My Little Snowflake. . .

He is preciously and perfectly unique just like a snowflake!!!

And, I love him with all my heart!

We had icing in the house today!! I haven't made icing or cake or cupcakes in quite some time, so the boys were very, very happy!!! :-)

Yummy!! :-)

When Mommy Gets Distracted. . .

My, oh, my, I LOVE you, cute thing!!!!

Happy Birthday, Little Man!!!

For your special day, we made cupcakes!!! I decorated your cupcake to look like you!! And, you loved it! Yum!! :-)

Then, I set your big brothers free with the icing and the M&M's and let them decorate their cupcakes to look like themselves!! They had a blast!!!

Don't ask me why Elijah gave himself one green eye and one yellow eye?? I'll never figure that sweet little one out!!! He has a mind of us own, and I love it!!

I think the big boys enjoyed your birthday almost as much as you did!!!!!!!!!

I love you, my curious, active, cute, crazy, fun, smiley, happy, silly, wild little man!!!!!

The Story of My Life Lately. . .

I am constantly chasing this little one. . .He loves to hide, climb, run, and grab everything his cute little arms can reach!! I am nearly pulling my hair out here!!! He is either in the toilet bowl, Rain's water or food bowls (he loves to put Rain's food into his water bowl and watch it float), or climbing up and standing on one of my bar stools with his hands in the fish bowls. I swear he has 8 arms all busy and moving in different directions at all times!!

One of the boys came inside and forgot to bolt the back door. . .

He was outside and on the front porch before I could turn my head! And, then there was the afternoon when a friend called me with a question. While I was talking with her, he opened the baby gate, let himself into the foyer, closed the gate behind himself, went upstairs, into his big brothers' room, climbed to the top of the bunk bed's ladder, and laughed at me when I walked in and screamed!!!

We are months away from being two years old, and I am beginning to fear what might lie ahead!!!!!!! Please, Lord, keep him safe!!!!

Seemingly Unreachable

He really believes that he can make it.

Every time he aims and shoots, he believes it is going to be nothing but net.

Even though the ball barely makes it 6 inches over his head.

Still he believes.

And, I admire him for it.

It is my nature to believe that difficult things are impossible. . .

Watching him try again and again inspires me deep within.

And, you know what I am pretty certain of?

One day the ball will go in.

We have a shorter goal. . .

one made for boys his age. . .

just a few feet away. . .

But, he has set his gaze higher.

He isn't interested in just making a basket.

He wants to make that basket, the tall one, the seemingly unreachable one.

That is what he wants.

And, he isn't going to give up anytime soon.

And, neither is his mama.

Only her goal doesn't have a basket on it.

Her goal is to glorify God with each day, each word, each moment, each breath.

But, over and over again she falls short, misses the mark, and just plain makes a mess of things.

But, she is not going to give up.

No, she is not going to give up because her God is a sweet Father Who has great love and great patience.

Even in her imperfection, He loves her deeply.

So, sweet son, let's aim, stare intently, and believe.

Because as we live, as we grow, we will edge ever closer, each day closer, to that which holds our focus so intently.

Let it be so, sweet Lord!

A Sweet Surgery Day. . .

What a cutie he is, and he did so well! Thanks to all out there who said a prayer for the little guy.

Sweet Deana B. came with me to keep me company during the procedure. Bright and early, except it wasn't bright ~ it was quite dark, actually), we headed to the good old hospital and checked Mr. Man in for surgery!

Here we are hanging out in his short stay room. . .Then, they asked us to put him in a gown ~ a UNC blue gown, Deana noted. . .I look a little apprehensive in this next picture, but I don't think I was ~ not too much, anyway??? I love our surgeon, and we did this not too terribly long ago with Joshua. But, I think anytime your baby has to go under anesthesia you do tend to get wee bit nervous. . .I got a little concerned that he might cry when they took him away from me. But, they already had that one figured out! Take him on a wagon ride ~ that will make him forget about Mama!!! They wrapped him in warm blankets and pulled him away without a tear! Huge sigh of relief!!The surgery took less than a half hour and recovery took about an hour?? Deana B. kept my mind occupied with lots of fun conversation!!! Dr. O. came by after he finished and said that it was about as big a hernia as a boy his size could have!!! Poor guy!!

When they brought the little man back, he was in and out of peaceful sleep and so precious!!!

So, so, so, so, so precious. . . .

Here he is with my favorite nurse of the day!! She was a sweetheart!

A little side note: It never really occurred to me that the hospital staff would not know that I was Erik Daniel's Mama. I mean, I was the one holding him. But, it became a recurring theme that the staff would either look back and forth at Deana and I as they talked, or they would look at Deana!! Why, you ask?? Because his hair matches hers a little better than mine!! Finally, one of them looked at Deana and asked, "Is he yours?" I quickly answered, "No, he is mine!" And, Deana very sweetly answered, "But, I'd take him!!!" So, funny!!! :-)

It didn't take long for his sweet smile to resurface. . .

And, by about 10:30 Deana B and I were on our way to Starbucks ~ a cup of peace (Chai latte) for me and a cup of happy (hot chocolate) for her!!

Here's the little man sipping juice and watching Baby Einstein as we drove home!

Deana was such a good friend to me today ~ as she always is! She brought muffins when she came at 5 this morning for the boys to eat for breakfast, and she brought a yummy dinner tonight so that I didn't have to think about cooking this evening. I could just hold my sweet baby! She, also, drove my van home just in case I needed to help Erik Daniel in any way during our 30 min drive home! Sweet girl!! Here she is. . The picture is dark, but I love her expression! Can you tell that she didn't want me to take her picture???

Eriky D. slept from noon until I finally woke him up by staring him down around 4:30. And, I am proud to report that by 5 o'clock he was once again shooting baskets!! It was a good day, but, man, am I tired! And, I am so glad that it is over!!!

Our Little Shooter is Scheduled for Surgery!

Erik Daniel, like most all little boys, loves balls! This coupled with the fact that he lives in a home where the balls start flying each morning around 7:00 a.m. means that this little man has grown to love throwing balls ~ especially at baskets! There is nothing he would rather do than stand in front of one of our silly little nerf hoops and shoot. So much so that we took a little portable basketball goal (about 4 inches wide) with us to the surgeons office this morning. Dr. O. even held the goal and let him shoot a few times for him! It was a great way to keep him busy while we waited at the surgeon's office and at the hospital for all the pre-admission hoop jumping!

So, yes, little Eriky d is having surgery tomorrow morning! He is having his right inguinal hernia repaired just as his big brother Joshua did (when he was 9 mos. old) and his mama did (when I was 6 years old). So, if you read this and you'd like to say a prayer for an uneventful surgery, I would appreciate it so much!!! It should be quick and easy. When Joshua had this surgery, we were home by lunch. So, we will see!

Hopefully he will be back to shooting baskets by tomorrow evening!!! Here is a little video clip of him in action. . .

Four Little Monkeys Sitting on the Couch. . .

Just recently Erik Daniel has started climbing up on the couch and sitting with his big brothers to watch a movie. And, to be honest, it usually doesn't last long!! He usually gets bored and quickly moves to the floor to resume playing with toys. So, when I saw all four of them sitting there watching the movie Buzby, I had to grab my camera quickly before Smiley over there got restless!! Man, I love these little guys!!!

A Common Finding These Days. . .

Our one year old on top of the kitchen table. . .

Everytime I turn around, he climbs back up there!

Let's zoom in for a closer look at his face. . .

Looks happy, doesn't he?

Pop's Little Buddy. . .

I'm not sure if it is that they share the same warm brown eyes or the same warm loving personality or what it is, but there is something special about these two. Erik Daniel hasn't seen Pop since Thanksgiving, but as soon as Pop was in Erik Daniel's view, but still a good 20 feet away, he began reaching for him. He loves Pop and prefers him to me or Erik when he is around!! Erik Daniel just wraps his sweet little arms around Pop's neck and hugs tight! You couldn't pry him off no matter how hard you tried!!!!

I took about 8 pictures like this, but these 3 were my favorites!

Little does Erik Daniel know it, but he gets to see his Pop again in less than a week!!! Yay!

My Baby. . .

I went a little overboard! My mom asked for pictures of Erik Daniel walking, and I got a little carried away! My baby is looking so big!

Thanks to Pop for the cute, cute, cute outfit! I love it!

On his tip toes. . .

Now here he is walking around. . .

My sweet, sweet baby boy! He looks so much like Erik! I am so thankful that God gave him to us!!!

I could not love him more!!!!!!!

Little Man

Well, sweet boy, you grew up right before my eyes as I watched Ann trim your baby mullet and the hair falling over your ears. My sweet baby turning into a little man in a matter of mere moments. . .

Here you are right after I put you in the chair. . .
You looked so tiny sitting there by yourself. . .

But, you were such a big boy! You smiled and played with one of Ann's combs. I think you had a great time! After all, It isn't everyday that ALL the attention in the room is on you!!! I think you rather enjoyed it. . .

Goodness, I love you! Like crazy, I love you, sweet, sweet son o' mine!!!! Daddy held you at the end while Ann perfected your new cut!!!

Brown eyed baby boy, I know that I tell you this all the time, but I want you to know it deep down in your heart. . .

I LOVE you! You are an absolute joy to my soul, baby boy! You are so patient, so sweet, so even-tempered, and peaceful. I am so thankful that God gave you to us ~ that He surprised us with your little life. I love to look in your warm brown eyes and wonder if you look just like your Daddy did when he was a one year old. I just adore you, sweet man. Thanks for being you!

You're just great, Erik Daniel Manning.

You are just great!!!!!!!!!!

A Warm Welcome

Is there anything better than seeing this. . .



when you are walking back inside after taking a few things out to the recycling bin?


I think not!

My Baby Takes the Cake!

I LOVE this part of first birthdays!!! If I can get my act together, I am going to frame pictures of all four of my babies digging into their first taste of cake and icing!!! :-) I can appreciate this because I am a total sugar addict!

Once again we tried the birthday crown, but the little man said, "No, thank you!"



I love how at first they are always so confused. They are so used to being spoon fed purred baby food! They can't help but wonder what Mommy is up to putting this white stuff in front of me?


In all honesty, I am not sure how much cake Erik Daniel actually ate. He mostly just played with it! :-)

So, so fun!

I think he had a good time!

Yay for cake! And, yay for firsts!!!!

Love you, little man!

A New Kind of Therapy. . .

I like to call it. . .

Baby Therapy. . .

And, it does the heart good. Just look at Pop's face. . .


I tell you this kind of therapy is better than any medicine. . .


At least it is with this grandchild loving Pop!


I kept worrying that Erik Daniel might hurt Pop with all of his wiggling, but Pop insisted that he was fine. And, he wanted to be close to this sweet little boy. And, my little boy wanted to be close to his sweet Pop.

Here is my favorite picture of them. . .



Precious.

Now, don't you think that made him feel a little better?

I do.

As you can see, Erik, Erik Daniel, and I went to New Orleans for the weekend. And, it was an amazing trip for so many reasons!!! So, let me tell you why. . .

I think we were about 45 minutes from New Orleans when Erik received a call from a man who was assessing Mom for admittance into a long term acute care facility. He informed Erik that she had moved her toes on command for him.

What?????!!!!!!????

For the first time, my husband lit up with hope! She had responded to a verbal command. This was huge. HUGE.

We got a little further down the road ~ actually we were on that really long bridge that goes from Slidell to New Orleans ~ when Jason called. He and Erik had previously decided that we would meet at the Praline Connection to eat before Jason had to fly home. But, Jason was suggesting that we meet at the hospital instead. Erik was afraid that going to the hospital first would take too much time and that Jason would miss his flight. But, then, Jason explained. . .

Mom opened her eyes!!!!!!!

She looked at Jason and mouthed the words, "I love you," to him!!!!!!!

Erik said, "Okay, yes, then we will meet you at the hospital!"

It was a miracle weekend. She didn't open her eyes again that day, but the next morning she opened her eyes for Erik and mouthed his name. Unfortunately I wasn't with him!!!! But, later that night I got to see those brown eyes myself!!!!

We went to visit her, and Erik is ruthless, I tell you. He rubs her shoulder and talks loudly in her ear, "Mom, it is Erik. I love you. Erin is here with me. She wants to see your brown eyes. Show her your pretty brown eyes, Mama. Show them to her. Open your eyes, Mama. Open your eyes and look at Erin. She is standing right in front of you. She wants to see your pretty brown eyes. Hey! Hey! Hey, brown eyes, open your pretty brown eyes, Mama. We love you. We're praying for you. Now, open those pretty brown eyes and look at Erin." And, finally after the one millionth time he asked her, a little miracle happened, and she ever so slowly, as if her eyelids weighed a ton, with great concentration and inner strength, she opened up her pretty brown eyes and looked at me.

And, I couldn't help but cheer for her! "Good job, Mom. Good job! You did so good! Thank you for letting me see your eyes! You are so strong! You are getting better every day! Good job, Mom! I love you."

I can't tell you the pride that welled up in me when I saw her open her sweet eyes!!!

And, because I need to go to bed, I am going to come full circle and end this post. We went back to see her today. She is in a new hospital, and I didn't know the rules about babies. So, rather than ask, we just decided to take Erik Daniel and see what would happen.

No one said anything to us. We walked right by several staff members and into Mom's room.

Erik did his little number where he asks her over and over again to open her pretty brown eyes while he rubs her shoulder with gentle force. He told her that Erik Daniel was with us, so she should open those pretty brown eyes and look at him. Erik Daniel cooed and giggled in my arms. And, I knew she could hear him, and I know what those sounds do to me, and I prayed that they would have the same effect on her. After several minutes of trying so hard to open her eyes, she finally got them about halfway open. So, I held Erik Daniel like superman in the air, so he would be in her line of vision. After that she mouthed a sentence or two that we couldn't make out for sure, and then, once again, she drifted back into a peaceful sleeping state.

Baby Therapy.

It is a good thing, just ask Pop!

And, speaking of Pop I must throw this picture in. . .

Erik and I bought him this shirt because we think he is Superman, and we love him sooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!