Mattie Claire ~ 2 Months

I can't believe it has been two months since our precious little angel went to heaven.  There isn't a day that goes by that we don't think of her and wonder how she is doing.  Mattie went so many places and did so many things with us this month.  She even went to her big brothers' favorite place in the world, Myrtle Beach.     I thought about all the new things Mattie would have done this month.  She would probably be giving us big, beautiful smiles now, and if she's anything like her brothers, she would have already learned to giggle and laugh!  If she is like big brother Brody, she would have already started sleeping through the night.  She may have liked sitting in her swing and looking out of the window like her big brother Brody or sitting in her bouncer seat like her big brother Evan.  We may have witnessed a temper tantrum or two.  She would likely have her daddy wrapped around her little finger.  Hopefully, she would have enjoyed cuddling with Mommy.   She would probably have been crazy about her brothers, and her brothers would have felt the same about her. She would likely be filling out her newborn bath tub much like her big brother Brody.  She would have enjoyed getting all dolled up for church.  She may have loved her pacifier, or she may have already found her thumb like her biggest brother.  Hopefully, she would have developed a love for her many silky blankets like her big brother Brody.  She would be enjoying lots of tummy time and play time with big brothers.  I wonder if she would have liked cars or balls like her big brothers.  She would have probably gone for rides in the laundry basket while Mommy or Daddy did laundry just like her big brothers did.  At her two month check up, she may have weighed over 13 lbs. like her big brother and could have been about 24 inches long.  

If she looks like big brother Evan, she would likely look like this:  

And if she looks like big brother Brody, she looks like this:

Some things we did with Mattie this month:

1.  Mattie went to the beach!

One of the cute outfits Mattie would have enjoyed wearing at the beach. 

One of Mattie's adorable bathing suits.  

Another cute little bathing suit for our bathing beauty.  

2.  We took family pictures on the beach!

Mattie was definitely with us. 

Little sister's matching outfit. 

3.  Mattie enjoyed getting dressed up for church!

One of Miss Mattie's pretty dresses. 

The big bow at the back is my favorite! 

4.  Mattie got flowers and a pretty new stone.

Mattie's new stone was delivered.  It was exactly what we hoped.  

Our family gathered around Mattie. 

Her brothers miss her!  

We love you, sweet Mattie, and we hope you can see how much we all miss you!  It has been the hardest months of Mommy's life having to live without you, but I hope you are so very happy!

Hugs & Kisses,

Mommy

Our Family Beach Pictures ~ 2013

As tradition dictates, family pictures on the beach were a must.  Although we regret that we didn't do this earlier in the week before the clouds and rain moved in, we still love these pictures.  The boys wore their special big brother shirts to remember their little sister who we all missed very much on this special trip.  Of course, I imagined she was with us everywhere we went.

The boys write Mattie's name in the sand. 

The boys wanted a picture with "real" lifeguards.  :-) 

The Upside Down Museum

A.K.A. Wonderworks of Myrtle Beach

This building has intrigued Evan for the last few years since it was added to the attractions at Broadway at the Beach so we decided we would try it out this year.  The story is that a South Carolina courthouse got picked up (foundation and all) by a hurricane and dropped upside down onto a little seafood shack in Myrtle Beach.  It is actually a hands-on exploration museum.  It isn't a cheap attraction, but we thought it would be good entertainment for a rainy day at the beach.  In retrospect, we would say most of the fun was a little old for Evan and definitely big for Brody.  Evan did enjoy playing a game of laser tag with his Daddy.  While Evan barely even shot his gun, his daddy was his usual gun loving, sniper shooting self and scored the second highest score in their large group.  This game was every man for himself.  From his scorecard, it looked like there was one sniper who was better than him as that one shot him about 5 times, and Eddie apparently never even saw the person. Haha!  Evan and I also tried the rope course and discovered that we may just be a little scared of heights!!!

The boys are ready to go in and get out of the rain. 

We entered to see the floor of the courthouse above our heads. 

It was definitely an interesting experience. 

Evan enters the conversion chamber than apparently turns us upside down so we can proceed into the museum right side up.  

Daddy wants to feel lightning. 

It looked pretty cool...like Daddy was shooting lightning out of his fingers.  Maybe that's his superhero power. 

Then he tested his strength by gripping a bull by the horns.  

In all fairness, this was his second attempt, and his first had gotten him up to Pro Rodeo Cowboy although this time he was still in the red. 

Evan used the pulley to pull himself up. 

Brody loved listening to the lion's different roars.  And yes, he was "talking" back. 

Playing the giant piano. 

Hanging out with astronauts. 

Going for a ride in a space capsule. 

And Evan shows him how to fly it. 

Evan makes funny faces in the space suit. 

I would say "future astronaut" if NASA still existed.  Sigh. 

Brody tries out the suit.  Look at that crazy boy. 

The rope course didn't look so scary from down below. 

On the way up 

Me and my brave boy building up our confidence to try it out. 

I tried out the first rope obstacle.  It was so much scarier and harder than it looked.  I was trying to look brave for Evan.  

Evan decided to try the balance beam instead of the rope walk because he was too short to hold on to the guide rope.  It seemed so high up when you were actually up there.  Daddy was taking pictures of us from below. 

He was happy to make it to the platform. 

He made a great effort and decided to walk back across the balance beam and not to do the harder rope walks.  I didn't blame him a bit.  I was shaking, but I decided to give a couple more of the obstacles a try to make it worth our time. 

There goes my boy.  He did great!

Yikes! 

The boys all enjoyed playing in the big bubble stations. 

Putting his arm through a big bubble. 

Daddy blowing big bubbles for Brody. 

Yep, I think this one popped on his head. 

Lots of cool big bubbles. 

It's Evan! 

The kids wanted to ride some kiddie rides after leaving the museum. 

We decided to do the carousel because we didn't get a chance to do the old Pavilion rides that we always do.  Evan wanted to ride the ostrich because he said they are really fast. 

Brody loved riding his horse. 

Evan on his noble steed. 

Me and my boys on the carousel

Here we go! 

They both loved the ride.