School Days

He seemed to think it was a great idea at first

Tuesday was Landon's first day of preschool. It went pretty much exactly how I expected it would. He went, he cried, and he cried a little more.
I stood outside in the hallway and listened to him cry and try to bargain his way into going home. The assistant director kept checking in on him for me since I didn't want to be seen, and came out to report that, "He's asking for his green money, which he says he left in his black car?" That's Landon speak for "I want my blanket," which was not in the car as I don't allow it to leave the house. It gives me the creepy crawlies to have the thing that he cuddles up to at night out in dirty, public places. Hmmm...

Reality begins to set in...

He wasn't too excited about going back, and leading up to Thursday he repeatedly asked me, "What will the clock say when it's time for me to go home from school?" and told me, "After Thursday I'll be all done with school!"
When Thursday rolled around his eyes filled with tears as we walked into the classroom, but once I pulled his green money out of his backpack he grabbed it, bravely kissed me goodbye, and walked off to face the day.
Preschool: 1, Mommy's Rules: 0

Must include the little miss

Validation

For every moment of guilt I've felt because there is only one of me, for every time I've had to decide whose needs were less important and therefore would come second, for every night (and thankfully there haven't been many) they've taken turns keeping me awake...

I see moments like this and I know it's all worth it

Landon's Big 3

Apparently I just need a little bit of guilt once in a while to get my butt blogging, so for those of you who still care, here goes...

Landon turned 3, and we decided since his birthday coincided with a 4 day weekend for Andy, another trip to Disney would be a fine way to celebrate. Now that Landon knew what the whole Disney thing was all about, his anticipation made the drive seem a bit looooonger for him and he started asking if we were at the hotel yet after about 20 minutes.

We, in fact, made record time (apparently not having to nurse at every stop cuts about an hour and a half off our drive time) and were at Disney in time for dinner.

A few observations...
1) Disney World on the 4th of July weekend is INSANE. I'm not sure it's the busiest weekend of the year, but it has to be close. The good news is, we weren't interested in the fancy popular rides, the slow kiddie ones were just fine by us.
2) Disney World on the 4th of July weekend is HOT.
3) When watching fireworks at Disney World on the 4th of July, staying just outside the gate is a really great idea.
4) We can still have a pretty amazing time at Disney World on the 4th of July weekend.

Helping each other through the long hours in the car

We learned last time that if you want to ride Dumbo, you better get there nice and early  

Enjoying the mouse ear off his birthday ice-cream

My little 4th of July girl

One of the workers (I'm sure they have a much happier Disnified title, I just don't know it) gave Andy a complimentary cupcake for our anniversary

Disney World sure can wear a guy out!

Getting a little loopy waiting for fireworks

Christmas card, perhaps?

Livia: A Year In Review

I'll start with a cliche- I can't believe my baby is 1! But 1 she is, and she's not looking back. This child is all about moving forward (or just moving in general). I, on the other hand, find myself thinking back to her various stages throughout the past year and wondering how they passed so quickly...

It's a healthy baby!!! And... It's a girl!!!
One of the most powerful memories of my life. 

First smile... and she truly hasn't stopped smiling since.

Rolling to her belly at 2 months. This girl has places to go!

When you're born on the Gulf Coast, beach trips start early and often.

Who wants to sit when I can CRAWL... 6 months. 

Anything he can do, I can do too!

Back to the beach, baby!

Walking in time for Easter

So much to say. Always. 

My little peanut is a one year old!

The Magic of Disney

I have to admit I was more than slightly unenthusiastic about motoring our family to the happiest place on earth for a week. A 8 (9 with my kids) hour car ride followed by 5 days of stroller napping, nighttime room sharing, and eating on the go seemed like a recipe for disaster, or at the very least extreme exhaustion for all.

It turns out I was the most wonderful kind of wrong.

We all loved Disney World.

We laughed our way through rides, cuddled with Mickey and friends, satiated our taste buds with foreign delights, and left convinced it is a small world after all.

Livia was in awe of the festivities each day but still managed to nap in the stroller or the ergo baby on her usual schedule. She was even game for our somewhat chaotic eating on the go, and was a good sport about her limited mobility throughout each day.

I never could have imagined the reaction Landon would have to those giant characters. Landon, my Landon, who hates change, is terrified of even the fluffiest 4 legged creatures, and avoids all loud noises he isn't responsible for creating could not get enough. The bear hug he laid on Pooh was one of the highlights of the trip for me. Just pure, innocent, love for that silly old bear. Every morning he would wake up asking to go say hi to Mickey, and every night as we drove away he would  contentedly exclaim, "Mommy, Landon had fun at Disney World!"

Started the trip off right with a visit to Magic Kingdom

Shaking hands with The Mouse himself

Cheers for ears!

 Riding with Grandpa

We had to spend a day at Universal so we would walk in Diagon Alley, shop at Ollivander's, and sip some butterbeer. Hogwarts is in the background.  

 A little less formal with Mickey by day 3

Livia woke up from her nap just in time to smile for the camera

 My mouse ears ice cream cone on our kid-free afternoon

 A very Thing-ful couch

Squeeeeeze!!!

Even though we weren't able to escape the extreme exhaustion I was dreading, everything else about our trip to Disney World turned out to be, well, magical.

For Gina

Love...

Right?

A Wedding

President's Day weekend we flew to Colorado to be a part of my dear friend Melissa's big day. I've been waiting for her man to pop the question for like 3 years now, so when I finally got the call this summer, I was super stoked. My excitement intensified a few days later when she called back to ask if I'd be a bride's maid and if Landon could be the ring bearer. My answer was of course an enthusiastic "Yes!" on both counts, and that brings us to the big day in February.

We weren't really sure how Landon would do because, well, he's 2, and because large crowds aren't really his cup of tea. We decided to nix the pillow holding idea after he immediately drop kicked it on his first practice run down the aisle, but other than that he seemed qualified to perform the duty.

It was a lovely ceremony with the couple saying their vows before a spectacular window framed view of the mountains. And I'm so grateful that neither the bride nor the groom were disrupted from their matrimonial concentration by my son's repeated uttering of the mantra "Mommy's right here... Mommy's right here" as he hid behind my dress throughout the entire ceremony. After the kiss sealed the deal, the crowd went wild, which caused Landon to lose it completely. When it was time for us to recess he stood petrified and bawling in his spot until I eventually ditched my groomsman so I could pick him up and carry him back up the aisle. All in all, a big success.

After some pictures and food, the kids were packed up and sent back to my parents house with Auntie so Andy and I could spend the rest of the evening dancing and catching up with good friends. It was a fine time, and I'm so happy for my newly wedded bff.

 Caught in the act

 Pretty pleased with himself and his pillow kicking antics

 My dashing date

 Ladies man

 Death grip recessional 

 Me and my loves

Many congratulations to Schmelly and Rueb!