Refreshment

This past weekend I was able to spend some quality girl time with my favorite girls from Dallas. We met at my parent's and soaked up every minute away. We enjoyed a home cooked meal (thanks Mom!!!), dinner out, lots of talking, playing games, staying up late and sleeping in late too, sharing wedding stories, pictures and videos (I even tried on my wedding dress), and even some make-you-sore exercise. It was such a refreshing time, although I did come back very tired :). We missed Jamie terribly, but hope to all get together sometime soon. THANK YOU BEN FOR MAKING THIS WEEKEND POSSIBLE BY KEEPING OUR PRECIOUS KIDDOS. YOU ARE THE VERY BEST!!!

Words cannot express how thankful I am for these friends! When we lived in Texas, I knew they were special friends that I loved spending time with, but it wasn't until we moved away that I realized what an unbelievable blessing they were to me and my family. We were intentional to sharpen each other to become more Godly women, more loving wives and better mommies. As I look back on my time with them, I am amazed at how successfully we did in fact sharpen each other. I need these women in my life! I realize that these relationships were built over 3+ years and that I must be patient in developing them here, but I am in need of authentic, sharpening friendships.

Thank you girls for loving me through my faults and for taking time to meet me in Oklahoma! You are the best friends I could ever hope for.

After a relaxing, adult weekend, I came home to 3 wonderful children and a gracious husband. It was great to get away, but great to get home! While I was gone, Lucy decided she would try to start keeping up with Reid.

Things Are About to Be Extra Fun!

So proud and excited!

I love this face...it's so Reid!
Perfectly content to watch Reid through the bars of her crib.

My Reid

Reid is everywhere, and so proud of himself. He isn't very fast yet and doesn't really "crawl", but he is all over the place. Last week he figured out how to climb onto the shelf under the coffee table and yesterday when I went in to get him up...HE WAS STANDING IN HIS CRIB. Several times today he "inch-wormed" over to the bin of clothes I was sorting and carefully pulled himself up to help. I am not ready for my babies to be getting this big. I cannot believe Lucy and Reid will be 8 months old in 5 days. Their little lives are going by too fast already!

For comparison sake, Lucy is just now starting to cover ground...very slowly. I have noticed over the last day or two that she works hard to follow Reid. She is usually several steps behind, but you can tell she is watching and trying to keep up with her brother. They are so fun to watch together!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!!

We were so thankful go have Gran here for Ben's birthday. It was her first visit to our new home and we had a great time. We missed Poppy though. We invited Kelly and David and their girls over for a dinner celebration. It wasn't a surprise, but we avoided telling Ben. He was excited to spend his special day with a yummy home cooked meal (roast w/ potatoes and carrots, spinach salad, green bean casserole, Sister Shubert rolls and applesauce...the applesauce was for the kids, but I noticed Ben enjoying a serving as well :)) September is the end of peach season, but we managed to find some good ones to make Cookeville Peach Pie...another of Ben's favorites. Hampton really enjoyed helping Gran make the pie. He is really into baking and helping in the kitchen. Ben's birthday gifts from us were VERY practical, white undershirts (something I f-i-n-a-l-l-y remembered to purchase, so I wrapped them as a joke) and a lawnmower. He acted really excited about both. Since we moved to KS, we have been paying Tyler to mow our yard. It was nice not to mess w/ the yard, but not so great paying him. Our mower was broken and I found this one for less than half price at an estate sale...and its only 3 years old and very well cared for! We love to beat the system :) I love to celebrate birthdays and while this year we didn't go all out, Ben enjoyed his day.

Helping Gran make Daddy's birthday pie.

One of my favorite parts of baking...surprisingly, fun for H, but not his favorite part. He just loved all of Gran's attention :)

Smashing the Ritz for the crust...why not with your feet?

He had so much fun and was so proud of making this surprise for his daddy!

THE PARTY

Who has this reaction to such a practical gift? I love this man!

Hampton and Daddy giving the new "toy" a test run. H loves to help Ben mow...or do anything for that matter.

WE LOVE YOU, DADDY!!!

And are so thankful you were born.

Lots of people think they boys look just alike. I don't see it. They look like brothers to me, but not just alike. What do you think?

Hampton 2006

Reid 2009

GO VOLS!!!

Enjoying an afternoon of college football with Daddy!

Do you think she likes her brother?

Lucy thinks Hampton hung the moon. She lights up when he is around and is always throughly entertained by his silliness. I love watching their relationship. Reid tends to observe Hampton and doesn't seem as entertained. I'm sure he's learning how to be a big boy. :)

Meet the Hexabooty...

While making shapes with play-doh today, Hampton informed me that this was not a hexagon, but a hexabooty. Where does he come up with these things?

For my records...

As of today, I am no longer pumping. It is bitter sweet. I did what I could for over 7 months. It's almost like my babies don't need me anymore...anyone can take care of them now (again bitter sweet).

Lucy Bug

Such a happy, happy girl!!!

Reid has discovered the intended purpose of the jumperoo...and he LOVES it.

Batting Practice

Hampton has dramatically improved his baseball skills. Several weeks ago he got to pick out a "hard bat dat says bing when you hit da ball" for going #2 on the potty (he hasn't done it since). Ben and Hampton have been hitting in the backyard several nights a week. I have gone out to throw pitches for him, but he has decided he'd rather wait on Daddy to get home, because I'm not a very good pitcher. His skill (and bat size) has improved leaps and bounds since our first attempt at batting practice. Here is some video as requested by Uncle Drew.

So Big!

Lucy and Reid are SEVEN MONTHS old today. Their sweet little lives have flown by! They are so so precious and I cannot imagine life without both of them. They both enjoy eating and are typically great nappers. We started oatmeal around 4.5 months (after Reid's 3.5 weeks with no BM) and then started veggies around 5.5 or 6 months. As of now, they are both eating cereal, spinach, peas, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, applesauce and bananas. Yellow veggies are their favorite, followed closely by spinach. Reid is the earliest riser in our family and is commonly awake before 7am. He usually doesn't get frustrated with playing in his crib until after 7. Lucy is much like her momma, except she isn't grouchy when Reid wakes her up early. She always goes right back to sleep after he leaves the room. We always thought that Reid woke up crying and Lucy woke up happy, but we've recently discovered that Reid does wake up happy and plays for quite a while...it's just long before the rest of us are even thinking about being awake. I am fully aware that 7am is not early for most, but I am used to really great/late sleepers. They are both amazing, amazing additions to our family and we love them more and more each day. Here are some pictures and what they are doing at 7 months.

LUCY

26 inches tall

16 pounds 1 ounce

Sits independently

Smiles quickly

Loves to jump in the jumperoo

Adores Hampton & is entertained by him

Laughs at Hampton all the time

Is content with whatever you give her and wherever you put her

Loves Mommy's spinach and sweet potatoes

Easily wears 3-6 month clothes and 3 month pj's

Enjoys Baby Einstein

Ticklish

Likes to eat/play with her toes

Blows bubbles

Wears size 2 diapers

Shows her gums when she smiles

Plays quietly in her crib when she wakes up...

...you know she's awake when you hear her rattle

Kicks her legs when she gets excited

Likes to grab and pull on Reid

Sleeps in her own crib (separated from Reid at 6.5 months)

Drinks mainly formula (about 25% Mommy's milk)

Has a strong gag reflex

Rarely fusses...almost never when you put her to bed

Is particular about the texture of her food

Rolls her ankles in and points her toes

Doesn't sleep well in her carseat

Plays well independently

Opens her mouth like a little bird when she's hungry or excited

Rubs her eyes when she's sleepy

I usually call her Lucy Bug

Sleeps on her tummy

LOVES Sophie the giraffe

Finds her Binky on her own & puts it in her mouth

Kicks her legs as if she's already in the jumperoo when you start to put her in

Lights up when she sees us

Is very even tempered

Looks best in hot/bright pink

Likes to look at bright colors

Has slate grey eyes

Rocks on her hands and knees

Loves her brothers

Is not a big fan of new people "in her face"

Has a great cry face

Has always had more hair than Reid

LOVES animals

Squeals with delight

SMILES SMILES SMILES

REID

26 inches tall

16 pounds 10 ounces

Belly laughs

DETERMINED

Sits independently

Likes to eat...most anything

Vocal when uncomfortable

Squeals with delight

Has a loud distinct cry

Will for sure be driven to keep up with Hampton

Loves to play with non-toys (spoons, wrappers, paper)

Always reaching for things that catch his eye

Dr. says he has exceptional motor skills

Doesn't jump in the jumperoo

Likes to be outside

Likes his Binky more than Lucy likes hers

Hates to be in a dirty or really wet diaper

Studies Hampton's every move

Wears size 2 diapers

Has sensitive skin

Loves to sit up to play

Likes to sit in a highchair

Smiles with his entire face

Doesn't like solid food when he's really hungry...too slow

Doesn't sleep well in his carseat once we get out of the car

Likes to look at bright colors

Will find a way to move to anything he wants

Likes to play with Hampton's cars

Is super happy in any circumstance as long as he's full and rested

Doesn't like to lie still to get his diaper or clothes changed

His love language is physical touch...he loves to be held

Sleeps in his own crib (separated from Lucy at 6.5 months)

Likes to be right beside Mommy

Plays well independently as long as he can't see Mommy

Isn't bothered by new faces

Can still wear 3-6 month clothes, but is out growing 3 month pj's

Doesn't like to lie on his back or in a reclined position (except carseat)

Can get out of the Bumbo on his own

Would probably love teething biscuits

Is rarely entertained by TV

Drinks mainly formula and doesn't like Mommy's homemade peas

Has beautiful blue eyes

Is often called Reider Rabbit

Has less hair than Lucy

Wears his heart on his sleeve

Rocks on his hands and knees

Army crawls

Likes to empty the toy basket

Melts into his silkey when he's sleepy...precious

Doesn't like to be confined

PRECIOUS BOY!

Lucy and Reid you are both great babies and are unexpected, unexplainable blessings to our family. We love you so, so much. You are our delight!

On the Move

Reid is moving well to anything he really wants. Lucy is content with whatever and doesn't seem very motivated. I'm guessing he will be full on crawling by Labor Day. It's going to be a whole new world for all of us.

Please ignore Hampton in his underwear and my increasing frustration with his disobedience. We're all learning around here :)

Apple Sauce

Peas, yum... sweet potatoes, yum yum...applesauce???

It looks like applesauce may not be the hit I thought it would be. I am absolutely crazy about this boy!!!

Lucy is not a fan either, but her reaction (true to form) is much less dramatic.

This afternoon I told Hampton that it was naptime. He quickly replied, "That's not a good idea for me." It may not be a good idea to you, but it's the best idea to me...

Jumping Lucy

Lucy has enjoyed the Jumparoo before, but nothing like today. She bounced, laughed and squealed until she couldn't handle any more. Here are some videos of her progression throughout the day.

Just after morning nap

Meeting Rio (my cousin's jack russell) after lunch

Tonight at dinner

My precious girl!!!

A Long Time Comin'

I realize that my blogging has taken a back seat lately...so far back that it's dragging behind the bumper like a bunch of "just married" cans. Life is different and crazy since we moved. Ben is working in an actual office, which means I don't have his help during the day like I was used to having. There are lots of days that the kids and I don't even go to the garage, much less drive somewhere in the car. We have so much more room in our new house though and I haven't gotten stir crazy yet. I have been planning meals and trying to grocery shop once a week. I have only been by myself with all 3 kids twice. The maiden voyage was to a Super Walmart 3 miles from our house that took me 45 minutes to find (more on that later). We dropped the car off at the lube where I found one lonely cart that managed to escape the round-up the night before. I put the baby carriers in the cart (one in the basket and one in the seat) and held Hampton's hand to the front of the store where we got one of the mega carts with the 2 extra toddler seats. So, I had Hampton in a toddler seat...strapped in of course...Lucy in the seat and Reid asleep in the basket. By the time I got to the check-out line, I was carrying Reid on one hip(really could have used my sling) and pushing a cart with 2 kids and a week's worth of groceries. You can really pack a bunch of food in and around kids; however, loading bagged groceries is a different story. I left Walmart (through the lube in the very back) pulling a cart full of kids and pushing a cart full of groceries...what a sight! Only by the Lord's grace I was not stressed until I hit the hot parking lot. For some reason heat dramatically tests my patience. The next day I was a bit wiser. I had learned my lesson and we tackled Costco...pushing the babies in the side-by-side stroller (super easy to steer w/ one hand) and pulling Hampton in a cart. I felt like I could have taken on the world...SUCCESS...and not nearly as hot outside:).
We are really enjoying our new life here in Kansas. The weather has been A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. The week we moved in it was super hot, high 90's, but since then we have not reached 90 degrees. The evenings are much cooler and it takes until about 11:30 for things to really get warm. It rains a lot more often than it did in Texas and the thunderstorms can be pretty intense. Thunder woke Hampton up for the first time and he "didn't like dat noise." Our evenings are pretty low key. We eat at home at least 5 nights a week and I try to have dinner ready around 6 o'clock. That gives us time for a walk or batting practice before the babies go to bed around 7 or 7:30.

This post is getting pretty lengthy, so I'll post some pictures of our arrival and then give updates on the kids in the next post.
Sydney~Hampton~Daddy on the road to Kansas
In Daddy's super cool "livry" truck

We finally made it!

Seeing our new house for the first time

Lucy in her new house

Daddy and Reid in the basement (I love the basement)

Hampton exploring and loving the stairs

I have been a bit overwhelmed by how far behind I am. I am really going to try to stay current while adding updates from the last 2 months. I have started with posts here, here and here. Many more to come!