Three years ago today, you were placed in my arms at 10:05. We had our Sadie Grace. We brought you home and I stared at you, adored you, but it was a matter of survival. Make it to the next feeding, the next nap, the next change… We lived in three-hour increments in between 3 other children under the age of 5.

She went to bed two and woke up 3.

At three years old, Sadie is so friendly, dramatic, silly, funny,  and cute. These come to mind first. She is also easily frustrated, and can quickly hit a mood change. She talks all the time, everywhere.we.go. She is ready for Caroline to start talking too. She is energetic. She loves being silly, and when we laugh at her, it further motivates her silly shenanigans. She never sits still. Never wants to sit on her bottom to eat a meal.

She continues to be our strongest willed child. She can be very exhausting and demanding, but I can notice changes as we get older. Good changes. She doesn’t get mad as often. You can reason with her (some of the time). She isn’t quite as fiesty. And as much as I love each new stage and the unfolding of each new day, I’m aware that my babies will only be this little for a brief window of time. As a result, there’s a part of me that wants to package them up and preserve them just as they are right now…well, maybe mostly like they are right now minus the whining.

She LOVEs her blankie even though we have three that look alike you will only sleep with the one that has you name monogrammed on it. She must sleep with her Baby Alive, Blankie and a pit of sun glasses.

  We had a great party for her. It was mini fall festival with a  Peter Rabbit theme. She loves the new Peter Rabbit. We enjoyed ourselves so much. We had a lot of children running around even though we followed our birthday rule,of only inviting the number of people equal to the childs age.

She is a big girl now. The third birthday means “Moving Day” is tomorrow. She is moving into a big girl bed and sharing a room with Anna Kate. Time just keeps moving forward. And as much as I love each new stage and the unfolding of each new day, I’m aware that my babies will only be this little for a brief window of time. As a result, there’s a part of me that wants to package them up and preserve them just as they are right now.

you are 3 months old.

 You have changed so much this month. Time really is flying by and some days I wish I could just freeze this moment in time with you. You have started to belly laugh and it is perhaps one of the best sounds in the world. You love to talk and ba ba ba… Everyone says you look just like your daddy! You are a GREAT baby! A real joy!

You are eating anywhere from 4 -5 ozs every three hours. Even when you have 5 ozs, you are still hungry after 3 hours. Girlfriend, you love to eat (takes after your momma!). You continues to be a decent sleeper, for which we are thankful for!

This month we went to two doctors about the cyst on your forehead. We found out that it is a dermoid cyst that must be removed. We are planning to have your surgery in November.

This is your favorite way to fall asleep during the day. It is usually when I am trying to do school with Jake and Judd.

Just a few fun pictures while we were on vacation in Daytona Beach.

Sadie always wants me to take pictures of you two lying next to one another.

October is probably one of my favorite months. Like in my top 5.  What’s not to like: bugs are disappearing, the fair is coming, fall break and Sadie’s birthday. This has been a great month so far. The past few weeks have been busy with football and soon we will be heading into basketball. However this week we have enjoyed the fair and a quick trip to Daytona Beach for Fall Break. It has been a great time to hangout and enjoy being together and not running in 15 different places.

Ever since C was born, I’ve had people coming up to me telling me “you have it all together, you amaze me with your patience, etc…” I think these people are C.R.A.Z.Y. Honestly, I’m not sure who they are talking to or about. I sure hope you know that I’m very much a work in progress. I don’t have it together, I make mistakes, and half the time, I feel like I’m just barely keeping my head above water when it comes to parenting and managing our family.

But just in case you ever do think that I’ve got it together even half the time, let me introduce you to Mt. Washmore. You aren’t the only one! I manage to wash the laundry, but have piles of clothes folded to put away (I hate that part).

At this phase of my life, I’m just gonna hold my baby because I can. Because all too soon she will be busting out of the Moby Wrap, on stable, sturdy feet of her own, running in the opposite direction, away from me. So right now, I’m gonna snuggle up to her and feel her baby soft skin against my own. Especially this one. I’m realizing, having a baby is the easiest part of parenting. She only cries, and I meet her needs quickly. She smiles and coos. It’s not until she gets older that she will test my patience, talk back, and disobey. Right now, she’s just this bundle of sweetness. And I’m no Michelle Duggar, so I know eventually I will run out of babies, which is even more reason why I have to enjoy her NOW.

This boy is my firstborn….

Jake is also playing his first year of tackle football. To be completely honest, Jim and I were nervous after the first few practices. The coaches were making the boys run sprints, flip tires, and a lot of other drills. We wondered if Jake would get tired of it. We knew that he enjoyed playing ball, but he doesn’t live and breathe it like Judd. He came home every night telling us how much he loved football. We were excited for him! He continues to love it each week.

 He typically plays defensive and offensive tackle. His second game he went up against a boy who weighed 176 pounds the whole game. We are having a great season.  I love to watch my boys play ball. I love to watch them give 100%.

One thing that has been changing lately is the amount of hugs and loves I am getting from this boy! I typically get at least one a day now, which is so much more than I have ever gotten!!!! I am blessed to be his mommy! He is a special boy with so many special gifts. My heart is full! I love you, handsome fella!

This boy loves all things ball. Football, Baseball, Basketball, etc..

This is our first year playing tackle football and he loves it. He loves playing. He loves the practice three nights a week. He loves to run.

He loves to score touchdowns and tackle.

He is playing running back and line backer. Today he scored 3 touchdowns and had 8 tackles. We WON!! 21-0.

A friend at church took these precious pictures of his game today. I couldn’t wait any longer to post them. I got all teary-eyed looking at them because all I could see was a foreshadowing of a 17 year-old boy playing football. It made me realize that these days are fleeting and my time with him is going so fast. I know he is only 6, but he is such a special fella.

I love this boy.

In August we made a quick trip to TN. We left on Thursday and drove home on Sunday after church. Jim was invited to preach at Crosspointe so we made it a family vacation. It was a blessing to visit a few people and to be at Crosspointe again.

One of the memorable events of the trip was Caroline getting locked in the car. We were visiting with the Easley’s and as we were about the leave Caroline started crying. I asked Jim put her in the car while we said good bye. It was a nice 70 something degrees and we were gathering our things and hugging necks. Jim went around to the passenger door closed it and all the sudden the car locked itself with the keys in the ignition and Caroline in the back. Long story short: police, sheriffs and the fire department are not no longer given slim jim’s to unlock cars. I am thankful the the firemen didn’t give up and were creative about getting in the car. It took about 20 minutes but the were able to rescue my little girl. Thankfully, she was snoozing the whole time. She is good like that…

Mommy can’t believe you’re 2 months old already… gone are the days of you fitting into all those precious, tiny newborn clothes, as you have officially moved into 0-3 month attire as well as size 1 diapers. You’re growing like a weed. You’re so much more interactive with us these days and my heart melts with every smile, laugh, and giggle. You know our voices and as soon as I enter the room and start to talk to you, you look for me instantly…talk about happiness, I don’t think it gets much better than that. You have also discovered your hands and insist on having them in your mouth all the time…they must really taste yummy!

We have started supplimenting with the breastfeeding and I am sure that we will have move on to formula full-time within the next month. We are working to figure out with formula works best for you because you are a hungry baby. If you have a full belly you are an amazingly happy baby. I mean AMAZING!! I do believe we have been extremely blessed because you are a happy happy baby 95% of the time! And the other 5% you are hungry, tired, or wet!

One thing that we have discovered is your LOVE for your car seat. Honestly, we are shocked. You are our first baby to ever like riding in the car.

Another blessing is having Jake want to take such good care of you. He is doing a fabulous job holding, feeding, loving, and even changing your diapers. It is great to see him love on you so much and so well. I thank the Lord for answering our prayers that Caroline would be a happy baby that everyone could enjoy.

We do have a prayer request. Dr. F told us that you have a cyst growing on your forehead between your eyes.  We go to a pediatric surgeon October 1.    

Life with you is absolutely incredible Caroline, and I can only imagine just how much fun these next months are going to be because of you.

School looks different for our family this year. Jake and Judd are attending a two-day a week school for homeschool. They are enjoying going to school two days a week and I am enjoying becoming more of a facilitator of learning this year. 

Anna Kate is in Kindergarten this year. Amazing that she is old enough to be in school. She is going to school at the church 5 days a week. 

My silly Sadie is going to preschool two days a week also.  We are enjoying our new school schedule. We are still looking for a routine. I’m sure it will come within the next few months. We are blessed to have this many options. Blessed!

I love summer! I love everything about summer except the pesky mosquitoes. I hate them. Summer goes by so fast and winter draaaaagggggssss on forever each year. It is hard to believe that school started back a few weeks ago. Egad!!! what I love about summertime is the non-schedule. I really love the summer break, the carefree days of doing nothing, having no agenda, playing, swimming, lounging, laughing.

This summer isn’t any different. It is going by so fast and the kids are getting bigger. This summer Anna Kate learned to swim and she is very proud, so are we.

We have loved and enjoyed our summer. These summer days are flying by, and while I feel like I’m enjoying them and savoring them and we’re doing lots of fun summery stuff, the time I have to blog seems to be less. I guess because I’m out there enjoying all that sunshine. We went to the beach, boys went to baseball camp, VBS (Summer SonSeekers), lots of swimming, baby waiting, baby holding, skiing, learning to wakeboard, and sleepless nights. This summer was special for several reasons. Baby Caroline was born but the Kenney’s moved to Georgia

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Its been a great summer!