He started singing it and pointed to Jesus every time he would sing "Jesus." 

Then, Jack's interpretation of Parable of the Good Samaritan : He got hurt at the playground and hurt his knee like Jackson hurt his knee at the playground. That is why he was on the ground. The man should help him up.

And, they should open up the door to let the lions out of Daniel's Room. 

He said that there was a "light" on the angel. He said "turn on the light" because she was glowing. 

Lastly, Jackson started singing Old McDonald when he saw all the animals on Noah's Ark and in the picture with Adam and Eve in the Garden. 

That sums up our Bible learning time with Jackson. :)

Love this boy! 

Busy Sunday

We went to early service and then Jack and I went on a date to Wendy's. Now, we are back at church so I can go to a launch meeting for the new LaGrange campus. 

I thoroughly enjoyed and was challenged by the service this morning!

During all of this, my hubs is sleeping due to night shift. 

This is the first of many Sunday services without my hubs. It is weird, but I know that when my son asks for more "Jesus house" I know that we are in the right place and I need to take my son to church. :-)

Sweet boy

We had the opportunity to watch our neighbors' daughter tonight. She was a perfect little girl and Jack had a lot of fun with Ko-a. (Korra)

He sang songs to her at her bedtime and then when we walked out of the room, he said "Sweet Dreams, Ko-a. See you later. Night Night." Melt my heart.

I love my boy and his sweet, kind heart.

I hope we have a little girl one day. He would be a wonderful big brother.

Porch shade

We hang out on the back deck in the morning and the front porch in the afternoon. However, it is still HOT today!

Neighbors are a blessing

It was so nice to go to a birthday party in our own neighborhood. We knew all the kids, adults, and had a blast. I love my neighbors and feel blessed to live here. This is the first neighborhood we have felt this way.

Not everyone can say that about their neighbors. :-)

Watermark

When you have a photography career, it is important for clients to leave the photographer's watermark on their photograph. You wouldn't paint over a signature on a painting on canvas. You wouldn't scratch out a signature on a ceramic piece. You wouldn't write your name on a piece of music that Beethoven composed. So, please do not crop out my watermark. It is not your photograph to claim. 

Getting ready for the Zoo

We are going to the zoo on Tuesday! We are going to do Zoo related activities until we see the real animals! I found this one on Pinterest.

This is all you need:

Come on, glue....dry.

I was enjoying the moment and took the photos quickly. Sorry about the quality.   :-)

Knee cap twitch

Why is my knee cap twitching??? I guess it is time for bed. I am at the end of my movie. :-)

Rough bedtime

My boy had a hard time going to sleep.

Teething? Tummy aches? Wanting me to snuggle with him? Regardless, it was hard.

I hope he sleeps well tonight.

Mushrooms

My son says "more chicken" when he runs out of mushrooms. Love it!

Free Zoo Atlanta

For the second year in a row we are going to the zoo for free!! We enjoyed our time at the library listening to the video on a computer in the library. Jack also enjoyed his animal crackers (how appropriate) while we watched.  We are excited about our trip next week!

Zoo Atlanta, here we come!!

Last day

Tomorrow is our last day off as a family as Daddy has to go back to work on Friday night. Friday during the day, he sleeps to prepare for night shift.

We have enjoyed eating all our meals together and playing hard together. 

Already looking forward to Tuesday when we head to Atlanta for some fun at the Children's museum and the zoo!!

Afterthought on today's nap

He slept 3 hours with all the roof renovation. Whew!!

Hungry Jack

Dinner #2 8:15pm

Jump

Jack has reached the milestone where he can jump with two feet off the ground.  

Roof

I hope Jack and Daddy can take their naps today. Our roof is being replaced and there is a lot of knocking going on above us.

Cleaning out

I am tired if papers/clutter/magazines in my house, so I am scanning everything and putting it on our external hard drive. 

Magazine clippings will go on Pinterest.

 I am throwing them away afterwards. My goal is for everything to have a home by Christmas. Our small home is "getting to me" and I finally have time to do something about it.

2 years apart

My favorite thing to do is document time and the same activity with Jackson.

This is 2 years apart in the same spot.

Silence

Ahhh...my heart is happy and joyful. My boy is sleeping.

No Nap

Yesterday, he decided that he didn't want to take a nap. Long day for everyone.

Today, he is working on a repeat. I am not a happy camper. He is an amazing napper and in such a good mood when he does take a nap. It just breaks my heart and makes me sick when he can't relax and sleep in the afternoon. It makes for a rough time around 5pm. He turns into a crazy man. Anyone else have that happen? Just me?


Here is hoping he can go to sleep to be Mr. Happy for our afternoon of fun we have planned.

Twice in one day

Playground adventure happened again after Jack decided not to nap for two hours. It was wwwaaaayyy hotter this afternoon so we didn't last. Then, we played in the sprinkler. 

I love summer days with my hubby and son. Hubs is off until Monday night. 

Here's hoping for lots of playing, napping, "free" adventures and yummy eats. Have a great weekend!

One last photo from today.

Playground

We had the playground all to ourselves and it was a blast!!! A little injury wasn't going to stop us!!