Funnies

A conversation with my 5 yr old on a very hot, sunny day....

Mom: "Mackenzie, you smell like sweat!"

Kenz: "That's because it's freazing hot outside!"

Mom: "Freazing Hot?!"

Kenz: "Yep, Freazing HOT!"

Us

It's sunny today and I am happy! High of 69! The perfect weather. The kids and I walked to the park today - let me paint you the picture...I pushed the baby and Nate in the double stroller. Nate insisted on bringing his pull-along puppy, which he dragged off the side of the stroller half way to the park. It was cute - he thought he was walking him. When I asked him the puppy's name he said, "Dog!" Very original. :) Mackenzie got this awesome stroller from my cousin - it's just her size. Her other baby strollers are smaller, but this one seems made for a 5 yr old. Her new thing is to push one of her babies for our walk. (instead of riding her much-favored bicycle.) She's wearing her sunglasses from Disney World which are shaped like Minnie Mouse. She's pretty much awesome. (The Wilmore utilities man in his truck leaned out his window and told me I had a little movie star with me. ) We start talking as we push our babies - we talk about our upcoming trip to LA and what I should pack for our 3 picnic meals that we'll share while on the road. We talk about the sun. We talk about our green fingernails that we painted last night for St. Patty's day. About half way there I realize that God has given me such a great friend in Mackenzie. She was my walking partner today. That girl is just amazing!

At the park I pushed Nate in the swing. I did "under-dogs" for him and he giggled like only a 2 yr old boy can. It was music to my ears! Then, I saw a great moment in Nate. He leaned back in his swing - holding on to the ropes - and closed his eyes. Not for a quick shut-eye. He closed them for a long time and I could tell he was letting the sun beat down on him. I could almost see the sun filling up his soul. And I could see God showering his love on my little guy. It was a great moment - to know that my God is also Nate's God - filling him and shining his radiant heat on Nate's life.

Meanwhile, my sweet Addelyn enjoyed a little nap in her carrier. She's such a sweetie. She began rolling a few weeks ago! Not crazy rolling yet, but I'm sure it won't be long. She's growing too fast already. Slow down my baby girl!

We had a great weekend in Indianapolis visiting our friends, The Summers. Everyone had a great time playing with their respective friend. Mackenzie and Macy were inseparable. And, amazingly, they played really well - I don't think there were any arguments! Nate and Ava even did well. Ava doesn't take Nate's pushing - she just pushes right back! Exactly what my Nate needs sometimes. :) They are too cute together. And Addelyn is patiently waiting for her little friend to be born - any day now. Andrea and I shared some good conversation and even went to the coffee shop for a few minutes - alone! The guys got to watch a game together and spend some time catching up. It does our family well to be with them - where things are easy and life is fun! Thanks for letting us visit! If only we could get them to move back to Wilmore...

I'm going to enjoy the rest of this sunny day! I'm going to open my windows and breathe in life! Spring is near - a time of new growth! I can hardly wait!

Nato

Yesterday Nate was full of mischief. I was sitting at the kitchen table doing homework with M when I felt a cool breeze. After some inspection, I found the front door wide open and Nate on the front porch looking at the fish in our little pond. He found no fault in what he had done...but he did kindly tell me that Lilly had run off. You're not supposed to let Lilly run out the front door Nate! (Don't worry, I didn't chase after Lilly, but she came home pretty quickly on her own.) I must have forgotten to bolt the door.

Then later, we went to play in the front yard. Our first chance to play outside without getting bundled up in a loooong time! It felt great. We had to come in to get Addelyn and feed her. I noticed Nate chewing on a small rock. While trying to convince him to get the rock out of his mouth, he kept saying "gum!" I kept telling him it was a rock. He finally spit it out...and I'm ashamed to say that he was right. gross. He picked gum up from outside. I don't know who's it was or how long it had been out there! sick. sick. sick.

Am I ready?

Mackenzie today after getting home from school: "We played outside today Mom!" (a big deal this winter!)

Me: "Oh fun! What did you do?"

Kenz: "The boys were trying to chase me and two other girls. We'd hide and when we saw them we'd get out and run!"

Oh my! I'm so not ready for this. Sure, it's all innocent now. But before long it won't be. My little baby keeps growing! I haven't shared this with Ryan yet...he seems to die a little everytime he hears of "incidents" with boys. ;)

At our house...

Sleep is not coming easy. I think all 3 kids are going through transitions at the same time. They all have colds, which I'm sure is affecting their normal sleep patterns. Nate has been staying up until 9pm and getting up at 6am. M has been doing a similar pattern. And there have been a few nights that Addelyn has kept us up most of the night - quite unusual. I am thankful that this is not the norm at our place. I hope it won't be long before we are back to our peaceful, sweet dreams!

My favorites

My grandparents are two of my favorite people in the world. When I was little I wouldn't beg to go to Disney World or to the beach. I begged to go to Jennings, Louisiana. It's there that I'd find acres of land to play on, cousins to laugh with, and most importantly, two people who loved me unconditionally and taught me life-long lessons. Ryan, me, and Mackenzie had the pleasure of living with my Mimi and Papa for a year before we moved to Kentucky. When we decided to move they were so supportive. They encouraged us to step out and go, even when we were nervous. (And even when this meant pulling little Mackenzie away from them!) Ryan and I learned so much from them that year. I admire the friendship that Mimi and Papa have. They know how to love each other. This picture was taken the day we left Jennings to move to Kentucky.

Here's my little two year old Mackenzie. She really is best friends with Mimi. My girl loves her great-grandma. To this day, she asks about her Mimi and Papa and wants to go visit.

Here is Papa in "his" chair. Growing up I remember sitting in his chair while Papa would be outside or doing something. The minute he walked in the room we'd jump out of his chair so he could sit. We wouldn't dare take it from him...even though he would have let us sit there. :) Mackenzie loved (and still loves) to sit with Papa. Here he is looking at a picture with Mackenzie...this one also taken when we lived there in 2005.

My two kiddos with Papa - summer 2007. My Papa once told me that when he can't sleep at night he starts to recite all of his children's names. He says that always makes him tired. :) He has 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and (so far) 18 great-grands.

These two fellas are up to no good - I'm sure of it!!

Yesterday my Papa had emergency surgery to correct an Aortic Aneurysm. I sat by my phone all day waiting for phone calls. Each time the phone rang I cringed inside. Cousins called, sisters called, my mom called. We are a family that prays. We were all praying. I asked God to let us keep this gift a bit longer. So far, he has answered that prayer. I hope to let him meet his 18th Great-Grandchild someday soon - Addelyn Marie.

He is doing very well actually. He's 85 years old and very healthy. He's so strong! He'll be in ICU at least for a week and recovery time after that will take a while.

I love my Mimi and Papa and am so blessed to have them!! For now though, I am begging to go to Jennings, Louisiana.

Six weeks ago...

Six weeks ago our lives changed, for the better. I can't believe Addelyn has been in our lives for 6 weeks. And at the same time I can't believe that she has only been in our lives for 6 weeks!

I weighed her this morning - 11.6 lbs. Not too shabby! ;)

Today Ryan brought her to me in her diaper. I got to nurse this tiny, soft skinned, sleepy newborn in only her diaper. It was sweet to watch her and hold her.


Mackenzie came in as I finished and saw that I was holding her naked. Her response, "Mom, I haven't held her naked yet." This, of course, is not true. (see picture below of M bathing baby!) But, Mackenzie always says things like this. If she's in a new onsie or even new socks...M just likes to hold this baby!


At dinner I was holding sweet Addelyn and Nate came over to check her out. He climbed up too and peeked at her, offering her a paci and a few kisses. When Addelyn unknowingly flung her hand in his face he thought it was the funniest thing in the world!


I took the older two to the library today and left Ryan at home with Addelyn. This was a big deal because Daddy was watching the Texas Tech Cotton Bowl game. (Bad results...don't ask Ryan about it) Ryan loooves to watch football with his newborns. He enjoyed sitting and holding the sleepy sweetie and cheering on his Raiders. Ryan was happy to have that opportunity today!


I sit here at my computer in the kitchen listening to the hubs bathe the older two in the tub. They are all three laughing, like always. I hear thuds every now and then, but they must be having fun. My newborn is asleep on the couch, sacked out. Not a care in the world. Her tummy is full and life is good.




Addelyn, may you always keep your simple approach to life and always know that you are LOVED!