Andrew & Cyndi's Wedding

Earlier today we drove to Starkville for the wedding of Adam's cousin, Andrew, and Cyndi. They got married in the Chapel of Memories on campus and then had the reception in one of the ballrooms at the Student Union.

Adam and Sam "played pictures" on Bobi's iPhone while we waited in the chapel for the ceremony to begin. Sam did a pretty good job of being still and staying quiet during the wedding and enjoyed looking around at all of the people. A sweet picture of one of my handsome wedding dates.

And now one with both of them - I am a lucky girl!

The bride and groom with Sam.

All of the cousins together!

After eating, dancing and having some cake, it was time for the single men to get ready to catch the garter. My little man had his game face on and was ready to jump at it! ;)

Oh no! It went right over his head!

After the garter it was time to go outside and help send the newlyweds off. But first we had to take Sam's picture with Bully before leaving campus. Adam couldn't resist "sharing" his Ole Miss tie with Bully....he's so bad! :)

This one was for Shuffie.

Sam and Bobi blew bubbles as the new couple drove off. Good job, Sam!

Congratulations Andrew & Cyndi!

Goodbye, Paci!

At Sam's checkup yesterday Dr. Sherwood agreed that it was time for Sam to give up his paci so it wouldn't damage his permanent teeth. She suggested that we convince Sam to give it to a neighborhood dog or some other animal he liked instead of trying to reason with him about why it had to go. Adam and I thought long and hard and remembered the turtle that showed up in our front yard a few months ago. Sam fell in love with it and continues to ask where it went! We decided that tonight was just as good a night as ever (even though we both felt sick to our stomachs about doing it) and it would be better to go ahead and just get it over with. We put Sam in his bed with his two favorite "meanies" (what he calls his blankets) and told him that the turtle needed his paci for her babies. He looked up at us with the sweetest face and simply said, "Ok." He asked for the paci a few more times and we kept telling him about the turtle's babies and then finally we said goodnight and left his room. There were a few tears after we left but it didn't take him long to get quiet and go to asleep. I'm pretty sure that was much harder on Mama and Daddy than it was on Sam. I'm hopeful that he will forget all about it in a few days....we'll keep our fingers crossed. :)

Sam's 2-Year Checkup

Sam and I had some cheerios for breakfast this morning before it was time to head out and visit with Dr. Sherwood for his 2-year checkup.

She has these cute little chairs that are just his size in each of her exam rooms and he loves sitting on them. But it wasn't long before she walked in and he hopped right up and ran over to sit by me. It usually takes him a few minutes to warm up to her each time we go and it took even longer today because she had a pediatric resident with her.

He weighed 30.8 lbs (80th percentile) and was 37 inches tall (97th percentile). She checked him from head to toe and was very pleased with his development and growth. He is definitely going to be a big boy just like his daddy. After Dr. Sherwood finished with him, one of the nurses came by to draw blood for the first time since he was a newborn. He wasn't too fond of that but it was over before we knew it and we were free to go. After this visit we will only go back once a year for a checkup - so hard to believe! Sam was such a good boy during our appointment and I was so thankful to hear that my sweet boy is healthy.

Ka-Chow! Sam is Two Now!

Sam's birthday celebration continued today with a Cars party at our house for friends and family. The Cars movie has been Sam's favorite for quite a while and he loved all of the "Queen" and "Mater" decorations and toys everywhere!

My mom and I made some Cars wreaths for the front doors that turned out really cute!

Sam's Lightning McQueen cake and cupcakes were a big hit. Dream Cakes did a great job and everything tasted just as good as it looked.

I had fun decorating the entry-hall table with all of Sam's little cars from the movie.

We setup a small table for the kids to color and play stickers.

And Sam even had his own special Cars Happy Birthday plate!

This was one of the "toolboxes" we gave as party favors to Sam's friends.

These two sweet little girls were having fun coloring...

so these two handsome boys decided to join them!

After lots of playing and coloring it was time for some food before we had cake and ice cream. Sam and I took a break from snacking to smile for the camera.

We obviously weren't moving on to the cake fast enough for Sam because he got caught trying to sneak a little bite before we could even sing and blow out candles. Watch out, Daddy....Sammy is quick!

"Isn't it time for cake yet? I've been waiting all day to dig in!"

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Sam, Happy Birthday to you!

Make a wish!!

Yay, you did it!!!

We love our sweet boy to pieces!

Shuffie was nice enough to let Sam eat the big, black fondant tire off the cake - pure sugar. I told Shuffie that I would be happy to let Sam go to his house after the party and they could bounce off the walls together for the rest of the day. ;)

Remnants of the delicious tire....

And he gladly showed us his new black tongue, too!

Time for presents - so much fun!!

A new "titar" from Lili & Shuffie.

And so many other wonderful presents from our friends and family - thank you!!

"Sssssssss," says Pirate Sam. Who said a pirate always had to say Argghhh? ;)

Adam and I got Sam a tricycle. We kept it upstairs during the party and Adam brought it down at the end of the presents. Sam loved it!

Daddy had to help Sam with the pedals but it won't be long before Sam will be riding around all by himself.

The cousins tried out of the tricycle together - they are quite a pair! :)

Playing with friends, eating cake, and opening presents can wear a boy out! Sam had to take a quick break in his new Ole Miss chair from Sarah.

Even Rusty and Adam stopped to rest their feet for a minute too!

Lili, Sam and Sarah

(The birthday boy was starting to look a little sleepy in this one.)

Sam and his three sweet great-grandmothers. How blessed we were to have them all at the party with us!

We appreciate everyone that came to the party and helped make it such a fun afternoon. Sam was still going strong long after the last guest left but once he hopped up in my lap and was still for a minute it didn't take either one of us long to fall asleep. Being two is hard work and I think I agreed with him this afternoon! ;)

Happy Birthday Sam! We love you and look forward to many more celebrations with you!

My Heart