Christmas 2017

Some moments I just want to beg the good Lord to stop time right in its tracks. The Saturday before Christmas was one of those moments. We had an entire day of nothingness. We didn't have to go anywhere, see anybody...essentially what I'm saying is that I didn't have to wear makeup. Hallelujah and amen. I spent the entire day cooking all of the food that I would be taking to the 5 Christmas functions we would go to over the next 2 days. The girls were in and out of the kitchen "helping" me and we had Christmas music playing. It gave me all the feels. I silently prayed that that would be a lasting memory for them. The one where we weren't rushed. I wasn't nagging them to get their shoes on and get out the door. None of that. It was just Christmas anticipation and excitement with lots of talk about what Santa was going to bring. I want more of the same for 2018. I want to slow down their childhood.

Here is a very unorganized random list of direct quotes from my kids that I don't want to forget. 

Elynn on Christmas day while discussing Santa's visit- "I didn't hear Santa's steppin' foots."

Elynn when I tracked Santa on Christmas Eve and he was 4 hours away- "Momma! We dotta dough home!"


















Elynn during the middle of the night one night-  "You a dood (good) momma" And yes, she woke me up from the REM cycle to tell me that, but it was all good cause that was a drastic difference in her loudly whispering the week before that "You da worst momma ever." You gotta take the good with the bad, people.

On the way home from Adam's Granny's on Christmas eve night Adam wasn't going fast enough-  "Santa's gonna be at our house!"

An argument broke out between Reese and Elynn because Elynn would not stop talking at bedtime and Reese was afraid Santa wasn't going to stop by our house because they weren't asleep.

These are some of my very favorite pictures from the holidays. The magic and excitement on their faces is almost more than my heart can handle.

I also want you to know exactly how IMPOSSIBLE it is to get a good picture of 3 small people. Momma tried... 

Reese had to drag Elynn out of bed to see what Santa brought. I also have a precious video of her telling Elynn "Come on Edee. I'm cited!  Santa came!" but it won't post here.

I hate that this is blurry, but this is about how she looked after every present and it all happened so fast that all the pictures look about the same way. 

My very favorite thing about this is that his little chubby foot is on another present trying to get to the tractor. He loved all the presents, but Santa picked a gooden' when he brought this. Perfect size for him right now. 

The Saturday after Christmas Reese was standing on the countertop in the kitchen looking in the highest cabinet we have and in a hushed voice said " Momma! The elves stayed with us!" She discovered that the elves were tucked away in that cabinet. (Adam got some serious side eye from me at that very moment.) The elves left a note that night that said Santa had left them for a few more days to make sure Reese and Elynn didn't fight over their presents and who drove the go kart. They took their final flight (again) of the year back to the North Pole that night.

I would like to OPEN HAND SLAP whoever decided elves needed to move into our homes during December every year. OPEN. HAND. SLAP.🙄

I've been busy is my excuse

I haven't posted in over a year because y'all...I HAVE BEEN BUSY. And by busy I mean hiney wiping, booger picking, nose blowing, throw up cleaning busy. It's all very glamorous. And quite frankly, I am sad about it. I am sad about all the milestones I have not documented because of all the busyness. We had a freak winter storm last weekend and got almost 8 inches of snow and it forced us to slow down. It made me realize one thing. I am about to up the number of times I say "no" to things. It's all good stuff, but it's too much. We are constantly on the go and I, for one, ain't a fan of it. But that's all side stuff. Let's get to the good stuff...our kids and all the things they've said that I don't want to forget.

On Thanksgiving morning I asked the girls what they were thankful for. Reese said her family cause she is the picture of precious. I asked Elynn (who either refers to herself as "Ewinn" or "Edee Wae") and she said, "my momma." (Which shocked me because it was just the day before that she muttered under her breath "you da wust (worst) momma eva" while she rolled her eyes.)

What you need to know about "Ewinn" is that she's all things sassy topped with curly hair. (Or as she  says "turwee" hair.)

Before we went to bed that night I asked them again what they were thankful for because I just adore their little voices and hearing their sweet little thoughts. Elynn huffed, "I said it a thousand times... YOU!" She proceeded to look at her daddy and say, "her don't wisten.(listen)."

She should have been thankful Jesus was near cause I should have whipped that little tail for being such a sass mouth.

I have had unfortunate iphone events over the past several months. It usually is because I have some silly cutesy case on my phone like an idiot. I had to have a replacement back in August because mine was damaged in a fall to the point of no return. Then in October I upgraded to the 8 because... PORTRAIT SETTING! Reese looks at me with a mothering look and tone and said, "Momma! You've had 3 phones this year!" She's the head of reason in the bunch.

Elynn told me "I love you all the way to....Twistmas" and y'all that was way back in September so girlfriend loves me a whole lot.

When Elynn wants all of something she says "All bit of it."

Somewhere around the 4:00 hour everyday we arrive home and EVERYBODY loses their flippin minds. For example, a few weeks ago we get home and Elynn goes straight to the potty (this is every single day because apparently nobody can wipe her as good as me so she waits till we are together. It's so flattering to have such talents.). While she is using the potty I was putting up groceries, Drake was holding on to my leg, and the phone rang. While I was talking to Adam on the phone, Elynn sends out the "I'mmmmm donnnnnneeee" so I walk in the bathroom to find that Drake had left my side to play in the toilet while Elynn was sitting on it. I let out what I am sure was not a child friendly word (I'm kidding. I said one but it was in my head) and during all the chaos dropped the phone in the toilet. Y'all. I can't even.

Elynn has a lot of questions about getting baptized and having Jesus in your heart. Over the summer her Aunt Heather was teaching her how to swim. She stopped what she was doing, raised up her swim suit top and said "Dis is where Jesus lives" and pointed to her heart. Last week she asked me "When you asked Jesus to come into your heart, do you have to go to the mergency room to get him put there?" Cause if so I can tell y'all one thing for certain- that girl is out.  Ain't doin it.

Speaking of her Aunt Heather- she went so long without seeing her that once she did see her she called her "Miss. Heather." It was like she didn't even know her anymore.


















Anytime there is a crying child (which let's face it is all the time since we have 3 of them) Drake walks up to the crying one and politely says, "ush" (hush). That is usually followed by a slap, pinch, hair pull, or bite.

He calls socks "ocks."

Here's to hoping I get back with y'all before they graduate from high school.

Did y'all know...

that like 4 months ago we had a baby?!?!? I know, I know. Still shocks me too. But here he is and he's so squishy wishy and presh. 

I'm going to tell y'all all about his arrival and life with 3 little people next time, but it's pretty much a beautiful, chaotic mess ALL THE TIME. And I wouldn't change one thing about it. Not one. 

Waiting and anticipating....

I'm so sad that I no longer have time for the world of blogging. Actually I could probably make time, but that would require effort and really that's what I'm currently lacking. So let's catch up for a bit.

The curly topped one...she doesn't let a meal time pass her by. She will even finish off her sister's food if given the opportunity.

 Last week we were having dinner on the screened porch and she sat her baby beside me and walked away. She turned sideways quickly and cut her eyes to that baby and in her best momma voice with her hands on her hips said, "Betta don't. Betta don't, baby." I asked what her baby was doing that she better not do again. She was apparently hitting me, and Elynn wasn't going to stand for it. This is my favorite age and not just because we are currently free of diapers. It's my favorite age because of the precious that flows from that little mouth. Well...usually precious. All except when she looked our song director at church square in the eyes Sunday and said, "You sassy." Mortified. I.WAS. MORTIFIED. I turned all shades of red while I apologized and explained that he looks similar (and by similar I mean they are both bold headed) to someone that tells her she's sassy and picks at her all the time. We allow her to talk back to him, but the song leader??? NO!

 We had some pictures made a few weeks ago. It was part of the newborn package, so I went with it. Maternity pictures aren't generally my favorite, but I have to admit I think I may LOVE these. Elynn hated her dress by the way so it was touch and go with her.

 They started playing dress up again a few weeks ago. It's been a while since Reese did this, but I think I died from all the sweetness when she introduced the dresses to her sister. Of course, there ended up being a fight or two but thankfully it didn't escalate to the point of ruining the moment.

I'm currently real pregnant but not lucky enough for it to actually happen today. I'm 37 weeks. Elynn was born at 38 weeks, so I should probably start getting myself worked into a panic right about now. I took a half day off today to do just that. We just put the baby bed up Tuesday night. He doesn't have a whole name yet. I don't even recognize myself anymore. How have we let this moment sneak up on us and not even have a name!? Well he has a first name. It's the middle name that's causing talk of a divorce right now. I'll let y'all know when this debate is settled. 

I'm not even kidding myself by thinking bringing baby #3 home will be as easy as #2. Elynn was so easy. Plus Reese is on the verge of packing up and going to kindergarten. My emotions will probably be high over the next few months. It's all happening really quickly....except the misery of the end of pregnancy. That's draggin' on like the anticipation of Christmas morning. 

The Caboose: 20 Weeks

Started writing this 2 weeks ago...

It's so funny to me how quickly each pregnancy goes by. And by funny I mean HAHA funny like I do not have one thing in hand for him, and we aren't even going to discuss names.

11 days before Christmas we had a gender sonogram done. I looked away, she immediately said she was successful at seeing what it was, and I was done. She sealed up the pictures and this in the envelope, and I was on my way. It was placed high on our tree because Reese knew what it was, and I didn't trust her to leave it alone. Because Reese wanted another sister, Elynn also wanted another sister. They think boys are gross, and for at least another 15 years I'm good with that. 

We really didn't think a lot about the envelope. I mean with Christmas and 2 kids running around, we really didn't have time to dwell on it too much. However, it did effect my sleep. Several nights I dreamed about it. It was always a girl in my dream. Christmas Eve night was the only night I dreamed it was a boy. I woke Adam up at 6 and he and I went straight to the living room to open it. The words of Clark Griswold immediately crossed my mind- "If I woke tomorrow morning with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am right now." Adam had thought all along it was a boy. I was 100% positive it was a girl. (Adam's smart mouth daddy said "How do you know? You've never been pregnant with a boy." Y'all don't know the torture I endure at the hands of that man. And he claims I'm the one with smart mouth. Whatever.) I'm just going on record and saying that I have felt the exact same this time as I did with the girls. I was sick from about week 6 till week 10, but I've been good since then. Adam said there were a few nights that it was just him and the girls. I was mostly sick at night and went to bed before 7 a couple of times. 

I had ordered 2 sets of scratch offs from Etsy. One was in case it was a boy and was in case it was a girl. We had them wrapped in boxes for our parents and Uncle G when they came for breakfast. Looking back on it if I had known in advance it was a boy, we would have wrapped up a pink outfit and let them open it and think it was a girl and later told them the truth.

 Reese didn't have a lot to say when we told her that morning, but my cousin's wife later asked her if she was excited to have a brother and she responded "it's alright I guess." Since then she has come around about it and throws at least one name my way every day for consideration. Currently she is telling everyone his name will be Rudolph. Y'all know better. Elynn tells everyone that Baby Jesus is in mommy's tummy. We talked a lot about Baby Jesus at Christmas so naturally she thinks I'm Mary. ;)

We had our 20 week appointment yesterday. He weighed 14 ounces. Here again...this is my 3rd time around and it still shocks me that I gain _____ pounds and the kid weighs less than 1 of those. I looked back and saw that at this point with Reese I had gained 10 pounds. I didn't document with Elynn (that I can find), but let's just say it goes up with each pregnancy. What's funny though with Elynn I gained faster but in the end it was the same. 40 pounds both times. I may tip the scales this time though. I doubt being pregnant at Thanksgiving and Christmas helped much in that department. I'm older and wiser now though. I don't even get up tight about the weight gain. It will go away. Eventually.

 Personally, I think he's real cute already. That tiny little nose.

He is still very much a HE and he was proud to show us.

I'm open to name suggestions. We've liked 2 names in the past, but now people we know have named their kids those names, so the hunt is back on. We prefer a solid manly Southern name, but not an overused one. We have a if-we-had-to-pick-right-now name, but I'm not 100% sold on it. Like when I saw the name Elynn I was done. I knew it. Loved it. Wanted it. I need to feel that way this time too. 

And this is what 22 weeks looks like the 3rd time around...

Curse Words

*Viewer discretion is advised on this post.*

Reese knows there are words we don't use. We don't say stupid, idiot, oh my God or gosh, shut up etc. Those are all things that we don't think sound good coming from little children. She doesn't use those words because we hear them on TV and such and we've talked about how they are not nice. 

Then there are other words... damn in particular. Now before you start claiming that "she's heard her parents using those word" let's talk about a few things. 1. Yes, I can be caught using a word at the right moment however if she is around I try to spell them out or say them repeatedly in my head instead of out loud. 2. We listen to country music and they are big fans of "mild" curse words. 2. She loves to new version of Annie and the D word is used in that movie. 

Several months ago there was a commercial on TV where a 600lb woman says "I'm not a fat ass. I'm a bad ass." Immediately I hear "Momma what's a bad ass?" GASP. IT'S A WORD WE DON'T USE.

During the summer Jolie was spending the day with us when I heard terrible crying coming from Reese's room. I went to see what was wrong. Reese was doing the hurt kind of cry and said "Damn that hurt." What? What did you say? Jolie's face was of disbelief. "Damn that hurt?" Y'all. I had to hug her to keep her from seeing me silently laughing. (I later learn that Elynn had scratched her across the face.) We had a long talk about that word and how we don't use those words. Honestly it made me think I needed to just tell her all the curse words out there and tell her they aren't to be used because when she hears these new words she likes to try them out.

Then. A couple of weeks ago we were laying in her bed getting ready to go to sleep and she said "Momma that was a damn ugly house on TV tonight." Well. Ok then. Clearly our talk about that word did not stick. I explained that we had talked about that word and if she ever used it again she would be getting a spanking.

At this point I just pray she doesn't come out with one at Christmas dinner. 

The Caboose

I'd be lying if I didn't admit something right here and now. We knew for sure we wanted a 3rd baby. Since Elynn's delivery was so easy, I had agreed from that day on that 3 was a nice number in my mind. I can't say THIS was exactly when we had planned for another one. Actually, a point in time had never been discussed. I had this fairy tale picture in my mind of waiting till the girls were quite a bit older and we could have a little straggler to keep us young.

When it became evident in late September that I was either (a.)pregnant or (b.) 3 pregnancy tests were all defective (which was exactly what I argued to Adam for at least 2 days), I was slightly overwhelmed. And by slightly I mean a few days later Adam told me to get my act together. The voice of reason in my life reminded me that the 2 we already have, love, and adore were NOT on our timeline. No truer word could have ever been spoken to me. It's been well documented that I blacked slap out when I found out about Reese. I wasn't that level of shocked. I was overwhelmed. I haven't met a person yet that said "Yeah 3 is a breeze! Nothing to it!" 

 

I adjusted quickly to the idea once Adam called me out for my juvenile behavior. We waited till I was about 12 weeks before we came out with it. We gave a printed copy of this picture to our parents. Mine didn't get it. Uncle G immediately knew so whether or not Big Daddy and DD got it remains a mystery. 

Since the week I found out I was pregnant Reese had said the blessing every night and ended it with "And please let my momma have a baby." The first night she said that my eyes shot open at a violent speed and asked her to repeat herself. She had no idea. We were very careful not to discuss it around her because she repeats everything. She kept that up for 2 months. We told her the morning we were telling our parents. I told her MeeMaw and PeePaw were stopping by and not to say anything, but to give them the picture. The instant they walked in the door she looked at me and said, "It's hard not to say what you told me not to say." Bless that little precious heart. She can't keep a secret. (Which is exactly why she thinks we are giving her daddy a radio for Christmas. And she had told him that several times.)

I went yesterday for the gender sonogram. Believe it or not, I did not peek and the lady doing it was so great. I turned my head and she immediately knew what it was. I heard her print a few pictures then she told me I could look. I saw arms, legs, hands, feet, everything but the gender. So now this is sitting high up on our tree with pictures in it of what we will be getting. Adam and I will be getting up bright and early Christmas morning to open it. But to help with the suspense, let me assure y'all it's another girl. And let me assure you also that WE LOVE LITTLE GIRLS. WE WERE NOT TRYING FOR A BOY. I get a little hot when people say "oh are y'all trying for a boy?" No. No, we are not. Actually we weren't trying for a baby at all. We are well prepared for another girl. We have everything we need. If on the off chance we do get a boy, we will be thrilled with that as well. I will be happy for Adam because he will have a built in fishing buddy in a few years. Either way we really don't care.

 As an adult, opening up the gender of our baby on Christmas morning is as exciting as it gets, so no we will not be peeking. We aren't even tempted because we want to remember this Christmas by open the envelope that morning. Eeeeeekk!! Stay tuned for a Christmas gender update.