Better late than never

It's a little bit ridiculous how behind I am on this whole blogging thing.  I have plenty of excuses, but I won't bore you with any of them.  Just know they are legit.  In my head, anyway!  So when I last left you we had celebrated Collin's 3rd birthday, and since that was over a MONTH ago, we have a lot of catching up to do!

The Saturday after Collin's birthday, we met our friends for lunch and playtime at Chick-Fil-A.  (Referred to as Kick-De-Yay by Collin .)  Ms. Shannon and her little boy, Titus, are always good fun!

These two are becoming such big boys!

One day when I went to pick Collin up from daycare, his afternoon teacher told me she had the funniest picture of Collin on her phone.  I asked her to send it to me, and she was right...it doesn't disappoint...unless you're his Daddy, and then you may find yourself disappointed!

No, I did not send him to school in this get-up.  Apparently he had an accident, so he was in some spare shorts and a white t-shirt.  He got comfy on this table on the playground and his teachers were cracking up at the pose he struck all on his own.  Silly kid!

We've decided we want some cowboy boots from Mimi for Christmas this year, so we went to try some on recently.  They were a hit!

For Collin's birthday, Mimi and PawPaw bought him a "big boy" swing for our backyard.  Jarrod just got around to putting it up a couple of weeks ago (conveniently right before Mimi and PawPaw showed up for a visit!).  Collin loves it!  His favorite thing has got to be swinging right now.  Except, he wants to swing in all sorts of inappropriate fashions.  His Daddy pushes him until he is able to touch the leaves in the tree above him...while he's on his stomach!  Collin calls it flying.  Understandably so.

Mimi and PawPaw came for a visit last weekend, and we took them to the pumpkin patch!

 Poor PawPaw could hardly stoop down this low!!

 This piglet couldn't stop rooting around in the dirt long enough for me to get a good picture of him

 I want a miniature cow now.  For real.  This guy was so soft and gentle.

 He stuck his tongue out and licked Collin!

I can't even stand it.  He is getting SO big.

We made it to the parking lot before I realized we hadn't taken a family picture.  So yeah...

Collin's school had the police officers and firemen to visit last week.  Collin is funny about strangers.  He's very curious, but from a distance usually.  He rarely talks to strangers, and he doesn't like the idea of getting into anyone's vehicle without his mommy and daddy present.  So I made sure to talk it up a lot beforehand. I told him the police and firemen would really love it if he gave them a high-five, and we talked about how cool their cars/trucks are with all their lights and horns.  He promised me he would say hi to the police officers and firemen and give them a big high-five.  On Tuesday, his school posted this picture on their Facebook site, and I was so proud!!

Elizabeth and Collin with a new friend

Collin's bestie turned 3 on Friday.  They celebrated her birthday at school, and he was also invited to her party on Saturday.  They were so adorable playing together.  Collin and Addie are a funny pair, but they are thick as thieves.

So now we are all caught up!  Whew.

Collin's 3rd Birthday Party - Cars & Trucks

Apparently now that I've come down from the high of Collin's birthday extravaganza, I realize I haven't done a post yet on the details of said extravaganza.

I said to multiple people this year, "I am SO NOT going to go crazy this year.  I'm keeping it simple." Granted, I realize that "keeping it simple" really and truly means your kid gets some sort of themed cake, a gallon of ice-cream and a time to open presents.  Baby steps, y'all.  Baby steps.

So this year's theme was TRANSPORTATION.  Let me just say, my detail-oriented, freak-show, anxiety-riddled mind managed to re-think this theme several times before it was all said and done.  I wanted it to be every type of transportation under-the-sun, because that is what Collin is really into at this point in time. However, plates/cups/napkins, etc. from various party outlets are more discriminating than what I wanted.  I could choose from Monster Trucks, Hot-Wheels, Construction and a few others.  My problem was that I wanted them ALL!

I finally consulted my very favorite party supply maker, Meri Meri, and decided these were close enough.

Don't get me started on the fact that this theme is called "Construction Party". http://www.shopmerimeri.com/construction-party.aspx

I decided that my one froo-froo thing this year would be good, old-fashioned birthday party streamers and balloons.  And I have to admit, I did let Pinterest sucker me into one DIY project; which, let's just be honest, became Jarrod's project.

The thing with Jarrod is that if I give him a project, I can expect it will be completed to perfection.  That's an amazing trait.  The downfall is that I can expect him to spend hours working on it, and I better not even think about asking him to do multiple things, because it won't happen.  I mean, really...the man incorporated "parking spots", and he was so proud!

So after deciding that I was going to "keep it simple" with just themed plates and napkins, a cake, balloons and streamers...I came across something so cute I just could not help myself.  A young woman in our town makes custom sugar cookies and She. Is. Talented.

I sent her a picture of the plates I had chosen, and here are the cookies she made for us...

Impressive, I know.  I'm hooked.

https://www.facebook.com/theplumpeacock

So pretty much my attempt at keeping it simple, was a sweet notion.  I think my husband would agree I didn't go nearly as bonkers as last year, and hopefully this means there's hope for the future!

Darling K-Wiles hiding out in the corner.  She kept me sane pre-party by helping get all the food ready.

Collin's birthday cake.  Funfetti, of course, with blue icing inside and sprinkles on the outside, because that's what the birthday boy ordered.  Also, the balloon cake-topper idea was a good one (cough, Pinterest, cough), asking Jarrod and his dad to implement it...maybe not such a good idea.  Funny to watch nevertheless!

 Landry Paige had on a coordinating transportation themed bandanna... I know.  I have a sickness.

 Sweet Amelia Jane carried that Ninja Turtle around like a baby doll.  She put it in the rocking chair and rocked it.  She is going to be a good big-sister!!

 Canyon enjoyed Collin's old swing.  I cannot tell you how many times I thanked the Lord for the beautiful weather we enjoyed that day!

Collin's monster truck shirt and monster truck cookie.

Success!  Now to start planning for next year.  Just kidding!  (But not really.)

3 years old --> What?!

Today my boy turns 3.  I don't really know how this is happening, but I'm told there is nothing I can do to stop it.

My big boy before school on his 3rd birthday!

Yesterday, I had to work Collin's room during the first service at our church.  That's the service we would normally attend, but since Jarrod was playing djembe with the worship group, I really wanted to stay for second service and see him.  Well, Collin had already spent over an hour in the pre-school room, and I didn't think I could get away with leaving him again while I went to second service.  So Collin Henry got to sit through church like a big boy.  Aside from eating all the PEZ I keep in my purse for emergencies, he did pretty well.  At one point, during worship, he didn't want me to hold him any more, and he wanted to stand in his chair on his own.  We were singing Kristian Stanfill's version of Jesus Paid It All when I looked back to make sure Collin was still okay, and I saw my sweet boy with his hand raised and worshiping.  I looked over Collin's head and across the aisle and met eyes with our youth minister who was also taking in this sweetness, and I was almost reduced to a puddle in that moment.

Our boy, who is 3 now, is learning every day and constantly taking in his surroundings.  He has changed our lives so much.  Jarrod and I have a new sort of "normal" that we never could have imagined when we were pregnant with Collin.  I remember looking around our house while I was pregnant and thinking, "One day there will be toys and little boy things laying all over the place."  These days I look around and think, "I can hardly remember what it was like to live somewhere that didn't have little boy things littering every room of the house."

No idea what this is supposed to be!

I see him in everything now.  There is no point in keeping all of my nail polishes in the bag I have designated for them under the counter in my bathroom, because most mornings they are building blocks for Collin.  Yook Mommy, I'm building a BIGGGG house!  Or they are little people in his class at daycare...You go sit in timeout!  You face the wall and do not talk.  His imagination amazes me and keeps me highly entertained!

I find random items in random places, and I can't help but laugh.  If I ask him about it he always has the most rational explanation, I was just cleaning, Mommy.

Last night we gave him his bath and got his jammies on him for bedtime.  I was hugging on him and soaking up the "freshly bathed boy" smell.  Jarrod chose to put him to bed last night, so he said to Collin, "Go give your mommy a kiss.  It's your last 2-year-old-kiss!"  Collin gave me a big smooch and then blew Landry a kiss as Jarrod was carrying him off to his room, and I may or may not have been overcome with emotion.

He is teaching me so many things.  Like how being pregnant is a blessing beyond all blessings, and I should have appreciated it more when I was pregnant with him.  That silently lamenting over the difficulties of a newborn, and secretly wishing they would be a "fun toddler" already, will come back to bite you.  That the way you speak to, and about, people will be noticed and absorbed by him.  That I may be desensitized to many things of this world, but he is not.  He is still new and pure, and I long to protect him from so many things as long as possible.  That the way I worship our Creator will be noticed and imitated by him.

There is so much emphasis on the things we teach him.  Making certain he reaches milestones and develops "normally", but sometimes I feel like the way he is shaping and changing us is far, far greater.

G Money

A couple of months ago, we made a whirlwind trip to Tejas for a friend's wedding.  Jarrod was a groomsman and Collin Henry was one of the ring bearers.  (I'm not ashamed to say that I lobbied for Collin to be a ring bearer.  It was a dream come true for this mommy.)

Our friend is someone we have known since our time in Athens.  When we met him, he was just a young kid who played guitar with the worship group at our church.  He was quiet and kept to his self.  Pretty soon after we moved to Athens, Jarrod started playing djembe with the worship group.  After we had lived there for several months, I started to go stir-crazy and we decided I needed to look for a job!  Jarrod mentioned one night at worship practice that I was looking for a job and had experience previously working for a law firm. This young kid spoke up and said he actually clerked for a law firm in town, and he thought they were looking for someone.

So the way I remember it, I took that knowledge and submitted my resume, interviewed and got a job with the law firm where I currently work.

The way Garrett Hope remembers it, he got me my job and I should have named my firstborn after him.

Either way, we spent a couple of years at desks situated about six inches from each other.  We very quickly developed a relationship that entailed me treating him like a kid brother and him treating me like an obnoxious sister.

Garrett used to go to college classes during the day and then he would work at our office around his class schedule.  This meant I had to endure several stories about a cute girl in a class who sat near him and laughed at his jokes.

G: Do you think she likes me?
Me: I don't know, dude.  Why don't you ask her?
G: Nah.

I remember specifically praying that the Lord would bring someone into Garrett's life.  Living in the same small town where he grew up and attending a small church with no single girls, meant that he ended up bumming around with us a lot.  Jarrod and I liked to joke that he was our child.  He didn't think that was very funny.  I suppose I can understand why.

After we moved to Arkansas, the Lord answered my prayer (and I'm sure Garrett's too!).  Garrett told me about a double-date he was going on with a girl who hadn't lived in Athens for very long and who was a teacher.  I  crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.  About a year later, Garrett informed me that he was going to propose, and thus, my experience "advising" (aka TEASING) him about girls ended.

But you better believe I milked every last moment...

Just a little bit of what I texted him on the day he proposed

Garrett has been such a dear friend and an awesome co-worker.  It was an honor when he asked Jarrod and Collin to participate in his wedding.  Seeing Collin in Garrett's wedding was one of those full-circle moments for me.  One of my favorite memories from my pregnancy is of Garrett playing the guitar for my big belly and singing John Mayer songs to get Collin to "dance" when Collin was just a nameless little baby inside me.

I'm grateful that the Lord brought Garrett and Briana together.  I'm also thankful to have been Garrett's friend for several years now.  He endures my incessant nagging.  He appreciates my knack for inappropriate humor (mostly at inappropriate times).  He endures my monthly work-related vent sessions.  He's a good guy, with a great wife now.

I mean, really?!  Does it get any cuter than this?

So proud of the heart-shaped pillow he got to carry

The Baums

A Pinterest win.  Reception guests highlighted favorite verses for the couple to keep in a family Bible.

The groom and the ring bearer after the wedding

Being silly before we left to head home

~ THE END ~

Around here...

I don't know about anyone else, but around the Baum house things seem to be (hopefully) evening out.  Last week was a tough one!  Collin Henry doesn't adapt to change very well.  Our first week in a new class at school was a rough one.  Even with all of my exclamations of how "cool" or "fun" something was, he continued to stand in a corner picking the skin on his lips and staring at the floor more times than I care to remember.  Can we say nervous habit?

So on Friday of last week when I found out his new teacher was going to be on vacation this week, I had to bite my tongue!  Because these thoughts were bouncing around my head and threatening to come out of my mouth...You are kidding, right?.....We are just now getting comfortable with you!.....Please, Lord, don't let the sub be an idiot.....Why?!?!.....

We spent the weekend talking a little bit about how Collin was going to have a sub this week, because as he put it, "Ms. Eva is going to be on 'Cation'".  He also told me she's going to see fireworks; is that what he thinks people do on vacation?

Monday morning rolled around, and we were very excited to meet our sub.  She's a cute, sweet gal who has hit it off with Collin's class this week.  He told me on Tuesday morning, "Mommy, I wanna go to school and see 'dat girl".  I said, "Ms. Suzanne?", and he said, "Yeah!!  Her wears cute clothes."  And then he grinned from ear to ear.  Apparently, colorful scrub pants and t-shirts are all that it takes to impress him.

So praise God from who all blessings flooooowwwwww, we are having a good week around here (with regard to daycare, anyway).


Because the end of our summer has really just flown by / run together, and I haven't done a very good job of documenting the past few weeks, here are some visual aides...

I usually take Collin to Starbucks on Friday afternoons.  I get off work a little earlier than normal, so we kill an hour before Daddy gets home and I get my fix!  We are so beyond ecstatic to have Ms. Kristen Wiley (that's how Collin says her name - the whole thing!) here in AR!  On our last two Fridays, she has accompanied us to Starbucks.  We are indebted to her, because last Friday she stood in line while we were parking and saved us a spot among the 100 undergrad students who decided they too needed a caffeine fix on the last day of their first week of school.  Also, because she let Collin talk to her fun boyfriend, PJ, on the phone.  Collin calls him, "Pee-day".  Yep.

On Saturday, Jarrod had a "guys-only" day.  Collin and I went to Chick-Fil-A for lunch and spent most of the day counting down the hours until Jarrod returned!

A few weeks ago when I was dropping Collin off in the morning at school, he was wanting to get a little upset with me for leaving him.  His friend, Isabella, was rocking in a rocking chair and immediately said, "Collin, come rock with me!"  She scooted over, made room for him and patted the spot next to her.  He ran over and climbed up into the chair with her.  Precious!

Collin's Nonne & Papa came to visit a couple of weeks ago.  We all loaded up and spent some time in Heber Springs at a friend's lake house.  It was a great weekend!  Here we are driving at 9:00 pm in a thunderstorm - ignore Landry's scary eyes!

Landry Paige turned 6 years old at the beginning of this month.  She needs a haircut, but she is our first-born child and we love her!  Collin says she is his "sissy".

Gorgeous evening view from the deck of the lake house, and this is just half of it!

And last, as most of you know, Jarrod turned 30(!) this month.  He sent me this picture that day to let me know he made it up Pinnacle in record (for him) time.  Proving he's not an old man...yet!