A Little More Freedom

We have made a decision to make the next step to being on our own. We have eliminated the morning shift. Rob is on second shift right now and we have been doing it alone this week. It has been surprisingly normal. The days are progressing the same as they always were. We couldn't have made it without all the wonderful help we have had to this point. We want everyone who helped to know they are welcome any time. The kids are more independent and getting into things. This morning Ethan pulled our video camera off the coffee table onto him. He wasn't too happy about that. Landon is moving in full blast these days. He is a new kid. You can see it in his eyes. He isn't in pain anymore. He is happy and he shows it on his face all the time now. They are constantly doing something to amaze us. Landon got into the presents yesterday. That was the first time anyone has attempted that. Ethan and Peyton are wiggle worms in bed at night. You can see it in the picture how much Ethan rolls and moves at night. We are in full blown teeth cutting right now. Peyton has his two bottom front teeth. Ethan has one bottom tooth and is working vigorously to get the second through. Landon is in the exact same boat as Ethan. Sydney doesn't have any yet, but I have a feeling she will get both bottom ones really close together. Jenna is still bringing in the rear with no teeth and not really any signs of them. She still is known for her funny faces as you can see below. They were all weighed on the 3rd of December. Ethan weighed in at exactly 20lbs. Peyton was next at 16lbs even. Landon is barely holding onto third at 15lbs 6oz. Syd is right on his tail weighing 15lbs 4oz. Jenna like always is the tiny one at 12lbs 13oz with her diaper and sleeper on. She is eating really well, but she is also very active. The doctor is okay with that for now. I can't believe that they will be 10 months old on Saturday the 15th. Everyone is growing and progressing like they should. I can't wait for Christmas.

Christmas is Coming Soon!

I have been looking for something cute to put on the kids to get pictures for Christmas. My mom happened upon these outfits this weekend. Yesterday we got them dressed up and snapped away. They are so cute! A friend of ours took the pictures. She is editing some for prints, but these are a few of the originals. She took 466 pictures in all. With five babies she just had to snap continuously. These are a few of the pictures that show the level of difficulty and fun we had with them. Landon didn't want to sit on his butt yet, but he is getting there. By the end they were done with the picture taking. I am so excited about Christmas. They won't care much about unwrapping presents, but I can't wait for them to play with what we got them. We decided to get them one present each this year. Holiday's have taken on a new meaning now. Our kids don't know what is going on, but this will be our first Christmas as a family. This is what we always wanted. We worked so hard to have kids. We never thought in a million years we would be blesses with such an amazing gift from God. They are great. It's harder than anything we have ever done, but we can't describe the joy we get from seeing them healthy and happy.

Peyton Is So Silly!

We just got done eating our dinner when Peyton was suddenly struck with the giggles. I have no idea what is so funny here. It is time like these that I wonder if they are somehow communicating. He is so cute in this clip. He really gets going at the end.

Before I Was A Mom

Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom –
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because

I didn’t want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces

when I couldn’t stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small

could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom –
I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom –
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night

every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,

the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Thanksgiving!

We made it through our first Thanksgiving as a family. It was great. Since the kids can't get out we spent the day at home. We cooked in the afternoon and ate at around 6:00pm. My sister and her husband from Kansas City, MO was home and they got to see the kids too. Little sis Jacie, Big sis Mandy, Little sis Katie

We had a good time cooking and goofing around. We decided we aren't going to keep our close family away for the holidays, so we broke the no kid rule for the weekend. Lee was so excited to get to see the kids. He hasn't seen them since before school started. That is him with me and Jacie below.

My grandma and pappaw came by and continued the tradition we have been doing forever. She got all the kids ornaments. It was so fun to see how they would react to the presents. They like them. Mostly, they wanted to eat the paper and bow.

Jenna decided to take an extra long nap that day and wasn't up when everyone else got to open their ornaments. We decided to wake her up so gram and pap could see her open her gift. These pictures give you a glimpse of the funny goofy faces she makes all the time. She is so funny to watch. Jenna is always making faces and being dramatic.

More Pictures!

It was so Cute! Peyton had his arm around Ethan today. I couldn't resist. Hopefully they will always feel that way about each other. Ethan was a ham as usual too today. Landon was his usual sad self. Two more days! He doesn't know what it is to be without pain. The poor little guy!