Mills Birthday Surprise!

The night of Mills' actual birthday, we had the grandparents, and one of our bffs Justin over for grilled pork chops, salad, and baked potatoes.  Yummy!  Erik is a grilling mastermind!  A family friend made some totally awesome cupcakes for the occasion, and we, yet again, sang "Happy Birthday" to Mills.

For months, Mills has been asking for a "BIG camouflage 4-wheeler. He has outgrown his small one. So, evidently he thought he needed the next size up. All of us, (grandparents, mom and dad) pitched in and were successful in making the birthday boy's wish come true! He was ecstatic to say the least!

Mills enjoying his birthday card

Opening his gift from Dee & Pop

Hot Wheels!!!

Here he comes!  The BIG REVEAL!

Mills was shocked!

The little guy was stuttering.  "Is that my four wheeler?"

It is my four wheeler!

Total excitement!

Thanks "Chi Chi" for my super awesome birthday shirt!

Mills' Beach Party

Mills' 3rd birthday party was held at the country club pool this year.  He has been begging to go to the beach, but we just weren't able to make it this year.  So, he had his very own beach party.

It was a terrific and easy idea, minus dragging everything over next door.  Home parties are so much easier, but at least I didn't have to make sure our house was spic and span.

All of our family and friends had a ball, especially the birthday boy himself.  Guests were served pizza, fruit, "tropical fish," cupcakes, and cake.

Unfortunately, we had a mishap that made me want to scream out in total despair minor mishap with the camera.  Some how, the mode was switched and the pictures didn't turn out so great. As a matter of fact, all of the pictures of Mills blowing out his candles are completely black, and I am praying that someone happened to catch it on camera.   Yep, we missed the blowing out of the birthday candles.  I could just cry, but whats done is done.

Shark cupcakes

Fruit shark (pinterest idea gone bad! lol)

Mills' cake!  We had a minor landslide of palm trees...ooops!

"Tropical fish"

Another pinterest idea.  Napkins and utensils wrapped with jute and lifesavers.

Seashells collected by my mom and some by me, at Miami Beach, years ago!

Mills doing a belly flop in 1 ft. of water.  Not a good idea!

Happy 3rd Birthday Mills!

Mills on his way to Mimi's on his 3rd birthday!

Today, our little boy, is 3 years old. Time is flying. Someone make it stop! It seems that we just finished packing up his 2nd birthday party decorations, and here we are again, adding yet another candle to his birthday cake.

Mills is our world. He is the sweetest, funniest, most handsome, strong-willed child ever, and we couldn't be more proud to be his mommy and daddy. It is amazing how much he has changed in the past year. He has learned so much and catches on to everything. Every day he says something new and most of the time it is hilarious. I can't tell you how many times we have had to hide a laugh or two. He has a most amazing personality. He is a mess!

It has been quite a while since I have posted any status updates on Mills. So, to get you all up to speed on our 3 year old I will do a quick lengthy update.

Favorite color: orange and blue
Favorite foods: Pizza, chicken, macaroni and cheese
Favorite drink: chocolate milk
Favorite team: "T Vols"
Size: 3T, 7-8 shoe
Weight: 32lbs.
Favorite shows: Bubble Guppies, Curious George, The Cat in the Hat, Team Umizoomi
Favorite superhero: Batman
Favorite Books: Anything by Mo Willems, Curious George, and his new storybook bibl,e
Learning: Mills knows and can randomly recognize all of his shapes, colors, numbers, and letters, animals, and most of his opposites. He can count to 30, and is very good at direction. The child's memory is amazing. He recognizes people's houses and can tell you which direction you go to get where. lol!
Potty Training: In session. We are definitely working on it. He is doing "okay" and definitely better than a week ago. It is going to take some time.
Most random funny quotes: "Nevamind!" "Oh come on!" and last but not least, a shocking but funny story...

Mills: Mommy, "Wanden" hit me.

Me: Now, Mills, did Landen really hit you? And if he did, what did you do to him first? Besides

you shouldn't be tattling!

Mills: "noooooooo." *chuckle

Me: "Mills it isn't nice to say someone did something that they didn't do. That's called telling a story, or not telling the truth".

5 minutes or so later....

Mills: ""Mommy, Joey (our dog) hit me!"

Me: Mills, Joey did NOT hit you. I have told you to stop telling stories"!

The next morning and fresh out of bed...

Mills: "Mommy, Jesus hit me!"

Me:" Mills! Jesus does not hit people. We all deserve to be hit, but Jesus would never do such a thing! That is not nice and you should never say that again!"

Mills: "No, Jesus didn't hit me, Mommy.  I love Him.  I give Him hugs."

Oh Brother!  Thank goodness we have finally finished this stage!

Mills,
You will always be our baby boy, although you constantly remind us that your are not a baby, you're a big boy.  We are so proud to be your mommy and daddy, and you show us more and more each day what a blessing it is to be parents.  You are our world!!  We are so blessed, and each day we are reminded of that.  You are growing smarter by the minute, and your personality is blooming so fast.  You are such a funny little man!  We love you to the moon and back!

Love, Mommy & Daddy

Here We Go?

Dare I even post this?  Well, I'm going to anyway, because it's life right?  I'm prone to jinxing myself all of the time, but I actually think that this time, Mills just may be ready...ready to begin using the big boy potty.  It has been such a challenge for us.  After letting go and taking the advice of other moms, I finally surrendered to our little strong-willed child and just let him be.

One week from today, our Mills will be three years old.  He has had absolutely no self interest in using the potty.  He is such a busy little guy, and just has not cared about it at all.  We have done everything, literally everything to get him to try, but he continuously says, "No, I can't!" or "No, I don't want to!"  The boy doesn't mind a wet or soiled diaper, or underwear for that matter, and just keeps on going without missing a beat.  Treats, trips, or any type of reward for doing so was of no interest to him.  So, just as many moms told me to do, I gave up.  "He won't be in diapers when he's fifteen," they'd say. 

I wasn't really worried about it, but our main goal for this year was to get him potty trained and off to his first year of preschool.  We registered Mills in the spring, and were sure that by August, he'd be wearing his big boy underwear and off to his first day of school.  Well, guess who was wrong.  I was really sad for him, especially when I saw his list of classmates.  What an awesome class!!  It was totally agonizing for me to have to call and pull him out, but nature had not worked its course, and there was no hope in the matter.

Since, Mills has a late birthday, and will not be three until next week, we signed him up for two days a week, and were planning on him repeating 3K next year at 5 days, then graduating on to 4K the next year.  Three years was the plan for preschool.  Then we will send him to Kindergarten when he is almost 6.  We have been advised to hold him back, because of his age, and so, that is what we will be doing.

Saturday night, as we joined friends for a feast of grilled goods, I found Mills in the dark in their bathroom shouting that he had to go potty.  My first thought, "Yeah right." So, I ran in, turned on the light, and immediately took his diaper off, only to watch him to a "bad job" in the potty.  Yep! TMI?  I don't even care at this point.  I was so proud that I couldn't contain myself.  Mills was too!  Everyone there, all fifteen of us made a huge deal out of it, and what do you know, a few minutes later, sans diaper, he went to "water the grass."   Mr. Mills got a fudgesicle for doing his deed and everyone there clapped for him and cheered.  Mills smiled so big, clapped, and gave a big thumbs up to everybody.  To finish the night off, he even tee-teed in the potty when we got home, and again last night before bedtime.

Now we know that he can do it, so we are going full force with this one.  Wish us luck!

"Story Time"

This morning we attended our second session of "Story Time."  Story Time is on our court square every Saturday morning and is an awesome children's ministry! 

Last Saturday was our first meeting.  I was so impressed and truly blessed.  We had so much fun and so, I was very excited to meet again this morning.

The children begin with praise music, where they can dance, sing, and get really loud praising Jesus.  It is so exciting seeing these children getting excited about the Lord!  Mills has been a bit "shy" at first, but eventually warms up a little bit as the morning proceeds.

The actual "stories" during story time are from "The Jesus Storybook Bible."  It is such an awesome Bible for children!!  If you don't have it, it is a must.  Last week after our first meeting, Mills and I headed to Lifeway to get it and have been studying it every night.  We started, of course, with the creation story and this week learned about Adam and Eve's temptation by the "snake" in the Garden of Eden.  The children are given bible verses to memorize throughout the week and Mills actually did really well learning Genesis 1:1 this week.  The kids also break up according to age for group time before dismissal and....POPSICLES! 

I am so excited for Mills to be able to part of this awesome ministry.  I feel very blessed and am extremely thankful to all of those who have worked so hard to get this going in our community.  We cannot wait until next Saturday at 10:00am, Court Square Park...See you there!

Mr. Zach and Jonah welcoming everyone to "Story Time."

The children are asked if they want to say their bible verse.

Ms. Emily reading about "The Terrible Lie" to the children.

Group time with Ms. "Sue"

The children watching "Adam and Eve."

Last, but not least, POPSICLE time!

Happy 4th of July!!

Last night we celebrated Independence Day at our church. Mills, Nana, and I headed over on the golf cart for loads of fun!
Our annual "Let Freedom Ring" celebration was amazing! Our choir sang and the soloists did awesome!
I was excited to take Mills, but very unsure of how he would react. Last year, we were out of town and did not attend, but managed to make it back to get a few "store bought" fireworks to shoot with out friends. Mills was terrified!
Last night, he did just fine. Of course, he was a little unsure at first, but enjoyed them in the end! It was fantastic!
As we celebrate the birth of our country today, I must say that I am so proud to be an American.  I also want to encourage you to be in prayer for our blessed nation, as so many today have turned their eyes away from the One who gave us this free nation, the Creator, our loving, amazing, awesome God. Our blessed nation needs healing, and our pastor could not have spoken a better message last night.  Our nation needs healing, and Jesus is the only one who can and will bring healing.  Thank you God for allowing me to be part of this great nation. IN GOD WE TRUST!  Happy Birthday America!

Enjoy this small "snippet" of last nights fireworks at FBC