Picking and Painting Pumpkins

Last week we took the boys to pick pumpkins for Halloween. We have this great farm out in the country in Chesapeake that I love to go to. They have a "petting zoo", their farm animals, pigs, goats, cows, donkeys, horses and sheep. They have a sand box, and a fun little diner/store where they make their own ice-cream, and sell their homemade baked goods. It was fun to be out in the country some, it makes me miss where I grew up. It was fun to see Curtis with the animals, and to learn that he recognized some from his pictures and could make the sounds at them. We picked our pumpkins, and Curtis had a lot of fun with his first paint experience. Thankfully, wipes do a great job of cleaning, b/c he definitely painted himself and my jeans a long with his pumpkin. Hopefully, later this week, I'll get a few 2yr pictures and 6 month pictures with the boys and all of our pumpkins.

He had no interest in sitting for a picture

 A little different than Uncle Jonathan's pigs

 The donkey kept trying to eat Curtis' shoes

 The dilemma of getting 2 kids to look at a camera, I don't even think it's possible

Judah started screaming right after this so there was no pictures of his looking at me.

Having so much fun painting his pumpkin!

Happy 4 years, My Love

Four years ago today I promised forever to my love. Life looks very different now than what it did then. We were young, just starting on our life adventure together. Four years later, 1 deployment, 1 move (so far), 2 babies and almost a year of crazy rotating shift work, we are still going strong. Babe, I love you so much and am so thankful God had you in mind for me. I can't imagine a better man to be my husband and daddy to our little boys. You are a loving, kind, good hearted, servant who never ceases to help me with everything I need to get through the day, even though your working on little sleep and an exhausting schedule. I am forever grateful to you for that. 

When I watch you with our boys, and see your face light up, I fall in love with you that much more. Watching Curtis "work" with you in the garage, seeing Judah light up when you take him at night for me, seeing Curtis cuddle with you when you pick him up to hug him, those things warm my heart. Thank you for the years of love you have given me and our boys. I am looking forward to the next forever years together, and all the adventures God has for us.

I love you, babe.

Mr. Piggy is 5 Months

Judah turned 5 months old a few days ago. And it has been a busy month for this little guy. He finally cut his first little tooth after teething for what seemed like forever and is trying to cut his 2nd tooth. I finally bought him a teething necklace because that last day or 2 of cutting the tooth was rough. 

He finally had his 4 month well baby at 5 months and weighted in at almost 16lbs and is 27in long. He's almost as tall as what Curtis was at 1yr old. Judah is trying so hard to crawl. He gets up on all fours and rocks back and forth and can scoot forward on the floor, but hasn't quite put it both together yet. I think it will be soon, though, maybe in the next few weeks. He is learning to eat cereal, and loves it most of the time. Usually he cleans the bowl out. I'm hoping he will be my easy to please eater to counter his brother, because Curtis eats absolutely nothing. It's so hard to get food in that kid, but so far, Judah has proven to not be quite so difficult. 

He's still waking up once or twice a night, and I expect that to still happen for a while, but I do love it when he at least sleeps till 3 or 4. Those long stretches are so wonderful. And usually, he wakes up happy, which is always great. It just breaks my heart when the babies wake up screaming, but, especially when he's slept good, he'll wake up playing. It helps that I usually keep a little toy within arm distance for him to reach out and get.

For the most part, this kid is incredibly chill. I know I've said this before, but it astonishes me how different babies can be. We are really enjoying watching Judah come into his personality, all the little smiles and giggles. Sometimes he just gets so happy he can't contain himself and nearly will fall out of your arms because he flings himself over from excitement. It is such a joy to watch them both grow up.

Next month, we'll celebrate 2 years for Curtis and Judah's half birthday. It'll be a pretty exciting month!

Trying so hard to get a smile, he just doesn't like smiling for the camera

This is courtesy of Aunt Lydia, one of my favorite little outfits

Leave 2015

Isaac has been on leave the past 3 weeks. I know that may seem like a lot to most people, but given Isaac's rotating schedule, constant sleep deprivation and rarely getting a full day off, much less a weekend (other than his 1 designated weekend a month), he has not really had time off since January. So for this leave, I have been eternally grateful. 

It started off with a few days of just spending time with each other and the boys. We caught up on house stuff, cooked breakfast together, ate dinners together and Curtis was in Heaven having Isaac home all day to play with him.

Then Isaac's family came for a visit. It was the first time they got to meet Judah face to face. The visit was so much fun. The first few days, Lydia and Malakai were here. Curtis loved playing with Malakai and it was a lot of fun getting to spend time with our nephew and getting to know my sister-in-law a little better. We went to the zoo, played in the pool and got to experience Malakai's first time at the "ocean". It was really the bay, but close enough. Curtis loved the zoo, was really fascinated with the Tapir's and the bears. The giraffes became my new favorite, I think. Curtis did not love the beach, at all. This trip, he didn't even want to play in the sand. He spent most of his time cuddling with Nono or Isaac. But Malakai and my goddaughter Angela, they had a blast playing in the water, the waves, throwing sand at the waves and chasing birds. 

After a few days, Lydia and Malakai went home, but Isaac's parents stayed. We went to the aquarium, and Jamestown on the days that were not too rainy. And the other days, we spent a lot of time just hanging around, playing. Isaac and his dad got a project almost done, which will be great b/c it'll finally help us organize the garage and maybe I'll be able to get my van in there. Curtis had so much fun playing with Nana and Nono. He even learned how to say their names. He actually seemed to learn a lot while they were here, including how to say "no", which has not been a fun thing. It's always fun to have Isaac's family here, especially since it is no longer easy to travel, now that we have 2 little ones, not that it was easy with just the 1, Curtis was not fun to travel with. I am thankful they all made the trip out to visit us.

This last week has been wonderful as well. It's rained much of the week, but we got to go to the mall to play with Curtis and today, with the wonderful flooding, we took the boys and Baxter outside to play in the water. Baxter had a blast chasing his ball, and it was hilarious to watch him figure out how to get it out of the water. He pranced, very daintily, it was pretty funny. Curtis, at first, was kind of shy about the water, but began running in and splashing his little feet in it. At one point, though, a car was about to drive through so I grabbed his hand, and like he usually does if I'm holding Judah, he sat down because he knows I can't easily pick him up. Well, this time, he sat in the cold water, he was not too happy about it. But maybe he finally learned his lesson...probably not, but I can hope. 

We have just a few more days left, then Isaac will go back to work on Tuesday. I am cherishing these last few days. I love having my husband home, love having the extra help, love getting to spend nap time hanging out with him, love actually getting to go to bed at the same time and fall asleep by him, love getting hang out at night after the boys are in bed, love having our family breakfast together. It has been a wonderful 3 weeks and I will be sad to see them go, but I know we gotta get back to the real world one day. 

Here's some pictures from out leave:

Curtis trying to help with breakfast, standing on the flour bucket

Malakai did so well with Judah

Judah enjoying some Auntie Lydia time

Curtis loved the Tapirs

Enjoying some Nana time

Judah loves Baxter and Baxter feels the same

So thankful for Nono and Nana being willing to give me break for always holding Judah

Curtis loves playing fetch with Baxter

Fun morning at the beach

Curtis did not like the water

Curtis had fun playing on the ship at Jamestown

He also had fun playing at the settlement

Curtis trying on my head phones for the gun range