Battle Wounds...

Marlee and I have started going to a mommy and me gymnastics class. It is on Saturdays and consists of the children running around the gym and exploring the equipment. Marlee really seems to be enjoying herself. Today they were closing the class with bubbles, and Marlee and a little boy collided head on. She's suffered her first battle wound, a busted lip. She was a trooper and cried just a little. It bled and bled and her little upper lip is swollen. The picture below shows her lip with a little OREO TLC to make things all better. Thankfully we don't have any important pictures or anything coming up.



Our second adventure today was a our first family trip to the zoo. We had so much fun! Marlee saw so many of her favorite animals. She saw a zebra up close and personal and said to me, "no, like mama". I asked her why because he was big and she said yes. She really liked watching the river otters swim around. She was by far the most fascinated with the tortoise and snake exhibits. She really liked looking at all the different snakes and even frogs. She's so brave that she pet a snake! YUCK! Chad and I could live without those things.










Time was running out, so we didn't make it to the petting zoo at Kid's Cove, but we promised Marlee that we would take her back when it cools off outside. We stopped at the gift shop on the way out. Marlee picked out a stuffed giraffe as a keepsake. She slept with it for nap time today.

This weekend in Knoxville is Boomsday on the river. We hope to take the kids to see one of the most beautiful fireworks displays I've ever seen. We'll have pictures to share next week.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend and GO VOLS!!!!!!!

Jump Around, Jump Around. Jump Up, Jump Up, and Get Down. Jump, Jump, Jump....

Here's a video of Coop jumping around tonight. Hopefully he'll go back to sleep till late in the am...

Boys and their toys!

Cooper is absolutely loving his jumperoo! He just bounces and talks and swats at the toys. He gets so excited and would probably stay in there if we would let him! BTW~ We tried cereal tonight. Not too sure he's ready. More got on his bib than in his mouth, plus he woke up from sleeping gassy and fussy. We'll try it again in a few days. For now, enjoy some pictures.

Coop's concentrating hard on the monkey and elephant. All smiles UMMM! Tasty! Food on Your Face...

Do you think they're related?!?!

We try and pose Cooper similar to some of Marlee's pictures to see how much they look alike. Well here are a few more. What do you think? Are they related or what?

Cooper 4 1/2 months old

Marlee 4 1/2 months old

Marlee 4 1/2 months old

Cooper 4 1/2 months old

Cooper

Marlee

Life in the Fast Lane...

Well the first week of school is under my belt. Thankfully it was a really great start to the school year even though I didn't feel as prepared as I would have liked. I have 20 first graders who are as cute as can be! I have high hopes for a great school year. I hope the rest of the year goes as quickly as this week went. Hopefully I won't send any more kids home the wrong way! LOL (It seems to happen EVERY year)

Marlee is flourishing at the new babysitter's. It is bittersweet for me though. I LOVE that she has other kids to play with and that she is happy to walk into Ms. Karen's each morning, but I would love to be home with her everyday. As I have mentioned earlier, Marlee has been potty-training all summer. At home she runs around bare bottom and goes to the bathroom without prompts, but as soon as you put a diaper or panties on her she forgets all about using the potty. Well, Ms. Karen broke her of that in a day and a half. She's now wearing BIG GIRL panties! YEAH!!! She came home today and wanted to use the potty. So I put her up there, she went, and got down and came out clapping, saying, "Yeah Me!" She is just growing up so fast!

Cooper is continuing to grow as well. He will be 5 months old next week. I am taking in every moment I have with him. He's more than likely the last one, so I want to remember the cuddling phase. Plus, he LOVES his Momma and loves to cuddle up next to me. He's eating more and more milk each day, so I think I'm ready to try some cereal with him. He does have a sensitive stomache, so I am not sure how successful we will be.

Below are some pictures from bathtime the other night and Marlee's new "meow" pajamas.









Marlee and her favorite book.

Cooper loves his fist just like Marlee.

Cooper and his blocks. We have a pic of Marlee that looks just like this one.

Marlee's NEW PJ's that Daddy picked out.

Rockin out the new PJ's.

Life in the McCormick House....

Here are some recent pictures of the kids.

Marlee loves Cooper soo much! It is by far the sweetest thing to watch.

She's starting to smile on cue now. Plus she says "cheese!"

Marlee still drowns Coop in kisses with a thud to the head every now and then.

Marlee got a backpack for her school! She loves to wear it around the house. Notice it is all she is wearing! LOL

Marlee got a Barbie car to play with. She thinks it is for her to ride in. She looks like Godzilla!