It's a Golden Life

10 years ago I was staring into the face of my first baby boy. He was a little over 2 months old. He had learned to smile and roll over. I thought I couldn’t love him more than I did at that moment. As the years have passed (so quickly, too quickly) I realize that my love for him-and his siblings- grows leaps and bounds each day. The hustle of every day is sometimes too much. It leaves me feeling so bogged down. I make check lists of what chores or tasks I want to accomplish, but at the end of each day, the truth is-I have never crossed everything off of that list. The issue probably lies in the fact that I have lofty goals and not enough time or energy to accomplish them. I have been guilty of making lists of things I’ve already accomplished, just to trick my brain into feeling better about my time spent. Time seems to move so quickly, but slow-in unison. I’m sitting here with my 4th baby (who really isn’t a baby anymore) staring in the rear view mirror. Sometimes I look back and ...

Paxton, You’re 6 today! It kind of snuck up on me. I feel like I say that about every birthday of yours. You started Kindergarten this fall. Would you believe it- you got an award for never clipping down on the behavior chart! Your teacher tells us how you are an example in the classroom and a kind friend. I love that about you. You have one of the kindest hearts. Playing Barbies with your sister is never below you- Interests include Minecraft, Lego’s, and anything your big bro Malachi is interested in.  You love to make pictures that tell a story. I have saved so many! You love making books. I know my birthday letters have gone from focusing on your  height & weight, and which milestones you are crossing off the list-  to discovering more of  your heart and what makes you, you. You are growing up so.fast. You are an amazing big brother. Even when you don’t think I’m looking. Now that will tell a whole lot about a person right there. Huxley fell and bopped...

Huxley Thane. Today at 11:29 a.m., you officially turned 2. Quite honestly, this year has been a whirlwind. Between sports, school activities, and church-It seems life is on fast forward. Being your mom is...the wildest ride. You are so full of life and passion. I’m in love with how wild and free your personality is. Strangely, when you are in a room with a lot of people or loud noises, you tend to withdraw. This does not bother me one little bit-because I am your safe place. You return to me and nuzzle your face into my neck, warm arms wrapped tightly around me. You communicate so clearly-making sure it is known exactly what you need. Some of our favorite words that you say: Moon- “mewn” Tractor-“Mama, dat tractor.” (Was your first sentence) Milk- you call your milk “Foffee”-like mamas coffee. Shoes and socks-“shews and sox” Cup-you call it your “bottle”-even though we never have. Stubborn? Haly-Hayee Malachi- Chi Chi Paxton-Bubba. You started calling him this all on your ow...

I can see my child glaring at me in my peripheral- A stare with storming eyes and pursed lips. I'm not looking in that direction on purpose because of the tears that are welling in my eyes. Continuing in the busyness of cleaning the bathroom makes it appear that the words being expressed don't sting like a hornet, piercing my heart. Something along the lines of, "You're the meanest mom ever. You don't love me. You don't want me to have anything I want..."  Ironic that these words are expressed as I am literally elbow deep in a toilet. Cleaning urine up is the last thing on my list of what I had planned to do with my Sunday evening. Yet, I do this out of love. As my heart is hurting, my mind began to wonder. Is this how I make Jesus feel? I quickly transform into a duck- growing waxy feathers and let the splenetic banter roll down my back. While I truly believe that there is a time for our children to see the real effects of how hurtful their words ...

On November 9th, Huxley Thane turned 1! I can't believe it's been a whole 12 months with this guy. He is: --> 23 lbs, 30.5 inches --> Wearing size 5 diaper, size 6 shoe, and 18-24 month clothes (more so 24 months) --> Sleeps from 7-7ish. Cut down from 2 naps to one long nap 10-1:30ish. One of the biggest things I have learned from this fourth child is that just because a method worked well for the other three, he will not be tamed. He marches to the beat of his own drum and we have had to go with the flow and adapt to how he operates. Once I was more flexible with his sleeping habits and stuck with "sleep training", he has slept much better. I didn't think I was ever going to sleep again. Never took a pacifier, but does love his "night night", so he calls his blanket. --> His best friend & first little girlfriend is Coco Knapp. He loves to give her hugs when he hasn't seen her for a few days. He has also had quite an excit...

Sister friend, is seven. That's a crazy sentence to write! 7 whole years old. She is about to be in the 2nd grade and I can hardly believe it!  She is hilarious. I love it. On a daily basis, she has some funny comment and makes me laugh so much. She is my identical twin to when I was a little girl. Even down to the facial expressions. I have her number.  All she wanted for her birthday was to milk a cow, ride a horse, and have breakfast in bed. We settled for a farm themed birthday and breakfast in bed.  Complete with a cow girl outfit. She is 43 lbs and 3'9".  Chicken worm cupcakes were her idea. She even decorated them.  Festive farm foods like Hay Bales, Cow Patties, Tractor tires.. Chicken feed, a garden of fruits and veggies... Pigs in a blanket, corn on the cob, and Mac and cheese.  Some burlap, cow print, and paisley bunting.  And decor for the foods.  We had a fun time celebrating her birthday! 

Huxley is 8 (1/2) months old?!  -20lbs 29 inches -sleeping (usually) well 7:30-5 (eat), 7:30/8.  -LOVE all the foods. Avocados and bananas are your jam now. Baby food is for babies, apparently, because you want to chew (with your gums).  -bath time is the highlight of your day. -weaned from nursing this week (on your own terms) -crawling on all fours and pulling up. Working on cruising.  -love your walker and ramming it into people with your arms open wide so they will pick you up.  -say "haiii" and "buhyyy" with a very southern accent, while waving with your whole arm. Sometimes both. Say "mama, dada, papa" and make a "mmmmm" sound when hungry.  -claps and says "yay!" -gives the best hugs and says "awwww" -loves to screech like a pterodactyl.  -this guy is personality plus. He is so sweet, funny, and determined.  We celebrated Haly turning 7 and took Chi to camp this month!