Congratulations Dr. Jeff Stevens

This weekend we headed back home so we could be apart of my little brother's graduation from Medical School!! We are so proud of him and enjoy having a dr. in the family. I love calling or texting him, sending him pictures of ailments so that he can give us a diagnosis! HAHA! But seriously, we wouldn't have missed his special day, knowing how hard he worked, how much he and Natalie sacrificed and of course another reason to see my new nephew, little Preston Tate. Not to mention another reason to have a party..I'm all in!
I secretly love (but it's really not a secret from him) that he graduated from Texas A&M Health Science Center but 'isn't an Aggie'...HA! We don't want you to have a ring if you don't want one anyways!
The weekend was also special because Aunt Jennie got to meet Sidney and Preston for the first time! They love her as she is so fun and great with kids!

Sidney Rose is 3 months old!!

My sweet, baby girl turned 3 months old while we were in CS celebrating her Uncle Toodge's Med school graduation. She has been a serious angel lately and sleeps well, eats well, and is talking so much! It is so much fun to lug her around with me, though she is getting heavier in her carseat.
So what is Sidney doing these days...
*Sidney rolls over from tummy to back, but not quite back to tummy..she is putting her leg up and pushing off though.
*Sidney is cooing and chatting and talking back to us; she likes to conversate and watched my mouth very intently! She also drools a lot and crams her fist in her mouth so I'm thinking a little teething is going on!
*She has laughed at us, squealed and giggled at bit too. She is ticklish and that is the best way to make her laugh. I love that she will still let others hold her without getting upset..Emmaline never did that!
*Sidney wears size 2 diapers and 3-6 month clothes. Her chubbiness is super cute and fun to snuggle with.
*She sleeps sporadically throughout the day, usually a big nap in the morning, but the afternoon are still littered with catnaps. This summer will be easier to get her in a routine. She sleeps from around 10pm-5pm, give or take hours on both end. We are still working on sleeping through the night every night, but at least she is in her own bassinet in our closet now! Soon to be in her crib sharing a room with Georgia!
*She weighs around 15 pounds and is probably 23 inches. She goes back to the dr. next month!
*Sidney had really bad baby acne and some dry patches around her ears, forehead and ankles. I started using Aveeno eczema creme and it has helped a lot. I think it is all gone for the most part! Thank goodness, it looked so uncomfortable.
*Her hair is growing longer and starting to lay down sometimes. It looks a bit more strawberry blonde and is starting to fall out in the back a little. I see some blonde coming in the front, so who knows what color she will be..I kindof think she will be more red?!
*My dad says Sidney looks like and reminds him of his grandfather...that they have the same smirky smile and sparkle in their blue eyes! Have to find a picture to compare soon!
*She is starting to unclench her fists some and grab things more. I think she is realizing her hands can move how she wants them to and hold on to some toys or lovies.
*Sidney still loves her paci and is getting better at holding it in. I love the kind we chose, the wubbanub with the soft stuffed animal attached..I am already thinking about how much she will love those things and how it will be a good transition when getting her off the paci (just cut the paci part off)!
*She nurses every 3 hours, most of the time, during the day, starting around 7-9am and then her last feeding is usually around 10pm. I am trying my hardest to get her to make that 9 hour stretch at night. She is an efficient nurser but will linger if I let her!
We are loving our baby girl so much and love every part of her...from her dimpled elbows to her bull dog frown she gives us! Sidney "Wose", we are smitten and couldn't enjoy the days with you more. You make us laugh, smile and squeal with delight when you flash those big blue eyes and give us your toothless smile! I know I see small dimples in those cheeks and can't help but wonder what you're thinking. You are our little piece of heaven on earth and I am so thankful God gave you to us!

Georgia rides her bike

Can't remember if I posted this or not but Georgia is now on a 2 wheel bike! She was quite determined after she realized she couldn't keep up with Emmaline..there is just something about those training wheels tht hold you back.! So we knew if we did our trick we learned with Emmaline and took off her pedals she would be zipping around in no time! It didn't take her long to start hating not having pedals on her bike..she was even slower than before..she is my extra stubborn child who can't stand to not be able to do something when she sets her mind to it. She is not a 'good sport' and can develop quite a bad attitude when things don't go her way. It took about 10 days of about 5 minutes or less of her scooting herself around and you could see her gaining balance and confidence each day!
Daniel decided it was time and I think he was tired of her whining about not having her pedals on..So he gave her what she asked for. And Georgia did not disappoint. She was ready..She pushed herself off and started pedaling and didn't look back. She turns sharp corners, goes over big bumps, can ride a one-mile long track and gets right back on when she falls with little complaint.

That's my girl, Georgie! I have a video and will add it on when I get my computer back! But for now just imagine that blonde hair blowing in the breeze!

Happy Mother's Day 2013

So this is my first Mother's Day with all 4 of my babies. There will be no more newborn Mother's Days for me and Sidney has been so sweet. She has gotten so 'talkative' lately and just smiles, coos, and has the sweetest expressions. Everyone is enjoying her and fawning over her every move (even the people who sit around us at church ooh and aah through the service. I don't think anyone can truly understand how bittersweet it is to see your last baby grow and change and hit those 'firsts' as a mother does. Maybe a grandma?! I know I keep gushing over that point, but that is all I really think about these days between feeding, clothing, doing laundry, cleaning, chauffeuring, eating chocolate, etc.. While going through old clothes, for all 4 kids, I get such a sense of sadness..I don't want to let it go..but we don't have room and really there is no point to keeping ALL the clothes. It's ridiculous. So I keep only the items that immediately send me back to their first steps or first trip to the zoo, or that time they fell and busted their lip..things like that. I am planning on making a blanket out of them..one day! For now, I will keep them and smell them and smile when I remember who bought it for us, who wore it and where!
Geez..I can't seem to string together much else can I??

Today at church Father Scott (his name is Scott Brown and I knew a Scott Brown in highschool and it's how I quickly learned his name..I am terrible at remembering names) spoke on a Mother's love compared to God's love for us! One thing that struck me was when he said {if you want to see what God's love for us is like, an agape kind of love, then look to the Mother you think loves her children the best, with that unconditional, agape kind of love, and that will give you a glimpse at God's love for His children.} So I'm sure I missed a few points there, but that's the gist of what he said..I feel like that is my challenge and what a great reminder it was..I want for someone to look to me as that Mother who gives that love to see even a hint of what God's love looks like. On the same note, I want someone to look at me and just know that I am a child of God just by my actions, just by the way I talk and interact with others. Who would be the mother you would look to when you want to see glimpses of God's love?
And here is a picture of the 1st baby I ever loved...my little brother Jeffrey! He was my baby..I remember thinking..now I know where Georgia gets it from! Mothering starts young!
Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers who make our lives sweeter!