One + One = Our Precious Two

Ian has a lot to say. Always has. But give him a few of his trains and he's off in a completely different world. He narrates, acts out, does voice over, invents new characters and gets completely lost in his stories. It is beautiful. Precious. And quite a thing to witness.




Andrew is such a beautiful boy. I'm not sure if that gets lost between the stories of his exploits, his energy, his Bam-Bam and Animal-like tendencies, the ways he constantly makes us laugh. But his eyes, his smiles, and his love are so expressive, so joyful, so exuberant. I snapped these the other day as he was eating breakfast. He just takes my breath away! (And then knocks it out of me! :))




The two...
These boys really, truly love each other. Sure, there are squeals and raised voices. There are tears. And shoves. And lots of frustration. There are constant struggles with sharing (Ian's got a leg up on Andrew on this one), and looks of confusion that pass between me and each of them. But there is no love like the love they share. They are the first thing the other looks/asks for when they wake. They talk to and entertain each other all day long. They play chase and surprise and offer 'gifts' to each other at odd moments of the day. The hug and kiss spontaneously, and can make the other laugh in a way that no one else is able to. It is a precious, treasured, beautiful bond that I am so honored to witness.

I snapped these pictures the other day as Ian was helping Andrew remember the signs for please and thank you. Andrew broke into such a grin when Ian approached. He reached out, and with his full strength, pulled Ian into a bear hug. They hugged and kissed like this for the next 8 minutes. No lie. And then proceeded to play and laugh with each other in such a beautiful way for the rest of the afternoon.

One + One = Our Precious Two

Ian has a lot to say. Always has. But give him a few of his trains and he's off in a completely different world. He narrates, acts out, does voice over, invents new characters and gets completely lost in his stories. It is beautiful. Precious. And quite a thing to witness.




Andrew is such a beautiful boy. I'm not sure if that gets lost between the stories of his exploits, his energy, his Bam-Bam and Animal-like tendencies, the ways he constantly makes us laugh. But his eyes, his smiles, and his love are so expressive, so joyful, so exuberant. I snapped these the other day as he was eating breakfast. He just takes my breath away! (And then knocks it out of me! :))




The two...
These boys really, truly love each other. Sure, there are squeals and raised voices. There are tears. And shoves. And lots of frustration. There are constant struggles with sharing (Ian's got a leg up on Andrew on this one), and looks of confusion that pass between me and each of them. But there is no love like the love they share. They are the first thing the other looks/asks for when they wake. They talk to and entertain each other all day long. They play chase and surprise and offer 'gifts' to each other at odd moments of the day. The hug and kiss spontaneously, and can make the other laugh in a way that no one else is able to. It is a precious, treasured, beautiful bond that I am so honored to witness.

I snapped these pictures the other day as Ian was helping Andrew remember the signs for please and thank you. Andrew broke into such a grin when Ian approached. He reached out, and with his full strength, pulled Ian into a bear hug. They hugged and kissed like this for the next 8 minutes. No lie. And then proceeded to play and laugh with each other in such a beautiful way for the rest of the afternoon.

Happy birthday, Dada/Gen-Daddy!

Happy birthday to Gen-Daddy, who's enjoying a much deserved trip to the beach for his birthday. We love you so and can't wait to celebrate with you next weekend!

From Andrew - He says this is what he'd do to you if you were here.




And from Ian, who loves you soooooo much and can't wait to eat cake with you!

Happy birthday, Dada/Gen-Daddy!

Happy birthday to Gen-Daddy, who's enjoying a much deserved trip to the beach for his birthday. We love you so and can't wait to celebrate with you next weekend!

From Andrew - He says this is what he'd do to you if you were here.




And from Ian, who loves you soooooo much and can't wait to eat cake with you!

Boys. Brothers. Blessings.

The boys are growing quicker than I can think.

Ian looks like such a big kid these days - tall, slender, coordinated (well, most of the time). He tells jokes and totally gets our sarcastic humor. He works really hard at learning the words to the songs we listen to. He narrates stories that go on and on and on, but somehow make perfect (or almost perfect) sense. He is so helpful, so eager, so earnest, and so precious. He's taken to requiring 'a hug AND a kiss' when we say goodnight. We have long and deep and thoughtful conversations and his observations and his memory continue to stun us into silence. We love, love, LOVE our sweet Ian Arnold. HOW is it possible he'll be three in just a few months???

Andrew is our precious, wonderful, wild little man. He is a bruiser, diving headfirst into whatever he encounters. He refuses to crawl up stairs; instead he reaches out for a hand or a rail and walks up them. He LOVES dogs...loves, loves, LOVES dogs -(Cats and squirrels are also dogs these days...) and walks around with his deep, husky voice saying "Dah dah dah dohg." He continues to love Jesse, and his sweetness with her has inspired new (usually positive) attention from Ian for Jesse. He is such an affectionate, loving little boy who cracks us up at nearly every turn. His cries and screeches still pierce eardrums, but his crooked grin, open-mouthed attack kisses, and joi de vivre more than make up for them. He is an adorable, all-boy, love of a child and we adore him so. SO. MUCH. LOVE. for this little guy!

These boys fill our hearts so - and it gives us such joy that they love each other so.

Love these wild kisses from Andrew, Ian's unbridled laughter, and the way it all ends when Andrew gets a little rough with Ian's shoulder. Brothers! Such a blessing!

Boys. Brothers. Blessings.

The boys are growing quicker than I can think.

Ian looks like such a big kid these days - tall, slender, coordinated (well, most of the time). He tells jokes and totally gets our sarcastic humor. He works really hard at learning the words to the songs we listen to. He narrates stories that go on and on and on, but somehow make perfect (or almost perfect) sense. He is so helpful, so eager, so earnest, and so precious. He's taken to requiring 'a hug AND a kiss' when we say goodnight. We have long and deep and thoughtful conversations and his observations and his memory continue to stun us into silence. We love, love, LOVE our sweet Ian Arnold. HOW is it possible he'll be three in just a few months???

Andrew is our precious, wonderful, wild little man. He is a bruiser, diving headfirst into whatever he encounters. He refuses to crawl up stairs; instead he reaches out for a hand or a rail and walks up them. He LOVES dogs...loves, loves, LOVES dogs -(Cats and squirrels are also dogs these days...) and walks around with his deep, husky voice saying "Dah dah dah dohg." He continues to love Jesse, and his sweetness with her has inspired new (usually positive) attention from Ian for Jesse. He is such an affectionate, loving little boy who cracks us up at nearly every turn. His cries and screeches still pierce eardrums, but his crooked grin, open-mouthed attack kisses, and joi de vivre more than make up for them. He is an adorable, all-boy, love of a child and we adore him so. SO. MUCH. LOVE. for this little guy!

These boys fill our hearts so - and it gives us such joy that they love each other so.

Love these wild kisses from Andrew, Ian's unbridled laughter, and the way it all ends when Andrew gets a little rough with Ian's shoulder. Brothers! Such a blessing!

Waylon Robert Carr

Waylon was baptized this past Sunday, giving us all the chance to pause and reflect and celebrate this precious little guy and his treasured presence in our lives.

Such a special time. Such a special day. Such a special boy!

Waylon Robert Carr

Waylon was baptized this past Sunday, giving us all the chance to pause and reflect and celebrate this precious little guy and his treasured presence in our lives.

Such a special time. Such a special day. Such a special boy!

Lovely love

Saturday night, my parents hosted an engagement party for my beautiful cousin, Corinne, and her groom, Matt, at their home on Bishop's Lake. Momma worked herself to the bone getting ready and the house looked beautiful. As usual, no detail was left overlooked.

Torches were lit. Guests arrived. The bride and groom glowed. We all ate and drank and visited and laughed...it was a wonderful party.

We can't wait to celebrate together in August!

Lovely love

Saturday night, my parents hosted an engagement party for my beautiful cousin, Corinne, and her groom, Matt, at their home on Bishop's Lake. Momma worked herself to the bone getting ready and the house looked beautiful. As usual, no detail was left overlooked.

Torches were lit. Guests arrived. The bride and groom glowed. We all ate and drank and visited and laughed...it was a wonderful party.

We can't wait to celebrate together in August!

Wheee!!! and Chugga Chugga!

We had some shopping to do on Monday, so we headed to Alpharetta to the mall. On a whim, we called Grandma and asked if she wanted to join us for lunch and playtime at the mall. It made us all very happy that she was free!

We ate lunch, watched the carousel, rode the carousel, played on the indoor playground, watched the train, rode the train...all in two hours. We were busy! Both boys were pooped out and took great naps when we got home, and Ian is still talking about the fun he had with Grandma on the train.

Thanks, Mom, for a fun afternoon! We love you so!

Wheee!!! and Chugga Chugga!

We had some shopping to do on Monday, so we headed to Alpharetta to the mall. On a whim, we called Grandma and asked if she wanted to join us for lunch and playtime at the mall. It made us all very happy that she was free!

We ate lunch, watched the carousel, rode the carousel, played on the indoor playground, watched the train, rode the train...all in two hours. We were busy! Both boys were pooped out and took great naps when we got home, and Ian is still talking about the fun he had with Grandma on the train.

Thanks, Mom, for a fun afternoon! We love you so!

Songs of praise

Have I mentioned that Andrew is officially weaned? About two weeks ago, around his 13 month birthday, he(we) figured out that he could go to sleep without the boob, and that he just needed some extra snuggle/cuddle time with Momma. Hallelujah!

Thus began our new routine. Bath. Teeth. Books. Lights out. Songs. Rocking. Bed.

After about two nights of this, Andrew started singing with me. At first, I burst into tears - the preciousness of that moment when he joined in, lifting his solid voice up and out will remain with me forever.

But then I began to laugh. I couldn't help it. Perhaps you need to know Andrew to get why I giggled (and continue to) when he bursts into song. This baby of mine just makes me smile. And laugh. And appreciate. I am so, so thankful for this bundle of bruiser that I get to hold in my arms each night and snuggle with and sing with. He smothers and slobbers me with kisses, pecking his wide open mouth to mine with such joy you can't help but oblige.

He is such a love - such a joy - such a blessing. Thank you God, for my Andrew Moreland!


(Please try and ignore my less than stellar singing and instead listen to the joyful, off-key sounds of our Andrew. I know it's all black, but I will treasure this one forever. When will he ever sound like this again?)

Songs of praise

Have I mentioned that Andrew is officially weaned? About two weeks ago, around his 13 month birthday, he(we) figured out that he could go to sleep without the boob, and that he just needed some extra snuggle/cuddle time with Momma. Hallelujah!

Thus began our new routine. Bath. Teeth. Books. Lights out. Songs. Rocking. Bed.

After about two nights of this, Andrew started singing with me. At first, I burst into tears - the preciousness of that moment when he joined in, lifting his solid voice up and out will remain with me forever.

But then I began to laugh. I couldn't help it. Perhaps you need to know Andrew to get why I giggled (and continue to) when he bursts into song. This baby of mine just makes me smile. And laugh. And appreciate. I am so, so thankful for this bundle of bruiser that I get to hold in my arms each night and snuggle with and sing with. He smothers and slobbers me with kisses, pecking his wide open mouth to mine with such joy you can't help but oblige.

He is such a love - such a joy - such a blessing. Thank you God, for my Andrew Moreland!


(Please try and ignore my less than stellar singing and instead listen to the joyful, off-key sounds of our Andrew. I know it's all black, but I will treasure this one forever. When will he ever sound like this again?)

Dada in the house!

Granddaddy came to Decatur last weekend to check on the progress of the house and have dinner with us. The boys loved showing him around their favorite corners and hollering at him through the walls.

Andrew, especially, enjoyed coloring with Dada at dinner - he got so giddy when Dada would color and would giggle with such innocent glee. So precious to watch.

Dada in the house!

Granddaddy came to Decatur last weekend to check on the progress of the house and have dinner with us. The boys loved showing him around their favorite corners and hollering at him through the walls.

Andrew, especially, enjoyed coloring with Dada at dinner - he got so giddy when Dada would color and would giggle with such innocent glee. So precious to watch.

Good clean love

These two sure do love one other.

It makes my heart swell so to see them kiss and hug and laugh and entertain and delight in each other.

Please God, let it always (or at least nearly always) be so.

Good clean love

These two sure do love one other.

It makes my heart swell so to see them kiss and hug and laugh and entertain and delight in each other.

Please God, let it always (or at least nearly always) be so.

Booty shake

Our Andrew loves music. He asks for it at all times, in all places, raising his voice to 'eh, EH!' until we oblige his requests.

He feels it, too. Really, really feels it.

He shakes his booty. Gets low. Raises his arms high. Shakes his head. Moves every single part of his body that he is in semi-control of in response to the music.

But my absolute favorite move he does of late is his booty shake.

Booty shake

Our Andrew loves music. He asks for it at all times, in all places, raising his voice to 'eh, EH!' until we oblige his requests.

He feels it, too. Really, really feels it.

He shakes his booty. Gets low. Raises his arms high. Shakes his head. Moves every single part of his body that he is in semi-control of in response to the music.

But my absolute favorite move he does of late is his booty shake.