New tricks!

Stella Ross is SO much fun these days. She has the absolute best personality. She is extremely sweet and just an overall very happy baby! These past couple of days she has discovered two new tricks: clapping her hands and playing peek-a-boo. She is so excited and does them ALL the time. I tried to take some pictures but it was hard to get the clapping in action with my camera:(

"YAY!"

"Where is Stella Ross?"

"Peek-a-boo!"

Time Flies!

It seems like just yesterday Rafe was crawling in this tunnel for the first time. Now he gets to enjoy it as a big brother. How fun!

Stella Ross had a ball! I think she is going to LOVE Gymboree.

Mr. Cool

Rafe wanted Pop to "fix" his hair after his haircut. This is how he came home:

OH MY!!!!!

Stella Ross is READY!

We got these adorable leg warmers for Stella Ross to wear to her new gym class - Gymboree! She just HAD to try them on!

8 Months!

Our sweet Stella Ross is 8 months old today. We thank God every day that he blessed us with this precious little girl. "I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him" 1 Samuel 1:27

Happy Birthday, Stella Ross

One month

Two months

Three months

Four months

Five months

Six months

Seven months

almost Eight months

We wanted you and loved you LONG before you were born, and we love you SO MUCH more every day. Happy 8 month birthday my precious baby girl!

Three's A Charm???

For the last two weeks I have not been seeing a lot of THIS:


I have been seeing a lot of THIS:

Here is why!! My poor baby is cutting three teeth at one time. One on the bottom and two on top. That explains the poor eating and sleeping that has been going on at my house. I hope these teeth hurry and make their appearance so my sweet baby will feel better. :(

Reality setting in!

Today was the last day I could walk Rafe into school without a visitor pass. I have loved every minute of this week making sure he got into his classroom, making sure he put his lunch in the right place, helping him get his folder out of his book bag, but most importantly getting my goodbye kiss. It finally hit me this morning that my little boy is all grown up now and I am just NOT ready for this! I am very proud of how well he has done with school this week. He has loved every minute of each day and really handled the transition extremely well. I have been surprisingly pretty good, as well, but come Monday morning when that van door closes behind my baby and I see him walk all by himself into that BIG school I am not going to be able to hold back the tears. I knew this day would come I just didn't know it would be this soon.

All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth!

Today was a "tooth" day at our house. After weeks of speculation I discovered this morning that Stella Ross is indeed cutting tooth number three and possibly four and five all this week. :( Bless her heart. No wonder my sweet and laid-back little princess has been a little uneasy the last few days. Thank goodness for Orajel!! On the flip side, my little school boy discovered this afternoon that his top front teeth are now loose! What?? It is going to be extremely difficult for Rafe to eat when he is missing his front four teeth. How cute will he be then??!! Rafe is already anxious about how much the tooth fairy will bring him for these "big" teeth.

Sneak Peek!

I am already getting into LOTS of trouble buying Stella Ross clothes. It is SO much fun buying cute clothes for her. We are working on her Christmas wardrobe and I tried one of her new outfits on her this morning. Look how sweet she looks!!

Who's going over my bridge?

Pop and Gram took Rafe on a little trip Saturday to Helen, Georgia for a back to school treat. This is what he came home with!! Rafe has always loved trolls and found this two-headed one to be extra special. Trolls are supposed to protect you so we have been putting it in Rafe's room each night to make the "monsters" go away!! It seems to help!

May the force be with you!

Rafe is a big Star Wars fan so Cory helped him become a Jedi. Rafe concentrated REAL hard on this crayon and was able to make it move with only his eyes.

P.S. If YOU look REAL hard you might figure out the secret!! Rafe was so cute with this. They must have done it a thousand times and he never caught on. He is totally convinced he moved the crayon with his "force"!!

Simple Fun

I was putting Stella Ross's diapers up the other day and she found this box to be so much fun!! Who needs toys??!!

Naked Babies

Stella Ross was playing the other day in just her diaper (and, of course, her bow!) and Rafe decided to join in all the fun!

The BIG day! - Rafe's first day of Kindergarten

Well, my BABY has officially started school. Rafe's "first day of school" was a two-day affair. Monday, the first day, was technically an orientation. Rafe only had to stay an hour. The assistant did an activity with the children while the teacher talked to the parents about the upcoming year. I thought this was such a wonderful idea. It got Rafe into the classroom to figure out what it was all about and it gave Cory and me a better idea of what to expect during the year. PLUS my little buddy got to come home with me and that made us both happy! This morning was his first day of "all day" kindergarten. He was so excited and knew exactly what to do when we got to school. (I even had to make him tell my bye!)

It is with a very heavy heart that I move into to this new chapter in Rafe's life. I know he will have a great year and I will be right there with him to cheer him on!

Rafe showing off his first day prize. Stella Ross

is so thrilled for him!

A very excited school boy!

Rafe and his buddy, Landon

My BIG boy :(

Look at me!

Stella Ross is SO happy she has learned a new trick:

First this:
Then this:

and finally Ta-Da!!

What happened to my baby??

Talk Talk Talk Talk Talk!

Stella Ross has decided to try this "talking" thing out this week and she is getting pretty good at it! She talks ALL THE TIME! It is the cutest thing ever. Now if I can just get her to say "Mommy"!

Meet the Teacher

Tonight was Meet-the-Teacher night at Rafe's new school. It was WONDERFUL! Rafe was so excited to see his new classroom and meet his teacher. He has a great group of kids in his classroom and several that he already plays with which should be a lot of fun. After tonight I suddenly don't feel as sad about him going to school anymore. I don't know if it is the teacher in me, or what, but I am just filled with so much excitement for him. Don't get me wrong there will definitely be some tears on Monday, but I know he is going to have a fantastic year and I cannot think of a better place for him to be!

Rafe with Mrs. Farmer, the aide

(she was my kindergarten aide and Rafe is SO

lucky to have her as well!)

Rafe and his new teacher, Ms. Bibelnieks

Already trying out the toys!!

Rafe's Kindergarten Year 2010-2011