What We Have Been Up to Since Disney

I'm so glad I have already failed on my New Year's Resolution to be a better blogger...

Woody returned back to school. He had to miss the first three days due to Disney World. We still don't know if he is going to be right handed or left handed.

Gaines loves the fact that Woody has gone back to school. Only child for the win!

Woody likes to go to sleep with his closet light on, and then I turn it off when I go to bed. He won't sleep under his covers. I love sleep stalking him!

But when he wakes, he prefers to sit on his dad's head

 Gaines and Winnie have become the best of friends

 And Lucy doesn't need friends

It snowed and everyone (except Momma) was happy

 Everyone loves Daddy!

Woody had grandparents' day at his school. My boys are so lucky to have four amazing grandparents. IT was during the week, so Mimi and Papa couldn't make it, but Nana and Gran were there to celebrate with Woody!

Gaines has been obsessed with his leash/harness since Disney World. He really wants someone to hold the leash part and drag him around. I finally had to hide it, because we will definitely need it again when we go on vacation!

So, during our first year of marriage, Brooks and I went to Miami during my Spring Break. We didn't realize it was also during Easter. While we were at the beach on Easter Sunday, I found this rosary in the ocean. I thought it was so cool that we found it on Easter. It always hung by my mirror in our townhouse, but in the move to Patches, I thought it had been thrown away. One night, while Brooks was away on business, I was cleaning out the basement. It had been a very hard day, and I was an emotional mess. I opened a box, and there it was! I love God Winks!

(Me and Laura)

Two of my best friends are twins (Laura and Susannah), and they will be 30 the end of February. Laura's little girl will be having her first birthday the end of February, and Susannah is due with her daughter the end of February too! So Susannah surprised Laura with a surprise birthday party the end of January. It was so fun!

Some of you know that at the beginning of December, we listed our house for sale (using a company that is basically like doing For Sale By Owner.) Our intentions were to back up and head out more to the suburbs where one of Brooks's offices is. After two months, and over twenty showings, we had no offers. I felt very discouraged, because I love our house and neighborhood and didn't understand why other people didn't. Then one weekend, we made the decision that we just weren't ready to leave Patches. 

The next Monday was a beautiful day, and it was like a sign that we had made the right decision. I mean, look what is basically in our backyard!

Yep, Gaines sat in the mud

I was looking up rompers and sunsuits for Gaines when I stumbled upon this gem. I have lots of friends who are having baby girls that might need this!

The terrible Hand Foot Mouth Saga...

The first weekend in February, Gaines started acting really whiny. He wasn't sleeping well and had a runny nose and lots of drool. He had a little bit of a fever, but nothing extreme, so I figured it was a cold. On Tuesday, Woody spiked a fever, but he kept saying his throat hurt. He was really upset, so I took him to the doctor. His fever was 103 degrees, and the doctor said his throat looked infected and thought it was strep. However, the strep test came back negative. Well, when we got home, I noticed that Gaines had a slight rash on his mouth. It almost just looked like dry skin. His feet had what looked like mild acne, and he had just one spot on his hand. 

 Since Woody ran a fever on Tuesday, I kept him home on Wednesday. He was ok as long as I gave him Motrin.

(Playing on Wednesday)

(Now during this week, Lucy broke out of the yard twice! And it was super cold. Once she got into the local middle school, that was locked doors, and was roaming the halls. The second time I went looking for her, couldn't find her, came back home where she was happily waiting. Anyone want a Jack Russell Terrier?)

Wednesday night, Woody started getting a rash. However, he has really bad eczema, and it looked like an eczema outbreak. My sister had told me that if you do have HFM, there is no antibiotic for it, so I wasn't going to waste another co-pay to go in and tell me there is nothing they can give me.

No co-pay? Ha. Ha. Ha....

Thursday, Gaines smashed Woody's fingers in the door, taking the skin off. We went to CHOA, where they confirmed they were no broken, and indeed my kids had HFM. Awesome.

Woody's leg on Friday

While at the ER, I had a break down. This parenting stuff is hard. I felt like a terrible mom and that nothing was going right. I called my parents and burst into tears. They are so sweet, and told me they would be in Atlanta by the end of the day, but I sucked it up and told them I was ok.

Well, Monday Brooks was having to go out of town, and my dad didn't want me to be by myself after the previous week. So he drove to Atlanta to keep me company and help with the boys. Is that not awesome?! We had the best time, and I am so happy he is retired and can come visit more often!

And my boys are obsessed with him. The sobbed when he left!

Whew! Long post! I will try not to wait so long again. I have to go though since my kids are raiding the pantry....

Garden, Daley's Sip and See, Nana Jane Visit

 Don't you love her? Isn't she elegant against our chain link fence? She use to reside at Brooks's grandmother's antebellum home, but when she moved, we decided she would perfectly fit in with our 1960's ranch. Other outdoor updates...

I don't know how, but Dad, we have managed not to kill the thorn-less blackberries. Are there blackberries? No. But is it dead? No.

 I won't show you the flower bed that is covered in weeds. I will simply show you the two out of forty things that are doing somewhat ok.

 All the rain put a beat down on the azaleas. They are the craziest things how they change colors. The red and pink ones are starting to fall, but the white is still doing well.

1) Ferns love rain 2) We, and by we, I mean Brooks has cut the grass since I took these pictures.

Brooks went to Woody's "Dad's Day" at preschool. And even when it is not "Dad's Day," Brooks takes Woody to preschool for me. He's a keeper for sure.

While Woody is at school, Peepers likes to take selfies. 

And sit on his brother's train table

On Saturday, I went to a "Sip and See" for my good friend's, Laura, sweet baby, Daley. There were the biggest roses everywhere.

Susannah (Laura's twin), Tipp, and Laura

I love these girls so much. 

Laura, Daley, and Joie Beth. I met JoJo four or five years ago when the twins and Tippi would babysit for her and her brother. They would come to our kickball games and hang out at the Manor (where Sus, Laura, and Tippi lived) pool. She was such a little lady (and still is) and could make you feel great about yourself. She loves to give a compliment....she will go far in life. Love her. And look at Daley! I can't get enough of her!

Two precious girls!

Today, Brooks's other grandmother, Jane, stopped by to see the boys. She might be one of the most talented people I know. She is an incredible pianist and artist, and was kind enough to bring me a new sketch book and pencils. Gaines decided to sit in on some lessons as well.

The weather was nice, so we spent most of today outside. I get so excited when they play nicely together...even if it is for a few minutes seconds microseconds. 

Woody is hit-or-miss when it comes to naps. Today it was a hit.

...it lead to some epic bed head.

That's all for today, folks!

Life Lately

Clearly, I haven't had much time for blogging. Actually, I haven't had the equipment to blog. I always used my laptop from when I was working to blog. When I quit teaching, I had to rely on Brooks's computer...which he takes to work with him during the day. I had only slightly been complaining about my situation. So my incredible husband, selflessly sold some of his climbing equipment (he hasn't needed those ice axes for a while now) to buy me my own computer. Raised garden beds and a computer? Sorry, he's taken. 

So, what have we been up to? If you follow me on Instgram, you know that Gaines had croup last week. Yuck, terrible. It starts with this awful barking cough that will make any parent sit straight up in their bed. Luckily, the sound only lasted two days, but then it turned into an annoying cold that still stinks and makes your baby feel terrible.

I took Gaines to the doctor because even though there is no medicine you can take for croup, you can get an oral steroid to reduce the swelling in the throat. Unfortunately, every other child in Atlanta was sick, so the doctor's office was packed, and the only time I could get in was during the boys' nap time.

For every germ we were there to cure, I am sure we picked up ten more.

Slowly, but surely, Gaines started to perk up. We were playing outside and getting some fresh, cold air, when Woody insisted that Gaines ride his tricycle with him. So sweet when you catch them getting along.

Woody celebrated Valentine's Day at school. He was a big fan of the mailboxes. Maybe he has a career in the postal service.

Despite his Valentines arriving late, I was able to throw together these that cost me a total of $1.

Printable via

Gaines decided that his millions of toys are a bore, and banging a stick on a container of Puffs is way more fun.

Mimi and Papa, or as Woody calls them "MePa," came to visit on Saturday and brought the boys a pop tent. It has been great entertainment.

The biggest excitement lately? We painted our dining room. It was still white (and a bad shade of white) from when we moved. (Oh, and in old news, this room was originally the formal living room, but we switched and it is now the dining room and the old dining room is Brooks's Dude Den/my "Ladies' Lounge.

I will take better pictures during the day. Brooks and his dad replaced the sconces with these lights that I found on sale at Lowe's. The wiring was very tricky, but they worked so hard until the all turned on and off at the same time.

I will return with Gaines's 11 month update...before he turns 1 (tear) and an update on Woody's speech progress!