Pumpkin Patch

Friday my good friend Sarah and I took our boys to the pumpkin patch for the morning. I think all 4 boys had a great time and it was great to have some company for me too!

The rare shot that included all 4 of them!
Not quite sure what's up with Carter's face but they were having a blast in the hay maze!


Wrestling in itchy hay sure looked fun!


Cooper on the caboose
One of my favorites - I love it when I can find one picture I LOVE out of the million I take!

On the hay ride...
Don't we look excited!

The tongue helps with concentration.







A sneak peek at halloween...if Carter's costume can survive the daily wear it's getting before then!

Well Checks and Koala-Chu's

Carter came home from school the other day very eager to tell me about his busy day!

C - Mommy, I had a busy, busy day today. I got to be the door holder, which meant I had to hold every single door for every person in my class all day long. Oh but Mommy, my friend Corinne got in trouble and had to go to time out because she spitted in my face.

Me - Oh goodness, that wasn't very nice. What did your teachers tell Corinne?

C - Mrs. Rana told her that she had to sit in time out with her back to the class and then tell me she was sorry because spitting wasn't nice. Oh, but Mommy, Mrs. Rana got to bring her little dog to our class today! It was called a koala-chu!

I'm guessing he meant chihuahua since I emailed his teacher for a little clarification...she definitely got a kick out the new breed invented by Carter though!

Cooper had his 3 year well check up last week and everything went fine. He's doing all the things a 3 year old should, talking, gaining weight, etc. He was 30lbs on the dot and 36 1/2 inches tall. As he was sitting on the exam table in nothing but his cute little boxer briefs, he started poking out his bottom lip and pouting all of a sudden. When I asked him what was wrong he said in his pouty little sad voice, "Mommy, me wish me had a baby in my tummy so, so much for my check-up!" He's been with me to my past two appointments so I guess he thinks everyone who needs a check up needs to have a baby too!

On an addendum to this post, I somehow forgot to mention how awesome Cooper has done giving up his paci. He's only had his green soothie (newborn) pacifiers in his bed for naps and bedtime but it has definitely done a number on his front teeth! I had planned for 3 to be the big take away time so just before his pediatrician's appt. I talked to him about how big 3 year olds don't really need paci's anymore and that they're for babies. He seemed ok with the idea so I took them away at nap time that same day and he hasn't missed a beat since. I'm so relieved to have that hurdle behind us and so proud of my big boy!

A Little Boy Who's Three...

...has taken my heart and stolen it from me.
With his bright, blue eyes and sweet, shy smile,
I know it will be his for a long, long while!

It is so hard to believe that my baby boy turned 3 Sunday and even harder to believe that in just a few short weeks there will be 3 little boys to call me their mom. I'm honored, humbled, and scared to death all at the same time! As the time gets nearer for the baby to make his arrival, I feel like I'm becoming more and more anxious about how in the world I'll be able to manage all 3 of them and be able to give them as much love and attention as they each need individually. I'm sure we will manage and get in our own routine but for now I'm trying to savor every last second with the 2 precious boys I have!

Cooper is still a bit shy but has really started opening up over the past few months. When family visits that haven't seen him in a while, they always comment on how much he's changed and turned into such a big boy all of a sudden. To me he's the perfect mix of big boy and baby and frequently tells me just that. He's strong-willed and independent, wanting to do everything for himself one minute and then wants me to hold him and snuggle the next. I love that he's still a bit of a baby for me and that he loves me as much as he does! He makes us laugh hysterically on a daily basis with all his funny expressions and new words and with Carter always chiming in behind him, there is truly never a dull moment in our household!

We didn't really make any birthday party plans for Cooper as he doesn't seem to be into that just yet but of course he has to keep us guessing. Earlier in the week, he asked me in his inquisitive little voice, "Mommy, who gonna be at my birthday party? Maybe Keelin, Grace, and Charlie?" As my heart skipped a beat because we had nothing planned at all, I told him we could maybe work that out and just have a the few neighbors he asked about over for a low-key party. We did just that and it turned out perfectly. My mom was already planning to come spend this week with us so it worked out great that she was able to come to his party too! Jamey's sister Ashley and her fiance Andrew came too and we were so happy to have their company!

Cooper had an awesome time and kept asking us all afternoon before the party, "When my friends be here?" Ashley was able to get a pretty priceless video of Cooper doing a little "happy dance" as we referred to it that I'm hoping to somehow get up here before too long. He was really excited about one present in particular but it was of course one with a million wires holding it into the box so he danced around happily while I worked on getting it out! It was pretty precious and definitely worth sharing:)

My mom has been here for the whole week and to say we've enjoyed her company would be the understatement of the year. She has been so helpful and has made sure to do everything she can to ease my load while she's here. Anyone who knows me knows I don't sit still or ever find a time when I can't find something that needs to be done but she has really helped me put my feet up more than I ever do the past few days and I'm so appreciative! Jamey and I went out to dinner just the two of us lastnight and it was so nice to get out for one last hoorah before the baby. Mom we are so grateful to have you around to help us out and appreciate you being here more than you know! As for the boys, it's back to just mommy and daddy tomorrow so we'll see how it goes...
















Shy when everyone started singing Happy Birthday to him!

Picture version of the dance.


Thanks to my friend Amy for the balloon wreath directions and idea! It was a big hit and I've gotten so many compliments on it!

Swinging Away

The other day Cooper was in a mood to put it mildly and when Jamey and I were trying to ask him what was wrong he decided to put himself in timeout and wanted us to leave him alone! He kept telling me to "put dat camera down" but I had to snap a few before his pouting was over.




The long-awaited day of independent swinging has finally come in our house. Carter has been able to "pump" himself on the swings for a while but has all of a sudden really gotten the hang of it and no longer needs any help at all. It's wonderful because he can go out in the back by himself and swing whenever he wants without one of us having to be with him all the time. I took the camera with us to the park the other day to try and capture his swinging but apparently my action picture skills could use a little work! I did get a few that aren't blurry though!


At one park near us the boys love how wooded the area is and take lots of "secret explorations" as Carter likes to call them on the trails.



Cooper loved playing peek-a-boo behind the dragon tail.

This is silly but just makes me smile.

Soccer and Visitors

My brother and his wife Sarah came into town for the weekend and we couldn't have been more excited to have some company! The boys LOVED them to say the least and had the best time playing rough with Brian and doing crafty things with Sarah. I had to work Saturday but it was Carter's first soccer game so Brian, Sarah, Jamey, and Cooper all went to cheer him on. Apparently he's come a long way from last year and actually scored a goal! I was so excited to hear the news and can't wait to see the action in person in a few weeks. The boys were so sad the see our visitors go but fortunately we know we'll hopefully be seeing our family again really soon when #3 decides to make his appearance!

The players got their jerseys at the game and from what Jamey said, the tucking in was all Carter's doing! I'm thinking he learned this from his buddy Gates, don't you think Star?!


Cooper was once again having a moment and decided he wanted to be left alone so he sat about 20 yards from everyone and drank his drink. I'm hoping he's just trying to get all the bad and grumpy out now while he's only got a few more days of being in the terrible 2s!



I think this one's my favorite because of his determined little face!


Reading a few books with Brian and Sarah before bedtime...

Reading with Daddy before bedtime lastnight