Family Counts 2010

Alabama Power puts on a free carnival/fair/festival/barbecue type thing for its employees and their families each year. We have been before, but this year was by far the best. The weather was perfect. The kids were wonderful. Everyone played and ate and generally had a blast. It is great that this company does this for its employees (and us by default).


And mommy prays this is the only kind of motorcycle they ever want to drive.


This was a "little kids ride." You should have seen all the big kids trying to get on.


Colin was happy to people watch in the stroller and to ride in the babyhawk when the people got boring.


Walker and Gammie.


Jason and Eli.


He definitely set a personal best record on his bouncy maze time.


Oh yes did.


This was Walker's favorite part. Free "green sprites." I usually only let the kids drink water or milk, so this was a big deal. Everywhere he turned around there were free and available soft drinks. Win.


Fair food. Sugary, sticky and fantastic. And that kid, under the hat, he is pretty fantastic as well.


Tiny train, yes please.


Race car train, sure. Why not?

We are already excited for next year.

This Baby is Above Average

Like 3 or 4 degrees above average. For 36 hours now. We are rotating motrin and tylenol to keep it under control, but this fever has just continued to hold on. And, Colin is amazing. A bit more needy and he has taken an extra nap, but pretty much acting like his normal happy self.


He hates to have his nose wiped, so I avoid it unless absolutely necessary.


Just normal 10 month old stuff, today. You know, standing, cruising, taking steps all on his own.


And maybe spending just a bit more time with blankie today.

Thomas 2010

You know if Thomas comes to town, the McCay boys are going to be there.








This kid was amazing. Couldn't have asked for a more cooperative baby.




Walker didn't want to stop playing with the trains to slide. He quickly changed his mind and had a blast.


Eli's "safety slide"


This was hilarious. They were playing a cross between mini golf and billiards.


The professional photographer would not get out of my shot (note the strap). I suppose it isn't a big deal since clearly I didn't brush Eli's hair and Walker his making his painful-smile-face.

We did not purchase tickets, but rather just went to do all the free activities that Thomas brings with him. We had perfect weather, more to do than time to do it, and spent $2. Fantastic!

Forget-Me-Nots

* Walker and Eli add stuffed animals and blankets to Colin's crib when I'm not looking. It's precious. Oh, how they love that baby.
* Colin "gets" being chased now and he squeals with delight as you crawl after him.
* The hardest part about time out for Eli is being away from Walker.
* Walker is now at the stage where he gets up to go potty in the middle of the night and on his way back to bed he stops to say, "I love you. See you in the morning." {How is he old enough for that?}
* Walker loves to dance. His favorite part of a Dairy Queen trip is dancing to the music outside, seriously. He is the only one who car dances with me.
* Eli loves to follow the motions to kids's songs and rhymes. He does all the motions to the songs at story time and ask to play "ring around the rosie" all the time.
* Walker gives everything a title. Such as; Easter Hunt Eggs, "I found some more Easter Hunt Eggs."
* The big boys love being outside, Walker more than Eli. Colin will stand at the window and watch them play the whole time they are out there. They take turns coming to the opened window and talking to their baby brother, and then my heart melts.

Just little tidbits from this moment in time that I don't want to forget.

A New Baby and My First Baby

We were able to go and visit our dear friends' newest baby, Ava Grace, today. She is precious and I got to hold her amazingness.

I love seeing mommas with their babies, and this momma was absolutely glowing. After seeing our babies grow we appreicate the magnitude of their tininess, because we know how quickly it passes.

On the way home I looked in the rear view mirror to the way-back (third row) to my first born. He was squinting his eyes and tucking his chin and I caught a momentary glance of his tiny baby face. I love those moments that feel uniquely mine. I know I look at him in a way that his momma can. I pray these glimmers of my baby never fade.


Baby Walker when he first arrived home.

Easter 2010

We had an amazing day, even if we didn't get an amazing picture.



Baby looked particularly adorable on his first Easter.





I know most of this picture is ridiculous, but those eyes!