Oh this boy.

Each day I see less and less baby in him. He's talking much more at this age than his sister ever did. I think the impending move has caused me to look at both of my kids and really see how much they've grown over the past 3 years we've lived here in Tennessee. We moved here when my daughter was only 3 months old and my son was born here, so this is really the only house they've ever known. We've had lots of great memories in this house.



Of course we're looking forward to moving at the end of the week so we can live close to family again. I would be lying if I told you I'll miss the 14 hour drives. And the heat, oh the Tennessee heat. It's unbearable at times. We'll be living with family until we can get back on our feet, so we're very thankful that they're allowing us to make their home ours, even for a short while.

But this house has been more than a roof over our heads. It's been our home for the past 3 years and I'm sure going to miss it.



I hope the next family that lives here makes even more wonderful memories with their family and that they too will eventually know this house as their home.

My big kid

I had some fun snapping a few shots of this little guy lately. Or should I say big guy? He's 17 months now...wow it's strange to even type that! He's in that bittersweet stage between baby and kid where the glimpses of his babyhood are becoming less and less and I see him becoming more of a "big kid."

His vocabulary is off the charts. The doctor said at this point, he should have a vocabulary around 4-6 words, but I can name off at least 20 words that he spouts off on a regular basis. He also prefers to run most places instead of toddling around like he used to.

But then I catch him playing with his toes like he used to when he was a baby and it makes me smile and think about those little glimpses of babyhood that I get each day. Like how he still mostly babbles, or how he thinks it's funny when I sing "itsy bitsy spider" to him and tickle his chunky legs.

And the cuddles....I hope he's always this cuddly! I'm lucky that both of my kids still enjoy cuddling with me. Sitting down on the couch and cuddling with them after dinner is one of my favorite things.

So Connor, take your time becoming a big kid. I don't mind waiting a little longer.

Bye bye diaper bag

We may not be celebrating a first day of school like many of you out there, but we do have another big milestone that we've been celebrating lately: the end of the diaper bag.

Since becoming potty trained recently, Haley has no need for her diaper bag any longer. It's a happy and sad moment since we've been using the same blue diaper bag for her for the past 2 1/2 years. While I certainly don't miss changing her diapers every day, the diaper bag has been a constant presence in our daily routine. Wake up, give Haley her milk, pack diaper bag, head to daycare. Now that she no longer needs her diapers, why carry around the bulky diaper bag?

On a date night recently, Pat and I went to Target after dinner to pick up Haley a present for being so good at using the potty. While we were there, we found the perfect diaper bag replacement. It's pink, it's girly, and it involves glitter. Oh, and it came with a Rapunzel lunchbox. What more could a girl ask for?

Now, we put her stuff in a Disney princess backpack each day. One more step to her becoming more of a "big kid" and less of a baby.

Sigh.