Still here!

We are still here! My lack of posting hasn't meant anything is wrong. We have just been busy! And other than baseball camp for Travis, its just been busy with everyday summertime life. Swimming in the pool, going boating and trying to stay cool. I haven't taken a lot of pictures lately, because its been the same stuff over and over. But here are a few recent ones:
Riley got a new "puddle jumper" life jacket to use in our pool. He LOVES it, and he now kicks himself about wherever he wants to go with it on.




He has FINALLY decided that juice is not a dirty word, and will drink it, somewhat willingly. Here, he is protesting "juice".


Hmmm, what does Bubba have?


Misty was recently spayed. Which was not so great for her :). But Riley, REALLY enjoyed her post-anesthesia stupor. He loves to pet her, but usually she is too busy to sit still for him to pet her. Not this day!

He stayed with her for a long time, petting her, and then letting me know she was being good..."Mommmy....goo gurl"


Travis is has finished all of his camps and scheduled activities for summer, other than our upcoming vacation. We have gone school supply shopping, and he is excited about 3rd grade. He is fishing every chance he gets, and when he's not fishing, he is thinking about fishing! He looks so cute with his missing teeth also, but the new teeth are rapidly coming in.

Riley is growing like crazy. He is talking endlessly now, and is saying up to three word sentences. He is such a little sponge! He is ALL about some hotwheels cars and monster trucks and trains. If it has wheels, he loves it. He also likes to read books and play outside and in the pool. He is doing great with his belly issues, and has relatively few issues, as long as he gets his medications when he should, and doesn't eat a lot of really sweet stuff (like icing). His issues are for the most part, very easily controlled. Then again, we are so use to it, that we don't remember life any other way! He is very social with people he is comfortable with, and sometimes strangers as well. His hair is also growing like crazy now, and its apparent how much poor nutrition kept it from growing earlier on. It curls up around his ears now and I just love that!

Swimming and Football?

Travis has been in swim lessons these past 2 weeks. He last took lessons when he was 4, through a local gym. He has been able to make it across a pool for sometime now, but really struggled if he wasn't swimming entirely underwater. Since a pool now sits in our backyard, we felt it was worth a refresher. We signed him up for lessons through UNCW. And WOW, what a difference. I highly, highly recommend that program. You should see Travis swim now! And all the kids in his group made amazing progress. It was probably the longest hour of his day these past two weeks, they REALLY work those kids. But it was WELL worth the money for the instruction he got there. He really enjoyed it, after being kind of grumpy about having to go in the beginning. I think the young, college girls (UNCW Swim team members)that were his instructors helped his attitude improve some too! When Riley turns 3, he will begin to take lessons there also.






Riley the football player???
One of the things we were told about Riley's future, from his surgeon, is that heavy contact sports is not advised for him, with his medical history. That means, no football. Basketball could be too rough also. If he played baseball, or soccer, he will need to wear a chest/abdomen protector most likely. Swimming sounds like a nice, safe sport!! But Riley has taken a liking to football. I know, I know, he isn't even two yet, who knows what he will like when he is older. But for now, he likes football. And will "go long" so we can throw the ball for him to get. And then will throw it from up over his shoulder. And he bends over and hikes it through his legs! As tough as he is, he would probably make one heck of a player!

Time to make a pass

HIKE!

HIKE!!

He went to get the ball (go long he says), and is now going to throw it back to me (it hit my camera!)

Future Heisman Trophy winner?

The toothless farmer

Travis helps my dad several times a week, tend to his garden. He knows more about gardening, than many grown men do. When we were recently over there, Travis and I decided to pick some veggies, to help out Granddaddy.
Let the fun begin

He disappears into the row of okra

There he is!

"See Mommy, it's like a tunnel"

Not my favorite part of the process....(spiders and ants and tickly, itchy plants...oh my!)

Supervisors

Chillin' after a job well done


Check out the cucumbers Travis found hiding in the vines


This morning, the great farmer pulled a bottom tooth.

Tonight...he yanked out his top tooth also!The picture above, with the cucumbers was taken about an hour before the picture below!

Nothing could be finer than to be in 'Carolina...

Truly. If you do not live in coastal North Carolina, you are missing out. Big time.



Runs with flippers

'nack!!!! cake!!!! (brownies actually)



The boat we used today, decided to not cooperate. It was going to be a looong, slooow ride back to the dock. Sandra came to the rescue and whisked Riley and I back to the dock! Travis, Misty and Jay came along a few hours later. Travis of course loved how long it took to get back to the dock! Riley loved his ride back too!
Thinking good thoughts while playing in the sand.

Pool randomness

3 men in boats

Do you think he likes it?

How about now?

Travis shows him how it's REALLY done



He cracks me up!

Rocking the mohawk

ice cream by the pool

Lounging around

Water babies

Saturday, we celebrated Travis' birthday with a day full of water fun. The weather wasn't as cooperative as it could have been, but we made the most out of our day anyway. Travis said he had a great day, so I call it a success!

Riley was highly concerned with Madelyn being in the life jacket. He wanted to unbuckle it.

There was lots of swimming involved, even Annaleigh enjoyed the water!

What a big boy he is!

Yet, still so little!

How did they enjoy it?

Lets zoom in...(notice both boys are waving!)

Enjoying opening his presents!

His only requested gift...his own catcher's gear

Double trouble


All cheeks



Thanks to everyone who helped make his day special.