Halloween 2013

Life isn't slowing down any time soon but we are doing our very best to enjoy the ride. This year for Halloween all the cousins came down and I made pizza for everyone before trick or treating. A few weeks beforehand I tried to teach Maddie to say "trick or treat" but she didn't see the point...until I gave her an orange plastic pumpkin! To her delight strange people put candy in it and she couldn't be stopped. In fact, at one house she saw a stuffed dog on the floor and yelled "dog!!" and the lady asked if she could have it, and who are we to pass up free stuffed dogs? The second Maddie was handed the dog she gently put it on her shoulder and rubbed it with her cheek. She clearly knows when to ham things up when necessary and the lady just about melted. I did too. We had a blast running around the neighborhood with the kids and M3 couldn't get enough of the cousins doting on her. 

Our neighborhood has a fire station at it's entrance, so they drive both trucks around handing out candy. Definitely the highlight of the evening for our little M.

My mom made all the costumes here except Mason the Mummy. 

The stuffed dog...

30 and 4

Today has been one of those beautiful days I wish I could bottle up to savor whenever needed.  My man turns 30 today and Olive turns 4 months old. It seemed like a perfect day to schedule Olive's  name and a blessing, a "christening" in our church. Our family, including our birth family and a few friends came to celebrate with us. 

Looking back and pondering the different paths our lives have taken, we can see clearly how divine intervention brought us together. I stand in awe that I get to be married to a kind, gentle, thoughtful, generous, handsome and hard working man. The girls and I are so lucky to have him in our life! 

Confidently

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." Henry David Thoreau 

On a daily basis I could eat our girls up I love them so. Everyday Olive becomes more squeezable and I can't stop kissing her cheeks. Maddie is becoming more aware of lines she can and can not cross. Her vocabulary is improving daily and so is her understanding of time out & spankings. If she's done something that earns her either one, she will stop to look at me and start waving her darling wave and say "hi! hi! hi!". I'm telling you, she ain't no dummy.... she knows being cute can get her out of punishments or at least lessen the sentence. We can already tell Olive is the thinker and Maddie is the go-getter. Our very own Bonnie and Clyde. 

I recently heard about the article written in the Rolling Stones about 'Sexting, Shame and Suicide'. It's based on the story of the 15 year old who killed herself after being sexual assaulted at a party. I can't get it out of my head because more than anything I want our girls to know who they are and have the confidence to stand up for themselves and what's right.  

Atlanta Zoo

Over a week ago we were able to visit the Atlanta Zoo with my awesome friend Sarah, who was able to get us in for free on her yearly pass. This Sarah girl is always looking out for me! We were walking out the door for Wal-Mart when she called to invite us. Who wouldn't choose the Zoo over Wal-Mart?

Madelyn was in pure heaven, she just wasn't too happy she couldn't touch all the animals. Elephants are her favorite and she screamed with delight seeing one. 

Happy Half Birthday to Palmer!

 

I spy a Maddie who should be napping!

 

3 Month Mark

We adore this little munchkin. She's strong as an ox and doesn't seem to mind getting stepped on every once in a while by big sis. Although she wears 6 month clothing and bigger, she's not very chunky... she's simply lengthy. I didn't think it was possible but the Metcalf's gene might have trumped the Tompkins' gene because she is Cony's twin. Regardless, she's our little darling. 

Cagle Dairy

Last week my good friend Sarah encouraged me to take the girls to Cagle Dairy with her & Palmer (I highly recommend the farm!). It was a little slice of heaven that day because 1.) it was beautiful and perfect weather and 2.) Maddie could not get enough of the animals. We knew she loved animals but I didn't know she wouldn't hesitate for a second to feed the pigs & cows, hug the goats and chase the chickens. Which gives fuel to my fire to have a mini pot-belly pig when we own a house! 

Olive was with us too, she just slept the whole time! 

Curious

With the season change approaching, we both find ourselves missing New England in the most terrible way. Who am I kidding? We've been missing it terribly from day one. However, we are adjusting to our life back in the South and being parents of two. When it comes down to it, the last year has been rough... and it feels good to see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

I started working on Saturdays a few weeks ago with a company called ShutterBooth and so far I love it. I get to be the highlight of weddings and I feel blessed to have found a job that allows me to work one day a week. 

Our girls are growing before our eyes. Olive woke up one day last week from a nap and suddenly she had hair! Madelyn has suddenly grown out of her shoes and talking so much more. "My show" and "Curious George" are among some of her new favorite phrases while holding the remote. She loves books that encourage us to be animated and has a fond affection for a set of tiny princess books we were given. When we take walks in the morning, she stops every 2.3 seconds to examine everything. Curiosity at it's finest. 

The last two days we've been cooped up in the house trying to recover from colds. Before I could wipe her nose clean- she took the initiative to do it herself by hand then proceeded to clean her hand off on ME. Disgusting in every possible way, yet hilarious because how did she learn that? (Probably the husband.)  When I have both of them hanging on me- either crying or snuggling- I'm in awe we get to be their parents. We love them so...