Memorial Day Weekend [Finally]

We had a fantastically fun Memorial Day weekend at the lake house, while also remembering what, why, and who the day is for. We are incredibly grateful to all the men and women in the Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives to protect the freedoms we enjoy each day. 

We started the weekend with a parade! The babies got dressed in their festive apparel. Rachael's outfit was originally Ryan's.

We found the perfect spot to watch the parade. David wondered, "Where's the parade?"



Mama and Rachael having a great time watching the parade [Ryan actually had the camera this time!]. I had to put the hat on Rachael to protect her from the sun, it wasn't a new fashion statement.



Then we headed back to the lake for a little boat time.

 David absolutely loves to "drive" the boat.



Rachael thought her brother was hilarious and this boat thing was pretty fun too.



Another fun activity included David and Ryan riding in the tube behind the boat.






Rachael slept through the entire ride.



David also thought it was funny to imitate Mama and Daddy water skiing while standing on the back of the boat. He would grab the ski rope, grip the handle perfectly, bend his knees, act like he's skiing...


And then "drop" the rope in the water making a big splash and end the performance with a big round of applause for himself.



Beautiful Rachael just watched in amazement at her brother's energy and enthusiasm.



We also found a turtle! David tried to coax it out of its shell, but it wasn't coming out.



Finally, on Monday I dressed all three babies up in their Memorial day clothes again [and a bandanna for Bogie].


Bogie was finished with the photoshoot a little sooner than David and Rachael were.



Happy Belated Memorial Day! 

3 Years Ago

I had a completely different post scheduled for tonight [all about our fun-filled, long weekend], but I feel compelled to say this, instead:

Tonight, after nursing Rachael and enjoying all the precious moments that come with such a special time, I began to reflect. As I rocked my sleeping baby girl, while Ryan was reading to David and saying their prayers, my mind started to wander. I thought about our lives just three years ago. 

Ryan and I had been married for nearly three years, trying for a baby for over a full year. My heart was aching and longing to hold a child of my own and there were days I thought it might never happen. We were beginning fertility treatments and praying each day THIS might be our chance. Just three years ago my house was spotless. Clean as a whistle. Everything had a place, everything was in it's place. I played tennis at least twice a week and usually went out to lunch with friends one of those days. I attended Boot Camp workouts at 5:00am every other week day and had all the time in the world to go for a 3 mile run whenever I wanted. I had my nails done, my hair cut whenever they needed it. I was very up-to-date on current event; our tv stayed on Fox News all day long. I could remember every little detail of every event. I made spectacular, delicious, time-consuming meals and was able to linger over them at the dinner table as long as I wished. I slept in every Saturday morning. But, there was one, actually two, missing pieces. Babies. 

Now, three years later things are not like they were. My house is a mess. There is stuff everywhere. Dust covering most of the furniture. Dirt all over the floors. I don't have time for myself these days. No time to play tennis, go for a run, or get my nails done. I have absolutely no idea what is going on in the world [which actually isn't so bad]. If our tv is on at all more than likely it's on Sesame Street. I can't remember anything if it's not related to my children. Dinnertime is chaotic, rushed, and not always perfectly balanced. There is no sleeping in, ever. My life is not as it used to be. It revolves around naps, meals, diapers, and playtime. It revolves around two other, more important, lives. 

But, as I kissed my baby boy goodnight and as I watched my precious little girl sleeping so peacefully in my arms, I realized I wouldn't trade these last years for a million years of the way it was before these miracles came into our lives. I will one day, too soon, have time for myself again. So, I embrace my cluttered home, a few extra pounds, my scattered-brain, my unpolished nails, the nerve-racking dinner times. Because without them I have no children. They are proof that I am a Mama and that I treasure my children more than anything else. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMA!!

Yes, that's right. This weekend, I, the Mama, turned 31 years old. My birthday party was among the many fun activities we took part in this Memorial Day Weekend, all of which I will document soon. 

But, first, my birthday! 

I was able to celebrate my birthday at one of my most favorite places- our lake house that has been in my family for over 15 years! I love this place. So many wonderful memories have been made in this house and yet another was made this weekend. I got to open my gifts with the help of both my children- how fun!

Also, as promised, Ryan got to open presents for his birthday too.



I chose Key Lime Pie, made special by Ma, for my birthday "cake" [we had to have two pies to feed all of us]. David helped me blow out the candles, of course. He LOVES to blow out candles.



One of my birthday wishes was for my newest nephew, Parker James, to be released from the Vanderbilt NCIU and he was!! We are so happy that Parker was given a clean bill of health and was sent home on May 26th!! Welcome home, Parker! We are looking forward to meeting him very soon.

What a blessed birthday I had. I am grateful for so much. My family. My children. My husband. Our health. Our happiness.
I'm excited to see what this next year in my life will bring.

My Babies' Eyes

I am totally in love with my babies' eyes. They couldn't be any more different in color, but they both have the most beautiful eyes ever. I know I may be biased, but my goodness, they are gorgeous. 

[Unfortunately, I am not yet a good enough photographer to really show the beauty of them. But, I will keep trying!]

I have yet to find the right words to describe David's eye color. They are light brown, slightly hazel and so clear you can actually see these stunning striations within the irises. To me, they are the epitome of "piercing eyes". 

Rachael's eyes are the most gorgeous deep blue. They are so brilliantly clear that I can see my reflection in them in any light. They are not just blue, they are breathtakingly blue. They sparkle like none I've ever seen.

Determination

Here's a video of precious Rachael showing off her way of getting toys that are just out of her reach.  I love how she leans back and flaps her arms before going after the toys. It's like she is building up the momentum to throw herself in the direction of the toy. I hope she always has such determination.

Sorry the video is so LARGE, I am testing out new photo/video hosting sites and can't figure out how to make it smaller. 

Daddy's Little Helper

David has really taken to "helping" Ryan with anything and everything. He wants to be just like his Daddy and it's incredibly adorable! 

Helping Daddy cut the grass

Helping Daddy wash the car









And what is Rachael doing while all this hard work is being done?
Just being cute, of course.

Rachael Just Being Rachael

Rachael has become quite the little ham recently, which I am pretty sure she has learned from her big brother. She can make some of the strangest, yet hilarious, noises and she loves to play peek-a-boo. She seems to have really grown [physically and mentally] just over the last few days. She wants so badly to keep up with David and play with him. I am working on encouraging him to include her in his playtime, but sometimes he doesn't understand why she takes his toys and tries to immediately eat them. Unfortunately, he doesn't remember just a few short months ago when he was doing the exact same thing.


Here are two very cute videos of her showing off this morning after breakfast.

* A quick update on David's potty training: He is doing GREAT! If he's not wearing a diaper he does a fantastic job about getting to the potty in time. But, today, just after lunch, when he still had a diaper on, he ran to the potty all by himself!! It was a proud moment. Little by little, we are getting there. 

HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY, CATE!

This weekend we celebrated David and Rachael's cousin Cate's 7th birthday! It was such a super cute and fun zebra stripe-themed party! 

David had a fantastic time hanging out with the big kids. It was a swim party at Ma and Big Daddy's house. David never got in the pool, but he was ready for a dip at any time. 

Rachael enjoyed watching all the kids and had a blast during the entire party.

Cate was so sweet to reserve a spot just for David right next to her when it was time to eat. It was fun to watch David participate in a conversation with other kids.




Then, when it came time to blow out her candles, Cate wanted David [and Ricky] right next to her again- so sweet.




Also attending the party was a zebra pinata! After Cate took her turn, she made sure David got his turn next.







When it came time to watch Cate open her presents both kids sat with Ryan. How cute is that?!




It was a GREAT afternoon filled with tons of fun!


Rachael giving her big cousin one last birthday hug.


Happy 7th Birthday, Cate!

PARKER JAMES is born!

Last Saturday, May 12, David and Rachael's baby cousin, Parker was born!!! He was a bit early- 5 1/2 weeks and weighed only 4lbs 8ounces. He was having some difficulties breathing and his heart rate spiked a few times, so he was transported to another, more specialized, hospital soon after he was born. When he first arrived at the hospital he was covered with tubes, wires, and monitors. Ryan drove up to see him on Saturday night, but the kids and I unfortunately could not. 

But, everyday Parker is growing stronger and healthier. And everyday more tubes, wires, and monitors are removed. He has been in the hospital this entire week and is making such great progress the doctors say he should be going home very soon. His lungs are perfect and heart is healthy. He is working on learning how to eat, regulate his own body temperature, and breath completely on his own. Once these things are accomplished, he will be homeward bound! And we all hope to meet and hold Parker very soon.

We pray for this precious little boy everyday. And thank God for his grace and blessings as we watch Parker get stronger with each passing day. 

Welcome to the world, Parker James!! We are so excited to have you in our family!!

The Last Few Days

These last few days have been incredibly exciting, busy, and blessed [an explanation to come soon], so I must play catch-up now.

First off, the kids have been enjoying the warm weather by hanging out by Ma and Big Daddy's pool. 

Sweet Baby Girl in one of her very frilly bathing suits.  

David loves kicking his feet in the water. [he doesn't mind wearing his water wings either]

Ma and Big Daddy's bird dog, Hooch, had puppies so we just had to go see them at the breeders'. I mean who doesn't love a pile of sleeping puppies?

David absolutely loved petting them.

He was so gentle.

Ryan shot a turkey at some point over the last few days [I honestly don't know exactly what day it was, but it was recently]. David was so excited to see the turkey.

Just making sure it doesn't need to be shot again. [Notice the upside down gun, that's how he usually shoots it. And yes, it's a toy gun]

Posing with Daddy and the turkey. 

David also helped Ryan clean the turkey with his very own "knife" [Yes, a toy knife]. He thinks he is so big whenever he helps his Daddy. 

Could this be any cuter? I don't think so.

Rachael is making great progress towards crawling. Yes, that's right, crawling. Can you believe that?! If I put something out of her reach, especially if she knows she's not supposed to have it, she will work and work for as long as it takes to get to it.

This look on her face means that she has spotted something she wants. In this case, it was my camera strap.

Rachael leans forward and stretches out until she reaches what she wants. 

 Sometimes she leans too far and ends up like this:

 And sometimes she can get her foot flat on the floor and push off a little bit. I really thought she was going to start crawling when I was taking this picture. 

When she finally gets what she was after she is one happy, little girl.

 And then it's time for a nap.