Fall 2011

Since my last post, life has been pretty busy. Pryce is going to be a big brother, we vacationed, have been working on letting go of our paci, becoming acquainted with potty training, and getting ready for the transition to a big boy bed. Hard to believe it's already October! We had a big weekend...went to the Westview Harvest Hoedown and then to Guthrie's Pumpkin Patch with our friends David, Holly, Jake, and Ben. Here are some pictures to catch us up since June...

Summertime!

With temperatures in the 90's, we are finding ourselves at the pool quite a bit already this summer! Pryce absolutely loves the water...with such a fearlessness that may warrant concern at times. His one exception: getting his head under water. Hence, we had our first swimming lesson last week! Our first lesson was fantastic! Pryce took right to Miss Rachel, and was blowing bubbles in the water, kicking in the water, and jumping off the side to her (even getting his head barely under). We were SO proud! Lesson 2...not so good. He cried the entire time and was really clingy to his mommy. He did marginally better at his third lesson, perhaps in part because his mommy hid out in the clubhouse watching from the window and his daddy kept a distance as well. This week, we've decided to drop him off and 'leave' (hide out in the clubhouse where he won't see us). Here are some of the latest pictures (including proud father and son showing off Pryce's Father's Day gift to Luke that daycare did).

Pryce's 2nd Birthday

May 1 came and went so quickly, as have most days over the past two years. I can't believe my baby is already two years old (what parent can?)! Pryce has overwhelmed us with the sweetest joy we've ever known, as well as some of the most challenging moments we've experienced (I hear it gets worse as they get older). Basic elements of raising a child like dirty diapers, throwing fits, and teaching him wrong from right are obviously some of those moments, but lately molding this little one's future has taken front seat and we find ourselves feeling like the path we're trying to steer is rather narrow. I absolutely love watching Pryce learn...as I'm sure most other parents do. One of my proudest moments lately is hearing that Pryce is doing so well with his first memorized Bible verse...'Trust in the Lord and do good' (which has also made me wish I was familiar enough with scripture to be able to reference where it is in the Bible). He can sign it, and has such a pleased expression when he finishes. We're gradually working on potty training. Mostly Pryce just wants a piece of toilet paper on which he first blows his nose & then tucks away into the toilet bowl...we'll get there, I suppose. Here are some of the latest pictures including his 2nd birthday (only a month late)...

Easter 2011

Easter is one of those holidays that doesn't get much hype, but each year I come to realize it's one of the best holidays there is, and how much I take for granted what the celebration is really all about. The Easter bunny came to visit at our house and at Grams & Grandaddy's! We went to church this morning, then to Grams's house for lunch, and then spent the afternoon and evening washing cars and grilling hamburgers. We watched a little of Robin Hood (one of the treats the Easter Bunny brought). Another great weekend!

Pryce - Plain & Simple

I log on to see blog updates on a pretty frequent basis...it's one way I can keep up with some I have lost touch with, or just see picture updates. But, then, there are also a few that I check in on because I know they will be so uplifting or move me in some way (I'm sure they don't even know I follow their blog, but that's what I sort of like most about it...). I've just finished reading about a high school/college friend that has struggled too much recently with miscarriage, another friend who has a great testimony with the loss of a child. So, it is with slight embarrassment and complete gratitude that the most I can offer up are posts like this one....about poo.

Pryce has done several pretty big things lately. He jumps (while not terribly high, we still think it counts). He is a fierce tickle monster (which his teachers tell us he has started doing to some of his friends at daycare). Luke says he thinks it's almost better to be the victim of his tickle attacks than to get a hug from him (I'm a little torn...they're both so sweet). And, he has begun to tell us 'Poo' and point to his rear end. Truth be told, he usually doesn't offer this up until after the fact, but at least he's starting to identify it, right? So, last Thursday night, Luke went to meet some guys to watch basketball. Before I gave Pryce a bath, he said the infamous 'Poo', and I instantly stripped him down & placed him on the potty......and.....he did both #1 & #2 for real on the potty! Like a big boy! We did a big cheer, and he spent the next few minutes in disbelief, looking down at his work and exclaiming 'WOW'. It was a big moment. When we finished his bath, we took one last viewing before flushing it down, and I had to take a picture.

So, that's it for us....just enjoying life....even when it's full of crap.

Pryce & Parker

Our great friends, Stephanie, Robbie, and Parker Allen, all made their way to Chattanooga last weekend to visit with us. We always adore it when they come, and we are so grateful for good friends like them! We can pick up right where we left off, and it's becoming more and more fun to watch Pryce and Parker play together. We all went to Imagination Station Saturday afternoon and played good, then came back and caught up until time for dinner. We went to Lupi's for dinner (thank goodness it's loud in there...the boys made their fair share of noise). We had a great time....can't wait to see them again!

Snow Day!

We awoke this morning to several inches of snow (somewhere around 6")! Pryce, as usual, was our little alarm clock (we could hear him over the monitor just gabbing away, and every now and then calling out for 'Da Da'). The snow was beautiful! Luke's work was closed today, and I luckily got to work from home. We had a fun day, went out to play for a little while, and enjoyed our time together! When it snowed on Christmas, Pryce wouldn't have a thing to do with putting on his gloves. However, today, he was surprisingly cooperative, and realized he really liked playing in the snow!