Life is Good

The year that Mike and I started dating, I gave him this mug for Christmas:

That was in 2005.  Since then, we've redefined what "good" means (a few times) and added bottles and nipples to that cups cupboard (twice).

Life certainly isn't fair, and truth be told, it isn't always good, but I am a firm believer that life does have a way of setting itself straight.  Because of one twist of fortune about six months ago, the McCollums weren't able to come up to New York for Ryan's birth, despite our best-laid plans.  Strangely, given my health issues directly before and directly after Ryan's birth, this worked out fine because the best pinch hitter in the world, my mom, came to my (our) rescue.  But it was because of the marked absence of Nana Honey and Papa Bear that we all completely treasured our recent trip to The Villages.  It redefined good and we can't wait to go back.

Nana Honey was smitten with this little one as was he with her.  They bonded from the minute we touched down in Orlando.  Nana was Ryan's escort at the farm we visited.

She helped him endure the hayride

Scoping out the rabbits

Thomas tells everyone that asks about his trip to Florida that he played golf, swam and went to a farm.  Life doesn't get any better as far as he's concerned.

Thomas got "real" clubs.  It didn't take him long to master them!

"Oh. My. Goodness!"

Took Mama a little longer...

Thomas is becoming much more comfortable in the water.  This is a good thing since I am hell-bent on making sure the kids learn how to swim.

Jumping from "wicked high"

Ryan supervising the pool activity from his stroller

 Uncle Donald's Farm was so good that it could have it's own separate post.

Feeding a very hungry baby goat

Feeding a hungry humongous goat

Pony ride: tough sell

Pony ride: warming up to it

Much more stable than a pony.

Despite constant loving and badgering from his big brother, life is really good for Ryan.  He continues to thrive at four months, weighing in at 18 pounds, 6 ounces and 26 & 1/2 inches tall.  This keeps him pretty high on the percentile chart and has him at a little more than a pound heavier than Thomas was at four months.  Clearly you can see why he thrives.

Loving from both nanas...

Perhaps feeding him Rice Krispies Treats isn't the best way to watch his waistline, Dad.

Looks like he's bottling up all this "love" for future retaliation.

Hay, Mama.

Last night when we were watching a golf tournament and Zach Johnson stunned the World and Thomas.  How he stunned the world was on an outstanding and lucky shot after hitting his ball into the water on the 18th hole.  How he stunned Thomas was that he could hit a ball into the water and the ducks lazing on the pond wouldn't eat it.  Life is not just good, it's often endearing and hysterical.

"Just a couple of men" watching the 18th hole

Unfazed by the excitement

 

As we are in the full throes of holiday shopping and eating and partying and gearing up for the Army-Navy game, it's good to pause and think about life and how good it is (even when you have to drag a whiny three year old out of the toy section of Wal-Mart or when you are awakened at 4:00am by a hungry baby).  Life was good in 2005 and in spite of the bumps and bruises from 2013, life continues to surprise us with how good it really is.