Jolly Old Bearded St. Nick

Today was an at-home sick day. Which can make for some good conversation with my three-year old (excuse me, I mean, 3-1/2 year old....as she corrects anyone who says "just" three.)

"Mom, do you think I could get a camera for my birthday?"

"Maybe, honey...or if you decide that's what you really want, maybe you can ask for a camera for Christmas."

"Well...maybe I could. What about Santa, Mom? What's the status of his beard?" (She honest-to-goodness used the word "status!" LOL)

"What do you mean?"

"Does Santa still have his beard?"

"Yep. I think he'll always have it. He even had it when Gammy was a little girl." (And she's olllllld! J/K Gammy!)

"Well, if Santa still has his beard, then maybe we could just ask him for it (the camera) on the computer."

So, for those who thought we had moved past our facial hair hangups...THINK AGAIN. This girl goes for the clean-shaven, and Santa is NO EXCEPTION!!!

Simple Math...

1 little girl at her first day of preschool + 1 teething, mouth-on-everything 8 month old = 2 sick kids!

Let the wild rompus begin!

Our PRESCHOOLER!

Today was Turner's first day of Preschool. She has told anybody who will listen that she is a "Preschooler" now (she's going to the same school as last year, but last year was "Children's Morning Out," and she remembers the "big kids" on the playground being preschoolers). She is certainly proud of herself!

The day started out fun, when Turner asked Thomas why he wasn't leaving for work yet. He told her that he stayed home to take her to her first day of preschool! She was thrilled to be escorted by Mommy, Daddy and Parker. On the way to school, Turner told me, "Mom, even when I am really big and grown up, don't worry...I'll still be your baby." Made me smile!

Needless to say, Turner loved her day. The first thing she was excited about was the delicious snack they had (of course!). Also, she knows all the little girls in her class through church, school and gymnastics, so she was able to pick right up with them.

At the end of the day, one of the teachers told me that she had learned something important about Turner: "She can do it HER-SELF." :) (I explained that the independence gene was rather strong!).

We love you, sweet preschooler! We're so proud of our grown up girl!

South Cakilaky!

We had a nice visit to SC this month! It was such a treat to see so much of our family and lots of great friends, too.

The kids had a ball grandparenting, crabbing, beaching, museuming, Japanese steakhousing, reading, playing, tea partying, cousining, boogie boarding, starfishing, sand eating, porch rocking, swimming with sharks, story telling, Aunting and Uncling, sand castling and just being loved on lots and lots and lots.

Thank you all for a wonderful time! We love you!

8 Months!

Parker is 8 months now and into EVERYTHING!!! :)

Instead of plush toys and teething rings, he's attracted to licking electric sockets and chewing on flip flops! And he's a determined little fella. When he locks in on something, there is very little that can deter him. I'm afraid the independent/stubborn gene is pretty dominant in this family!

This month was full of milestones: First trip to the beach (he'd crawl straight into the ocean if allowed), first taste of IOP sand (Yum, yum...), first ice cream, first table foods and first time he's really playing with toys and expressing his opinions about things!

He's lucky he is so doggone cute -- with his blue eyes and dimpled smile -- because he's gonna be our wild man, and he going to have to use his cuteness to get himself out of trouble! :)

We "HERD" it was your BIG Day, Daddy!

Thomas celebrated his one year anniversary with Chick-fil-A today! And we heralded it in with a surprise for him -- I dressed the kids up as cows and took them to his office for lunch! It was so much fun for all. Parker actually tried his first ice dream ice cream and LOVED it (ice cream is always a highlight when we visit Chick-fil-A corporate).

As I was writing Thomas a little note about the past year and how proud I was of him and of all we had survived, I was overwhelmed by the myriad of obstacles that greeted us on our journey to Atlanta. And more than that, I was overwhelmed by God's provision as we faced each one. God is soooo good. And we are truly blessed.

It has been a great week of many milestones -- Parker's health and restoration, Thomas' anniversary and my realization that -- sometime while on this crazy roller coaster -- we buckled our seat belts and learned to throw our arms up in the air and enjoy the ride.

Put The Past Behind You...

The other day, I caught Turner holding both of Parker's arms behind his back. When I asked her what she was doing, she replied, "I am helping Parker put his past behind him." What??!!

Anyway, today I decided that maybe there was something to that, because we put a huge chapter of Parker's "past" behind us today...

Parker had his follow-up visit at Scottish Rite (nearly a full year after my 20 week ultrasound showed complications), complete with blood work, ultrasound and VCUG (dye x-ray). After the tests, we had a consult with his surgeon. She came into the room for our meeting and literally high fived us! She said she was truly surprised, but Parker appears to be doing great and will need no further surgeries!!! She said she had felt certain he was going to require more, but he will not!

God is so good and has answered our prayers! Thank you all for the prayers and support -- they brought peace during the crisis and ultimately, full healing for our son. We have come such a long way from what doctors said were "dead kidneys," kidneys that would be "non-functioning at birth," etc. Instead, we have a healthy, whole, energetic little boy!

AMEN.