"His Mother's Child"

Those are the words that my friend Christi used last night as Mills, Mary Claire, Preston, and Harrison put on a show for us.

Mills loves Just Dance 3.  I bought the Wii game for myself last year to use as an at home cardio workout, because just like Christ said, I LOVE to dance.  I started at three years old with ballet, tap, and jazz, and at 34 years old, dance is still a love of mine.

Mills just happened to be blessed with his mommy's cooridination.  He's a hoot!  He loves to do what he calls "The Hut Dance," which is actually the song "Pump It" by the Black Eyed Peas, on Just Dance 3.  The kids really enjoyed themselves....

A Funny for Today....

and because you may want to get to know me a little better.  I should have been a road sign designer.  This would have been my idea.

My inspiration for this post, you ask?  Let's just say that Mills and I went to Memphis yesterday and I travel the interstate.  I only have a little bit of road rage, I promise you its getting better.

My V-Day Story/Mills' Sweet V-Day Treats

Did you think I took another blogging hiatus?  Well, I did not, purposely, but it sure seems that way.

It's that time of year again.  The time for hearts and flowers.  The time that Erik and I both chose to boycott for nearly 7 years of our marriage.

I know I have mentioned this before, but in case you missed it the first time, I will remind you that I worked at a florist from the time I was 16 years old until I graduated with my B.S. in dental hygiene.  That's right!  It will totally ruin Valentine's Day for you.  I promise. I saw all of the crazy hullabaloo that everyone went to because they either wanted to make a big show, waste their money, and/or bought things because they felt as though they had to.  So, for 9 years of my life, plus the first seven years of our marriage, I boycotted the holiday that I used to think was unnecessary, crazy, and should be wiped off of the calender.  I want every day to be like Valentine's Day.  Not just one day out of the year.  I will even go so far to say that I absolutely hated detested it....until now.

I love candy, flowers, hearts, and all of the things that go along with it, but you see, having a child will do that to you, but a husband that gets me flowers and cards during any random day of the year sends me in a lovey-dovey whirlwind.  He does that.  My wonderful husband does that!  He is the best!

I won't go so far to say that I love Valentine's Day, but I will say that we do acknowledge it now and I do enjoy sharing little treats with my family.  Getting all of Mills' valentines prepared for his friends is also a task that is handed to me every year, so it makes it all worth the while.


This year, Mills I made little tags to slide onto glow stick bracelets to add to his valentine treat cups.  Thank you Pinterest or wherever I saw the idea. ha!

 

From our family to yours, we wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Big Boy Update

Our big boy went straight to sleep last night, sleeping soundly, and slept in at an almost record time this morning.  He slept until 9:30ish, so we all slept in this morning.  I always depend on him to wake us up on Sunday morning.  I never set my alarm because he is always up before 8:00.  Oops!  Hey, we've been exhausted and the afternoon was spent swapping out closets.  Boy that was fun! (insert sarcasm).
We are so proud.  He went down tonight after a nice warm bubble bath and a story.  I checked the monitor shortly after returning downstairs and he was already out like a light.  Its funny how he has fought bed time the past few months, and how he would play, sing, and bang on his bed after putting him down for what seemed like hours.  He loves his new room and bed and has been behaving like a real big boy this weekend.  I know that it could be excitement, but am hoping that this big change has been a change for the better and is not short-lived.

All Tucked In

It's Mills' first night in his big boy bed.  Two Curious George stories, kisses, hugs, a prayer, and he's off!  Off to sleep!

Mills' Gets His "Big Boy" Room!

Alot can change in just two days.  After spending 7 hours sanding stripes off of the nursery wall and getting it ready to paint, we decided to move him out of the nursery and into the bigger bedroom upstairs.  It was a wise decision.  Mills deserves the bigger room, which was Erik's "man cave." 

So, now we have a nursery that looks like a tornado hit it and Mills has freshly painted new room.  He is ecstatic.  We are very pleased how it turned out and there is still a LOT of work to be done.  I haven't hung a single picture on the wall other than his fire truck canvases, but it will eventually come together.  We still have to get a lamp and other things to accent the room with.

He spent his last night in his nursery last night.  It didn't even hit me until we sat down to read his bedtime story (Monkey's Jumping on the Bed).  Actually, Mills read it to us last night.  It was a good thing, because all of a sudden, I became a sobbing, blubbering, mess.  What happened there?  That was not supposed to happen!  But it did.  Justin was visiting us and as I walked downstairs after putting Mills to bed, he said, "you look like you've been stabbed to death."  Oh yeah, it was bad.  Our babies grow too quickly and the thought of "leaving" the room that he spent the first three years of his life, the room that I rocked him to sleep in and visited many times during the night is being abandoned, until Erik gets a hold of it and makes it his mini man cave.  It's all so sentimental.

I bought Mills' bedding about 2 and a half years ago.  Pottery Barn had finally come out with a fire truck bedding that I liked and if you guys know Pottery Barn you have to buy it while you can or you won't get it!  So, it is finally out of the bag and on the brand new bed for our little man!

We Have a Winner

That's right.  In just a few short weeks, after all is taken down, walls are painted, this new bed will find itself upstairs in Mills' room.  It is bittersweet.  We are excited.

We just returned home from purchasing it.  E will pick it up on Monday, and in the next few weeks, we will be redecorating, looking for a mattress that isn't $1000, and finally pulling the "Jake's fire truck" bedding out of it's packaging. 

First Dental Appointment

*Excuse picture quality.  My camera battery was DEAD. 

Mills had his first cleaning and exam today by none other than (drum roll please)....me.  I bet you would have never guessed that.  Right?  Actually, I was a bit hesitant in doing it.  If your kids aren't the ones that behave better with others, than I can promise you, you are outnumbered by a long shot. 

Mills has always loved going to the pediatrician.  No kidding.  He loves it!  I was unsure of how he would act today.  Actually, I had it right on target, but it could have been worse.  He did well, but wanted to touch and play with everything I had to offer, and of course, wanted to nothing that I needed him to do.  Its because it was me.  I know that and should have let Rachel do the job, but I wanted to perform the first task. 

He actually really well for the most part and was VERY cooperative for Dr. Nichols....again, because it wasn't me.  Way to go Mills.  No cavities!

He was clueless as to what I was getting ready to do.

 

Checking for cavity bugs!

 

Experiencing "Mr. Thirsty."

 

Happy New Year!

Wishing you a wonderful 2013.  May it be a million times better than 2012!  I am hoping for that!  Seriously!
On a funny note and because I have been enjoying my new toy....

I couldn't get Erik to pose with my nifty New Year's photo props!  They were a blast!

My first project for the New Year

 

Christmas Day

After Santa, we headed to breakfast at Papa B and Grams and spent Christmas morning with them and my sisters.  Mills was once again showered with gifts.

Mills made Erik and I a plate with his hand print and dots at Paint-a-Piece.  So special!

 

Spiderman Stunt Set from Aunt Kim and Uncle Cameron

 

Normally we go to lunch at Mom's.  This year, we decided to come back to our house and eat a small lunch.  With Mills being three years old, us being worn out, and the fact that he must have a nap, we figured it was only fair to him to not have to be drug from one place to another.  Every child wants to stay home and play with his new toys, and so Mom came to our house.  It worked out perfectly!

That's a big box!

For a BIG remote control Monster truck!

 

Lastly, after a relaxing afternoon, we headed to Mama and Daddy B's for supper.  Below is Mills holding up his new blanket from Tommy.  Aunt June made it and it is beautiful.  It is very soft and thick.  I think I'm going to have to have one too!

 

Oh and the guy behind the chair below.  Guess no one but me saw him.  It's yearly tradition after all of the gifts are unwrapped, to throw paper balls of wrapping paper at Mama and Daddy B.  For some reason, this year we didn't do it.  Well, everyone except for you know who.