Emma

When Emma was young we always called her the peacemaker...now as she got older that wasn't always true (just ask her siblings). She was the child that would drive me absolutely crazy, yet could also always make me laugh...it's how she got herself out of trouble a lot I'm afraid to admit. She was stubborn...I used to joke and say "When Emma was good she was very very good, but when she was bad she was horrid." Where Becca and I would have it out with one another one minute and then all would be forgotten 15 minutes later...Emma on the other hand...oof she was hard! When she started to argue with you you just want to give in, because you knew you were in for the fight of your life!

Emma has always been tough, and a girl you could count on. If something needed to be done, she could do it. I have watched her in parking lots go up to people and help them load their heavy groceries...not because they asked, but because she saw a need and knew she could fill it. Once when Seely was around seven the kids were playing outside...Seely was hanging from the door of a dog kennel, and I will never understand how, but he swung his leg and impaled it on the door latch. I was inside, so while Linnie(I think) came in to get me Emma had to lift Seely up and proceeded to push his leg off the latch. I will never know how she did that, but goodness I'm thankful she did...because I don't know what I would have done. By the time I came out of the house and saw him I was panicked enough. The latch had gone all the way to the muscle area! A trip to the children's hospital, and a bunch of stitches later we were back home. Emma has always just known how to take care of things. Since Emma was little she has loved horses...I never understood it...my grandparents had cattle, but we were never around horses! We used to joke that she was just born with horses in her blood. When she was 3 Santa brought her a "FurReal pony" she named him Trigger...she loved him...he lives in the attic now, but I seem to recall a night when she was in high school that she and Ava (Ava had one named Pepper) brought down Pepper and Trigger and rode them in front of the TV while watching a horse race on youtube...Pepper and Trigger were fast! For years Emma asked for a real horse...in fact for one of her birthdays we took one out on trial...she was so excited, but the horse wasn't a good fit for us so we had to wait and try again. She took riding lessons for years, and through that met the most wonderful people that are still a part of our lives today. She did horse camps during the summer, volunteered at the barn, anything she could do to be around these animals she loved. It was at the barn that Butterscotch and Quigley (along with nnumerous other horses) became part of our lives. (I completely forgot that Becca took up horseriding for a short while...I'll include a picture of her with Butterscotch) When Emma was in 4th grade we started school at PCAL...school wasn't her favorite, but she survived it. She was more interested in being outside or at the barn. It was through PCAL that she met Ava. Those two became fast friends because of their mutual love of...can you guess...horses! Not long after Ava went from best friend to sister, and changed our lives and our family for the better. We had been in 4-H (remember the chicken debacle) and through that we learned that there was a program where she could raise and train a foal! She worked so hard to get things ready. She went and looked at the foals and fell in love with one. It was a family affair getting him home. Zac, Kiki, Jess, Kyle, Bella and Poppy all helped clear land and get the fence built. Poppy brought his truck and trailer down, and they went and brought the new foal home. Emma named him Chief. The night Chief came home Emma and Ava took camp chairs out to the pasture and sat there half the night with him...I think they would have slept out there. Chief was the absolute best foal. He had personality, he was sweet, beautiful...soon we were all in love. Sadly Chief passed away from a bad case of colic, and we were all devestated. A few months later we tried again...this time with a full grown rescue horse we named Oakie. Oakie is as stubborn as a mule. I remember after we first got him, she would be on him trying to ride and he would just stand there...I can't tell you how many times I heard "Mom, he doesn't work!" Oakie is still with us today...he still doesn't work...in fact I'm pretty sure Oakie thinks he's a dog and would come in the house if we let him (I've actually seen him try and climb the back steps) All through junior high and high-school Emma babysat for different families. She's great with kids (sometimes I think she's kind of mean haha) but kids (and parents) absolutely adore her. Once she graduated from highschool she got a job as a para at our local elementary school. She worked there for one school year. Today she is happily married, and expecting our first grandbaby!! A baby girl due in just a couple weeks! We are so excited, and I am so thankful that she has a wonderful, loving, and supportive husband, who is willing to let her have her dream of staying home with baby Parker. I am so so proud of Emma and Corbin, and am so excited for this family and life they are building.

Time Flies-Becca Edition

I truly wish I had kept up with this, It's such a great way to record memories, and I love looking back...but I didn't...so I'm going to attempt to write a summary of each kid. Things will be left out, I'm sure of it, but I'll do my best. Some day I hope my kids are able to find this, and maybe remember some of these things...and know how they have always been my greatest blessing. Becca...Becca did dance for a little while (I blogged about some of that...it was a love hate relationship) As a child she was creative, so smart, strong willed, and incredibly dramatic! She loved crafts (I do not). she enjoyed learning...but wanted to learn about what she chose and on her terms. She was never easily pushed around...I remember a time during Bible School, all the little girls fought to sit next to her, and she did not care...it annoyed her. I didn't understand it, they all wanted to be her friend, she could have been the "popular" one, but she was not interested in the least. She did everything on her terms...and please do not crowd her lol. Ohh the dramatics with this one...There are so many stories, (and truthfully not much has changed) Once (acutally pretty sure this happened more than once) she fell and skinned her knee, don't get me wrong...I'm sure it hurt...but she decided she couldn't walk for days.

Although she's dramatic, and has been known to panic over small things, she is also calm and a voice of reason when big things happen. When Seely was a baby, and Emma was almost 5 she was bitten by our dog...I was in Seelys room changing him whe I heard it, and as I came out the door, Emma was walking down the hallway blood covering her face...I honestly wasnt sure if she had an eye there was so much blood. She was in shock, I couldn't think...I remember pulling her to me, then realizing I had to get Seely off the changing table before he fell, then realizing I had no idea where I had laid my phone...I don't remember panicking outwardly, but inside I was absolutely frantic. Becca would have only been 6 years old, she said Mom, I'm going to go get Aunt Carol to call Dad (why didn't I think of that...I have no idea) She walked to Aunt Carol's, who then came over and started the process of calling Josh, and the ambulance. I remember Becca saying, we just need to pray Mom...so we did that too. I will never forget how proud I was of her in that moment. She knew what we needed to do, but more importantly she knew who we need to call out to in times of trouble. Emma ended up with a nasty scar...but that's for her story:) Another example of Becca's calmness during medical emergencies came when she was a teenager. Our house was full of kids, I was cleaning, and all of a sudden I didn't feel right. My heart was beating fast, too fast, and I felt as if i might pass out. I remember making my way to Becca's room and sitting on her bed. She immediately knew something was wrong, so I told her..."I'm not sure what's happening...and I may pass out...but I think I need to go to the hospital." We of course called Josh (because he's always our first phone call) Becca then helped get me to the car and drove me to the fire station (it was quicker than waiting for the ambulance to find our house) I was so worried about her seeing me like that (honestly there was a part of me that thought I might be dying and was terrified of scarring her for life) Becca was calm, and did exaclty what she needed to do to take care of me. (not her story, but just to close it up...my heart rate was 263 BPM, they wound up transporting me to the hospital where I was diagnosed with SVT.)

We homeschooled up until Becca was in 6th grade. At that point she told me she wanted something else, we found a small private homeschool/private school hybrid, PCAL. I was so worried about Becca starting there...she has always been so strong willed, that I wasn't sure she wouldn't walk out of the classroom if she didn't like it lol. This school turned out to be one of the best things we did. During our time here Becca decided she would like to join the swim team in Conroe (she's always loved the water) She tried out and made it, attended practices, and then at the first meet was like nope, this is not for me (insert crying eyes here) Me, being the mean mom I am, have always told my kids when we commit to something we finish it out...and this was no different. So for the entire season, I tortured myself and her by dragging us to the meets where she never competed...but we got our volunteer hours in. It was legitametly torture...A summer of sitting outside in the Houston Texas heat! But you know what...the kids are grown now, and not a one is a quitter! (in fact sometimes they have to remind me...Mom Parker's aren't quitters, if we've committed we finish)Yea, Yea, Yea.

Today Becca is still dramatic, and very strong willed...she is also one of the smartest, most creative, amazing person, ever. She can do literally anything she puts her mind to...and she's self taught! (cause Lord knows I am not creative) She draws and paints with watercolor, she sews, she crochets, she has gorgeous handwriting...gosh, I really could go on and on. After graduating high-school she started taking online college classes and working. She got a job at an elementary school as a paraproffesional and absolutely flourished. She is amazing with kids (especially special ed and those with behavior issues) She loves with her whole heart...gosh she makes me proud.

Wedding Time?

Something I haven't mentioned is last year Emma and Corbin got engaged...we began planning a wedding, because that's what I wanted...and if it's what I wanted then surely it's what my daughter wanted too! Wrong. She tried to tell me, but I didn't listen...not really anyways. They married on their own, no wedding... but allowed us to throw them a reception...and it was perfect...rain and all. It's not the way I would have planned things, it wasn't what I wanted for them. I wanted the big wedding, the dress, the cake, the guests... I wanted to give them what Josh and I had... but guess what...they're not us. Oof that was hard for me to accept, but when I finally did the end result was perfect. We decided to have the reception up at my parents, Bella and Poppy's, they rented a large tent (in case it rained Bella said...she's smart like that) The week before the reception the rain chances were astronomical...we need a plan B everyone said (this sounded very familiar... same thing happened at my wedding) Emma said nope,(also familiar) I want the reception at Bella and Poppys...so we pushed on. The night before the reception the tent was delivered...it was perfect! We set it up in front because we wanted closer to the house ... you know...just in case it rained

Morning of comes...rain chances are still high, but the sun is out and it's gorgeous...we work all day to get everything set up. We have the best family, Emma's in-laws, and Mrs. Debbie and Camille... who are family, but deserve special recognition because they pulled everything together

Guests begin arriving...sun is still out, but it's getting a little cloudy. We are told that it looks like a storm is headed right towards us...but maybe it'll just go around...right? Wrong. We rushed everyone into the tent just in time for the sky to open. I'm smiling as I type this, because we could have let it ruin the day...but the guests were good sports, and my family...well, we aren't scared of a little rain! ok...it may have been more than a little... and there may have been a moment that I thought we might end up on the 6:00 news. "wedding reception turns tragic when lightening strikes." Thankfully that didn't happen. Everyone seemed to enjoy the soggy food, the kids loved playing in the rain, and the adults seemed to enjoy visiting. It was a perfect, memorable day...everything I could have hoped for for Corbin and Emma.

I get it… I’m behind!

The puppy post that just posted was written back in February, but I couldn't figure out how to add the pictures so I never published. Now here we are in June, and well... there's a lot to catch you up on! I guess this can be an update on the puppies. All 6 found wonderful homes... I told yall we weren't keeping any! True to my prediction, it was bittersweet... tears were shed...a lot of tears! Thankfully we still get updates every now and then from a few of them...it makes my heart happy that they are so well loved:)

That last picture...that's Runt today (I can't recall his new name) the tiny puppy that i wasnt sure would make it, the one who I prayed over, cried over, sang over... he's doing great! oh..and he got his Dads ears藍

2026 so far

So...our dog Indy was violated by a stray (whom we named Fred) and wound up pregnant. It should have never happened, Indy was older, and had never had a litter of pups before. January 7th we woke up to a pup, and by that afternoon there were 6! Indy still didn't seem like herself, but she was being a great mom, and continued to be a great mom until Saturday the 10th. That morning, we let her out and she came and hung out with the family, everything seemed normal...actually she seemed more normal than she had the previous days. Then she got onto the couch, let out 3 haunting howling barks, and died. It was awful, traumatic, unforgettable....something I will never be able to un-hear. I took those howls as her telling me to take care of her puppies...so for almost 4 weeks now that's what I've been doing.

Who knew bottle feeding puppies could be so stressful! Not me! I think along with the bottle feeding, it's just that I felt such a responsibility to make sure they survived. I tell my church kids all the time that they can pray for anything, sometimes I giggle when they pray for things like pets and bumps and bruises...but guess what I've prayed for a lot lately? Yep, these puppies!

I was sure I was losing Runt a couple of weeks ago. He had stopped eating, was super lethargic, and would just cry and cry and cry. No matter what I did he wasn't happy. I slept on the couch most of the night holding him, singing Jesus loves the little puppies, and praying and crying over him. God answered my prayers, and slowly he began getting better...and here we are at almost 4 weeks, and you would never even know that he was the runt! Oh! Then to top it all off (as if I wasn't stressed enough) they came down with ringworm! After a hefty vet bill, oral medicine, and a cream, I think they're finally on the mend. There's been a lot of sanitizing happening ... because Eww!!!

Today we start them on "real" food...I'm pretty excited about that. We've gone from feeding every 2 hours (yes, even through the night) to 3 hours, and now we are at every 4 hours. I'm not going to know what to do when I'm finally able to get a full night of uninterrupted sleep!

A few more weeks and they will begin making their way to their new homes...I know it will be bittersweet...and I'll probably shed some tears...but they're all going to great homes (Ava has made sure of that!) I like to think that I've made Indy proud...and she is irreplaceable (meaning she will not be replaced) I think we are getting out of the pet business...moving onto grandkids...more on that later!

Treasures

Every time I go to visit Mom and Dad I am sent home with some sort of "treasure" what that actually means is Mom wants stuff out of her house, but can't bring herself to throw anything away...so it comes home with me! Sometimes the treasures don't even leave my car and go straight to the donation bin...shhhh...but every now and then something comes along that I love. A sweet book, craft stuff for my classroom, random pots/pans/bowls, a beautiful pink 3 tier candy dish thing that belonged to my Great Grandmother(now that's a treasure!!) Last weekend I came home with a bag of "goodies," as I pulled things out I came across a puzzle box...now if you know me you know that this girl does not do puzzles...at all. Don't be giving me puzzles or plants... if you know, you know. This puzzle box had something written on it...and when I saw it it almost took my breath away. That wasn't just anyones handwriting...that was my Granny's writing. "Dress I wore to Charis's wedding" was scrawled across the top of the box...I could picture the dress before I even opened the box. A chartreuse colored sheath dress with a short sleeve jacket. I opened the box and carefully took the dress out, and immediately brought it to my face...as if maybe that box had preserved some of her smell. My wedding day was one of the best days of my life, outshined only by the births of our children. We chose to have our wedding at my grandparents house. We (really they) worked for a year getting everything ready. My grandparents were so excited that I chose to have my special day on their property ... but it also stressed my Granny out just a bit. She needed me to have a "plan B" because "What if it rains, Charis!?" to which I told her plan B was an umbrella, and rain boots, because there were two things I was sure about ... who I was marrying, and where I was getting married...nothing else mattered to me. The day before the wedding she informed me, that she did in fact reserve her church..."just in case" ..."Oh Granny," I giggled, "I'm getting married right here." so... they (my family) started praying...there was a chance for rain, and I guess they didn't want to get wet...becuase I really didn't care! The day turned out to be gorgeous, complete with butterflies flittering around, or so I'm told...I don't remember the specifics, just that it was the most perfect day, because I was with the one I loved, surrounded by friends and family, at my most favorite place in all the world...Granny and Grendaddys. I got off track a bit (that happens pretty often) back to the dress. I never realized the significance of that color until yesterday. I love Fiesta dishes (Granny did too) and for my registry those are the dishes I asked for...I still use those dishes 23 years later. One of my most favorite colors in those dishes was the lime green/chartreuse color...that of course was discontiued at that time. Granny liked that color too, and kept her eye out to find me some. I don't know if she thought about that when choosing her dress, but when I realized that today it meant something to me. More than that though, I realized how special that day had to have been to her...special enough to put that dress in a box, label it, and save it... I never knew that I would want that dress, but what a treasure it is!!

The Mom

I don't know what possessed me, but I pulled up the old blog, and thought...it might be weird... but I think I want to start up again. When pulling it up I came across an old draft that I never published...apparently this isn't the first time I thought I would start this up again! This post still rings true today...although much has changed, and my children (we added one, that's her story though...and a story for another day) are all older. I still get to parent Seely, but the days of "parenting" the girls are pretty much over. We've reached the age where we get to be friends...and as much as I miss the days when they were younger, this age is pretty fun too! Here's the draft from years ago (and the piece of paper in question is still one of my treasured possessions) Who knows, maybe 2026 is my year to start writing again...if anyone in blog land is reading this,don't hold your breath...but maybe check back, because...who knows! ***************************** Written in 2020************ It's been years since I have written...and I could try and explain or catch the blog up but...I'm not, at least not today. So... on the side of my fridge hangs a picture, and it is one of my most favorite things ever. I am not sure which kid colored it for me, or even when the act of vandalism took place. At one time this picture said "Happy Mother's Day To the Best Mom"...a few years ago I was doing something and happened to notice this picture hanging on the fridge. What caught my eye was the black mark in the middle of this colorful picture, so I took a closer look. What I found was that I was no longer the best....I was now just "The Mom." Now, for some this may have hurt their feelings, maybe made them sad... but for me... oh man I laughed... and I laughed hard. Who did I make so mad that they went out of their way to find a black crayon and deface this picture! That picture still hangs on the side of my fridge and everytime I notice it I still chuckle. Over the years though it has come to mean something more. First... I'm not meant to be my kids friend, sure I want them to be able to come to me, I want them to know that I'll always be here for them, but I'm not their friend, I'm their parent... the authority figure...and they aren't always going to like the decisions I make ... sometimes they are going to dislike them so much that they will dislike me... and I will become just "the mom." Two: I'm not the best mom, shoot, somedays I'm barely "the mom," and you know what, thats ok. i want my kids to know that we mess up, we make mistakes, and that's ok...what matters is that we keep trying, we dont give up... even if we aren't the best we are still important, we are still somebody to someone...even if its just "the mom."

I Am Not A Farmer!

Earlier in the year we decided to join 4-H, Becca is in 3rd grade now so this was the first year she could participate. We had big plans, cooking, photography and chickens. Yep you heard me right...chickens! Funny thing happened, we got busy, life happened, and somehow we skipped out on the cooking and photography...but we still got the chickens. Thursday Feb. 21 we get the phone call to come pick up our 50 chicks (that was the smallest amount we could order), so I head to the fairgrounds with the kids. First we stopped by the store to buy a large plastic tub... I was sure they would laugh at me for only having the one tub, because, well 50 chicks thats alot! They would have laughed alright...apparently chicks are small, like super small, they had them all crammed in this tiny box ready to travel haha. I knew I was in trouble when we walked in to get them and they start sifting through the box to check them and record their tag numbers... the first chick they pulled out had a broken leg, then the second chick they pulled out had...ahem...expired, pretty sure I wanted to run out the door right then...without the chicks, but we didn't, we packed them up and headed home. We get the chicks home and because they are so small and the weather is still cold here at night we chose to keep them in our "office"...ok I can't lie the "office" is actually called the "junk room" around here. So here we are with 50 chicks in a tub, what could go wrong? Day 1, the girls are loving them they are so small and sweet, the kids hold them and help feed them etc. Day 2 more of the same, we did lose one chick but the kids didn't notice, and we didn't tell them. By the evening of day 2 the girls are starting to lose interest. Then came day 3...We woke up to another dead chick. The girls were super sad so I sent them out and tried to figure out what to do with this chick... I look around the room and find a large chic-filet cup (I didn't catch the irony of this until many days later) I scoop the chick up, I put him in a box and set it in the closet for Josh to dispose of when he got home. By this time the girls have decided that chickens stink and are gross (both statements are quite true). They continue to help me take care of them, only now it's because I force them too haha. Day 4 we are cleaning out the tubs, feeding etc when I notice chirping coming from somewhere other than the tub. I send the girls out and listen closer....No, it can't be! The chirping is coming from the box with the "dead" chicken! This poor chicken had been without food, water and heat....closed up in a box overnight and was ALIVE! Apparently I can't tell a live chick from a dead chick....now do you see why I am not a farmer!

Where did the time go

So I was thinking I could just start posting again, but when I realized how much time had passed since my last post I felt kind of silly. I could tell you about my day yesterday but you would go from a post about a sweet 10 month old Seely to a post about a rambunctious 2 year old. Wow time really does fly! I'm not sure why I havent posted in the last almost 2 years...we have definitely been incredibly busy but more than anything we have just been enjoying a calm normal life, nothing blog worthy I guess. Then I realized when I started this blog it was for me to record daily...weekly....ok monthly sometimes memories:). When I look back on my posts I am so happy that I have those memories written down because as time passes I seem to forget those sweet, funny and sometimes sad memories. I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm back!!! I would love to go back and do a review in pictures maybe of life in the past 2 years but that will have to come later, for now I'm just going to jump back in! I feel that I should give a disclaimer, I will be writing these posts whenever I have a few minutes to sit down, so please do not expect them to be perfect...I write like I talk, there will probably be many run on sentences and in case you haven't noticed I use a lot of ellipsis....and yes I had to ask Josh what the correct name was for those, he's so smart:) So ready or not let's jump back in, I wonder how long it will take before I post again!

I Scream...

You Scream....We all Scream for icecream!!! Well atleast my kids did this past weekend! As many of you know my sister and her best friend own a photography business.... Hard 2 Hold photography....they take some amazing pictures. They have taken pictures of my kids for a while now and when they decided to start doing it proffessionaly I was pretty excited. Keelie came to me and asked what I thought of the name Hard 2 Hold.....hmmm I wasn't really sure it fit. You see when I think of something that is hard 2 hold.. weird, funny and crazy are a few of the words that come to mind to describe that phrase. Well after watching these girls this past weekend I now realize that the name fits them perfectly! These girls will do absolutely anything to get a smile out of your kids....absolutely anything to get that perfect, treasure for a lifetime picture....even if they look Hard to Hold doing it! :-) We love you Kiki and Jess!!!
Now scroll down to the next post and enjoy our Icecream pictures....and if you love them as much as I do (and I know you will) Call and schedule a session with Hard 2 Hold photography! I promise you won't regret it!

Hard -2- Hold Photography - Blue Bell Series

Just like me

What do you do with three kids when you are stuck in the house on a cold rainy day? You could bake some yummy banana muffins,


make a mess with some homemade playdough,



put together a castle...


yes, these seem like fun things! Or while Mommy is out of commission feeding your baby brother on the couch you could.... find a pair of scissors and give your doll a haircut. Then upon your mom discovering said doll and asking you about it, you could say...."well Mom I wanted my baby to look just like me!"

Tooth Fairy

We had a first time visitor at our house this past week! The tooth fairy! Becca finally lost her first tooth... its been loose since before Christmas, and she finally wiggled it enough to make it fall out. When it came out her response was wow that tooth was small! the Tooth fairy brought her money and left a toothbrush under her pillow and Emmas. Let me tell you there has been some inflation since the tooth fairy last visited me...I'm going to hate to see what the price of a tooth is when Seelys losing them! Becca already has another loose tooth, and Emma has been working really hard wiggling hers trying to find a loose one!

4 months

Seely you are 4 months old, I can't beleive how fast you are growing! I think we have finally figured out what was making you so fussy, we have started you on zantac twice a day for reflux and put you on soy formula when you have bottles and I have cut out dairy from my diet. Since we have done these things you are a different baby, so much happier and content. You are in your 3-6 month clothes now and next time I buy diapers I will be getting size 2. You have started laughing and smiling a lot more, and your sisters will do absolutely anything to get a laugh out of you. You enjoy sitting in your walker and your sisters enjoy pushing you and giving you tours of the house. :-) I am pretty sure you are going to be left handed like your Daddy, you use your left hand alot more than your right when you are ging to grab your toys. You are so amazing and we are loving watching you grow and change!

Christmas

2010 Christmas was a great one, we were so thankful to finally have another sweet baby to share it with! Christmas Eve was spent in Huntsville, we went caroling although only to a couple houses... it was much to cold and rainy to be out. Santa was good to the kids this year... I'm pretty sure he's always good to them but earlier this month when I was given Christmas lists I was told by Becca she would prefer me to get her gifts because Santa didn't always give her what she asked for! :-) We left Granny's Christmas afternoon loaded down, not sure how we all fit in the car! We then went to Gran and Papaws where once again the kids loaded up with a lot of fun stuff. We then enjoyed yummy breakfast for dinner which could be onew of my favorite traditions! Then just like that Christmas was over and I was left with a houseful of stuff to find a place for :-)

3 months!!!

Seely, you are now three months old... it's crazy how fast time flies! So what are you up to these days? We finally got to the doctor for your 2 month checkup the other day, we were late because you had a cold when you were actually supposed to go. You now weigh 12 pounds and are in the 25th percentile for your weight, which is up from the fifteenth you were when you were born. Where you really grew was in your height, you went from I believe the tenth percentile to the nintyth.... and are now 25 inches long! I knew you were getting big :-) You have started to smile and every now and then we will get a laugh! You talk a-lot, and you love to have conversations with your sisters... funny they know just what you are saying.... the other day Emma was talking to you and she says "Seely do you want to watch sissy eat some chocolate?" then I hear "Momma Seely said yes! He wants me to eat some chocolate!" I can't imagine that would be to much fun watching someone else eat candy, but whatever :-) The doctor also gave you a prescription for zantac, she thinks you may have reflux... I agree and am hoping this will make you feel better. We love you so much and are looking forward to your first Christmas!

What really happens

So this is what really happens!
Josh wakes me up to tell me bye as he leaves for work...I don't want to get out of bed. I hear the girls already awake, they sound like they are playing nicely... I know this means they are making a mess somewhere.
I roll out of bed... because Seely needs his diaper changed, I quickly brush my teeth. forget about makeup and clothes...Seely wants to eat and so do the girls.
The children all wake up happy... well they have been awake for a while now and although they usually wake up happy...after they have been up for awhile the fighting begins.
We actually usually do make breakfast together...this of course makes a big mess...I just add it to the dishes that I did not wash the night before. We get ready to start our school day...the girls got dressed on their own when they got up... they usually don't match...I fight the urge to scream and just go with it:-)
If I did scream they probably wouldn't hear me over their screaming baby brother anyways.
We sit down for school, grumbling the whole time about how they never get to play... mean momma is a phrase I hear throughout the day. Seely sits in his swing...for five minutes, then I am bouncing him again, and trying to teach school. Did I mention all the grumbling going on :-)
Lunch time comes and I throw together some peanut butter sandwiches, except all the knifes are dirty so I have to wash a few dishes really quickly, this does not even make a dent in the pile of dishes in the sink... the girls sit down to eat, I stand bouncing Seely and trying to get a bite in my mouth.
We finish school just as Daddy gets home at two....well finished except the part we skipped because I just couldn't take any more of the grumbling. He walks in to peanut butter smeared faces, and a house that looks like a tornado may have come through.
I cook soup for dinner because I can throw it all in one pot, we eat, the girls take their baths after being told no less than ten times to do so. They then clean their room while I stand in their room bouncing Seely and directing them as to what needs to be picked up.
We read a story say our prayers and the girls go to bed... while Daddy or I lay between them staring at the ceiling waiting for them to fall asleep.
Mommy and Daddy spend the evening taking turns holding Seely, and attempting to restore some order to the house.
10:00 comes, we get ready for bed... oh wait I'm still in my pajamas, well that was easy :-) As I fall into bed I hear Seely waking up... I move to the rocking chair to feed Seely my head soon drops...I wake up and wonder why the side of Seelys onesie is wet as I wipe the back of my hand across my drooling mouth...Don't judge:-) just being honest!

A day in the Life of.....I wish!

In my dreams this is how a perfect day in our life would go!
I wake up when Josh is getting ready for work, the kids are all in their own beds still asleep.
I have a minute to get my teeth brushed, put on makeup, get out of pajamas and into decent clothes.
The children all wake up happy! We make breakfast together and get ready to start our school day.
We sit down for school, seely sits in his swing, everyone is happy and can't wait to learn something new... no one is screaming...did I mention how happy everyone is :-)
Lunch time comes and I make something delicious in a clean kitchen... we all sit down together to eat.
We finish school just as Daddy gets home at two.... he walks in to clean smiling faces, and of course the house is spotless.
I cook a wonderful meal for dinner, we eat, the girls take their baths, and then clean their room with no prompting from me.
We read a story say our prayers and the girls go to bed... on their own
Mommy and Daddy spend the evening talking about our day,watching some tv and spending time enjoying Seely.
10:00 comes, we get in bed ready to start our day again tomorrow!

Do you believe me? Well stay tuned... I'll tell you what really happens!

2 months

Wow I can't believe Seely is already 2 months old!
Seely what are you up to these days? You still sleeps quite a bit although not that much in your bed... you loves to be held! You like music, and you love to be sung to. We are practicing for the Christmas cantata at church and you really like when I put on my cd to listen to. You like tummy time, which is weird because your sisters hated it when they were babies! You are eating every two to three hours during the day but usually only wake up twice during the night. I can not believe how much you have grown in two months, you have your well baby checkup next week and I can't wait to find out your stats!
You have come into our lives and completely turned them upside down and we would not have it any other way...we love you so much and thank God that he blessed us with you :-)