3 Months

I cannot believe that Sassy is 3 months old. Where did it go?

Monday we celebrated Sophie's 3 month old birthday - I know crazy - but we sing happy birthday on the day she turns another month old - why not, she likes it and the kids love to sing to her.

I was holding her the other night while she was asleep and I just thought back to 3 months ago when I met her for the first time. How so small she was and she just fit so snuggley in my arms. She was just so tiny, I couldnt believe. NOT ANYMORE!!!

She is becoming such a chunky monkey. I love all her rolls. I could just eat her up.

She is growing so fast. I so hoped that she would stay a baby for a long time - no such luck though. She is talking and laughing, staying awake more, sleeping (most of the time) all the way through the night, she wants to grab a hold of something so bad, but she just cant quite figure out how to get her hands to do what she wants.

She loves her excersaucer. She will sit in this thing for the longest time. She loves to stand up, hates to lay down, and has to be talked too ALL THE TIME. I run out of things to talk about so I just starting saying what ever pops in my head. The other night I explained to her how to fold clothes - she thought I was really telling her something bc she just laughed at me - I think she was telling me I was crazy if I thought she was going to fold clothes.

She will celebrate her first Easter this weekend and I have made her an Easter Basket!

I have taken it to get her name monogrammed on it. I cant wait to get pictures of all 3 of my babies in their Easter outfits. Still gotta figure out what the Easter Bunny will be bringing.

Now we get to enjoy Sassy being 3 months old and all the milestones that come with that. It has just been such a blessing watching her grow

Hoppy Easter Bunny Ideas

Im not really good at the whole Easter Bunny basket thing. I never really know what kind of stuff the Easter Bunny is suppose to bring. Does he bring baskets full of candy or does he go over board like Santa or does he just bring one or two things like for valentines day - I dont know.

I remember being little and getting tons of stuff, but now being a mom I wonder why did we get all that stuff. I dont like clutter, my kids need nothing -especially stuffed animals, we really dont eat candy at my house - so what do you get them.

I have gotten Gracie and Sophie an outfit and Jake some flip flops from Old Navy, but kinda stumped after that. Im not a bad momma??? I just look at all that stuff and think okay, it will be something else for me to pick up or the dog to chew or them to fight over or something for me to clean up. I dont know.

This Easter Bunny needs a vacation!!!!!

More Momma Time

There was a time when it was just me and Gracie and Sam and anyone who knows my husband knows he works ALL the time. There have been times when we wouldnt see him until 10 or 11 at night and he would be gone before we got up in the morning. Sam is a jack of all trades, when he is not working at the shop he is either on the dozer, driving a truck or working with the cows - he is just a busy man. Being the worker that he is it meant alot of time for me and Gracie to have just to ourselves.

She used to wake up on Saturdays and climb in bed with me and watch TV while I slept some more, we used to go to the park or go on walks (mostly me walking and her riding in the wagon being pulled by me), we used to go visiting whoever we wanted, Saturday nights would come and Sam would be at the race track running the pit area or driving the mud truck or race car, these nights I would pack up and go spend the night with my grandmother and let Gracie sleep with her bc It tickled my grandmother to have a bed partner.

Gracie and I did alot together, just the two of us. Then came Jake and that changed a little, we still went and did things, not as much though, we still had time for just me and her. I would let her go to the store with me and leave Jake with Sam if he was at home. I would take off work a little early and pick her up from school and go get ice cream or something. Just me and her time.

She is growing up so fast, hormones are slowly starting to take over (they happen a lot younger these days), she has friends to spend the night or go spend the night with, she finds things to do in her room that keep her occupied, she most of the time doesnt need me like she use to - breaks my heart sometimes, just the part of feeling like she is out growing me.

Now sassy has come along and again my time is now cut into. Sassy gets alot of my time bc of the fact of being a baby and babies are so demanding. Jake gets a good chunk of my time, bc he is a momma's boy and just wants to be with me, hanging on me all the time, especially when he realizes that it is bed time and to avoid going to be he does this little puppy dog face and makes you feel guilty bc I havent sat and held him all night (only works some of the time, not a big fan of the puppy dog face). Gracie usually gets what is left, tired old me, ready to go to bed, getting ready for the next day - me.

I feel guilty about that, being the oldest has perks, but being the oldest also has a not so good side. I want her to be a kid, i want her to enjoy being a kid, I want her to want me and love being with me. I want to be "THE MOM" of all moms.

Lately she has been acting out a little, I believe mostly for attention. We dont get very much momma and Gracie time anymore. With Jake, Sophie and my grandmother - somebody always is around. My grandmother thinks if I go somewhere she automatically has to go, leaving no time for just me and Gracie to go, whether it be to the shoe store, to walmart, or just to get ice cream. Love my grandmother to death, but sometimes I just need to be a mom by myself.

My grandmother coming to live with us has been a real adjustment, in alot of the ways it is great, she helps me out alot, I really dont know how I would have gotten through my pregnancy without her, bc she took such good care of me and my family when I was just to sick or to tired to do so, but also her being there all the time gets in the way sometimes of alone time with my kids.
Simple things like just watching a movie or cooking cookies. I would not change it in any way and would not want her to be anywhere else but with us, but it is an adjustment.

I need to work on more time with Gracie, just making time. We have been doing movie night on Friday's. I put Sophie down and send Jake to bed or either with his dad playing the WII or something, but we have missed the last 2 weeks bc things just come up, life happens.

I dont want to put her off, I dont want her to be the little girl who says her momma never had time, I want to be there for her, I want to listen to her stories, fix her hair, paint her nails, go buy shoes, sit and watch a movie, answer her questions, cook cookies with her, watch her and her friends, listen to her laugh, hold her when she is scared, watch her sleep, listen to her prayers, be patient when she gets made, praise her for a good grade, sit at sonic and eat ice cream, take the long way home so we can talk and know that every one of these things will someday mean something to her.

Just the other day, I brought this sweet little baby home. I carried for 9 months through the hottest summer ever, I cried the night she was born bc I knew that she would grow so fast and one day not need me, I watched her find her hands, I heard her first laugh, I taught her to walk, I kissed all her bobo's, I rocked her to sleep, I cried the first day of school, I put all that Santa clause stuff together, I played barbies, I put weeds in water bc they were the most beautiful flower I had ever seen, I cried the first night she stayed away from me, I missed her for a whole week when she left to go to Disney World and I couldnt go, I was so proud when she learned to swim and when she no longer wanted to sleep in my room on a palet - I got up every night for a week to go check on her. She is my baby, I love her. I love her more than life it self. All three kids are so precious to me, but Gracie is so much a deep part of me I can not explain. She is the promise of God, she is the beat of my heart, she is the smile on my face, she is the tears in my eyes she is everything of importance to me.

If I do nothing in this world before I die and go to heaven but be her  mom, then that will be all I need out of this life. She brings me joy, she brings me headaches (well worth the it) If I can be the mom that God would have me to be and know that when she is grown up and becomes a mom, that she will look back and know that she is my great reward on this earth. That she is so much a part of who I am and who I pray I will become. She has made my life so blessed.

So this day I will take my sweet girl and spend the afternoon with her and do what ever she desires. To let her know that she is still very much important, that i love her and I love my time with her. We will buy shoes, look at clothes and maybe get some ice cream (before supper).

To Young to be this OLD

WHEN DID I GET OLD!!!!!
Im reminded daily that I am old - at least that is what my kids and the love of my life would have you believe. I dont remember turning old. In February I turned 30 - big wup. I didnt think it was going to be as hard as it has been - I know its a mental thing - (at least until you ask my kids or my lovey).

Im officially the age I remember my mom being, and I remember thinking SHE IS SO OLD - now she really is old (haha) (yes mom your old - ask pops)

Anywhooo - What makes me old, I dont feel old, somedays I dont even look that old (I dont think anyway) a little extra fluff around the middle (thanks to my kids) little extra color on my hair (thanks to my husband) - no wrinkles yet (thanks to OIL OF OLAY) but apparently im old. I DONT WANT TO BE OLD!!!

It was brought to my attention today that Im older than I think in my little head. My bestest friend in the whole wide world - well more of a brother than a friend - sent me a picture of his little girl Lexie of her in the beauty review. She is not old enough to be in the beauty review. I remember when this child was born. I remember go to Wayne's house and holding her when she was only a few weeks old. Now she is grown up and doing the things I remember doing.

Isnt she pretty - look at that big ole smile

High school doesnt seem that long ago. Sitting in MR Kenwrights study hall class pretending to read but really you had your eyes closed, sitting in the cafeteria pretending not to hear the bell ring so you wouldnt have to go to class, bumming a ride in the probe bc I didnt have a car yet, MRS Baileys science class where you hoped we would have an exciting class that would cause Mrs Bailey to get off track and we would just spend class talking - I LOVED THIS CLASS. Mrs Massey in the office, which you knew if you got her started she would go on and on and on - bless her heart. Watching the OJ Trial in MRs Watson's class - (yeah is was guilty). I loved high school and I miss those days - If I knew then what I know now I sure wouldnt have wished them by so fast.

But being older has perks to. My lovey whom I have been with since 8th grade (minus a 3 month breakup when he lost his mind and then decided he couldnt live without me) 16 years together, 11 years of that married - man he is a lucky man (lol)

My kids who make being older worth every ounce of fluff, every hair out of place, every stain on my clothes, every complaint about them getting on my nerves. Gracie who cant believe I didnt have a cell phone when I was in school (bc every kid we know has one - except for Gracie - (thats a whole nother blog),

My tator who thinks I walked with MOSES. He asked me the other day if they had TV's when I was little and if they did, did I watch BEN TEN - some days I feel that old, but yes son they had TV's when I was little. - gotta love him

And of course Sassy! Love her so much but Im not as young as I use to be so I need all the sleep I can get, and getting up at 3:30 AM to eat and then not wanting to go back to sleep bc the light woke her up and now she thinks it is time to laugh and talk. I just dont function with less than 8 hours of sleep - (yes there are bags under my eyes)

Its not that bad, makes me feel good to know that everyone else is old too - now I look at birthdays to make sure they are older than me - (even if its a day - you are still older)

Getting old is rough, trying to do it gracefully is even harder.

Always Doing Something

I have so much extra time (hahahahaha)!!!! Seems like we never stop, but yet I always feel like I never get anything done. This weekend is no exception. Saturday I had made appointment for the kids to get their Easter pictures made. I have been taking pictures with this same man since Gracie was little. Mr Chambers is from Olive Branch but usually comes to Grenada for a weekend right before Easter. He has the live bunnies and lambs and I just love the pictures. They are always so good. This year however he didnt come to Grenada but was setting up in Olive Branch - so I made an appointment for us to go - this will be the 8th year he has taken Easter pictures for me.


                        Gracie and Jake getting ready to take pictures

                                                           
Trying to keep them occupied until our appt. time I let them have my camera and practice their smiles - they took some cute practice pictures - but I cant wait to see the ones that Mr Chambers took

I had promised the kids that if they were good that I would take them to do something fun - My plans were CHUCKY CHEESE - who doesnt love a big mouse that talks.

They did really good on their pictures and acting pretty good the other time - I wanted to ride to Tupelo to go to Hobby Lobby and get somethings and meet up with my cousin - so we took the hour drive from Olive Branch to Tupelo to go to Chucky Cheese - the kids had no idea where we were going they thought that we were just gonna meet my cousin and go to the park their and feed the ducks - when we pulled up at Chucky Cheese - I wish you could have heard them - they were so excited. Then a plus is my cousins daughters work their so they gave us a coupon for 50 extra tokens - so excited until I realized how long it would take for Jake to spend his tokens - he didnt want to spend them bc he was scared he would run out - we spent over 2 hours in there - I finally convinced him to save the rest until next time - I was wore out.

Sophie had a good time too - she seemed to really enjoy all the lights and music

But she got bored real fast and

had better things to do.

We had a really great time and really enjoyed seeing the kids have so much fun - but I was ready to go home and sit down - and let me tell you I slept like a baby last night - I think I even wore Sophie out - she slept from 9 last night to 6:45 this morning - I can handle that.

Pretty Sassy

Bought Sassy some cute little headbands the other day. They are so adorable on her. I love taking pictures of her. My grandmother says they are to big, and Sam just rolls his eyes, but anywhooo I think they are adorable.

Gracie has been really been doing well in her bible knowledge. She has learned all Ten Commandments in order and all the books of the New Testament in order. Im so proud of her and her excitment about His word. She is growing up so fast and is so smart, if we could just work on her attitude sometimes it would be nice. She is 9 going on 16. She is gonna make me gray before my time.

Jake has been a real handful. Some days he goes back into baby mode. He gets upset bc Sassy takes so much of my time, then other times he wants to be such a big boy. He has been going to friends house to play and wants spend the night company, dont know that im ready for him to grow up. I know that sassy is the baby, but Jake is MY baby. He loves his momma so much. He just cant give enough love. He will be going to kindergarden next year. I cant believe it.

And Sassy loves him to death. He loves on her and kisses her and talks to her. She just smiles at him. Everyone at church just loves the way he loves on her before he goes to his class. He is the best big brother ever.

Nana and Pops came over this weekend. They try to come about once a month or so to see the kids. They just love it when they come. Especially Jake wanting Pops. He loves Pops bc Pops gets him all worked up and then decides its time to go home. Jake is crazy about Pops, I think it is bc pops is on his level - sorry pops.

We are getting ready for Easter. I have gotten Gracie and Sophie the cutest dresses and Jake a shirt to coordinate. We are going to take Easter pictures next weekend with Ronnie Chambers. He has the real bunnies and lambs and the pictures are always the sweetest things. I have been taking pictures with him since Gracie was little. I cant wait to see how they turn out this year. We are also working on the Easter egg hunt at church. I have been really big into the kids ministry for the last several years, but I think that the Lord is trying to lead me in other directions. Been praying about it, I dont do change very well, so we will see.

We always go to my moms for Easter, cant wait to hide eggs and let the kids hunt them. I wish I could still hunt eggs. I remember having the best Easters at my Granny's house every year with all my cousins. I wish my kids had cousins to hunt eggs with.

Things have been crazy, still trying to find our normal. In my last post I was aggreviated and just felt overwhelmed. I know that I have a great life, great kids, great job, and most of all a great husband. I just need to find my place and get re organized.

Permission to VENT

Let me start by saying I love my husband, I love my kids and I am so blessed, but it does say in the bible there is a time to vent.

My day starts at 5 - if not before, bath, makeup, hair - if im lucky Sophie sleeps through this part, if not I have to stop and nurse her then rush to finish hair and makeup - somedays i dont even think its worth hair and makeup. Anyway 6 in the kitchen cooking breakfast, waking Gracie (for the first time) and Jake, Sam is still sleeping, let dog out, get breakfast started, fix lunches, fix coffee, wake Gracie up for the second time, let dog in, tend to Sophie if she is awake, Sam is still sleeping, 6:20 breakfast on the table, Jake is eating, wake Gracie for the third time, Sam is still sleeping so I go wake him up, Sophie needs holding, my coffee is cold, 6:30 finally get Gracie out of the bed, Sam eats and goes back to bed, change Sophie's clothes, tell Gracie for the last time to get dressed and go eat, Jake needs help with his shoes, Sam is back in the bed. 6:40 in the bathroom brushing teeth, combing hair, hollaring at Gracie to hurry up and eat so I can fix her hair, Granny wakes up and helps with Sophie who is still hungry bc I didnt have time to finish nursing so she gets a bottle, Sam is still in the bed, 6:55 coffee is frozen pour that full cup out and make another cup to go, Jake gets in the car, Gracie cant find all her stuff, which was suppose to be gotten to gether the night before, out the door not later than 7:10 - making me late for work - Sam finally gets out of the bed to get dressed so he can leave.
Work
Home by 5, eat supper, clean kitchen, get homework done, Sam is home but on the internet, 7 time for bathes for 3 kids - if sassy is luck enough to get a bath that night, pack sassy's bag for the next day, pick up the little things that our out of order, Sam is still on the internet, Feed Sophie, make kids get clothes set out for tom, book bags together, 7:50 brush teeth, listen to kids fuss about whatever, start trying to get them in the bed, Sam is still on the internet, 8:10 kids are in the bed, 8:12 kids are out of the bed bc they need water, 8:15 back in the bed, 8:21 back up bc they forgot to give me love 12 times each, back in the bed, Sam is still on the internet, Sassy wakes up to eat again, kids back up for whatever reason, my head hurts, Sassy is back down with luck for the night, if not ill be back up about 2 for nurse, if a storm comes through im up with Gracie who is terrified of storms. 9;15 kids are finally down. Sam puts the computer up to take a long need hot bath - by himself with no kids. finish picking up what I started, get coffee pot ready for the next day, makeup off, teeth brushed, take a final check of all the kids, Sam is out of his long hot bath with out kids and sitting down resting now, let dog out one last time, check doors, check thermastat, feed cat, one more check on the baby, in the bed, NO SAM, and you ask WHY AM I TIRED, you think??

He is good and a very hard worker, just not at home. I love my life more than I could ever explain, just feeling kinda used and abused. But God is good and I could not ask for a better life, just needed to vent my frustration. Sorry no pics - just to tired to load them and post them.

2 Months and Growing

Sophie was 2 months old this last week. It is going by so super fast. I know im gonna blink and she will be Gracie's age. Seems like yesterday Gracie was her size. I forgot how demanding having a little baby was. Its been 6 years since we had a little baby. We had gotten to the point where you say get in the car and you go, now we have to pack and plan an hour ahead before we go anywhere. It is demanding and sometimes tiring but so rewarding. Still trying to enjoy all this time though, bc I know it is gonna zoom by.

Its been a busy weekend. Sam and I celebrated our 11th anniversary Saturday. My grandmother watched the kids so we could go out to eat. I was so tired, I had cleaned all day and just didnt want to do much of anything really. We did get dressed up and went and ate. It was nice to go and be able to talk without momma momma momma or daddy daddy daddy, but I think next year we are going just grab a burger and maybe take the long way home, bc I sure was glad to come home and put my pj's back on and just lay in bed. Just feel like an old fuddy duddy, good thing my husband is a fuddy duddy too, we are just simple and just like being home with the kids, even if they do drive us crazy sometimes.

Sophie is really coming out. She has been sleeping all the way through the night, has laughed out loud, cried with real tears and tonight I fed her cereal for the first time and she loved it. Never have followed the doctors rule on feeding them. I think a mother knows when her baby is ready and I have eaters so waiting another month or so to feed her cereal is crazy to me, next month she will be eating ribeyes and tators' - she's a country girl - Sam says we got to toughin her up.

Some sweet pictures of Sophie being 2 months old - slow down Sassy - your growing to fast!!

2 Months

Sophie is 2 months old today (I guess) She was born on Dec 29 but since there is no 29th in Feb we joke around that she cant be 2 months old. She is growing so fast. I wish it would slow down.

                                                                    2 days old

1 month old

2 Months old

This is what I wake up with every morning. Such a happy blessing