NYC or Bust

I'm headed off to New York City tomorrow to visit my sister. It was originally going to be her bachelorette party weekend but since she has decided to be true to herself and stay single for a while we're calling it a girls weekend of fun. I'm excited to get to spend time with Paige, just us two having fun like only sisters can. I'm just going for the weekend and know Ramsey will be in good hands with his Daddy. I can't even begin to tell you all how much it does my soul good to know Cope is now home and I can go away without feeling guilty or full of worry. I know Cope is just as capable as me and I truly don't worry much at all when he takes care of Ramsey. He is a good Daddy. I'm sure I'll have lots of funny stories from the trip and from "Daddy Daycare" after the weekend.



Also, last night Cope and I got to go on a date. My friend, Katie and I came up with the idea of a co-op, meaning one week we'll watch their kids while they go out as a couple and the next week they'll watch Ramsey while we go out. The rules are simple in that you just get back in time to get your kid(s) home for bedtime so all we really have to do is feed them dinner and play. It is a win, win for everyone because we get much needed couple time and the kids love to play. It was our first time leaving Ramsey with someone other than family and Katie said he was "awesome". She said he ate good and even ate teriyaki noodles. She also said their son Kaden got in trouble at the dinner table and Ramsey said "uh-oh". Ramsey was exhausted last night and Cope and I enjoyed a little time to ourselves. The plan is working well so far.

Wordless Wednesday-Silly

Feels Like Vacation

Ramsey and I are LOVING having Cope back in our lives. He and Ramsey are big buddies and Ramsey will run around screaming "Da-Da" until he finds him. No one is loving it more than me though. When I put Ramsey down for his nap after lunch Cope will say "honey, why don't you take a nap or relax, I got it for a little while". There are no sweeter words in the world. I have had 2 naps in 2 days. Is this vacation or heven? I guess my body has just been waiting to truly relax. I have always been the queen of naps but haven't had but a few since Ramsey was born. Until Cope gets a job I'll take him up on his kind offers. We are also enjoying family dinners at the table. Ramsey has started wanting what we're having (which is a big change for him). So far he has tried Broccoli casserole, wild rice, and jambalaya. Maybe he just needs more spice in his life? Cope is definitely the missing piece to our family puzzle. Ramsey and I did fine on our own but we are both certainly BETTER with Cope around.

Picture Post

Ramsey loves the push the buttons on the dishwasher:

He is able to use his fork now which he loves anything that makes him more independent. Here he is eating strawberries:

This is where i caught him last week. He has pushed his 4-wheeler up to the chair and climbed onto the table. jeez.:

Modeling Daddy's hat. His hair is so big it almost fits:

Sweet Boy:

Boom Boom!

Ramsey LOVES books and his latest favorite is called "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom". He got it from the Steed family for his birthday. If he catches anyone sitting down he'll cease the opportunity to take the book over and insist you read it to him. He is so funny in that when the parts in the story come if you say "chicka chicka" he'll respond with "Boom Boom" and be so proud of himself. Needless to say I know the book by heart since we read it like 20 times a day and so does most anyone who visits out home :) It's a great little book for the toddler stage and he also loves to point out the letters and for you to tell him what they are.

She's So Famous!

For all of you true southerners who get Southern Living magazine, Cope's sister, Julie is the author of the article in the back titled "Raising Southerners". I'm so excited for her! She is an Air Force wife and stay at home Mom. She is an awesome writer and is getting back into finding her passion through pen and paper. I'd say she is off to a pretty darn good start. Way to go Julie!

Update: Cope got in yesterday about 3:00pm. We headed to Monkey Joe's for a friend's little boys birthday party. We had a great time and we're exhausted last night. We've just enjoyed hanging out today and making room for 2 cars in the garage. We both know it will take a week or so to actually set in that he's here to stay. Ramsey and Cope are instant buddies and Ramsey has been saying "da-da" non stop. So sweet. We're just so thankful for this day and all that are to follow.

Bath Time Fun!

Ramsey and I are still eagerly awaiting Cope's arrival. He should be home around 4:00pm today. In the meantime I just thought I would post a few pictures from bath time last night. He looks like such a different boy with flat hair.

This little video is of his funny face when he scrunches his nose and breathes silly. It never fails to make me laugh:

Can I Get a AMEN?

Cope is coming home FOR GOOD! Thank God! He signed out of Ft. Drum, NY today for the very last time and is headed to Georgia right now! He won't actually get here until tomorrow since the drive is about 17 hours or so depending on weather. I am so excited and and thankful this LONG journey is over and now our lives together as a family can truly resume. It has been 18 months at this point since we have officially lived together and to not have a deployment or a plane trip back to Ft. Drum looming will be such a welcome change. It is a little hard to wrap my brain around the fact that he's here to stay but Ramsey and I are excited and ready to have Cope/Daddy back in our lives FOREVER! The distance has not been easy but I trust we are all better, more appreciative, and more ready then ever for all that life has in store for us as a family. So hurry home babe, we've missed you!

Mommy's Little Helper

Ramsey is quite the little helper lately. I have noticed when I sweep the floors he watches intensely and even tries to use the big broom himself. We were at the $1 Store this morning and so I picked him up a little broom and dust pan set. He loves it! He would not even let the check out lady ring it up and screamed when I tried to take it out of his hands. Thankfully everything is $1.00 so no problems there. When we got home he spent a good half hour walking around and brushing the rugs and even takes the dust pan to the trash can like he has seen me do but he just throws the whole thing in there and say "Uh, Oh". Hey, at least he is trying and any help I can get with cleaning, I'll take it! Maybe I'll look into a mini vacuum soon???

My Funny Valentine

Since Cope could not be here this weekend for Valentine's we decided to postpone celebrating the holiday until next weekend when he'll be home FOR GOOD! In the meantime Ramsey is happy to fill in as my little Valentine and make me laugh at his daily antics.

Dogs Need Love Too

Our poor dogs get less lovin now that Ramsey is in the picture and I am mostly by myself running the daily circus. They are so sweet and understand but at the end of the day they still need little reminders that they hold a special place in our home and hearts. Today's reminder was that I made them new collars and they got to get out for a stroll to show them off. They are our first babies and it is because of them that we've learned to better parents. They are also super patient with Ramsey and let him play in their water bowls and tackle them for kisses.

Miss Sage sporting her very girlie collar:B-Rentley sporting a more retro look:

In other news Cope has gotten his orders and will be back for good late next week. Thank GOD! Ramsey is down for the night and I'm saying a prayer that he'll sleep all night and NOT wake at 4am. I did go by and get him some teething pain gel from our pharmacist. Everyone I've talked to swears by it so I'll keep you posted. I'm not sure why I'm just now using it on tooth #12 but whatever, I need SLEEP and so does Ramsey. Fingers Crossed!

Are You Kidding Me?

Ramsey who is normally a flawless sleeper from 8:00pm-7:00am has been waking up screaming around 4:00 or5:00am the past 2 nights. I'm thinking it is his 4th molar coming in since he has his fingers crammed in there and is also not as interested in eating. Poor guy. I'm praying it will pop through any day because Cope doesn't get back till late next week and I need some sleep, BAD!

Since we were up so early yesterday we needed lots to do to fill our day. One of our morning stops was at Chuck E Cheese's. There wasn't a whole lot for him to do but he enjoyed pushing the buttons and running around. FYI-they open at 9:00am for any of you stay at home moms who have an early riser.:

Video Post

Guess who these videos are of??? Yep, Mr. Ramsey. Hard to believe right? Anyway, I took a few videos of him last night and just wanted to share. At this stage it is seriously easier to get videos then pictures.

This first one is of him saying bye bye and blowing a kiss. He's being doing these both for a while but I have just failed to get it captured on video. My favorite part of this one is the little hand wave at the end. He's too cool!:

This one is of his favorite "touch down" can't stop him even with a sippee cup in hand:

Now that he can climb onto the furniture this is most often what I find him doing. He had also been trying to learn to jump but can't seem to get a bit of air at this point. He's a handful but oh, so much fun!:

So Frusterating!!!!

So it is now Wednesday and Cope is still not sure what day the Army will release him for good. It was supposed to be this time last week. He has had his orders put in since December 5th and they are still not back. We're not sure who has been slacking on their job but don't those people know he has a family that misses him terribly and a wife that needs and wants him back for good? If you've ever dealt with the army then you know the answer to that question is NOPE. We're frustrated but are saying lots of prayers that he'll get his papers back any day and be headed home to GA forever!!!! Oh, what good that will do us all.

He's In The Dog House

My Step-Dad, Morgan just finished building this luxury dog house for their dog Barnum. It also doubles an outdoor play house for a certain little boy.

Fun Weekend

Cope and I had a fun weekend. Our friend, Elic from college was getting married so we made a night of it and enjoyed hanging out with old buddies. Ramsey had a sleep over at my Mom's (only my 2nd night ever leaving him) and he had a great time. Packing up a little boy and 2 doggies, and myself for 1 overnight trip was quite a task. By noon yesterday I felt like I had already run a marathon and my brain was overloaded from having to think for too many people. Cope was a groomsman so he had to be at the wedding the day before to do all that guy stuff.

The wedding was lots of fun. Our buddy, Jae was OUT OF CONTROL! Seriously my face hurt at the end of the night from laughing so much. He is one dancing machine and the video below is only a smidgen of how intense he was. Funny!

Today, we had to get back and pick up the dogs and Ramsey because I hosted an Uppercase Living party at house at 2:30. So we had to clean house and put foods together. It was a good party and I am so excited about the products I ordered. It is just he neatest stuff. Check it out at http://www.uppercaseliving.com/.

So, that was our weekend in a nutshell. Cope, flew back to NY this evening and hopefully will get his orders soon and be able to drive here for good within a week or so. That will be so nice. Well, I'm off to bed. This party girl is tired!!!

Cope, the most handsome groomsman ever:

Me, Stacey, and Suzanne:

Elic going in for Sandyn's garter:The guys-Jeremy, Abe, Blake, Murdy, Cope, and Jae:

Jae AKA "Out of control" busting in our our couple shot: Jae showing the dance floor whats up. Also, you can tell from this video how lively the wedding was:

Odds and Ends

Ramsey helped me do some cooking for an Uppercase Living party that I'm hosting out our house tomorrow. I'm not sure how I previously ever got cooking done without his help :)

Yes, More underware around his neck??? He is so funny, he'll hold the undies at his waist where he knows they should go but can't figure out how to get them on so he then slips them over his head. Hey, whatever works:

What is it about cartoons and kids? I mean seriously. Maybe they send hypnotic, subliminal messages but it totally sucks him in:

Mr. Ramsey:

Picture post

Cope and I picked out his hair this morning (which he hated) and this is what we got. We're thinking he needs a trim SOON!:

Wordless Wednesday- Bed Head

I know this picture doesn't even look much like Ramsey. Weird angle I guess, but the hair was too funny not to capture.

Stinky Cold

Ramsey's stinky cold has once again made a return. Poor guy seems to kept a yucky, snotty nose and rosey cheeks most of this winter time. He woke up form his nap very crabby and I'm hoping his ear infection won't return. The typical pattern with him is that a few days after the cold hits the ear infection will show up but I'm sure am praying it won't. He's been off antibiotics almost a whole week so that is at least a little break for him. I'm hoping a good night sleep will help some too.

Cope is flying in tomorrow because he is in a wedding this weekend for a college buddy. He was supposed be driving to GA and be done at Ft. Drum by now, but his orders have gotten messed up in system so he won't be getting them till sometime next week. That means he'll fly back to NY on Sunday to then drive down here for good next week. One final reminder of how frustrating the Army can be at times. Whatever, he's almost done!

The Underware Bandit Strikes Again

I am not really sure why Ramsey is so fascinated with my undies and thinks they go over his head, but it seriously cracks me up. When I'm putting laundry away he picks up a pair, grins, and over his head it goes. I caught him with a least 3 different pairs on today. What funny boy.