Lily - 10 Years!

So hard to believe my Little Goose is 10 Years Old!  She's such a diva, with an attitude that puts up with nothing.  While it's challenging as a parent, it'll serve her well one day.  She's authoritative with a sweet side.  It's hard to explain other than describing her as a natural leader.  

At 10, Lily:

-weighs 64.4 lbs (21%)

-is 53" tall (24%)

-loves the color yellow

-wants to be an inventor when she grows up

-got her braces (phase 1) off right after she turned 10

-tolerates her sister, but you can tell she loves her deep down

-idolizes her brothers and loves when they give her attention

-loves to play basketball and soccer

Lily, you're the apple of your Daddy's eye and your moma's pride an joy.  I hope you always stay just who you are now!

Nixon - 13 Years!

Nixon, the cream in our double stuffed oreo, I love you so!  You're one of the sweetest boys I know.  You have a heart of gold and will do anything for anyone.  I love that you have such a kind, sweet soul.

At 13:

-you weigh 97.6 lb (40%)

-you are 62" tall (50%)

-you are wearing a Youth XL

-you have a size 7 shoe

-you want to be a Youtuber when you grow up

-you are in 7th Grade

-you found Cross Country last year and loved it!

-you discovered you're pretty good at playing the Saxophone

-you got braces

Nixon, you're such a sweetheart.  You are so independent that I forget you need me sometimes.  You have such a giving heart, but when you get mad, watch out!  You're so content all the time.  You still love to hug and you still get so excited over the smallest things.  I love your energy, your heart, and your dedication to those you love most.  Nixon, I hope that you never lose your joy and inner peace that seems to come so easy.  I love you butterbean!

Landon - 15 Years!

Landon, I can't believe it's been 15 years since you made me a parent!  You taught me so much about life, myself, and so much more!  It seems like you were born just yesterday and it seems like years all at the same time.  It's so true that the days are long and the years are short.  You're such a sweet boy with a heart of gold.  You don't conform to the world and I hope you always stay that way.  Sometimes your laid back personality gets under my skin, but I know your level of content will serve you well.  

At 15:

-you weigh 130.2 lb (57%)

-you are 5'9.25" (76%)

-you are wearing a size 10.5 shoe (crazy!)

-you are slowly bumping up to Adult Medium clothes 

-are a sophomore in high school

-play baseball in school and basketball in a rec league

-started driving and are doing surprisingly well

-finally got your braces off! 

-you want to be a physical therapist

Landon, I love you more than you'll ever know!  I hope that you stay just as you are forever and ever!

Hattie - 7 Years!

Hattie, my little love bug, you are 7!  You're such a sweet, motherly type.  One of your downfalls is you love too much, but I say that's okay!  You love to cuddle and quality time is definitely your love language.  I love that you still love your babies and you carry them around everywhere.  You're definitely a social butterfly and you love to be right where your people are.  Your favorite thing to do is accessorize and you're still great and knowing right where you left something.  

At 7, you:

-weigh 47.3 lb (30%)

-are 46" tall (13%)

-love the color purple

-love your Peppa Pig blanket still

-had your first broken bone (wrist - June 2020)

-want to be a teacher and a moma to four kids one day

-still keep up with all the catchphrases (bruh, come at me, dope to name a few)

-loved tumble, but you're not really interested in any other sports

-love to run errands with me, never complaining about all the stores we visit

Hattie, I just love that my last baby loves to hang out with me so much.  I see many mother/daughter trips with you in the future.  You're the sweetest girl and you love with your whole heart.

Lily - 9 Years!

Lily, my little Goose, is 9!  One more year and we'll be entering the double digits! Lily, you're a girl with a lot of emotions.  You're sweet and then sour at the drop of a hat.  But, that sour side doesn't last long.  All we have to do is give you a little hug or kiss and you go back to your sweet self.  You are a girl who's always known exactly what you wanted and you're just stubborn enough to get it! 

At 9, Lily:
-weighs 56.8 lb (21%)
-is 4'8.8" tall (21%)
-finally bumped up to a Youth Medium in clothes
-will start soccer this year, but still loves to play basketball
-is in 3rd Grade and doing great
-got her first set of braces this year
-loves the color pink
-wears tennis shoes every day to school because she can run in those and she can't if she wears boots or flip flops
-still loves love
-talks all the time about her future...but her plans on what she intends to be change often

Lily, you're my little firecracker.  I love you so much, but you're not afraid to tell me you're a Daddy's girl. 

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.