Trip to the Dentist and Lost Teeth

Rocco has been losing teeth, left and right.  The tooth fairy has been very busy taking teeth and leaving money.  She leaves $2 per tooth.  Rocco is racking up because he's lost four recently.  September 7th, he lost his top, right, central incisor.

He was thrilled to get his $2.  This was taken the morning of Sept. 8th.

On September 23rd, he lost the tooth next to the hole where his last tooth came out.  His top, right, lateral incisor was now gone, too.  On the 26th, just three days later, he lost a tooth on the bottom.  It was his left, lateral incisor.  When October came, he was ready to lose the other, top, central incisor.  This time it was the  one on his left (10-14-12).  You can imagine with so many of his teeth coming out, he can't bite off of an apple or do corn on the cob.  .  . but he sure is cute all snaggle-toothed.  I've been the one to pull all of his teeth.  I usually have to bribe him for him to let me wiggle on them.  He knows I'm going to pull it out.  This picture is blurry, but I still love it because it shows his missing teeth.

On the 17th of October, I took him to see the same dentist that his first cousins, Drew & Sydney, see.  He was a little anxious, but he cooperated like a real champ.  His favorite tool was the spin brush and spit suctioner.  Xrays showed no cavities, but we are to floss and use fluoride each night. His six year, permanent molars are in.   Because of his cross bite, the dentist recommended that we see an orthodontist. 

To reward him for doing so well at the dentist, he got to take a McDonald's happy meal to school for his lunch.  I met Carolyn in Rome, and she took him by there after our appointment.  

Am I Saved?

On the way to church tonight, Rocco from the back seat said, "Hey mommy."  "Yes, Rocco," I replied, not knowing what to expect since he's so full of questions lately.  "Am I saved?" 

Whoa!  I wasn't expecting that.  My heart stopped.  We've prayed for Rocco's salvation since day one and at night when Jason or I pray with him we both pray aloud for our boys to come to know Jesus Christ.  This was a big question he was asking me!

"What makes you think about that?" I asked him.

"Well, they say that Jesus is coming back and we have to be ready.  We have to be saved."

Wondering where this came from...children's church??  Sunday school??  I asked him, "What does that mean?" by this time I'm beginning to probe him to see what all he knows.

"It means you save people," he said matter-of-factly.

"Have you ever saved anyone?" I asked him thinking he didn't understand at this point what salvation was.

"No, mom!  Only Jesus can do that!"

By this time we are parked in the church parking lot, Rocco in the back seat with his 6 month old brother beside him.  I've stopped the car and am ready to get out.  This is a major moment we've just had...the beginning of questions regarding his salvation.  Of course we've talked about Jesus dying for our sins, the cross, the difference between Good Friday and Easter, heaven, hell, the devil, and even (our most recent Bible verse from Proverbs) what the Bible says about evil.  To not walk by it or be near it.  He knows all these things. 

At this point I knew we had more to discuss, but I didn't know if he was just yet ready. 

"So am I saved?"

"I don't think you've been saved yet."

"Well, we've GOT to find out if I am!" 

"OK, we will talk to daddy about this some more."

I was thrilled, nervous, and excited all at once.  Later that night I talked with Ms. Penny, one of his Sunday School teachers.  She said that they had been talking about the ABCs of becoming a Christian the last few weeks.  Ms. Carol Ann is his children's church leader.  I told her our conversation that we had had in the car.  She explained that they have been learning about parables in the Bible.  They've recently learned about the bridegroom who is coming.  She asked what they needed to do to be ready for Christ to return. Another child said, "We need to be saved."  Rocco chimed in and said that this meant you had to have Jesus in your heart.  Mr. Bill and Ms. Anna have taught Rocco the old hymn Nothing But the Blood during children's choir.

Seeds have certainly been planted.  Teaching Rocco about Jesus is by far the most important job I have as a parent.  I couldn't be more thrilled that he is asking questions.  At the appointed time I have no doubt the Holy Spirit will deal with his heart about repentance and what it means to accept Jesus.  It looks like it could be sooner than later!

Fall Break in Myrtle Beach

Our family spent the week in South Carolina. It was an 8 hour trip to the beach, so we stopped half way in Aiken.  This is where Jason pastored five years ago.  Many of our friends from Town Creek came out and met us at our favorite restaurant, Ferrando's.  We had an all meat stromboli.  It was so good to see old friends.  

We rented a condo on the southern part of Myrtle Beach near Surfside for the week.  To get into our room we had a code we had to enter.  Each time we came "home" from eating or going out Rocco would say, "Let me do the code this time."  He did it every time- he loved that part.  He also had to beat us to the elevator each time and push the button for our floor.   

 During the day we'd enjoy the beach or the pools.  One had a kiddie play area with a lazy river and water sprayers.  One of Rocco's favorite parts was the buckets that dumped water.  He would stand underneath them and just get drenched.  One time the surge of water pushed his swim trunks down a little and he mooned me on accident.  We just laughed about that.  

He also liked to dive under them as they dumped their water into the pool.  Jason and I took turns racing him under the water pipes.  It felt like it was raining down on us.  When we were at the beach, Rocco's favorite things were chasing the birds with me and also running from the waves. 

He didn't care too much for finding sea shells; that's my favorite part. I collected bags of shells and sand.  One afternoon Rocco and I sorted through them and grouped them by colors. We noticed some of them looked like fingernails.  Check out Rocco's hand.

 Jason enjoyed relaxing in a beach chair and every now and then body surfing.  A couple of times he took Rocco out in the water, but seeing as how cautious Rocco is that didn't last for very long.  He preferred racing in the sand with his daddy. 

As for Maverick, well he didn't spend a lot of time on the beach.  He did touch the sand for a few seconds then we had to rinse him off because we knew it would go straight into his mouth.  

He stayed covered up most of the time for fear of getting his lily white skinned burned.  The picture above is one of the few times we uncovered him.  Each time he wore a cute little hat though. He did sit in the stroller some while we took turns playing with Rocco.  Each time the sound of the waves would put him to sleep.  When I took him to the shallow waves coming in, he got mad and bowed up.  He did NOT like the ocean water on him.  He did, however, like the heated lazy river and warm pool water.  

Every day we just enjoyed being together as a family.  We spent time at the pool and beach, napped, and ate.  Breakfast and lunch were kept simple; we ate in our condo.  At supper we always found a nice restaurant.  When I asked Rocco what he wanted to eat his response was steak, shrimp, and fries.  Sounded good to us!  We were just a few miles from Murrells Inlet, and we really enjoyed the fresh seafood at night. At Bovine's Maverick spent his first time in a high chair.  He really enjoyed it.  I guess he has a better view there than sitting in his carrier. After supper we would go find an ice cream shop or Krispy Kreme.  Even though we did a good bit of walking on the beach and back and forth to the pool, I know we probably put on a few pounds this week.

We also did a little shopping at Bass Pro, Books a Million, and the Tanger Outlets.  I got a few things for the boys' Christmas.  One night we went to Buccaneer Bay Golf.  Rocco got 2 hole in one's!

 We love the beach!  We can't wait to go again...

6 Years 6 Months

We are so blessed to have this smart, handsome little guy as our son.  I love him so much, and he brings so much joy to our lives.  Here's the latest with Rocco at 6 and a half years old.

At school they are working on sight words.  They're called the Fry Words.  Being a teacher at the school, I had access to the entire list for all grades.  I tested him one night with a Power Point I had.  He knew 98 out of 100 of the kindergarten words.  He had forgotten two of them from last year.  When it came to the first grade list, he either knew or decoded 90 of 100.  These are words that he should know by the END of first grade and he's only in the first month of it!

 Rocco lost his top, front right tooth Sept 7th.  Just a few days later he lost the tooth right next to it.  This made for a rather large gap in his teeth.  By fall break (the end of the month- see picture above) one of his adult teeth was coming in.  The tooth fairy brought $2 for each tooth.  I pulled both of them out.  He let me pull the big front tooth out because I told him he didn't have to take a nap if it came out.  Even though he takes them he does NOT like to nap.  He says they're boring.

One day after school, we brought Weston and Will over.  They played for a few hours until their mom, Janna, got off of work.  They played war in the dark basement with soft plastic balls and pop up tents/ tunnels as bunkers.  They also came upstairs and played the Wii.  It was a beautiful day so they also played outside on the swingset and on the scooter/hot wheels. I played with them the best I could; I had Maverick.  Four boys are a LOT of work...but very fun!

Rocco is all about football, and especially the GA Bulldogs.  His aunt Ta bought him this 34 jersey.  He wore it and the sweat band proudly the next day to school.  When he comes home from school he'll say, "Mom turn the tv to college football."  While it is on he will get his football and run back and forth across the living room floor pretending that he's in the game.  Other times he'll get his little football guys and play with 2 of them on the chair.  On college game day, he'll stay in the living room while his daddy watches the Dawgs.  They'll talk guy talk.  He's really learned the lingo.  He's quick to boo South Carolina, Tennessee, LSU, or any other team that is not Georgia.

Little man has a fun sense of humor.  At night I usually ask him what two people he wants to pray for.  The other night he told me, "Nobody and Somebody."  So I prayed God would bless Somebody and help Nobody.  He thought that was a pretty funny play on words.  He's a mess.  

Six Months Old

Six months old.  That's half a year.  How is it that they grow up so fast?  Maverick is so healthy, and we are grateful to God for blessing our lives with him.  Here's what's going on with little man at 6 months old.

He has tried other baby foods, stage 1 Gerber, and seems to like most of them.  He just enjoys eating.  Green beans and peas (9-19-12) were not his favorite; he really enjoyed the bananas (9-2-12) and squash (9-6-12) though.  I know he's finished when he starts spitting.  Yeah that's a new thing.  He also spits when he gets mad, too. 

We've found that he indeed has several tickle spots.  We love to hear him chuckle when we tickle him.  

He still can't sit up on his own, but he is getting stronger and not far from it.  As soon as I let go he'll start to fall over.  Rocco gets a kick out of this.  The boys still take baths together sometimes.  I use the Bumbo seat to help hold him up, but we can't let go of him at all.  The seat is not sturdy or made for the bath.  Then again he's too big for his baby bathtub.  He enjoys the Bumbo seat.  When given his toys he'll drop them and then look down for them.  You give them back to him and he'll just keep dropping them. 

Everything he can find goes straight into his mouth.  And he's just started crawling.  I've never seen him move so fast across the carpet as when I put my coupons out.  He loves the crinkling sound they make.  In no time he was all over my money saving papers.  "No, Maverick!"  I have a feeling I'll be saying that a lot now that he is more mobile.  

At first when he tried to move around the floor, he would just roll to get to whatever toy he wanted.  Then, he began this sort of shoulder crawl.  It reminded me of how a soldier might maneuver on the ground.  Now he actually uses his feet to push off of the floor in addition to using his arms.  Sometimes he doesn't make it that far, but his bottom will stick way up in the air.  The first time I really saw him actually crawl was 9-15-12.  Rocco and I were playing golf in the hallway of our house, and Maverick was going after a bigger toy ball we had for him.  I quickly ran to get the video recorder.  

His nutrition has changed just a little.  He continues to drink breast milk (more ounces now - takes 5 to fill him up instead of 3), but he usually gets some Gerber rice cereal mixed with breast milk once a day AND one vegetable or fruit as well.  He's a growing boy!

Peek-a-boo is a new favorite.  I'll say, "Bye bye!" in a high voice.  Then I go out of his sight for a few seconds.  When I jump back up and yell, "Boo!" he just laughs or grins.  

One of the benefits of being a stay at home mom is that I get to read to my little boy during the day while Rocco is at school.  Maverick loves it.  He really enjoys being read to, but he thinks he has to eat the book.  We're working on that part.  

I continue to cut coupons to help out with our budget.  Now that I'm part time, my check will soon be half of what it was.  At a consignment I found a bouncy seat that you hang from the doorway.  We put Maverick in it, and he loved it.  He doesn't really understand that he can use his legs to bounce up and down in it just yet; he thinks it is a swing because his big brother pushes him in it.  How fun!

And speaking of big brother, look who gives Maverick tons of love and kisses each day. 

6 Years 5 Months old

First grade is well underway, and Rocco is loving it.  His teacher, Mrs. Ashworth, is a sweet and young teacher.  She has assigned Rocco to be the cubby cleaner, which means he has to make sure everyone's cubby stays organized and clean.  One day his class was lined up in the hall.  Most of the students were eating their afternoon snacks.  When I didn't see Rocco, I took a peek inside his classroom.  He was wiping down the legs of the tables down with a Clorox wipe.  He really takes his cleaning job seriously.  Mrs. Ashworth said if any student's cubby is disorganized, he calls them over to take care of their mess.  

Now that Rocco is in first grade, we thought it was a good time for him to begin sleeping in his own bed.  August 7th, the night before school began, I put him in his bedroom.  He slept there for part of the night and joined us about 3 in the morning.  After several nights of this routine, he realized that we'd let him come back in the bed with us once he woke up.  Smart little fella' laid down one night and only slept for 5 minutes.  He got up and came into our bedroom.  "I woke up, mommy," he said.  I let him get in the bed with me- after all I had missed cuddling with him.  I later explained to him that he had to really be asleep before he could wake up and come in our room.  Before he goes to bed each night, he wants to know, "When are you coming to bed?"  His new thing is this.  He'll say, "Mommy, listen to my rules and obey them.  Finish what you are doing, put Maverick to sleep, then come lay down with me, THEN you can go to your bed." 

His front right tooth is loose.  It's just a matter of time before it comes out.  It will probably be sooner than later since I, his mom, work on it a little each day.  

Rocco says that his girlfriend is Riley.  This is the same girl that WAS his girlfriend for part of kindergarten.  Her other boyfriends are in another classroom this year.  Looks like Rocco has her all to himself - maybe until recess when all 1st graders go outside??  Her loss if she chooses other boys.  It's obvious Rocco is the cutest boy in his grade.  

On his progress report he scored the highest grades in math, reading, and spelling.  He also did excellent on his conduct.  Speaking of conduct, he has received no minuses.  And he's earned several dots.  Mrs. Ashworth gives out dots to students when they are doing something extra good.  One day Rocco came home and told his nana that he had 3 dots.  With a little disgust and confusion, he told her, "Well, I don't know how Hunter has 4!"  (as if he should have the most--cracked us up when we heard this).

Art is probably his least favorite class to go to.  He never has really liked to color or paint.  He'd rather be running in PE.  

One thing we are working on is his pitch.  He has the sweetest little voice, and I love to hear him sing.  He doesn't hit each note on pitch (most kids probably don't).  We have fun doing the do-re-me thing.  In kids' choir on Sunday night he's learning old hymns.  This month is "Nothing But the Blood". 

Rocco continues to be the best big brother, helping in every way (except for changing diapers).  He constantly loves and kisses on Maverick.  He truly has the most tender, loving heart of any little boy I know.  

The other day we got the ol' Thomas the Train toys.  He put on his conductor hat and rolled the engines over the tracks.  This was fun because I thought he had long since gotten too big for them.  I guess having a little brother around brings out the little kid in you.  

Loss

This year has been a miraculous one.  The year I delivered Maverick.  It still thrills me to think about what a miracle it is.  When I look at Maverick and Rocco I can't help but praise Jesus.  And just to think that I am their mom.  It's just wonderful.  

This year has not been all joyous though.  Since May I have lost three very close relatives.  On May 2 I lost my 95 year old great-grandmother.  Mamaw, as we all called her, was not your ordinary mamaw.  She was a ballroom dancer back in the day, could cook really good (even taught my nana and mom how to make delicious dishes like dressing), owned her own beauty shop, put together flower arrangements like a professional, played the piano, sang the silliest songs to us, and was also a tremendous prayer warrior.  She was a sight, and was so much fun to be around.  She'd kid around with all of us.  Mamaw was full of surprises, too.  My cousin Jennifer (and her mom, my Aunt Helen) lived with her.  When I was growing up I'd spend the night over there a good bit.  One day Jennifer and I were snowed in and couldn't go to school.  We spent hours playing this computer game, "Miner Forty-Niner."  We just couldn't beat this one level.  Finally, mamaw wanted to know what all the fuss what about.  She said, "Let me try."  On her first try she beat the level leaving Jennifer and me speechless.  To this day we still laugh about the day mamaw beat the game we never could.  

I love this picture of Rocco reaching out to mamaw.  It literally shows one generation touching another. 

 As she aged her mind couldn't remember things.  She would ask over and over again, "Now when did you adopt him?  You don't have to take him back do you?  How old is he?"  I'd just tell her the same answers again as if it was the first time she'd asked.  It was so sad to see her like that.  For most of my life she was so alert, quick witted, and even drove her car when most elderly were shut in.  She lived a long, productive life. And I know that she knew who Jesus was.  Certainly today she is rejoicing with her Savior in heaven.  Her son, Buddy, was my mom's dad.  He died when I was a child.  

Three months after her death, my family would experience another loss. This time on my dad's side.  On August 10th, my dad's sister, Katie, died.  

  She was 79.  Katie was a hard worker, and up until her death was still taking care of others.  She enjoyed working in the garden and could raise a lot of home grown vegetables.  If she wasn't growing some food, she was cooking it for someone.  Katie was another person I miss greatly because I know she really prayed for me.  Often she would tell me that she was praying for me to have a baby.  Today I have two sons, and I know her prayers were answered.  

Katie loved to laugh.  One summer my family and I went to Daytona Beach.  Katie went with us.  She and Rocco had a time laughing over practically nothing.  Once they started laughing I thought they'd never stop.  My dad misses her tremendously today, just as we all do.  My dad and Katie were very close to each other.

Not even two weeks after Katie died, my Papaw Billy died.  I was very close to him.  I cherished that man, for he was my hero.  When I was in 8th grade I watched as his convoy left Chattanooga, TN, and headed to Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm.  Oh how my heart hurt the day he said goodbye to my nana and us!  Not knowing if we'd see him alive again or not, we prayed and trusted for the best.  He indeed returned and we enjoyed a little more than 20 more years with him.  

My papaw and nana owned a nice home and a beautifully landscaped yard.  They worked hard to pay for everything they owned.  They didn't hire a gardener to keep up their flowers.  They spent hours outside doing the work themselves, and it really showed.  

My papaw made an honest living at Dupont and had a reputation for being a dependable man.  One man that worked with him in the National Guard and at Dupont said that you could always count on him to do his part.  He was a true team player.  He was a great leader, too.  He was a sergeant over many troops in the guards.  Every summer he'd go to Camp Shelby and endure the hard training and the heat . . .all for the love of his country.  When duty called him to protect us, he headed to the Middle East without reservation.  He was a brave man.  

He was also a fun papaw. He wasn't afraid to get in the floor and wrestle with my brother,Tyler, or play trucks with Rocco.  He LOVED his family.

He'd often joke with me about my grades when I was growing up.  "99?  Can't you make a better grade than that?"  He was so proud of me- he was my #1 fan.  That was cool because I was his biggest fan, too.  We had a mutual love and respect.  

And speaking of love and respect, I will never forget the relationship he had with my nana (my mom's mom).  When my nana was so sick with staph in the hospital, he stood right by her side.  Even though he himself wasn't healthy, he wanted to be with her each day at the hospital.  And when he got sick my nana refused to let him stay in a nursing home.  Even though her neck, arm, and back were in terrible shape, she would bathe him, push him in the wheelchair, and sweetly feed him at home.  I've never witnessed such selfless love in a couples' lives like I did theirs.  

I still can't believe he is gone.  It just doesn't seem real.  I look at pictures of him, and it's like I am going to see him in a week or so.  I guess I am still in denial because it just doesn't feel like he's gone.  

He knew the Lord, so I know he is not suffering from Parkinson's anymore.  Thank you Lord that there are no wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, or pain medicines in heaven.  I know papaw would not come back to this earth even if he had the chance.  But I do know he is waiting on me to join him one day.   And perhaps there are beautiful horses that we'll be able to ride together.  I know he would like that.