Rolling Jones

Apparently, Jeremy will stop at nothing to entertain Jones, while I'm putting Freddie to bed. I came downstairs from tucking Brother in and see this:

The water's fine.

Jones had a big day.

Today was the day that he and I started our Parent & Child Swim Class at the Eastside YMCA in Greenville.  I was nervous about how he'd do, to be honest. His first time in Mom and Daddy's pool this summer was not exactly what I'd call pleasant. He got used to it really quickly, but even now, he's good for about 25 minutes of swimming before he wants to sit on the side of the pool or walk around on the deck while the rest of us try to entice him back in to the water.

Today, though, he did great (did you hear that? That was my sigh of relief). There were two other kids, a mom, and a dad in the class, and a teacher who looked to be about Camden's age. Her youth notwithstanding, she had the kids laughing and splashing like they were born swimmers.

One game that they played required they throw a ball in the water and then "swim" to it, powered by their parents' arms. When they'd reach the ball, they'd have to throw it again and, again, swim to it, all the way up and down the swim lane. A variation to this was throwing the ball to the teacher, swimming to her, and then throwing the ball to the parent and swimming back to them. During this game, Jones would make a "tsssssss" sound every time he threw the ball. It's the same sound he makes when he does his fist bump, and it was absolutely adorable.

The last exercise of the thirty-minute class required sitting the kids on the side of the pool and seeing if they'd slide or jump in. Jones had zero trouble with the "slide-in;" we didn't even try the jump, because, true to form, he was beginning to meltdown after 25 minutes in the pool. Maybe we'll try the "jump-in" at our next class.

Or the next.

If I'm feeling brave.

Or crazy.

We go back every Monday and Wednesday in July.

#freddiesfirstyear, Volume I

Photo book-wise, doing for Freddie as I did for Jones has proven to be far harder than I expected it to be. That's why the first book in the planned three-volume "Freddie's First Year" set wasn't finished until today - two days before he hits the half-year mark.

So ...

Awesome.

Anyway, I really have no excuse. I tried to make it easy on myself by using the exact same template that I used for Jones's "Daily Instagrams." That should mean it's as simple as uploading the pictures (which I can do from my phone, which I ALWAYS have on me) and plopping them in the pre-determined, chronologically-organized places.

Still, I can't keep up.

But I'm trying, and I'm glad I am, because strolling through these moments just a few months after they happened has been so much fun as I finished up the book tonite. I can only imagine how fun it'll be to go through them a few YEARS (or DECADES!) after they happen!

Now, I wait for Shutterfly to send an email with "FREE 8X8 PHOTO BOOK" in the subject line.

Cross your fingers, and watch your in-box.

Click here to view this photo book larger

You'll love award-winning Shutterfly photo books. Start your own today.

Freddie Bear's (Impromptu) Photo Session

Just because I can never seem to find the time to write about them doesn't mean that milestones aren't being crossed every day by the one and only Freddie Bear.

He's gotten his first tooth this week; he's starting to laugh, AND he can sit up, though his "sit" quickly becomes a "hunch," as, in the course of a few minutes, he slumps progressively down-down-down until his chest rests on his legs. Oh, and often, there are faceplants. Still, you can't tell me that doesn't count.

He's started on baby food; he really loves it AND chewing on the spoon I feed him with. I give him a fruit at breakfast and a vegetable for dinner. His schedule is set - up around 7 a.m., naps at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 5 p.m. (assuming he'll drop his evening "cat nap" soon? Jones never took one, so I'm not sure when he'll give it up), and bed at 7:30. He turns six months on Monday and is the sweetest little love dumpling I can even imagine.

And his eyes.

His eyes will stop your heart. I know this because they stop the hearts of people everywhere we go. I think a lot about my boys' eyes, because I think they're so beautiful (I can say that because they didn't get them from me!). It's been well documented that, when Jeremy picked me up for our first date, the first thing to stop MY heart were his gorgeous eyes. I opened the door, saw them, and, as the last song sung at our wedding reception says, "'Zing! Zing! Zing!' went my heartstrings!"

Through both pregnancies, I prayed that the babies would be born with their daddy's eyes. It occurred to me recently that God answered my prayers both times but in different ways: Jones has the shape of Jeremy's eyes, and Freddie has the color. Isn't that just like God to show me how creative He is? I pray one prayer, and He can answer it in an infinite number of ways.

That made me think even more about artistry of God. Jones and Freddie were drawn from the exact same genetic pool, yet they look nothing alike. God can take the "raw material" - in this case, my DNA and Jeremy's - and make from it an unending number of variations. Had Jeremy and I had a passenger van full of kids, they'd all have been unique, individual creations made from the exact same materials. Like a jazz musician improvising on a theme, God is truly the great Creator, unlimited in both His imagination and His power.

Anyway, I bring up my thoughts on the boys' eyes, because you can't help but notice Freddie's in these pictures I'm posting. We're going to Nashville in early August for Brooke to take some family pictures, and my plan had been that Freddie would wear his dedication outfit. I quickly realized, though, that the outfit may not, shall we say, make it to early August, as my nearly six-month old is very close to  outgrowing its six-month size. I took these snapshots in the Pressleys' yard, so I'd at least have some second-rate shots of my sweet baby in an outfit that I totally loved.

Enjoy this beautiful baby ... she said in all modesty.

P-p-p-recious

Jones had eaten a big dinner.

Pizza, fruit, and a glass of milk, he emptied his tray about as quickly as I'd filled it. As a treat, I broke a miniature Hershey Bar into four pieces and left it in front of him. It was gone just as fast as the rest of his dinner. 

He then said, "Mama!" and pointed to the pantry (where the candy had come from). I'm really working on "Please" and "Thank you" with him, so I decided I wouldn't give him another piece until he'd at least made an effort to say one of the phrases.  

"Say, 'p-p-p-please,'" I said, my face just inches from his. Finally, he did. He got out, "p-p-p-," and I thought it was so adorable that I didn't make him say the "-lease." Sue me.

Seconds later, the second chocolate was gone. When it was, he again said, "MAMA!" pointed at the pantry, and said, this time without prompting, "P-p-p..."

His wish was my command.

Right on, Target

Because I never want to forget what it looks like when we go to the store ... 

There's something else I never want to forget about yesterday's trip to Target, too. A friend gave us a $25 Target gift card to celebrate Freddie's birth. I immediately knew we'd use it for formula. The good thing about Target is that they sometimes have Freddie's type of formula (it was Jones's, too) in a "20% more!" container that costs less than the regular size carton. How they do it, I do not know, but it's like finding the last Cadbury Egg of Easter when you luck into one.

Well, yesterday, I sat in the Target parking lot and prayed, "Lord, please let them have the '20% more' container for $23.99," and when I made it to the right aisle of the baby department, what did I behold but a whole bunch of regular-sized containers and that ONE with "20% more!" that God had placed to answer my prayer. 

I record this here to remember God's blessing but also as a record for the boys of how God provides for us and hears us when we call on Him. 

Thanks be to God!

Happy Father's Day!

In all our celebrating of Freddie's dedication, Father's Day almost got lost in the shuffle. It wasn't until we got home from the luncheon after church that it even occurred to me to get a picture of just Jeremy and the boys.

Some self-proclaimed "family historian" I am.

In spite of this, we did celebrate Father's Day. Jeremy got a few little gifts before church, not the least of which was his favorite apple fritters for breakfast (thank you, Ingles Bakery). He also got a pair of swim trunks (because he'd coveted my dad's at the beach), a growth-chart (made by me and every other Pinterest user this year), and this sign, made by my friend Jennie and inspired by a quote by Freddie's namesake.

The story goes that Daddy and Uncle Dave were out playing one day when a friend of Papaw's started to worry that their backyard basketball court and baseball diamond may ruin Papaw's lawn. When the friend voiced his concern to my grandfather, Papaw's response was perfect:

"We're not raising grass; we're raising boys."

Wise words that Jeremy and I will be wise to remember as we raise OUR boys. This sign will help us to do just that.

Happy Father's Day, Sweetie!

Pops are tops!

My boys lucked out in the Pop department. In their granddads, they've got two of the best men I know. Here are a few videos from earlier this week where Jones plays cat-and-mouse with one Pop and dances with the other one.

I love that laugh.

Freddie's dedicated!

We celebrated Freddie's dedication yesterday. 

Just as we'd decided before Jones was born to have his dedication on Masters Sunday, so had we chosen U.S. Open Sunday for Freddie's dedication before he was born. That they were both almost six months old on their respective Sundays was a happy coincidence ... OR proof that God likes symbolism as much as I do.  We ARE, after all, made in His image ...

ANYWAY.

Like Jones's dedication, Freddie's went so well, praise the Lord. He took a longer-than-usual morning nap before church, leaving him just as happy as could be when the service started. Our pastor always walks the babies around the congregation during the dedication. For Freddie's "baby parade," the music minister sang "Be Strong in the Lord," which is what I sing to him every nite and what we pray for both of our boys daily. James's rendition - a simple arrangement, just his voice and a piano - was absolutely perfect. His willingness to let me request what he'd sing for both of my boys' dedications has really made them that much more special, and I am so grateful.

According to some ladies in the church, Freddie Bear was very jovial in his stroll through the church. I couldn't see him, but from what I heard, he was smiling at everyone, which doesn't surprise me for a second. I couldn't hear him, either, because I was distracted by Jones's incessant "beep-beep ... beep ... beep-beep-beep." Either he's obsessed with cars, or he thinks he's R2D2. Either way, it all went well. When Jay gave Freddie back to Jeremy, baby Brother decided to use his daddy's tie as a teething toy. Other than that and the "beep"-ing, it was a success!

So was the luncheon afterwards. Of course, we had it at Sid's ... same Masters-themed menu as Jones's (what foods is the U.S. Open known for?!?). Both boys behaved really well. Jones liked having his usual run of the restaurant, and Freddie hung in there for about ninety minutes before he conked dead out in my arms as Jeremy and I were trying to get packed up and leave.

This post isn't about Jones (don't tell HIM that), but here's a funny story from lunch. He'd fallen or something and was crying for me, so I was holding him, walking around. We walked by where his Nan was sitting, and she offered him a bite of Page's strawberry cupcake. He took the bite and was, suddenly, WAY less interested in me. He reached for Nan and sat a spell with her.

Below are some of my favorite pictures of the occasion - most of them taken by the one and only Leslie Bell. The video(s) are also below. Though he recorded all of Jones's "walk" with Pastor Jay, Daddy only got the start and finish of Freddie's ... second child syndrome ... thus, the two separate videos, but they do the job of telling the story of our blessedly wonderful day.

I love this picture. I think he looks so beautiful.
I'm still in shock that I have a son with such
big, blue eyes. Talk about an answer to prayer!

Who knew a tie would taste so good?

Videos

In the past several weeks, Camden and Payton have taught Jones how to give a fist bump. They've also taught him the accompanying sizzle sound to match the "exploding," post-bump, spreading fingers.

Here, Jones demonstrates his new skill, and look! Pop can do it, too!



This second video is one that I found on my phone last nite. One of the quickest ways to silence a screaming Jones is to hand him my phone. Most of the time, he puts it in the crease of his neck and tilts his ear down to it, as if he's having a conversation with someone (most likely, Brooke, Lori, Leslie, or Wex). Or he'll summon Siri and ask her "duck-a-duck-a-ducka-ducka?" which is his most commonly said phrase and which is your best guess as to what in the world he means by it.

Never, however, has he taken a picture I've not known about, much less a video ... ... until our trip to Pawleys Island last weekend. According to the ambient sound, we were just about to pull into 572 Myrtle Avenue when he somehow figured out how to capture the moment. I absolutely love this video, though it does make me wish we were back at the beach.

#pressleysatpawleys

We're back from what was the best week at the beach I can ever remember. For years, Pawleys Island has been my dream destination, and this past week was every bit as awesome as I imagined it'd be.

The boys did great - they had their own room, and Freddie spent a few nites and most naptimes sleeping in the bathroom of that room. For his part, Jones finally started walking more than crawling, and he even climbed the entire flight of stairs without a second's hesitation. He liked to climb those stairs, because he liked to reach the kids' loft where he got to pretend to be a big kid. On one visit, he fell off Camden's mattress (which was on the floor to begin with, so it wasn't a long fall) and busted his lip. There was no blood, thankfully, but I could see the big bruise under the skin in his mouth.  I'm sure this is just the first of MANY busted lips we'll encounter with two boys in the house.

Jones also did much better with the sand than I thought he would. The first time we set him down, he flipped out, but it literally took seconds - from one camera frame to the next, practically - for him to be laughing and playing in it. He also enjoyed the waves, though he wanted to be held the entire time he was in the water. As soon as he woke up each morning, he'd spend some time standing at the back door and pointing to be let out, presumably into the ocean that was just a few yards away.

Freddie got in, too, though he spent most of his outside time in his swing in a tent.

Oh, and one funny story about Jones. He was playing with Payton when he had a particularly fragrant diaper. Payton and I asked him if he needed dry drawers, and he nodded and pointed at his diaper. It was really cute; he'd never done that before, but it makes me think we're getting close to being ready for potty training! YAY!

Also, Jeremy proved his love to me by stopping in Columbia for lunch at Qdoba on the way home. Needless to say, I can't wait to go back.

Did you hear me, Pop?!?!