What's Happening?

Summer is in full swing, and we are enjoying the warm weather!  Daniel is talking so much more and cracks us up with the things that he says.  Just this morning, he piled all of his matchbox cars into his rolling car case and walked up and down the hall exclaiming, "I fly away!"

We love to go to the Homewood Pool.  This year, Daniel has no fear and jumped off the side within 5 minutes of arriving the first day.  He loves to be in the water, under water, and tries to swim to the side.  The first thing that we taught him was how to climb out of the pool - both using the ladder and the side of the pool.  He does really well blowing bubbles, kicking his feet, moving his arms, and we are so proud of his swimming abilities.  I used to teach swim lessons, and can remember how hard it was to get a group of 2-3 year olds to put their faces in the water.  We do not have that problem with Daniel!

Daniel's participated in a trike-a-thon to raise money for St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Welles bought Daniel a lawnmower, and Daniel pulls it out every time that Welles mows our yard.  He insists on following his Daddy around and says, "I'm helpin, Mama!"

A few weeks ago, he got a scrape on his leg and it bled a little.  He ran up to Welles and said, "Dad!  I have red juice on my leg!  Clean it up!"

Daniel loves to sing and talk about Jesus.  He sings Jesus loves me.  The other day, I was singing "Jesus loves the little children..." to him.  I sang the song 3 times and then moved on to another song.  Then I asked him what he wanted to sing next.  He said, "ummmm..... Presents!"  I thought about it and didn't know a song we had sung recently about presents.  Then he gave me a clue - "you know....red, yellow, black, white, Mama!?"  He wanted me to sing, "Jesus loves the little children!"

more to come!

It's been a long time!

Sorry it's been a while.  We've been busy lately, and I haven't had a chance to post.  Daniel had surgery about 6 weeks ago to remove his tonsils, adenoids, place new ear tubes, and he also had a bronchoscopy to determine the cause of recurrent croup.  Although the recovery was not easy and at time extremely frustrating and exhausting, Daniel is finally "feeling betta" according to his own words!  He ended up with a sinus infection two days after surgery, the croup 2 weeks after surgery and then had a bad cold for two weeks following the croup.  Poor buddy!

Below are pictures from the last several weeks.

Checking Vitals before surgery

Daniel insisted that Welles wear this red sweater vest the morning of his surgery!

After surgery - snuggling with Daddy

Hanging out at Homewood Park

To the Zoo with the UAB CDC

Twins!

More pictures and stories to come!

Basketball Baby

Daniel LOVES his basketball goal that Grandmom and Grandpa gave him.  He loves to play day after day...some may think that he takes after Uncle Scotty!  See the videos below.  He's pretty good, and Uncle Scotty says he has great form!  We are proud!

The beach

We had a wonderful time at the beach a couple of weekends ago!  Daniel loved the sand and the water.  Overall it was a good trip, but he came home with a bad virus and another ear infection.  I think it is the same ear infection from mid-January - just never cleared up.  As of today, he is on his fourth round of antibiotics to attempt to clear it up.  He seems to be feeling much better this weekend, thank goodness!

Enjoy the pictures!

looking at the sand on the bottom of his feet!

new shoes and a new ball at the Nike outlet!

at home - sick with ear infection :'(

Daniel loves to boogy

Further proof that this child takes after his father - when he feels the beat, he just has to boogy!

We went to the World of Wheels Car Show at the BJCC last weekend.  Daniel loved the cars! 

This is the card that Daniel picked out for Welles for Valentine's day.  I was in the middle of the CVS card aisle doubled-over and laughing hysterically.  Maybe it was just the kind of day I had been having, but it was seriously the perfect card for a silly boy to give his father.  AND - he picked it out!   

Daniel is very good at singing the blessing before meals.  It is the cutest thing, and I promise to record it in the near future. 

My parents gave Daniel two swimming frogs for Valentine's day.  Daniel named them "Witt" and "Too."  (or maybe he means, "Two?")  He consistently calls them by these names, so I know it wasn't an accident...we just don't know where he came up with "Witt?"

Speaking of Daniel's names for things, I am really going to miss when he starts calling Missy by her real name.  We have grown to love his nickname for Missy - "Chi-chi Lou-lou".  We've started calling her Chi-chi, too.

WOW! 6 weeks without a word

I am a better blogger than this! Where did the time go?

Well, we were just getting back into the swing of things after the holidays when...surprise...Daniel got sick.  This is one of the worst sicknesses he has had - ear infection/sinus infection (which, poor baby has had 11 ear infections in his life).  Yes - you still get ear infections even after tube surgery.  Unfortunately, he had a very bad reaction to the antibiotic, and ended up with what the pediatrician called an acid burn on his bottom from multiple chronic bouts of diarrhea.  All in all, he missed 6 days of school - poor buddy! Even now, his bottom is still red, although the pain has gone away. 

My mom, sister and I went to Callaway Gardens in January and had a nice trip.  We went to the butterfly house, walked around the vegetable garden, fed fish and ducks, went to the birds of prey show, listened to an organ concert at the Chapel where Welles and I were married, and ate some wonderful food. 

The church where Welles and I were married almost 8 years ago

Feeding the fish with Gigi

The lake in front of the Chapel

The day after we returned from Callaway, the City of Hoover finally came and removed the leaning tree!  This has been the topic of many a neighbor for the last 6 months or so.  After each thunder/wind storm, everyone would walk outside to see the fate of the tree.  Rather than wait to see what happened, Welles convinced the Hoover Urban Forester to cut it down.  He obliged.

We have spent a lot of time at the park with the weather as nice as it has been lately.  This is a picture from one of our many trips!

Nice weather in the park!

Last night, we went to Wal-Mart to pick up a potty for Daniel.  After picking out a nice one, Welles placed it on the floor in front of Daniel.  Daniel shouted, "OK!" and proceeded to pull his pants down...

Of course, we stopped him, but only after a good laugh!  He carried that potty all the way to the check out line and refused to let us help him with it...even though he was grunting and moaning about how heavy it was.  "Potty!  Heavy! Ughhh!"

Daniel's potty

When we got home, he immediately tried out his new potty.  Guess what?  He's a pro!  Daniel shouts multiple times after going in his new potty, "Mama!  I tee tee in potty!"  and "Daddy!  I tee tee in potty!"  He celebrates for at least 5 minutes - giving us hugs and kisses and shouting with delight each time.  We are proud of our buddy!

Christmas 2011

We had a wonderful time celebrating with both families. All of the children got great gifts.  We were truly blessed with health and happiness this year!


Giving Tyler a hug

Tyler's flower band on his head - getting face smash from Heidi

 Looking at Christmas gifts from Santa Christmas Morning!

On to Christmas Day events at the Scott's house

Opening his stocking

Dinner in PJ's with Mary Linnley

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!