what happened?

WOW. I have no words. That was quite a hiatus wasn't it? I definitely did not mean for almost 3 months to go by without a single post. I have no idea what happened.

It's like this summer has come and gone in a blur. It's hard to remember what we have even done. I feel like all of June was dedicated to my sister's wedding in Destin, and then to her reception here back home. And then July just flew by and now...and well now, it's August. And Luke starts school in 3 weeks. Preschool. *sniff sniff*

Oh, and I'm already planning his birthday party for the beginning of September since we will be gone on another vacation on his birthday week.

There is just so much going on.

I am going to make it a point to get on here and blog about our family more. I don't want to forget anything about the kids when they are this little. Especially because as we watch Caleb hit all these milestones, hubby and I have talked about how hard it is to picture Luke that small. And I don't want that vicious cycle to continue as both boys grow.

Caleb has already changed so much even since his first birthday (which I never got around to blogging about) and Luke just seems so grown up and preschooler like.

I don't even know where to begin.

But I will begin.

soon.

promise.

haven't forgotten!

I have LOTS to write about. But have had no motivation to come here and blog. Caleb has officially turned one (a few weeks ago! which I can't believe I haven't posted about yet), Luke's soccer is almost done (which I haven't even shown you pictures of how stinkin CUTE he is out there!), and well, summer is almost here with Luke's last day of speech tomorrow morning.

I promise I will catch up. I started this so I wouldn't forget anything. So be looking back soon. k?!?!

April Showers....

Bring out the MAY o's flowers...

Okay that was cheesy, but serioulsy the rain could not keep this little boy away! He had to get out his rain boots and his "ungella" and go for a walk....

and ride his Gator


all in the pouring down rain.

but serioulsy, look at these puppy dog eyes?!?!~ Could you say no to that face when he asked to go out there? We sure couldn't.

But these showers better seriously help out our flowers! and plants. and well, we'd be happy with just getting our grass to grow without clover this year!!

Winning

"I want to win"
"I'm going to win!"
"I'm really really fast"

These are all phrases that have been coming out of our little boys mouth lately. At first it was really cute, but now he is always saying it. He will stand out on the soccer field, during both practices and games, and it announce it loud enough for everyone to hear it.

Hubby and I have been tryin to explain to him that there is more than just winning. But it's hard to know if he is still really grasping the idea. I mean he gets that it's nice to have other people win because everytime we race him he will slow way down and let us win. And then say "great job mom! Bur next time I will win and you can tell me good job Lukie". Haha.

He's hilarious but still needs to know this concept.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Time

Time. It has caught up with me again. I just can't seem to get it together these days! I'm so behind on everything. On cleaning. Laundrying. and Blogging. We have just been far to busy these past days and weeks doing everything we could OUTSIDE! The weather has been far to great to stay in and boy to our boys love it.

Caleb had his first bike ride. Which he thought was so cool. Until his brother got in there with him and annoyed him. But he sure loved the wind in his hair....er...I mean curly mullet hair.

I think we have been to every park in about a 10 mile vicinity in the past 2 weeks. It has been sooo much fun! Daddy even got to take the morning off one day and go with us for a picnic lunch. I, of course, forgot the camera.

But anyway, here are all our Easter pictures. super late, but I can't NOT post about Caleb's FIRST Easter!

We started out the weekend taking the kids to an egg hunt at our local park. It was raining. IT WAS POURING. But you better believe we were out there with our umbrellas and baskets! Luke got moved up to the 3-5 year old hunt. Talk about FAST! wowzers those eggs were gone in like 2 minutes. And our son, the fastest 3 year old we have ever known, made his egg hunt unique to himself. He started off when they blew the whistle in a full out sprint to be the first kid in the middle of the yard, and then turned right around (without grabbing any eggs) and ran right back to us. We think he thought it was a race. He did eventually get some eggs, and it's all on video. Absolutely hilarious. But at least this year he grasped the concept a little more....last year he was putting the eggs in every other kids basket.

Anyway, after that we headed over to Lala and Papaw's.

Had to get one of me and hubby. love him!

My sweetest nephew was bound and determined to get to those eggs. He even brought along his trusty mallet to knock down anyone in his path....

Mamaw had a grand ole time holding the youngest Mayo baby....

Luke of course had to get all the candy out of his eggs ASAP,

As did Caleb...Except these were Jayden's...Ooops! Just got a little excited huh buddy??

Uncle D showing them how to spread out the goods and count the eggs.

Papaw and Caleb got pretty relaxed as the day went on too...

Easter Sunday after a great church sermon we headed off to Mimi and Papaw Jeff's. and yes. you guessed it...another Easter Egg Hunt.

Caleb had some mad skills this year....

Luke had the best time ever playing with one of his favorite cousins.

And Grandma sure did enjoy her surprise pictures of all 10 of her great-grandkids! We absolutely got the reaction we were hoping for.

And we couldn't have a 2010 Easter pic without all the babies all us cousins were pregnant with this time last year!

That just about sums up Easter. It was filled of fun. Laughter. Family. Candy. And more candy. and we are still eating Candy!

****stayed tuned for Caleb's FIRST birthday. Yep. FIRST birthday. Sometimes I think my eyes are not reading it right, but it's true. He will be 1. *sniff *sniff **** I will post again before his actual birthday, but still....it's coming up!

What does a Thursday night at our house look like?

THIS.

It involves some pretty funny stuff

Needless to say I became quickly impressed with the Mayo's head standing abilities. I, unfortunately cannot perform this skill. Or have ever been able too, or will probably never attempt for that matter. But still, very impressive.

Happy Birthday to Mommy!

Well, it was about 2 weeks ago now, but I wanted to document it none the less. I turned 27. Yes, 27. I still can't believe it, 27! Maybe if I keep saying, well, typing it, it won't be true.

I know it's not "old" to some. But to me, 27 seems old. You know when your 18 and graduating high school and you think about what your life might entail in the next 9-10 years....27/28 seemed old! and now....here I am.

but at least I am happy to report this is exactly where I thought I would be at 27. (Despite the fact I don't have the year of teaching under my belt quite yet thanks to our little unexpected blessing, Luke)

Life is good. I am loving it. Loving my hubby, loving my kids, and just loving life. I wouldn't want my 27th birthday to be spent in any other way.

Loving this time of year...

And so are the boys.

Hoping for more days like this one!

10 months old

Caleb Benjamen you are 10 months old. You have changed our life so much in these past 10 months, we don't know what we would do without you sweet boy.

At 10 months

You can...

**scoot around all over the place on your bottom. Seriously this is hilarious and any attempt we make at putting you on your hands and knees to crawl, you immediately push your little self right onto your bottom and scoot away. You are starting to get pretty fast too....

**pull to stand, but you don't always do this. You like to pull up half way so that you have one leg bent and are on your knee and the other one is propped out like you are going to stand at any moment and then never do. But, you are content playing like that....

**hold your own bottle now. And drink out of a sippy cup. We didn't know you could do this until a few days ago when I handed you a cup to drink at dinner time and you tilted it up and sucked down your juice. It was so funny!

**eat mostly table food now. Anything you can pick up to feed yourself is better than baby food and man can you eat!!!!

You LOVE

**your blankie. Oh man, as soon as you see that thing laying on the floor (or anywhere else really) you will scoot over to it grab it and immediately do a face plant right into it. Sometimes we will even hear you say "awwwww!!"

**to eat. anything really. The only food we have found you don't really care for is mac and cheese. Which is a bummer because this is your brothers favorite thing so we have it a lot.

**to talk. You just got tubes put in your ears a few days ago, and even though you were babbling before, you are talking up a storm these days repeating most anything we say. Well trying to at least. The words we have heard you say and you know what they mean are "dada", "mama", "more", and "bubba" (for brother).

**your brother. You think he is so funny. Except for the times he annoys you, and then you have a high pitch scream to let us all know you are annoyed.

**to try and make us all laugh. You make silly faces or will just laugh out of the blue at anything or, well, nothing. It's so funny.

**to play patty cake. Especially with your brother.

you really DISLIKE

**not getting to take your naps. You love your naps, but especially in your bed.

**any kind of food that has a weird texture, like rice or mac n cheese.

There really isn't much you don't like, you are a pretty happy baby.

you are starting to like:

**stuffed animals. You will kiss them if we say, "aww, give it a kiss"

**cars. You are starting to move them around on the floor like big brother does and want to play with all of them...even brother's hot wheels cars that you know you are not supposed to touch.

Your schedule is really pretty predictable now too. Which makes life really easy for mom and dad and brother. You get 2 naps a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon the same time brother does. You get 3 bottles a day, about 6-8oz each. And you eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with us, with mostly table food.

You have 6 teeth, weigh just about 19lbs, and your eyes are still sooooooo blue. We always say how we could just stare at them all day and get lost.

We love you so much Dubs. And can't wait to see how much you grow in the next 2 months. Love you buddy!

surgery went well!

Caleb's ear tube placement went very well. He was only gone from us for close to 10 minutes. Which isn't very long, but I still got anxious. We were able to bring him home right away and we were home by 9:15! His procedure was scheduled for 8 am, so it was very quick. He had no current ear infection, but his doctor did say that his ear drums were sucked in pretty far, especially on the left side. (our ear drums are supposed to be flat enough that they will bounce back and forth with noise so that we can hear clearly, Caleb's were definitely not flat, which made him sound like he was underwater or in an airplane) We are thankful for the ENT that worked on him and will now continue to pray his ear infections stay far away!

He is totally acting like himself again, and we have even noticed he is talking a whole lot more than he did before. It's so cute. His little voice is so precious.

Be looking for another post or 2 very soon!

Big Day Tomorrow!

Please keep Caleb in your prayers tomorrow morning. He is having tubes put in his ears at 8am. This is just a simple procedure, but it does involve him being put out. Which makes me nervous. Hopefully this will work, and this silly boy won't have any more fluid in his ears!! and NO MORE ear infections!

Thanks.

The Many Face of Luke...

The Happy Face

The Sad Face

The Mad Face

The Suprised Face


This kid cracks us up.....

Like Brother, like, well...Brother....

Caleb has really perfected the art of watching TV....

Just like his brother did....

Oh, Brother....

Oh the love these brothers have for each other, or maybe just suckers.

yet another rambling

Seems I've had a lot of these lately. I guess I've just been in a weird mood the last few weeks. I don't know.

I have not been able to go to sleep at night. I will lay there in bed wide awake until well past midnight, and even past 1am on some nights. And it's not that I'm not tired. I'm exhausted. I can feel how tired I am, but my eyes just won't stay closed and the sandman just doesn't show up.

But last night, as I was laying in bed till all hours of the night, I realized why I can't sleep.

I dwell on things. And by things, I mean my kids. I dwell on things we did that day, and how I yelled too much or didn't play when he wanted me too. But now I've come to a realization as to why it's hitting me so hard. Luke is starting preschool next year. PRESCHOOL. My baby will be going to school 2 days a week. Do you know what that means?

This is the last semester I have with him all day, every day. ever. He will now be embarking on his life of school.... and I'm sad! I know I shouldn't feel this way. But I can't help it. I will literally cry about it at night while laying in bed and think, this is silly...Luke is so ready for this. Why aren't you?!?!

Because he's my baby. My first, sweet baby boy. My best buddy during the day. We play and share all day long. Who else is going to show me the best way to draw a dinosaur? or how to read his favorite pigeon books in just the right way? or, heck, help me sweep the floors or fetch things for his brother?? I don't want to share him with a teacher and a classroom full of kids. I want to hear him laugh at their jokes, or watch him as he attempts to sit criss cross applesauce at story time. Or see the how he learns how to hold his crayon and scissors the correct way. I wonder if they would let me put a video camera in their room??? hmmm.....

Why does time go by so fast? Why is it time for him to grow up and for me to let go a little? I'm so not ready for this. I know. It's only preschool, it's time to let him learn things without me. But darn, I'm going to miss this kid so stinkin much I can't stand it.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Brandon turned thirty. Yep. You read that right. Thirty! It's so hard to believe we have known each other since he was twenty. Ten years has come and gone way to fast. But I am more thankful for this man today than ever before. He is our family rock, decision-maker, protector, and provider. I don't know where I'd be without him and am so thankful that his parents had him thirty years ago and raised him to be the man he is.

So, to celebrate him turning old. (I can say that people, I still have 3 more years!), we had a surprise party for him. We invited all our close family and friends to come and celebrate with us...and it was such a great time. Brandon was so happy to see everyone. Thank you everyone who came.... you mean so much to Brandon (and to me too, of course)!!

He spent the day with his dad and brothers at the Casino. (Both of our other plans fell through to get him out of the house....thanks to ESPN moving the Butler game to later in the day, and to the golf course similutar place for not being able to fix the simulator since it broke down 2 days prior!)

They came in and Brandon wasn't fooled! He said he had an incling....geesh! But at least he was a little surprised.

We had cake and Luke was so excited to help Daddy blow out the candles he stuck his whole hand into one whole corner of the cake....he was a little embarrassed, but it was absolutely hilarious!

Luke and Daddy with the gift Luke got him. A motorcycle racing game.

Caleb loved having both his grandma's around for the day. Here he is getting loved on by both Mimi and Lala.

The cousins really enjoyed playing together with balloons and running around. And eating cake together.

My nephew Jayden loved taking pictures with Luke's camera. Here he is getting a picture of his mommy getting a picture of him! How cute is he?!?!

Our family.

Brandon and his parents.

Brandon with me and my mom. And thanks to her and Brandon's mom. I seriously could not have pulled it off without your help!

A little more of the after party. Luke dancing and singing to Black Eyed Peas (we are going to their concert next week!!!!!!) and Jayden hanging out with his Uncle B.