The Cutie-Patooties

I always feel overwhelmed with where to pick up when I fall so far behind in blogging. Anyone else ever feel that way?

I have hundreds of beach pictures to comb through to share with you. And some from our trip to Texas, too.

I'm saving that for another night, though.

In the meantime, I found a few other recent pics of my cutie-patooties that I love. These boys sure do make my heart smile. =)

Oh. My. Goodness. He is a delight.

Chasing bubbles without a care in the world. As it should be.

We had five spare minutes before leaving for bible study this morning. Couldn't pass up the opportunity to get a shot with these sweet love bugs of mine.

Play us a song little harmonica man...

Celebrations

There are fun times on the horizon for our family. My baby brother is getting married next week. He is giddy with excitement – just as it should be. I can honestly say that I don't remember a time in his life when he was this happy. Makes my heart smile for him.

We came home to Texas to celebrate Zack and Candice's engagement and attend a little party in their honor. We have had oodles of fun visiting family and gearing up for their big day. We load up later this week to head to Gulf Shores where they're getting married on March 23. Their wedding date is also our grandparents' 65th wedding anniversary and our dad and Janna's 10th wedding anniversary – very special for Zack and Candice.

More to come on our adventures out west (and down south) very soon.

Roary and Roo - 9 months

Oh, my sweet boy is growing up too fast.

Learning to work that tongue - making clicking and sucking sounds.

Mastering the art of crawling. Everywhere. This boy cannot be contained.

Bonding over sparkly star stickers with his brother.

He likes this closed-mouth smile. He can "grind" those bottom two teeth into his top gum and the top teeth coming in. (Since last month, he's had his top-middle-right tooth come in. The top-middle-left and the left incisor are coming in on the heels of it. Won't be long before he's got a mouthful!)

As you can see, he's pulling up like a pro these days. Toys, chairs, the side of the bath tub, the crib, my leg – if he can get a good grip, he's seeking higher ground.

He's been eating all kinds of table food. He's a great little eater. And nursing is still going well.

He also started clapping his hands together this weekend.

But my most favorite milestone to share is that he said his first word yesterday...

"Ma-ma!" I light up every time I hear it! I love you, sweet Roo-bear!

Scenes from a treasure hunt

We have had beautiful weather lately so we've seized the opportunity to get outside to enjoy it. The other day the boys and I loaded up for a walk.

Alex has been into Jake and the Neverland Pirates lately. So I told him that our walk would be more like a treasure hunt – just like Jake, Izzy, and Cubby would have. He perked right up.

We searched the ground for "treasure" to bring home. My definition of treasure was "something unusual or unexpected." Alex's definition of treasure was "anything that brings delight." He found rocks and sticks and called them treasure. It didn't take long for me to come around to his way of thinking. Even the ordinary can be called a treasure if we choose to see it that way, can't it?

We cruised through the alley stopping for sword fights with the sticks we found. He won, managing to break three of my "swords."

In the end, all roads led to the park.

I do love these boys. And all of the adventures they bring to my life.

They are without a doubt, two of the greatest treasures this girl could ever have.