{at the table}

We finally got around to getting out the ole' high chair.

This chair has held 5 of our babies now.

Cooper was rather pleased with himself 

as he sat at the table with us at dinner tonight.

Presley played mommy & fed baby spoonfuls of cereal.

(I had to teacher her not to jam the spoon in to the back of poor coopers throat. he was a good sport.)

Today was actually not my favorite day...

kids fighting, using the word stupid, 

drawing on furniture, spill after spill...

& yet I sit & look at these happy cooper faces 

& none of that matters.

These pictures of cooper remind me of THESE pictures 

of our nearly 3 year old gal. 

my time flies. 

{1st}

First swim came late this year. 

Usually by April we are begging for May 1st to come (the day the neighborhood pool opens.) 

Not this year.

But with a few days of high 90s under our belts It felt like time. 

sunblock, swim suits, floaties in tow, we headed down the hill to the pool.

It was nice.

I sat in a low lounge chair dangling Cooper's toes in the cool pool water. 

The pool area was flooded with calls from my boys "mommy watch this." 

They gave me lots of reasons to clap & cheer them on as they swam about like fish. 

its officially pool season. 

{together again}

These two are always giddy to see each other after school. 

best friends I tell ya.

Britt shows off his school work & "skunk" face paint. 

 Britt & Maddox are eager for summer vacation so they can be attached at the hip. 

{May 12th}

I am certain I think it every year...

THIS  is the best mother's day EVER! 

& again...

I thought it this year. 

Mother's day is simple.

its sleeping in 

its my favorite egg breakfast

its less cleaning & more playing

its school projects & primary pictures.

I like simple. 

I like that it is not a big party

just extra kisses & 

spontaneous & often random gifts throughout the day.

Maddox gave me his last carmel. 

it was an open window weekend

bikes were rode,

movie nights had, 

friends came over for sunday dinner after church.

This was the best mother's day EVER! 

(so far)

 ---------

this boy made me a mom! 

he still calls me mommy.....

 breakfast platter...no joke! a platter! not a dinner plate! 

the annual homemade fruit bouquet! Rod amazes me!! 

When Tre was born I freaked out! 

I stopped eating & started crying.

I was young. only married for 18 months.

on the brink of my 22nd birthday. 

My mom was there.

she made dinners.

she took the baby in the wee hours of the night.

she put Tre on a schedule.

she made sure i had time to brush my teeth and hair & breathe.

she taught me to be a mommy....

not just in those first weeks of Tre's life 

but in all the years she loved & mothered me.

She is my dearest friend! 

Tre & my best friend....
(Tre-18 mo. Charlotte NC)

{phone}

life according to my phone...

{3rd annual}

we had our annual lemonade stand. This menu: peanut butter bars, cookie bars, lemon bars, rice crispies, mint brownies, lemonade.

This year we had a cause.

Recently a family lost their daddy. The young mother, 30 weeks pregnant with baby 6 is left to raise her small ones without the love of her life. 

I thought maybe the street kids would earn about $40 as they have in the past...but not this time. nope! 

$220 was in the donation jar after 3 hours of selling. One man even put  $100.00 in the jar. It touches my heart deeply. He is a dad himself & I imagine his own heart strings were pulled.

The kids have grown so so so so  much! 

I mean look at this---at the very first stand here in Texas...

just babies! 

in between sales the boys & our little friends scooted around the block happy & soaking in the sunshine. 

It makes me smile to see our kids running around with such a great crowd.

While the kids played & got sticky with sugar, my neighbor, Gabby & I started talking about what we want for our daughters. I mentioned that our pediatrician (who is female) was quick to correct me when I was just casually said to Presley in passing that she is going to be a good little mommy when she is big. She acted offended that I would want that for my girl. "she could be a doctor, something more." she said. Yeah. She could. But above all things I want my daughter to be a mommy. I do not think that is a horrible thing. Gabby said she has told her husband that he can not ever retire. This is because Gabby wants her miss. A to be able to stay home & have all the babies she wants. she said that they will give her daughter money so she can stay home with her children. Obviously she was joking a bit...but I love that other Mothers wish for their girls what I wish for mine. I like to think that someday Presley will be setting up a lemonade stand of her own for her babies. 

After an incredibly busy morning, I put on a big hat & a skirt. Our sitter arrived & then Rod & I had left for a  Kentucky derby party. We had Kentucky dishes & all us ladies wore big flowers on our hats. The men talked medicine; The girls talked babies. whats new?!  We did a drawing for which horse we would be rooting for. I pulled Orbe. & wouldn't you know it?! My horse won. 

& that was our incredibly busy Saturday.

Now, I crash. 

{P & me.}

My parents pulled out this oldie when we traveled to Arizona a few weeks ago. Not exactly my best picture ever. But, it gave us a good laugh.

look like anyone else we know & love? 

same gappy grin & curls. 

{change}

my relationship with Presley,  my only girl, has changed.

Sometimes I feel like she just does not want me.

Or maybe she does not need me.

The petite little thing used to snuggle with me on the couch every single morning.

She used to wrap her fingers around mine & lead me up the stairs to play with her babies in her room.

Now

She hardly looks at me.

I cannot help but think she is mad-ish with me 

for having a new baby.

After all, she was the baby. & We sure treated her like it. 

Still do really.

Its been weighing on my heart.

I sure try to make special moments with her every day.

Paint her toe nails. help her with dress up. read her some books. 

Today it was an extra long bubble bath that I joined her in.

We played with Tinkerbell's hair & hummed made up songs.

She really is my special treasure. almost 3 years later & I am still awe struck by her. How did I get so lucky?

Presley the mermaid...

here she is mad that I was washing her hair. poor dear....but that scrunched up nose is pretty sweet.

Curls like mom. I never know what to do with mine...& now I am not sure what to do with hers...