trips to Tyler

We made two little trips to Tyler in August and in September 

living 3 hours away from Jake and Jamie is so nice for when we want to and can make quick trips for special occasions or just when we need to see each other

we have seen each other more often, but here are 2 of our little trips that I wanted to document!

in August, we went over to hang out and go to the Tyler Zoo!

and oh man, are we missing that little Buddy....

Happy Campers!

in September, we went over for a day trip for a baby blessing for Buddy

Jake and Jamies church is an incredible support for them

actually, "support" probably doesn't do it justice.

their church family has become their family and has loved them through their 10 months fostering Buddy.

they had their baby blessing day and we just could not miss it

believe it, or not, but i did not intend for this post to be about our little Buddy.

but, we are just missing him.

He is with his forever family, and I just have to believe that he is loved as much as he was when he was with Jake and Jamie.

foster care was a whole new world for them and for our entire family.

i'm not going to say a lot about it, because it's not entirely my story to tell, but i will say that our family is better because of foster care. 

and because of Jake and Jamie, and their hearts.

and because of Buddy.

We loved our short trip to be with them and soaked up each second of cousin and sibling time

as a mom, on a Wednesday

1. there should be some sort of victory chant for when your children start playing together and can do so unattended. so far, it's only about 2 minutes before someone starts crying or screaming, but that's 2 solid minutes that i can unload the dishwasher, get something out of the car, stare at the wall, or hide.

while we're at it...how about a fun little side-by-side comparison

    JR-22 months, TW-2 months              JR-3 years, TW-16(almost 17) months

2. judsons memory is ridiculous. and slightly alarming.

monday we were in the grocery store.
he said, "let's see if they have any of the John Deere puzzles."

no clue what he was talking about. 

so i asked him, "when did you get a puzzle from here?" 

Judson, "for my Christmas party at my old school." 

I said, "we got that here? at Macs?"

 Judson, "yes, right over there" 

kid knew exactly the spot in which i found the puzzle from a year ago.
when he was 2 years and 2 months old. 

so, don't ever do anything around him that you don't want him to remember and therefore, talk about.

3. is it normal? the amount of delight i get from our Christmas tree? 

all lit up at night....it's magical, really. 

i just love it so much.
it's not a perfect tree and it's definitely not fancy. i got all of our ornaments at Dollar General, for crying out loud. 

but, i love it. so very much.

4. people have asked me if Townes is our last baby.

 it's because I "baby" him

even Judson recognizes it. 

Just the other day he was asked, "who is Roo Roo?"

Judson replied, "that's Townesy. He's our baby."
OUR baby, ha!

explanation: Townes-a-rooskie led to Rooskie led to Roosk led to Roo and now Roo Roo

so, Townesy and Roo Roo, it is.

anyways

Townesy and I, we are quite obsessed with one another and I have no plans to rid him of his pacifier, bottle, crib, blanket, monkey, or anything that makes him a baby-any time soon.

I am smitten with his little 16 month old self and could eat him up i love him so.

but, his personality that is revealing itself as he grows into a little boy is quite entertaining

and the answer to that original question above (the one about him being our last) is- i hope not. 

we love our babies.... i mean, our boys.

Judson Ray at 3 years old

Judson Ray is 3. 
and actually, i CAN believe it
at times, we event think he's a little teenager

He thinks through everything

has an incredible memory

needs a full explanation of what is happening

likes to keep a routine

asks "we just staying home?" or "where are we going today?" as soon as he wakes up

prefers to be talked to in a straight-forward manner, no baby-talk or talking around a situation (he will continue to ask questions, until he gets a satisfactory answer or explanation- or until we nip that in the bud)

"Why?" is his favorite question

likes to tell us his plan and asks "is that a great plan?" or "does that sound perfect?"

hates to be put on the spot or in the center of attention 

tends to be shy in larger crowds or when first meeting someone

can not sit still to watch a show or movie longer than a few minutes

easily entertains himself 

likes to know what his "brudder" is doing

and wants to do everything his daddy does

so, really he has been out of the toddler stage for quite a while and likes to keep up with the big kids

I have been keeping note of some of the things he says, that make me shake my head or stop and stare. 

This is only a small glimpse into his verbal world. 

He is a good little communicator and remembers EVERYTHING.

 He is very observant and takes in all of the small details, recalling them later at random times. 

K: Oooh do you hear that storm?
JR: No, that's just thunder
K: Do you know what thunder is? (Just for fun)
JR: Hmmmm.... toots

JR: I get baptized
(holds his own nose and falls straight backwards in baby pool)

evidence of his Louisiana raisin'...after walking outside on 2 different days
Heat index 110- hot as blazes
JR: It feels really great out here
75 degrees
JR: It's a little chilly out here


playing with stickers with GT's dad
Mark: Why don't you go show your mom?
JR: No, I'm not worried about my mama

JR: Did you hear that burp? that was me. Not Townesy, not momm, it was me. I did it

JR:What're you doing? 
K: Putting your clothes away. what're you doing?
JR:Hanging out

walks into kitchen
JR: did you just make cookies?!?
K: I did, but i accidentally burned them
JR: *deep sigh, closes eyes, shoulder shrug. opens fridge*

JR:What is this book?
K:I don't know, it's new
JR: Oh, cute

K:Where should we meet Mamaw for lunch?
JR:Ummm, Sonit...orrrr .... Chickaway or Sonit or Chickaway orrrr (smacks his lips) You wanna talk about it, mom?

JR:I wuv Popsicles and fruit snacks.
K: and you love carrots and broccoli
JR:And candy. I wuuuuuv candy

K: Judson, did you hear what I said?
JR: Not say that!
K: Say what?
JR: Those are ugly words
K: What is?
JR: When you tell me no

one Saturday morning
JR: Daddy, here's the plan.We go outside and play baseball. Probably the hard bat is in the tiny bitty barn. I wear my Astros hat and you wear your Astros hat

Driving away from the house. I had recently finished decorating for fall
JR: I like the back door. It looks really nice

TV is on while we play
JR: Mom, do you hear that? God is talking
(Liberty mutual commercial on tv with a voice-over by deep-voiced man)


random 
JR: It's really fun doing puzzles with my dad. He always plays puzzles with me and does my bucking shoot and soccer. That's my favorite. 

JR: Mom, do you love to play with my horse swing?
K: yeah, bud...i sure do
JR: cool

if he thinks he has a "really great idea", he'll tell us with eyebrows raised, a side-smile and a little head-nod...hard to resist

he loves all things rodeo, cows, tractors, Longhorn football, Astros baseball, John Deere, dump trucks, deer hunting, YouTube instructional videos (how to put toys together or how something works), farms

he likes to show us "tricks", which can be anything from a flip to lifting one leg to flicking a grape off of his plate

he likes to sing, "Rodeo" (boots and chaps and cowboy hats), "Big Green Tractor", "Shout Hallelujah", "forever and ever, He wants to be my friend" (a song from school), "at the name of Jesus"

he LOVES, loves, loves his cousins. the "big cousins" and "little cousins" (can't find pics with all of them, but Wukey is his "best buddy")

daily life with Judson Ray is so good

he is a lot of fun to be with and i am enjoying learning alongside him

he is incredibly eager to learn- everything!

he is always watching and asking questions

conversations with him are quite entertaining

i so look forward to years of great conversation with him

Judson is a great kid

we absolutely enjoy who he is and are constantly entertained or surprised by the things he says

of course, he is a kid and knows how to throw a fit, but he is quick to ask for a hug after being corrected 

he is easily entertained and shows excitement over the little things

he just makes things more fun!

getting to know him as he grows is equally exciting, sweet, fun, exhausting, terrifying and humbling

just last night, i was laying down beside him as he fell asleep...he rolled towards me, put his arm around my neck and kissed my nose.

i hope to remember that moment forever

these days with our Judson Ray are so good