Happy First Birthday!!!

Yes, it's true. Lucy and Reid turned ONE over 3 months ago. Apparently I took an untentional blogging hiatus, but I'm hoping to get caught up and back on track now. These first few pictures were taken on their actual birthday, January 21.

After Olivia's basketball game.

Two peas in a pod...

They are still absolutely CRAZY about their big brother!

It's strange how things are so much different the 2nd (and 3rd) time around. Hampton had a huge 1st birthday blow out, while Lucy and Reid had a very simple and small party. We invited the few friends we had (we have more now that the weather is pretty) and family. We were so thankful that Sweetie and Pops made the trek to join in the fun. We had pizza and a coconut cake from Sam's. I was just going to do cupcakes, but Ben insisted that Lucy and Reid have their own cakes to dig into. By the time we got to cake, Reid was far more interested in getting out of his seat to play than actually eating the cake. Lucy, a girl who takes after her Momma, throughly enjoyed her first sweet treat.

Sweetie and Lucy

At the "party"

Carolina and Lucy

First Pizza...YUM!

Pops and Reid

Pizza Face

C-A-K-E

Not quite sure

Lovin' It

Happy Happy Birthday, Sweet Babies

Thank you sweetie for my super cute "Birthday Girl" shirt.

I LOVE THIS BOY!

Sweetie and Reid

Thanks so everyone who celebrated our sweet Lucy and Reid with us.

Hampton's Third Birthday

We celebrated Hampton's 3rd birthday with an early friend party and a family party on his actual birthday. With most kiddos still taking afternoon naps/rests, we decided we either needed to do a breakfast party or lunch party. We figured feeding all of Hampton's friends and their parents for lunch would be a bit spendy, so we went for a 10am party. We met at our neighborhood pavillion and celebrated with a donut cake, fruit, breakfast caserole, juice, water and milk. Staying true to Elizabeth style I prepared WAY TOO MUCH food. I had counted all the dads, but none of them came. No big deal, I sent food home with Drew. The weather was great...a little overcast and not too hot. You never know in May and it seemed like every other Saturday in May it rained. Several of his friends had to move their parties indoors. At the pavillion we enjoyed breakfast, a good race, singing Happy Birthday and playing on the playground. We moved from the pavillion to Boomerang's, a great place full of really cool bounce houses. Hampton loved it!!! Lots of his "buddies" came and Jonathan's crew joined us after Campbell's blast ball game (pre-t ball). This was the first year he really understood what birthday's and parties are all about. So much fun!!!

On Hampton's actual birthday we were blessed to have Gran and Poppy AND Sweetie and Pops in town. Hampton was on cloud nine with another birthday cake and more gifts.

My mom's generous cousin sent Hampton some tiger ears after watching this video. He was so excited and proud to be a tiger. Thanks Polly!

We built up his 3rd birthday as his last day to have his "binky." After presents, cake and ice cream it was time to throw his binkies in the trash. I had "secretly" been cutting holes in them for a week or two, so that it would be easier for him to let them go. I probably didn't use my best judgement and made him throw them away before naptime. He threw them away without any complaint, but did not take a nap that day. Since then, he has asked for them once or twice, but for the most part hasn't looked back.

11 Weeks

I can't believe it was 11 weeks ago that Lucy and Reid joined our family. They are such a blessing and I can't imagine life without them. I have noticed that Lucy develops socially about a week before Reid, but Reid is much stronger than Lucy. They have both started smiling in response to attention. And in the past few days Reid has joined Lucy in trying to "talk." They most definitely have their own personalities already. I'm not sure I would have realized how much personality shows this early if I weren't observing two at a time. Lucy is very laid back about everything. When she gets hungry, she works her binky like crazy, but rarely cries about it. Reid on the other hand...he is like clock work. Exactly 3 hours after he eats, he usually erupts as if we have totally forgotten about him and he will never eat again. As different as they are, I am so, so thankful that they are completely their own little people. I was thinking tonight, as I watched Hampton hitting the baseball, that I want to make sure that my children know that I love them for exactly who God has created them to be. They are all very different, and they are all mine...(at least for a little while). What a responsibility the Lord has given us.

They are my joy and crown.

Thank you, Lord for my children!!!

Here are a few pictures from the last week or so...Meeting G'ma

Hangin' with Pops

Hampton absolute LOVES feeding the horses with Pops!

Reid makes this face quite frequently. The other day Hampton said, "Mommy, Reid is so worried."

Tired? Sure

Madly in love? Absolutely!!!

Last weekend, my mom and dad and Uncle Bill came to visit. Mom and Dad were here for an engagement party and Uncle Bill was passing through on his way from LA to Tennessee. We had a fun weekend that lead to really swollen ankles...well worth it. Dad and Uncle Bill helped Ben install a closet system in the twins room in efforts to help with the storage issues in this house. The nursery has 2 cribs and a changing table in it which leaves no room for anything else. We needed some drawers! They were a huge help and we are very grateful!!!

Hampton enjoyed Uncle Bill and has talked about him several times since he left. Ben's story was in the Watermark News on Sunday which ended up being perfect timing for some neat conversation with Uncle Bill. It was really good to see him! Here are a few pics from the weekend.

Hampton is very into imaginative play and LOVES playing with these plush farm animals as well as his giant wild animals.