30 In Life

Sometimes…

I’m afraid my heart will melt.

JMwatching3

JMwatching1

sweetJM2

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, we’ve moved outside with our home renovations. We’ve lived here for 2 years and I’m beyond excited to finally be able to put forth efforts on the exterior. On a few occasions now, it has required that Justin bring a tractor home. It really doesn’t require too much arm twisting, men love tractors.

JMwatching2

justinfrontrailing

And so do little boys.

Little boys also like to act like total rovers. Mom has been here for a couple days {yay!} as she is making her way to Erika’s for the grand arrival of grand-baby numero 4. In the last 48 hours she has come to the conclusion that John Martin is in serious need of full time care. As in, a full time assistant; someone who can committ 100% of their time and energy to him alone. She has also become very creative with how she “contains” him.

JMhighchair

 Well after that picture… what else can I say? Nothing, all I can do is laugh uncontrollably.

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  • Caroline
    September 6, 2009 at 10:10 pm

    JM is so stinkin cute… he looks so much like both of the girls too. Love the new website!! Can’t wait to read about Erika’s baby when she arrives.

  • Stephanie
    September 6, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    Darby,

    JM is so, so, adorable. and I am loving the new website, too!

  • Jennifer
    September 6, 2009 at 10:43 pm

    I can’t wait to see how the outside comes together! Your paint colors are GREAT!!!

  • christy stargel
    September 6, 2009 at 10:55 pm

    just love your blog and that precious JM – could he be any cuter?

  • Lisa
    September 6, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    Absolutely priceless.
    Love the tractor with the boys-looks like my house. Only my boys would have been screaming to get out there- no smiles for them! Precious.
    LOVE this new blog- so beautiful- what a surprise;)

  • Emma
    September 7, 2009 at 12:39 am

    He’s a heart-melter, for sure!

    My son, Tiggy, does the very same thing to my heart. It aches, with love, true?

    The new blog is wonderful. Clever you!

  • Elizabeth
    September 7, 2009 at 5:01 am

    I cannot wait to see what y’all are up to outside. Does any of the outdoor renovations have to do with the new swingset?

    As for little JM, I know exactly what you’re going through. Our butter bean, Jackson, is about a month older and is always moving and getting into things. I know I wasn’t this frazzled with my daughter.

    It must be a boy thing.

  • angela
    September 7, 2009 at 6:48 am

    What is it about boys and those big machines? My boys could have watched for hours!!! Of course, hornet is a doll!!!

    I love your new blog and i sure have missed your daily posts. Glad your mom is there. I love how you talk about her like you adore her!!

    Can’t wait to see to see the new things happening on the outside of the house!

  • Jennifer Morena
    September 7, 2009 at 7:18 am

    I know, aren’t those moments when you simply stop in your tracks and take in your children priceless?

    Can’t wait to see the house pics!

  • Sara
    September 7, 2009 at 7:21 am

    Such a handsome little guy! I also feel that my heart will melt everytime I see my sweet little daughter (age 16 mos). So much fun at this age! She’s also a total Rover though – I laughed out loud when I read that the first time on your blog and have called her Rover a few times since!

    I love your blog, your photographs, your home decor and your general outlook on life. Thanks for sharing!

  • Jennifer
    September 7, 2009 at 7:55 am

    I think assistants for crawling, cruising, walking babies would be perfect! They certainly are full-time jobs on their own…not to mention a husband, other kiddos, a house….! : ) I am only able to type this because I am nursing my littlest monkey, so, for now, I am not following her every move.

  • Amber
    September 7, 2009 at 8:16 am

    Caleb needs an assistant too! I think he’s about 2 months older than JM, but the time and attention he needs is constant and never-eneding! Makes me wonder how we’ll ever add another kiddo to the mix?!

  • Melissa
    September 7, 2009 at 8:20 am

    Yep, I know that feeling! As for the tractor…just wait, pretty soon he’ll be begging to ride! Are you going to post a tutorial for that “containment device”? Ha ha ha!

  • Dianne
    September 7, 2009 at 9:02 am

    Well, I think my heart melted too! JM is just precious looking out that window at “Daddy”. Tell us what you are doing outside. Oh, the moon is full this weekend…any news from Erika?

  • Amanda Thrasher
    September 7, 2009 at 9:06 am

    I don’t know which Stickler man is cuter the big one on the tractor or the lil’ one longing to be on the tractor. So glad Momma is there—love extra hands.

  • Stacy
    September 7, 2009 at 9:31 am

    Love how you tell stories with pictures!

  • Kate
    September 7, 2009 at 10:47 am

    I am so glad you share these moments with us. Oh so precious.

  • Rhonda
    September 7, 2009 at 11:04 am

    What a doll! I’m loving the new site! Missed seeing your precious family! My friend and I (we both teach kindergarten) were just saying a couple of weeks ago, “I hope every thing is ok with Darby…she hasn’t updated in a while!” Like we know you!!! 🙂 Anyway, I could just squeeze JM! Hope all is well with your family!
    Love,
    Rhonda (crazy dream girl from b’ham, remember??)

  • Joy
    September 7, 2009 at 2:50 pm

    OK, I am a stalker, finally writing. I heard about your blog from my dear friend of Miki…LOVED the Sally Clarkson quote, isn’t she great? Her book Season of Motherhood sits by my bedside. I heard her speak at the homeschool conference here in Orlando and fell in love with her. She speaks to my heart and so do you – thank you!

  • Megan
    September 7, 2009 at 2:58 pm

    My heart could melt too, and he’s not my kid!

    Can you imagine having 3 boys? Boys and girls are SO inherently different, it’s wild!

  • jade
    September 7, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    darby, oh how i know about the heart melting thing. those are the sweetest shots of your boy watching his daddy. and i love grandma’s way to tie him down. too cute!!

  • amber
    September 7, 2009 at 5:18 pm

    He is precious! Thanks for sharing!

  • Annette
    September 7, 2009 at 5:22 pm

    Those sweet pictures remind me of my own little guy watching steam rollers pave the road outside our window. Total amazement! My son, now 4, is a rover as well, which is why he is our only!!! God love him though! JM is a darling little boy.

  • Tina R
    September 7, 2009 at 8:18 pm

    Little boys are so different than girls! I have a 3 yr old girl, and my little boy is about the age of JM. At 16 months he is a big mess!! But I love him! BTW, the new site is great! Love it 🙂

  • shannon
    September 7, 2009 at 8:42 pm

    oh my goodness!

    how i wish i lived in AL for the sole reason that i could offer to babysit free everyday. your little ones are just precious. and that little “rover” is gonna be a heartbreaker for sure!

    thanks for sharing your pretty little family with us!

  • Hillary @ The Other Mama
    September 7, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    Bwaa haa haa! So funny! I can’t believe I haven’t thought of that restraining technique before!!

  • Rachel Shingleton
    September 8, 2009 at 3:29 pm

    Hahaha, I love your mom’s creative ways of strapping little JM down! My mom says the same things about my Jude. She told me the other day (tongue in cheek) that I just need to turn the crib upside down on him to keep him contained so I can at least get a shower in without having to worry about him turning the house upside down! He’s just so darn BUSY!

  • Rachel
    September 8, 2009 at 7:54 pm

    Yippee! I CANNOT wait to see what you’re doing with the back yard! You’ve always done such great things with your home! But if you could have your husband swing on by and help us out in our back yard, that’d be lovely. :o)

    Pretty little ribbon – who knew it could contain such little rovers!

  • Des
    September 9, 2009 at 10:17 am

    I have recently discovered your blog in the past few months and I love it! I have 3 boys ages 16 months to 4…so I can mostly relate (besides having girls in the mix!) I love the photo of your little guy with the monkey. Can I ask where you got it from? My boys keep running through their little lovies (maybe because they are small?) til they’re ripped up and matted. I love your site and the little glimpses of another mama’s adventures =)

  • njkngvtc
    September 19, 2009 at 11:21 pm

    njkngvtc…

    njkngvtc…