See you Wednesday...and not a moment before!

So, the boys are with Nana and Big Daddy for the first half of this week while school is closed. (THANK YOU NANA AND BD!) We prepped Ridge for the fact that we were going to Gilmer all together for the weekend, but mommy and daddy would go back home on Sunday because we have to work part of this week, and he and Sawyer would stay there. And then, that I'd pick them up Wednesday morning.

I called last night, excited to hear how their day went and talk to Ridge. First off, Nana hands him the phone and he declines the opportunity to talk to me. Straight up, "no thanks." (He was eating ice cream...priorities.) With some prodding from Nana, he indulges me and gets on the phone. He gave me a quick and courteous "hi Mom," then informed me that it's not Wednesday yet and he'll talk to me and see me then.

Ouch!

Big Boy's 4!

Just can't believe it. All week, I've found myself amazed that he's really, already 4. And I couldn't be prouder. Ridge is just an amazing boy...kind, affectionate, funny, sensitive. How richly we have been blessed with this little guy.



To celebrate, we had his classmates, family friends, and the Presby friends come play at Pump it Up. On his actually birthday, we had family over and all his favorites for dinner - spaghetti, pizza and Society Bakery cupcakes (courtsey of Thorsen, a.k.a. Dorsen). Aunt Barb came all the way from California which made it extra special. Lots of love!

Ridge-isms

Ridge told me tonight that there is a cantaloupe coming up in the garden at school and it is SOOOO stinky. So, I asked, what else are you growing. He says, "begetables, fruit, corn...all that stuff. But no sandwiches."

We also want to remember this phrase, "because he (or they, I, it...any pronoun) likes to!" That is his explanation for EVERYTHING. Ridge, why do you pick your nose? "Because I like to!"

Fall Photos

Halloween

Better late than never, right?

Halloween was a blast this year. Tere and I were grinning ear to ear watching the boys. They yelled, "trick or treat," sometimes too aggressively. But they always said thank you. Sawyer would pluck out each new piece of candy dropped into his bag, drop the bag, and move on to the next victim. It was a hoot.

Ridge was originally going to be a police officer. He wore that costume once, to a carnival and Grammy and O'pa's church. Then he got it into his head that he wanted to be Spiderman, knowing nothing of Spiderman or why he wanted to dress as him. Lucky for him, a friend had a Spidy suit on loan so he got to be two characters.

Halloween Card

Sawyer counting

This was kind of nuts. Last night, Ridge was counting something...I don't recall what. But he counts, "1, 2, 3," and then Sawyer chimes in with "...4, 5, 6!" What the?

Ridge's learning how to get things done

So, this morning, Ridge and Tere were breaking brekfast bread while I was getting dressed. Ridge took to fussin' about not having any strawberries to go with his breakfast. In no time, he accepted the fact that we would have to have blueberries or go berry-less. He moved on. Some time later, I'm writing down mascara on the refridgerator shopping list and Ridge pipes up, "could you put strawberries on there please mama." He's learning. Don't know why I thought this so funny.

Play clothes

This morning over breakfast...

Ridge: Mommy, are you picking me up from school today?
Me: Yes.
Ridge: OK. Can you please wear your play clothes?

I had on work clothes, complete with heals, when I picked them up Tuesday. They wanted to go to the park. (We drive by two on our way home.) I indulged but explained that I wouldn't be able to play so much what with the heals and all. Ridge told me, "that's OK mommy, you can just watch." He is some kind of sweet.

He's also been very diligent about seeing Tere off early in the a.m. He gets up with him so they can have their cereal together.

I really shouldn't be saying all of this. Am I inviting trouble? He is just too sweet.

And that Sawyer...trying to sing the alphabet tonight (with a cute little head bob and dance)! Whaaaa?!?!?! Too fast!

Pumpkin Patch

I call it a win...50% cooperation at the Pumpkin Patch! Of the bazillion photos snapped, I got one really nice one of Ridge. He's such a big boy! And the perk there is that he will look at the camera and smile.

Sawyer, not so much. Busy as always!

Nevertheless, they had a great time at the pumpkin patch. It was a quick visit to a packed Arboretum on a hot afternoon shortly before nap. Nana and Big Daddy came to town for the Grandparent's Day celebration at Ridge's school and we got to have a picnic with them at the arboretum afterward. It was a real treat having them. Fun fun day!

Simple Things

Just returned from a walk up the street and back with Sawyer. To all of those people who I've complained about "this age" to, I take it back. I got teary eyed just strolling with Soybean tonight. Such innocence. So much joy in the simple things.

Everyone that passes by gets a big fat "HIII!," and soonafter a "BYYYYYE!" with a floppy handed wave for hi and a backward wave for bye. Then there are the a-pains (airplanes) that bring intense delight. And the animals. Don't even get me started. Clapping. Waving. Imitating their sounds.

It is just so exciting, to walk down the street.

Another weird sleeping picture

Our sweet friends the Bons gave the boys cute matching monogrammed beach towels...a thank you for hand-me-downs. Very nice. Ridge was very into the towel and was packing it and other things for the beach. The beach was sometimes our living room floor, sometimes outside, sometimes his bedroom. Well, this night, he took his beach supplies to bed with him. This is the result. (Towel bottom right. Contents of the bucket, including: maracas, slinky, baby rings, fishing pole, phone, and Tomy the dog scattered everywhere.)

Houdini

Any guesses on how this happened? What was he trying to accomplish? He never fussed through it all, as far as I could hear. Not a great picture. He was in no mood to pose this morning. Very crabby. Wonder why.

Soccer

We don't think soccer is Ridge's calling in life, but he sure is having fun chasing the kids up and down the field. Every so often he'll pop over to us to tell us that he "almost made a goal." Not exactly. But he's having a ball!

Brotherly love

With Sawyer solid on his feet and starting to talk, the boys are really starting to play together! HAPPY DAY! Having them two years apart is starting to seem slightly less insane.

They wrestle. Well, mostly Sawyer thrusts himself upon Ridge and Ridge pushes him off, which makes Sawyer laugh. But they do have a real, two-way wrestling thing on the trampoline. They say "HUG" and then hug and fall over on each other. It freaks me out because I'm just sure someone's going to get crushed. But I'm so happy they're interacting and enjoying each other, I just have to suck it up and let it go!

They also cheers each other all meal long. Sawyer just discovered the action and the word. He'll do it a dozen times/meal, if not more. Ridge indulges him. They laugh. It's pretty great.

Anna Banana

This is Ridge and his best buddy Anna at the lunch party on their last day of "summer camp" at White Rock North. (Not a great picture, but such is photography in a class of nine three-year-old kids! I was trying not to show too much favortism.)

Anna and Ridge went to their first Mother's Day Out program together 2008-2009, starting just before they turned two. That spring they each had little brothers; Drew and Sawyer were born about 18 hours apart - Drew on March 9 and Sawyer on March 10. We stayed in touch with Anna and her family here and there over the year in between Mother's Day Out and White Rock North.

We have been richly blessed by their friendship. Anna was instrumental in a mostly smooth transition for Ridge. And her mom, Emily, was tremendously helpful and supportive to me. She got it, having been there herself just a few months before. Sawyer and Drew were in the same class too. They shared a dining table. While they don't say much about it, I know they were digging on eachother too.

Band Aids - another inevitable era of boddler (boy + toddler) hood

Ridge bumped his head the other day and, of course, wanted a "shot" from Tere, a kiss from mama, and a band aid. Tere took it to the next level and wrapped him up in an Ace bandage. It was comical to all. Injuries, like bedtime, have become such a production around here.

Mr. Independent

Ridge is getting into dressing himself. I've tried to dodge this bullet for a long time...to just not let him know that he has that option. He figured it out. He selected this fine T-shirt himself (needless to say) from a gift shop in Maine. He wants to wear it every day. Again, love and hate the independence thing. He does not take the pink feather duster out, but the rest of this ensemble is non-negotiable.

Words...so many great words

So, I am babysitting a friend's newborn babe...it's mom and dad's first outting. I forgot how sweet and innocent these little critters are! And I can't believe mine, at least the first, gave me so much grief. One newborn is downright relaxing, compared to Sawyer.

Speaking of my dear Sawyer, who is just 11 days shy of being 1 1/2, he is off to the races with the words! It's so crazy to us since Ridge didn't speak a lick until he was 2. Sawyer's words are super cute. There are many more, but the ones that come to mind are:

• Grammy! Her picture popped up on our PC screen saver and he called it. We couldn't believe it.
• "Hep" (help),
• Cheese (for a camera, or anything that looks vaguely like a camera, and sometimes for the food too),
• mommy (he says this A LOT, sometimes for my amusement with an exclamation mark on it - MaMi!, and sometimes when he is feeling pitiful and then it's a much longer word - MaaaaaMeeeeeee)
• He'll "sush" you, with his finger over his pursed lips and usually right on up his nose.

I know there are many more that just escape me at the moment. Shoes and dog are still his big, favorite words.

He gave some big love to Grammy today. She popped in for a visit, after weeks of not seeing the little guys. Sawyer lunged for her. He really rarely does that for anyone but mama. It was AWESOME! So stinking sweet. These boys have awesome grandmothers and they know it! (He gets all a flutter when we mention Nana too.)

Big excitement at our house today...water leakage behind the boys' bathroom wall. GREAT! What is it with us and water issues? So, we're now being forced into finishing what we've started with this bathroom.

Anyway, Ridge was mystified and, I think, a little scared about the wall being torn down and seeing the plumbing, insulation and, of course, water. He got really into it though and wanted to discuss (with Daddy) and explain (to me, in the most interesting terms) the issue. Ultimately, we had the pleasure of a Saturday visit from a plumber who Ridge referred to as "the fixer." He jumped right into "man of the house" character, following Daddy and the plumber around and helping out by holding the flashlight.

Both boys started the new, official school year at their preschool this week. We are super pleased with their new teachers. Sawyer's class is a little smaller, which makes me feel good, and his teachers are lovely. They too have been wowed by his vocabulary explosion. We're also all laughing at how he likes to gasp at everything...totally for effect. He's making jokes!

Ridge's teacher is Mrs. Burt. She told me on the first day that she was so excited to have Ridge in her class because he's just such a sweet boy. Awe! Couldn't agree more. It means everything to me to know that their 8:30-4:30, Mon-Thurs caretakers appreciate them and celebrate their milestones.

Can't add photos right now, on account of being at Nate's place, but will soon post pics from our wonderful week in Maine last week.

Nate's stirring. Better run!

Attack of the Unmentionable

My strapless hooked itself to Sawyer's Lamby the other day. After working furiously to fling it off...he just got pissed. Melt down city! I mean, really, what could be worse? Poor poor baby.

How did that get there?!

Which of these things does not look like the other?

It's a little embarassing to let anyone look inside the ol' storage container drawer these days. It used to be quite orderly. (Shocker, right?) But this day, I opened it up to find the random Hot Wheels car. Nothing unusual anymore about finding unusual things in unusual places 'round here. This one just really struck me. And the camera was right by me.

This is a test to see if Tere will ever seek out and read this blog. But one day, when he was traveling, I found his toothbrush in the toilet. Little hands. I swear. Anyway, I thoroughly sterilized before putting it back. Sorry, Honey! But I think we'd all agree, those Sonic Care toothbrush heads are too expensive to set free over one pesky run in with the commode.

It is not everyday, unfortunately, that the Hancock Bros. play peacefully together. Here's one of those very precious rare moments caught on film. Love it!

I can do it myself!

"I can do it" and "why." These are quickly becoming Ridge's frequent refrain.

Here's a classic "I can do it" moment caught on film/memory card. Note the tag of his shorts on the side there. I just don't understand how everything gets all caught up in the undies...the shirt, the leg of his PJ shorts...all crunched up in there. This is perfectly acceptable to him.


On the why front, he asked me the other day why the sun makes gases from water in the ocean. Yikes! I'm so not ready for this.

Before I forget, because I do forget remarkably quickly these days (hence the blog)..Sawyer had some big speech breakthroughs over the weekend. He is finally saying a bonafide "Mama!" I think, from this point on, "Da" know longer means, "hey parental figure!" When I left for work today he waved and said a big fat baby "bye mama!" He only hung on my leg a tiny bit before going into his room to get a toy. No tears. No drama. I'm feeling there's some hope for this mama's boy.

Also over the weekend, he did a fine horse neigh, complete with the stutter sound...a fancy neigh, you might say. And he is officially saying thanks when you give him stuff, which, really, is pretty awesome to find among the 16 month old's first words. And he's saying "CHEESE" loud and clear for pictures. He is ridiculously cute. Here he is saying cheese...


I'm soaking in the last days of his baby-ness. Before we know it, he won't walk like a monkey, lead by his belly. Drag everyone around by their fingers. Squeal with enthusiasm at pictures in books or at the ball popper toy with its new batteries shooting balls all over the house. Sweet innocence.

Score of a weekend for Ridge. He got to go to a party for a school pal at Pump it Up on Saturday and the theater with his best buddy Caroline and Lisa Honeycutt. They saw "Giggle Giggle Quack." So sweet of them to take him! He LOVED it and looked forward to it all weekend.

We also got to reunite with long lost friends Heather and Ed Lauer. It was such a treat to spend time with them. Ridge loved the Lauer twins - Lola and Oliver. He wanted to give them big hugs at go time. He is so sweet and sensitive. Love love love.

4th of July...

These pictures are just randoms that I took, playing around with the new camera.
I love and hate this picture of Ridge. Love, for obvious reason. Hate because he looks so old. I'm having a lot of those pangs lately. It's exciting to see him grow up, learn, and be self sufficient. But sometimes I wish I could bring back his fat baby face and curls.

For a fat baby, we turn to Sawyer. Man, he is a pistol. ALWAYS on the move. Knows no limit. He and I met Nana and Big Daddy in Edgefield (between Dallas and Gilmer) to get Keely. He wondered around everywhere, picking up trash and putting it into his mouth. OK - scratch what I said before about missing Ridge being a baby.

OK. Let's see how this looks.

Testing, testing 1,2, 3

Those boys of mine say and do the funniest stuff. I'm going to attempt to record it and share it with the world. We'll see how this goes. Kicking it off tonight, Ridge says he's flying a '47 (as in 747) and that he is packing his backback with lunch for his trip. He will bring a doughnut, cereal and lemonade. Daddy can come but I have to stay home with Sawyer.