Dear Tres, Bryant, and Ava Sophia

I wanted you before you were born. Each one of you took me by surprise, and while I was shocked, I was also thrilled. I loved (almost) every minute of being pregnant with you. I loved feeling you move and knowing that God had a purpose and a plan for you. I loved how with Tres I craved cantaloupe, with Bryant I craved Reese's ice cream, and with Sophie I could devour an entire watermelon by myself. I loved standing in the mirror and seeing my baby bump and wondering what you each would look like... act like... sound like. I loved shopping for your first tiny outfits and washing them and folding them and getting your rooms all ready. I loved how your dad would cater to my every whim. I loved feeling you have hiccups. And I loved seeing you suck your thumb on the ultrasound. I loved the day we officially hooked the infant carrier in the car, 'just in case' you came early, which you all three did!

I loved you when you were born. The first hour after you were born was the happiest form of torture! I could see you, I could examine every inch of you... but I couldn't touch you yet. I remember how I would sing to you and all of you seemed to turn your head and search for me. I saw your face on your birth days and I knew that I was in love. I knew that I had chosen to love... and love deeply... before you. But there was no choice now with you. It was a love that came as naturally as breathing. Before you were an hour old, I had you memorized. I knew how you felt. I knew your cry and learned to discern it in the midst of dozens of other crying children.

When you turned one and we threw ridiculously large parties that you would never remember... I loved you. In that first year, each of your personalities developed so thoroughly. Tres was my joy and my light, smiling at every one and at every opportunity. Bryant was my brown eyed chunky monkey! A mini version of his Daddy with charm to spare! And Ava Sophia, a spicy little lovable diva. My tart and tiny. Momma's girl, through and through.

I loved every bottle I washed, every stain that I scrubbed, every diaper I changed, every story I read, every boo-boo I kissed. All of these things were my complete and honest pleasure. God gave you to me. God trusted me with three tiny treasures (and you were all tiny! Tres was 5 lb. 14 oz. Bryant was 6 lb. 7 oz. and Sophie was 5 lb. 1 oz.)

I hate every nightmare you have, Tres. But I love how you will still come to me and let me hug you and comfort you. I hated every ear infection you had, Bryant... but loved the sweet way you would play with my hair as we waited on one of the three sets of tubes to relieve your pain. I hated breathing treatments and asthma attacks, Ava Sophia... but I love how you trusted me inexplicably as we learned together about the inhaler and nebulizer.

I love watching you now, interacting with one another and I love to dream about how your relationships will develop as you grow. I love seeing Bryant follow Tres to the ends of the earth. I love seeing Bryant fulfill every one of Sophie's demands/requests. And I love seeing Sophie desperately trying to keep up with her brother's impossibly fast pace.

I love hearing you pray. I love to talk to you about Jesus. I love watching you sleep. I love to smell your hair after your bath. I love it when we laugh together. I love watching you be your dad's helpers and buddies. I love watching you learn how to love back.

I would not be the person I am today, if it were not for you three. I love you. I wanted you. I would die for you. You are my world.

Mom

Sleeping Beauties

These are some of my favorite pictures of my kids... passed out from playing themselves silly. Tres was around 2 here. And Bryant wasn't quite one here... my sweet little chunky monkey!

So when Sophie passed out on her bedroom floor the other day, I couldn't resist completing my set of pictures! What a sweet baby doll!

sick, sick, sick

My family had been battling a lot of crud lately and I'm just plain tired of it!! Bed time can NOT come fast enough tonight.

Bryant battled ear infections for two weeks... three antibiotics and two different kinds of ear drops later he seems to be okay.

Sophie is, I believe, trying to cut her eye teeth in. She ran a very high fever on Monday and decided to up-chuck at the kitchen table on Tuesday morning.

So when Tres came into our room last night complaining of an ear ache, I wasn't surprised. He was up and down (as were Hank and I) all night crying and complaining of pain. We alternated meds and tried to keep him comfortable, but he was pretty darn miserable.

I took him to the doctor today and about an hour before the appointment, he began hurting so bad he was sobbing, so I took my happy little butt up to the doctor early and made them take us back quicker... which they did cause they are great there! :)

He is much more comfortable now and is on an antibiotic. This is his first ear infection in over a year, so hopefully we can just nip it in the bud. He told me today that he caught Bryant's allergies. And then when Bry came home from school, Tres pointed his finger at him and said, "You gave me your ear infection!" It made me laugh.

My kids

When we were on our way home from Atlanta last weekend, we stopped at a McDonalds that had a killer outside playplace. The kids played and played and we just let them. They were tired of being in the car, in a buggy, or in the hospital. So being able to let out some energy was a nice change for them that day! Now, all you Mom's know how hard it is at this age to get all kids smiling and looking in the same direction, so I was proud of this!

Random Announcements

So the other day I had picked the boys up from my parent's house after volleyball and we were heading home. The boys were giving me a rundown on what they had for dinner. The van grew quiet for a minute, and Tres looks over and me, and says, "I don't like brocolli anymore, Momma." Now this is news to me, cause brocolli has been his favorite veggie since diapers. When I asked him why, he said, "Just cause."

Then Bryant, who is listening from the backseat pipes up, "But I DO like brocolli now, Momma!" And he gives me the biggest cheese ball smile. He will eat two pieces now at dinner and thinks this is a full serving.

Ava Sophia could live off of salad and brocolli right now. She loves that stuff!

What About Bob?

This year, we have a holiday visitor that will be around for years to come! Meet Bob... our own personal elf!He came early December to send reports back to Santa about our nice/naughty status.Bob is sometimes a helper... and sometimes a hindrance...like the time he scattered the laundry I was folding all over the den! Silly, Bob. Other times, he just chills out at the house while we're gone.

I won't lie, sometimes, Tres gets a little freaked out when Bob moves, but for the most part they are having a really good time finding him all over the house! And it keeps them in line most of the time!

A Houndstooth Kind of Christmas

I LOVE the kid's Christmas outfits this year! In fact, they will be wearing them way past Christmas and often!

The Countdown is Officially On... Again!

Every year we make Christmas Countdown Chains! The boys love it... it's simple... and it's a great way to teach the boys about days in a month, as well as avoiding the inevitable question: "Is it Christmas yet, Momma?"

We sat down to make them. The boys picked their construction paper, cut their strips and got their glue sticks ready!Tres was extremely meticulous! He was serious and kept his mind on what he was doing. He was neat and seemed to get satisfaction out of doing the job well!Bryant, on the other hand, cut ragged and too thick strips and got easily distracted. In fact......Daddy finished his chain for him.

And Sophie... well......let's just say that Hank and I are thankful that glue sticks are non-toxic.

Christmas Gone Wild!

When we decided to put up our tree early, we didn't realize that it would cause our children to just about explode with excitement! They were so thrilled to be doing it that they apparently turned off their ears and decided to do things their own way!

The boys found some really old ornaments that actually used to hang on my Mom and Dad's tree growing up. They were brass instruments. I don't use them, but the boys took a little music break when they found them!

Despite the moments of absolute chaos, it was a blast! We weren't really sure just when we would have another night when everything was semi-normal anytime near Thanksgiving, so I'm glad we took advantage of it. I think we are gonna get the yard decorated this weekend if the weather cooperates.

Here is a finished shot of the tree (minus the bow on top which I still need to make). Thanks to Hank who helped rearrange the big blobs of ornaments to some semblance of normalcy.

Unscathed? Not Quite...

We almost made it through another action-packed weekend with no causalities! Hankie and his parent's cheered Bama on in Tuscaloosa against Ole Miss to squeak out a win. Hank said it wasn't pretty... but it was a win. I don't think I've watched more than 30 minutes of football since the season started, what with soccer, volleyball, church and everything else that goes on. So, I'll just take his word for it!

Yesterday morning I made it over to the last day of Kids Market. Most everything was 50 % off, so I got Tres jeans, pants, shirts, and sweaters. Then I headed over to see what I could get for Sophie... I have winter stuff but not small enough for my Itty Bitty (another nickname I use on her). I got her a couple of sleepers, some little baby jeans, and THE CUTEST little Christmas outfit! I averaged $2 on each item! Good times.

Then the kids and I headed over to Tyler's third birthday party.I could not get Tyler to pose for a picture, though, so I just settled for this group shot! He made out like a bandit! He even got a Smart Cycle... and my boys looked at me accusingly when he opened it, cause they've wanted one for a long time! So can we come and play, Tyler? Tyler is such a fun little boy and my kids love playing with him! They had a little playground area set up outside, and a bubble blower going, but the piece DE resistance was the giant monster truck inflatable bounce. Sophie got to experience it for the first time!By the time she did her inaugural bounce, she had already been given cheese puffs, so she was nice and messy! She loved it, she would try to bounce, then take a few steps and fall. Then she would get up and clap and say "yeah!"

The boys were in hog heaven! They ran around outside, got loud, and had fun! They even saved the world from the evil bubble blowing machine......while the royal princess looked on from her throne!

After the party, the kids and I headed over to my friend Mandy's (new blog alert!) house so that she and I could put together baskets full of CVS stuff for Pastor Appreciation Sunday. We beat Mandy to her house, so used the opportunity to take some pics of my kids!She's a poser, this one! "Cheese!" That little sweater I got at Kids Market for $1. My little brown-eyed boy. It was a gorgeous day, and I couldn't let the autumn setting go to waste!This was Tres earlier in the day at Tyler's birthday party (sporting a long sleeved Disney polo shirt I got at Kid's Market for $2 and a pair of jeans we got for $1.50). He was having fun and lively! But by the time we got to Mandy's and he had got in a short nap, I noticed he was starting to seem a bit off.He sat in the car while I took pics and Bryant ran around in the back yard. I did get them to all pose together, but this was the best I got.

This morning, I got up early to make pigs in a blanket for Pastor Appreciation. While I was getting them ready for the oven, I hear Tres calling me. He was in the bathroom and it was locked. I told him to unlock and he says, "Mom, I have to warn you. I had a really big accident!" He wasn't kidding. I spent the next 45 minutes cleaning him and the bathroom. And just when I thought I had it all done, he had another accident IN the tub. So I got the tub cleaned and them him again.

Anyway, I called the church and told them I wouldn't be there, but Hank rode his scooter over to deliver the pigs in blankets and a few other things. I hate to miss church today. But not only was Tres not up to it... but Sophie has been sleeping restlessly for the past 3 nights. Have I mentioned that she has a single ear infection (only the second of her life) and Bry has a double (the bizillionth of his life). And last night was no different, but she woke up so mad and nothing satisfied her, so we made the call to keep our kids at home.

Strange

I was talking to a friend on the phone today and she was telling me about how she watched the 'Tyra Banks Show' and she did a show about a mother who breastfed her children (notice I didn't say baby) until they were 7 or 8. She said that she believed in doing it until they got their permanent teeth and until they said to her, "I'm done breastfeeding." Does that seem normal to anyone? I'm a breastfeeding mother and that seems anything but normal to me!

There are definitely a few people out their that take things a bit too far. I'm all for organic and healthy ways to rear my children. I use disposable diapers, but I'm not opposed to clothe diapers... and people who choose the family bed over cribs are more than entitled to do that! I just don't understand the extreme measures that some people go to!

Future Plans

Hank and I are a bit fanatical about making sure that we have enough insurance on both of us to make sure our three kids are taken care of if something (God forbid) should happen to us. We each have substantial policies. And we have policies on each of our children. I was talking to my mother the other day about what we would want for our children if we weren't here... who they would live with, what church they would attend, how they would be raised. I am now convinced that we need to invest a little money in a lawyer to leave a legal document behind to cover all of that and eliminate questions, confusion, or hurt feelings.

I am a firm believer in being prepared. When Hank and I first found out we were gonna have Tres, I started getting life insurance quotes right away and before I was in my second trimester, we were covered and the paper work for Tres was ready to go once he was born. This is one thing I don't mess around with.

Love Bugs

We spent Valentine's Day delivering homemade Valentine's to some of our favorite people. To Grandma and Grandaddy... then we made a stop at Gi Gi (Great-Grandma) and Papa's (Great-Grandaddy) house, but they weren't home, so we left it on their door and to cousins. Then we delivered Daddy a special Valentine's Day lunch at work.

I love teaching my kids to show love! I think that's what Valentine's Day has become to me... a way and a reason to tell those that make my life so very special just how much I love and appreciate them.

Santa Baby

Well, I keep forgetting to take the kids picture with Santa to my Dad's shop to scan, so I thought the next best thing would be to give you guys a visual of our Santa pictures over the years. They all fit perfectly on the mantel this year, but next year, we're gonna have to brand out to tables. This is my favorite Christmas thing to get out every year. We plan to do it as long as the kids will let us!

Thanksgiving Goodness!

We had a lot to be thankful for this year. We have a new home. We have a new daughter. And we have each other.... All together now: Ahhhh! This was my parent's year for Thanksgiving, so we planned a HUGE meal. All the ladies helped Mom cook and organize to the point where nothing seemed frantic this year! Yeah for organization! My brother Matt his wife Kayla and Tyler, my grandparents, Aunt Mary and her husband Lane all came to enjoy the feast. The boys waited ALL DAY for Tyler. I think they woke up asking when he was gonna get here! (Kayla, you might want to right click on that one and 'save as' so you have a copy of that one too! Isn't it cute?)

I dressed them up for the occassion, and they looked so cute! And even managed to stay clean for most of the day! Will wonders never cease. My Dad enjoyed time with a couple of his Grandbabies before we all stuffed our faces.And even though Hankie had to work, he was able to come home to eat. Doesn't Ava Sophia look so cute in ONE of her many Holiday outfits! This one she will wear to get her picture taken with Santa so she will match her brothers.I didn't get to take a picture of anything else because of all shoving food in my mouth between fixing kid's plates and feeding the little girl. But we enjoyed ourselves! I used the Recipe Place Blog for some excellent side dish recipes this year, including Oven Fried Corn, Carrot Souffle, and Mac & Cheese. Until next time.... Gobble! Gobble!