What a year! Goodbye, 2011.

Well, it may very well happen. A year-end post! I stinkin' love the holiday break. We got to visit with lots of family, spend some time just relaxing, and are already dreaming some dreams about the upcoming year.
{click on the pictures to view full-size}
I won't give a play-by-play, since you need only revisit old posts to get the actual year in review...so maybe just some highlights.

Grandmas know all the tickle spots.

It is amazing to imagine that one year ago, Shepard could not even sit up on his own; and now, he runs full-speed-ahead at everything. What a fantastic growth period between 6 months and 18 months! His understanding and vocabulary seem to grow every day. Having a little explorer is sometimes challenging, but I'm so thankful that he's interested in life and learning about everything.
There really isn't any news of interest to report for Mommy and Daddy. We are still at the same jobs--Shelley in the Winthrop University President's Office and Jerod teaching the 4th/5th graders at Woodlawn School. It works for now. Shepard enjoys his days with a handful of his buddies at a local Baptist church's daycare. He makes artwork every day, plays outside a LOT, and reads and sings and learns all kinds of things. I love that he has interaction with his peers and other adults. I also love that he greets me at the end of each day with a huge smile and arms extended and a command, "UP!" Gladly, sweet boy.

I got a train!

So far, Shepard is so very gently-natured. He smiles and giggles--especially when we tickle him, he presses microwave buttons (changes our microwave voice to Spanish!), and gets attention from dogs. He loves to play with anything that has some cause and effect, like his musical instruments. He also really loves some unorthodox "toys," like the retractable dog leash, swiffer mop, and laundry baskets. And he loves to run and play outside. He definitely has a typical toddler stubborn streak and is able to communicate what he does and does not want. His favorite foods right now are eggs with cheese, yogurt, blueberries, bananas, lasagna and cheerios.

2011 has been consumed with working, a few trips to the beach (here and here), and watching our baby turn into a boy.

Yup. It's our family addition. Her name is LaFawnda. (for real)

Jerod was able to fulfill a dream by purchasing a sweet "new" ride, his 1974 Gran Torino Elite (see pics). His dream is to get Shepard to reach all the small parts with his dextrous little fingers...eventually. The car needs a little TLC, and Jerod is well on his way to learning about engines and grease and stuff.

I may have to get a stocking for LaFawnda next year.

Leaf and LaFawnda

All in all, we are really getting in the groove of this family-of-three thing. Plus a dog and lots of fish...lots of fish. Who knows what 2012 will hold? Perhaps it will be a year of big changes...I wouldn't mind decorating a new mantle this time next year with our stockings. Just sayin'.  :) But, we'll see where the Lord leads.


There were so many great pictures of our holidays that I uploaded them all to a flickr photo set. Seriously, you don't want to miss these. Here's a sneak peek.   

Flickr LINK HERE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Merry Christmas!

Hopefully I'll have time to write a proper year-end post very soon.  (fingers crossed)
Meanwhile, enjoy our electronic holiday card!

We opened a few gifts this morning. The excitement level was pretty high, so we'll do a few more tomorrow morning. That will basically make about four days of non-stop gifting for him once we get through with the grandparents and aunts & uncles. I think start understanding gifts a little more after all this. I'm sure he'll be sad to see the tree go, though I think he will be AWESOME at undecorating it. He's been practicing that for a few weeks now.
New tricks lately are repeating words like help, bird, open, hot, up, star, etc. He can definitely follow simple commands and is starting to practice obeying Mommy and Daddy. (he can be taught!) He wants to climb everything in sight. (see video below)

Running, climbing, and exploring

Shepard loves to explore these days. Anywhere you set him down, he is bound to find out all about it. He is getting so good at running...everywhere! He loves to climb and enjoys the great outdoors. Here are a few pictures that capture his adventurous spirit in Grandma Jones' backyard...

Cousins!

Mommy has been a little busy with THIS over the past two weeks. Sorry! I'm just now gleaning some photos that I took at Thanksgiving of Shepard with his sweet cousins, Madeleine and Micah.

{always remember: click on the picture to see a full-size version}

Madeleine shows Shepard how to get fun videos on the computer.

Thanks, Micah! I love flowers!

Swing like this!

Say CHEESE!

Let's go this way...

Exploring with Toby the dog.

One More Santa

Here's the Santa picture they did at school...I liked the other Santa better, but like Shepard's demeanor slightly better in this one. If you get an actual photo in the mail, it might be either one.  :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Ho Ho Ho!

Shepard had a picture with Santa on black Friday at the mall. We didn't even wait in a line! Shepard was unsure, not afraid, but just not really sure. Santa was even-keeled. :) I'll be sending some of these out. Hopefully by the new year...

Merry Christmas!

I took a video the other day after I spent the better part of the day decorating and cleaning. I'd love to say baking too, but please. This was Shepard's reaction. He have a lovely nativity too, but it didn't make the video.  :) He didn't see it 'til later, when tall Daddy was carrying him through the living room. By way of update, we've given up on stockings this year. Just too dangerous and enticing. He undecorates the tree for us, but is eager to help Mommy put the ornaments back on...well, sort of back on. I dare not put any gifts out yet.

Doggie. ~By Shepard

My Grandma is awesome. I love her a lot. She came to visit me and played Giddyup Go! with me. And I even am getting pretty good at saying "Gammma." I was sad when she had to go away, but she left her dog TUX to play with me for a week before Thanksgiving. I really love Tux. When he wags his tail, I just laugh and try to catch it but it goes really fast and I can't get a hold of it. Daddy calls him "Batfish," 'cause he looks like a cross between a bat and a catfish but he's a dog. I don't really get that yet.

That's Tux on your left. And me, and Daddy's legs in the background.

Trying to get some kisses.

One of my favorite things to do while Tux was here was get him to give me kisses. Mommy tried to get some pictures of it. I am a very good dogsitter if you need anyone to give you a hand during the holidays I am here to help.

Friends Old and New

Way back in the day, I walked into my new college dorm room at my Winthrop University (where I knew ONE person) and met Marcie Neal. Before the week was out, we were singing together and laughing. A lot! As any good relationship, we um..."sharpened" each other too. We are two strong-minded (read stubborn?) ladies with a lot of good sense. But in the middle of it all was love. And singing. One night, we sang in mock-opera for several hours...just a regular conversation...all sung. Good times.
Fast-forward about ## years later (sheesh--can I really say 18??), and she is a Mama too...and now a Yon to my Jones. With three sweet little ones to my one. They were able to drop by for a visit the day before Thanksgiving. Shepard was pretty excited to have three new playmates all at once! The coolest thing was one of her daughters found a book on Shepard's shelf that was an audio version of "Aladdin." The kids all played with it while they were here. The next day, I read the inscription in the front..."From Marcie Neal, Christmas 1993." We were freshmen. The batteries in that thing still work! And Shepard has been enjoying it since the Yon kids pulled it out for us.

We tried to get pictures, but our wiggly ones were WIGGLY. Shepard hasn't mastered cheesing for the camera quite yet. There are other things he could be doing, I guess. Here are the results...what a sweet little pile o' kids!!!

L-R: Wiggly Shepard (17 mos.), Edy (7), Joshua (11 mos.), Abi (almost 3)

Happy Birthday, Gigi! ~By Shepard

Today my Gigi is ## years old. Oh wait. Mommy said I can't put that. She is old enough to know lots of things and young enough to chase me. I love my Gigi lots. She was in the room when I took my first breath and so she has known me my whole life. I hope she has a great birthday. I'm glad that she's my Gigi. She likes to hold me and make me laugh.

I drew Gigi a picture but Mommy forgot to put it in the mailbox before we left for Thanksgiving. Mommy said that she's sorry. It will get in the mail today. I can't wait to see my Gigi and Pops in a few weeks, 'cause they are going to come up and see me and help out while Mommy sings in a play. They are fun and I love them both. Help me wish my Gigi a happy birthday. Ok, I have to go now because it's almost time for lunch. I like lunch almost as much as Gigi. Almost.

This Beautiful Mess

Sometimes a picture is really worth a thousand words.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Here's Shepard enjoying his lasagna and green beans recently. We are thankful for our sweet little guy, who really, really loves lasagna. He is very adamant these days about feeding himself with the spoon. Which is great, except most of the time, he turns it upside down before it makes it to his mouth. But he's smart and hungry. I'm guessing he's going to work that out soon. Thank God it was bath night.

Yuck Yucks...

We've been having lots of fun lately. Learning some animal noises...you never know which animal you're going to get. He's still working on it. Also, we're learning that some items you shouldn't put in your mouth. Instead of saying NO, I have been saying "Yuck yuck." I don't know why. It just happened. My yuck yuck noises were cracking Shepard up the other day as he kept trying to eat the purple crayon. Here's a little glimpse into our Sunday afternoon.

Toddler-hood

On Saturday, we had a major clean-up day. You know, the kind where the washer is spinning, the mirrors all get clean, and dust bunnies quiver in fear? That kind. I'm not 100% sure Shepard was keen on joining in to help CLEAN, but he surely did enjoy the dry swiffer. (try not to get distracted by these super-cute monkey jammers)

 He played with the thing for at least an hour. I finally had to trick him onto the diaper-changing table and leave it in the hallway for Daddy to fetch while the attention was diverted. He tried to swiffer pretty much everything in the house.

Of course, we'd love for him to learn to be helpful! Hopefully, he will model so many of the wonderful things his Daddy does around the house. Like swiffering!
In addition to this fine turn of events, he has been learning lots of new words and sounds. Seemingly something new almost every day. This week, we got "night-night," the RAWR of the lion, "fish," and MEE-MO (his way of saying Nemo when we show him our clownfish), and "cracker." He also does a terribly cute thing whenever he finds a phone or something like a phone. He holds it up to his ear and makes a funny sound like "hemmmmmmm." Not sure who he's emulating there.
This morning, as we left for the day, I pulled out the big golf umbrella to shield us from the rain. You would have thought I have given him his very own traveling circus tent. His little eyes lit up and he smiled and looked at me with that great curious stare, as if to say, "Mommy! What just happened!? Don't ever let it end."

Fall Round-Up

October was especially full. We were able to celebrate birthdays of Grandma, Aunt Jessica, and Pops! We all went to the SC State Fair. Then, we took in a fall festival at the Aw Shucks farm. The really great pictures here were taken by our friend Pranee Loffer at Beauty for Ashes photography. Then, we rounded it all out with Halloween and a sweet puppy costume. Whew!

Looking forward to the holidays, spending more time with our dear family and enjoying Christmas with our little ball of energy.

Halloween!

While we wait for our fancy fall video to upload (read: tomorrow...), here are some pics from tonight's Halloween trunk or treat. We took Shepard around the block to the church where he goes to pre-school. They have a big to-do there with everyone decorating their cars and handing out candy. He was pretty mesmerized by everything going on.

He was a puppy (chasing a car)....
click on picture to see it enlarged

Probably his favorite thing there was the big blow-up "snow globe" thingie with pumpkin and tree inside and gray stuff blowing all around. Of course, he had to circle it, push on it, and inspect it thoroughly to see what made it all work.
Not sure how we're going to unload all this candy. He got a ton at school. He's never even really eaten candy yet, other than maybe an M & M. I bought a lot to hand out, but as soon as we got home, Shepard went to bed and we didn't want the bell ringing over and over. Hmmmm...Anybody got a sweet tooth?

Fall for the Beach, part 2

Here's the long-awaited video. :)

Stayin' Alive

I know, I promised a beach video, but this was just too much to wait on!
Shepard and I were listening to a little disco music in the kitchen before bedtime this evening. He has really been learning some sweet moves lately. I credit his dad's and my awesome dance skillz. And maybe Miss Brandy and Miss Whitney at school. I know they do "music and movement" every day. Forget the alphabet and colors...this is PRICELESS LEARNING!
Enjoy.

Fall for the Beach!

Last weekend Shepard and Mommy had a chance to make a quick getaway from the everyday and join Gigi and Pops at the beach! The weather was divine, so we struck out east and had a blast. Here are some pictures of our time there. Video coming soon.

Here doggie, doggie!

When Grandma came to visit last weekend, she brought lots of smiles and giggles. And a sweet little dog named Tux (or "Batfish" as we like to call him too). Tux was ever-present under the high chair when baby-feeding time came. Shepard realized quickly that Tux would jump up and join the feeding and decided to take a more active role (as in, more active than just accidentally dropping a cheerio...).

Enjoy the moment.

Mr. Fussy Britches ~By Shepard

Every day the world is making more sense. I'm starting to use some words and the teachers and mommy and daddy can understand. They still don't really understand when I just open my mouth and see how loud I can be. I wish they did. I'm very good at using my lungs and making high-pitched noises. I have been practicing it a lot but it's really because my mouth hurts a lot because I am getting giant teeth all over the place. Sometimes I find myself making my loud noises and crying and they don't know what I want at all. It will be nice when I learn some words for ouch and thirsty. Sometimes Mommy calls me "Mr. Fussy Britches." I just want to do what I want to do. What's so wrong about that?
I am really good at sleeping all night though. I have been sleeping between 11-14 hours a night lately with barely a wake-up. I am growing a lot lately, so I have to sleep a lot. Plus I run around all day at school, and we go outside twice a day and I get to swing and slide and play. I nap at school, too, on my monkey mat. It's soft and nice to sleep on.
I went to the doctor today for my check-up. Guess what? I have grown TWO WHOLE INCHES in the last three months! I am 34" tall and offically off the percentile chart. The computer told mommy I was 98.8th percentile and the doctor said 100th. I am already getting too big for some of my 18 month stuff and wearing 2T. The doctor also said I had long feet, but they go with my height. I like my feet. They carry me all kinds of places. I am starting to climb on things like the ottoman, hearth, sofa and pretty much anything I can. Mommy is always right behind me in case I don't make it. I weighed 23 lbs. and 14 oz. so I'm in the 41st percentile for weight. I will probably look a lot like my dad. Tall and handsome. They told us how big my head is, but I can't remember it right now. I'll have Mommy look it up and write it on here soon. She is good at recording that stuff so we can make sure I'm growing right.
I still really love pizza and lasagna, and love to eat my broccoli, cauliflower and carrots with a little cheese sauce. I also love PB-banana sandwiches and yogurt and cheesesticks. I eat fruit every day. Lately, I like to see my food hit the floor or see if I can drop it on the dog as he hovers below the high chair. It I'm a good shot, I can get a cheerio right on his head! Mommy keeps telling me, "NO THROW!" but she must not know how much fun it is for me to hold up the food and drop it. It always falls the same way. But bananas look different on the floor, and noodles are fun too.
That's all for now. My Grandma's coming over tonight, so I will be happy to see her. We will have fun this weekend...and remember my Papa. It's been a year since he went to heaven. We miss him a lot. I wish I could have known him and he could see how big I'm getting. I will have Mommy send a note to heaven and make sure he knows we love him.
I have to go nap now. Writing makes me sleepy.

Mom's Musings

The more I talk to mommies, the more I realize...it's never really going to get easier. I might get better at something, but there are always new challenges because every day you basically wake up to a NEW kid. They are learning and growing at such rapid rates. This morning, I was groggily lifted from bed by the cries of my little guy. I stumbled to the bathroom, washed hands and made some milk for him, changed his diaper, grabbed his blankie and sat with him in the rocker for a solid 20 minutes. So cute in his little Buzz Lightyear pj's...I was hoping perhaps he would want to drift off to sleep again as he so often does if his soggy diaper wakes him early. I smelled his sweet head under my chin and kissed him  at least five times on the hairline. He is sitting in my lap, but I know he will not fit there forever. I can still hold him and wrap him up in my arms. Wonderful moments of stillness and quiet before his little legs realize that they have places to go today. He very often greets me with a wave from his crib when I enter in the mornings. And I think he's trying to say "Hey there." I love moments like this morning. Half-awake hugs and cuddles are the best.
I often feel overwhelmed by how much there is to teach him. Saying "please" and "thank you." Not throwing his food off the table, how to open the door for people and look them in the eye and smile, how to share and hug and stay still long enough to get clothes on. These days, I'm in a full-blown sweat by the time I get my hair fixed, make-up on, coffee drunk, clothes on me, clothes on wiggly him, find the shoes, pack the lunch, did I remember to eat?, chase him down the hall, feed the dog, clean the tray, find my phone, find my brush (he likes to steal my stuff), keep him from eating the jewelry as I accessorize, marvel at how he approaches the computer and can get a song going before I can turn around--hopping on one foot as I strap on my sandals.
I think he can't hear me yet, or doesn't recognize his name when spoken sharply. It truly doesn't seem to phase him. I try to use it when he's climbing on a chair or about to trip over something in the floor. One of my friends said that since men aren't multi-taskers like women are, they truly can't hear while they're walking/playing/climbing. :)
How I wanted to have a lazy day with him today and just hang out. Sigh.
Somehow, every day he is fed and wearing cute clean clothes. He is hugged and kissed and made to laugh. He stares in wonder as I whistle. He flops about like a trapped crocodile when I change him. He wipes his tired eyes with lasagna-covered hands, and we splash (and SPLASH!!) and lotion up and get the "jammers" on and do it all over again.
This is a great job.

Hard at Play

Thanks to our awesome neighbors, Becky, Brigette and L.J., we have a great new mower. We like to start 'em young...

This morning

I'm just posting like a wild woman. My little guy looked so much like a BOY this morning in his high chair, covered in blueberry yogurt and bananas. I had to snap a few pictures before we left for school. His little smile melts me like butter. I often sing songs to him while he's eating breakfast...and recently he started clapping for me. Or clapping. Because he knows how. I'm going to pretend it's because he likes it when I sing to him.

Rocket Man!

We took a random Saturday trip to Concord Mills recently...but we didn't think about the fact that it was back-to-school mania there. Not being a crowd-people, we quickly decided we weren't staying long. Just long enough to change a diaper, feed the "fishbowl," and take a trip on a rocket ship.

Here's ROCKET MAN.(in his robot shirt)

Making Meowsic

I admit it. I bought a toy for Shepard because I knew I would enjoy it. I mean, I think he does too...but this thing is seriously fun. Technically, it was a gift from my sweet co-workers for Shepard's first birthday, but I was able to pick it out in a return situation.  :) I had been eyeing it for some time. It's a cat-keyboard that has five key sounds, techno/samba/disco beats, pre-loaded sing-along songs and some instrumental tunes. Not only will I be able to teach him basic piano/keyboard skills...it has a....MICROPHONE TOO! He really gets a kick out of hearing his voice amplified.

(you can get the cat at Target, 'cause now I know you're as interested as I was)

Without further ado, here's Shepard recently hanging with the cat. I think Cat needs a name. I'll be working on that. And, I'll be learning to play the ever-popular "Smelly Cat" on this for sure.

I scream. You scream!

Our church small groups had a get-together for the southside groups. There was an ice cream truck and big horses and miniature horses! And lots of my favorite people. Here's a sampling of the day's events...(remember, you can always click on a photo to see it full-sized)

Lots o' kiddos here...

Oooh. Ice cream. and Gigi!

Gigi and Pops are spoiling me.

No really, this is the life!

Miniature horses too!

Robots and horses

The gang's all here.