Sarah's Last Supper

I think he is showing off his belly button!

He was very well-behaved--thanks to the straws!

Pax was loving on Brad's back--it was so sweet!

Sarah and Gabe

That is...with all her ribs. I don't mean to joke, because it's really serious. But, she goes in for surgery at 9 am tomorrow to have her first rib removed. Since her clogged artery episode, she's been having some numbness and tingling (that she didn't even mention to Suzie and I). So, her doctor said that by removing her rib it should fix the numbness. We sure hope it will!

So, we went to dinner to celebrate her wholeness one last time! Just kidding, Sarah! She and Gabe (her boyfriend) met us at the Irish Pub for dinner. It ended up being a triple date! So fun!! Anyway, Sarah, we're praying for you, and good luck!! We love you!

Fearless Swimmer

I took this video of Pax "jumping" off the steps at his swimming lesson today. He has no fear at all--we have GOT to get him swimming or we'll be in trouble! He liked to pretend he was going to go, as you can see from this clip! He did great with the first "jump," though!

Here is an irrelevant, but funny Paxton story for today: So, Pax loves to sit on the bathroom counter while I get ready and he plays with EVERYTHING on the counter! I'm right there, holding his leg, so he's safe. Plus, we're working on naming things, so there is plenty to name up there. :-) Anyway, this afternoon was no different. I'm getting ready, and he comes up, arms raised, and is saying, "Momma, uh-uh-uh", which is "up". So, I put him on the counter and he grabs the "B", which is brush (or anything that starts with a b lately). Then he grabs my toothbrush and sticks it in his mouth! I know this is gross, but hey, he's brushing his teeth himself!! Well, you can imagine how much slobber he has coming down his face, hands, and arms at this point. I let him play for a few more minutes, and then just have to take my toothbrush back. Then he found himself in the mirror, and starts tapping the mirror and saying, "Hey, baby!" over and over again! It was too cute, nevermind the mess he made on the mirror!! I'm sure Brad will have that cleaned off in no time, but I enjoyed hearing him string 2 words together, and it was just adorable him talking to his reflection like that!

I just had to share and document this precious story!

Peace of Mind

Today, peace of mind cost only $30. I took Pax to the doctor to get his ears checked, as well as his gums from his fall two weeks ago. It was a quick trip, and we ended up with peace of mind, which I was happy with! He now weighs 26.5 pounds, and they weighed him on the big boy scale instead of the infant one where you lay him down. The littlest mile markers show so much!

Anyway, as it turns out, his gums look fine, but his frenulum is ripped. This is the little piece that connects the top lip to your gums. (I had no clue what it was called!) The doctor said this is very common for it to rip, but it will never grow back. It won't cause any problems, so my question is....why did God create this if it has no purpose? :-)

Also, his ears look "clear", which is fabulous news, especially with all the swimming he's been doing! I was worried because he's been messing with them. Dr. Lynn said it could be from teething, which I had no clue there could be a connection there. But, she explained that the same nerves run between the molars and the ears. So, she examined his gums and said that he is cutting the other 3 molars along with the other one that has already come in. But, he's been pretty happy, so maybe we're through the worst of it!

Dauset Trail

Today we drove to Covington and then went with Keith and Melanie to Dauset Trail in Jackson. On the way, we stopped and had the best barbeque lunch I've ever tasted! In fact, when we got back, I told Mom about it and she said that was the same place that my grandpa used to drive to because he loved it so much! Anyway, Dauset Trail is a nature preserve with lots of animals that were napping while we were there (so no pictures). My favorite animals were the buffalo, even though they didn't get up. Pax was such a good sport, and he hadn't even had a nap all day! I would like to go back when the animals aren't asleep so we can see the cougar and some of the others up and running around. We need to find out what time they feed them!!

Rain.....What Rain???

Jacob, Garrett, Katherine, Mandi, and Pax

(3 out of 5 looking)

3 out of 5 again, plus some funny faces--BOYS! :-)

0 out of 5 for this one!!
This was soooo difficult to get 5 kids looking :-)

Sweet boys with Pax

Now this one is pretty good, except for the fact that Pax isn't even in focus!

Pax taking a break with Kristin

Garrett taking Pax down the slide with Mandi and Katherine looking on.

Wheeee!

I had planned our whole weekend with Kristin here, but I hadn't planned on a rainy day. So, when it rained all day Thursday, and was supposed to rain from 6 am to 6 pm on Friday, we decided to cancel our pool plans and meet up with the Mills Family at Monkey Joe's instead. However, the rain NEVER came!! It was pretty overcast and cool, but it still never rained!! Oh well, we'll have to go swim another time.

We've known the Mills since I had Mandi in my first class! I even got to have Jacob in my class this year! We just love them, and they all help out with Pax, so everyone has fun when we all hang out!

It was not near as much fun as spending the day in the sun at the pool, but we still enjoyed the inflatables. All the kids were so great with Pax. I was most surprised at how well Jacob and Garrett did with our Little Man. Garrett (only 5 years old) took Pax down the slide several times! Even though the workers were sticklers about the rules, we had a great time!

I am positive this isn't what Kristin had planned on doing when she came to visit, but she was a good sport about it! I was, however, hoping that she would climb the slide and play with us, but she didn't!! No fun! Just kidding, Kristin!

On Friday night we went to dinner with two teachers that Kristin and I both had, and that I still work with at Bill Arp. We also got to eat with another one of our friends that I hadn't seen in a very long time, either! It was so much fun to catch up with Joy! Here is the picture from dinner of the three of us girls.

I took this last picture before Kristin had to head back home today.

Thank you so much for coming, Kristin! It was so wonderful to see you and hang out together!!

3 Girls and 3 Boys

Amy, Kristin, and Anna

Brad and Brody

Pax loved sitting on the couch by Brody. He was surprisingly sweet and gentle with him!

Jayden and Pax did a great job sharing this truck!

Pax and K-K

Sweet baby Brody!

Anna and Jayden

My long-time friend, Kristin, came in town today from Texas. She went to elementary school with us, and then moved to Texas when we were in 7th grade. We were able to stay in touch (although she was the one that did such a great job with that part!), and she has come back to Douglasville several times to visit. She came last year for Paxton's baptism and then this summer, too. I hope that it will become an annual thing to see each other. We have to get out there to see her and her family sometime soon!

Today, we saw Anna and her two boys. Anna and Kristin both were teachers' kids at Bill Arp and were also close, so Kristin likes to see her when she comes in town, too! So, Anna brought her new little one, Brody, and Jayden over to visit. Brody is only 4 weeks old, and it was fun to see such a sweet, tiny baby. It seems like it's been forever since Pax was that size!! Brad also enjoyed holding Brody!

After we visited with the boys, the 2 older ones stayed at home and then us girls took Brody with us to dinner. We had such a nice time! Thanks to Anna's parents and Brad for keeping the "active" boys, we could actually visit with each other!

Swimming Lessons

He started making this cute face today!! He scrunches his face up and grins! It's too cute!

Me trying to get him to keep his legs behind him and kick

Getting ready to jump off the wall with Grandma

1, 2, 3

Jump!

Kick, kick, kick!

Yeah, Pax!!

Pax, Grandma, and Mr. Bill

Not very happy yesterday :-(

Today was Paxton's second day of swimming lessons, and he is becoming more and more comfortable in the water. We are actually getting a private lesson because no one else signed up for the class! Yesterday, I couldn't get in the water because I had to go back to work, but today I was able to do the lesson with him, and he did great! He likes to sit on the wall and jump off. We even started passing him under the water back and forth. He is turning into quite the little fish!!