Our friends Mark and Kate had their baby boys, Maxwell James (1 lb. 10 oz., 12 inches long) Wesley Mychael (1 lb. 9 oz., 11.75 inches long) last night. Kate was 24 weeks and 6 days along. Both boys are on ventilator systems, at different levels. They truly need God's strength to survive today, tomorrow and however many days God blesses them with. Please also pray for Mark and Kate. They need God's strength more now than ever to get through each day and uncertainty and challenges that it brings. I pray that they feel blessed for every moment they get with their young boys. I pray that if it is God's will, He will bless the boys with the strength they need to survive here on earth for years to come!
Our precious little boy, you turned two yesterday. WOW! I can't begin to tell you the emotions we've been through during your course of life so far. I can clearly recall our stress and anxiety that we had for the first six months of your life. We just didn't want you to be in pain. As parents, we wanted to fix it, but just couldn't find a way!
And now? You're a crazy little, loving, entertaining two-year old! You make us laugh more than I thought any toddler could! I think you have your Uncle Elliot's goofball jeans ;) Although you can be very naughty, as soon as you're around babies (you call them all "Baby Levi" after your cousin) you are incredibly precious, gentle and calm! I actually asked Aunt Kate the other day if I could borrow Levi sometimes, since you're so well-behaved around him :)
We affectionately call you our "Sour Patch Kid." As you can disobey, hit and yell one moment and be affectionate, cuddly and loving the next. We can already tell that you are a very emotional little boy. When you get disciplined, it's not uncommon for you to cry for five to ten minutes following... not the, "Whiny, I'm upset cry," the "I can't regain my composure and calm myself down because you hurt my feelings," cry. Which inherently makes it very difficult for us to discipline you! So without further ado, I'll admit that you have both of us wrapped around your little finger, especially with those big blue eyes of yours!
You arrived so quickly, your face and body were blue for quite some time!
Meeting big sister
You looked like Daddy from the day you were born!
7 months
One year
18 months
Two years!
Our dear friends Mark (Rob's best man) and Kate are in the hospital (bouncing between the OB Special Care and Labor and Delivery floors) desperately trying to postpone the birth of their twin boys (currently 24 weeks and 2 days old). The doctors are having an increasingly difficult time stopping Kate's contractions and keeping Kate from having BP problems. They have been through so much in the past week, and I just pray that God continues to give them faith and embrace both of them as well as their baby boys.
Well, the party came and went. It was a bit insane, but the kids had TONS of fun! The house is a disaster, but I'm happy about it, means everyone had a great time! All of the kids seemed to love the cowboy boot sandwiches, sheriff badge and cowboy hat Jell-O jigglers, and sheriff badge, cowboy boot and cowboy hat ice cream sandwiches!
I apologize to those who were here for a bit of the chaos when it came to opening presents. It was a good lesson learned that we need to sit down with the kids and focus on one present at a time. I am sorry that the kids didn't get a chance to thank everyone individually (one of those after the fact moments).
Anyway... I was thoroughly impressed that the majority of guests showed up in cowboy/cowgirl gear! Of course I didn't get around to taking pictures of everyone, but it was VERY cute! Thanks everyone for coming! And a special thanks to my wonderful sister for helping Friday and Saturday with the cake and decorating the house (she thought of the lasso around the numbers... so cute)!
Here are a few pics of the craziness! (poor Madisyn had a fat lip :( )
Can you see Landon's interest in getting into the cake?! Moments after this, he dug into his #2 :)
I completely forgot to buy candles! These were the only ones (besides beer can candles) that I could find in the house!
Aunt Shell with the birthday cowgirl
Cousin Levi - look at those eyes and eye lashes!
It took a really long time to burn the edges, but I like the way they turned out!
AND... I was going to buy Madisyn some new cowboy boots online, but I found some that look like they'd never been worn at my friend's 'Think Spring' party, which included a garage sale (with a lot of different people selling). They were only $3!!! I couldn't believe they were her size and that they're actually cuter than anything I'd found online! I love a good deal!
One day old
One year old
Two years old
Three years old
Four years old
Madisyn Grace, you are such a blessing to us! I still can't believe that you've blessed us with your presence for four whole years! It seems like days ago I was holding you for the first time and in awe of what God had entrusted us with. You continue to amaze us daily! You are such a wonderful daughter and big sister!!! We love you with all of our hearts!
Love, Daddy, Mommy & LD
Madisyn had a tea party at school last week Friday, where they get to dress up in their church outfits and practice their manners. The girls just love it!
I let Madisyn wear her fancy Christmas dress and did her hair up to look like a "princess." After the kids were off to school, I noticed that my note on my calendar said something about a "Teddy Bear Tea Party." OOPS! I completely forgot to send a teddy bear with her. I called Rob to confirm. He said that, "Yes, all of the other kids had a teddy bear, but that they also had... their pajamas on." OH NO! I forgot that it was a PJ and teddy bear tea party.
I quickly got PJ's and teddy bears together and drove to school. As soon as I arrived, Madisyn ran over to me and hugs my legs SO tight... and started crying! At that moment I felt so terrible. I realized that I had completely embarrassed her. The teachers even told me that for a while she wanted to be in Landon's room and that the director was going to go to the store to buy Madisyn some PJ's. Talk about just feeling awful!
I finally got her changed and apologized numerous times for making her feel embarrassed, gave lots of hugs and kisses and she was on her way back to playing. She reached for the door, turned around, looked at me, and asked, "Mommy, can I have one more hug."
I'm pretty confident that I won't make that mistake again!
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