Look what we got...

Here is the first of a few new posts...

I had been watching the news yesterday evening and was sort of tracking the storm that was coming through. Devan was at baseball practice and I kept debating on whether to call him and tell them to let the players leave, etc. so they wouldn't get caught in it. Anyway, I talked to him about 5 or so and we were trying to decide if I should meet him to eat before church or if he was coming home. I told him I did NOT want to get out if it was going to hail. Devan said, well it doesn't look that bad here, maybe you should come on. I said, well I really don't wanna risk it. So he said he would come home, pick some food up on the way, and then we'd go to church. Well what do ya know, Kaylee can actually listen to the weather on TV and realize when to stay in. Devan got POUNDED coming home. I called him about 10 minutes into his drive when I heard the hail coming down and it sounded horrible - I could hear the hail hitting the car. Luckily there was only one big dent that we could see...Maybe SOMEONE should listen to SOMEONE next time:) Ha! love ya, honey!

Devan took the kids out to look at it - it really isn't as dark as it looks in the pictures

Great Gandmama and Jake

Over Spring Break we visited with my grandmama who lives in Longview (about 30 miles from my parents.) This woman is a remarkable lady who loves her family and the Lord. I am amazed as I watch her and admire her more and more each day. She has been living with dibilitating arthritis for years, yet continues to do things most of us complain about doing when we're a little sore. She loves her great-grandkids and they are so sweet with her. Lucy probably brought her her baby doll a hundred times for her to wrap it up for her in it's blanket. She never tired of doing it (I'm sure it was painful, but she wasn't gonna let that stop her). We love you Grandmama!

Well...here is my brave girl! My brother brought his dog (and this is a BIG, SCARY looking dog) to my parents house. Jake is a good dog, but can be pretty intimidating. Lee kept trying to get my kids to play with him. Of course Brinton never got too close, but after a couple of days, here is Lucy. She was petting him, clapping at him and letting him lick her. I loved watching it. I think my brother did too!

This is a happy squeal :)

Lucy's parties

We celebrated Lucy's birthday by going to Chuy's that evening (you can't go wrong with that place :) We had our awesome friends the Vandygriff's , minus Lindsay :( join us for the celebration. We weren't really planning on doing this because Devan was supposed to have a game, but then it got canceled (and then actually was played...) anyway, we went on with it and Devan joined us. We just made a cake and took it there - I loved the easiness of this and think I should do the same every year :)!

Put a cake pic since Brinton helped decorate!

Too much creamy jalepeno...Macy was partied out

Lucy loved this baby (it crawls and talks) Thanks!!!

Here are some pics from over Spring Break at my parents. My mom had a small party for Lou there. She had a Dora cake and then one just for her.

She likes Dora, really - not sure about this face...Yum!

Lucy, Lu is turning 2!!!

My little girl is turning 2 today! WOW! Anyone who knows our Lucy, knows she is very determined, but very loving, too! We are so grateful for her, even times when we're not sure the best way to handle her. She keeps us on on toes for sure. We love listening to her talk and communicate with us, especially things like "I love you!," "Give you hug," "don't cry, Maymay"
We love watching you play with your brother. There are disagreements, yes, but often you get along so well. He is definitely your protector whether you need it or not right now (you can stand up for yourself that's for sure.) At the park just yesterday, a couple of boys approached you both and put toy guns in your face (I was a bit unhappy about this) but I quickly saw your brother push the guns away and help you up off the slide, grab your hand, and say "Come on, Lucy, let's get out of here." I love watching you both! When I hear you say "Hold me, Bubba" my heart just melts. You are very strong-willed and require a lot of patience. But I think that will be a positive quality as you grow. Your Mimi has said that hopefully this will mean you will never go along with negative peer pressure (boy am I hoping she's right.) But as strong-willed as you are, you are also that loving. Your hugs, snuggles, singing, your smile that lights up a room, listening to you pray "Dear God........Desus name, amen!" are worth it all! We love you, LouLou! Happy Bday!

Some things Lucy likes:
* "bubba" and "MayMay"
* "Momma" and "daddy"
*"waffles" in the morning
* any stuffed animal or baby doll - she will carry them around the house, likes to sleep with them and take them in the car with her.
* her family
*"paying" (playing) with her bubba
* "fying" (flying) in the air with the help of her daddy
* talking and using all of her new words that she is learning every day.
* saying "hold me (Insert name)" a lot :)
* saying "no" a lot - we're not sure how to get her to stop this...we've tried many methods :)
* Singing - she will sing songs and if she doesn't know word, she'll make one up. Many times I hear her singing a familiar tune with her own words...Her favs are Jesus Loves Me, Twinkle, Twinkle, All Night, All Day, and a couple that we have made up :)
* Reading books
* Being outside

Some things Lucy dislikes:
* Being told to do something or not to do something when it's the opposite of what she is wanting.
* Having to share when she is sure everything belongs to her :)
* Having help brushing her teeth those times she wants to do it "by mysef"
- I'm sure if I thought long enough this list would be longer, but then again, her main dislike is no.1 on this list - Just being told no or not to do something - she can't stand it!

One week

One Year
Two years

Stroller mishaps and other stuff.

Well - I try to be a good mommy. So I had a basketball game on Monday and Devan was finishing up baseball practice. I decided to leave a little early and go to school and let the kids play on the playground before my game. I get out, put Macy in the stroller and head on - thinking this will be good times for all. When we get to the curb going onto the soccer field, I pushed the stroller up and onto the grass, turning to wait for the other two to follow. Usually Lucy loves holding Brinton's hand, but not today. She refused to come over the curb with her Brother and started to whine. Well, he didn't want to let go of her hand and she wasn't budging either. I looked at the stroller making sure it was good - took two steps to grab Lucy up - I turned to look and what I saw will be etched in my memory forever - it was like it was in slow motion and I was frozen - I saw the stroller rolling down the hill with my baby inside - I put Lucy down, ran down the hill and got to the stroller just as it stopped on level ground. I looked in quickly so see my precious Macy still sound asleep as if to say "what, mommy, why are you so terrified, I am having great dreams...." Well, I moved her around and checked her just to make sure. I am sooooo grateful she was fine but what I haven't mentioned yet is that there were witnesses. The cross country coach and a few of the runners were out there. The coach was actually standing right where the stroller stopped, looked at me as I was running down and asked "Is it empty?" "No!" I yelled. The look he gave me after we knew she was fine, well, let's just say it didn't help me in the thinking what a horrible mom I was department. But all is well and God was watching over us!

Here are a few of pics up of the kids . Everyone is seeming to adjust nicely with the addition of little Macy. She is doing well herself. She doesn't cry very much and is sleeping pretty good too. Her brother and sister enjoying kissing on her and making sure she's okay. Lucy says things like, "Don't cry, May May" and "it's okay" and her newest, "dust (just) a minute." (I wonder where she hears this stuff??!)

Macy's Here!!!

Well, Macy is punctual! She arrived Monday, January 12, which was her due date! I started having minor contractions that morning. Summer came over and took care of Brinton and Lucy. When we got to the hospital I kept having contractions, but after a while they slowed down - what!? So they started potossin (sp?) and she came within a couple of hours. She weighed 8lbs. 5oz. and was 21". She's the biggest of my babies... Once again I opted to have a natural birth (no epidural) and was so glad when she was delivered :) We are so thankful everything went smoothly and that she is a healthy baby. Thank you for all of your prayers for us!

Brinton's new bed and Merry Christmas

May I just say that my dad is very talented. He can build and fix almost anything. We had been talking about getting a bed for Brinton since he's slept on a mattress on a floor for over a year now. My dad said he could build him one for Christmas. Well that sounded great to us! But he didn't just build a bed. He made a baseball bed with a shadowbox sort of thing. It had bats, cardinals, pictures, hats, gloves, etc inside the casing. It also has a built-in nightlight at the top. Brinton loved it! Thanks Grandad!

Brinton looking at the stuff inside

He didn't want to pose

My dad and mom came to our house this Christmas :) Since traveling for me was not an option. We had a fun time opening presents and just relaxing and spending time together. My kids love their mimi and grandad.

Excuse me, I'll have to call you back later.

Headphones from great-grandmother