Great Loss.

Since I made a recent post about my friend, Shaun, who was in a battle with cancer, I thought an update would be appropriate.


Shaun passed away last Saturday, August 1 around 4:30pm while at the hospital. I was unable to attend the funeral due to travel expenses, but I was thankful that my mom and dad were able to attend and report. Shaun was a life-long friend and he will be greatly missed. Although we were hours away for several years, he was the kind of friend that you could visit when you were able to and never feel like you had to warm up to eachother again. You don't get many of those in a life-time. I was grateful he was here to be in my wedding and the time we spent as friends. I am thankful that I got to visit with him a couple times back home a few weeks before he passed away as well.

Thank you to those of you who were faithful in prayer through Shaun's struggle. Please continue to remember Brandee (wife) and Kendle (4yr old daughter) in your prayers as they are greiving their great loss. It's an overwhelming blessing to have faith in a good and sovereign God.

What is an "Ear of Corn" anyway?

Do I really need to write anything? Our first experience with food in the ear. We don't think she even knew she put it in there until Tami said something and then she felt it. I headed off to the bathroom with Olivia to get the tweesers (and the camera). While putting the camera up, I hear Olivia yell, "I got it!" No tweesing needed....sheewwww....

Little or Big....Make Up Your Mind!

Need a laugh....read on.....

OK, so a month or two ago I ask Olivia, "Olivia, can you get Daddy a small piece of toilet paper to blow my nose with?" So, like the sweet girl she is, she says, "I can get it for you," and promptly runs to the bathroom. She returns with a grateful, innocent heart and says, "Here ya go Dad," with her hand outstretched pinching a 2-inch long sliver of toilet paper. "Thank you sweetie," I say as I'm holding back the laughter....

Now, fast forward to a couple days ago....I've grown wiser now right?

I've got the kiddies solo for the evening and I was lucky enough to get Olivia fed before Isaac woke up. So I'm feeding Isaac on the couch and I ask Olivia, "Olivia, can you get Daddy a 'big' piece of toilet paper to wipe Isaac's nose with?" I decided to be smart and not say 'small piece' so I wouldn't get the sliver I got last time, right?! As she's walking away grateful for the opportunity to help, I give a hopeful request, "Or you could just get a napkin from your table in the kitchen," thinking that asking for a 'big piece' might be a bad idea too. So she bypasses the kitchen and heads for the bathroom. Olivia returns about 2 minutes later (this was fine with me because I got some quiet focused feeding time for Isaac-he gets distracted to say the least). This is what she returned with. I think she's got BIG and little down pretty good ya think!

A few minutes after getting the 'big piece' of toilet paper, Olivia tells me she has to go potty...this is what I found in the bathroom. At least it wasn't an entire roll! Hehehehe...

She Sits on the Throne. He Just Sits.

At 2 years & 2 months, Olivia is potty trained! ...I think. We tried a nap with no diaper today and she made it through high and dry!!!! And the nap happened to be 3 1/2 hours long (which is a never!). She's been the past week with no diaper during the day, and no accidents! She gets one jellybean each time she goes and 2 for a #2 or telling me while in the car (which happened today as well). Hallelujah!

And Isaac is almost sitting up by himself! He turns 6 months old on the 29th. We'll have to have cake and ice cream! ...Or at least ice cream!

Life-'Long' Friend

While visiting my folks in MO, I had to make a visit to one of my best friends since 6th grade, whom I've made lots of good memories with, Shaun Long. He's been battling cancer for well over a year now, but hasn't given up....and won't. Below is a picture of him and his 4-year old daughter Kendle. Although his appearance might not be the same, his personality hasn't changed much. I was happy to see that when I went to see him. Shaun attended my wedding 4 years ago, soon after Kendle's birth, as one of my groomsmen. Those of you know him, please be in prayer for a miracle to take place in his body and for his continued growth toward Christ.

Shaun's mother-in-law is raising money for cancer research by organizing a golf tournament at Columbia Country Club (in August I think). They're looking for players, donations, and sponsors if you're able and interested. http://www.longstrokesforacure.com/ (under construction I think)

Mark It On The Calendar!

On July 5, Olivia caught her first fish! We were visiting Nana and Gramp in MO and took a trip to their lakehouse. I was SSOOOO proud and happy for her. She even grabbed it in the mouth to hold it and wasn't afraid to hold the hook with a worm on it.....cooooolllll! She caught a couple more the following day. I tried to get her to kiss the fish, but that was her line. Hehehe, maybe next time! :)

4th of July in MO

We chose to fly to Missouri this time to visit family. LOVED it. So much better than driving umpteen million hours. The only hard parts were carrying 2 kids (ok, one walks.....but real slow), 2 carseats, 1 backpack, and 1 rolling carry-on across the airports and kids missed a good nap. Isaac was hilarious on one flight. He would not sit up in my lap. He wanted to lay down with his legs sprawled between the seat in front and Justin's leg. He wiggled and moved the whole time, but didn't cry, so it was great. The first flight (not the picture) Olivia was awed by the clouds.....as was I. (T)

This is at Nana and Gramp's house. Isaac is almost sitting up by himself. Couldn't pass up this picture. Too cute.

We went to St. Louis over the 4th weekend to stay with Katie and family. We had a picnic lunch while visiting Grant's Farm.

The "kids" were fun animals. They tried to eat everything. "Our kids" had lots of smiles and laughs.

Olivia and Aleah (not pictured) rode a pony at the O'Fallon 4th of July fair & fireworks. However, we never saw the fireworks. It started pouring rain 30min. before they were supposed to go off. We had to hike about 1/2 mile back to the car. Nate, Aleah, and Karsen had a blast. Olivia was a little unsure about getting soaked. Isaac stayed dry in the stroller under the tarp. Katie, Justin, and I were laughing all the way back to the car thinking about what a memory we were making!

Karsen and Olivia enjoying playing with each other once again.

Aunt Katie had an awesome hot rod that Olivia was determined to go forward in.

Before leaving Columbia we visited The Arc (gym/pool). Isaac got to splash with Nana. Olivia enjoyed not wearing a life jacket. He he.

Unforgettable 2's

Quotes and conversations from our 2yr old daughter that make us smile and sometimes die laughing. Too fun not to share.

1) There's fuzz in my toes mama.
2) I need a poon. (spoon)
3) It's o-tay Izit. (Isaac)
4) I see a poop. (poop)
5) All with hand motions and enthusiasm;
Boom! Like that.
Crash! Like that.
Crunch! Like that.
6) While in the car driving;
Olivia: (demanding) No big toes, no!
Tami: What are your big toes doing?
Olivia: They're playing with my little baby toes.
7) It's morning day dadda, wate up. It's white outside.
8) I'm cramping mama.
9) Rub my armpits mom.
10) Bran buds help me poop.

To Eat or Not?

Definitely To Eat. Isaac ate his first real deal food. This was the first. Saturday Night. Rice. He ate all I fixed. Not sure how much it was.....just "wingin' it".

This was the second. Monday. Prunes. Thought it might "help" him a little. I think he liked them because he ate half the container. We'll see if that was too much tomorrow. I know....bibs...use bibs. Is that what you are thinking? The feedings have been spurt of the moment and I haven't brought the bibs downstairs yet. Soon. Very soon. Who knows what and when he will get more food????

These were just cute pictures from Father's Day. (We spent the day at my parents and then out to eat with the fam: Grandaddy, Judy, and her kids.)

Round em up for diaper changing. I missed the shot, but at one point, they both were looking at me with their feet up in the air while holding their toes. It made me smile big.

One of my friends invited us to an open gym for kids. We've been a few Fridays in a row. Olivia has really had a good time there: tampolines, foam blocks, slide, bouncy floor, etc. OK....and Dad had a really fun time too when he went!

Chronicles Of A Vibrating 2 Year Old

Several days ago Olivia and I (Dadda) are making a breakfast smoothie. She's standing on the counter next to the blender and dropping in the fruit, etc. I turn the blender on and the mixing begins.... Olivia looks at me with a smile, hands on her belly and says, "It's vibrating me Dadda." In total amazement of her ability to insert the word vibrate correctly in conversation (and much less say the word clearly), I respond with some laughter, "Yes it is vibrating you."

Vibrate - Take 2 -

So we're all at the mall and I've got Olivia in the stroller and Tami is somewhere else with Isaac. I'm looking for a new pair of shoes and Tami is trying to call me. Olivia is laying back in the car seat and suddenly sits up and in the most curious voice says, "Dadda, what's that vibrating me?" I look at her just as curious trying to figure out what in the world she was talking about. I soon realized my phone wasn't in my pocket, but in the cup holder of the stroller set on 'vibrate only'.

Sitting here writing this post I realized that she learned the word from those small stationary infant seats that vibrate. She turns it on and off for Isaac and her dolls frequently. It's amazing when and how they pick things up!!!