My Little Girls is not so Little

It has been so nice to have off of work today. We have ran errands and just relaxed today. I had to get a few things for this Easter weekend. In one of the stores, there were the small animal baby blankets and Ella really like them. So I told her she could throw her "blankie" away and get an animal blankie. She said no at first. I told her how nice it would be to have a new one that she could fit in her bag. I said we could take a picture with her old blankie. That way she could always have a picture to look at if she started missing it. She walked around the store and as I was checking out, she brought a pink/brown dog animal blanket to me. I made sure she really was ready to get rid of her green blankie and she told me yes. After getting home, we took pictures and then Daddy helped her throw it away. What a brave grown up little girl:o)

Last Sunday, April 10, we dedicated Jaxon to the Lord. Our Sunday school pastor was able to pray over him, which was special to us. We are so blessed to have him in our lives but know that he is the Lord's. He has great plans for little Jaxon and I can't wait to see what those plans are!



Some funny things happened before he actually got dedicated and thought I would share. Maybe some of you with multiple kids can relate! At 3:30 am, I got so sick till about 8 am and was in the bathroom more so than not. After debating on even going to curch for the baby dedication, we decided to go. I was able to get myself and the kids ready in record breaking time. Brian got breakfast ready. And at 10:15 am we were out the door to be on time. As we are getting out of the van, I look down and see Ava shoeless! I asked her," Ava, where are your shoes?" (hoping she would say she took them off in the van). Instead, her response was," I left them at home." Brian and I looked at each other, quite annoyed that our 3 year old felt the need to take her shoes off...at home. So, Brian took Ava to get her shoes and I took Ella and Jaxon. Now it is 10:25 and church starts in 5 minutes. We find our reserved seating which is in the 2nd row. Praise and Worship starts. I can finally breathe!

My mom calls, while I am sitting in the second row at church, wanting to know where the church is. I can't hear her due to praise and worship so I hang up on her and decide texting is necessary in this situation. I am praying that the cameras don't look my way!

Finally, about 5 minutes before the pastor does the dedication, everyone arrives! It was a beautiful service and I was glad the craziness was over!

Except for the fact that we went to eat Japanese afterwards and Ava leaned on the highchair holding Jaxon and they both went tumbling to the ground!

Some special people were there with us to share in Jaxon's special dedication service: Mimi, Anthony, and Wesley, Gramma and Grampa, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Jess, Maddox and Dominic.

Springing Forward

I am a little ocd when it comes to doing things, which includes blogging. I get stressed out if I leave anything out so then I just get further behind! And when I got further behind, that stressed me out! Anyway, I have decided that when I have time to blog I will. But those other times that I am busy with my family and work, I will not worry myself to death over blogging.

To say all that, I have some pictures from February through April of the kids. They are growing up so fast. I can't wait for the summer time to come so I can spend everyday with them!

These first few were taken when Brittany took the girls and Kate on a picnic and to the nail salon. I went along to take some pictures of the girls first time getting their nails painted. They were so excited!











This is the best shot I could get of Dominic's dedication on February 20th. He was so handsome and sweet. I can't wait to see what the Lord has for Him as he gets bigger!



Here are a couple art crafts Ella has done in preschool. She always loves going to school!





Jaxon absolutely loves bath time. He just sits in the bathtub so relaxed and doesn't make a peep except to coo a little. It is so sweet:o)



This picture was taken right before his first visit to church on February 27. I love this outfit on him. He looks like a little rocker!



Jaxon is 2 months old in this picture.



For Spring Break, we went to Georgia to hang out with my family. Before we left to come back home, we stopped at the park so the kids could play and run some extra energy off.













Here is Jaxon at 3 months.

Today was the first day of Spring Break. YAY! After a long preparation for the federal review team's visit at work, the break is much needed! We have many plans for Spring Break! It starts with the best kids consignment sale on Sunday. Then the kids and I are headed to Atlanta to spend a couple days with the family. After that, we are head to Jumpin Junction for their 5$ day. We may go thrift store shopping too and visit a friends new house!

Here are some pictures from the past few weeks, so enjoy!

Busy time of the year

Here are a few of the things that have taken place over the past week. Granny, Brian's dad's mother came to visit. We celebrated Valentines day and went house hunting on Saturday after doing Christmas with Granny. Ava celebrated her 3rd birthday. Jaxon turned 6 weeks on Monday, February 14. I had to go to my doctor's appt. to get approved to go back to work:o(. And then I started back Tuesday, Febrary 15. I am so glad we have the rest of this week and Monday off of work! Maybe I can catch up on some things around the house!



























We celebrated Christmas with Granny on Saturday up at Brian's parents house. Granny got to see Jaxon which she loved and was able to spend time with the other great grandkids as well. They loved opening presents from Granny! Then Brian and I went to eat at Longhorn Steakhouse and had a great time being by ourselves:o) We also drove around and looked at houses and were encouraged seeing several houses for sale that were in our price range.



Jaxon is smiling all the time! And the other night, he laughed in his sleep! He is 11.6 pounds. Yesterday he started staying awake all day! Crazy! He would take a couple 20 min. cat naps but was awake from 7 til 7 at night. Now the nice thing that came from that was that he slept til 5:15 that night! Today, he did the same thing. He woke up at 9:30 and didn't go to sleep til 6:30. When he's awake, he doesn't fuss or cry most of the time unless it's time to eat. It works for me, except for when I am trying to make dinner:o)



I went to see my doctor on Valentine's Day. Everything checked out well and I was able to go back to work yesterday. It was a great first day back and everyone made me feel welcome! It was a little bitter sweet. I missed being at home with the baby but we are blessed to have a wonderful babysitter and being able to take them to the office twice a week. I think next week will be tougher since it will be a 4 day week.

Today, I got three root canals done at the dentist. It was not as bad as expected but the pain after the numbness went away was almost unbearable! Thank goodness for pain medicine. I would be laid up in bed and the kids would be destroying the house if I couldn't get relief. I still have to have the crowns put on and then this 3 year ordeal will be over and hopefully I will just be going to my 6 month cleaning!

Lots of things happening. Hopefully some days to relax are in the future:o)

Growing Up

Jaxon is growing up. He was one month two days ago on Feb. 3. He is out of newborn diapers and just about out of his newborn clothes. Some fit and others do not and same with his 0-3 month clothes! I love it because it is as if he has all new clothes again!

We started a chart for the girls and they each have 3 things they work on. Every evening we put a penny on the chart for each task they complete. After they master them, we replace it with another task. On Sunday, the girls take the pennies off and divide them up for tithe, savings, and spending. The girls have just completed their first week of tasks that they are working on to master. Ella and Ava had the same tasks for the first week which were, staying in their seat at meal time, cleaning up their toys, and staying in bed at bedtime.

Ella mastered staying in her seat at meal time and did well at the other two but is still going to work on them for next week. I think we will replace the one with "Getting out and playing with one toy at a time". That one will definitely take some time!

Ava did really good at all three but we are still going to work on them for this coming week too!

It helps us all stay focused and consistent on a few things. Sometimes life is too busy to work on everything all the time. This week has been so much less stressful because we are working on a few things. Does this mean we forget about everything else? No, but we don't lose our temper as much and keep in mind those things that can be worked on in the following weeks. I have enjoyed my kids so much more and am making time to reward the kids for their good behavior. Today, Ava put her shoes in her closet without being asked. Yesterday, she put her toys away without being asked! I was so proud of her. Ella let me know she was finished eating before she got out of her seat at lunch and she also put her clothes in her hamper without being asked. I was amazed. Now, this may happen again or it could have just been a one time thing but I know that something is working!

Dentist Visits

Ella went to visit the dentist for the first time yesterday. We went into the waiting room and it was as if we were entering a jungle. It had a large tree with an opening at the bottom with toys the kids could play with. It had 2 big screen tv's and then a room where kids could play video games. The only bad part was the fact that I was there for an hour and a half! When Ella was called, she went back with the nurse all by herself. She was hesitant at first but she came out with a big smile and a bag full of goodies. And she had a good report which I was thankful for! The dentist came out and introduced himself and talked to us about her visit and then we were ready to go! I'm glad Ava came because I think she is now excited to go to the dentist! I also went but it wasn't nearly as fun. I think I would rather push out 10 babies than go to the dentist. To say the least, I will be making that visit a few more times:o(

4 Weeks

Jaxon is 4 weeks old today! It is crazy how the time has flown by. He has been letting some smiles sneak out and make our day. He has just started to grunt. Sometimes the smell that follows lets us know why and other times he just grunts to grunt. He watches us more intently and can follow our face or fingers. He still sleeps a lot but is awake for longer periods of time. In the last few days, Jaxon has wanted to eat at least every 3 or 3 1/2 hours and eating between 4 and 5 ounces every time. We try to hold him off and even wait to feed him more than the 4 oz. bottle but nothing works. After he gets fed he is in Heaven!

The girls still love having Jaxon as a little brother but I think the grace period is over. I have seen a little bit of jealousy for Brian and I. Because he is up more when they are awake, there isn't as much quality time to spend with just the girls. We make a point to spend time with them while Jaxon is sleeping but when exhaustion kicks in, it doesn't always happen. We are just making our way through and I know that this too shall pass. I love the fact that the girls enjoy taking care of Jaxon and the times where he will stare at them as if he is dying to get up and play with them.

Also, please pray with us as our lives begin to transition into some new endeavors. I will post more information in a couple days. But we need some miracles!

* Selling our house
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* Safety and Good Health for all of us

Here are some pictures of Jaxon at 4 weeks and the girls.

Jaxon's First day at Church

Today was a very appropriate day to take Jaxon to church. The special guest speaker spoke on the sanctity of life. She was funny and had great points on the subject. A couple great things she mentioned was one: We, as parents, have got to stop being are kids friends. She said she had plenty of friends and didn't need her child to be one of them. Haha! She also mentioned that as parents we give them information and guide them to make good choices but unfortunately sometimes, we can't make their choices for them. They will have to. We as parents will stand up in front of the Lord for our choices we made, not our children's so don't be friends with your kids; be a parent to your kids because that is what God has called you to do. I love the fact that she told the truth and what was right. Purity is something we should be teaching and showing our children. That is not only talking about sex but the way you live your life in it intirity.

Jaxon did great in church. I did have to get up once to feed him his bottle. It is funny how as you have more kids, things happen faster. I waited to put Ella in the nursery for 6 months, Ava about four and we are thinking Jaxon will be going at about 2 months. LOL! It is nice to completely focus on the message and have your hands free too!

Here are a couple pictures from yesterday and today:o)

This is what happens while I cook and leave Jaxon with the girls. (Don't worry, I removed the balloon as soon as I took the picture!)



This picture is goofy of the both of us but Jaxon reminds me of David Todd here! Haha:o)



Here is Jaxon right before we leave for church:o)



We didn't have a NB church outfit so this was as close as we were going to get:o)