Lily - 4 Years!

Well, my little Goose is four years old.  It's so hard to believe that she just has 1.5 years until she's in kindergarten.  She's always been so grown acting, but lately, it's like she's growing up right before my eyes.  At four, Lily:

-doesn't really like to be called Goose anymore..well Goose is okay, but Lily Goose is not
-definitely has an opinion on what she wears daily (if she's worn it once, it's old) and how she wears her hair (only in a braid or ponytail)
-weighs 34.2 lbs (50%)
-is 39.25" tall (50%)
-has a BMI of 50%
-still will talk in her sleep.  This can really freak you out because most of the time, her eyes are wide open and she makes complete sense with what she's saying
-is quick to boss her brothers around, but she has a soft spot for Hattie and will usually give Hattie her way with everything
-wears size 4T/4 clothes and size 10 shoes
-sleeps from about 8:30 pm - 6:30/7:00 am.  She will take a nap, but doesn't really like to
-her favorite color is pink
-loves ballet, coloring and anything Frozen
-even though her birthday was less than a week ago, she's already asking how many more days until her next one!

I love this little girl more than I ever thought possible.  She's sassy, rambunctious, and kind-hearted..all rolled into one little ball of fun.

Growing Up

I guess I knew this day would come, but still, I'm not ready.  Yesterday, while talking about a little girl at school with Chris, Landon's ears, very obviously, perked up.  When asked did he think she was pretty, Landon, for the first time, said yes.  We still had to convince him multiple times that it was okay to think a little girl was pretty.  Just because you think that doesn't mean that you're going to end up marrying her.  But still, he showed interest in a little girl and that makes me so sad because that means my baby is growing up!  I don't know if I'm ready for all that.  I just like him to be my baby forever!  It seems like it was just yesterday that he was born and I was struggling to figure out the whole parenting thing.  He's been such a good child from day one.  I've never had any problems from him.  He's definitely a typical "first born" - perfectionist, takes care of everyone, loving.  I can't believe that he's already in fourth grade and hearing that a little girl was pretty was just a reminder that we'll be figuring out the whole dating thing before I know it.  That made me realize that parenting never really gets easier, it's just that once you think you have something figured out, you move onto a different struggle.

Hattie - 18 Months!

Hattie Girl turned 18 months at the end of September.  Time has flown by faster and faster with each child.  It's crazy that she'll be hitting the 2 year mark before long!  She is such a little love muffin and loves to snuggle and give both Eskimo and regular kisses to you.  When she does, there's usually a loud MUAH that goes along with it.  She's the most laid-back baby that I've ever known, but I guess being the baby of 4 will do that to you. At 18 months, Hattie:

-weighs 22 lbs, 15 oz (30th percentile)
-is 30.25" (15th percentile)
-has a head circumference of 46.3 cm (44th percentile)
-finally moved up to size 5 diapers
-wears 18 to 24 month clothes, depending on how it's made
-sleeps from about 7:30 pm to 7:30 am on the weekends and during the week, it's whenever she can get to sleep (depending on practices and game for the boys) until 7:00 am when I wake her up
-takes about a 2.5 - 3 hour nap daily
-has 11 teeth (finally!)
-is in the Toddler 2 room at school
-still clings to that paci (she chooses which one she wants everyday and when she goes to sleep at night)
-is starting to cling to her "baby" (exactly what Nixon used to call his lovey too)
-loves shoes!
-loves to dance..she does it every time you turn the music on

Hattie is such a great balance to our family.  She's definitely a true baby of the family and gets spoiled by everyone..especially her brothers and sister.  Hattie May, I love you much and couldn't imagine our family without you in it!

PC: Dana Ashlyn Photography

Nixon - 7 Years!

It's hard to believe that my little Butterbean is 7 years old already!  He still loves life more than anyone I know.  There's really not much that will take a smile off of his face.  We finally convinced him to play a sport this fall.  He chose flag football as his first team sport and he did really good.  He learned a lot just in the couple of months that they were playing.  I was hoping that would convince him to play more sports, but so far it's a no-go.  He is not very competitive and would rather just play with his toys or friends than to be on a team.  And that's perfectly fine with me, but I am glad that he at least had the "team experience" at least once.  At 7 years old, Nixon:

-is 48 lbs (7th percentile)
-is 47" tall (25th percentile)
-wears size 7 or 8 clothes (youth small works in shirts, but the pants are always long on him!)
-wears a size 13.5 or 1 shoe depending on the brand
-still loves to play with Ninja turtles, power rangers or any action figure he can find.  He has the best imagination and doesn't have to have anyone playing with him to have a good time
-is in 1st grade 
-is learning to read so well this year.  He got the basics last year, but I'm starting to notice he can read road signs or billboards now if he really tries
-loves to dance
-has neon green and black as his favorite colors
-never meets a stranger.  Everyone quickly becomes his best friend
-is usually not a morning person and he gets really mad if Landon sleeps through the alarm in the morning 

Nixon is definitely one of those kids that will make you slow down in life.  He doesn't do anything in a hurry but with a love for life like he has, it's hard to stay mad at that little face!

PC: Dana Ashlyn Photography

Landon - 9 Years!

How is it possible for me to have a 9 year old?  I really can't believe it!  This was the last birthday before the double digits and Landon has completely lost all of his baby features.  They've probably been gone for a while, but when you look over and your son is almost as tall as you, it kind of kicks you in the butt and you see all those changes you've been ignoring.  At 9 years old, Landon:

-weighs 64.4 lbs.
-is 4 ft, 7 in (he has grown 3 inches in the past couple of months!)
-is in 4th grade
-is playing flag football, basketball & baseball (he played on his first all-star team this past summer)
-wants to be a football player when he grows up
-his favorite colors are light blue & orange
-has really come out of his shell since we've moved to Wilmington.  He still is relatively reserved and quiet around people that he doesn't know but he is making friends a lot more than he used to.  He'll also not hesitate to leave me to go sit with his friends when we're at ball games, etc. which makes me a little sad, but happy that he's becoming so social

Blog Hop - This is All I Have to Give

It's so funny how God works sometimes.  I've mentioned that this Proverbs 31 study came to my email right when I needed it.  Well, for a while now, I've been feeling like such a failure in everything I do, but especially this past week. Then, what is one of the topics this week, but 'This is All I Have to Give'.  I think I said those exact words to Chris just a couple of days ago.  Sometimes, as a mom, especially a working mom, you feel pulled in so many directions.  You miss all those sweet moments with your kids while you're working and then by the time you get home, the trials of the day have you so worn down that you can't enjoy the moments you have left before bedtime.  I, personally, have such guilt that decisions I've made are what is keeping my kids from having the life that I would love for them to have. You know, if I wouldn't have gotten credit cards, I'd have more money for family trips, etc.  These little things can eat away at you if you let them. 

In my conversation with Chris, I was telling him that I'm just tired and I feel like I'm at my breaking point.  I don't feel like I can handle much more.  Not only that, the things that I am trying to do - pay off debt, pass the CPA exam, lose weight, make memories that my kids will remember forever - seems like those never happen either.  I feel like I try to do so much that nothing gets done.  

• Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails - Proverbs 19:21
• Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed - Proverbs 16:3

Lysa states, "Remember that everything that happens to you is first filtered through God's hand.  What you might see as distractions, God might see as divine appointments."  Whew!  That puts things into perspective.  That will make you take a step back and realize, maybe I'm not by myself at all.  I don't need to shoulder the burden alone.  So, this week, I'm going to try to take a step back and enjoy the here and now.  I don't need to compare my life to those around me.  God has created me to be the moma to my four wonderful babies.  I'm the Mom that He had planned for them and that's good enough for me!

Being a Mom is Tough (Blog Hop)

I think when we become a mom, we're under the impression that it's all lovey, dovey, piece of cake.  It doesn't take long for you to realize it's anything but a fairy tale.  At least, if you're being honest anyway.  I know there are some moms out there that are always talking about how everything is perfect, couldn't be better.  Personally, I don't buy it.  But who knows, maybe they're just trying to speak it to existence!  

Lately, with four kids, a husband that works non-stop, along with my job and trying to study for the CPA exam, I feel like my job as a mom is getting pushed to back burner.  I. Hate. That.  Let me tell you, when Satan knows a weakness in your armor, that's where he attacks.  I've been having plenty of pity parties..you know the kind where if you would've just done this differently, life would be perfect right now.  I'm constantly feeling pulled in 20 directions.  To the point of just bursting into tears from the mom guilt of it all.  

That is the reason I enrolled into this online study of "Am I Messing Up My Kids" by Lisa TerKeurst.  I'm hoping that this study will help me re-align and realize that everything is going to be okay.  And maybe, just maybe my kids will be okay.  

My number one goal in life is to raise happy, healthy kids that love life and all it has to offer.  I want them to look back at their childhood and be completely happy with all their memories.  I know, that seems like a tall order.  Reading the book, I came across a sentence that completely stuck with me.  It was just what I needed.
      
"You are a good mom, my friend...even if like me you've had a few bad moments.  You are exactly the mom God knew your children needed.  Let's live in that truth today."

If I don't learn anything else from that study other than that sentence, it will be worth it to have participated.  That's exactly what this momma needed to hear.