Big shoes to fill

Royal loves trying to put our shoes on. Every morning when Michael is getting ready for work, he sits down to put on his socks and shoes, and it never fails. Royal, runs over and puts his feet in Michael's shoes and attempts to walk around the house in them. He even has slide my mom's (Gma Tut's) flip-flops on, and could actually walk in them. He does this every time we go to her house. I took these pictures of him trying to put on my gold flats right after I took them off one afternoon. 

Benefit

Just to make this a little easier: when I refer to Sr., that is Michael's dad and when I refer to Jr., that is Michael, (my hubs).

Michael Sr. was diagnosed earlier this year with ALS. Most of you (our close friends) know this, but recently Nancy (Jr.s stepmom) made a website for Sr. It is a caringbridge site which shares information with family and friends about how their loved one with an illness is doing, if they do not get to see them on a regular basis. This month is a special month for Sr. as it is his birthday this Thursday, Oct, 8th. But, on October 17th, there is going to be a benefit in his honor in Charlotte, NC. It is the ALS/Fleming Benefit, and we are so thankful for the great honor in his name. Jr. is singing at the benefit at his Dad's request. Jr. is a phenomenal singer and as I call him a songbird. He was actually a vocal major in college and sometimes when I hear people singing on the radio, I think, "man my husband can sing as well as that and better." But, he is not as boastful (I call it proud), as I am about his amazing gift, so you will rarely ever hear him sing....except when it is for a great reason, like a wedding, church, worship, and in this case Sr's. benefit. So, go and check out his caringbridge page, and pray for our family! God is good.

Lollipops and Popsicles

Last night Michael had a lollipop and this is what happened after we let him have some. It all started with coveting Daddy's sucker. 

Not wanting to share AKA selfishness

 Finally sharing...reluctantly AKA being a little greedy

Daddy didn't give it back soon enough AKA impatience

Got it back....now he is happy, AKA spoiled 

After we told him he couldn't have anymore AKA pitching a fit and not being grateful.

I thought this was a funny visual of how even the sweetest little ones are still sinners in need of God's grace....and lots of hugs and kisses from Mommy and Daddy. : ) It's hard to learn to be grateful for what you have, to give what you have to others, to give with a joyful heart, to be patient, and to learn that you can't have everything that you want. It's OK little Royal, we are still learning these things, so you are in good company. 

After dinner we did give him a fruit juice popsicle, and he loved it. 

Time to potty

So, Michael and I decided that maybe we should introduce Royal to the idea of potty training. I don't have any grand expectations, but we thought since he keeps taking his diaper off and if he is in the tub he will stand up and pee, then maybe he understands the potty thing a little more than we give him credit. We also know that boys are supposedly harder to potty train, so we might as well give him all the time he needs to get used to the idea, and just get a head start on it. My MIL, Debbie, said that Michael was PT before he was 2, so maybe he will be also. Anyway, so far he really loves the little potty Michael picked out. He keeps sitting on it, and then putting toys in it (which we are telling him is a no no), and he even likes it so much he already bit a hole in it. That's right, a hole, in the soft seat part. Oh, well. It adds character. He loves it so much that he has been putting it on his push car and driving it around the house. Hopefully, he loves it so much, he will want to "use" it like a big boy.

 

Playing

One great thing about living next to an elementary school, is that Royal has his very own playground every afternoon. So, the three of us decided to go play! 

Keeping up with my life for the next year

I know this might seem like a ridiculous thing to post about, but I have a lot of friends who are also moms, and I thought they might want to know about my favorite planners, that are cheap, and so cute. Anyway, now that I am going back to school, and am a wife and mother, I have to have a planner to help me keep up with everything. I am a list maker and I always had one in college. I came across these planners a few years ago at Barnes and Noble and they are my favorite of any that I have ever had. They are made by Silver Lining, and all of the covers are so vintage, artsy, and original.

I used to have this one but I lost it at some point between school, getting engaged, planning our wedding, and then getting pregnant. I know....just when my life was the most hectic and I needed my planner more than ever. Well, today I was in Savannah and saw the shelves full of these very cute planners. Needless to say, I was so excited and thankful that I discovered them again. And just in the nick of time, because school starts Monday, and this is what is going to help me keep up with my busy and wonderful life for the next year.

I really liked this one but this one was my favorite
and the one that I got. I mean come on, how cute is this cover?! So, if you need some help keeping you life in order, these planners are perfect.

Human jungle gym

Remember how I posted about getting Royal a little climber to put inside since he can't stop climbing everything else. Well, we haven't quite gotten that yet, but he found something else to climb. ME! I layed down on the floor to play this afternoon, and he decided to sit on my back, then proceeded to stand on me and jump in the air and throw himself down on my back really hard, like a wrestler pile driving the competitor. We, need to get that climber.....NOW! He has so much energy. I didn't mind him using me as a human jungle gym though. He would lay on my back and then peek over my shoulder and smile at me with the biggest happiest little face! I love this boy! What a wonderful soul God created.

Laughing at the pain

Yesterday my friends, Laurel, Charlotte, and I, (and of course the kids), all went to play at the Brooklet playground. I didn't bring Royal's shoes with me, but thankfully Charlotte's son Roland and Royal can wear the same size shoe (even though Roland is 11 months older.) I know, it's crazy. The shoes were crocs, and Royal loved them and did really well running around in them. Looks like we are gonna have to get some of those! Anyway, at some point Royal kicked off the crocs, and I let him wander around by himself, to do some big boy exploring. It was hard for me, because I wanted to stand over his shoulder and make sure he didn't get into anything that could hurt him, but I thought, I have to let him go a play by himself at some point. And he wasn't walking far away from us (we were sitting on a quilt watching the kids). After about 15 minutes of exploring and taking in the world, he toddled back over to the quilt. I immediately saw his right foot! It was red, swollen, and covered in about 15 fire ant bites! My heart sank. That is why I wanted him to wear shoes, but he kept kicking them off to play with them. Oh, well. He never even cried out there whenever they were attacking his sweet little foot. In fact, he was laughing to himself most of the time he was walking around because he was having so much fun! I guess he was just laughing at the pain. My sweet boy, always happy! This was his foot after I got home. This picture doesn't show the redness, but you can kinda tell his big toe is swollen. It isn't red anymore, but the bites are turning all pussy and white, and bumpy. He never cried, and he didn't have any kind of an allergic reaction, so I have just been putting a little Hydrocortisone on his foot, and I gave him some Tylenol last night before bed. My little tough man.

Just mowing the grass

My mom and I went out to my uncle Phillips land this afternoon to hang out. Royal loved being out there. He loves the country as much as his momma! : ) As soon as his feet hit the ground he was running towards the lawn mower. He climbed it (of course), and sat up in the seat and grabbed the steering wheel as if he has been driving his whole life. How do children know how to do these things? It must be inherent. Anyway, he was joined by some horsey friends too! He had so much fun! And you can't drive your mower without your sippy cup, just in case you get thirsty.

New Shoes

Michael took Royal to Walmart with him the other night, and when he got home he told me "they" had a surprise for me. Michael had gotten these adorable little loafers for Royal. He said that when he put them on Royal in the store, he just ran around, and kept looking at his feet. So, he had to get them. They are nothing special, just plain brown, but I think they are pretty freaking cute!