Hattie - 5 Years!

My little Hattie girl is five!  I can't hardly believe it.  When we moved to Wilmington, she was six months old, wasn't sitting up by herself and was still very much my baby.  Today, she is five, runs around like a crazy woman until bedtime..but she's still very much my baby.  Through all the kids, I wanted just one that loved their momma.  Well, I finally have it.  She wants to be constantly by my side.  She loves to run errands, no matter where we're going.  I definitely think she'll be the one to go on shopping trips with me as she gets older..no matter what we're shopping for. I think to myself all the time how unfair it is to only have one baby in each family.  They always get your laid back personality because you've done this parenting thing a time or two and you're not as paranoid about every.little.thing that could go wrong.  I guess they also get some of the disadvantages - you're tired!  Hattie has been a little mother hen from Day 1.  She loves her siblings, baby dolls, Maggie and all her friends with a fierceness.  She loves to nurture, whether it's giving up the last cookie or wrapping you up in a blanket when you're laying down.  She absolutely loves to crawl into Lily's bed after Lily falls asleep and cuddle her like there's no tomorrow.  She loves to hang out in Landon's room and play with his Legos while he plays video games.  She loves to hug Nixon before he leaves for school in the morning (mainly because it drives him nuts).  At 5, Hattie:

-weighs 39 lbs (45%)
-is 41" tall (22%)
-wears a 5t in clothes
-wears a 10 in shoes (itty bitty feet still)
-goes to bed around 9 and will sleep until around 9 on the weekends or days without school
-loves to carry her baby dolls in their carriers when we go shopping
-loves to shorten people's names - Dad, Mom, Land, Nic, and Lil
-will start kindergarten in about 4 months
-finally loves dance - it only took about 1.5 years
-will bust a move and sing in a heartbeat
-has already chosen her husband (Cole Manning)
-has a stubborn streak (baby of the family probs)
-has a favorite color - purple
-loves to accessorize..you can spot her wearing necklaces, rings and bow that usually don't match at all times..sometimes she even sports her tiara
-has told me "Happy Mother's Day" and Chris "Happy Birthday" every.single.night without fail since last May
-has a sweet tooth..she'll sneak a snack in a heartbeat

I love this baby girl of mine with all my heart.  She's so hard to stay mad at because of her cute, bubbly personality.  She completes our family in a way that no one else could.  I can't wait to see how her personality develops even more as she grows up!

Lily - 7 Years!

Oh my..how did we even get to this point?  Seems like yesterday that I was holding you for the first time.  Now, you're 7!  One more year in the car seat as you like to remind me.  6 more years until you can have your own room.  (You remind me of that one more often) I'm not sure what you'll do if Landon ends up going to college close by...you'll be stuck sharing a room with Hattie until you move out!  At 7, you:

-weigh 46.8 lb (28%)
-are 46.75" tall (24%)
-still wear a size 6 clothes and a 13 shoe...you've stayed at those sizes for over a year now
-still choose pink as your favorite color
-are freakishly strong (you're a beast on the monkey bars and have been since about 3 years old)
-want to be an artist when you grow up
-have a ton of best friends..everyone is your best friend according to you
-love your tumbling class...you've moved from level one to level two in 3 months
-love to play any sports we'll let you play (so far it's been soccer, baseball, and basketball)
-are so tenderhearted!  You pretend that you have a stone exterior, but it doesn't take much to hurt your feelings.  I have to try to keep that in mind when you cry over any little thing
-love your scratchy blanket.  You still sleep with it every night
-can play all day by yourself..you still talk to your imaginary friends and you're not afraid to tell me that
-are a great sister..you love your brothers and sisters hard!
-are very opinionated when it comes to what you wear and how your hair is fixed
-love to read..you will read a chapter book in two days if it's one you like


Lily, you're my little Goose and I can't imagine our family without you in it.  You're one that definitely keeps me on my toes.  You're a definite Daddy's girl and I don't see that changing anytime soon.  I love you so much sweet girl.  

Nixon - 10 Years!

Every year, it's so hard to imagine that my babies are the age they are.  You'd think at this point, I would be used to the growing up part of parenting, but I never get used to it.  The funny thing is, even though I hate the growing up part, I love watching them grow and learning new things.  Being a parent is one of the craziest rides ever! At 10, Nixon has calmed down so much compared to how much energy he used to have.  He has quite the personality and is one of the most lovable kids you'll ever meet.  Just about every one of his teachers he's had since starting school tells me how he's always close by and will just hold their hand at the most random times.

At 10, Nixon:
-weighs 70.4 lb (48%)
-is 53" tall (25%)
-has two favorite colors - black and yellow (because of the old rap song)
-loves music...he listens to it constantly
-is in 4th grade and does great in school
-is starting to notice the way he looks (fixes his hair, uses mouthwash everyday...I think this is because of a possible crush, but we can't make him admit it)
-plays lacrosse in the fall and spring
-LOVES to play any video game..it's so funny to think he used to be my child that never wanted anything to do with a video game
-waivers between fierce protection of his siblings and being annoyed beyond belief by them
-wants to be a you-tuber when he grows up
-can run so much during running club...even though he hates every minute of it
-has plenty of nicknames - Butterbean, Peaches, Forehead, Nic-Nac..and the list goes on
-still will point with his middle finger from time to time..although he's mostly corrected this

I love our little middle child so much..he's a whole lot of crazy, but in just the right amount to keep us laughing.  He will talk non-stop when all you want is quiet and quiet when you want to talk.  He's lovable and cuddly at all the right moments.  I love that little boy with all of my heart.  I hope that you're always as care-free as you are right now.

Landon - 12 Years!

My original baby boy is 12!  One more year and I will have a teenager.  It's so hard for me to fathom.  It's such a cliche, but it seems like just yesterday, he was a baby and I was wondering how I was going to manage this whole parenting thing.  Because of my postpartum, I didn't really enjoy those first few weeks.  I was so excited to go back to work so that I would feel that I was "me" again.  Little did I know, you're never "me" again after your first child is born.  You become a new, better version of yourself.  You'll never be completely carefree again.  It's really like the saying goes, from the moment you have a child, it's like you're walking around with your heart outside of your body.  I love this boy more than I can put into words.  He makes me so proud everyday - from the way he helps without me asking to being sensitive to everyone's feelings around him.  Last year, in 6th grade, he was awarded MGMS Best All-Around Boy.  I couldn't agree more!

At 12, Landon:
-is 59.75" tall (61%) - he was so upset because he's dying to be 5' tall!
-weighs 87.6 lb (44%)
-wears mens' size in shoes now - size 6.5
-still wears youth size clothes - size youth large
-loves the colors black and red
-is getting ready to start 7th grade
-still loves baseball
-plays baseball (travel & rec), basketball, and will be trying out for the middle school football team
-wants to be an engineer when he grows up
-has acquired a love for coffee
-went on his first 'away from home' camp with church - and loved it!
-loves math
-will ride all over our side of town on his bike with friends
-has the biggest smile 

Landon, you make me so proud to be your mom!  I love you more than words and I can't wait to see you grow up.  I just wish you wouldn't do it so fast!

Hattie - 4 Years!

My little Hattie girl is officially a four year old!  Seems like yesterday, she was my chubby little baby doll with a head full of black hair...

At four years old, Hattie:
-weighs 37.4 lb (69%)...still my little chunk
-is 38.25" high (19%)...still height challenged
-loves the color purple..she constantly tells me it's her favorite and if you buy her something in that color, she's beyond excited
-still hates to brush her hair.  She has gotten better, but will still fight tooth and nail to not do it
-loves her preschool...everyone is her best friend
-is still a momma's girl which makes my heart so happy
-loves to crawl in bed with Lily almost daily.  She will cuddle right up to Lily and even though Lily "says" she doesn't like it, she cuddles right back
-loves Maggie and any other dog she comes across...she's definitely an animal lover
-still loves her babies..she has moved on from just covering them up to brushing their hair, putting it in hair bows, and dressing them up in clothes
-is our little 'mother hen'.  If you sit beside her, she's going to have a hand on your leg, brushing your hair, covering you up with a blanket, etc.  She loves to nurture anyone around her
-loves to stay up late and sleep in.  She stays up a good hour after we lay her down just playing in her room or roaming around looking at her toys

I can't imagine our family without this little bookend.  She keeps us laughing and on our toes all at the same time.  She's our Patty, Hattie Girl and Hattie May and we couldn't love her more!

Lily - 6 Years!

My first little girl, my little Goose, is 6 years old!  Seems like just yesterday she was born and our whole world changed.  She's a mix of sassy, sweet, and every other emotion you can name.  She loves her little sister and brothers one minute and fights with them the next minute.  I love that she has to have a kiss and hug every.time.you.leave.  She's categorized as a "leader" in her class and I think that will serve her well as she grows.  At 6, Lily:

-is 44.5" tall (30%)
-weighs 43.2 lb (37%)
-has lost one tooth - on Christmas Day
-is in kindergarten (Mrs. Hart's class)
-loves the transitional seating in class - the high table is her favorite
-loves everything craft-related.  In fact, all her presents from her friends on her birthday were crafts of some sort.  It's safe to say they know her well!
-loves pink - her favorite color
-wants to be a Police Officer when she grows up
-played her second recreational sport this year - t-ball and is now enrolled in Acro
-started counting down until her next birthday as soon as this birthday was over
-learned to swim this past summer
-is involved with Adventure Guides with her Daddy (she loves the Daddy/daughter events)
-loves walking club at school and semi-likes running club
-still talks about her friends from her old daycares and wonders if they remember her
-is still a Daddy's girl, but loves to do girly things with me such as pedicures
-calls the Prius, the Caprius - I love it!

Lily loves to cuddle still and is quick to hold your hand.  She's a very affectionate little girl and if we can get control of the emotional outbursts, we may just make it with our little diva! I love her to pieces and she's the double-stuff cream in our oreo of a family.  

Nixon - 9 Years!

My little Butterbean is not that little anymore!  Last year in the double digits - crazy how time flies faster each year.  Seems like just yesterday he was my little chubby baby.  At 9, he:

-is 51.77" tall (25%)
-weighs 63.2 lb (50%)
-plays lacrosse (still the only sport he'll commit to)
-has started Boy Scouts (and LOVES it!)
-is in 3rd grade
-has become obsessed with video games (we have to control this with limited game time during the day)
-loves having his own room (for the first time since he turned 1.5 years old)
-had his first sleepover for his birthday this year
-is still my snuggle bunny (he constantly hugs or touches you when you're near)
-is still my active little boy, he never wears out
-is tough as nails...if he cries when he gets hurt, you know he's really hurt
-still loves lime green/yellow - everything in his closet is this color it seems!

Nixon, you brought so much love and energy into our family when you were born.  You have an abundant amount of energy that's very exhausting, but you can't help but love life and laugh when you're around.  You are so much like your Daddy, it's unbelievable.  If you continue to have the personality and attitude that you have today, you'll go far.  I love you to the moon and back sweet boy!