A busted lip x 2

I am at work tonight, as I often am when I blog. When it's quiet in the unit I have the time it takes to sit down and generate thoughts with clarity enough to write. We have been enjoying the spring time weather, playing outside, and today took the kids to the local Children's Museum. I highly recommend this to anyone locally who has not taken their kids. Eli liked it but Sadie absolutely LOVED it. It was basically real life condensed down to little people level where pretend play was at a maximum...perfect for an almost 3 year old. We walked in to the "medical" section and saw 2 little girls, 4 or younger, very solemnly rocking their babies. Sadie quickly joined them and Steven had a little moment when he realized that it truly is built into us, the mothering nature. Meanwhile, Eli is climbing onto the rocker to see how fast he can make it go, with no regard for the babies. Which is why he currently has a busted lip. He received the first injury last night while playing outside and trying to climb the steps. Tonight Steven said he came in the bathroom to find Sadie playing with water (her favorite act of disbodience) and Eli crying, with a busted lip on the other side of his mouth. Apparently it quickly became bedtime.

Eli is truly all boy, he shrieks if he hears the door chiming open, even if it's 10:00 at night and pitch black outside. He can't stand the thought of someone going out without taking him outside to play. And if anyone goes near the shed with the 4-wheeler in it he really goes crazy. He could ride that thing for hours, without making a peep. It is quickly becoming a family tradition to take a 4 wheeler ride around the neighborhood and through the field.

Steven was putting Sadie to bed the other night after a meltdown over her pink paci (it was MIA, and the blue one was just not cutting it that night). After she calmed down he asked her to tell him a story, maybe one about Noah. She replies "There was a man named Noah, he had a beard like Byron (my brother, who almost always has facial hair), and he threw his pink paci over the boat." We tell her the right stories, I promise, she just has an active imagination. This is getting long enough and even thought Sadie makes me laugh every day I can't seem to think of anything else funny. Goodnight!

My favorite man

The other night I was getting ready to put Sadie to bed and she was telling her Daddy goodnight. Their conversation went something like this....
Steven- "Goodnight baby, I love you. You know you're my favorite little girl, right?"
Sadie- "Yes, Daddy. And you're my favorite man."
It was a sweet moment to witness and it made me reflect on their relationship and how it has progressed over the past 3 years. Steven wasn't really sure what to think of Sadie as a newborn, and to be honest the bond probably wasn't instant. But right after we brought her home from the hospital they laid on the floor and had a serious heart to heart.


That first year of her life she was all about Mommy. Steven thought she was cute but wasn't sure if she really cared if he was around or not. But she was watching him, realizing that this man that came home every night was pretty special. Here they are when she was just 1 and she's starting to get the idea that Daddy is fun!

It only took another year and me being pregnant with #2 for their bond to grow even stronger. He started putting her to bed and telling her Bible stories, having tickling/wrestling matches, and playing "something's on my back" (she rides on his back, he pretends to be a deer and says "something's on my back!".

One of my favorite things to see is my sweetheart with our babies. They both get so excited when he comes home. Sadie now gives Steven "a hug, a kiss, and a backscratch" (which consists of a very brief scratch and 2 pats). He takes her to the bank and post office in the truck. And of course the 4 wheeler rides take his popularity up a hugh notch. She is definitely on her way, or quite possibly already there, to being a big time Daddy's girl.

I am thankful for my husband, now turned Daddy, and our sweet little life here. Soon coming will be some pics and tales from Eli's first birthday party last weekend.

Goodnight!

Girl's Weekend

I can finally post about this now because it's over (sadly), but I just had a wonderful weekend in Lafayette, Louisiana, with 3 of my favorite girlfriends. How did we end up there, you ask? Well, it all started with a little romance. My friend, Rachel Thorpe, decided to move out to Louisiana for A BOY several months ago, and apparently it was the right decision because she is now happily engaged to be married in May. We four have been friends since we were kids/teenagers and not had a get together with all of us in almost 7 years. So....Rachel Price suggested to Julie Hylton and I that we make a surprise trip out to see Rachel T. for a girls weekend in Louisiana. Amazingly we worked out all the details, leaving 3 husbands and 7 children behind (Jonathan, Julie's youngest, got to tag along since he's only 8 weeks old - he was a great traveling buddy!). Rachel T. was surprised to tears and we spent the next 60 hours talking, laughing, shopping, and getting to know Reagan, Rachel's soon to be husband.
We've come along way from MTYC Senior Teen week and Skyland Bible Conference, but we still know how to have late night chats.


Rachel Price and Rachel Thorpe


Julie Hylton and me...


Eating at Prejeans...yes, we ate alligator!


Reagan!!! So cute together. We approve, Rach. :)

I can't leave out Jonathan, our handsome little traveling companion. He did great!

The bond of true friendship is strong, and I am so thankful for these girls! May we have many more fun weekends. Love you girls!!

This is how we play these days!

Here are some overdue pictures of our winter fun....
At Storytime...


Jumping on the new (used) trampoline...


Playing under the trampoline....


It's all about pretend play right now...

She'll only pose with her babies (the pink monkey on the right is Harvey Apple)

All the toys in the world aren't as fun as this...

We got a snowsuit from a friend after the big snow, but she had fun it in anyways.

Some cousin fun!

And finally resting on Sunday afternoon...

Here's a vidoe of my little man in action...

Love,

Sallie

boys will be boys...

I am at work tonight, and it is somewhat quiet so I thought would write a quick post. (my co-workers tonight would kill me if they know I used the word "quiet", although I am a firm believer that I am not going to change the course of the night by the words I choose to use). Anyways, it has been a busy week but a good one. Steven went out of town on Thursday morning for his annual beach trip with 8 of his high school or college buddies. Most of them are married with kids but I am proud of them for continuing this tradition as I know it is good for Steven to get away and just be a guy, without work or kids or me to worry about. They are very guy-ish, on this trip, too. They begin their day (much later than usual) with a hearty (aka, greasy) breakfast at a place called The Golden Griddle. Apparently the food is cheap and good, which is all Steven could ask for. They watch a lot of basketball, talk late into the night, and incorporate as many competitions as possible. Steven is quite competitive, for those of you who do not know, as are many of his friends. Those who don't care to win have known Steven long enough that it's fun for them to watch just in case he loses. I think this year included par 3 golf, Bocci ball (sp?), Golden Tee, and arm wrestling. Steven came in 2nd in arm wrestling, out of sheer determination I think.

As for the kids and I, we went to Charlotte for a neonatal conference I had on Thursday. The kids did great with my parents, as usual, Sadie didn't even ask about me (should I be concerned about this?). I got in some tennis with my Dad (in preparation for my ladies tennis league), it was nice to play again. We came home on Friday and two of my friends, Jenn and Maegan, came to hang out with their babies (their husbands went to NC State with Steven and were also at the beach). We had 5 kids at the house and Sadie was the oldest, but amazingly we had them mostly asleep by 7! Which allowed for some great, uninterrupted conversation as well as a second helping of Jenn's delicious blackberry cobbler. I took Sadie upstairs after dinner to put her to bed and when I came back was pleasantly surprised to find that my dear friends had almost completely cleaned up the kitchen. Maegan responded with "yes, there would be some nice things about polygamy." Yes, there is truth to that statement!

This quick post has gotten quite lengthy so I am going to close it out...with a promise (again) to post some pictures soon... and a quick funny from Sadie. Last night my dear mother-in-law was putting her to bed and Sadie was not in favor of it. She told Sadie she needed to stay in her room and read her books. Sadie responded with "Grandma, you need to go home. Pawpaw has his car and he can take you." Apparently Sadie has conditional grandparent love. :)
Goodnight!

I love you forever

Ok, so apparently a couple of people read this blog, which not only inspires me to write a little more but it also intimidates me a little. I started this blog because I like to write and I wanted to capture the cute and memorable things my kids do, and even though I will never be MckMama, it does make me happy that people take time out of their day to read it. So, thank you readers!
I found my camera and took some new pictures as well as a video of Eli walking, but now I can't find the cord to download the pics. Oh, how I wish I was more organized! I think I'm getting there sometimes... just don't look at my car right now. Anyways, not what I was attempting to blog about.
I try to always keep a good Mom attitude, enjoying my kids, not getting caught up in silly frustrations, but Sadie had to give me a lesson in it last night. I was rushing around after work, trying to get the kids in bed and pick up a little. Our friends were coming over to watch the Bachelor season finale (important stuff) and I wanted to make cookies. I go upstairs to see if Sadie has finally put her pajamas on and she is sitting on her bed with her little legs crossed reading a book. It happened to be "I love you forever", which we have been reading at night for the past few days. I stopped and watched, unbeknownst to her, as she did her best to read each page. "back and forth, back and forth, back and forth....then she's driving in her car, then the big daddy rocks his mommy, back and forth, back and forth...." I was touched by how well she had absorbed the meaning of the book and reminded ever so gently how precious this time is with my children. The evening went well as we enjoyed our friends and our shallow show, but I went to sleep thinking of my sweet girl and her little voice.
Pics and a video of Eli walking will eventually make it to the blog...
Goodnight!
p.s. MckMama, in case you didn't know, is a blogger who is now famous and making money for blogging, she's very good if you want to check her out!

Eli's walking!

If I was more computer savvy (and could find my camera), I would post a video to go with this post. Eli took his first steps this week and it is so cute, you forget just how cute the first steps are because they get good at it so fast. He is quite proud, as well, as he usually takes a few steps and then stops to clap for himself, which by itself is pretty impressive balance. As I watched him show his Daddy his new trick last Monday night my Mom and I were cheering him on and I looked down and saw Sadie joining in as his cheerleader. She has continued to encourage him to walk this week (sometimes a little too much), but it warmed my heart to see it. I couldn't help but think of Steven's old wrestling videos and usually the loudest voice was that of his sister, cheering on the sidelines. She was a great cheerleader for him and I can just see Sadie in a few years, cheering on little Eli in whatever sport he chooses to pursue (surely he'll do at least 1 for his sports lovin' Daddy).

Speaking of sports, I have decided to join a weekly ladies tennis group, which I am quite excited about. I played in high school and even though I am not very good I do enjoy it. My Dad taught himself how to play tennis around college age and has played all my life. He loves it and it's kept him very much in shape (and he's pretty good, I'm hoping I'll eventually be able to beat him when he's old...). I need to get out there and practice so I don't embarrass myself!

We enjoyed a great visit with my Mom last week, she came down on Monday and stayed for a few days. Sadie fell asleep to her Nana reading to her 3 nights in a row (a great advantage to no nap!). Mama was getting ready to leave Thursday and telling Sadie she was sad to go, so Sadie said "well you can stay here," I love 2 year old logic. Nana told her that unfortunately, she had to go, so then Sadie said "well, we can talk on the phone." Problem solved! I don't think I put this on my blog, but Sadie's prayers are getting longer and cuter at bedtime. Steven started her praying by just telling her to say "Thank you God", so she still starts that way and just adds people, usually, that we have just been with or she's thinking about. So this was her prayer a couple weeks ago..."Thank you God for Harvey Apple, thank you God for the Baileys, thank you God for church, and for the white donuts, and for the black donuts". Just when you think your kid is showing some spiritual depth....:)

Goodnight!