Christopher has gone potty twice today. That's TWICE!!! It has been a huge battle to get him to go on the potty and about once every two or three weeks we can get him to do it. This morning as we were getting ready for MOPS he darts to the bathroom and I hear him moving his stepstool around. He yells to me that he has to go potty so I run in there and he is turning around, diaper on the floor and pants at his ankles trying to sit down without falling. I put him on the potty and wait, 5 seconds later we have success. I couldn't believe it. I've quit asking b/c he always says no and this time he did it all by himself. He gets his dum dum sucker and is happy as he can be. Then this afternoon I ask him if he wants to try again and he goes a little, but you would have thought he'd won the lottery I was so proud of him. This time he gets a Tootsie Roll sucker, I told him every time he goes the prize will be a little bigger. He's happy again and I'm beaming with pride. Maybe we'll have one kid out of diapers in a couple months, but I'm not going to get my hopes up. Just my prayers!

Christopher has been singing his ABCD's (as he calls them) and he does pretty good considering we haven't taught him how it goes. (We've tried, he just doesn't want to hear it from us.) When he gets really fussy durig the day I have him go lie on his bed and I turn on a cd that Grammie gave him and it sings the ABC's using Bible words to go with the letters. Well, it's working b/c he's singing it. Here's how it tends to go, "A, B, C... H, I... L, M, N, O... Q, R, S... W, X, Y, Z. Now I know my ABC's, next time, sing with me." Pretty good, huh? After singing it a few times Brandon tells him how great he did and to sing after him to help him learn the rest of the song. They get to the "L, M, N, O, P" part and Christopher sings it like this, "L, M, N, O, poopie." He goes back to singing it his way and when he gets to the end he sings, "Next time, see you later!"

The doctor said that when Sophie was 9 months old we could introduce meats. I've been looking forward to the day when this might happen b/c I don't seem to feed her fast enough and thought maybe she'd be happier if she fed herself. I wasn't about to give her a spoon and a glass bottle of baby food b/c, though I love my daughter and want her to try new things, I wasn't up for the mess that would cause. So, the other day, on her 9 month birthday I thought we'd try giving her "people" food and see what happened. I've tried giving her a green bean or two in the past, but she didn't know what to do with it, so I waited. And waited. We had chicken that had been simmering in the crockpot all afternoon and so it was nice and tender. I cut up little pieces and put them on her tray to see what happened and she loved it! I'd already fed her baby food, so she didn't eat much, but it was a huge success. The next night we had meatloaf. I fed her a little baby food so she'd have room for dinner and when I put the meat and green beans on her tray she went to town! She couldn't shovel it in fast enough. It was great! She was a mess, but it was all worth it. She actually wanted my fork, so I got up to give her a baby one, but she just chewed on it like I thought she would. Finally, a nice peaceful dinner where the four of us ate together. This is what I've been waiting for!

Today our little Sophie is 9 months old. She is growing so fast and learning so much right now. She cut three upper teeth at one time while we were at Disney World and last night I noticed the fourth one coming through giving her a total of six teeth. She is like a new puppy and is chewing on everything! The other night in the tub she figured out that if she slides her feet back and forth she can spin around on her bottom. It was pretty funny! She loves to swing outside and watch her brother dig. She giggles when she bounces on the trampoline with us. She enjoys shopping with me and going out to eat b/c she can sit in a highchair. She wants to do what everyone else is doing and be up where everyone else is and she will be soon enough. She's been crawling for a while now and so on Sunday I pulled out our little walker toy to see how she'd do with it and she walked all over the place. She loves using it now and goes until her little chubby legs can't hold her any longer. (I'm excited b/c she weighs about 24 pounds and I'm starting to have hand and wrist injuries from carrying her around.)

I know most moms have a hard time when their children start hitting these milestones, but I actually look forward to them. I love when they start walking and when you can finally turn their car seat around (yes, I'm actually counting down to that day), but I honestly think it's b/c my children usually weigh so much by then that I am sore from having to carry them around. And around 8 or 9 months they cry every time they get in the car b/c they are tired of facing the back of a seat. (I would be too!) But really, I just love when they reach the age where they can run around and play more and do more and learn more. I love teaching them new words and new ways to play. It is a complete thrill for me, I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by, but I'm looking forward to the next few months of her life and seeing what new things she learns.



(Here she is digging outside with her brother. She loves doing whatever he's doing and doesn't mind getting a little dirty while doing it!)

Christopher has said some really cute and funny things lately and I thought I'd add them on here:

While swimming in the pool at our hotel at Disney World he asked Brandon this hilarious question, "Daddy, love me like a digger?" Brandon laughed and said yes. To which Christopher responded, "Daddy, love you like a forklift."

On our way to dinner with friends last night Brandon mentions it looks like it's going to rain later. I told him I thought so too. Christopher, overhearing our conversation said, "Mommy, rain's broken." I asked him if it was broken b/c it wasn't raining yet and he said yes.

We were going to eat at Chick-fil-A and then ride the go carts and suddenly Christopher says, "Daddy, turn here, there's Chick-A-Flay!" It was the wrong turn, but he thinks it's fun to tell us which direction to go and we thought it was hilarious that he can't say Chick-fil-A.

Later that evening I'm changing his diaper before going to the race track and Christopher tells me that he wants Sophie to ride in a go cart too. I tell him she's too little, to which he responds, "She can sit in Daddy's lap." I tell him she's too little to do that too, but he insists that she will be riding go carts with him.

Today on the way to the consignment store Christopher got excited b/c he knew we'd be driving past a bunch of diggers, to which the following came out of his mouth, "Mommy see diggers see dump truck see digger dump dirt see grader see diggers me so happy see diggers and dump truck makes me so happy where's grader?" All in one breath.

We spent the weekend with some of our old neighbors from Huntsville, Andrew, Kirsten, Ava and Patrick. We rented a condo at Okaloosa Island and it was so much fun getting to see them again! Patrick was walking all over the place, something he'd learned to do after we moved and they were glad to see Sophie's new tricks as well. We all arrived Friday afternoon and had pizza and caught up on what's happened over the last 5 months. Saturday we swam in the pool and rode the lazy river. Unfortunately, when we were packing up to leave, Christopher tripped over his towel and landed on his forehead on the concrete. It was one of those falls that makes you sick b/c you can hear it and it looked like he had a golfball right above his eyes. We took him up the room and put some ice on it and la bandaid. He was a trooper! That afternoon we headed off to go on a dolphin cruise. It was so much fun! We saw a lot of dolphins, crabs and fish. The kids had a blast getting to "drive the boat." Christopher loved getting to ride passed the crane by the bridge too. Sunday we stayed around the condo, it was overcast and cooler, so we didn't feel like swimming and the kids napped at different times throughout the day so we couldn't have gone anywhere if we wanted to. It was a perfect day to lay around and relax. We took several walks and then everyone crashed at bed time. Monday we hung out as long as we could before having to load up and head our separate ways. We were so grateful that they were able to make the trip down. We miss our friends from Potter's Mill and look forward to any chance we have to get to see any of them. Hopefully next time we'll get to see the rest of the gang!




Brandon, Christopher, Sophie, Me, Ava, Patrick, Kirsten and Andrew... together again. (well, at least half of the old Potter's Mill gang)

Christopher after he bumped his head. Poor little man!!!! This photo doesn't even show how big it really was.

Sophie enjoying her first dolphin cruise. Maybe this would have been a good time for the sailor outfit. Oh well.

Andrew feeding the birds. They would swoop down and take the food right out of your hand.

Christopher's turn to drive the boat. Brandon said he never even touched the wheel.

Patrick and Sophie playing blocks one morning. They were so cute together!

Everyone watching to see what's going on outside. The kids wishing we'd take them swimming.

We took the kids to Disney World for our first family vacation and here are just a few photos from the trip:


This pretty much sums up just how excited Christopher was to meet Mickey. He screamed, "MICKEY!!!!!!!!!!" as soon as the door was opened and he could see him. It was all he wanted to do as soon as we arrived at the Magic Kingdom. Brandon and I were laughing so hard b/c we thought he'd become really shy (like he does when meeting anyone he doesn't know), but I guess all that time spent watching tv was a good thing. He gave big hugs and told Mr. and Mrs. that he loved them. It was adorable!


Here the kids are holding hands. Sophie is only 8 months old, but she already understands love. She kept reaching for her brother's hand when they were riding around the parks and he had no problem showing that he loves his little sis! It was so cute!!!


We headed straight the the back of the park where the kids rides were and the first thing you see is the carosel, Christopher couldn't wait to go for a spin and wanted the whole family to join him.


Sophie LOVED going up and down on her horse! I was getting dizzy, so we sat on the seat for the next ride. (I think I'm starting to reach the point where you feel your age, I'm not completely there, but it's definitely begun!)

This was Christopher's first ride. Up until now he's only been on a carosel or one of those trains at the grocery store. We were glad that Dumbo was such a hit!

This was later the same day. We would go home for naps and then head back to the park when the kids woke up. Here's Sophie on her first ride. It was a rocket ship that you had to take an elevator up just to get to! Our little girl has very few fears. (Shout out to Wes Ficken who I saw while waiting in line for this ride. I just knew I'd see someone I knew while we were there!)

You gotta take a family photo in front of the castle. By now the kids are starting to feel the excitement. They are getting a little tired, but we keep going.

This is Christopher on his SECOND roller coaster ride. The first one was with me, but we were finished before Brandon realized we'd even gotten on the ride. I was worried he'd get scared, but as soon as it was over he said, "Again Mommy!!!" Guess he's not as scared of things as he lets us think he is!

Later we saw Tigger and Christopher (along with some other kids) started to chase him. He was headed for a break and had to practically run from the kids, it was funny!

Sophie taking her morning nap. She was such a trooper!!! She's very particular about her sleeping locations, so we were worried, but she did amazing on the trip.

Here's Nemo and Marlin. We were sitting along the middle where they would run up and down. We could practically touch him, but we didn't.

Sophie had fun playing on the full length mirror. I think she'd like being a twin. We're glad she isn't. Although my arms would definitely be toned if she was!
The kids loved the kiddie pool at our hotel. It was just this big round pool that was sloped so Sophie could crawl in as far as she'd like and I didn't have to worry about it being too deep for her. Christopher loved running across the pool and doing belly flops in the middle of it.

Finally, Christopher lined up his new toys and asked Brandon to take a photo of them. It was all his idea! He's pretty smart!!!!

My mom bought this outfit when I was pregnant with Christopher and before we knew if he was a boy or girl. Thankfully someone in the family had a girl and she was able to pass it on. She's always had a love for sailor clothes and that came from her dad, my Grandpa. I'm so glad that it fits her and I think she looks adorable! Who doesn't love a good sailor suit?

That's right! Tomorrow morning we are heading down to the big DW for a couple days. Brandon has the week off and since the kids get in for free we figured, why not? So far, Christopher is excited about the following things:

- eating chicken nudge-ettes at Mickey's house (came up with that on his own)

- meeting Mickey and Goofy, but he wants to meet Shrek and Donkey first

- getting matching Mickey ears with Sophie

I'm not sure if he or Brandon is going to have more fun, but I'm counting on tons of photos, lots of overpriced food, great expressions from Christopher, three tired kids (yes, I said 3 and no, I'm not pregnant), lots of laughter and who can go on a trip without the occassional grumpy attitudes. It will be exhausting, magical and loads of fun. It may be a while before I get on here to post photos, but don't worry, I will!