2 Years Old!

Happy birthday to my sweet sweet son!  I cannot believe that it has been two years since we were blessed with our little miracle.  He amazes me everyday the way he innocently admires all of God's creations, and finds happiness in the most simple things!  My life has changed over the past two years in a way that cannot be described and that no body could have prepared me for.  It is definitely like people say, there is a life after children and then there must have been a life before, but it pales in comparison to what we have now.  So here is a little update on what Matthew is up to these days.  Matthew is very much into airplanes...and I guess he comes by it naturally.  I redecorated his rooms to include a lot of airplane and airplane gear.  In it is everything from a real headset and set of sectionals hung on the wall to a wooden airplane mobile on the ceiling to the big biplane his Pappaw made for him.  Every morning when he wakes up that is the first thing he wants to talk about, "Look Momma!  Look at that big airplane up there that I made!" Pappaw, he is taking credit for your work.  He is also in to tools and "working on it" and "fixing it."  He loves his dogs and loves to imitate them and bark at cars and trucks and people passing by the house!  His vocabulary amazes me!  Granted I've not been around a lot of 2 year olds, and I only know the milestone on well child checks is to be able to put two words together by the time you are two, but I'm certain he must be brilliant.  He is saying 8-10 word sentences that make perfect sense.  He knows a lot of anatomy...and is fascinated by certain portions of it!  He is very protective of his little sister and makes sure she is okay at all times and will get upset at daycare if he can't see her when they are outside playing and tells his teachers, "I'll hold Cambell, I'll get her, you stay right there."  He knows all of his colors and can count to 5 and knows some of his shapes.  He knows the ABC's...well at least to C!!  He can spot an M and and A and a W and a few other letters on anything!  The other day he got a little burn on his hand and started screaming for me to get ice for his hot owie.  How did he know that??  See, he must be a genius!  Matthew had a wonderful time at his brithday party and got so many wonderful gifts!  Thanks to everyone for came and for being so generous in your gift giving.  We put away all of the old toys and he is playing everday with all of his new ones (even the puzzles Aunt Lydia, Uncle Dan didn't know what he was talking about!)  Here are some pictures from his birthday party and the day after visiting with his friend Brayden.  

Aunt Carrie and Cambell, Page and Jackson watching Matthew open his gifts!  

Matthew and his Thane cousins eating a hotdog.

Matthew in his new bomber jacket...already getting a hug from the ladies, Brooklyn to be exact!

I thought his was a cute picture of Matthew with his puffed out cheeks blowing our his "2" candle with Papa T in the back ground cheering him on and Hannah waiting for a bite of icing.

Uncle Dan picked out this "big truck" for Matthew.  We put Cambell in it and he pushes her all over the house.  They both love it.  Cambell SCREAMS when you take her out of it!

This picture makes me laugh everytime with that funny little expression and the snot, carrots, dirt and grass on her face! I think you can even see her little tooth that just popped through.

My babies would stay outside at all times if they had their way.  We've enjoyed our new big backyard and usually eat breakfast out there and spend much of our time out back.

Matthew and Brayden playing on Matthew's new trampoline from Mammaw and Pappaw.

Brayden and Matthew after eating lunch.  It was sooo good to visit with Katie and the watch the boys getting to play together.

Matthews family and friends gathered around eating some Airplane birthday cake.

                                                 Matthew working on his new "motorcycle" that Granny and                                                                            Grandad got him.

Haircuts, Momma's Girl, Cousins.....

This is a bit of a catch up blog from the summer! Matthew's shortest haircut ever is featured in the first picture. His curls were getting so long and were just beautiful...but he had been called a pretty little girl one too many times for his daddy. Off to get a haircut. It really grew on me and it already needs another trim. My sister and all of her family came to visit earlier this summer. We had a wonderful buy WAY to short visit. The kids all had a blast...especially my social little Matthew. My little nieces had a great time playing, dressing and feeding Cambell...I only wish they were here to help babysit, they did such a great job! All of the kids are doing great and Matthew loved hanging out with Jacob! I'll let the pictures do the talking! :)

Oh...and I passed my boards!!  We open October 1st!

How can one little boy be sooo cool?!

Corey's family came over for a cookout.  We had a great time.  Granny and Grandad, Aunt Lydia and Uncle Dan, Aunt Carrie, and Papa T were all there.  It was fun hanging out in the back yard visiting with everyone and letting Matthew play!

All Smiles.  This was taken while I worked a week in Aspermont.  This time Corey and the kids came with me and it was much better than being alone!

Grandad and Cambell.  The tears have nothing to do with it being grandad holding her and everything to do with it NOT being Mommy.  I can't even walk by without her screaming!

Matthew and his cousins eating dinner!

Cousin Jacob and Matthew

She loves making this little face!

Rewind to Florida!  This is cute picture of Jackson...look at those beautiful blue eyes.  Cambell better watch out!

Corey and Cambell in Florida.

Me and Matthew feeding the fish.  Look at the curls.

Sweet babies.

Summer Vacation

Well our summer vacation actually seems like a thing of the distant past but I thought I would go ahead and post some pics from our trip to Florida.  We go at least once a year to the Keys to enjoy the water and sun at our family home in Summerland.  We always try to invite special people to go and share the fun with us.  This year our good friends Jon and Page and their son Jackson went with us along with my mom and our awesome babysitter, Haley.  We had a great time and it was a much needed break from finishing residency, boards, moving and starting a new practice.  Here are some pictures of our trip.

Corey caught this lobster off of the beach.  You don't normally catch a lobster with a fishing pole!  I've never seen it happen before.  Matthew thought it was very cool and wanted to "touch the crab,"  Jon was standing close by to keep him from actually grabbing it!

Going to dinner at one of our favorite spots called Boondocks.  One of the few pics with the little babies Cambell and Jackson...it was just too hot this year for too much outside fun.

Matthew fell asleep on the boat ride back home...now I am a true Florida mommy!

Me and Matthew after swimming out in front of the house.  He had a great time looking for the fish and listening to the ocean in the sea shells below.

Handsome boy, adorable curls!

Page and Jon and Jackson.  Jackson fell asleep within minutes of getting in the boat!

Cambell having fun in the boat her Aunt Carrie bought!

Beautiful girl

My Family!

Family Fun on the Fourth

Me, Cambell, Morgan and Matthew.  Mammaw can never get a normal picture of her kids and grandkids!

Corey and I were able to take a much needed break from moving and studying to spend some time with our families on the fourth of July.  Corey's parents had their annual 4th of July tent sale at William's General Store.  This is the first year in quite some time that Corey and I were able to spend the holiday together.  He was even able to work for his parents at the store.  He really enjoyed getting to do that and I think his parents enjoyed it as well.  We had a good time hanging out and having a break.  We even got to visit, although briefly, with our good friends Katie and Josh and their son Brayden.  The biggest surprise of the weekend was the arrival of my brother from Pheonix.  It has been about 6 months since we've seen Morgan and he called Thursday to tell me he was going to fly down for the weekend.  He wanted to keep it a surprise to my mom so we all worked very hard to change our plans and have good reasons to tell my mom.  It all worked out and my mom was shocked when she walked into her living room at 11pm to see her baby boy standing there.  It was so great to see my brother.  He is awesome.

Granny Dawn got Cambell this adorable outfit and this picture makes me laugh everytime with that funny look on her face and her panties falling down!  

We kept Matthew up late to watch the fireworks and it ended up being really late after a rain delay.  He had a great time watching and was not at all afraid of the noise.  This is Corey and Matthew watching the show.  He spent much of the show sitting with his Grandad Roger.

Cambell and Pappaw after the parade

Matthew watching the parade and loading his pockets full of candy.  He was fun to watch.  He would collect candy from one float and then throw it back to the next. 

Here we are swimming with Katie and Brayden.  The kids had a blast in the pool.

Sweet water babies!

2 Months....2 Many Changes.

I think I've started several posts saying something like "life is crazy," or "we've been so busy lately."  Well this one tops them all!  It has been two months since I've posted.  My life has changed and my family has made some major transitions in the past two months.  

1.  Moved out of our house

2.  Moved in with our Grandpa

3.  Moved our stuff to Plainview

4.  Graduated residency

5.  Took board exam

6.  Corey retired from his job

7.  Moved to Plainview

8.  Went on vacation

Where do I begin?  

In June I completed my last month of residency!  Yeah!  That is a huge deal for me.  No more school.  I am 29 and finally done with school.  I have been in school for 11 years past high school and I am finally done.  We had a graduation ceremony for my residency class the end of June.  

These are the residents in my class (from left to right) Travis, Jon (I am going into practice with the first two), Malik, Cynthia, Marbella and Me.  What a group!  We have spent a long 3 years working together!

Corey and I rarely get to dress up and go out together, we had a good time.

During the month of June we also moved out of our house.  We moved in with our grandad (PapaT, Tommy) to live until I finished up residency.  We had a wonderful time living with our PapaT, especially Matthew.  Everyday when we would get home he would go straight to Tommy's room to rock and eat a snack.  I sure enjoyed not being home alone in the evenings while Corey was working and we are all going to miss seeing our PapaT everyday, he is very special to us.

Matthew playing outside with PapaT

Since we moved out of our house obviously that mean we moved into a new house.  We found and bought a house that we love in Plainview.  My mom has worked so hard helping us out with the house...from painting to cleaning windows and putting in new contact paper and moving.  She has been amazing.  We don't know how to thank her.  Grandad Roger and Granny Dawn have been down helping us with the kids and unpacking.  We have worked them so hard also and we still wouldn't be unpacked without everyone's help.  I will post some pics of the house when I get them!  Moving is not fun.  We are still living out of boxes!  

Next on the agenda was to spend some time in Muleshoe for July 4th. We had a great time and I will post a blog with our pictures.  After that I had the task of taking my board exam and finished the grueling 7 hour, $1200 test on July 8th.  Results are still pending.  

Boards finished, residency completed..sounds like time for a vacation, so that is just what we did.  We went to the Keys with our good friends Jon and Page and Haley and my mom.  Yet another post for that one.   

Another huge transition for us was a very difficult decision for Corey to make.  He decided to temporarily retire from his job with LPD.  This was a very difficult thing for him to do because he loves his job.  It is a huge sacrifice he has made for our family.  Corey was very sad when his last day on patrol was completed, but he is looking forward to being here for me and the kids as we get the clinic up and running, and will be anxious to return to work in the winter.  I am so lucky to have such a supportive husband.  I couldn't do it without him.  He is amazing.  

We are so ready to be settled and get into a routine.  This all has been very hard on Matthew and he is happier the past two days since we have been home and he is in his own bed.  We have been living out of suitcases for the past 6 weeks and are so thankful to be home.  I am leaving on Monday for a week to go work, but Corey and the kids are going to stay home and try to relax.

Matthew playing with the coconuts in the backyard at my parents.  He is growing up so fast.  His vocabulary is amazing and he is saying up to five word sentences.  He has finally gotten all those stubborn teeth in for now.  He is becoming more and more adventurous and climbing and running more and more.  He loves his dogs and will tell them, "Harley, hold my hand!"  He loves to talk about airplanes, boats, buses, trains, and cars.  What a sweet boy.  He is 22 months old.

She will hate me for this someday.  I just couldn't resist.  Cambell is on the move.  She is army crawling and getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth. She can definitely get where she wants to go.  She is eating some cereal now and can sit up for a few seconds on her own.  She is almost 7 months old.  She weighs about 14 pounds and is 24 inches long.

Mammaw, Pappaw and the kids.

Who needs a ball when you have coconuts!!

Ahhhh!

My crazy month is over and everyone can breathe a sigh of relief.  I am so glad to be done with that exhausting month.  Thanks to everyone who helped us out last month, and sorry to everyone I have neglected.  I can't wait to start catching up with everyone.  Now on to preparing for my board exams and moving my family!  We have started getting our house in Plainview ready to move in and we have to be out of this house on the 10th!  We are going to live with our Papa T for a while!

The kids are doing great.  Cambell is growing up so fast.  She will be crawling any day.  She is so active and rolls everywhere she wants to go.  She has just discovered her feet and her tongue.  It is getting hard to catch a picture without her tongue sticking out!  She sleeps like a rock and is usually in bed by 8pm and we have to wake her up around 9:30 in the morning.  She is still only taking breast milk, but I think we will try some cereal again soon since Mammaw had some luck getting her take some.  She is 5 months old now.  Matthew is as active as his little sister and loves to run and jump and throw balls (and anything else).  His vocabulary is amazing and he has now started to copy just about anything we say!  He is such a sweet little boy and ALL boy at that. He loves boats, cars, trains, and planes!  

Sweet little tongue, look at how strong she is!

Both of my babies with their tongues sticking out!

Nothing is better than a boy and his dog (googie Harden, ie Doggy Harley)