August...

August was a busy, but great month! 

Dabado's 91st birthday

Fun night with the other Valleydale pastor wives and kids

Trip to the McWayne Center - my kids LOVE this place!

Spend the night party with cousins!

 

Our current favorite toy.  These blocks have been a lifesaver lately!  A sweet friend gave them to me as her kids are too old for them now, and Watson and Emma have played with them every single day!

Hanging out with the youth and Dad at church!

We had lots of birthday parties this month!

This boy LOVES his Daddy so much!

Mel and I took Mom out to lunch for her birthday - love time with these two.

August in Alabama = HOT!  We have not been able to be outside for too long unless it involves water. This little pool has been great!

Watson discovered the hair dryer...and what it would do to his hair!

The Vallejo's came in town one night.  I am SO thankful for this family and the impact that have had in my life over the past 13 years!

Fun at Railroad Park

Valleydale's church plant, Iron City Church, has officially launched.  We meet at 5:30 at B&A Warehouse on Sunday nights.  Come join us!!

15 Months...

Yet again I am catching up on several months at one time.  Having a 3 year old and 1 year old sure keeps me busy!!  We are having so much fun, though - I am so thankful for this time in my life and for the blessing of staying home with my babies.

Emma's personality is coming out so much these days...and my gracious does she have a big personality!!  This sweet girl knows what she wants, when she wants it, and how she wants it!

She is cruising around our coffee table and LOVES walking around holding our hands.  In fact, she insists on doing this all day long!

Sleeping great...yay!  Takes 2 naps most days...occasionally only takes 1 if we are out and about in the morning.  Night time sleep is going great - she cries out sometimes, but rarely actually wakes up.

Saying more words...Mama, Dada, puppy, poopy (oops..), Bye Bye, Night Night, Hi, Thank You, More

Emma loves toys - she is perfectly content playing in our play room.  She will go from toy, to toy, to toy and love every second of it!

I forgot how hard this age range is.  She wants so badly to communicate what she wants/needs, but instead gets so frustrated and cries.  And goodness gracious...this girl has some lungs.

On the other hand, our baby girl knows how to laugh with the best of them!  There is nothing sweeter than hearing her belly laugh...sometimes until she even snorts!  She does the silent laugh too...which is funny because people have always teased me about doing the same :)

She has graduated to her big girl car seat and she LOVES it!

I still can't get her to drink anything but water.  She will take a few sips of chocolate milk or juice, but she definitely prefers water.

She loves giving kisses (big, open-mouthed kisses!) and high fives

Watson is THREE!

We had a blast celebrating our big boy's birthday this year!  I cannot believe we have a three year old - where did the time go?!!

Watson's absolute favorite food is cheese dip...I mean this kid can put away some queso!  When I asked him what he wanted at his birthday, he said cheese and cake...so clearly we had a FIESTA for his birthday!  :)

We are so thankful to all of our friends and family who came to celebrate our sweet boy!

I am so bummed because a lot of my pictures would not transfer from my camera to my computer..not sure what is up with that.  Hopefully I can get it to work later so I can get the rest of my pictures uploaded to this post!

What's a fiesta without a pinata?!  We let all of the kids have a turn hitting it...and of course they had to wear a sombrero while doing so!  Blakely was the lucky one to break the pinata...then there was chaos as the kids all ran to pick up their treats!

I love this man!

Emma loving time with Nannie and Hink

So thankful for Onita and all of her help during Watson's party!  She jumped right in and was a huge help!!

Mr. Bull, the pinata

Papaw and typical Mel :)

Emma and Melly

Hola Hampton!

Sweet Abby

Since everyone took over getting ready for the party I just took a minute to relax :)

Mary and Mel - so thankful that our families are so close!

Happy Birthday!!

Birthday boy and his daddy!

 Thankful for lifelong friendships and watching our kids grow up together!

Love this family.

Two out of four isn't so bad..right?!

Emma and her grandmothers - she is one lucky girl!

Sweet friends...Watson loves playing with Haddon.  We are so thankful to have them in Birmingham now!

Love having Papaw at these parties.  I can honesty say this man picks out the best gifts for the kids - it never fails that his gifts are ALWAYS the favorite!

Love watching Alan and Watson's relationship.  Watson sure loves his Uncle Alan!

Some things about Watson at this age:
- Chatterbox and wild man at home
- Reserved in public
- Loves being outside - especially helping in the yard
- Thrives when given responsibilities or tasks
- Favorite toys: balls, blocks, cars, guns...this is what happens when your dad is a police officer!
- Protective over his baby sister
- Cuddles with Mommy, Wrestles with Daddy
- We are officially in the question phase...What's that say?  What time is it?  Why'd you say that for? Why is that tree green for?  What did that car say?  What did the grass say?  (huh?!) Questions. All. Day. Long :)
- Loves going to church
- Always talks about our "new house"
- Very sensitive and very cautious
- Our little "old soul"
- Loves coffee...I mean LOVES it!
- Good eater for the most part
- Knows his colors, working on counting...it's a struggle though!  Can sing the ABC's if I sing with him.  Can recognize a few letters, but working on all of them.
- Loves coloring, painting, drawing, "writing his name"
- Starts every morning crawling into our bed and cuddling with us...I will always treasure that time of day!

Graham and I asked Watson some questions to see what he would say.  Here are his answers:
1.  What is your favorite color?  Blue
2.  What is your favorite animal?  Elephant
3.  What is your favorite food?  Carrots (This is crazy..I can NOT get this boy to eat a carrot!)
4.  What is your favorite number?  2
5.  Who is your best friend?  Daddy
6.  What is your favorite toy?  Puzzles
7.  What is your favorite 'toon'? Super Why
8.  What is your favorite thing to drink?  Apple Juice
9.  What is your favorite kind of ice cream?  Blue Ice Cream (??)
10.  What is your favorite kind of car?  Bike
11.  What are your favorite kind of shoes?  Blue Shoes (His Nike tennis shoes)