Sick Baby Boy :(

Hollis starting running a fever the Thursday before my birthday, so off we went to the Dr Friday morning.  Dr said it was a virus, so continue with Ibuprofen and Tylenol and call if it got worse.  We were ready to call of the celebrations Saturday, but he seemed to be perking up a little.  As the day went on, he just wasn't himself, lying around and pitiful.  He ended up running a fever again Saturday night and all day Sunday, higher than it had been over the last couple of days.  I could tell he felt worse and Sunday night he started with the croup/bark cough.  I knew it right away because Clayton had croup when he was little.  It is really scary because their airway swells and the cough sounds awful.  He was so pitiful.  I spent most of the night up rocking him and taking him into the steamy bathroom.  On Monday we went back to the Dr and he confirmed it was croup and put him on a steroid.  He continued to feel bad for the entire next week, slowly but surely getting better.  I hate when my babies are sick :(  Glad we are on the mend and so incredibly thankful and blessed that they are otherwise healthy and happy!  Such a gift!!!!

Fun in a Box!

Hollis loves to climb in, on, over, under, and everything in  between.  We have these brown canvas boxes that we use to store toys.  These boxes are his absolute favorite place to hang out while watching TV.  It must be awfully cozy in this box because he loves it.  He is way too cute :)

Mommy's Birthday!

I had such a great birthday this year.  The only thing I would have changed would be that my little man Hollis didn't feel well (ended up having croup :/)  We had Starbucks and Donut Bank for breakfast, then I wanted to take the boys bowling for the first time.  Hollis didn't feel well, so he just hung out, but Clayton loved it!  We had the bumpers put up and the ramp and he went to town!!!  After bowling we went to lunch at Cheddars, one of my favorite restaurants.  We all came home and took naps, and then had dinner with friends at Biaggis to end the day!  The perfect birthday :)

Hollis is 21 months!!!!!

Wow, time is flying...seriously!  Hollis is growing like a weed and doing and saying so many new things it is hard to keep up!!

*He loves to play t-ball...seriously, we never even showed him how to do it and he puts the ball on the T, and hits it off with no help

*He also took right to soccer, its like he automatically knew to kick the ball

*He is putting two words together and saying new words all the time...specifically he says "Bye bye Clayton" as clear as day (when we say goodnight, he says bye bye instead), he also says yeah (for yes) to questions...he has many words in his vocabulary now and surprised me every day by saying something new.

*Getting very independent and thinks he can do everything big brother can do...he no longer wants to be carried up or down stairs, he wants to walk himself!

*Still climbs everything...and I mean EVERYTHING!

*Loves this push duck toy, pushing trains on the train track, lining up cars, being read to, playing inside his playhouse, swinging, going down the slide, and being chased!!!

*Still a picky eater...loves peanut butter!!!

*Still a huge mommy's boy and does not like to be separated from me, and pretty much won't go to anyone else if I'm around!  We just started putting him in the nursery at church and he is NOT a fan!!!

*Started Kindermusik back up and he loves it, but he also loves to run around the room like a wild man ;)

*Loves, loves, loves my mom's dog Lilly...and he used to be terrified of dogs...no more, he loves them now!

*Addicted to our Iphones at 21months...he points to it and says "mine!"  oh dear :)

*Loves to wrestle with his Daddy and brother!

*Loves to be pushed around on the tricycle!

*Not a fan of going to the Dr anymore, he cries the moment I sit him on the scale, I remember Clayton going through that phase too :)

*Such a sweet and loving baby with a laugh that makes anyone near him laugh and smile with him.  He is a huge cuddle bug :)

*Pretends to talk on the phone...especially to Dora, yes he is still a huge fan ;)

Holiday World Fun!

We had already been to Holiday World with Scott this summer, but mom wanted to take a day off and go with the boys and I as well.  We pick the perfect day...sunny, 80, and no humidity!  It was so nice, it was almost too cool to swim!  It really was a perfect day of fun.  The boys had no nap and did terrific.  They are getting to the point where they can go every now and then without one and be okay.  We swam, ate lunch, and rode LOTS of rides.  Clayton even rode several big rides again with NO fear!  He rode the log ride, the big metal flying birds, the scrambler, and the turkey ride.  He of course rode all of the "kid" rides too.  Hollis even rode his first ride!!!  He is such a climber I had been so scared of putting him on the rides for fear he would decide he wanted out in the middle of the ride and climbing out.  We picked the rockets, strapped him down tight, and he LOVED it!  He sat perfectly still, I think he just couldn't believe he was actually riding it!!!  It was so cute, especially the look on his face.  We had such a great time, I can't wait to go back in October during the Halloweekends!!!!

Zoo Fun!

We are members of Mesker Park Zoo, so we are there often!  This summer has been an extremely HOT one, so our trips have been limited lately.  We just had a streak of wonderful 80 degree/low humidity weather in the middle of August, which was a treat.  The boys and I headed there and took our time going through and enjoying the day.  We usually go with friends, which we love...but it was nice to go by ourselves for a change as well and just let them take there time and go wherever they wanted to go.  We even stopped down at the bottom of the rhino exhibit and had a rest and a snack.  Clayton even found a little lizard friend :)  I love days like these and truly savor these days with my boys and know how very lucky and blessed I am to be able to stay at home with them!

We also met our friends Jennifer, Madalyn, and Drew for the first time at the zoo.  Jennifer is new to staying at home, so it was so nice to have playdate with them.  Madalyn and Clayton hit it off right away and really enjoyed the day together!

Mullins Summer Get Together

We drove to Paducah to Scott's Cousin's house for the Mullins family get together.  We don't get to see them often enough, so I always look forward to seeing them.  The boys love to play with their cousins.  We had a great meal of BBQ and great company.  Great Granny Mullins even bought the kids a giant water slide to play on!  They loved it!  It was a great day, but the boys were beyond exhausted by the time we left.  No naps=unhappy babies!  They did so well considering!  Looking forward to seeing everyone again over the holidays!

Excuse Me!

Clayton is always saying such cute things.  I could kick myself half of the time for not writing them all down because I know one day I will regret it!  My babies have always gone grocery shopping with me from the day they were born, and they love it!  Clayton is big enough now that if I have a lot to get he gets to walk beside the cart.  He really thinks this is big stuff, and he is so good about staying with me.  We even had a cashier compliment him on it one time.  Another thing we have always pushed is manners...please, thank you, excuse me, etc.  The other day Clayton wasn't looking where he was going while walking down the aisle at the grocery because something had caught his eye.  He looked up just in time to see a woman pushing her cart and he politely says (without prompting), "excuse me".  She was really taken back, and this huge grin came across her face and she said, "you are excused young man".  She was so impressed with his manners and the fact that I didn't have to prompt him.  He got so much attention from this lady because of it that he continued to say "excuse me" to every single person that walked anywhere near us at the store.  It was hilarious and extremely cute.  Needless to say, he caused a lot of smiles at the grocery that morning and he made me one proud Mommy!

Olympic Swimmer!

We all know Clayton loves the water and swimming.  Scott...loves, and I mean LOVES the Olympics.  This being said, he had Clayton all pumped up for the summer Olympics this year.  We even had an opening ceremony party at our house with some fellow Olympic lovers, the Falconers.  It was a great time.  We had red, white, and blue themed food, Olympic medals, red/white/blue hair extensions, stars and stripes hats, and chocolate gold medal coins.

 This theme continued throughout the Olympics and Clayton's favorite thing to watch was the swimming, of course.  One night I came home to Clayton with his goggles and Olympic medal on, "swimming" his race in the living room.  It was beyond cute, and he was VERY serious about it!!!  Who knows, maybe we have a future Olympic swimmer on our hands.  It wouldn't surprise me, this is one determined kiddo :)

Louisville Zoo

The boys and I went to Louisville Zoo once already this summer while Scott was working in Louisville, but we wanted to go back when he could go.  We headed up on a Friday.  It rained on us all the way there, but God was definitely looking out for us because as soon as we pulled into the parking lot it stopped raining and didn't rain once while we were there!  It was overcast, so the weather was nice and cool, and nobody was there which was even better!!!  Clayton was especially excited about the traveling dinosaur exhibit that was there.  I had been dying to take him and I knew it was only there until the end of August so we got there just in the nick of time.  It was unbelieveable!  The dinosaurs were life size and moved and sounded like real dinosaurs!  They were out in an undeveloped part of the zoo, so it really felt like we were in the jungle on a dinosaur hunt!!!  Clayton was in heaven...Hollis, however, was NOT a fan!!!  He was absolutely terrified :(  We made it through though!

We saw so many cool animals.  Both boys love the zoo.  We also did the splash park, the carosel and Dora 4D movie, which they both loved!!  Clayton said his favorite animals were the polar bear and giraffes.  It was such a great family day, and there is nothing I love more than being with my family!  We went until they could go no more, and both were out the moment we started driving.  I love that zoo, can't wait to go back in the fall :)