Avery Update

Avery is now 7 months old! Everyone is right: time pass much more quickly with the second. Avery is officially mobile. He has a very fast army crawl and enjoys practice crawling a few "steps" at a time. He is not a cuddler, which breaks his Mamma's heart. His "cuddling" is grabbing your face and squealing. He still has the best belly laugh and is especially smitten with his older brother, as long as PT is at a safe distance. Car rides are even better since the discovery of big brother next to him. He is such a content little one whose biggest worry is not getting enough sleep. He is growing up so quickly that he is now in the same size diaper and shorts as PT (notice the pic with him wearing the "Blaxton" shirt; it's a 12-month which continued to roll up and was more than snug on him). He is wearing all the clothes that PT received for his first birthday. Philip laughs at this because he too had a younger, not little, brother.

Blown by

This summer has blown by!

Philip starts his third semester of grad school tonight. He is taking two class, Apologetics and Apocalypse of John, leaving only one class, thesis, comps and language tests left. He continues to amaze me with how well he juggles all his spinning plates; work, family and school. The boys and I are glad to only be missing one evening a week with him.

To kick off the semester, our family attended a party on Sunday for all the Theology students and Professors. Being spoiled to having been at UD for undergrad, this type of soiree did not seem totally unfamiliar. We heard several times from the new students how awesome it was to actually meet their professors over beer and burgers and to see their professors with their families. There is something humbling about seeing the same guy who assigned a ten page paper pick up his little girl and comfort her after a scrapped knee. The newbies were blown away with how personal their relationship was becoming with the faculty and staff. It reminded us of the true uniqueness of UD...that we are family sharing a common endeavored.

Almost caught up...Trains and Dads

Paul Thomas and Avery wanted to show their Daddy just how special he is to them this past Father's Day. They did so with a train ride on the Texas Tarantula, running from Grapevine to Fort Worth!

Here's to you Daddy!

All Aboard!

Avery and his Daddy were a little bit less excited than PT.

The excitement of being on a real train was almost too much for his little body to handle.

Waving to the cars and watching "ding-dings" at work.

Hey Handsome!

Don't know if you can see the little dimple and the end of one of the biggest smiles ever.

Sharing a seat with buddy Daniel, times are always better spent with cousins.

Over the rickety old bridge.

That water is where we had our only causality...a phy was carried away to a better place.

That's it, right there! That smile is why the heat and a long day are all worth it. To watch your little one experience the wonder of a massive locomotive rolling into the station is simply divine.

For one quick quarter ride, we had a real cowboy on our hands.

Heading Home.

The view from the back.

Happy Fathers Day!

Little big boy

Our little boy is not so little any more to need help getting up in his chair or bed. In fact he is not so little any more to need a crib, he has made the move to the big boy bed. He is not so little any more that he cries out in the morning to be lifted from his bed, now he proudly calls out, "Mama, Mama" with a wide grin as he has drawn the curtains, turned on the light and is waiting for me on the changing table. He is not so little any more to carelessly read any book, now he carefully and thoughtfully choose his books. He is not so little any more to ride along on the morning walks, now he has become and active participant. Wearing his cow boots and pushing his shopping cart. Now, our walks double in duration and decease considerably in length. He is not so little any more to be content in the little pool, now he jumps in to the big pool. He is not so little any more to need the security of his blanket and phy (pacifier), now they both stay in his bed along with some of the shyness.

Our little boy is not so little any more and as it is somewhat hard to watch my little one become big, it is also somewhat amazing to watch him spread out and grow into a little independent boy, who by the way is not too big to cuddle.

Friday Photo Favorites

Oh, how many many feet we meet!

It's hard to say why these often smelly, sweaty, stinky body parts occupy such a tender spot in a mother's heart. Maybe it's the potential they represent. Maybe it's the little tiny wrinkles on a newborn feet that show that this tiny being is complete, is whole and at the same time part of us. Maybe it is the pitter -patter in the morning headed to your bed for a morning snuggle. Or the first steps that seem to come too soon. Maybe it's the laughter that resonates through the room when being tickled or the first display of independence in walking up all those steps on their own.

So many impressions, in our hearts and in life, are left from these.

First time going to sleep by himself.

A new milestone.

We are reminded by these little appendages that we, as mothers and fathers, are to give them sure footing on which to stand.

Maybe that is why we wear Precious Feet; they represent all the tickling, love, pitter- pattering, independence, sure footing and firsts that was taken. They represent the most undeserved gift of all...LIFE.

(Pictures of multiple feet are of our cousins...the best part about them is their little personalities are written all over their soles)

Start the count down....The Greats!

As we said good-bye to half of the MI crew, we loaded up the car and headed south with the other half to help Uncle Stephen relocate. We were blessed to spend time with so truly Great people, in formality and character. We visited with Great Aunt and Uncle (to the boys) and Great-Grandparents.

How many hands have conducted this train?

PT and Philip's cousin.

For one evening both boys got what they both want: a little brother and a big.

These two are sharing more than smiles!

In true two-year old fashion, he had to do everything in opposition to what we asked.

Avery delighted with Granddaddy's bird.

A picture of Greats!

Getting there...The Gardens

The last wonderful outing with the northern family was spent at the Botanical Gardens, in June with a heat index of 105 why...because they are free!

Oh and they have flowers,

and water!

Some of us missed the plaid memo.

Godfather and Godson

Love this picture with Avery's scrunched up nose...Gee Gee must have told him a really funny story.

Ummm...how much trouble will I get in?

Counting fish and turtles

There's a big one!

Ahhh...he surprised me.

Gee Gee and Papa

Looks like a keeper!

The best part about a camera timer is that you only have 10 seconds to make the picture!

He kicked into high gear here.

What a great ending to a fantastic visit. Thank you again for making the trip!