Biking with Daddy

We love to go biking as a family (well before Isaac was born anyway). John decided that it was time to try Isaac in Grantham's old seat. While John said that Isaac's head kept hitting the back of the seat (thank goodness for helmets), the first bike ride was a success. Now if we can just find a new neighbor who would let me borrow their bike (thanks Mr. Kenneth)! After a long hard ride;)

My boys (always ready and posed to fight off "bad guys.")

What the Pulcini's do while moving

Okay so I told John after our last move (#6 in nine years) that I would not move again unless we had professional movers. While it wasn't as great as I was hoping it did leave us more time for enjoying goofing off instead of packing! Here are some of our "extra" time pictures:) Grantham has always enjoyed being placed in the laundary basket but this was Isaac's first experience. I think he enjoyed himself!

I love the hands in the air like he is on a roller coaster.

legos consumed a lot of the three days that the packers and loaders were getting us ready to move. I didn't realize how unchild friendly movers were. Every where we were we seemed to be in the way. We found a little corner in the dinning room behind boxes that had already been packed and built many Lego creations. Also we put Isaac in the bathroom for his naps ( I wish I would have gotten a picture of that). It was the only "safe" place - your home is not your own when professional move you - they can walk into any room at any time to move a box or pack your stuff. A very strange experience that I am greatful for (in hours they packed what would have taken me months).

While waiting for our stuff to arrive, Grantham showed his artistic abilities with blue tape on the floor:)

A closer look at a "budding" artist. I wish I would have written it down but I think he told me it was an angel.

The artist and his work of art

More entertainment - can you tell what this is? Grantham found my camera. I won't show you all 200 plus pictures he took but this is one of my favorites.

Is this called a self portrait? Another of the camera pictures

Finally our stuff arrives and the boys decide to "dress up." This picture makes me smile - you can just tell how much they love each other!

Grantham was such a good sport through this whole move. He just rolled with the punches. One day while I was unpacking he "prepared" a show for me. This is a few pictures of the hour long show he performed when I took a break from packing:) Future BLACKMAIL - I think so;)

My boy loves music!

Saying Goodbye to Mississippi Friends

It is so hard to say Goodbye to Friends. We hope to keep in touch with all of you! I have no clue why this picture would not turn but I tried to download it twice without any luck? Some of the kids from the allergy/immunology group that John trained with. We wouldn't have survived without them!

We had two of the GREATEST teenagers living across the street from us in MS. William and Sarah you are always welcome at our home. They made Grantham feel like a KING. He thinks everyone should want to play with him no matter what their age. It always made me smile to watch them play Grantham tried to keep up with them no matter what the activity - baseball, soccer, scootering. In fact the first few weeks we lived in SC, Grantham kept insisting that we go knock on our neighbors doors. He was convinced that EVERYONE wanted to play with him:) This picture is one that Grantham drew of William:)

Having fun with another neighbor. These two called each other brother and sister. It was great for both of them!

Enjoying one of our last nights in MS! Come visit us; we miss all of you!!!!

Memorial Weekend

John was off for Memorial Day weekend and he has been wanting to visit Vicksburg before we move, so off we headed on Monday. Below are a few of the pictures we were able to take during our day. It was a great day to learn about some of our history and spend quality family time together!The boys and I infront of one of the many memorials to the men who died here!Grantham was fascinated by everything. I don't think he really understood it all but it was a start. Cute story: We live across the street from an older couple. The husband fought in Korea. He has told us a few stories about the war. Grantham kept asking "Did Mr. Kenneth carry a sword?" "no" "Did he have a gun with a sword on the end of it?" we kept trying to explain that the Civil War was a long time ago and Mr. Kenneth's great-grandfather might have fought in the Vicksburg Battle but Mr. Kenneth was not old enough. Grantham just didn't get it. Mr. Kenneth is the oldest person he knows . . . how could anyone be older? two beautiful boys in front of Cairo - a Civil War boat they have pulled out of the river and partially reconstructed

John and Grantham with one of the MANY cannons we saw on our trip Grantham posing on a cannon with his union cap on! We had a GREAT day; I am glad John got to check off one activity on his "to do" list.

Big Brother to the Rescue

Help the Bad Guys are after me . . .Who will save this too cute baby (I love this face - I wish I knew what he was thinking)Big Brother to the Rescue!!! Maybe he will make a good sidekick one day

Another post is below

My Thirty-something Birthday

Okay truth be told this blog will be more about Isaac than me:) For a very small few of you this will not be new news, for the rest of you sorry but sometimes we just choose to be private people about our family struggles (we love to share joys but we choose to learn through trials privately)! On with the blog . . . As you can see from the picture my birthday "cake" this year was a little disappointing. That could just be a reflection on the fact that my sweet husband is not a cook - but not this year. About five weeks ago, we found out that Isaac is allergic to diary, eggs and peanuts. How you ask? The child is only eight months old when did he eat these things? He hasn't. We had been struggling with a moderate case of eczema (dry skin) on Isaac's legs and face BUT one of the patches on his chin had developed into an open sore. John had tried all kinds of meds to help heal the sore but nothing seemed to be working. Being an allergist John thought it was probably an allergic reaction but I just thought he was reading allergies into his sons issues (if you work with people who have allergies all day, you see everything as allergies - my thoughts not John's). Anyway after a month with no luck healing Isaac's face I gave in and went to see one of the allergists John works with. She agree with John's diagnoses of allergies, prescribed some meds, and asked to skin test Isaac. I referred to John and he wanted to test him. Long story short, Isaac had a very strong reaction to diary and egg. This has required me to eliminate diary, egg and peanuts from my diet so that I could continue to nurse. So the above picture is a reflection of taking out egg, diary and nuts. Name brand Oreos are a safe food (we have since discovered a good number of recipes for making cakes, etc.) For me this is a memory I wanted to blog about, so I could remember my shock, people who were a huge support, and how far God has brought us. We do not know how severe Isaac's reaction will be once he is old enough to try these foods but for now we are not allowing him OR me to eat any of the allergic foods. We will re-evaluate as time goes on. For all you moms who are living with a food allergy - our hearts go out to you - even with all the positive changes to the food industries, life is not easy. My husband is learning first hand what his patients are going through when they are diagnosed with a food allergy. My favorite story: I had tried to buy some needed diaryfree, eggfree, nutfree products from three different grocery stores in town. Their reaction was all about the same ("what they make stuff like that" as they made a gagging face). So John had to go to a store here in town called Rainbow Grocery. It is a Vegan restaurant (that we have come to love). He came home with six different blocks of "cheese" for me to try. He was so excited that he found something I could eat; I think he bought entire store's supply of Vegan cheese. Needless to say, I cut all cheese type products out of my diet (soy/toff cheese does NOT smell nor taste anything like cheese) :) I have to warn you as you look at the pictures below - Isaac had been refusing to eat anything but breast milk. I gave him (what you are about to see) thinking he would just play with it as he has all other solid foods/baby foods. As you are about to witness, HE LOVED THE _______. Please don't look if you are in as much shock as I am that I allowed my second son sweets before his first birthday. I am afraid all my friends were telling me the truth when they smiled and said "ohh that will all change when you have your second child."

No that is not mud all over his faceThe left overs of Isaac's first experience with an Oreo cookie ;)

Happy and content . . . What do I tell people now when they ask "What have you been feeding that boy?" SHHH it is our little secret!

BROTHERS

With another move close at hand and all the craziness that goes with buying and selling a home, we have been trying to find time to just hang out as a family. Enjoying time together in our rental house (for those of you who don't know we closed on our MS house April 30th but because of God's awesome grace the family who bought it from us is allowing us to rent it back from them for two months)! My boys love to play together. Today we were playing Fisher Price Little People - the old kind we use to play with when we were little;)

Watching . . .

Watching . . .

Finally he's not looking. Now it is my turn to play!

Who wouldn't love a smile like that!?!

Matching outfits - thanks Nana - we love to match!

Today our pleasure is Legos -

Sorry this picture didn't get flipped - Grantham showing off his space ship Atlantis - we are really into space these days.

Isaac showing off how he can knock down any tower Big brother can build for me.

Every boy needs a brother to play with ;)