JB is Two Years + 2 Months Old

As we get further into the twos, I can see why they're sometimes called "terrible". Toddlers can be tough!  But there is also so much energy, excitement and fun that comes with this age - it balances it all out.  And I believe the "terribleness" (and, really, it's not that terrible) is all part of these little guys learning and growing up.  Here's a glimpse of little two year old James Benjamin this month -

JB has become so, so independent.  We hear "me" all day long, indicating that he wants to do something himself.  Some things he can do (like taking off his clothes), and some things he's not quite ready to do, despite what he thinks (like putting on his clothes).  However, not letting JB at least try to do whatever it is he wants to do will result in a fall-on-the-floor tantrum.  Selecting JB's cheese stick, cracker, or banana for him will result in shrieks - and you better be prepared to eat whatever you selected, because he's going to need to pick out his own to eat.  Do we cater to this?  Yes, yes we do…  Keeps the peace.  :)

JB also wants to tell others what to do - quite the little leader!  He bosses around the animals ("no no, woof woof! No, no, meow meow!"), silences us when we try to perform a song with him, and demands that friends/family who come over sit on a certain part of the floor or go in certain rooms - wherever he says.  Skipping a page in a book is a punishable offense in this house, and JB enforces this one (even requesting you read the intro page of a book.)  He has pushed other kids a couple of times to get his way (yikes!!)  Not a good thing and sends me running to the toddler behavior books for advice.

He's also a big sweetheart - loooooooooves his Sissy and is so very sweet with her.  JB has started to tickle her, and can make her smile and giggle.  It melts my heart!  He wants to give hugs and kisses goodbye, and also bows his head and folds his hands for meal time prayers.  He has two little lady friends at the moment: Molly and Isla.  Those two are best friends, and JB has joined their pack.  (I still think he's sweetest on Isla, though - the look on his face when he speaks of her...)

Some other things that rock JB's world right now:

• Any song with hand motions (he's got some moves)
• Taking baths with his Sissy
• Opposites (you say "up" and he yells "DOWN!", etc)
• Sticking his arms through the neck hole of his shirt (he thinks this is so funny)
• Blippi on  YouTube
• Eating: Trader Joe's fig bars, broccoli, cheese, eggs, boiled peanuts
• Reading: Pout Pout Fish, Little Blue Truck, If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, Caps for Sale, Marvin K Mooney Will You Please Go Now!
• Playing: with his BFF Mac

Love you little guy!  Even though you are such a toddler some days, I am still relishing that we have 10 more months of you being two.  :)

Giving Thanks 2015

I feel like I've been documenting Thanksgiving posts all week long - with the festivities, friends, and overall posts about thankfulness all week.  However, we also had a great time celebrating the actual Thanksgiving Day here in Atlanta, GA with James' side of the family.  I didn't get any pictures of food or many pictures of all the people (there was quite a crowd), but I did manage to get a few worth sharing.

James' cousins have chickens in their backyard, and feeding the chickens was highly entertaining to JB.  They got a lot of bread and apples for their Thanksgiving feast!

How about some Throwback Thanksgiving?  I love a good comparison.  Here we are Thanksgiving 2013 and 2015, showing off our newest additions:

2013

2015

And here's James each year (2013, 2015) cradling his little one.  (Ironically enough, JB looks to be the calm one and Maryn the spirited one based on these pics - which is quite the opposite in real life, so far!)

I like to think she is upset because Mama has her clothed in 8 yards of fabric and smocking…

Our family continues to grow, and we continue to be blessed with so much to be thankful for!  May we continue to this spirit of gratitude into the next holiday season (and year!)

Friendsgiving in the 'Hood

It's not a Sunday unless the neighbors are all together, though this time Rhianna and Sean had a much fancier spread and setting than we're used to for Neighbor Night!  But we were celebrating Friendsgiving, so everyone took it up a notch.

Our hostess, Rhianna, with Molly and Maryn

I didn't get any pictures of the food, but everything was delicious:  pork loin, carrots, spiced apples, mac-n-cheese, sweet potato soufflé, dinner rolls with roasted garlic spread, and butterscotch cheesecake for dessert.  She had an enviable Le Creuset collection to serve everything in.  Plus a house already decorated for Christmas.  (You better believe I was nervous with our crazy boy running around!!)

Speaking of crazy boy(s) - JB and Mac were out in full force:  running around, opening cabinets, re-arranging furniture.

Oh my gosh….the rug…I just noticed...

Miss Maryn got passed around the party, so she was in Heaven.  She loves being in someone's arms!  And thought everyone was super funny.  Lots of giggles from this sweetie pie.

Hey, who put me down?!

I love that our friends will grab our kiddos and play with them and snuggle them like they're their own. I heard several of them say "No, JB!" (and I'm 100% okay with that, too.)  Takes a village...

Our former neighbors (who now live in Dallas) were in town, too.  They stopped by to say "hi!"  We've missed the Thackers!

Our family is blessed to have so many great neighbors and friends to celebrate the season with.  Can't say it enough right now - So Thankful.

JB's First Thanksgiving Show

JB had his first school Thanksgiving show, and God bless his teachers for corralling all those little +/- two year olds into a musical production.  It was absolutely precious and we loved it.

Parents were asked to participate, so I had the pleasure of sitting with JB (and singing, too.)  It gave me a close up view of how enthusiastic he is about music - his face lit up and he knew every song! (Not the words so much as the hand motions.).

At one point the kids were instructed to sit in their parents' lap.  JB did his own thing and jumped into the middle of the circle to help conduct the group.  Love those leadership skills!

And all the teachers let out a huge sigh of relief at the end of the program.  Success!!

Can't say it enough, but we love JB's little school, the sweet teachers and his special friends.  So thankful.

Another day in #Perrydise

The McLeods invited us down to their lake house this weekend for some good, clean fun for the big boys, the little boys, and the girls.  For the big boys, activities included deer hunting and deer hunting (and watching the kids - more on that in a sec).  BOR-ING, no pictures to post of them sitting silently in a deer stand for hours at a time.

For the little boys, there was ample space at the lake and the farm to run, play and be crazy.  And riding toys.  AND TRACTORS (like, big John Deere tractors - the real deal).  These boys were in absolute heaven with their Daddies out on the farm.

They also ate their weight in clementines. It's that time again!  JB will probably eat 4-5 a day for the rest of the winter…

JB and Mac also took good care of our little ginger sissy while we were at the lake. JB has gotten quite protective of Maryn.  Some other children wanted to ooh and ahh over her, and he rushed up, pushed them away, and said "no, MY sissy".  So sweet, but not quite the "sharing" behavior we are trying to teach. :)

Now, the boys took the kiddos (all three of them, on their own!) for the day on Saturday so the girls - Becca and I - could enjoy a little adventure in the big town of Perry to visit the Farmdale Cottage.  Southern lifestyle expert and designer (and friend of Becca's) James Farmer has built a new home, and he hosted an open house and lunch for people to enjoy it.

Farmdale Cottage

I took a few pictures so we could remember and covet these rooms.  Absolutely gorgeous, and I left telling him he was hired if/when I ever need an interior designer.   I truly think, with his help, I can achieve one of my lifetime goals of landing in Southern Living.

Kitchen

Dinner is served

Speaking of Southern Living, his home will be an available plan and featured in some upcoming issues.    As it should!

Just a good ole Fall weekend with some good friends and Southern culture.  Can't beat that.