What we have been up to!

Brooks is now big enough to play on his rocking snail that Santa gave him. He stays on it pretty well and really enjoys rocking and looking at all the pretty colors on him. ALSO, Brooks is now CRAWLING/SCOOTING! This actually started about 2 weeks ago (at 7 1/2 months old) but I am just now blogging about it. If he sees a cool toy across the room, he takes off to get it. He is so cute especially when he slides across the hardwood floors. WOW, they grow up so fast. Is it time for number three - Ha Ha! That was definitely a JOKE!

Madelyn, Brooks, and I went this past weekend to visit Pepaw and Nana and to visit our friends. (Patrick was on a guys weekend in Destin.) It was so much fun getting to see all of our friends over the weekend. For those who dont know, Patrick and I lived in Montgomery for 2 1/2 years after we got married in July of 2001. The picture above is Nana and Pepaw (my parents) with Madelyn and Brooks (I couldn't get them to look at the camera, so this is the best shot.)
Madelyn and I have been working on learning colors! So I decided to make cheesy flashcards (because that is how I learned stuff in school). It is going pretty well. Somedays she will know 4 or 5 of them and some days she will not know any (or she does not want to look at the cards). At age 2 you never know from day to day what they will say or do. I seriously think that she knows more than she lets on to. Also, she is starting to say please and thank you more and more without us having to say it first. They are such sweet children and we love them very much!

Patrick and I leave for Yellowstone National Park on Thursday morning (his 30th birthday). We are staying 6 nights. I cant wait! I hear is is absolutely beautiful out there. I surprised him with this trip (he found out about 3 weeks ago that he was going). A big thanks to my parents who will have our children while we are gone! I love you Mom and Dad. I look forward to posting about our trip when we return.

Thank You

I have a relatively new hobby - sewing! In early February, I started sewing again. I say again because I took a beginning sewing class about 3 years ago but never did anything after the class. I wanted to say thank you to my good friends Deborah Lawler and Laura Brantley for getting me back into it. They are great teachers (and the funny thing is that Laura learned to sew from Deborah in January and picked up like SUPER fast and found herself teaching me how to do different things). Also, I took a 4 week intermediate sewing class at the Smocking Bird and learned how to make ruffles, a collar, and sleeves. Here are a few things I have done over the past four months:

I made this outfit for my good friend, Ashley Spencer's daughter (Addison). It was made out of a old bed sheet that Ashley had. It made such a cute little outfit. Isn't she precious?


Two bubbles I made for Madelyn and Brooks!
One of the first outfits I made for MH and BH. I was very proud after completing these outfits.
A little Johnny outfit for Mr. Brooks!
This is the outfit that I made in the sewing class at the Smocking Bird. This shirt was the death of me. Not easy!!! Don't know that I will ever do this shirt pattern again. Well, maybe one day, but not anytime soon. Once again, thank you Laura and Deborah for all your help. Love you girls!

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a blast over the Memorial Day weekend at the lake with our families. We went down on Friday at lunch to Patrick's parents lake house and stayed until Monday night. On Saturday, we drove over to Wind Creek on Lake Martin to see my parents and my sister and her family. They were camping there for the weekend. Madelyn and Brooks love going on boat rides. They rode on Pepaw's boat and Granddaddy's boat. Boat rides put Brooks right off to sleep. Madelyn enjoyed getting on Baba's paddleboat and riding with me on the jetski (to get her on was hard, but once she was on she liked it). Also, we enjoyed skiing and tubing (I look forward to when we can teach Madelyn how to ski).

Is it really a zoo at our house? While we were gone we boarded our dog (Hunter) at the vet. Patrick took him on Friday morning. Today, I went to pick Hunter up and the boarding paperwork said that Brooks had been boarded. So, I guess Patrick forgot who he was taking to the vet. His dog or his son? I mean really, is there already too many people at our house that we are confusing people with animals. I just thought we wanted more children. :)

Update on what Brooks is up to:

He can now move from laying down to sitting up. He is starting to try to pull up but can't quite get himself all the way up. He also likes to scoot across the floor to reach things he wants. I am thinking that crawling is in the near future. Fun Times!!

Big News from Madelyn

Well, our potty training days have begun! I went and bought a little potty today for Madelyn and she loves it! About an hour ago, I put her on it for the first time and she actually used it (number one). I, of course, went crazy and praised her to death. I was so shocked that she went on the first time. What a big girl! She was so proud of herself. Her words were, "I pottied mommy" and then she clapped. Wish me luck on this new adventure. Of course, this is a posed picture (after she did it I knew I wanted a picture to post).

Madelyn at the Beach

The last weekend in April we headed to the beach with Sachiko and her son, Hud. Brooks stayed in Auburn with Baba and Granddaddy (see post below). We had a great time. The weather on Saturday was very nice and Sunday is was rainy and cooler so we went shopping. Hud and Madelyn played well together. Madelyn did much better this year on the sand than last year. She still would not sit directly on it or put her hand down in it. But she did play with the sand rake and shovel in the sand. What cute little boy! He loves to say "cheese" and pose for the camera! Madelyn now says "cheese" when I bring out the camera.
Having fun on the beach with mommy!
Madelyn searching for sand crabs and shells at night. It was very windy (as you can see with her hair)! This picture is funny because it kinda looks like the front of her but it is the back.

Brooks in Auburn

Brooks stayed with Baba and Granddaddy while I went to the beach with Madelyn, Sachiko, and Hud two weekends ago. Brooks got just a little bit spoiled. He went to campus, to work with granddaddy, shopping for a tiger tail, and to church. I think he enjoyed it all except for the shopping for the tiger tail.
Brooks ask two questions: 1)"Did this shirt ever come off of me the whole three days?" and 2) "Do I have to where it anymore?" The answers are: 1) No, it only came off for church and rocker picture below. 2) Well, only when I go to visit in Auburn.
Brooks in the little old rocker at Baba's house!

Caught in the Action

Opps, I got caught!!!! About a week ago, I walked out of the bedroom for two minutes and come back in to this scene! She got all the wipes out of the box. She loves wipes and always wants one when we change diapers around here. She calls them "nose"! I guess she says that because she knows how to blow her nose. It is quite amusing!
I thought these pictures were sweet! Last night I went to check on my two kiddos like I always do before I go to bed and they were both sleeping in the same position! They both love to sleep on their tummy just like their mommy and daddy.
Madelyn and Brooks are growing up so fast. Madelyn everyday does and says things that amaze me. She is learning new words all the time! Brooks got his first tooth about 2 weeks ago and started sitting up about the same time. He can sit up for about a minute or two. I see him getting stronger and stronger daily. It is so much fun with these two (although, they keep me extremely busy)!