Changes

Well we have a lot of changes going on. Matthew is very interested in the potty now and goes usually about 3 times a day, so I think we are about ready for potty training. I am waiting for him to say potty, then he sits and goes, which he is getting pretty good at, I just want him to be really ready. He has also learned his basic colors and loves being called a "big boy". Thomas had his 6 month check up this morning, and it went well. He weighed 15.8 lbs (13%) and is 26 inches long(18%). He is also starting solids, we have done sweet potatoes and peas so far. I tried green beans, but he did NOT like them, so I will try again later. He is sliding around everywhere on the floor, so it won't be long until I have two really mobile babies!! Paul had his last day in Purvis last week. He had been going there once a week for the past 5 years. So that gives him another day at Belk Eye Clinic now. Football season is starting up, so that is always a fun time for us :) Here are some recent pictures:


Matthew loves getting in Thomas' tub


Thomas is on the move...


This is how I found Matthew after a nap one day. I had given him a sucker earlier for going potty, but he didn't finish before nap time. He was upset about his shirt so I gave him his sucker back while I took a picture.


Again, monkey see, monkey do. Matthew came and laid down by Thomas and started kicking his feet like him...too funny


I snuck away for a little while, and when I came back this is how I found the boys...watching football of course. Matthew has his hands up saying "Touchdown!"

The Williston Household...

Well today would normally be my first day back to school. It does feel weird not having to go back, but I feel so lucky that my husband is giving me the opportunity to stay home with our precious baby boys. Yes, it can be trying at times, but it is well worth it. Thanks Paul!! Instead I get to see moments like these:

"NO, NO, NO, Mommy!!!"


I guess old habits never die. Monkey see, monkey do.


Making homemade meals has not been near as hard as I thought it would be. We have pretty much made every meal homemade for the past few weeks. I really like it :) We had homemade marinara with fresh pasta, fried green tomatoes, corn with bell pepper and onion, cornbread, fresh fish that Paul got fishing, pork roast with cauliflower augratin and green beans, sauteed spinach, etc. I am also reading a book called Superfoods RX, which is all about fresh foods. There are 14 superfoods that you can incorporate into your diet that are extremely good for you, and according to the book, help PREVENT many diseases and illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, strokes, diabetes, heart disease, etc. It is an easy read, and I am learning a lot from it.


My helper in the kitchen


As for my little one, Thomas is starting to enjoy his cereal. We are about to move on to vegtables. I am going to try to make as much of his food as I can. He is also trying to crawl. I don't think he will do it for another month or so, but he keeps pulling his legs under him and pushing up. He can scoot around pretty well.

As for me...

As for me, I am really enjoying my role as a mother of 2 boys! They bring so much life and love to our lives! We are truly blessed! I still haven't mastered the taking care of two babies, keeping the house up, and getting dinner ready thing yet. I am pretty good at the 1st one, getting better on the 2nd one, and about to start working on the 3rd. Paul and I went to a cooking class last night where they taught us how to make homemade pasta, marinara, and alfredo. We had so much fun, and got inspired to start eating better. The chef from Capone's Restaurant in Ocean Springs was the one teaching the class. She is a big believer in eating fresh foods. Everything she makes is from scratch and she uses all fresh ingredients that she gets from her own garden or Farmer's market. With all that said, I want to start creating healthy meals for my family. We are terrible at just making something out of a box because it is convenient. I have also noticed that Matthew is getting pickier and pickier and eating more junk food and less healthy food, so I want to try and change that. With that being said, I am giving myself 3 goals to reach by the end of Sept. Paul is always wanting me to set some goals, so here I go :)
1st goal: Eat healthier, I want to create 2 homemade meals a week using all fresh ingredients (I am being realistic;)
2nd goal: lose 10 lbs, I still have more baby weight than I should at this point. It has just not come off like it did with Matthew. I have been going to the gym 3 times a week for the past 2 months and don't really feel as though anything is changing. (I am enjoying going though.) So, I need to change my eating habits!! This should go hand in hand with my first goal.
3rd goal: save money, With me staying home now and about to have to buy our own insurance, we are on a tight budget! I have recently learned how to coupon and have done pretty well with it so far, but a lot of what I have been buying, as far as food, probably isn't the healthiest....so I will now have to work a little harder to get more savings on fresh foods and other areas such as household products, clothes, etc.. I pretty much just want to save in general.
Wish me luck :)

I love my brother!

Ok, so I gave in. I was trying to put this off a long as possible because I hate the baby food stage, but I think he is ready for it. We tried cereal for the 1st time today. He didn't love it, he didn't hate it. We will have to try again tomorrow :)


Playing with his feet. Matthew did this all the time when he was an infant, and I thought it was so cute. Now Thomas has started doing it, and I still think it is precious!! Notice all the toys Matthew brought to him.


Matthew taking a break (which is very rare) on our bed. His new favorite thing is getting on our beds by himself (SCARY)!!!


MILLION DOLLAR SMILES :)




Matthew giving his brother a kiss.


Matthew has learned how to tickle from his daddy. He is tickling Thomas' feet.


Just hanging out with my brother.


Again, tickling Thomas.


"Thomas say Cheese, they are about to take our picture." I love my brother!!

Matthew really does just adore Thomas. He is always asking about the baby and bringing him toys to play with. I know that when Thomas is older they will have so much fun together. A lot of times when we are riding in the car, I can hear Matthew talking to Thomas and see him holding his hands. It is too cute!!

Updates and new pictures

Thomas~
had his 4 month check up last week. He did not gain as much weight as I had hoped, but he is still a happy, healthy boy! He weighed 13.2 lbs (25th%), 25 1/2 in. (75th%) He is still doing great! He holds his head up well, sits well in the bumbo seat, is rolling over on his tummy and back, and smiles and laughs. He is also starting to play with toys, loves putting things in his mouth, and likes the pool. Still not sleeping through night yet, I usually get up once anytime from 1-4 :(


Getting some love from Mimi


Getting love from PawPaw too


Enjoying the pool

Matthew~
had surgery last week. He had a tongue tie when he was born. Paul and I had always talked about getting it clipped, but we finally decided to go ahead and do it. We just did not want it to cause any problems later. He did absolutely great! By the time we got home, he was running around laughing and playing as if nothing had happened. Immediately after the surgery, he was eating and drinking. He has also gone potty a few times. I couldn't believe it! He loves dancing! We went to eat the other night, and they had a band playing. Matthew was tearing it up on the dance floor. His face was bright red, and he was sweating so bad. He would come get me and pull my hand saying "mon, mon" meaning come on mom! I didn't have my camera with me to take pictures. It was too cute though. The band was calling out his name and loved their #1 fan.


1st boat ride


Playing in the sprinkler with daddy


Fun in the sun!

The Boys

Here are a few updates on the boys:

Matthew (20 months)
getting his canine teeth
a typical toddler- one minute pitching a FIT, the next jumping and laughing
loves, loves, loves the baby- he is always talking about him, kissing him, and hugging him
we are introducing the potty. Not potty training yet, just getting ready for it ;)
LOVES puppies...everything is a puppy if it is furry with legs
is getting pretty wild
loves balls and is pretty good at basketball and soccer
loves books and pictures of things
Still a mommy's boy, but equally a daddy's boy now too



Say CHEESE! (he really will say CHEESE and smile)



Sitting on the potty. I did bribe him with chocolate :) (I just wanted him to like it)



Typical dinner time at our house. He loves sitting in my lap and playing with my food.



Thomas (3 1/2 months)
smiling
laughing/giggling
not sleeping through the night yet, we are working on it though. He does about 2/3 of the time.
loves his paci
napping when Matthew naps in afternoon :)
drooling like crazy
does not like taking bottles (I am nursing him)
loves attention

SO SWEET

Busy, Busy, Busy

May has been a super busy month for us. We really have been traveling 4 out of the past 5 weeks. So things are finally settling down for us. We went the the beach again for Joe Dixon's wedding, which was very nice. Paul's family went with us. We stayed in Watercolor Resort, which is one of our new favorite places! Then we headed to West Point for another shot at meeting Baby Tucker. He is super precious and looks just like his daddy!! Unfortunately I forgot my camera so I didn't get any pictures. I do have to go to Jackson next weekend for my dear friend Mary Grace's shower, but after that we should be home for a while if anyone wants to come visit.
I have enjoyed the past 2 weeks as a stay at home mom with my boys. I was really worried about what we would do all day, but truthfully, we are always going somewhere. My new favorite place is the gym that I joined. The boys are able to go with me, which is nice. They get to play while I try to get back in shape after about 3 years of not really exercising due to being pregnant or just having a baby. Needless to say, I am pretty out of shape so I am excited about getting back in shape. Paul is out on his boat today. He hasn't gotten to use it much for the past year and half due to the oil spill, babies, and traveling. So he is happy! Hopefully he is catching some fish for tonight! We are planning on taking Matthew on the boat for the first time! I think he will like it. Here are recent pictures:


Thomas is such a happy baby! He loves attention :)


We tried to get a picture of Paul's parents with all 4 grandchildren. His mother got all 4 of them the cutest matching outfits. Matthew was not having it that day though!! He was the only one not cooperating :(


Matthew's RED mohawk


A day at the beach. We decided that we were probably the whitest family out there :) I think we are blending in with the sand.