Life's A Beach!

Wow! I haven't been on in a while, but the time has come to update you all on our exciting life...well it's exciting to us anyway. We just came back from Myrtle Beach a week ago and had a fabulous time! We went with the other Torberts (Jeremy, Pam, Luke, and Sarah). They were kind enough to let us tag along and it was just the getaway we needed. Jackson had so much fun playing with his cousins Luke and Sarah and also had a blast jumping the waves with Daddy! We had a blast driving around in the golf cart (a.k.a. a farm buggy to Jackson) that came with the beach house. The community we stayed in also had a TON of ducks and some had a face only a mother could love! They were ugly! I got to eat my crab cakes and enjoy a little lounging on the beach too! It was just a wonderful time together and will be a cherished beach memory! More pictures below!

Oh My Swelling Heart!

We were outside playing the other day ( after many days of relentless rain), and Andy and Jackson decided to have a round of "baseball". Jackson has been attending his cousin Luke's baseball games recently and is now spreading his legs like he is "up at bat" and swinging his own baseball bat-this is very cute by the way. So I snapped these photos of Andy teaching Jackson how to hit the ball and then run to the chalk-drawn "bases". It was so sweet and Jackson was so tickled that I felt as though my heart would burst from my chest! Toddlerhood is tough but the little moments where their faces light up with joy makes it all worth it! Oh my swelling heart!









Safe!

Happy Birthday, Honey!

Today is my big strong man's birthday! The big 29! Yes, the years begin to pass by at warp speed after you have kids! I am just so very blessed to have this amazing man to share my life with. He is SO GOOD to me and I do not deserve him. As if that isn't enough, he is also an AWESOME daddy and Jackson absolutely adores him. Yep, we sure sure love him and without him Jackson and I would probably kill each other!!!! He comes in at just the right time to rescue me from a Jackson tantrum. And rough houses with Jackson just when he has had enough "cuddle time" with mommy. He is the chocolate to our milk, the cheese to our macaroni, the cream to our coffee...well, you get the picture! Happy Birthday, Honey!

Easter-A Little Late

I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter! I am just now getting a chance to post on our wonderful Easter weekend celebrating the Risen Savior! We had a wonderful church service at our church in Acworth, followed by yummy down home cookin' in Barnesville, GA at Nanny's house, Andy's grandma. Most of the Torbert clan was there partaking in the yummy food and gorgeous weather! Jackson got to hunt Easter eggs with his cousins Luke and Sarah and run around in Nanny's yard. The day before, we went to Andy's parents' neighborhood and Jackson participated in their Easter egg hunt as well. He found the prize egg and won a stuffed bunny that he fondly calls "Bunny" and sleeps with it every night! We are hoping for continued good weather and are looking forward to summer!!! Time to slather on the self tanner and SPF 30, woo hoo! I like to live on the edge you know.







Happy Spring everyone!

Birthday Boy!

Oh my! What a week! Today is Jackson's 2nd Birthday!!!! I know everyone says it, but I can't believe my baby is two! We had a birthday party with family and friends this past weekend at the Gymnastics Academy of Atlanta, where Jackson takes a class once a week. It was so much fun that I think even the parents had a blast! Jackson was in his element and had a huge grin plastered to his face the whole time. It was just pure joy to him and it made me want to bottle him up so I could carry that essence of him with me forever. They ran around and jumped on the trampoline, jumped in the pit, and did an obstacle course. But the real fun began when the instructor brought out the parachute! The kids just couldn't get enough of it! After an hour of tumbling and jumping we headed upstairs to have pizza, cupcakes, and open presents. The whole party went so smoothly with 15 kids mostly under the age of 4. We feel so blessed to have so many amazing people around us and miss those we don't get to see. Thank you to everyone for making Jackson's day such a great memory! We love you!

Boy Bonding

I don't know what we would do without the Napper boys living next door! Jackson LOVES Carter and Caleb as if they were his own brothers and is simply lost when they go "bye bye" and can't play. We got a special treat this past week when Stephanie invited Jackson and I to go to the park at Lake Acworth with her and the boys. Jackson was SO excited! We fed the ducks, played on the dock, walked on the trail, played on the playground and then...they found a big puddle to splash in and got wonderfully filthy and had a BLAST! It was so much fun! Stephanie and I had to contain our swelling hearts watching our little guys enjoy each other's company (even though they see each other almost every day) and took a bunch of photos to capture the memory. How I love days like this. They remind me that childhood is very precious and we must treasure these beautiful moments with our growing cherubs. My heart aches as Jackson's second birthday nears and I long to hold him for a moment and squish his once chubby belly. Until then, I will keep dreaming of lazy Spring afternoons at the lake with our friends!

Crazy Days!

I think this picture pretty much sums up our recent days!  Jackson has become so much more energetic and crazy the closer he gets to the terrible two's (so it's not just a clever name?), and Andy and I are bracing ourselves for what is to come. Here Daddy is pulling him in a diaper box by a plastic fishing pole and Jackson has his Lala blanket hanging out of his mouth.  It really is entertaining to watch!

As some of you know, Jackson is also crazy about anything trucks!  He is especially fond of garbage trucks (a.k.a. trabidge trucks) and loves to run to the window when our trash is being picked up and wave to the "boys".  Today was no exception!

I am just amazed everyday at the joys, sorrows, and plain old exhaustion that comes with raising a toddler.  This boy keeps me on my toes and can even reduce me to tears at times.  But I sure love him with all my heart and try to take time each day to enjoy the pockets of sweetness that trickle out from time to time.  I must share a sweet moment we had with Jackson this evening.  We were blessing our food before dinner and Andy started to say the blessing and Jackson actually said it along with him and then proudly said "Amen".  We both looked at each other astonished that he recited the whole thing by himself and I felt my heart melt again, the way it used to when he was a baby and everything was so amazing and new to him.  He seems so big to me now.  Lately we have been doing pre pre-school activities to help fill our day and keep my little guy busy.  I included them in the slideshow below along with some other recent funny things that we have come to expect from our wild and crazy boy...enjoy!