Ode to #3

I have been constantly amused at the evolution of motherhood that has taken place in my life over the past year. Gray is now fourteen months old. I've looked back often since he was born and realized how much I have changed since #1 came along. When #3 comes along...you find yourself doing things you swore you would never do. I thought I would share a few...

• I don't think I've washed one of his dropped pacys since he was about two weeks old (used to practically sterilize the other one's)
• I took him to Wal-Mart in his pajamas and bare feet the other day(gasp)
• I use whatever spoon is available to feed him (it is often too big for his mouth)
• At a recent after church lunch at Peppers (unplanned) I let him eat PB & J, chips, crackers and sip his sister's Sprite (my other two didn't know what sugar was until around age 2 unless it was their first birthday cake...I also would have made a special trip home in order to provide them with healthy nourishment-crazy!)
• I introduced juice boxes at 12 months (don't judge)
• I maybe pumped a total of 10 times over six months of nursing...if I wasn't there he got formula (Heaven forbid!)
• Baths are optional for #3 (depends on what's going on with #1 and #2)
• Schedule...what schedule?? Baby Wise has been long gone!!

I'm sure I'm forgetting lots of things (I would have been sure to write them down with #1 and #2), but with all of that being said....he is a well adjusted, sweet, laid back, precious, smart baby...I'm so glad he came along when he did... I might still be absorbed in my neurotic behavior :) Please feel free to add your favorite no-no you let slide with your #3.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!!!

As most of you know, Tupelo has been literally flooded for the past month. Before it turned cool, my kids enjoyed an afternoon of puddle splashing...or I should say...my boys did! Molly barely got her feet wet. She was more fascinated with the abundance of tiny worms that came out when the rain stopped. Here are a few pics to remember our day...Charlie in his element...

Gray was learning from the master big brother puddle splasher!!

Yucky worms!! Her face says it all!

Happy Birthday Molly!!!

Four years ago today our sweet Molly was born. She wanted to celebrate with a "Dora Princess Party." She truly is our princess. She is very much a girly-girl, and I am so glad!! I tell her all the time how thankful I am she was born, because I would be totally out-numbered! I love my boys just as much, but it is nice to have some pink around the house every once and a while! Here she is in her pink princess dress waiting for her guests to arrive!She and Erin Ruth clowning around before the party Lacey was our tiniest and youngest princess there today...isn't she a doll?

Making princess hats...they matched the one Dora was wearing on the invitations...

I had lots of help from my older neices putting on the girls' make-up and painting their fingernails...so fun!

This is her cake...right before Swiper swiped it!!

Everyone had to get their backpacks and maps to find the cake...

They had to put on their power bracelets, drink purple potion, the find their princess wands hidden around the house before cake hunting...boy were they into it!!

They finally found the cake hidden on Charlie's top bunk...

Blowing out candles....I can't believe there are four!!!

Opening presents with lots of help from friends and family...

Last, but not least, everyone had to take turns on the new Barbie Jeep...it was the first sunshine we had seen in a while, so we had to enjoy it!!

Mary Dillard and Lindsey

Joy and Audrey

Molly and Lindsey

After all the fun and laughter, we decided that nobody enjoyed themselves more than this little guy....he doesn't care that the Jeep is pink:)

Happy Birthday Molly!! We love you and we can't wait to see what amazing plan God has for your life...can you please just stay four forever???

Life...according to my three year old-part 2!!

This is Molly on her first day of dance. She is loving it so far, and continues to amuse me with her keen observations. Just this week she said that three of the girls in her class wear panties with their leotards. I think that is a big no-no in the world of dance, but I never took dance (big tomboy) so I'm not sure. Anyway... I thought I would share a few more observations from my precocious three (almost four) year old. If you missed part one, you may find it here.

• After my birthday supper, my sister asked Molly where daddy took mommy to eat...she replied,"The Golf Club...that's where my daddy works!"
• Buying jellybeans at The Corner Shoe Store...she told the clerk, "One time at the beach my daddy got bit by a jellybean!" (we'll work on grammar when she's four :))
• "Mommy! That spider was so big...it was like 1000!"
• Going to a bridal shower..."Mommy, is Ms. Britney going to take ALL her clothes off at the shower??"
• After I told Molly that Mommy can only do one thing at a time, and that I only have two hands, she replied, "No Mama, you have two hands, so you can do two things at a time!"
• Finding Gray getting into her things...she put her hand on her hip, shook her head and said, "Oh no you didn't!!"
• She asked after bedtime prayers one night..."Mama, are there crayons and paper in Heaven?" ..."yes, why?"..."I want to make Jesus and God a picture when I get there!"

To be continued...

Ducks and Golf

One of our favorite activities this summer was Friday night supper at TCC, then putting around with Stephen and feeding the ducks. I finally remembered to bring my camera one night. We love to watch the kids run around and attempt to play a little golf. It's so beautiful out there when the sun is setting!! We will cherish these times together as a family!

Molly and Charlie enjoyed feeding the ducks while Gray and Daddy watched...

I think Gray quacked the whole time we were out there...he had just learned what a duck says:)The ducks weren't too happy when we left...they wanted more food!!One of my favorite pics...I could just eat him up...couldn't you??He already knows the where the ball goes!!! Stephen was so excited, but Gray had had enough and headed back to the cart.Molly got a few pointers about putting from big brother... Nothing like a game of "King of the Hill" to end the night!!