Way Overdue

Okay so my best friend wanted to see some pictures of Emalyn walking so I thought I would bite the bullet and try to start posting again. Our computer was full of viruses for months so now that it is finally working again, I have no excuse. Here is my first attempt at keeping you all up to date....again. Rylan just turned 3 years old! Can't believe he is this big. He also just took his first trip to the dentist and did AWESOME! Here are a few pictures of him.

At his birthday party



With his new train set


Emalyn just turned 1 on October 27. My baby isn't really a baby anymore. Crazy how fast the time flies! Here are a few pictures of her. She started walking on Rylan's birthday, October 4th.

Birthday pancakes.

Walking everywhere! I love this expression on her face.

This was my rocking chair as a little girl. My mom gave it to me and I repainted it. I love that I have this to let her use and pass down if she has a little girl. Crazy to think that far into the future.

Check back soon for more fall pictures.

What We've Been Up To

For those of you that have more than one child, AND you keep your blog updated, I applaud you. How in the world do you find the time? Our lives are so busy, but right now, it is 8:00 a.m. and the kiddos are still asleep so I am attempting to catch you up on what we've been doing lately.

Rylan is starting to build actual buildings. . . not just really tall towers. He and I were both so proud of this one!

Emalyn loves her big brother so much! And now that she can play and interact with him a little more he gives her some attention. Here he is reading her his BIG TRUCK BOOK.

"Miss Priss" (my nickname for her) had a little trouble gaining weight from 4-6 months, just like Rylan. But when we started her on solids she has quickly added almost two pounds in just 6 weeks. I am making her baby food...and she loves it! She gets so excited when we put her in her chair to eat.

And here she is sitting up and playing. She is rolling all over the place too. And trying to scoot. So I think those last few pounds of baby weight that I still need to lose might be disappearing very soon.

Mee Mee bought Rylan this scooter, so of course he needed a helmet. The elbow and knee pads came with it, so....why not. He is so proud!

We took some of the high school students from Graystone Church to the Gwinnett Braves game, so of course we took Rylan with us. He had a blast. As we headed to our seats, one of the employees handed Rylan a ball that had been knocked out of the park during batting practice. What a fun souvenier!

When I ask Rylan to give Emalyn something to play with, he thinks she needs all of her toys. Has anyone seen Emalyn!

My new favorite toy! We try to walk every morning before it gets too hot. The only problem I have with this stroller is that Emalyn is in perfect grabbing distance of everything that Rylan has. He just doesn't understand that she just wants to love on him. I did look down the other day, though, and he was holding her hand. What a sweet brother!

One of Rylan's favorite things to do is talk on the phone. It doesn't matter who I am talking to, a friend, my mom, the insurance company. He wants to know who it is. And then he proceeds to tell me that he would like to talk to them. So here is a recent shot I captured of him talking to his Aunt Val. She calls just to talk to him.

Our first trip to the pool this summer. Emalyn loved the water!

My batteries were dying so I didn't get a great picture of Rylan. As soon as we got there I put a life jacket on him and let him walk around in the kiddie pool. Not 10 seconds later, I was jumping in after him because he was stuck face first in the water. So we took the jacket off and tried the water wings and float. He did much better. I am just thankful that he's not like his mommy when it comes to having courage. I was afraid he may not want to get back in the water. Instead, I had a difficult time getting him out.

Well, it is now 8:30 and both are still asleep. I shall say goodbye for now, and I will probably write again in about...let's see...I am averaging 3 months I think.

Snow Day

We had so much fun in the snow today. Rylan loved it.

He built a snowman, tried to make snow angels, and threw snowballs with Daddy.

Emalyn dressed up in her snowsuit too. Actually it was Rylan's but doesn't she look precious....kind of like Boo from Monsters Inc. I can just hear her saying "Mike Wizowski!"Here are some other pictures from the past month or so.

Emalyn in the dress I wore home from the hospital. Yes it's a little short.

Rylan's version of dress up. Anna Kate Lyon would not be impressed.

And here's what happens when I ask him to go put his shoes on.

And lastly...our little girl is trying out the Bumbo seat. She is getting so big!

Long Overdue

I have received several comments from friends and family that I have not updated the blog in awhile. Even though our transition from one to two children has been very easy, life is that much busier. We now have two children. So sitting down to update has not been a priority. The fact that I am sitting here now is a miracle in itself. It is 10:05 on Monday morning and both of my children are asleep...both children are also sick. ..... and now it is 6:15 as I am finally finishing this post. We went to the doctor today and Emalyn has an ear infection and we are still waiting to hear if she has RSV. She is absolutely pitiful. The doctor thinks that Rylan has pneumonia. Both are taking breathing treatments and antibiotics and Emalyn was prescribed a steroid. So please pray that healing will come to their little bodies very soon. We've had some tough nights here in the Mattox household. Below you will find LOTS of pictures from the past two months through today...just to catch you up.

I just had to include this picture. Rylan loves his little sister.

A sausage biscuit from McDonald's is a special treat!

So is a cupcake with chocolate icing.

Just in case you missed Rylan's Halloween costume.

Reading the paper.

Rylan used to fit in this car seat.
Three weeks old.

Pictures by Shawna Pinney. Check out Art and Shawna's site. You can find a link at the right.

Playing with Noah Odom.

Go Dawgs!

Fun with Wiki Sticks from Zaxby's.

Emalyn enjoying the swing.

So proud of his own special tree for his room. He decorated it all by himself.The star goes on top!

Our precious little girl in her Christmas dress.

And just for fun, here's a similar picture of Rylan when he was this age.Rylan with The Elf (aka Heath Hollandsworth)Family who came for Emalyn's dedication at church.Graystone Church staff and our babies.Mixing the dough for Christmas cookies.Cutting out the cookies.Enjoying the cookies.Hello!Our trip to A Stone Mountain Christmas.

Watching The Polar Express in 4D.

Getting ready to ride the train.

Mommy and Rylan on the train.

Daddy and Rylan on the train.

Playing with each other.

Our trip to see Santa Claus.

Ready to open presents.

Emalyn's cute little tobaggan.

Rylan and Emalyn's precious cousin Cohen.

Rylan got his own digital camera. Yes, it really does take pictures. Can you believe that?

After opening all the presents Christmas morning.

"Check out my new ride!"

Our sweet little girl.And our sweet little girl this afternoon after throwing up EVERYTHING all over Mommy and herself. The steroid didn't agree with her.

And this evening, here is Rylan showing what a big boy he is. He didn't fight this at all.

Hope you enjoyed our life in pictures.