Home with the boys

I must admit, I could get used to this staying at home bit! It is hard work for sure, but there is just nothing better than getting some QT with your kids. Scott is out of school for the summer starting Friday, so things will get even better when he is home with us!

Parker is already 6 weeks old! Is that not crazy?!!! I wish I could just slow everything down - I feel like the days are passing SO fast!! Don't we all? Anyway, he is doing great. He's up to 11 pounds (yes, a little chunky!!) and got a great report from the doc last week. He has really started focusing on things and is smiling a lot! I was able to almost catch one after his bath yesterday....

Such a sweet baby...

And Austin is really doing well adjusting to his brother. It's neat how he already knows that Parker is a part of our family. When I put them in the car, I put Austin in first and then go back for Parker. Well, Austin does not appreciate me leaving Parker behind at all. He puts his hands up by his face and says "where Parker?" - I reassure him that Parker is coming with us as I buckle him in , but he whines "Parker, Parker" and points back inside until I get him in the car. I love that he wants him to come with us! I'm sure there may be a day when he wants me to leave Parker at home! But, for now he knows we are all supposed to be together.

Austin loves being outside so all this rain is cramping his play time. His Mimi bought him the cutest rain coat and umbrella and rain boots. Good thing since it has rained nearly everyday for the past few weeks!

Simon and his kids (Jack & Cheyanne) have been visiting from England over the past week and we have had so much fun showing them some good-old-fashioned American fun. For example, our local Japanese Steak House!!! They had to see the hibatchi table cooking, right?! What's a trip to the US without that?! So here are a couple of pics from our dinner...



We had a blast having them here and are so sad to see them go. Hopefully, we will be able to make the jaunt across the pond very soon.

May brings Mother's Day and Memories of Meagan

May is such a bittersweet month for us. We love getting together to celebrate Mother's Day, but that weekend always brings a wave of sadness as we are reminded of the night we lost our sweet Meagan. Man, I miss her so - - - but, I know her spirit is with us. Isn't this the most beautiful picture of her? She liked it (yep, had it framed in her room, in true Meagan style!! :) )

Even though it has been 7 years, it feels like yesterday in many ways. My hope and prayer is that we all remember how senseless her death was and continue to make wise choices about driving safely. My heart breaks every time I hear about another tragedy of this type . . . so easily avoidable. We love you Meags and miss you SO SO much!

On a much brighter note, we spent Mother's Day weekend with my aunt and cousins who came to visit from Daytona. I know they really came to see Parker, but it worked out well because my mom was here and my grandmother. So, we had four generations celebrating the day together! It was wonderful. I feel so blessed to have such an amazing (and big) family and I just love how close we all are. Even those that we don't get to see as often - - - when we get together, the love and laughter just explodes!! It's great. Here are some pics from the weekend:

GiGi with 5 of her greats!

Baby Parker - growing and changing everyday!

And, Zach holding Parker! Two very sweet boys!

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!

The Arrival of Baby Parker

The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy! ~Psalms 126:3

Welcome Home Parker Mitchell!!

We are pleased to announce the arrival of our newest addition . . . Parker Mitchell Boyd!!!! He was born April 20, 2009 at 10:00 p.m. weighing 7 lbs, 15 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. He came two weeks early, which was such a blessing for me :) We are just so excited about this precious little boy and know God has truly blessed us again!

Austin is still not real certain about his new little brother. I am pretty sure he was thinking we were going to leave Parker at the hospital and was not too thrilled when we brought him home. In fact, for the first week, Austin wouldn't talk to or look at anyone holding Parker. But, he has given Parker his pacifier a few times and has helped us feed him by holding his bottle, so I hope we are making progress. All in all, we are so happy to be home with everyone doing well!! I'm working on a photo-story, so more pictures to come!

Here are some pictures of his nursery and Austin's big boy bed. We transitioned Austin to his new bed a few months ago and he's doing great.

Since we've been so busy and I've been so pregnant, I have not posted pictures from Austin's birthday. He turned 2 on April 18. We took him back to Disney a few weeks before his actual birthday and had a blast. I was really too pregnant to go, but did anyway and we ended up renting a motorized scooter for me to ride around in, which became my best friend! We started with breakfast with the characters and then went over to MGM to play for the rest of the day. Austin saw Lightning McQueen (his favorite) & Mater, Tigger & Pooh, Mike & Sully . . . but was very nervous when they got too close.

It was a great day. I just can't believe my little buddy is already 2.

What a nerd.

Happy Birthday to my precious boy!

To top off all these birthday celebrations, Scott turned 30 on April 22 (I know, he's old!), so now we have 3 birthdays within 5 days!!! All my April boys!

April has been a month full of wonderful blessings. I am really looking forward to all the time I get to spend at home with Parker and Austin. Should be a great summer!

Back to Blogging

So, it's been a while (LONG while) since my last blog. To be honest, I just really haven't felt up to it. I am now 6 and a half months pregnant and it's been a rough one. I really envy those women who "love" being pregnant, because as most of you know - - - it's just not for me. I love being a mommy so much, I just wish you didn't have to go through the 9 months (actually 10 months) of being pregnant. But, I am entering into the final phase, so that feels really good. And, we are so excited to meet Parker (or "Pah-ka" as Austin says). Austin really does not understand that our lives are about to be turned upside down, but he knows that Parker now resides in someone's stomach. Sometimes he thinks it's mine, sometimes his. He's pretty funny. Ok, so now for the good stuff, here is the past couple months' pictures.

In September, Nay Nay turned the big 5-0!!! Simon came over from England to surprise her, and the whole gang from Daytona. We took her to dinner, but had bigger plans brewing . . .

Then, in November over Thanksgiving, we all went to St. Thomas for the BIG celebration:
She sure doesn't look 50, does she???




What a great trip! Happy Birthday Nay-Nay!! We love you ;)

Then, we had a wonderful Christmas - - - beginning with Christmas Eve:

Charlie came home for a couple weeks from boot camp:
Nay-Nay gave Austin and Jackson Teddy Ruxpin. Austin fell in love. His new best friend!

Then, Christmas morning. Papa & Sunny got Austin a slide! It was a big hit...

Yes, every toy went down - - -

The day after Christmas, we headed up north to Pensacola and had Christmas with the Boyd's and Heather & Joe:

With Aunt Heather- so sweet!On his "I spy" blanket from MiMi that Ms. Williamson so lovingly made for him...


Then, we headed even further north up to Mississippi to the farm where we met up with some very special folks.

On the four-wheelers - - - he HAD to where the "hat":

Future Gator quarterback???? Um, by the way- how 'bout those Gators???!!! Woo-hoo! National champs again!!A handsome group of Napier blood-

Playing with mommy-

Bubba and CC-

The "outlaws" :) - - - PS- for those who don't know, Luann is PREGNANT too!! Yea! (They are not sure what they are having yet.)

Great-granddaddy Joe and 3 of his greats!

And then back to Pensacola, where we visited Gigi:

So, as you can see, we had such a great holiday season. It was busy, but very fun. We made lots of wonderful memories.

Hope you all had a great one too!

Now - - - in closing, a picture for fun. One of mommy's favorites . . . not so much daddy's:

in my heels and matching necklace!! At least he has good taste :)