Nixon - 12 Years!

My little Butterbean Nixon is 12 years old!  One more year and I'll have two teenagers in the house.  We should start praying now!  Nixon is the polar opposite of Landon.  He's doing well adjusting to middle school and has actually come out of his shell even more.  He can be a tough one to crack sometimes.  I think he knows that Chris and I have our hands full with our busy family and he tends to blend into the background.  We've really tried over the past year to make sure that doesn't happen.  I want him to always know he's special and loved more than life itself. 

At 12, Nixon:
-weighs 84.2 lb (34%)
-is 4'10.25" tall (39%)
-started 6th grade
-tried a new sport (Cross Country and does absolutely phenomenal at it)
-wants to be a Youtuber or Coder when he grows up
-started riding the bus to school for the first time
-has made so many new friends at Middle School
-started playing the Saxophone in Band and he's a natural

Nixon, you're the sweetest thing ever.  You have a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone.  I know that it will serve you well.  I love you more than anything!

Landon - 14 Years!

Landon, my first born, is officially fourteen!  One more year and we'll be thinking about driving.  I know I say it all the time, but it's crazy how long the days are, but on the other hand, how short the years are.  Landon is a typical "first-born".  He's a rule-follower (at least as far as I know). He usually observes more than participates.  And he also has a heart of gold.  I love that boy more than life itself.  The teenage years haven't been that bad so far, but I know we have a ways to go.  Basically, puberty has made him revert back to how he was as an infant.  If he's grumpy, make him sleep or eat and that usually solves it! Seriously, he's a great kid and I couldn't ask for better.

At 14, Landon:
-weighs 111.2 lbs (45%)
-is 5'5" tall (61%)
-wears Adult Small clothes
-went from a size 6.5 to 10.5 shoe in 3 months time!
-has narrowed down to only playing baseball with school
-still plays Rec basketball
-wants a Jeep when he turns 16
-wants to be a Physical Therapist and go to ECU
-can't wait to be an adult so he can eat as many Little Debbies as he wants (ha!)
-has started working out at the hospital gym and loves it
-has started riding to school with me again..feels weird after so many years of not taking him
-has adjusted well to high school

I think Landon will go far in life.  I can't wait to see what roads he travels down as he gets older and starts to make some real life decisions.  It's so weird how as a parent, you don't want them to grow up, but you can't wait at the same time.  Such conflicting emotions.  Landon, I love you more than you love those cold Little Debbies.

Hattie - 6 Years!

Hattie girl, you're 6!  You started kindergarten this year and you're loving it so far!  You struggle in match which is new, but you love reading and love learning.  You are a special little girl that loves her friends.  You've already snuck a pair of shoes into school because you didn't like the "practical" closed toed shoes I decided you should wear during winter.  You're my handful for sure!  

At 6:

-you weigh

-you are " tall

-you love the color purple

-you want to be a teacher

-you love your Daddy, but you love your Moma more

-you love to snuggle

-you learned to read

-you're my little lefty and it's so challenging teaching you how to do stuff with the opposite hand than I'm used to!

-you love to accessorize

Hattie, I love you more than life itself.  I can't imagine our family without you in it!

Lily - 8 Years!

Lily Girl, 

You are 8 years old!  Such an achievement that you've been counting down the days to!  You're full of life and love and spunk.  I know that one day, you're going to be running a company, or at the very least, your household, with ease and grace.  You give your Daddy and me a run for our money with your sassiness.  You love as hard as you fight and I wouldn't have you any other way!

At 8 years old:

-you weigh 46.8 lb (28%)

-you are 46.75" tall (24%)

-you love the color pink

-got your first set of braces

-you want to be an engineer/teacher/builder when you grow up

-you love basketball, but you've tried tumble, baseball, and dance

-you love your siblings one minute and they drive you crazy the next

-you love alone time, especially at the beach

Lily, I love that you're a headstrong little girl, even as it drives me crazy.  I love that you're so sure of yourself and even when you're not, you have enough gumption to keep going.  You're going to change the world Lily!