All-American Boy

Or All-American Muscle. Whichever way you look at it.

Here is Cohen from Independence Day. He really is, ALL BOY. He wore his tank top with his jeans and cowboy boots. Oh he looked like such a little redneck. But he pulled it off. Bless him. He insisted on a "Mohawk" for the day and he totally rocked that too.


That tattoo? A little secret. I really, really, really dislike rub-on tattoos. I cannot stand them, really. I usually throw them away before the kids notice them in goody bags. But, Chyenne had gotten a "gift" from her cousin and saved the turtle tattoo for Cohen. He totally rocked it with his redneck look.

Those green eyes! He's going to melt some girl's heart one day.

And those muscles!

So strong.

So fierce.

Such a ham!

Look at those guns! He is impressively strong to be three...almost four.

He kept doing this every time I wanted to take his picture.

Everyone around us giggled every time he presented his strength. It made him angry. LOL.

Muscle boy!

I cannot get enough of him. He is so charming. So sweet. So strong. So feisty. He does everything wide open. He's either incredibly sensitive or incredibly fierce. He's my favorite little guy in the whole wide world. I love catching glimpses of who he is going to be when he's older. Can't you just see this strong boy turning into a very strong, athletic teenager? Ah. It makes me sad to think about it, but happy at the same time. I love my All-American Boy!

First Tooth

I know it's an expression that I use a lot, but my children are growing up fast...way too fast. I wish time could slow down or even stand still for a bit. I love their imaginative spirits and everything about each age they have been.

 

Even teething. Yes. I enjoyed teething with both of my babies. They handled everything so well. It was not a big deal. I have always been nervous for the day when they would lose baby teeth & go through that awkward stage of "big teeth, tiny mouth". I have pretty much been dreading it.

But you know what? It really is not all that bad! Well, we're still waiting on a "big tooth" to come in. I am sure she'll rock that look like she does every other.

 

Chyenne lost her first tooth (7-11-2013). She is only 5 years old. I did not lose my first tooth until I was 6 or 6.5. Wow.

The same tooth (front bottom) has been loose since April or May.

It was getting to the point to where it was uncomfortable for her to eat. (Below: At Olive Garden, not eating).

 So, I explained to her that mommy or daddy could pull it out if she wanted. Well, she did want. And, since I told her about my daddy (her papa) pulling out all of my teeth, she decided it was a daddy's job.

 She cried a bit at first when she saw blood, but then she was SO HAPPY! "This means that the tooth fairy is going to bring me some money!"

 Now, isn't that little gap precious?! Of course it is, when she's beaming with pride at least. :)

Her sweet, yet funny note: "Dear Tooth Fairy, here is my first tooth. Please leave me 20 dollars. Thank You! 7-11-2013. Love, Chyenne Taylor Mayfield" Sweet.

 She sat down to write her letter to the tooth fairy. She only needed help with the spelling of a few words. Yes, she asked for $20. Dream big, kid.

 Flash back to when she first got her teeth... the bottom two came in two days at six months old. So sweet. She was 7 months old here.

 As we were getting ready for bed, she was so excited to put her tooth and note under her pillow for the tooth fairy. BUT, she did not stay in her bed all night, she came into our room in what the kids like to call "the floor bed" which is basically a cushiony pallet in the floor. She brought her tooth and letter.
She was sleeping late, daddy had already left for work, I was off work, and Cohen was already awake. I decided to wake her. THEN, I noticed blood. Poor girl had a pretty intense nose bleed during the night and did not wake. Blood was everywhere (see the pillow?). I said, "Chyenne, do you want to wake up and check to see if the tooth fairy came?" Her response, "you check, I'm sleeping." Oh boy! She finally did wake, I cleaned her face and hands of the blood. She was very excited to check under her pillow.

 The Tooth Fairy did leave her a twenty dollar bill... a very glittery twenty dollar bill and my girl was so pleased.

See the blood all over her shirt? Poor girl. But that gap, oh that tiny gap from the missing tooth. So precious.

 

That twenty was apparently burning a hole in her purse. She HAD to spend it. We had a few errands to run, including going to sign both kiddos up for fall soccer. She would not stop talking about having "so much money to buy something awesome". It was pretty cute. She first wanted a couple of craft kits but ended up choosing a new baby doll instead. She loves her.

 

My girl is growing up so fast! See? Side by side comparison.

 

Please don't look goofy when you get big girl teeth. ;)

Despite how much both of my babies are growing up, they will always be my babies.

Summer Lovin'

Summer is definitely my favorite season of the year. Here in GA, (when it's not raining), we get to enjoy a ton of things.

Swimming: Cohen has been doing SO well in the pool this summer. He can hold his breath under water, float on his back, doggy paddle, and even swim short distances under water! He is getting braver with jumping in the pool and diving to the bottom to fetch toys. I am SO proud of him.

I believe Chyenne was supposed to be a mermaid. This is her THIRD summer swimming without floaties. She has been able to swim under water since she was two years old. Now, at five years old, she swims under water, on top of water, floats on her back, back strokes all around, does flips under water (forwards and backwards, even multiple ones sometimes without coming above water for a new breath), underwater handstands, dives to get toys, jumps in with various tricks into the pool and she has even MASTERED a backflip off of the diving board into the pool. She amazes me so much.

Time with best friends and tricycle races.
(Chyenne has also perfected riding a 16 inch bike without training wheels! Pics soon to come! Cohen is learning to ride his 12 inch bike without training wheels but he is a little hesitant).

Chy participated in cheer camp & performed great at the expo!

Swimming with cousins!

Celebrating friends, wellness and most importantly LIFE!

Cohen adores giraffes. And I adore him. <3

Pretending to drive his Uncle's race car. He likes to go fast!

Working on gymnastic skills.

Celebrating FAMILY, FAITH AND LIFE! Here are Chyenne & Cohen with their daddy, Uncle Chase (who suffers TBI after being assaulted, in a coma, and given no chance to live in April), Uncle Cody and cousin Cayden. Thank you God, for allowing Chase to continue to improve and for allowing our family to grow even closer. We are eternally grateful.

Best buddies at VBS. VBS is one of my favorite weeks of summer every year.

VBS

Summer allows for wearing this sweet boy out so much that he actually NAPS on occasion! Isn't he precious?

Summer also allows for going to the movies! We saw Superman: Man of Steel this summer and loved it. Here is Cohen's superman shadow after the movie (in his superman cape shirt).

Picking "flowers" for mommy. Melt my heart

Picking fresh blackberries from the yard. YUM!

PAINTING!

And more swimming to show off "cool cool tricks!"

More movies! Monsters University was a great movie. We also have seen Despicable Me 2 this summer.

Eating out. My kids now request Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Chinese just about every night for supper. Too bad I still cook most nights. ;)

Summer reading is another favorite part of summer. Chyenne is such a good reader. I think her kindergarten teacher will be impressed come August. ;)

Science Experiments!

Late night giggles and silly faces.

Balloon baths when it rains.

and loads of family time!

Oh summer, you have been SO good to us. We are looking forward to enjoying the rest of the summer and the warm weather that continues until almost the end of the year around here. 2013 has flown by far too quickly, but I am so glad that we have been able to make such precious memories.

 

We have also enjoyed a lot of ice cream sundaes, bike rides, dirt bike practices, family and friends, board games, playdoh, catching fireflies, and so much more. I hope all of you are having a terrific summer as well.