Picture Day

I absolutely love picture day at school.

I find it super exciting that I have a babe old enough to have school pictures. We get to pick out clothes and make sure hair is brushed and pray pictures are early in the day so things still look presentable. (AKA: There are no mysterious foods that we don't remember giving him smashed into that perfectly selected outfit.)

Honestly. How cute is one child allowed to be?!

After school, I couldn't wait to pick him up and ask how his pictures went. He informed me he has a "special picture day smile." I convinced him to show me said smile, and he begrudgingly obliged only after informing me I wasn't allowed to take his picture while he showcased said smile because apparently I am not a legit photographer. (Rude.)

This smile. This smile melts my heart and cracks me up at the same time. It is the biggest smile you have ever seen. Similar to the middle above picture, but forced. Which combines to equal awesomeness.

I can't wait to get the pictures back....

The Clown vs The Balls

Growing up, my mom had a clown picture in my room. Above my bed. (That should creep you out by itself.) When I was finally old enough to express myself, first order of business was to tell her that I was terrified of the clown picture, hated clowns, and needed it removed from the premises asap. This series of events has led to a lifetime of guilt for my mom (and tons of laughter from the rest of the fam).

Until I had Fisher.

I poured myself into the decor of his nursery. Every detail thought out in full crazy pregnancy mentality. Then, I had our wonderful photographer, Jenna Reichert, come in to document. Our home was officially ready to welcome our new bestie.

A couple of months ago, Fisher transitioned from his crib-turned-toddler-bed to a full size big boy bed.

Kid was in love. Just so proud of himself! But as things settled, he started telling us he was scared to go to bed, and every night we would find him completely under the covers (head and all - with head at the footboard - which leads my hubs to freak out) sound asleep.

The other night as Tanner was tucking Fisher in, they started talking about why he was so afraid. In a spill of emotions, he told Tanner it was "those balls" - complete with a (creepy) back story of how little men might live in there and they scare him and might come to the window. (Where I ask does this come from? Mickey? Dora? PETER PAN.)

(Crazy that I can NOT find a picture of the balls. Sign of things to come? I need a reminder for when Fisher is acting up... "Hey. Watch your mouth or I will bring the balls back.")

(And FYI.. They were totally cute. They were those paper lantern things. His rocker was in the corner by the bookshelves, and I had them hung over it. Three of them. Two green and one smaller white. Perfectly different heights and all.)

That was all Tanner needed to jump on top of the toddler table and yank them out of the ceiling. (Something I have a feeling he has wanted to do since I made him put them up there...) Fisher checked to make sure they were gone and in the trash. (I am overly sentimental so they are in the closet. But he doesn't know that. Obvi.)

That was two nights ago. And Fisher has slept soundly since, with no "I'm scared" complaints.

I have become my mother.

Treetop Banger

For Christmas, my in-laws gave Fisher a sweet new ride. It is an electric dune buggy...preschooler style. (Complete with camo. Because what respectable preschooler has a dune buggy without camo?) Needless to say, Fisher was immediately in love. Everyone stopped what they were doing, and we took the party outside. The rest of Christmas at the in-laws was spent walking/jogging up and down the neighborhood with Fisher behind the wheel.

(And apparently this contraption has a super fast gear that was quickly discovered causing mommy and daddy to break out in a full sprint to avoid anything detrimental for Nascar Fisher.) 

True love.

As the day came to an end, we loaded up the dune buggy and headed home. Fisher talked about how cool his new ride was the entire 45 minute drive. He is a bit of a low talker, so Tanner and I caught about every 5th word that came out. At some point during this conversation, he dubbed the name "Treetop Banger". We have NO idea where this is stemming from, and NO idea why he deemed it the best name ever, but nonetheless, we adopted Treetop Banger into our lives.

He immediately requested to call Yaya and Pawpaw along with Amy and Unca to inform them of his new vessel of transportation. (Side note: Amy is my actual sister, while Unca is my brother-in-law. It has always been a source of bitterness that he gets a cool nickname while she is "just Amy"...like the random girlfriend or something.) The next day he arranged (at three years old) for us to visit the fam and take Treetop Banger for its grand introduction. The day was spent burning up the roads, showing us how he is cool enough to drive with no hands, and begging to take Baby Cousin Sofie for a ride (because it is a two seater. Obvi.).

Now, three months later, we are still calling it Treetop Banger. I have my suspicions that the name is stemming from its camo accents. But, the world may never know.

Most afternoons are spent in the back yard playing with Treetop Banger. Fisher's favorite game is to chase me (or occasionally the poor, unsuspecting dog) around the house. And let me tell you, do not slow down and do not trip. He WILL run you over.

He has also began using it as a point of leverage. If he gets upset with us, he tells us he will just hop in Treetop Banger and drive to Yaya and Pawpaws house. Like he doesn't need us anymore.

Just keeping it real...

So, after a two year hiatus, I have decided to give this little blogger world another shot. I mean, it doesn't take an extraordinary amount of time to hop on and document the life and times of my little man and my little life.

So many times over the past few years have I referenced this blog I slaved over for the first year of Fisher's life. You honestly don't realize the little moments that slip your mind, yet hold so dear (and possibly cry over) when they come back to you.

This is just the ordinary life of a working mom and wife. How I balance it all. What sites I stalk on how to dress presentable. How I teach my preschooler about the love of Christ. And how it all comes together to create this life I love.

... Starting tomorrow.