and celebrating Robert, our little baby boy

OK ... so the baby boy isn't never was so little. But he is our youngest and therefore, he was, is and will always be our baby boy. There are reasons he was our last child, not the least of which was his birth weight of 10 pounds. That alone was a good reason to quit. But to us, he was our precious little one, and was a delight to the entire family.

Robert with his PaPaw Ballew ... that man loved this baby boy. 

A jolly little baby ... I couldn't believe how good he was. 

Awww, isn't he adorable! Love the overalls. 

He wasn't too sure about this bearded man and

 didn't know why he had his arm around Mommy's waist.

But by this time, he realized that the bearded man brought cool toys. 

Sitting in the bearded man's lap isn't such a bad thing now.

Yes, the day before school pics, he had a skateboard accident.

He left a large portion of his face on the sidewalk in front of the neighbor's house.

But all grown up, he has forgotten about the skateboards.

He has found his beloved Kelly ... 

This is an "almost" family pic. 

You see, Libby hasn't come along yet.

Such a good daddy, he loves his girls. 

Emily enjoyed "hunting" with him.

 Robert and Autumn in the kitchen,

frying up some fish. Yum yum!

Robert with the final addition to his family,

Miss Liberty - a.k.a. Libby Bean!

I don't want to grow up

I'm a Toys-R-Us Kid

Ummm, too late, my son, too late.

Happy 30th Birthday

Robert Andrew McDonald

You're a big kid now!

Bunches, baby boy, bunches!

... and celebrating Ryan

Oddly enough, my children were born in order. Yes, I know all children are born in order, but all of our children were born in the month of July and after our first born has her birthday, then four days later Ryan (the second in line) has his birthday (and we'll discuss the third born child in six days).

So today, we're celebrating Ryan Wayne. He is my older son and shares his father's middle name.

He was always such a happy little guy ... 

love the dimple in his chin. 

That is something he inherited from his PaPaw Mc.

Quite the lady's man in this pic.

He is too cute!

This is one of my favorite "Santa" pictures. 

He had come a long way from the year when he screamed, 

"NO!!! Beki" as she was going up to sit on Santa's knee.

Don't think he ever really loved the baseball thing -- 

but check out those shoes.  

Those shoes ... yup, he really loved those shoes!

Thanksgiving 1997

 Engagement picture with the beautiful Jessica.

February 11, 2006

How special when your son marries the lady he thought he'd never meet.

The birth of Andrew Wayne - made Ryan a happy happier man!

Ryan's very own "Mini Me"

Aren't they a beautiful family!!!

Ryan, you are a blessed man.

From the precious baby I held and rocked ... to the little boy with the cuts and scrapes from bicycle and skateboard accidents ... through the emergency room visits from trampoline mishaps, fork lift encounters and shop class grinders ... then on to be the handsome young man ... watching you become the loving husband, father and all around good guy, I want you to know that you've given me much joy (and more than a few gray hairs). Through all of your years, I have delighted in you and love you more than words allow me to say.

Happy Birthday Ryan Wayne McDonald

Bunches!!!!!

and celebrating my first born

Ok ... so this is an event from "?" years ago.

(Don't know that Beki cares, but the number is her story to tell).

Home from the hospital and she's really ours.  Rules were so different then that it wasn't until we got home with her that we were actually able to enjoy her.  

Couldn't decide between these 2 pics ... so I pick them both!

Dig the 70's matching hairstyles!

The serious student pose.  

Happy Birthday Beki ... Love you Bunches!!!