Dre

Our sweet, newest nephew is here!! (And...I finally have permission to post pictures! :o) Gracie had a long labor that included pain medication that wasn't working, lots of getting sick, and being completely exhausted by the time it was all over. She was definitely a trooper! Nkere was a great husband and did an amazing job supporting Gracie. Dre was born Thursday night (the 21st) at 10:44 p.m. and was 6 lbs. 6 oz. and 19 1/2 in. long. He is PRECIOUS! I can't even tell you! They are all doing great!

Told you he is precious!

The Happy Little Family

The Proud Auntie

I posted more pictures on my facebook...so, if you're my friend--go check those out too! :)

Be sure to keep scrolling down...there has been lots of posting today!

Happy Anniversary Babe!!

Paul and I celebrated our 8th anniversary last week. It's really amazing how fast the time flies by. We've gone from just the two of us to us and our three little ladies. We got to go out Sunday night on a little date and it was great to be able to do something alone. It just doesn't happen that often anymore. On our actual anniversary, we just hung out at home and took the girls to the park. We laughed at the fact that on our 5th anniversary we were floating somewhere on a ship in the middle of the Mediterranean. Although we didn't get to do anything exotic this year for the big day, it was still just as special. I've been given the BEST husband who loves me in spite of myself. His love for me is so undeserving and I am super thankful for him. Thank you for loving me and being mine babe! I can't wait for the next 80 years!

Gracie Claire took this picture...she's not bad! I was very proud. Our camera isn't an easy one to navigate! :)

Celebrating the big day at the park!

Love you Babe!

Molly's Mirror

Molly loves checking herself out in the mirror on her play mat. She just coos and admires herself and giggles. It's definitely cute!

I can't believe my sweet baby is 6 months old! The time has flown by so quickly. She is just a dream baby. She rarely cries and is just content to play on the floor, or swing, or laugh at her sisters. I love the bond that I see between all three of them. It's amazing. The fun things that she is doing...

• rolling all over the floor to travel from place to place.
• scooting around on her back by using her feet to launch her.
• getting up on her hands and knees.
• watching her little hands in awe.
• jibber-jabbering constantly.
• eating all sorts of yummy baby-food.
• sleeping for 11-12 hour stretches (she's been doing this for months.)
• loving her exersaucer where she will jump for up to an hour at a time.
• listening to stories and the silly songs that we sing.

I'm sure that there are so many more things I could list, but you get the idea. She's my sweet girl and I can't believe how much her middle name fits her...Joy. She gives joy and she's full of it. Thank you Lord for our precious Molly!

Mommy's Day

This is so late...but, not too late. I had an awesome Mommy's Day. We went out to eat with my mom and the family Saturday night and then cooked out at our house on Sunday. I am so blessed with a mom who has been a living example of what a Godly mother looks like. I strive to be just as awesome as she is as a mom. She's the best! My girls and hubster gave me a great day. They brought me flowers and a cake (Gracie Claire chose it) and were so excited to give them to me. They gave me lots of hugs and kisses and just spoiled me. I am SO blessed by my girls and feel beyond deserving to have them as mine.

The Best Gifts In the World

The Sweetness That Never Stops

This is my second post in a row about my little lovable 2 year old. I promise to get to my other two sweeties next. Sydney just keeps providing me with more and more material. It's the sweetness that never stops...mixed in with a little crazy funniness. I have three things to write about that involve my ever busy Sydney...the laundry, fingernail polish, and her school program.

First up--the laundry. Every time I do laundry, my little helper shows up to help me unload the clothes from the washer and put them in the dryer. It's great training, people! Here's my little cutie helping me out...


As mentioned in the previous post (the one about the Sharpie,) you cannot take your eyes off my curious little bug for a second. Here is the result of me looking down to eat my breakfast for two minutes...

Not a bad job for her first try!

This last week, Syd's class did their end of the year program. The toddlers held their programs in their classrooms this year and it was very sweet. When they led them in to sing, Sydney was definitely not sure about how she felt about the whole situation...thus, these pictures.

She ran to her teacher at one point and then ran to me once she saw me in the audience. She stayed with me for the first couple of songs, but then decided to go perform when the dancing started. She did all of the actions and even sang a couple of times, but her performance smile is something that we'll have to work on...



Nonetheless, she was adorable, and I was so proud of her! After they were all done and she came over to me, she was very proud of herself...

I sure do love my beautiful, sweet stinker. She definitely keeps us hoppin' and we love the awesome little person that she is growing to be!

Sydney The Destroyer

Our precious, sweet 2 year old is lovingly known around our house as "Sydney The Destroyer." Sort of like a super-hero name, but the only super powers she possesses are destroying powers. Yesterday...yes, Mother's Day, she had been napping quietly upstairs. I'd even gone up to check to make sure as she often needs checking on as this story will illustrate. Gracie Claire, who had headed upstairs for dress-up clothes, came flying down the stairs eagerly letting us know that Sydney was by the gate and she had marker all over her. Great. (Sidenote--After GC let us in on what was going on, I said to my mom (who was here for Mother's Day,) "She loves to tattle." Gracie Claire said, with a sweet little smile on her face, "Yes, I love to tattle." :o) Typical oldest child.) My mom and I headed up the stairs, not surprised, but not looking forward to what we were about to find, to see my sweet Syd laying on the floor by the gate with her blankie sucking her thumb. Her super power weapon laying only a few feet away...a Sharpie. Awesome. She'd scribbled mainly on herself and our new couch with a doodle or two on the carpet and wall. (BTW--rubbing alcohol took the marker out of the couch, carpet, and off the wall...although we'll have to touch-up the paint a little.) Below are the pictures of her new tattoos and some of her mugshots. It was truly hard to get upset with her when she looked like this. Her new tattoos were almost punishment enough. :o)

Portfolio of Mugshots

Damage Done

Sydney The Destroyer Sure Is Cute

I'll Need You Mom

Tonight at church they showed this video...

When it ended, I had a major lump in my throat and a tear sliding down my cheek. As a Mommy, I have such a huge responsibility to my three precious girls. I was blessed with a Mom who was the picture of Godliness. She loves the Lord above all else and showed us Jesus. The video was a great reminder of how IMPORTANT my influence is on Gracie Claire, Sydney, and Molly. God lent them to me. It's my responsibility to show them Jesus. To raise them to be passionate about the Lord. To show them what a Godly wife and mommy looks like. What a huge privilege it is to be a Mommy. Thank you Lord for entrusting me with my girls...your girls. I pray that they will grow up in you and become mighty women in your Kingdom.

Lots To Read...

I just finished posting LOTS of new stuff. Be sure to scroll down lots...I was WAY behind.

On another note--please be praying for a job opportunity that Paul interviewed for this week. He is really excited about it and knows he would love it and it would definitely meet our needs. We know that God is in control and we're trying to patiently wait for His answer and know that His timing is always the best. But, we are desperately praying for a "YES!" here. Yesterday in ladies' Bible class, the speaker gave a testimony that talked about how God has shown His amazing power through a very tough trial in her life. Her trial is on-going and she shared this scripture that I loved--

"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. You are my help and my deliverer." Psalm 40:1-5, 17

My Little Helper

Sydney L-O-V-E-S her baby sister and asks to hold her often. She asked if she could feed Molly her bottle the other day and thought she was quite the big girl. She is definitely a little Mommy in the making.

Sweet, Sweet Sisters

Gracie Claire's Spring Program

Gracie Claire's spring program was so cute! They had an ocean theme this year and she was thrilled that her class got to walk in to "Under The Sea" from "The Little Mermaid." They sang several songs and did the actions and were just all-around cute! When Gracie Claire first got up onto the stage, she was holding a bubble in her mouth and didn't jump in right away. One of her teachers told me she was distracted by a baby who was sitting in the audience in front of her. But, once she started singing, she gave a funny/precious/very Gracie Claire performance. She loved being up on that stage performing. Gigi, Aunt Gracie, and Papaw & Janny all came to see her perform. BigPa hated missing it this year as he left for China that same day...but, we got it all on video for him to see when he gets home. It was hard to choose only a couple of pictures...shocking, I know! We are so proud of our big girl! She did a great job!

She saw us as she was walking in. Love her!

Holding Her Bubble in Her Mouth

Distracted at first, but joined the show soon!

Performing a song about all the little fishies doing the "Hootchie Kootchie" dance. She thought that song was hilarious!

Our Sweet Girl

Gracie Claire and Her Best Friend Claire--
This group of pictures cracked me up...a true look into our funny girl's personality.

Our Family

Thanks for coming to see our girl Gigi, Papaw, Janny, & Aunt Gracie!