Rocco Koi

ROCCO TURNS FOUR | TIFTON, GA

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Our sweet baby boy, Rocco Koi, is FOUR!!! Why is time flying by so fast??? This boy sure does keep us on our toes! A few days ago, I was sitting at our neightbor’s kitchen table and just happened to glance out of her window into my driveway, only to see Rocco walking by in his underwear! OMG! We live on a very busy road and we don’t let him go outside by himself. Also, we don’t want him outside in his underwear!! I bolted out of her house, ran across the street and scooped him up. “Rocco, why are you outside without us???” “I wanted you, momma.” And, my heart melted! He has no fear! He will do whatever it takes to find Trey or me. (P.S. He wasn’t home alone!! Trey was home but didn’t hear him open the door.) He also jumps off of EVERY. SURFACE. CONSTANTLY. I’m guessing this is a boy thing because neither of our girls did this. lol Also, before he jumps off, he will stand tall on whatever surface he’s on and say, “Hey momma, picture me!”

Currently his favorite saying is, “by ga’ way”. He will say things like, “That is my car, by ga’ way.” Or, “I love you, by ga’ way!” It’s so cute how he will add that to his sentences. His independence is growing and this makes me sad because my sweet baby boy doesn’t want me to hold him and love on him as much. He literally pushes me away and will say, “Okay, gat’s enough.” It makes me laugh and want to cry all at the same time!

Our night time routine has been the same since he was born and he still loves it! Every night I cradle that big boy in my arms and sing The Blessing followed by You Are My Sunshine. If I don’t, he will ask me to sing to him. He now knows all the words and sings with me.

While we were traveling, we celebrated his birthday in Tifton, Ga. on Tuesday, June 29th. We went to a bakery, Mi-Lady Bakery, and picked up some sweet treats and then headed to a coffee shop, Expresso 41, to celebrate and have lunch! We all got their famous burger, which was seriously the absolute BEST burgers we have ever eaten and also had to get a coffee - best coffee too!!! After we all feasted and enjoyed, we got out the treats and sang happy birthday to our fave boy! The coffee shop barista heard us singing to him and brought him a fun iced hot chocolate! We hung out at the coffee shop for two hours enjoying having a “living room” and then did some site-seeing in downtown Tifton. It’s such a beautiful town!

After that we headed back home and the girl’s gave Rocco the gifts they found him at The Zone Collectables & More, a vintage toy store. We didn’t have any wrapping paper, so the girl’s asked Rocco to close his eyes and then they would place their gift on the table in front of him and ask him to open his eyes. He peeked MANY times because he was just too excited and giggled like crazy. So cute!! The girl’s got him vintage MatchBox Cars - you know, the kind you aren’t supposed to removed from their original packaging! That didn’t last, nor were we about to explain that to him. He ripped open those packages so fast and immediately drove his new cars all over the table. He loved them!! They also got him baseball trading cards from 1987. He ripped them open and the girls started reading out the names of the players to him. In each pack of cards there was a piece of chewing gum. . . from 1987!!! Of course the kids all had to try it. EWWW! It was a powdery mess that got spit out pretty quickly but, hey, they had to try it!!

The first couple of photos of Rocco and I are from the night before he turned four. I wanted to squeeze our three year old baby boy and hold on to this moment forever. We love you so much Rocco Koi!!

 
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Rocco's Three Year Session | The Broken House, Social Circle, Ga.

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Y’all, isn’t he so perfect! I know I phrased that as if it were a question but really, that’s a southern statement!! ;)

This Sunday, after 125 days of not attending church due to the virus, we made our way back. It was so wonderful to walk through those doors and be greeted by my friends! Honestly, it doesn’t seem like I’ve missed out on much - other than human contact of course. Our church has done such a great job of keeping everyone connected through our online service and our pastor reaching out to check on us. It felt like we picked up where we left off.

After service, we headed over to the “Broken House”. We changed Rocco’s clothes and handed him all his tools he got for his birthday. He didn’t skip a beat, or ask any questions, he got straight to work!

And, he knew exactly what to do!

He talks about the Broken House all he time! He actually calls it the “BOken House”. That “R” is no where to found yet. He talks about how he wants to fix it. Today, we are having insulation done, so we knew we had to get him over to the house to get some work done. It was the cutest, most adorable thing to watch our sweet baby boy work on the broken house. Trey and I followed him around and just let him do his thing all while snapping tons of photographs. I’m over sharing it all because, well, I just need to document how adorable he is!

His sweet little dirty face. Those cute little knuckle dimples. That crazy blonde hair. All that baby squish! I can’t get enough of it! And, I know it won’t last forever. In my last blog post (click here), I shared how I love to pray over our babies. Since then, it hit me. . .I need to pray that God will show Trey and I how to raise our babies so that we are supporting His needs for them in this world. I don’t want to interfere with God’s Will for our babies. I want to raise them in a way that supports God’s Will for their lives.

The past 18 years of my life have flown by. . .Trey and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary this past July 4th. 18 years. It’s crazy how fast that came! Before we know it, we will have an 18 year old. Lord, please let us hold on to these babies as long as we can and raise them in a way that pleases you!

Okay, I’m done being a gushy mommy! Well, maybe! Check out that adorable tool belt!

 
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Rocco's Third Birthday Party | Construction Theme

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Oh, my sweet boy, Rocco Koi. How is time going by so fast? It seems as though we just celebrated your first birthday and here we are, you’re THREE!

Three is my fave age!! Nothing like a squishy baby that is somewhat independent, but able to communicate their wants and needs and still wants their mommy and daddy! Rocco is such a sweet heart! Every night when I put him to bed he asks me to sing him the sunshine song. You Are My Sunshine has been our song since he was born but, I recently started singing him the song The Blessing (link here, you have to listen to it!!). My friend Katelyn shared this song with me and I’ve been singing it every since! At first he wasn’t for it at all, as we had established our nightly routine and adding a new song was a big no for him. After a few weeks of signing it (plus the “Sunshine Song”), he is coming around to it.

I want my babies to be prayed over every single night! I want them to know just how much Jesus loves them. I want them to experience His peace! I want their family’s to be prayed over before they even exist. The song, “The Blessing” is all of that! ** insert super, ugly cry ** Getting to sing that to Rocco, Olivia and RyAnne every night, brings me to tears because I’m just so grateful to be able to do that for them!

Celebrating this sweet guy’s third year of life was so easy - we love you to the moon and back baby boy! Happy third birthday!!

To all of our friends and family that joined us - thank you for being a light in his life. We love you guys so much and we’re thankful to raise him with you in his life!

 
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P.S. Shout out to my sister-in-law, Chastin Padgett for the perfect cookies and cake! Rocco’s only request for his party were cookies and gonuts (doughnuts)! Check out her page Sweet Treats Cupcakery.

Rocco's First Birthday Party!! | Social Circle, Ga.

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I can't imagine yesterday being any more perfect!! Trey and I have been working our tails off getting the pool area ready for Rocco's first birthday celebration!!! It was pretty much overwhelming looking out and seeing this place filled with so many loved ones!!! The laughter and squeals of excitement from the kiddos made my heart burst with happiness!! The memories made with each of you as we celebrated our sweet boy, Rocco Koi, will forever be remembered! OH, and my Aunt Nikki (who lives in Kentucky) stopped by that morning for an hour or so and it was AMAZING to get to see her and introduce her to Rocco!!!

What a way to open the Robbins' Pool!!! 

Rocco had so much fun as I carried him from person to person letting them love on him! He would get a little shy and lower his head towards me. . .it was SO dang cute!! He warmed up though and had a blast! He loved playing in the pool with my brother's girlfriend, Kristi! They hung out on the sun ledge with the shade of the umbrella. Kristi's daughter Karli enjoyed feeding Rocco his bottle while relaxing in the swinging chair.

He loved holding everyone's hands!

While we sang happy birthday, he stared off and then got a little shy!! Once he started eating his cake and realized everyone was watching him, he got to giggling!! He's gonna be such a HAM!! He had so much fun that he completely skipped one of his naps!! And he is ALL about his naps! He just couldn't get enough of everyone!

My sister-in-law, Chastin, made Rocco's cupcakes - they were so dang good!!! You should go follow her on IG!! And my friend from high school Jamie Gooden ROCKED out the cookies!! Follow her here! My good friend, Arlissa Jones, grabbed my camera (several times during the day!) and took all the photos during his cake smash and the ones of just he and I - THANK YOU so much for doing that!

For the decor, I wanted to keep is simple! I went with green and white for the colors and found a cute greenery at Hobby Lobby that I just bought a bunch of and used it all over the place. I created the wreaths out of fabric circles and attached the greenery with craft wire. I have a list of vendors below for you in case you see something you liked!! I think I got them all. If you have any questions about any of the decor or food - ask away! ;)

Party Supplies + Food
Cupcakes, Sweet Treats Cupcakery, Chastin Padgett, Social Circle, Ga.
Cookies, Good-N-Sweet Treats, Jamie Gooden, McDounugh, Ga.
Greenery + Cake Stand, Hobby Lobby
Wooden Boxes, antiques I've collected over the years from family + antique shops
I served: white chocolate covered strawberries, fruit + veggie platters, Little Smokies (grape jelly and tangy BBQ sauce mixed in a crock pot), Chex mix + pretzels
My Swimsuit, TJMaxx
My Shorts, American Eagle (they used to be pants! lol)
My Sunglasses, Vera Wang
Rocco's Outfit, Target
Olivia's Swimsuit, Lolly Pops Boutique, Monroe, Ga.
RyAnne Swimsuit, Target

Thank y'all so much for joining us! We love you!!

 
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