My Jake is  9 years old!  Nine is hard for me.  It’s one birthday away from the double digits and it’s almost a half-way mark of parenting.

I am so happy and proud to say that I am his mommy.

The past nine years have been my favorite.  You were the child that brought your dad and I into parenthood.  You started this whole Perdue Crew off to a great start.  You have become a big brother 4 times and although you have always been magnificent.

When you are feeling like it, you are a great help to your brother and sisters. You are growing into a leader, and I pray that God will continue to mold you into that role as biggest brother.  They all look up to you. Remember that as you make choices.

This year you have continued to excel in school. You played tackle football for the first time and you still choose to read over almost anything, except of course iPod time. I love how you have started sharing a little of your heart with me. You trust me and believe that I am being honest with you when we have “real” conversations. I’m enjoying this new phase of life. Its hard to believe that in 9 more years you will be leaving me. In the next nine years you will change drastically, but I hope that in those nine years our relationship continues to deepen.

Jake, thank you for letting me love you and I pray to God that I love you and your brother and sisters well.  I want you to know that I love you, will fight for you, and will always be here for you. I will always love you and 9 years into being your mommy I’m super proud of you.

The.Best.Baby.Ever.

Sweet Caroline has exceeded all of our hopes, prayers and expectations. We prayed for a happy and healthy baby that everyone could enjoy. She is so happy. A great car rider. A pure joy to our family.

At five months, she started sitting up and right on Perdue time she is starting to crawl at 6 months. I thought that maybe, just maybe she would be one of those babies that would just SIT and SIT but no. Honestly, it is okay. She is very content to play on the floor with toys and practice crawling or rolling around. She loves to snuggle with me and I am pretty much her favorite person.

We woke up this morning to a blanket of snow. We spent all day yesterday anticipating the snow but it didn’t  arrived until the kids were all tucked in cozy to bed and several fast asleep. This morning was spent sledding and playing in the white stuff. Fun was had by all even if it was only for 20 minutes.

Now it’s time for Spring….

Oh, I love Thanksgiving. It is a day filled with fun, family and of course food.  To be honest, it also means that Christmas is very near:)

We were able to spend time at the Etheredges for lunch and then the Perdue family immediately following.

This is a day that reminds me that I have so much for which I should be grateful.  

Yes, this is Christmas week and its always a special time of year for us. However, it seems that AK’s has had an exceptional great week this far.

I woke her up early Monday morning to take her to Macon for her extra special Christmas present. She got her EARS pierced. She was really giddy on the way there chanting ” I’m getting me ears pierced!” She told me she was so excited and she kept asking me if it was going to hurt.

When we arrived she picked out a pair of flower earrings. The nurses quickly pierced her ears and we were out of the office. She did so great. She didn’t cry…just a little DEEP breaths.

We got out of the office and she called her daddy to tell him. As we drove home she kept saying “this is the best Christmas present ever” “I love this Christmas!”

At bedtime that night, I prayed with her and b=put her to bed but not before she whispered in my ear “Mommy, thank you for the ear piercing. I love it” It has been a fun experience and memory to share with her.

It’s now Christmas Eve and she is once again experienced another HUGE milestone in  life. She lost her first tooth. How exciting it that? Loosing your first tooth on Christmas Eve. The tooth fairy and Santa will becoming. (wink.wink)

It has been fun for us all.

One last thing, Friday Decemeber 20, she came to me during quiet time and asked me if I believed in the Jolly fat man. I told her the truth because I didn’t want to lie to her. She seemed a bit disappointed, but she has enjoyed being a big girl knowing.

We are truly blessed by this little girl. My first daughter. I love you AK.

I can hardly believe my baby boy is seven! Judd is funny, sensitive, smart, tender-hearted and loving. He loves his family, friends, Legos, ipod games, football, and baseball. He is a jokester. He is extremely thoughtful and giving, and loves to leave notes and drawings for his family. He loves math (and is very good at it), and is good at reading also. I love this boy!

Judd,

I’ve been watching you closely lately.  This 7th year of your life has been a beautiful one, but one that has allowed me to glimpse the beginning of a journey.  You have always been my youngest dude, my sweet baby boy, my handsome.  And while you aren’t hitting your teen years, I can see a little bit of the young man you will be.

You are smart. Don’t ever forget that smart is cool.

If I was given a list of qualities I might gift to you, at the top would be kindness. Kindness wins. I want you to know I think that kind heart makes you special.  I think it makes you stronger.  The people around you deserve the gift of kindness that you choose to give. Whether you are comforting a friend, picking something up for someone, holding a door open or offering a kind word, it all matters.

Even at six, you knew right from wrong. I know it won’t always be easy. Standing up for someone when you see they need it, being the one of your friends that chooses a different path – I’m asking a lot of you, but I know you can do it. Trust yourself.

Right now, at seven, you come to me with everything.  If you get in trouble at school, if you make a bad decision, if you are mean to your sister, you confide in me.  I realize as you get older, turning to me and your Dad may not always seems as easy, but know this, we will always be here for you, no matter what. We WANT you to come to us – with questions, with worries, with concerns. We are here to protect and guide you – forever.

My goal has always been to be the best Mommy, the best teacher, you could have. You love purely, you give unconditionally and play hard with all of your heart.

Did I mention I don’t want you to grow up?  That I don’t want you to ever stop snuggling with me at night or early in the morning? That I hope you won’t ever be embarrassed to run and jump in my arms in celebration after winning a game? Happy 7th birthday, my sweet guy…. I love you very, very much.

On November 12, Caroline had to get a dermoid cyst removed from her forehead. The cyst showed up when she was about 4 weeks old. It grew and we knew that it would have to be removed because it wouldn’t ever go away. When she was 12 weeks old we took her to have it removed by a plastic surgeon.

She did very well before, during and after surgery. She is a precious baby!!

The day before surgery!The morning at the hospital!Taking her back.

Sweet baby in recovery. She just wanted her milk and mommy!

This was day one after surgery!

I am so blessed to get to be these sweet boys Momma! They are thriving and doing so well at and in school this year. We are very proud of them.

3rd grade                                             1st grade

She wants to be a veterinarion when she grows up. OR a dancing princess.

What is your favorite color? Blue

What is your favorite toy? Babies

What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon

What is your favorite show? Peter Rabbit

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Hot dog, peanut butter sandwich

What is your favorite drink? water

What do you want to be when you grow up? i want a baby

What ‘s your favorite thing to do with Mommy? read, polish nails with painishpolish (fingernail polish)

What’s your favorite thing to do with Daddy? wrestle and feed chickens

What’s your favorite thing to do with Jake and Judd? wrestle

What’s your favorite thing to do with Anna Kate and Caroline? play babies