HARTS and more

These were taken at Kaley's highschool graduation this June, just realized i never posted them. You know what they say... better late...

top row, L-R: Uncle Rom, Auntie Anne, Uncle Doug, Aunt Ginnie, Mom, Dad

bottom row: Gramma (Mom's mom) Grandaddy, (Dad's dad) and Grammy (Dad's Mom)

the old guard

the whole guard

10 on 22

Yesterday marks the 10 month mark. marky mark.

can you believe that we are 2 months from 1? Yep. 10 on 22 is 2 from 1! Figure that one out. We are up at Mimi and Grandaddy's (my mom and dad's) this week, hanging out at the lake. It's a tough job but someone has to do it. So, anyway i'll post an appropriate "10 month" post later, but just wanted to marky mark the day (which i missed anyway since it was yesterday) sigh, ok i'm trying here, cut me some vacationing slack. What? too many vacations this summer, you say? Over drawn my slack account? Fine, i'll accept that as ungenerous but duely deserved. Well then since i'm already overdrawn, back to laying on a raft drinking lemonade and being fanned by my slaves.

p.s. this picture was taking the day of Rye's baptisim, which i will also blog about.....later. :)

Practical Theology

It sometimes happens that as you progress in life your world view and "conceptual framework" (ahem, Covenant) evolve based on your experiences. This has happened to me most recently through the experience that is parenthood. Allow me to explain. Up until this point i have coincided with the commonly held teaching on original sin. The short definition is that original sin is sin that we are all born with as a result of the fall of Adam. The doctrine states that this sin is present at birth. However, experience is showing me otherwise.

As it happens, original sin is something that miraculously appears around the 9th month of life. No, it's true. I have evidence. Let me summarize: up until recently I have had, what can only be described as a perfect little angel (ahem). This darling child has worshiped the ground his parents walk on. He behaves like "baby un-real" and is constantly impressing us and our friends with his good-natured-ness. Now, recently this darling pumpkin of love has turned 9 months old. Since this event he has slowly been the recipient of what I can only refer to as, original sin. What else could possibly explain him hitting his mom, screaming at his dad, laughing at attempts to punish him and dare i call it, rebellion of his parents wishes. There is no other answer, the devil made him do it.

Case in point. Rye has been eating in his highchair for the past, oh 4 months now. He wears his bib, eats his food and coos with delight. Until, he realized that he can take his bib off by himself, whenever he wants. Now he will look his mother in the eye, slowly raise his hand to his chest and rip his bib off his neck. Then, looking back to make sure i'm watching, he will slowly hold his bib out over his high chair and then release it onto the floor. Then he will lean way over his high chair to stare at his bib on the floor, reveling in the glory that is, disobedience.

Now that I have presented my case i think you will find that there is no other solution other than the handiwork of the devil. Original sin.

I rest my case.

p.s. ok, i have not altered any theologically sound doctrines to fit my sons..."maturing" but i think it is a valid point none the less.

Rye: Experiencing the Keys

"Fetch"

"Mama"

"Normal"

The other day a friend of mine, who I don't see very often, asked how i was liking being a stay-at-home mom (obviously she had not read this). Anyway...I was thinking about the past almost 10 months (holy cow) and reflecting on my new "normal".

Honestly things have not felt "normal" in about 1.5 years. For real. First there was "get used to being pregnant/we're gonna have a baby" normal, then there was "I want to die i feel so bad" normal, then "i'm as big as a house" normal, then "quit my job" normal.

Then Rye was born. There was nothing normal about that.

Then we moved into "i'm so tired, i can't believe i have a baby" normal. Finally we got that under control and then Trevor left for Japan so we moved into "Single mom" normal. Then Trev got back and immediately started working at TN Rand in his "spare" time, I'll call that "almost like single mom" normal. Now we are back from vacation, Trev has dropped the extra work and we are adjusting to the new "i don't have a name for it yet" normal.

I'm finally realizing what over 1/2 of you are thinking to yourself now.

Kids=constant change=never normal.

Those of you know i'm not so good with change, unless i initiate it and then still, it's hard for me. So....things are good, things are under control, i feel like i have a handle on this whole being a mom thing (as much as you can, i guess). I'm able to freelance and paint and still do all those "stay at home" mom things...so i guess that's pretty good. It feels pretty good at least. Course today Rye decided that he didn't want his morning nap for the first time....ever. He's also begun scooting around the room. Yet again, the times, they are a changing.

the boat

One of my favorite things to do in the whole world is to go out in the boat. Oh I love it so much. The wind, the sun, the water--ahhhhh.

Trevor's parents bring their boat down to the Keys every year and this is our main source of entertainment for the week. This year the boat had a couple hiccups but thankfully nothing major that kept us from going out too much. Here are some of my favorite "boat shots" from the week.

Dad, showing off his muscles and Rye and Gramma getting ready for a ride:

"the happy family" and their father/chauffeur:

Rye and Grampa being silly:

LOVE this shot of Rye and his Taylor grandparents:

Rye and Dad, cruising

Inspirational Trevor:

Momma and Rye, being silly as usual:

Rye and his Grampa, and then cutie-pie Rye

I love this shot of Trevor's mom, this sums up "going out in the boat":

Sometimes i wish Rye was a girl....

so i could put this adorable backpack from old navy on his birthday list. Something tells me i couldn't get that one by Trev....sigh, oh it is so cute. Ok, all you moms of girls out there, please get this and love it for me!

the panda is pretty cute though....

Family Foto

Having a great camera does come with its drawbacks. First of all it's pretty tricky to use and thus is quite difficult for others to take (good) pictures with. Thankfully, Trevor's cousin's wife is also a photographer and took these great "family pictures" for us. Thank you Kristen Joy!

Taylor family vacation photos: Marathon Key, Florida, July 2010

...and that's what it's all about

Rye and I went down to Ft Myers a week before Trev so Rye (and I) could spend some quality time with his grandparents. We had a GREAT time and especially enjoyed when "the cousins" came over to play. Here are some pictures of Trev's mom with all her grandbabies. Look how happy she looks, course you would be happy too if you had such cute grandkids. ;)

enjoy the miracle that is 4 kids looking (somewhat) at the camera!

p.s.--Momma T, if you click on these pictures they will open larger in their own window, then you can right click and save them to your computer so you have the edited versions, if you want.

love and miss you already!

having the same hart

-------------------Ellen-----------------------------------------Rye------------------

anyone notice anything familiar about these two?

it's Becky and Briana the second generation! wooo woo

Cousins, Cousins...

...there were never such devoted cousins.

As the first of what will probably be many Florida posts....here is Rye playing with his cousins.

Autumn...not quite as interested in Rye as she was the crayons...

Sammy on the other hand was the most attentive to Rye....here's one of the funnier pics...

She really was very sweet and nurturing towards him. He LOVES his cousin Sammy!

Caleb was also very fond of Rye, although a bit more unsure of how exactly to play with him. Here they are reading books...

Autumn. This picture is somewhat of a miracle because this girl does not stop moving for more than .024 seconds. ever. Thankfully we captured her adorable grin.

more books with Samantha...

books turned into a tickle fight pretty quickly...

if you are ever reading books with your cousin and you fall over, don't cry, just go with it!

ok, more soon. hope these will hold you over for a bit. sorry it's been so long but i'm more of a "enjoy it while it's happening/blog later" kind of a person.

sorry, take it or leave it. ok, back to the enjoying....