A Party for Sidney

Another year, another birthday party for Sidney that involved a bouncy house, getting wet, friends and an accidental power outage!

Low-key birthday parties are where it's at, and I think we nailed this one! Justin, the girls, and I made her birthday cake -- I stitched up her little "7" shirt, we had pizza and chips, and since it was so dadgum hot, we rigged up a water hose to spray on the bouncy house slide, AND THE KIDS LOVED IT!

Except for the part where Sidney blew up the transformer on the power pole with her escaped balloons, things went super -- I'm so grateful to have an awesome family that chip in to celebrate our girl. We're very blessed with an awesome circle of friends, and I couldn't have imagined a better day. Even the rain held off 'til the very end! Success!!

Happy Birthday, Sidney Morgan

Today, Sidney Morgan is seven years old.

 

At 4:45PM seven years ago, this little gal came bursting into our lives with her thick black hair and bright blue eyes. She was (and is) so beautiful, so sweet, so adorably adorable. Justin and I were just babies having a baby of our own, and this darling daughter of ours has taught us everything we know about being parents.

Being her mother is magical -- she's so incredibly smart, incredibly challenging, and so much like me, she is my mirror. All my faults I want to correct in her; I want her to have her own faults, not to be the ghost of my past screw-ups. I want her to find her own way, forge her own path, be her own independent little person.

 

And she is, in so many ways -- there's no one quite like Sidney Morgan.

She is a phenomenal big sister. The heavens above couldn't have picked out a more perfect big "Sissy" for our crew -- she is sweet and tender and loving. And she's also picky, antagonizing and bossy, just as a big sister should be with three littles chasing her around!

It's hard to remember a time before she was with us -- not that I'd want to, not that I'd have it any other way. She's the perfect fit, her hand in mine, my emotional, sappy, loving, silly little Sidney.

 

I hope she has the happiest of birthdays, and I can't wait to celebrate this little stinker all weekend long!

Happy 7th Birthday, ya big kid you!

Evening Walks with Birdie

Getting this dog was the best thing we've done in awhile. For me, she's the perfect fit to our family + she is everything you could want in a family dog or any dog for that matter. I am comforted by her presence, it just feels right having her around.

 

In the evenings, when the boys are finally asleep, the girls and I sneak off for a few minutes of time alone. We walk the gravel road towards the cabin. We pick wild berries. We jump over fresh piles of cow manure. We throw rocks in the creek. It's all the stereotypes of "country living" that, in my mind, comprise the perfect ending to any day.

 

I look forward to those stolen minutes, before the girls go to bed and the rest of the evening chores (or the couch) call my name. The sun has set, but the world is still lit in this beautiful warm haze. Stars are just beginning to fade through the sky. Rhealen always looks for the moon. I've taught Sidney how to cover it up by using her thumb and closing one eye. Like clockwork, they do their routines.

 

Birdie follows along beside us, through our legs and against our bodies before darting up the hill. I think she enjoys these evening walks, too. She runs and stretches and sniffs the entire time we walk. I have to keep reminding the girls to let her be, she'll come back when she's done. They call to her constantly, and she always obliges, tiring her little body out in double the time.

Of course having a dog is more work, another being to care for -- but Birdie makes it easy. She is never demanding, always gentle and so easy going. She was made for us.

 

I wanted a dog so badly for so long, and just like that, I found the perfect one. She fits into our family as perfectly as those evening walks we share.

Pushing Through, Looking for the Love

Tender moments between these two remind me what it's all really about -- in the midst of tantrums and bloody noses and deafening screams...there are these little blips of love. 

I am hopeful that underneath all this sibling squabbling there are relationships forming -- loving, holy, unyielding bonds of love forming between sisters and brothers and brothers and sisters.  

This is a very loud moment in our lives -- a five-month-old who has found his raging cry-voice. A one-year-old who has decided tantrums are the "it" thing and who uses his hands to slap, scratch and pull hair. A nearly three-year-old who is so stubborn, she'd cut off her nose to spite her face. And a six-year-old with a diva attitude to rival that of a sixteen-year-old. 

It all makes for lots of tears and struggles, and honestly, it's just not a very fun place. That's not to say all days are hard; honestly, the majority of days are pretty good. Not always great, but moderately good and manageable, and with a family this large, that's all a momma can ask for. 

So I'm treasuring the moments of peace and tenderness. I know this time is short and precious, but it's also loud as hell and makes me want to pull my hair out. 

50/50

Spring Photos '14

After a few weekends of bad weather and then busy last-minute plans, we finally got ourselves together and got our photos taken! Stephanie, our resident family photographer, came down and chased us around our yard and little church next door, and we got some decent shots. 

I say "decent" because my two of my children, who need not be named as evidenced below, are so not into having their picture taken. To capture a smile from them on camera is akin to capturing photos of bigfoot -- it doesn't happen, and when it does, it's probably a conspiracy behind camera. 

But nevertheless, this is our family, our six pack, as we live and breathe and in total 100% honesty, flaws and all. At least we have some photos to look back on, and laugh about, for years to come. 

'Til next time! 

And my favorite family photo of the day, even though RJ has her eyes half-closed and Jaxon looks mad as hell and poor Toby isn't even aware of what's going on. 

Still my favorite, my family in a nutshell!

And from last spring to this spring -- Justin hates doing these "walk away" corny shots, but I love them, especially now that I have two to compare side-by-side. 

Mini-Me

I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing people say, "Sidney is your mini-me!" >> poor gal, she may be tired of it, but I certainly am not! I am proud to have one that looks like me. Having Rhealen was such a shocker; after having a little dark-haired, peaches and cream complexion, deep-blue eyed baby, little Rhealen was a total contrast! And then came Jaxon with the same pale skin and blonde hair and bright blue eyes, and we thought huh?! Maybe Sidney is the exception and not the rule!

Genetics are funny like that. 

It's still a little too early to tell about Mr. Toby, but I have a feeling he's going to be another tow headed, sparkly blue eyed boy!

Sidney has Justin's mop of curly hair with my thickness. She has his blue-green eyes with the definition, shape and setback of mine. She's such an interesting mix of me and him, and it's so funny how she's turned out to be the most "unique" of our genetic combinations (I hope this doesn't come across weirdly; I love all of my children equally and think they're all beautiful in their own ways, which of course includes their looks, but also their dynamite different personalities!) 

So, all of that to say....I love my "little Mary Ruth", and even if the other three don't look a thing like me, at least I've always got my first-born! 

Sidney Morgan 6.5, Rhealen Jo 2.8

Both of the girls have changed so much since I last updated on them individually (here and here) -- but duh! of course they're totally different. I could update on them daily, and it'd be something new every day.

Every day they grow and shift and reach new levels. Every single day is a new adventure with these two ladies!

4

Four peas in a pod.

Four unique beings tied by the strings of my heart. I created these little humans (with a little help from my husband, if I must give credit where credit is due!) - I grew them within me. I felt them move for the first time, felt their hiccups. I labored with them, delivered them safely into this great big world with all the wishes and hopes and dreams a momma can have for her babies. 

Four times over I was lucky enough to create life, to deliver life, to nourish a dream into reality. 

My four. The final four. 

2013 - Year in Review

I'm a little last posting this (I like posting them around the first of the year) but better late than never! 

You can see 2012 HERE and 2011 HERE.

::JANUARY::

2013 started out with a bang for us - our little Jaxon Leon arrived a little earlier than anticipated on the 9th :) We adjusted to life with three kiddos, played in the snow, and

::FEBRUARY::

As blogging goes with a new baby, things were erratic and hairbrained! I shared little things that made me happy, random updates on our new normal, and did my best to find "me" again.

::MARCH::

By March I was back on my blogging game! I managed to wish my dear husband "happy birthday" while ranting about Prop8, kept up with the weekly TT posts, did updates on both girls, and posted a cute little video of Rhealen.

::APRIL::

We moved into our house, which was the biggest joy of the month, for sure! I talked about finally having a son, I tried to keep things honest talking about the sucky parts of life, and the world lost a music legend (RIP Possum!)

::MAY::

I compared my "apples to oranges" daughters, shared some photos taken with my Dad+family, got a little sappy thinking about the future for our children, and my "butch" celebrated another birthday (as did my BFF/cousin, Dobby!)

::JUNE::

June was an exciting month for sure! Our little "Nugget" RJ turned TWO, Jaxon started his "pirate look" to combat a lazy eye, we went to the Knoxville zoo, our sweet Dobby got married (!!), and Sidney finished up Kindergarten with a bang!

::JULY::

My one and only post for the entire month of July was Jaxon's monthly update post -- at least I got that one in!!

::AUGUST::

August was the month of random updates apparently, but sometimes that's the best way to document life! Sidney finished up her first summer of swim lessons, I professed my continued love for non-traditional engagement rings (and the hope that my girls follow in my footsteps!), our dear Gran hit the big 5-0!, and Jaxon & Rhealen grew closer, which totally melted my momma heart :)

::SEPTEMBER::

The month of September is always a busy (and fun!) one - Sidney Morgan turned SIX, we all fell in love with Ylvis and "The Fox", I talked about pregnancy hemorrhoids, that sweet husband and I celebrated another anniversary (10 years of being together!), we had family photos taken, I wrote a heartfelt post about being on the fertile side of infertility and my struggles with what to (or not to) say, and I turned 25!!

::OCTOBER::

October brought The Walking Dead back into our zombie-void lives (hallelujah!) - I talked about some crazy pregnancy brain I was having, I really kicked it with the TT posts, and of course, Halloween was celebrated - I even did an awesome TBT post about it!

::NOVEMBER::

I recapped about the time the girls and I trekked to Tweetsie Railroad with Gran & Pops, talked about thriving versus surviving with three kids, fell in love with random country songs, posted about my sleeping tornado of a daughter, and about what it's like having a not-a-baby-anymore baby girl!

::DECEMBER::

I ended the year getting "creative" in the kitchen, got big and pregnant and took the same selfie I had taken over two years ago with RJ (same bathroom & everything!), we bought a new Christmas tree, I lamented the last month of my boy being a baby before he celebrates his first birthday next month, and we had a wonderful Christmas off-line and in-tune with what really matters!

And surprise! On the very last day of December, our little boy was born, shocking us all -- he was early and he was a "HE". All that time spent preparing for our Jameson ended up with us meeting our Toby. The best end of the year gift anyone could ask for!

I love, love, love doing these "end of the year" recaps -- even when I haven't been the best blogger in the land, I still love looking back over a year's worth of moments and memories that might've fallen into oblivion if I hadn't taken the time to screen cap them!

Back to Work...Soon!

Next week marks my last week of maternity leave -- and I feel conflicted. I am so beyond ready to go back to work, to be in a normal routine of what I know and love; I can't wait to get back to my desk and back to my job and interact with other adults on a daily basis. But I am going to miss my babies. I'm going to miss the little moments that happen daily, the things only I can really appreciate as a momma. Our days are sometimes long and maddening, but they're never "dull" -- keeping up with these kiddos is a full time job in itself, especially the tag team trouble of Rhealen + Jaxon.

Those two.....world look out.

I'm going to miss my Toby snuggles, my sweet baby that is so calm and happy. I'm going to miss so much, literal and figuratively speaking.

I love working and I'm thankful to have a job to help support our family, but I admit sometimes I think it'd be nice to stay home full time (although I don't know if I'm cut out for it) -- my hat is off to those mommas and poppas who stay home with their children, y'all are boss!

I plan to really focus and enjoy my last week home -- but I'm also focusing on getting back to work and diving back in head first. 

And because no post is complete without some photos, here's a photo dump of what it looks like hanging at home:

lately

A good blogger would have posted an official Thanksgiving review post complete with lovely photos and tidbits of a glorious day. I am not a good blogger....obviously!

Our day was glorious, the food delicious, the family wonderful -- but I didn't take any photos. As goes of late, Justin and I are too busy taking turns stuffing our faces and chasing our kids to do much official photo-taking. It's something I want to remedy -- snap a picture (or maybe even two!) each holiday. 

We shall see...

Anyway, here's a generic "lately" post, which I haven't done in quite a while -- but something needs to go here, so here goes:

Our new Christmas tree! We upgraded this year and bought a 7.5 ft fancy KMart pre-lit monstrostiy - and I love it. This was taken pretty much straight out of the box before we fluffled any branches or added any ornaments. Still so pretty (and yes, I admit, this year I put up the tree two weeks before Thanksgiving - WHO AM I?!) 

To make room for the above-seen Christmas tree, we had to rearrange our living room a little -- Rhealen is very pleased with the new arrangement and has taken to sitting like this often. She's an odd ball, little thing.

He is THE cutest little thing in hats and beanies and toboggans, but he absolutely HATES wearing them - you have to tie them tight up under his chin and even then, he's figured out how to wiggle out of them. 

Oh, these two -- two of a kind, exactly alike, cut from the same cloth. You know the old sayings. They play better together than any daddy + daughter duo you've ever seen, but they also fight like cats and dogs. Living with the oldest one here has taught me a lot about how to raise the youngest one. Lord help me!

This is the "cake" I made for Thanksgiving dinner - and I use the term cake loosely, because it's more a chocolate catastrophe covered in Reece's Pieces. It worked, I guess. (I wouldn't know, I don't like chocolate!)

Cutie! And this one likes hats :)

Justin went out of town this past Saturday to visit some extended family, so while the Daddy was away -- Buddy got let in to play! Justin is very anti-dog-in-the-house (something about allergies! psh!) but we snuck in our favorite pooch for some kisses. It was a cold morning anyway! 

These two enjoy time spent in the kitchen with me - they'll gladly lick spoons and bowls and taste-test 'til they're stuffed. 

My sweet boy & me before the morning drop-off :)