The Best

We completely overuse the description "The Best."  I would estimate that we say, "This is the best _____!" at least fifteen times a day.  It likely stems from my short memory and Mike's favorite morning phrase, "This is the best coffee I've ever had in my life," which Thomas shortens to "This is the best coffee of my life!" which in turn, Mike has applied to numerous other situations.

It is frequently uttered, "This is THE BEST ice cream of my life!"

First official family ice cream social for four on the back deck

But everyone knows that THE real BEST ice cream comes from Stewart's.

The week after we brought Ryan home from the hospital, Dad had to go back to work and Mama was not ready to brave taking care of two boys alone, so Nana came back to stay with us for a week.  She was heard saying that Ryan was THE BEST baby ever (recall how fussy Thomas was and how much he spit up his first few months with us).  Nana's comment was spurred by Ryan's great napping schedule and how little he spit up.

Approaching four weeks old, Ryan is still a pretty good baby, but the newborn honeymoon is over and he now fusses like a "normal" baby and wakes up a few too many times in the night for my taste.   But as Thomas is quick to point out, "Ryan, you can't sleep all day!"

Playing on Nana's bed

Trying out the pacifier

The best thing that we did for all four McCollums was head up to Lake George.  With Army football season two weeks away, Mike suggested that Thomas, Ryan and I headed up to Lake George with my parents until Labor Day since he would be very busy with all that football season preparation entails.  Mike has been amazingly generous with his time in the last month between accompanying me on doctor visits, staying at the hospital with me when I was hospitalized with the Mystery Virus, staying at the hospital for three whole days after Ryan's delivery and spending the rest of that week at home with our boys and me.  Despite not wanting to leave our home and be without Dad, we packed up and headed north. 

Quick change in the driver's seat of my car at a rest stop

Thanks to modern technology, Dad watched Thomas feed Ryan via Skype.

Thomas thinks this trip to Nana and Papa's house was THE BEST idea we've had in awhile for obvious reasons.  Mama thinks it was THE BEST idea because it has substantially increased hers, Thomas' and Ryan's quality of living this week.

Testing out the new floaties

Finding treasures at the beach

Playing baseball with Mama

Helping Papa mow

Chilling on the porch with Nana

Swords with Nana

Between a very slow-to-heal Mama who just wants to play soccer and swim with a precious almost three year old, a Dad who loves his boys unbelievably, but is busy at work right now, and fabulous grandparents who have given up half a summer to care for their daughter and her family, we are working together, making it THE BEST summer that we can.