Life in the Fast Lane

I feel like this post could have a lot of different titles...Life in the Fast Lane, No Rest for the Weary, I am so Tired...the list could go on. We have laughed lately thinking about the difference between Anna Lee's schedule as a newborn and J.D.'s. When Anna Lee was born, we didn't really even take her out of the house for six weeks. J.D. is a completely different story. The little guy has been on three trips so far, and had company come to stay with him for a weekend. And our summer is just beginning! Our summer has started off with a bang, and there is so much more fun to come! Hopefully it will come with just a little more sleep!

Life at our house has been a bit crazy. Poor J.D. is a fussy, fussy fellow. He sure does have a set of lungs- and he likes to use them! (I tell myself it is just because he is going to be an amazing singer someday.) Besides having a good amount of reflux, J.D. does NOT like to be awake and not being held. He is happy to let you know it, too. It isn't too bad when Jim and I take turns in the evening, but trying to take care of a 2 year old and a screaming baby all day wears you out! But he sure is cute! Anna Lee takes J.D.'s crying way better than I do. She never really seems bothered by it. I have been so thankful for her patience lately..and for the ways she has made me laugh.

Yesterday was a rough day. J.D. was really never settled down all day. Anna Lee and I finally had a moment where we were sitting and playing a game while I held J.D. to keep him calm. Anna Lee was moving something over and fell on her bottom. She cried a little and started to get up. I looked the other way and when I turned back, she had pulled up her dress and was bent over, holding her rear end up to my face...I mean just inches away. And she was saying, "Kiss it. Kiss it." All I could do was bust out laughing. I was holding a baby who had been screaming all morning (including our whole trip to Target), and my 2 year old wanted me to kiss her rear end....literally. Oh how life has changed.

So last week, we loaded up the car and headed down to Mom-Mom and Grandad's house in San Antonio. I wasn't able to travel for a good amount of my pregnancy, so it was so fun to get to go "home" again. We had so much fun! Anna Lee and J.D. both got lots of attention and love, and I got a bit of needed rest. Jim and I even got to go out to dinner for my 30th birthday one night. We spent our time there seeing friends, swimming, eating, and playing.

This picture was so sweet. Anna Lee in a pair of my mom's old high heels, without her pants, helping to give J.D. his paci.

My dad used to do this with Anna Lee when she was little too. I always think it is so funny to go in and find my tiny baby asleep in a heap of pillows on the big bed. J.D. seemed to enjoy it!

Anna Lee got to help my mom lead praise songs on Sunday morning with the 1st and 2nd graders at church. I think Anna Lee and my mom equally enjoyed it...for different reasons. Look carefully and you can see her up there lifting her hands up.

At one point while we were in San Antonio, we went and visited my friend Amy and her crew. Amy and I were best buds growing up, and spent hundreds of nights at each others houses. We used to put on musical shows for our parents, and always had so much fun together. It was fun to get to see our little girls (and boys) together now.

Some sweet friends from church had a luncheon for J.D. on my birthday while we were there. It was so fun and special. There were so many ladies there to celebrate J.D.'s arrival with us. It was special to me to get to celebrate with so many wonderful women who have loved me and cared for me so long...and now love my children. Thanks, Kendra and Lauren, for such a wonderful day!

As fun as the luncheon was, this is how J.D. spent the majority of it. Typical these days. But the party went on anyway!

My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Miner, also came to the party. It was so fun to get to see her! Our family has kept up with her over the years, and it was so special to me to get to see her with my kids. Amazing that she taught me when I was close to Anna Lee's age. Oh how I wish she could teach Anna Lee! She was the greatest!!!

Mrs. Sarah came to the luncheon with gifts for not only J.D. and me, but also for Anna Lee. She could not have gotten Anna Lee anything she would have liked more. See below.

On Sunday, we got to go and visit Ninnie. We love Ninnie so much. She has been like a grandmother to my sisters and me for so long, and now she loves Anna Lee and J.D. too.

On our way back from San Antonio, we got to stop in Waco for lunch and a swim. Our time with GranDee was short but really fun!



Two days after we got home from SA, some of our favorite friends came to see us again! The Maples came from Nashville to get to play and meet J.D. Anna Lee LOVES Riley so much, and they had a fun and crazy time together. Amazing how time changes things. 5 years ago, our time as friends in Nashville was much calmer/quieter/filled with much later nights...We had a ball with them being here.

I had bought a pool for the kids to play in. Too bad it didn't come with a pump! Lots of hard work went into that being ready for swimming- it was a team effort! But the kids seemed to think it was worth it!

Ericka with Sweet Baby Blake

So that is our last crazy couple of weeks in a nutshell. So much fun!