So blessed to have four healthy, sweet kiddos and 8 1/2 uninterrupted weeks to be with them during the summer. Life is so good right now that I wish I could hit pause for at least five years.
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Monday, July 29, 2013
Loving My Babies and My Summer
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So blessed to have four healthy, sweet kiddos and 8 1/2 uninterrupted weeks to be with them during the summer. Life is so good right now that I wish I could hit pause for at least five years.
So blessed to have four healthy, sweet kiddos and 8 1/2 uninterrupted weeks to be with them during the summer. Life is so good right now that I wish I could hit pause for at least five years.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Spring Time Already...
This winter and spring have been hectic but so much fun. My babies are all happy and growing like weeds.
In February, Keaton turned six, and we celebrated with family and friends at the bowling alley. He started his second season of soccer in March. He loves it and is now much more focused than last year. No more "walking like an Egyptian" across the field! Keaton is doing really, really well in school. He knows all of his 110 kindergarten sight words and is working of his phrases now. I'm so proud of him!
McLain is officially a preteen. Scary thought! He turned twelve in April, and we celebrated this milestone at Mountasia with a bunch of his guy friends from school. I am so grateful that he has found a fun, wholesome group of boys to hang out with. McLain just had his final 6th grade orchestra concert this week. Clay and I are so proud that he has been first chair in the cello section all year! He definitely has those musical genes, like his Daddy and uncles. McLain is in the midst of his fifth soccer season. It'a amazing the growth he has made in five years.
Sweet Collin turned two just two weeks after McLain's birthday. We celebrated with his favorite buddy, Elmo! Collin is such a funny guy and is really starting to talk. I love to hear him say "We're home, Mama" when we pull into the neighborhood and "Shooooooooes" whenever he's ready to go bye-bye. He has become a fierce protector of his sister and loves to take care of her. I love to watch him get excited when she wakes up and say, "HI! HI, baby!" with a huge smile on his face. Precious!
My baby girl is already five and half months old. I can't believe it! Amelia-Grace is such a sweet, HAPPY girl. She recently started having big belly laughs and rolling over. My girl is a big snuggler and loves to be rocked. She is so much fun to take shopping, and I feel certain that she loves going to Target with a big bow on her head as much I love going with her and showing her off.
School will be over in three weeks. I'm looking forward to mornings of sleeping in (hopefully until 7:00!), to afternoons spent at the pool, and to evenings watching Duck Dynasty and eating chocolate chip cookies.
In February, Keaton turned six, and we celebrated with family and friends at the bowling alley. He started his second season of soccer in March. He loves it and is now much more focused than last year. No more "walking like an Egyptian" across the field! Keaton is doing really, really well in school. He knows all of his 110 kindergarten sight words and is working of his phrases now. I'm so proud of him!
McLain is officially a preteen. Scary thought! He turned twelve in April, and we celebrated this milestone at Mountasia with a bunch of his guy friends from school. I am so grateful that he has found a fun, wholesome group of boys to hang out with. McLain just had his final 6th grade orchestra concert this week. Clay and I are so proud that he has been first chair in the cello section all year! He definitely has those musical genes, like his Daddy and uncles. McLain is in the midst of his fifth soccer season. It'a amazing the growth he has made in five years.
Sweet Collin turned two just two weeks after McLain's birthday. We celebrated with his favorite buddy, Elmo! Collin is such a funny guy and is really starting to talk. I love to hear him say "We're home, Mama" when we pull into the neighborhood and "Shooooooooes" whenever he's ready to go bye-bye. He has become a fierce protector of his sister and loves to take care of her. I love to watch him get excited when she wakes up and say, "HI! HI, baby!" with a huge smile on his face. Precious!
My baby girl is already five and half months old. I can't believe it! Amelia-Grace is such a sweet, HAPPY girl. She recently started having big belly laughs and rolling over. My girl is a big snuggler and loves to be rocked. She is so much fun to take shopping, and I feel certain that she loves going to Target with a big bow on her head as much I love going with her and showing her off.
School will be over in three weeks. I'm looking forward to mornings of sleeping in (hopefully until 7:00!), to afternoons spent at the pool, and to evenings watching Duck Dynasty and eating chocolate chip cookies.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
LOVE My Family O'Six
It's crazy that we've only been a family of six for three months, but it feels like we've been this big forever. It's a good, natural fit for us. I love looking back at all my babies during car rides and having them all piled up in our bed to watch an episode of Duck Dynasty. I would give just about anything to hit the pause button on my kids for about five years. These days are so sweet, and I hate for them to pass too quickly. Definitely feeling God's blessings on our family.
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| February 24th |
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| Mommy's 35th Birthday |
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| Keaton's 6th Birthday at the Bowling Alley |
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| Amelia-Grace's Dedication on February 17th |
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| Sweet big and little brother |
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| Our Sweet Sleeping Princess |
Friday, January 4, 2013
So Long 2012!
Wow, I can't believe that 2012 is already over and that it's already the fourth day of 2013. Man, time goes quickly these days when you are juggling a full family and a crazy job!
My Highlights:
1. In March, I discovered that God decided that we needed another addition to our family. This pregnancy would prove to be tough and long, but my sweet baby was, of course, worth the trouble.
2. I finished the most challenging year of my career in May. Through this spring semester, I learned A LOT about patience, but I'm happy not to have to learn anything else for a while. :)
3. In June, I learned that I was NOT having a fourth boy. Clay and I were stunned for weeks, but my shock did not slow down my acquisition of all things pink. Yay!
4. I gave birth to my sweet, baby girl in November. She was six days late, but I decided I will only hang that over her head for a decade. Or two.
5. I caved. And got a mini-van. And cried about it for a week. I told Clay that next time I'm getting a school bus, because it would be less lame.
McLain's Highlights:
1. McLain finished elementary school with all As for all four quarters. It broke my heart more than a little that he finished fifth grade and wouldn't be coming back to school with me in the fall. Oh, how I miss him!
2. He completed his fourth season of soccer. His growth over the last four years was very evident, and Clay was very proud of him.
3. He acknowledged that he had prayed for another baby and owned that #4 could be partially his fault. ;)
4. He started Lovinggood in August and LOVES it. To date, he still has not complained about any aspect of it. Miracle of miracles! I am so grateful that he has made a lot of good, wholesome friends and is academically doing well.
5. McLain started playing the cello this fall and has fallen in love with it. He seems to be musically inclined, like his Daddy and uncles. His sweet self texted his music teacher from elementary school in November and told her that he credits her with his abillity to read music.
Keaton's Highlights:
1. Keaton played his first season of soccer. He was very enthusiastic and yet very distractable while playing. I think he might prefer to coach instead of play. The boy is bossy, like his Mama! However, he was a cute addition to the front yard soccer scrimmages that the big boys play.
2. Keaton finished his fourth year at McEachern United Methodist's Preschool. His singing at the end of the year program was precious! My Mom and I were both sad to see him leave such a fabulous, Jesus loving school.
3. Keaton learned to swim this summer all on his own in my mom's pool. So cool!
4. He started kindergarten at my school in August and adores it. He's almost a celebrity, because most of the staff has known him since he was a baby. He has the same awesome kindergarten teacher that McLain did.
5. He lost his first tooth two days after Christmas. The tooth fairy left him $5! Those first teeth are worth a lot.
Collin's Highlights:
1. Collin celebrated his first birthday in April. It was crazy to think that my one year old baby would be a big brother in the fall. However, he did not seem overly concerned as he delicately ate his birthday cake by scraping the icing off with his thumb.
2. Collin learned to walk at the end of June. He was so incredibly proud of himself that he clapped every time he fell down.
3. Collin started talking a lot. He loves to yell "Maaaaaaamaaaaaa" and "Daaaaaaddddyyyyyyy.!" In the fall, he began putting two words together. His favorite thing to say is "Pweeeeeeaaaaassssseeee" (please) with his head on his shoulder and with his sweet, signature smile.
4. Collin became a big brother with the birth of his sister whom he ADORES. He keeps up with her all day, calls her "our baby," and will give her her binky when she cries.
5. He cut six teeth in the month after his sister was born and can now chow down on anything. He prefers to steal Keaton's Doritos.
Amelia-Grace's Highlights:
1. In March, we discovered #4 was on her way. She made her presence known as she nauseated me for the first trimester and forced me to waddle beginning at four months!
2. She was born on November 17th at 1:51 PM. We were all STUNNED that she weighed 9 pounds 7 ounces, which is much more than any of her brothers' birth weights. What a chunky monkey!
3. Our girl stole our heart and completed our family immediately. We don't know what we did before she was here, and we certainly don't know what we'd do now without her pink clad, sweet self!
4. Amelia-Grace started smiling all the time right after Christmas. We love her sweet grin!
5. She started sleeping for a few hours at a time at night, such as from 11:00-4:00. Hopefully, this trend will continue!
I love my every growing family and experiencing all of my babies' milestones, little and big, with them. God blessed our family and me so much in 2012. I can't wait for what He has in store for us in 2013.
My Highlights:
1. In March, I discovered that God decided that we needed another addition to our family. This pregnancy would prove to be tough and long, but my sweet baby was, of course, worth the trouble.
2. I finished the most challenging year of my career in May. Through this spring semester, I learned A LOT about patience, but I'm happy not to have to learn anything else for a while. :)
3. In June, I learned that I was NOT having a fourth boy. Clay and I were stunned for weeks, but my shock did not slow down my acquisition of all things pink. Yay!
4. I gave birth to my sweet, baby girl in November. She was six days late, but I decided I will only hang that over her head for a decade. Or two.
5. I caved. And got a mini-van. And cried about it for a week. I told Clay that next time I'm getting a school bus, because it would be less lame.
McLain's Highlights:
1. McLain finished elementary school with all As for all four quarters. It broke my heart more than a little that he finished fifth grade and wouldn't be coming back to school with me in the fall. Oh, how I miss him!
2. He completed his fourth season of soccer. His growth over the last four years was very evident, and Clay was very proud of him.
3. He acknowledged that he had prayed for another baby and owned that #4 could be partially his fault. ;)
4. He started Lovinggood in August and LOVES it. To date, he still has not complained about any aspect of it. Miracle of miracles! I am so grateful that he has made a lot of good, wholesome friends and is academically doing well.
5. McLain started playing the cello this fall and has fallen in love with it. He seems to be musically inclined, like his Daddy and uncles. His sweet self texted his music teacher from elementary school in November and told her that he credits her with his abillity to read music.
Keaton's Highlights:
1. Keaton played his first season of soccer. He was very enthusiastic and yet very distractable while playing. I think he might prefer to coach instead of play. The boy is bossy, like his Mama! However, he was a cute addition to the front yard soccer scrimmages that the big boys play.
2. Keaton finished his fourth year at McEachern United Methodist's Preschool. His singing at the end of the year program was precious! My Mom and I were both sad to see him leave such a fabulous, Jesus loving school.
3. Keaton learned to swim this summer all on his own in my mom's pool. So cool!
4. He started kindergarten at my school in August and adores it. He's almost a celebrity, because most of the staff has known him since he was a baby. He has the same awesome kindergarten teacher that McLain did.
5. He lost his first tooth two days after Christmas. The tooth fairy left him $5! Those first teeth are worth a lot.
Collin's Highlights:
1. Collin celebrated his first birthday in April. It was crazy to think that my one year old baby would be a big brother in the fall. However, he did not seem overly concerned as he delicately ate his birthday cake by scraping the icing off with his thumb.
2. Collin learned to walk at the end of June. He was so incredibly proud of himself that he clapped every time he fell down.
3. Collin started talking a lot. He loves to yell "Maaaaaaamaaaaaa" and "Daaaaaaddddyyyyyyy.!" In the fall, he began putting two words together. His favorite thing to say is "Pweeeeeeaaaaassssseeee" (please) with his head on his shoulder and with his sweet, signature smile.
4. Collin became a big brother with the birth of his sister whom he ADORES. He keeps up with her all day, calls her "our baby," and will give her her binky when she cries.
5. He cut six teeth in the month after his sister was born and can now chow down on anything. He prefers to steal Keaton's Doritos.
Amelia-Grace's Highlights:
1. In March, we discovered #4 was on her way. She made her presence known as she nauseated me for the first trimester and forced me to waddle beginning at four months!
2. She was born on November 17th at 1:51 PM. We were all STUNNED that she weighed 9 pounds 7 ounces, which is much more than any of her brothers' birth weights. What a chunky monkey!
3. Our girl stole our heart and completed our family immediately. We don't know what we did before she was here, and we certainly don't know what we'd do now without her pink clad, sweet self!
4. Amelia-Grace started smiling all the time right after Christmas. We love her sweet grin!
5. She started sleeping for a few hours at a time at night, such as from 11:00-4:00. Hopefully, this trend will continue!
I love my every growing family and experiencing all of my babies' milestones, little and big, with them. God blessed our family and me so much in 2012. I can't wait for what He has in store for us in 2013.
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| First Thanksgiving as a family of six! |
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| Sweet Amelia-Grace |
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| Halloween 2012 |
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| Mommy and her FOUR babies! |
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| Mommy and McLain at Thanksgiving |
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| Daddy and his two youngest babies |
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| Last Halloween as a party of five |
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| Mommy's boys at the fair |
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| McLain is about to head to his first day of middle school. |
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| Easter 2012 |
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| Collin's first birthday! |
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| Surprise! |
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| Getting ready to expand our family |
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| Hot pink time for Mommy and daughter |
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| Keaton's first day of kindergarten |
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| Sneaky trick |
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| The truth. |
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| Love CFA cow appreciation day! |
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| Easter 2012 |
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| My herd is ready! |
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| Sweet girl |
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| Sleeping princess |
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| Getting ready to take our fourth baby home from the hospital. |
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| Z-Z Zebra is ready for the Zoo Phonics parade! |
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| First night home with four kiddos in the house! |
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| Sweet big brother |
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| Ready for her first Christmas |
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| Ready to take baby sister home |
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Sweet Amelia-Grace
After six very long, stressful, anxious days past her due date, my sweet girl finally arrived on Saturday, November 17th at 1:51 PM. She was shockingly chubby and much bigger than any of her brothers at birth, weighing in at impressive 9 pounds 7 ounces and being 21 1/4 inches long. I'm so grateful she is here and have rarely put her down in the last month. Our family is truly blessed. And big. :) Welcome to our chaos, Carolyn Amelia-Grace Brooks. Mommy loves you!
P.S. When I have a spare hour I will write and post A-G's birth story. However, I have to find some free time first while running after my four kids. Wish me luck!
P.S. When I have a spare hour I will write and post A-G's birth story. However, I have to find some free time first while running after my four kids. Wish me luck!
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Due Date Torture
Today, is allegedly the day my #4 should arrive. Ha, ha to that. I'm not holding my breath. Like I told my students, a due date is a reasonable estimate of when the doctors think a baby will come. Too bad I'm not feeling very reasonable right now. :(
I think I got a little too excited on Friday when my midwife said that I was 3-4 centimeters and that the baby could arrive any time. Apparently, my daughter is really comfy. If nothing else, my midwife told me that I could be induced on the 18th if Miss A-G doesn't come on her own before then. At least that end is in sight.
I think I got a little too excited on Friday when my midwife said that I was 3-4 centimeters and that the baby could arrive any time. Apparently, my daughter is really comfy. If nothing else, my midwife told me that I could be induced on the 18th if Miss A-G doesn't come on her own before then. At least that end is in sight.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The End Seems So Much Longer than the Beginning
How do five days (and I am simply hoping it's no more than five) seem so short when you are on a great vacation, but when it comes to your due date, it seems like FOR-E-VER? Pregnancy is really a phenomenon. The first 36 weeks go by at a good rate, and then BAM! The last four weeks drag by, like you're a little kid waiting for Christmas. At this point, it's pure torture.
The nursery is now complete and completely adorable. :) We had to be careful in our color and theme choices as we're putting Collin and Amelia-Grace together, and I didn't want the room to be too girly or too boyish either. I think we did a good job with a combination of lavendar and sage green with lots of pastel polka dots. I'll post pictures later.
The hospital bags have now been packed and repacked. In Amelia-Grace's bag, I have her coming home dress (which my mom and I both wore), booties, and bonnet pressed and ready to be worn. In my enormous bag, there is vending machine change, popcorn, and candy for late night consumption. Plus, my mom has all the Twilight movies for a vampire marathon packed in her's. Clearly, we are ready.
Dear little girl, Mommy can't breathe, roll over comfortably, or sleep without five to six potty breaks during the night. Please show your sweet self SOON! I might could be bribed to give you a pony if you do. :)
The nursery is now complete and completely adorable. :) We had to be careful in our color and theme choices as we're putting Collin and Amelia-Grace together, and I didn't want the room to be too girly or too boyish either. I think we did a good job with a combination of lavendar and sage green with lots of pastel polka dots. I'll post pictures later.
The hospital bags have now been packed and repacked. In Amelia-Grace's bag, I have her coming home dress (which my mom and I both wore), booties, and bonnet pressed and ready to be worn. In my enormous bag, there is vending machine change, popcorn, and candy for late night consumption. Plus, my mom has all the Twilight movies for a vampire marathon packed in her's. Clearly, we are ready.
Dear little girl, Mommy can't breathe, roll over comfortably, or sleep without five to six potty breaks during the night. Please show your sweet self SOON! I might could be bribed to give you a pony if you do. :)
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