Last week, Bing (formerly known as Boscoe) lost his beloved 14 year old black lab, Cody. Bing wanted dear, sweet Cody to be buried next to his Mama (Ryan's dog), Maggie, at our farm in Alabama. So, this weekend we met Bing and Twinkle out there to say goodbye to an incredible dog. While they were there we had some fun too. Leave it to David to lighten the mood.

Wearing Twinkle's glasses

Bing enjoyed drawing pictures for David

Like this one of Ryan shooting a deer with his bow from a tree stand. David really liked it.

We all went for a hike down to the gorge. David showed us how he drink the water coming out of the rocks. 

My boys

He sure doesn't look 12, does he??

David and Twinkle

Even though he wouldn't look at me for the picture, it still came out adorable.

Dragging a broken paddle that Ryan found during the hike.

We took a few family pictures while at the gorge. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUNT LAUREEN!!

This evening we celebrated Aunt Laureen's birthday with dinner, cake and ice cream, and presents.

Helping her blow out the candles.

Once David had a taste of the cake and ice cream he stayed focused on eating it all. He didn't even  look up until it was all gone.

 Rachael having a good time

 David liked showing Aunt Laureen the card he gave her

A little girl talk

David slept great last night and woke up happy and ready to play! I was so relieved to have my David back.

 Over the last week and a half we have been watching the Australian Open on occasion. David now says the word "tennis" and even thinks some of the cute, skinny, blonde girls playing are "Mama"...Thank you for the confidence booster, my sweet boy. 

Today, while I made his lunch, David pulled up a seat (Rachael's seat actually) in front of the tv to watch a match. He would clap when he heard the audience clap and get upset when it went to a commercial. 

Sweet Bogie watching with him

As for the baby girl- I have been trying to introduce her to tummy time, but she, like her brother at her age, does NOT enjoy it.

And....she's done.

Monday night, right after David was asleep in his bed, he started coughing so hard that he threw up. Ryan was still in the room with him. While calling for me to come help, Ryan rushed David to the bathroom. I hurried upstairs to find David half asleep, covered in his dinner, and crying from the fear of what was happening to him. My poor baby boy didn't understand what had just happened or why he didn't feel right. It broke my heart to see him so upset. He threw up a few more time until I realized it was when he was laying on his back that caused the coughing. I remembered that his nose had started running right before dinner, so maybe they were connected. Ryan ended up sleeping with David in the reclining rocking chair all night. He started running a fever around 1:30am. I took David to the doctor the next morning and he confirmed that the drainage from the nasal congestion was causing the coughing and leading to the vomiting, but it was just a bad cold. He wasn't able to sleep well at nap time and then last night either. So, this morning he was exhausted and still feeling under the weather. His fever finally broke, but he was still not feeling perfect. It was hard to watch my sweet little boy feeling so bad. He didn't want to eat anything this morning. He actually wanted to just sit on the couch with his milk and paci and watch tv, which is NOT like David at all. 

He took a great nap this afternoon and seemed to be on the upswing by bed time. I hope he wakes up with a clear nose and rested body. 

Because her brother hasn't been feeling well, Rachael wanted to show him some love. 

We had a very fun and exciting weekend! 

At Thanksgiving, we found out that David and Rachael are going to be big cousins very soon because... their Aunt Nicole and Uncle Michael are going to have a baby!!

This weekend we headed up to their house for the Gender Reveal Party. Upon arrival, we each picked a pink or blue clothes pin to wear to display our guess of the baby's gender.  

Mama and Rachael chose pink

David chose blue and Daddy chose pink

 Rachael had a great time at the party. David did too. So much in fact he was never still enough to be photographed. There were lots of kids his age there and he had a blast playing with all of them. 

Then it was time to find out if they were going to have a boy or girl cousin. 

The frosting inside the cupcakes would reveal the gender. 

So, they each took a bite and there it was-- BLUE!!! It's a BOY!!!

We were all so excited! We can't wait to meet this little boy and shower him with love. He is a precious gift from God and already so special to us. 

My pretty little girl, worn out from a fun party.

The next morning, David got to have some guy time with Daddy and Uncle Michael at the creek just behind their house. David thought this would be a good time to teach Uncle Michael about all the things little boys like to do, now that he is going to have one. 

David had so much fun throwing rocks and sticks into the creek

Then it was time to say, "Goodbye". 

A sweet picture of David and Rachael with Uncle Michael and Aunt Nicole just before we left. 

Today David got to meet the cows his Uncle Rich and Big Daddy recently purchased. Even though it was a little cool and rainy, he absolutely loved it! He's still fascinated by cows and will let us know anytime we pass some on car rides. He was so excited to get close to these. 

Peering through the fence at the cows.

What the cows saw peering back at them.

 Smiling only because his Mama asked him to.

After watching Ricky fill up the feed troughs, Uncle Rich took him for a closer look at the cows.

 With Daddy in front of the most hay (or "ha" as he calls it) David had ever seen.

Giving the "ha" a taste.

Working hard 

 Just too cute not to share

Rachael stayed warm and dry in the barn and enjoyed herself for most of the time. 

We've been finalizing the details in David's big boy room, which I guess should soon be called just David's room whenever I come to terms with it all! We've moved some things from the nursery and added some new. 

His monogram letters are the first thing you see from the door.

 His personalized growth chart and top three shelves with many special gifts. The bottom ones will be filled when David learns that not everything is a toy.

 A picture that hung in Ryan's room as a boy

 But, what do you think David's absolutely most favorite thing in his room could be????

A deer Ryan shot (or "boomed" in David language) over 11 years ago. It was hanging in our office downstairs until Ryan, somewhat jokingly, asked David if he wanted it in his big boy room. After considering it, David nodded and headed for the stairs. It had to be hung up right then. He loves it. Next on his list of things to be hung in his room--- a turkey. What a boy he is!