IT'S BEEN A WHILE...

Since I've made these two sit down so I could try and take a photo of them.  Together. Smiling.

Not as easy as it's been in the past.  Brandon's strong willed nature comes out during these types of "photo shoots".  Not always the best shopper and not a huge fan of posed pictures.   Our little man is a happy guy, but trying to take a picture (where he actually has to sit still and while on sissy's lap)...not his favorite.  I think I took 20 pictures before I got this acceptable one of my two miracles... and I actually only got this one, because daddy was jumping up and down behind me :0)

Oh well... I guess you do, what ya have to do! :0)

CRAFT FUN...

Gotta love craft time!   Boo was very proud of her TP roll owls...which are now proudly displayed on the kitchen window sill :0)   Great job my little craft-ster!

FOOD....

makes us happy around these parts :0)  Yep, give them us some food (especially if the meal is healthy PLUS some sugar...you can't see the chocolate donut behind Boo's cup :0) and we're a happy people!

HE SAID....SHE SAID...

As I was cleaning the house the other day....he said, "let's play cars" and she said, "let's do a craft".  Either way, mama got to do some cleaning so...happy day for everyone! :0)

23 MONTHS...

Just call me...Mr. Independent.  Don't get me wrong, Brandon is still very much a mama's boy (which I, of course, love...).  He is unbelievable sweet.  Incredibly generous with his kisses and squeezes (hugs).  Looks for me and is thrilled to see me, every time I leave the room.  But....he also loves to do things on his own. From trying to open jars, to cutting apples (no, I don't allow him to really cut the apple), to riding the carousel at Disney by himself (I, of course, was next to him holding him...but when I tried to ride the horse with him, he promptly fussed, pointing to the ground, and said "Mommy, sit down").

Our little man's vocabulary continues to grow.  I thought Bailey would be the strong communicator and while she did have a couple of more words at this age...Brandon is not far behind, very close actually.  He still does his sweet little baby talk and his newest word (started a few weeks ago) is "welcome".  So if you say, "thank you" to him...he'll say "welcome".  Sooo, soooo sweet!  He still adores his sissy and loves playing with her, but now he'll come to me and tell me "sissy share", when Boo is not sharing with him :0)   He also does something that Bailey never did (maybe that's because she had more of my attention, being an only child), but if he wants me to do something specific (usually to go somewhere or do something with him), he take his sweet little hand, grabs onto me (my hand or sometimes just my pants leg) and pulls me where he wants me to go.  And man....is. he. strong.  I've been amazed since around 14 or 15 months, at just how strong he is.  Speaking of his hands, they are changing.  They used to be short, stubby, fat little hands (so sweet); now they are a bit leaner and his fingers a little longer.  The rubber band role, that was his wrist, is all but gone (crying here).  Our little man is changing.

Almost two, Brandon continues to show himself more of a mini-me.  He doesn't really look like me, but boy...can he act like me.  He can be passionate with giving his loves, but he is also furiously independent/very strong willed, he's very hands-on and if he's hungry or tired...goodness, watch out as all h*ll might break loose because a melt down is just around the corner.  Yep, he's alot like his mama :0)

Blurry...but I love the eye and those sweet lips (melt)...

"Cheese..!"

Our sweet boy...

GO GIRL...GO!

She's getting it!!!  Yay!!! :0)   I apologize as we lose sound for few seconds during part of this video and it's shaky at times as I'm trying to make sure our little man doesn't get out of the stroller and into the pool (haha).

ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDENS...

Last week, we got the chance to go to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens with our HS group.  This was our first time there and we had a really great time. Very pretty, but a little expensive (in my opinion).  Boo is making some wonderful friends and I'm enjoying the chance to get to know other HS moms.   Next trip, is to Legoland here in Atlanta; the kids are all super excited for that :0)

Some of the kids on this particular outing (missing around
6 to 8 of them in this picture).

Bailey has become fast friends with this little girl, Maya

Another new friend, Zoey (Maya's sister)

LOVE...

these pictures of Boo and I, as we didn't even know that Daddy was taking them :0) Simply adore this girl.

DISNEY...2013!!

Oh my gosh... I have SOOO many pictures of this year's trip to Disney!  It was tough to narrow it down (from the over 700) to the mass you see below :0).   We had a really great time; only thing that would have made it better, would have been YiaYia and Popo.  God blessed us with NO rain, which really is a must when you're tent camping!  I have to admit, it was pretty darn hot (88-92 degrees) but still, SO thankful for no rain. And, except for my one day of "wonderful" heat exhaustion, everyone was nice and healthy.

This year, as I mentioned, we took a tent to Fort Wilderness.  I was quickly reminded that I am a very light sleeper, but a loud box fan (purchased at the Walmart just off Disney property) plus some wonderful sleep aid and I managed to sleep just fine :0)  The kids, however, were troopers!  Because we were at the campground, each night we heard the (very) loud fireworks from the magic kingdom and then the boat light parade on the water (you can set your watch to that...9:45pm each and every night :0). Not to mention the golf carts beeping, the buses rumbling by and the people laughing.  The kids slept through it all beautifully.  No sleep aid (except a full day of sun and fun) required... haha.

We visited the parks, ate A LOT (I love that!) and spent several afternoons at the pool. Both kids LOVE the water.  Brandon has little to no fear, while Boo....well, it's finally started to kick in!  Praise God the girl might become a swimmer after all :0)   Actually... I think the pool might have been Bailey's favorite part of this year's trip.  Maybe.  Hard to tell, with all that magic :0)

Our traditional photo spot.  

Monkey see - Monkey do.  Haha... :0)

Melt my heart...

Little man, once again, loved...loved...LOVED the characters.
And my skeptical sweet girl (wondering if they are real or
just "people in costumes") was full of magic and belief each time
we saw one :0)

DT Disney.  Can't actually remember what happened to
Brandon's pants.  My guess is too much water (diaper didn't hold).

This picture is sooo our little man.  Fire in his eyes, when he's doing
something (or, in this case, going somewhere) he shouldn't  :0)

My beautiful, beautiful girl.

Sissy wanted to take a picture...

She took this one too :0)

Last pony ride for Boo!  Next year she'll be too tall to ride them.
Technically she was this year (cut off is 48" and she's almost 49")
but they let it slide :0)  

Pretty much how we all felt, after a long hot day at the parks :0)