Happy Mother's Day!

What an amazing day! I feel so blessed, so loved, and so thankful to have such a great family to spend this special day with. I awoke to the boys giving me hugs and kisses saying, "Happy Mother's Day Mommy" and come see your cards! They picked out this funny chicken card that said I rule the roost and it sang the Chicken dance song. Hilarious! I also got a sweet card from Eric and a bag from my favorite boutique Panache filled with 2 sets of Catherine Popesco earrings and a dress! He rocks!!

We enjoyed a great morning of worship at our church and a yummy lunch at The Chimneys here in Gulfport.

Eric spent the afternoon building a downhill go-cart with the boys made out of wood they painted red, wheels, and rope. Good times! Loved this day :)

It's been way too long!!

So it's been a very busy few months! I cannot believe my last post was in October when by baby was only 3 months old! Miles is now 10 months old, 20 pounds and 28 inches long. He is a speed crawler, walking holding onto furniture and the walls, and trying to keep up with his big brothers. Miles is the sweetest thing ever...always smiling and has such a sweet demeanor. I have a big soft spot for Miles because he's so loving and snuggly with me. It may just be because he is my last baby and I'm savoring every minute he is little :) We are blessed in such a HUGE way by him and are so thankful to the Lord for surprising us with him and are so thankful our family is now complete.

Nolan is about to finish up Pre-K 4 at St. James. He has come a long way in his speech this year and his handwriting. Nolan has been nicknamed "teddy bear" by his teachers because he is so quick to give hugs. He is still our very organized, stick to the rules, and follow directions child. He is an AMAZING big brother and watches out for William & Miles, always making sure everyone is doing the right thing. I never feel the need to worry about Nolan, just his feelings getting hurt here and there. He played soccer in the fall and is finishing up his first season of tee ball right now. So far, taekwando has been his favorite, and we are looking forward to picking that back up this summer. Nolan has also excelled in swimming, but still needs just a few more swim lessons before we can let go of the floaties completely. Other than that, we are so blessed by Nolan's love and his HUGE heart.

William, our busy bee, is our SUPER independent child. He has so much energy that it can be annoying at times! Seriously, this child is constantly on the go, always getting into something, and and always making the biggest mess. He rarely sits still and rarely follows the rules! He is learning, through consistent discipline that there is a consequence when you don't listen and follow our rules! However, despite his busy and adventurous personality, he is extremely sweet and gives so much love to Eric and I and his brothers. William loves to play outside and loves to go to school and play with friends. He is also very, very smart and figures things out fast! He loves to run. He will run laps around the living room and kitchen, just because. We think he will excel in soccer or any sport! I think he will be very athletic one day and definitely has the energy to play hard! He will start Pre-K 3 next year and I'm so curious how he will do in a more structured setting. William keeps things interesting all the time!

I will try not to wait so long before writing my next post!!

Miles 3 Months

Growing up so fast...I just remembered I forgot to post a 3 month pic on Sept. 27th. We spent a few nights at the beach and Miles was such a good baby! Just still really dislikes the car seat, so it makes getting around town and on the interstate for any period of time tough! But he'll eventually outgrow this. His newest thing is sucking his thumb, cooing, laughing and smiling at anyone who smiles at him! He is such a HAPPY baby! His whole face lights up when you talk to him.

 His brothers have grown very attached and love on him all the time. I sing "You are my sunshine" (both parts) to him just about everyday, and Nolan now sings it to him all the time! It's the sweetest thing ever! Miles still is not rolling over. That could be my fault b/c he has been on his belly since he was 7 weeks old to sleep, and has lots of tummy time. Trying to lay him on his back more now. We go for his 4 month check up in a few weeks so I'll post his stats.

Nolan's 1st Soccer Game

And so it begins...life with 3 boys and all the sports they're going to play. Nolan had his very 1st soccer game tonight and it was great! The kids played so well, or a lot better than I was envisioning, scoring goals, and running their best. They were super cute! Eric was asked to coach his team, so it was great seeing them both on the field. I was so excited for Nolan :) The biggest challenge  was chasing after William every 5 seconds. Whew! That child is someday going to be a track star or top in his cross country team. He loves to run, and run away! I wore Miles in the baby Bjorn carrier to have my hands free, but if he wasn't running, he was wanting Eric to hold him. So games will be every Monday and Wednesday night for a few weeks. Busy, busy!!

My Favorite Bible Verses

2 Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,

but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Philippians 4:13

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Isaiah 40:31

Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Habakkuk 3:19

The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

Romans 12:9

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Ephesians 4:2

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Ephesians 3:17b-19

May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is

so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or

understand it. And, so at last you will be filled up with God Himself.

Psalms 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Psalms 37:4

Take delight in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalms 19:14

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Proverbs 3:6

In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Miles 2 months

So our little man is growing fast! He weighed 11 pounds 10 ounces (50th %) at his 2 month check up and measured 23 inches (75th %). He is full of smiles at this age and has such a loving personality. Loves his mama most :) Seriously...he wants mama all the time, so I literally wear him in the baby bjorn carrier a lot of the time. It's the only way we go any place or I get dinner cooked! Even wore him while I tried on like 10 pairs of jeans last week (no joke!!). He is still nursing well, about every 3 hours during the day and waking around 2am and 5:30am for feedings. I can live with that...anything is better than 3 hrs. around the clock! I probably hold him more than I should...just cause I'm enjoying my last baby moments.

Life with 3 boys...never a dull moment, but mommy and daddy love you boys more than you'll ever know :)

Nolan & William's Whale of a Party!

We celebrated Nolan & William's birthday together this year and had a Whale of a Party in the backyard. With all of their close friends, they splashed and played in the dual lane blow-up slip-n-slide and had a blast. Here's a few pics from the party:

The whale cake

The kid's cupcakes with baby whales on them

The party favors

1 month old

The last 4 weeks have flown by, but our little pumpkin just turned a month old yesterday! I can't even begin to count the number of hours of sleep lost...but it's SO WORTH IT!!! The boys just LOVE their little brother and I just ADORE our snuggle time :) Miles is such a good baby....just kind of gets his days/nights mixed up a little! He's super laid back and his big brothers are always so loud around him, and he just watches...never cries! Eric and I are truly blessed!

Welcome Miles Henry!!

On June 27th we welcomed the final addition to our family, Miles Henry. He weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. He has dark brown hair and brown eyes and the sweetest little face :) I had a great labor and delivery and we are all home doing great and adjusting to our family of five! All of our family goes home today and Eric goes back to work tomorrow, so I'll be in full swing this week trying to figure out a schedule pleasing to all 3 of my boys :) I feel so blessed and Eric and I are so happy with our 3 precious boys. It's going to be a long journey ahead...that's for sure!!

Happy Easter!

The boys have had so much fun the past few days with several Easter Egg Hunts that we had to remind them yesterday that it's not about eggs, or the easter bunny, but about celebrating our Risen Lord and all that He does for us. All the extra stuff associated with this day is fun, but don't let it distract your attention off Jesus :)

At Nolan's school Easter Egg Hunt

Lynn Meadows Egg Hunt with Daddy

Taking a break eating a cookie :)

Getting into the candy

Eggs!! That seems to be William's favorite word of the week!

Looking to see how many eggs they got!

Nolan found the "Golden Egg" at his friend Crosby's Easter party

The Parker's Easter party

Church of the King Egg Hunt

Nolan and Campbell

Easter Morning

William was excited about his Mickey Mouse coloring book

Paint!!! Nolan's favorite :)