play dates

We have the best friends. All of them. I was just looking back through some recent pics on my phone and realized how many fun times we've had with friends recently. I had to document them!

A few weeks ago David took Patrick Bryant with him to volunteer at a Young Life camp going on at CVP. Since it was YL, Bryan Spillman was working too so I suggested Camille and Collette come over to have our own play time. We set up the pool and other water toys in the front yard (like rednecks) and let the babies loose. First of all, I need to make clear how much these two LOVE each other. Crawford has lots of little friends he hangs out around on a regular basis, but Collette is his favorite. They actually play together, and it is so sweet. Also, "Lett" is the only friend name he says voluntarily. He loves her.

I mean, seriously. Could these two be ANY CUTER??? No way.

She was dumping water on his head and he just let her. Awesome. 

After play time and bath time (also ridiculously adorable), we grabbed a pizza and had a picnic! I have such fond memories of having special treat "picnics" on the living room floor growing up, and though I was worried they were still too young for it - they did GREAT! They both could tell it was a special treat, and they were extra well-behaved. 

The icing on the cake is that I LOVE Camille. It has been such a joy to become close to her this year. We have traded hosting dinner nights back and forth every few weeks, and we've squeezed in lots of walks and play dates. We love the Spillmans!

We met Patrick and Hayden for a "yay! school is out!" lunch at Crust a few weeks ago. Crawford seriously loves her. He doesn't snuggle with anyone, but he was giving Hayden some serious love when we left. We met them at the pool after his nap that afternoon and the fun just kept on coming.

PS- this girl is all grown up and stunning. When did that happen?!

Last week the Jenkins girls had their first swim meet of the summer against Stuart Heights! We always try to make it to a few meets, and that one especially since it is in our neighborhood. I didn't know how it would go with our tiny little runner, but he stayed occupied eating a lot and the girls helped him play tetherball to his heart's content. They are SOO sweet (to us, to each other, to Crawford, etc.) and they are growing so fast. Literally. Laney is taller than me! It was the highlight of our week to spend time with that precious family that we love so dearly.

We've been enjoying the nice weather by playing outside and with water toys a lot. C is loving a good plastic spoon/shovel these days... weirdo! One day we went to Cooper's house and then straight to the Linhosses! This kid is rotten getting to play with his friends so much (and maybe his mommy is too :)).

Obviously we forgot a hat and had to borrow one...

And lastly, David essentially had a play date last week when Andy and his new wife Reisha spent the night on their way through town. It was so sweet to get to know her better and to let the boys do their thing. I think she was a bit overwhelmed by these two together. They are the best :).

halfway there!

I can't believe I am now more than halfway finished with my pregnancy with Lawson.

**Ooops. I started this post a whole three weeks ago. Back when I was 20 weeks and halfway pregnant. Oh well. Here's the up-to-date update on me and baby Lawson.

19 weeks

He is very active and very low, just like Crawford was at this point. He's in the breech position, not that it matters for delivery yet, but it means I'm feeling his kicking suuuper low.

When I went to the doctor around 18 weeks I weighed 1 pound less than I did at the first appointment of this pregnancy, but now (at 23 weeks) I have made up for the loss! My doctor said he wanted me to gain a good bit before my next appointment, and he was not disappointed. I've gained 10 total pounds.

21 weeks

21.5 weeks

My nose is extra runny, which David reminded me was the case when I was pregnant with C too. I had forgotten.

I've had some really bad tailbone and back pain... I've started stretching a few times a day, and as simple as that sounds it really does seem to help. Also, Tylenol. I'm usually not one to take much medicine, but for a few weeks I couldn't sleep AT ALL without popping a couple Tylenol PMs. And, one day I accidentally took a PM instead of a regular Tylenol- at lunchtime. I may or may not have fallen asleep on the living room floor before nap time.

I'm having tons of Braxton Hicks contractions. I started noticing them pretty early this time around, and now they are strong! They have lessened as my back pain has, so that's a good thing.

Cravings: ice cold water, ice cold fruit, nutty bars (don't judge), peanut butter and honey sandwiches (seriously. don't judge.)

22 weeks

23 weeks. Awesome play room shot.

I know I'm going to blink my eyes and it will be October and time to meet our new little boy. It's crazy how quickly this is going!

my little buddy

I've literally known my entire life that I wanted to be a stay-at-home mommy, but I never dreamed it would be this sweet.

Most days have some element of exhaustion/frustration/overwhelmingness, but that is always (so far) outweighed by total joy and love for this little nug. I know things are going to change when Lawson arrives in the fall, so I'm savoring the time the two of us have together. 

Peek-a-boo is a new favorite game

Busy bag swap for the WIN! He loves this activity.

We're working on using a spoon... it is so far very useless as a means to put food in his mouth, but very exciting as a toy during meal times. 

Family time at Nightfall. He loved the music!

John's graduation

Last week our sweet John Bryant graduated from high school! What?! Whenever I thought about going to graduation I just imagined it being Patrick that was walking because it hardly seems possible that it's already been a year since he did. We realized that we've only gone to John's graduations together. Nothing against the other kids, it has just only worked out that way! I went to Hayden's 5th grade, David went to her 8th grade, we both went to John's 8th grade, I went to Patrick's high school, David went to Mary Shelton's high school. Whew. That's a lot of Baylor graduations! Only one left to go... that's wild. Hayden will be the solo Bryant child in the fall when John leaves to John Patrick at Alabama. After a rigorous application and interview process, John was chosen to be apart of the University Fellows Experience. We think he's a pretty remarkable guy, and obviously the university already does too.

Graduation was pretty special because John was asked to give the invocation. It really says so much about his heart and his reputation as a believer that he was given this honor. Mary Shelton gave it at her graduation too! We try to learn from Kevin and Lynn as much as possible because we hope to raise children with as much integrity and love for the Lord as theirs all have!

I know, these pictures are terrible... whatever.

After graduation we ran home to pick up Crawford and headed up the mountain to join everyone else for lunch. It is so fun to spend time with the extended Bryant/Mosier families at these sorts of occasions throughout the years. They have all been so kind to us, are know they are all so sweet to love on Crawford too. We intended for Crawford to nap while we were there, but I think he knew how much fun was going on downstairs without him so he fought the nap (hence the paci, lovey and no pants in all these pictures...). 

These crack me up. We weren't sure what he was about to do to Jimmy, and we were pretty relieved when he grabbed the remote. Jimmy is notorious for falling asleep after every single meal, and I was kind of hoping Crawford would crawl up and join him. No such luck.

John is pretty natural when it comes to this (at the time, whiny and cranky) little boy. I hate that John and Patrick won't be around much while my boys are growing up, but I love that they will always be an important part of their lives. And one day, between the two (Bryant) boys we'll have an orthodontist and endodontist to care for us :). 

We love you, Johner B! We are so proud of the man you've become and are so excited to see how the Lord uses you in the years to come!

PS- Here's a fun look back from a few years ago.

some videos from lately

These two are awesome videos that really capture Crawford right now:

Yeah, I know I look like death. I felt like death that day too, so I guess it's appropriate.

Our sweet friend Heather babysat Crawford while we went to John's graduation, and she took this awesome videos. Clearly, C loves the birds Uncle Greg made for him!

You'd think saying "all big" and signing "more" and "please" were rocket science by how we react. 

15ish months

You have changed SOO much, little boy. It is amazing that this month of your greatest changes was perfectly timed to be when Daddy was home with us. He has gotten to spend time with you while you've taken off running and become a little chatterbox. We are so thankful for the joy you bring to our days. (PS- you also bring all kinds of frustration when you have a meltdown or blatantly disobey us, but we'll take the bad with the good :))

Crawford, at fifteen+ months old, you:

• only call three people by name: Grandy- "Babu", Daddy "Daddeeeee" and Collette "Lett"
• say "Mama" all the time, but mean "human nearby, please help me"
• blow kisses
• say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze! By far my favorite thing that you do! Polite already! You're amazing, kid. 
• kick balls
• pick flowers (and most of the time don't eat them! progress!)
• play peek-a-boo
• love to hide
• sign please and thank you and more (just in time to learn to talk proficiently...)
• say a whole bunch of words: water, boat, baby (the CUTEST word!), brother (sort of), bubbles, hat - and you're obsessed. If anyone nearby has a had on you point at them and say "hat! hat!", bathroom, phone, vacuum (you love the vacuum - you also call the lawn mower the vacuum), bird, duck, hot, yucky, bread, bye bye, hi!, poo poo, spoon, thank you (only sometimes, and it only sounds like "thank you" to me and daddy). I'm probably missing some, but you're a talker for sure!
• have grown a bunch! I can't wait to see how big you are when we go to the doctor next. 
• have 9 teeth
• are generally a very jolly little man. We love you, bud.