Ears are clear!

I debated this morning whether to take Lucy to the doc for a recheck on her ears because although she didn't have a fever (most of the time she does not with an EI), but she woke up during the night which she never does and then she refused to take a morning nap which isn't like her.   Since it is almost the holiday weekend, I decided to go ahead and take her just to be sure especially with her EI history.

At 13 1/2 months, she weighed exactly 20 lbs.

        

Doc said her ears look great, she must have had a virus the past couple of days and she is probably teething too.  I was glad her ears were clear...any more of the these things and we will be headed to an ENT.  I don't want tubes because I know she will grow out of it just like Karis and Brayden did.

These are pics I took of us while we were waiting on the doc.  I love the 2nd one...so sweet!

Afterwards we went to Walmart to pick up a few things and then came home to eat dinner.  Our church is having Children's Camp down the road so we walked over to hang out for a while and worshipped with them.  Lucy LOVES being around kids and people.  She has quite the little personality...it gets spunkier every day.

Later Jay stayed home with Lucy while I went back down to play.  The kids enjoyed a late night swim....while the mosquitoes took us away!  I sprayed 2 different kinds because they were SOO bad!

       

Nope we didn't swim...
       

Fun day and looking forward to my kiddos being back tomorrow so they can join in on the fun!!!  I miss them so much!

Quality time with my Lulu

Since Karis and Brayden are at the beach with Lolli this week (and I am missing them terribly!), Jay and I have had some quality time with Lucy.

She has been so sweet and cuddly lately and has had a thing for her daddy!  This morning when he left, she was hugging his legs and then watched him drive out of the driveway!

            

She said 2 new words yesterday...book and JESUS!  Her new favorite toy is this Bible that was Karis' when she was little.  It was given to her by Jay's granddad Pawpaw when she was just a few weeks old (who passed away a couple of months ago).  I have been reading her some stories out of it and then she started bringing me her book and says, "Jesus!"  Jay heard it too and she did it multiple times.  It made our heart smile!  

She carried it around for some of the day along with her other fav thing...toothpaste.  At least she has her priorities straight...her Bible and toothpaste ha!

Unfortunately, she has run fever off an on since Monday.  She is having no other symptoms and when I give her Motrin, she is just fine.  Not sure if it is teeth or her ears so I am trying to wait it out.   So we have hung out at home most of the the last 2 days.  We did go outside some yesterday since it was a little cooler and I picked some weeds and Lucy and I jumped on the trampoline.  

Confident driver...yikes!

We also got out some yesterday with daddy and got Chinese take out for lunch and went to see the fish down at the lake last night.  I have gotten caught up on everything at home and for the first time in weeks, the only dirty clothes in my house are the ones on our back.  I am sure that won't last long!  I even have had time to read and relax.

Hopefully Lucy will feel better soon before brother and sissy come back tomorrow.  We are ready for them to be home!

But for now...bye yall!

Lucy, what have you been up to?

Since Lucy has turned a year old, I am not going to be doing a post every month but I didn't want to forget what she was doing at this age because she is doing new things every day!

Lucy, at 13 1/2 months, what have you been doing lately?

• you can say.....momma, dada, bye bye, lala (lolli), sis-sis, pop, eeeee! (this stands cheese, eat and teeth when you want to brush your teeth), hey, hot, ball, up, mmmm (meaning food is good), night night, and dis ("this").
• are walking exclusively
• can sign "finished" (you shake your hands in the air and then climb out of seat) when done eating

This is you saying "cheeeeese" when I take your picture.

       

• LOVE being outside and at the pool (it's a good thing we spend alot of time there!)
• take 2 naps a day (usually 9 and 2) and several times have said "night night" and have gone and stood by your bed...you love to go to bed when tired.
• still eat some baby food but are starting to wean yourself and have a preference

• you do eat cookies, crackers, stick pretzels, bananas, blueberries, grilled cheese, green beans, potatoes, licks of popsicles or ice cream (you love it but make hilarious faces when eating them), and anything off my plate (but don't want it on yours)
• you have learned how to drink from a straw
• love milk but still want it warm and you won't drink anything else (no juice, sweet tea etc) unless it is in mommy's cup haha!

• you have a  fun little personality and quite the flirt!
• you LOVE to go upstairs and will say, "UP!", you can go upstairs on your own and quickly (but only allowed to if mommy is right behind you) but don't know how to get down yet so we have to put up gate so you don't fall down
• you are a climber and have learned how to go to sissy's top bunk!
• you are addicted to brushing your teeth and licking on the toothpaste!  SEE?

• you love carrying around your baby doll and giving "luv luv" and kisses
• you have gotten much better about riding in the car and will dance to the music
• you pretend to help me blow up floaties at the pool

• you still love your paci but mommy would love to get rid of that thing!
• you weigh about 20 lbs.
• you have 8 teeth but I think you are working on another one
• you love to play with brother and sister...you love to play chase and will laugh uncontrollably!
• you have had a bunch of haircuts and your hair is so long and thick I have to dry it or it does CRAZY things.  Yes, I have to "fix" my 13 month old's hair...it is starting early!

• You love to get into mommy's makeup...you are a girly girl for sure!!!!
• You love sunglasses and grin when you put them on.

You are more fun now than ever.  Can't you just stay this size?  I am loving it!

My baby boy turns 4...

There is just something about a momma and her boy...such a special relationship and I love my boy to death. It doesn't seem like it has been 4 years since he was born!  

Brayden at about 2 weeks old

       

Brayden-1st birthday

Brayden-2nd birthday

Brayden-3rd birthday

Brayden today-turning FOUR!

Brayden at FOUR you....

• nap just several times a week, not everyday anymore
• love riding your bike, fishing with daddy, playing with leggos and your train set, playing ANY sport especially baseball, basketball and soccer, making tents with sissy, reading books, playing with anybody else's toys (it's greener on the other side right?), 
• you love to eat cereal, popsicles, grilled cheese and tomato soup, chicken, spaghetti-o's, macaroni and cheese, lots of veggies including  turnip greens, green beans, lima beans, corn on the cob, grape tomatoes, sweet potatoes, lots of fruits including bananas, strawberries, blueberries, apples, oranges, cantaloupe, watermelon, pineapple, and of course you love candy (I mean what kid doesn't?).
• you keep us on our toes and will test every limit; still get spankings/time out when needed (some days more often than others)
• you have a fun little personality....you are very funny at times and put on a grand show but at times you can be shy too (it has to be on your terms).
• at this point the foods you are allergic to are eggs and nuts (you now can eat strawberries and white potatoes that you were allergic to at age 2), you are still highly allergic to dogs and grass and trees
• you love swimming (with floaties you can go all over the pool)...maybe next year when you are a little taller we will take those floaties off)
• when you wake up in the mornings, you have a routine of getting in dad's chair and covering up, and then you want to watch cartoons and you want your coffee (oh yes every day asks for it and usually begs for a second cup, although you don't get it!).
• you weigh approximately 28-30 lbs.
• not really interested in learning to write your letters and numbers like your sister....would much rather be playing
• can be very loving and sweet...often you will come up to me and say, "I love you mom." or  "You're the best mom in the world!"
• you love to go to Dollar Tree and pick out a toy (you ask every time we go somewhere)
• you are very loved and one of the lights of my life
• you will always be my sweet baby boy no matter how old you get!
• you bring so much joy to our lives!

Brayden we love you and look forward to celebrating many more years with you!  You are such a blessing and a gift from the Lord!  Happy 4th Birthday Brayden!

Brayden's 4th birthday party

Today we celebrated Brayden's 4th birthday (his birthday is actually tomorrow) and he has looked forward to this for weeks!  He went to bed late last night so we actually had to wake him at 9 this morning!  He couldn't wait for his buddies to get there! 

Matt and Tiffany let him open his gift at the beginning of the party so that he and his friends could play with it at the party. 

        

It was a HUGE beach ball that you hook up to the water hose and it sprays all over the pool....so cool.  The kids loved it!  You will see it later in the post.

He opened a couple of little gifts from us so they could play with them...

Happy birthday boy!

This is the cool beach ball Matt and Tiff got him!  If you look closely you can see the water spraying out of it.

Uncle Matt and Aunt Tiffany

Uncle Matt and Lulu

Haha Look Brayden at this cute present!

I got Lucy this new boat and she likes it alot better than her other baby float!

Kendall

Brayden and his buddy Nathan

Brayden wanted to shoot water balloons with the "big kid" slingshot/launcher so that was part of the fun...

Karis and MM

Lucy loved the water hose!

We ate pizza for lunch..

Brayden and Drew

We have had alot of butterflies around lately and they really like Lucy's bow!  Here is one that was hangin' out at the party today!  

Lucy enjoyed her pizza...

Brayden and his friends...

Brayden opening the gift Karis got him (and she wrapped it herself too)...

Fishing bobbers of course!

Pop and Lulu hangin' out...

Opening gifts...

Happy 4th Birthday Brayden!

Sweet birthday boy!

Eli enjoyed his cupcake...

So did Lucy haha!

Brayden insisted he wanted a pinata at his party. So a pinata we had!

Drew knocked it off the string....

...so then Jay had to throw it at Nathan like a baseball haha!

Brayden wanted to play soccer with his new goal with his friends!

Brayden the party was so much fun and I am thrilled to celebrate with you!  

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After the party, my mom left with the big kids to head to the beach for the week.  I was sad to see my babies go (especially since tomorrow is really Brayden's birthday and I won't see him sniff sniff!).  But thrilled that they are getting to go and have fun.  I have had a long to do list this evening and I have washed and changed all sheets, dusted, mopped, vacuumed, cleaned bathrooms, cleaned upstairs (it took me a couple of hours to clean kids' area upstairs ugh!), and just caught up on alot of stuff I have needed to do.  It feels good and I am almost done.  I have a few things to do tomorrow but hopefully I can catch up, spend some QT with my Lucy, and then relax a few days while the kids are away!