The little things I will miss.

Last night, while washing my hair, I kept stepping on little bath toys that somehow had made it into the bottom of our stand up shower in the master bathroom. My initial thought was "Geez, I can not wait until I can have my bathroom back to myself!"(well, and Matt of course) Then...I stopped mid-thought and realized how sad of a day that really would be. To not have bath toys in my shower would have to mean that my boys would be too big for bath toys, too independent to want to bathe in our bathroom at all. And, I know that day is quickly approaching. How sad the day will be when I won't hear their sweet voices in the middle of the night or the day when I won't have to walk to the bus stop, or scrub muddy baseball pants until my hands hurt. How lonely I will be to not have someone little always here that wants to play games with me or dance around the living room. Time is passing so quick and even quicker the next day. I thank God for this realization though. So this afternoon, tomorrow, next month and so on, I hope to be able to cherish these little "hassles" that I know will disapper well before I am ready. I want to think of them as little treasures and be able to remember them always. I take lots of pictures because I do know that we often forget. We forget LOTS. Especially lots of the "little" events...like simply playing outside in the yard or hugging a grandparent. My hope is that my boys will miss these little events too one day and be so thankful for all the pictures. Here are some from our outside play yesterday afternoon. Drew wanted me to get a shot of him jumping the curb on his scooter and did it over and over until I could get a good one of him in the air! :) Love that kid!

This is the scooter Popsy and G-mommy gave him for Christmas. It *SPARKS* and he thinks it is the coolest thing EVER!

A shower for baby Micah!

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of helping host a baby shower for one of my favorite people on this planet! Lydia and I have known each other since the 6th grade and I am so lucky to call her a best friend. She is one of those friends that I actually "do life with" and I can't imagine my life without her a phone call away. Micah will be her first baby and should make his debut in about 7 weeks. Hosting with other friends, Mandy and Lauren (and Lauren's mother's help & gorgeous home), her shower turned out absolutely fantastic! We had a seated brunch with delicious food, then dessert outside around the pool. Micah is so lucky to be getting such an awesome mom and dad!



Micah's gift from his Auntie Jen was a warm blanket and some burp cloths made just for him (UGA colors, of course):

The most magical place on Earth!

Walt Disney World lived up to the expectation! Our little family, along with our big extended family, had a blast! If Jett could talk, I think he would tell us his favorites were the big carousel at Magic Kingdom, which we rode three consequetive times and he screamed when I made him get off, and the ride through the animal safari at Animal Kingdom. He sat in Matt's lap through the safari and pointed at every animal he saw with a big grin. Drew said his favorites were Space Mountain where he got to "drive" the space ship(ride in the front seat) and the Indiana Jones show where he saw a "huge esplotion"(explosion). Explosion is hard to say when you are missing your four front teeth. :D

A few funny things...while sitting down to eat, bird poop dropped on my leg. Drew asked why the bird "shat" on me. The next day my sister in-law, Staci, was hit by more bird poop. Not sure why we were the targets. At a late, rather chaotic dinner on the last night, my seven year old nephew, Tyler, muttered "When I get back, I'm gonna need a shot!" Funny part was that I'm sure every adult there was thinking the same thing! Matt tried to "booty dance" with Timon from the Lion King at the Animal safari dinner. And...The kids all loved the up close view they got of the hippos butt hole in the aqaurium.

Of the 600+ pictures I took, I have narrowed them down to 68 that are here in this album: Disney 2011

The "Backpack"

I broke down. I bought it. The thing (at one point in my life- before kids) I swore I'd never own...and I'm thinking about making myself a t-shirt that reads one of the following: "My kid's a runner!" or "You must not have kids!" or "It's not a leash, it's a backpack with a tail!" (feel free to vote). That's right, I bought a backpack that has a long tail that you hold on to in order to keep your child close by. Some call it a leash; call it what you may.
We are heading to Disney World in less than 2 weeks and it just makes sense to use it. I wouldn't want to be forced to ride in a stroller for hours and HOURS while my brother and all of my cousins get to walk. I would want to walk with them...and I know Jett feels the same way. I let him pick between the dog or the monkey in the store. He wanted the monkey. He held it all the way to the register and wouldn't let the lady put it in the bag. He couldn't wait for me to open it once we got in the car. I think he likes it!! I snapped this picture before we even made it out of the parking lot!
Only time will tell if he still loves it once he figures out that it will prevent him from "exploring" so "independently"...running from us, in other words. :)

Jett and his sauce...

I think Drew was about the same age, almost 2, when he discovered dipping sauces. His world has never been the same. Jett has joined in on the dipping sauce obsession. Barbecue seems to be his favorite, but I haven't seem him turn his nose up to any kind yet. These were snapped over the last week...all followed by playtime in the tub!

Drew is six.

Drew turned six this week. I have to let that really sink in for a moment...six. SIX.

I remember January 10, 2005 still so vividly. I woke up about 4AM with some cramping. Having no idea what labor pains felt like and being 2 weeks early, I tried to play it cool. Matt got up and went to work about 6:30 and I then got up and drove myself to work about 8:30. All along, the cramping continued. I wasn't hungry, but forced myself to eat some crackers once I got to my desk. I didn't do much all morning, but wonder if I was over reacting. My best work friend, Mary Jane, sat with me. At 2:00PM, she drove me to the hospital. I had been 3 times before already with false labor, so I really didn't want to call Matt at work yet. When I did finally call him, I swear I could hear his eyes rolling at the sound of my scared voice saying I was at the hospital waiting for someone to check me. I had a sweet nurse, Stephanie, that could tell I didn't want to leave again without my baby in my arms! She made me walk the halls of that hospital for two hours. Matt showed up just in time to hear the words "We're keeping her...you're going to have a baby!" I was in my room by 6:00PM and my family and friends were all arriving. It was a big party in the delivery room. Drew already had so many fans and people so eager to love him and hold him and support him through the life he had yet to enter in to. People came and went for hours.
While most were sleeping in the waiting room, at 2:32AM, on January 11th, Andrew James Conner entered this world. This crazy, fun, scary world. (I'll spare you the not pleasant details and visuals of me pushing for what felt like hours...)He was 8lbs even and had a head of dark hair.
He was perfect. I was a mom; Matt was a dad...and we were a family. It was absolutely the most wonderful feeling I had ever felt.

And I couldn't wait to leave that hospital with my baby finally in my arms!

We had no idea, then, what kind of kid he'd be. I remember walking around the living room holding him in the middle of the night as he cried that sweet newborn cry and softly singing to him and thinking the whole time about who he'd grow up to be, sure that he'd be something great!

He has brought so much love, humor and innocent laughter into our lives. He is smart. He catches on fast and doesn't forget. He's passionate and strong-willed. Generous and stubborn. He has gorgeous eyes and a strong grip. He's a sore loser like his dad, but will let you win at checkers if he's beat you over and over. He's something great. God knew exactly who he'd be.

On Tuesday, while we were snowed in, we made a cake to celebrate his special day. I can't wait to see what this year holds for him. I can't wait to see what he'll learn and how he'll change. I also want him to stay six for a while...maybe I can talk him into seven not being all that fun. This kid changed my life that day in 2005 and continues, every day, to be a huge contribution to my life being complete. I love this kid!

Christmas Holidays

I think Christmas of 2010 has been my favorite one yet! Drew was at a perfect age to really be involved and excited about everything. Instead of getting our tree at Home Depot like we have the past few years, we went to a local tree farm where you can pick your tree and cut it down yourself. I took the boys while Matt was working to get it, so the son of the tree farmer helped Drew cut it down and carried it to the car for us.

Jett enjoyed a yummy, messy candy cane while I forced him to stay in the stroller during this excitement.
Christmas service at church was awesome! Drew wasn't very excited to sing on stage though, which is not like him at all. I had to bribe him with a chocolate milkshake just to get him up there. I guess we all have moments of not wanting to be front and center sometimes. He was still cute, even if he sat there pouting the whole time. I thought this was a gorgeous picture of all the kids on stage.

The past few years, our church has put together an outreach event called "Hope for Christmas" where they provide toys to needy families. It is much more than that though. The families come to the church and participate in a huge Christmas party. Santa is there, arts and crafts, jumpys for the kids and a secret santa shop so the kids can each pick out a gift for their parents. This year we provided gifts to over 4,000 children in 1,500 different families. God had his hands ALL over that event and I am so grateful I got to be involved in it. We serve an awesome God!

Christmas Eve came too fast this year! Awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus AND the Tooth Fairy, I though Drew would want to go bed early. What on Earth was I thinking?? We pulled up the Santa Tracker online and I told him that Santa's next stop was Georgia and our house would get skipped if he didn't go to sleep. I should have done that 2 hours earlier, because he ran to bed. He woke up to bunk beds and a new tv in the middle of the living room and $10 under his pillow. (He is now missing all four of his front teeth!)
Jett had a new kitchen/grill waiting for him to climb all over.
Then the magic started! It started to SNOW!!! Atlanta hasn't had a white Christmas in 30 something years!! The boys couldn't wait to walk next door to my parents house so they could be outside in it for even just a second.


New Years Eve was spent out with friends. We had a blast!
Getting up at 6AM wasn't easy New Years Day. We had to leave early to go to the annual MudBog. Matt's brother has been building a giant mud truck for some time now and the boys were so excited to put that sucker in the mud hole!

And, after this exhausting fun, Matt's Aunt took some fun family pictures of us, which Drew cried and pouted all the way through. We were able to get a grin in at least a few, thankfully. Doesn't it always seem like there is so much drama and trials to get everyone to sit together and act happy just for a picture!!?? Here are some of the best:

I wish all of you a wonderful, fulfilling, prosperous 2011!!