First Day

Chap is such a big boy! He was so excited to start big boy school. I really don't think he was nervous at all. He has sweet Mrs. Necie Cain at Presbyterian Day School. Sam had her for first grade. She is a very well seasoned teacher and we already love her!








Sweet brothers! This is Sam's 4th day of school. He is in the public system and started last week.








I can't believe they agreed to a sibling photo this morning!


I love you, boys!


Please pray that Chap has a wonderful day today!

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Chap the Frog Man

This weekend we went to our sweet friend's 5th birthday party! Branson had the coolest Duck Dynasty themed party complete with frog gigging! Chap was in frog heaven! We had a blast!








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Orange Beach 2013

I regretfully didn't get many pics during our beach trip this year! It rained every day and frankly, sometimes I just don't feel taking pics! One of our favorite things to do is take a boat ride to Pirates Cove and the pass. We love to watch the dolphins. Well, this year Chivas and I had to skip it! Knox started crying not 5 minutes after we left and there was no way he was stopping! All three of our boys hate life vests but I think Knox has hated it the most! Maybe next year....


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7 Months

My sweet baby is 7 months old...this makes me so sad! Knox has been the biggest blessing for our family. He is an absolute delight! We are so in love with him. At seven months, Knox is:
Spoiled rotten! Crawling everywhere! A Mama's boy, Very cuddly, loves playing with cups and bowls, pulling up on anything that'll sit still, playing with his toys, nursing very often, trying new foods, eating solids 2x a day, playing with his brothers, making funny faces, side-stepping while pulled up on sofa, obsessed with me, sleeping with mommy, nursing 3x per night, waking up between 6:30-7:00 every morning!
I cannot imagine life without him! I am in love!

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Mommy and Me Weekend

Sam and Chap are off to Gatlinburg with my parents and Nats husband and kiddos so me and little sugar man are all alone! We were bored and lonely this morning so we did a little photo shoot. I am obsessed with his fat rolls!





































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Babies Don't Keep

by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.



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We have a 9 year old?!?!

Did I mention Sam is 9????
Listen, I don't know what's happening with this time flying by but I'm pretty fed up with it.
I'm not completely sure that Sam understands what he means to me. Y'all, he is special. Seriously. You ever just meet someone a think, " dang, they broke the mold." ? Well that's my Sam. Everyday I think to myself that I don't deserve such a blessing. I swear, his heart must weigh 50 pounds. He loves everyone. Even if you are an asshole, rude, mean as a yard dog...he loves you. And he'd do anything for you too. He's a "shirt off his back" kind of guy. And I don't know where he gets these qualities. I jokingly believe he won't have a nickel to his name when he's old and grey because he will have given it all away to someone who needed it more. And this kid is talented. He can sing, he's got the moves like jagger, he can entertain anyone.
He's smart. He never forgets anything. He thinks outside of the box. He IS just different from all the other boys his age. He's the boy who cried tears of pure happiness when he got a four wheeler for his birthday but let his little brother ride it first. He's the boy who helps the old dude at Walmart load his groceries in his car because its "too hot out here for old people". If you are smart, you'd get to know him.
Now, don't get me wrong...he likes to be pampered too. And he LOVES to eat! My suggestion for his future wife will be to cook well and plenty! Sam, thank you for being my right hand. Thank you for being you. Please be careful. I know you think you are tough stuff but you are not invincible...although I wish you were. Please don't let this mean old world harden your heart. Don't ever be embarrassed about your silly side. You are the best big brother! We are so blessed to have you! Happy 9th birthday!



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10 years!

Just in case having three kids doesn't make me feel old enough, along comes my ten year high school reunion. We seriously had a BLAST! We didn't even have half of our class there but we rocked it anyways! I really wish everyone could have come. I loved seeing everyone but mostly I enjoyed seeing everyone's kids. I think I might have won " most kids"! LOL...no seriously.
We had such an amazing and close class. I am SO looking forward to our next reunion!




My bestie, Pooh.




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NOLA

One of my favorite places! We adore New Orleans...I love everything about it...from the French quarter down to the dirty bums. We went to visit Chivas in picayune where he is staying for work and took a couple day trips to the zoo and aquarium. Sweet Rivy loved it all! How precious is he?





There is nothing sexier than a man wearing his baby!

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6 months

Our little Knox has grown so much in the past month or so. His personality has blossomed and we are all enjoying him so much. The first thing Sam and Chap do every morning is love on Knox. Their bond is extraordinary and such a blessing to witness. Knox is a true Mama's boy and has been exclusively nursing until about a week ago. He's beginning to try purée foods but is not a fan. This happened with Chap as well so i am guessing we will be skipping the purée stage and going straight to solids. Tonight Knox ate green beans that i broke apart into pieces. He really likes to pick up his own food to feed himself. I find myself so frustrated sometimes with how hard headed and independent he is but I'm trying to remember that those qualities are actually good! He has been pulling up for about 3 weeks now and has even side stepped while holding onto the sofa! He has become much more verbal and expresses his frustrations with me and his brothers! The train in this photo was part of Chivas' old train set from his childhood. I am in love with it!


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4 months

I have no words about how depressing it is to think that MY BABY is already four months old...someone invent a time freeze machine, please!
Knox is rolling over AND can travel across the floor using his legs to push himself! I'm afraid he is going to be crawling within the next few weeks and we are not ready for that! He weighs 16 pounds and is in the 50% percentile on height and weight but his head circumference is 90%! Large brain;-)
He is very advanced and can reach out to grab something or someone he wants! He loved to take my cell phone from me! He is still exclusively breast fed but has agreed to take my milk from a bottle when I am going to ball games! Thank goodness! I cannot take Knox to baseball games because he despises loud noises!


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Ballin'

It's baseball season! Which means I am a busy Mama! Chivas is still working in Texas so I'm responsible for everything! Luckily, I get tons of help from my parents and our friends, the Dorseys. I literally wouldn't be able to tackle ball season if it weren't for the help of others...sometimes Sam and Chap have games or practices at the exact same time. Enjoy some photos!
Sam is an excellent batter and plays short stop!












Chap has really enjoyed t-ball! He loves having his best friends on his team!









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Sweet Rivy turns 5!

Chap turned 5 on Febuary 21st! He has honestly been the most delightful child I've ever known. The poor boy has a million nicknames!
Chapper Dapper, Chappie, Rivers(his middle name), Rivy (what I call him most often), Rippy and last but not at all the least...Rip Snap! Chivas and Sam call him Rip Snap most often;-)
At 5 years old, Chap loves...
--Country Music--favorite artists are Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Blake Shelton, Lee Brice...
--Trucks and construction trucks
--Tractors
--Wearing belts
--going places with Pops
--playing with his best friend, Memphis
--sleeping In Mommy's bed
--cuddling with his kitty, Ricky
--Playing in mud/water
--refusing to wear weather appropriate clothing...if you see him with shorts on or without a coat in 30 degree weather, please don't judge my parenting skills...it is just how Chap is. NEVER Cold!

Chapper,
Mommy is so proud of you! You are such a smart boy! You know every word to your favorite country songs and that really impresses Daddy and Mommy! You are very sensitive and I love that about you. You are my favorite cuddler and you always know what to say to make us all laugh! You are a potty mouthed little boy and you think the most disgusting things are down right hilarious! You are very independent and you look up to your big brother. You always tell me and daddy that you love us and never forget to give us hugs and kisses, even when you are only going outside to play. You are my treasure! Happy birthday, Rip Snap...my "favorite";-) Shhh...don't tell your brothers!
--Mom





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2 months...

Our sweetness is 2 months old...
He weighs 12.2 pounds and is a nursing fanatic!!
We are using Dr. Sears delayed vaccination schedule! I am so thankful for a pediatrician who believes in common sense. We love our Dr. Freeman!
I am so thankful that I have educated myself on so many topics and I am now choosing better, safer, healthier options for my boys and myself.
I'm officially a crunchy hippie;-)
Dr. Freeman says Knox is one of the most advanced and socially engaged infants he has ever seen! And he has seen a ton! He's old as the hills;-)
Knox loves to interact with his brothers...
He hates his car seat, loves being spoken to, talks back, and is giggling!
Knox is already trying to roll over and can bear his entire body weight on his legs.
He has a favorite boob and a favorite brother( but we won't say who;-)
We got to spend a couple short days with Chivas in West Monroe, LA and had a fabulous time!! We visited the duck commander office and store and went shopping in Monroe. We can't wait to have Daddy back at home!!


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Like father...

Like son...

Chivas is working in Texas for 6 weeks...yeah I said 6 weeks...and we miss him oh so much...

Almost one week down, 5 to go...

Praying the job is finished early so he can come to Chaps birthday party!
But I won't get my hopes up...
Praying I don't go completely bonkers...

Love you, Degaboo...


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5 weeks

Why do babies have to grow so quickly?!?!
Knox is 5 precious weeks old...
The colic is getting so much better. I've stopped eating/drinking dairy and it has made all the difference in the world!
He is sleeping for 3 1/2 to 4 hour stretches during the night.
Breastfeeding is going so well and I love it! Knox loves it too:-)
I've been shopping for new clothes for him...he has officially grown out of newborn clothing.
I took him to visit my work family at Trace Medical this week and he weighed 10 pounds and 8 ounces!
Knox has been smiling and cooing! Needless to say...we are in love:-)



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One Month

Our sweetness is growing so quickly...
...Knox is holding his head steady and smiling at us!
...He is waking up during the night to eat about every 2.5-3 hours.
...He adores his brothers and watches them. We are afraid of what he is already learning from them:-/
...He fusses every time his Daddy holds him. I think it's funny until I actually need a break and need Chivas to hold him!
...We are battling colic. Luckily Chivas and I have some experience with this from Sam. I am exhausted...
...He loves being outside and natural light. When he is really fussy I can either sit by a window or take him outside ( pending weather).
...He loves to nurse and would nurse constantly if I let him.



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