This Place That I Call Home

It's no secret to most people who know me well, that I have always wanted to move off and live somewhere else for a while. I love the idea of new adventures, experiencing new places. I love that my mom and I moved to Little Rock for a couple years when I was younger. I have such great memories of that time. I'm thankful for that diversity in my life. I was about this close to going to college in Florida. Thank goodness I didn't, because I met Brent while I was in college in Little Rock. But, oh how I would have loved living near the beach for those few years. And I still dream about Brent and I moving our boys somewhere else. Somewhere bigger, with more to do. More opportunities for them. Just a change. Because I'm one of those rare people who love change.

But then there's little place about 20 minutes north of the Louisiane line. Where life is slow. Where I see trees when I look up, not big city skyscrapers. This little place that I call home. No, there aren't big shopping malls nearby, or major league ballparks for my boys to catch a big game. But there's a pond about 15 minutes from my house, right on the place where I grew up. Where I can drive my boys down in the evening for a night of fishing.
And there's a good chance my Daddy will be right there fishing with them. And just perhaps, like they were this weekend, my grandparents will be out in a little boat on the pond with poles in hand as well.
And my baby boy playing on a quilt under a big oak tree.
And his cousin showing up a little while later to join him on that quilt.
It's times like that when I realize just how lucky I am to still live at home. In the country. Just minutes away from our family.I'm so thankful that those are the memories my children will carry with them. I don't know where their paths will take them. Maybe far away from this place. Or maybe not. But their roots will always be here. In south Arkansas. And that's perfect to me. And as if a night of fishing with cousins and grandparents and great grandparents wasn't enough, a couple nights later we packed up the mini-van with jackets and hats and spent the evening at my mom's around a big fire roasting hot dogs and making s'mores!

I hope my boys have lots of adventure in their lives. I hope they see many many places. I hope they embrace change. But I also hope they remember those evenings spent on the dock at their mama's homeplace. And I hope they remember their Noni building a big fire and setting up the perfect weenie roast. Just for them.I'm sure I'll always have that tug in my heart to move off and be adventurous. And that's ok. Everyone has those things they wish they had done...and maybe we still will! But I'm also so very thankful for this place that I call home.

Our February...iPhone Style

February was a fun and busy month for us!!

The boys got board games for Valentine's Day, so we have played lots of Chutes and Ladders.

We all went out for Larry's Pizza on Valentine's night. Romantic, huh? Lol.Twister Night!

I worked one day last week. It was the first time I'd worked in months. It was strange to put my scrubs on and leave my babies, but I did enjoy myself! I didn't even realize that I had missed hygiene, but I guess I had a little. It was fun to get back in the routine for a day, knowing that didn't have to go back the next day! Ha!

But I was sure glad to get back home to this face!

These two have been such big buddies lately!

We took Brody to Monroe the night before his birthday to eat, and he picked Longhorn Steakhouse...and the boy can put away some steak!
His last night as a 4 year old!#5 pancake for breakfast on the morning of his birthday!Cowboys cupcakes
Balloons for the birthday boy!!!The first time Levi pulled up!
Occasionally we have nice calm moments like this when all three of them are playing quietly together. Occasionally.
Cowboy Beckett

Brody ended up in the ER a few nights after his birthday. He suddenly came down with bronchitis, and was having a really rough night breathing. So I had to take him in to get breathing treatments and chest xrays. We were there from 11pm-5am...long night. He seems to be recovering great!
We ate dinner with Dad and Karen one night, and Brody decorated brownies for everyone. Yum!This little cutie turned 8 months old!
And these two cuties dressed up in their overalls a lot!


We have had such BEAUTIFUL days outside, we have been trying to take full advantage of them!! I've been lounging on quilts with Levi while the older boys play baseball and climb trees. Last weekend, Amie and I took Luke, Levi, and Beckett to Monroe for a little shopping. They were all squeezed in! Love these boys!!We rode the carousel...and played at the fountain!We've been building spaceshipsand basking in the sunshine some more!
And my favorite thing we've been doing lately is taking walks in the evenings with Mom and Brooke. The kids always have to stop and visit with our neighbor's horses.

And we are celebrating Dr. Suess week!!!!!Tomorrow is a big day for us...we register our boy for Kindergarten!!!!

Levi {Eight Months}

Wow, Levi - you are EIGHT months old!!! How did this happen? These last few months have just flown by. I can't believe how fast you are growing! What have you been up to lately?

You weight between 18 and 19 pounds. You are still smaller than your brothers were at this age, but you are steadily growing on your own little growth curve. You are just a tiny little guy for now. I will take you for your 9 month well child check next month, so I can't wait to see what you weigh then. You still wear 6-9 month clothes and size 3 diapers.

You are no longer nursing, but I am so proud of how long we made it! You take 7 ounces of formula every three to four hours. And you are doing so much better with solids, even baby food! You eat baby cereal with fruit for breakfast, and you have some type of veggie/meat and fruit for dinner. Some days you even eat a few ounces of baby food at lunch. You love pretty much anything! I wish that I wouldn't have stressed myself out so much about you not eating solids well in the beginnig...you just weren't ready. Everyone was telling me "you just have to keep trying!" and the more I would try, the more frustrated you got. So, I listened to myself, put it on hold for a while, and would just try every now and then. And one day you were just ready! I have to learn not to question my own judgement. All babies do things at different times. It's amazing to me how three brothers, so close in age, can be so different!

Sleep is great. You sleep all night most nights, from about 8:30-7, and take 2 good naps a day. Usually a couple hours each. And you put yourself to sleep like a pro. And you are the sweetest, smiliest, snuggliest little thing when you wake up.

You are still a little bit snotty and rattly, but we've just come to the conclusion that you have allergies like your brothers. It doesn't seem to bother you, so we try not to let it bother us either.

You are trying so hard to crawl! You can go from the sitting position to your belly to the crawling position and back to sitting with ease. You love to get up on your hands and feet, rather than your knees, and I sometimes wonder if that's how you will crawl...just like your Aunt Brooke! You still mostly prefer to roll when you need to get somewhere.

You pulled yourself up for the first time this month also! You were in Beckett's crib playing while we were all doing something in Brody and Beckett's room, and you just pulled yourself right up! You were so very pleased with yourself!

You say Mama, Dada, Byebye, and you have started waving bye bye, also. You make tons of other sounds...you love to hear your little voice!

You LOVE bathtime now. I just sit you up and give you baths in the big bath tub now. You were never a fan of the baby tub, so you enjoy this so much more!

You love to go on walks. The weather has been so nice, we have been walking with Noni and Brooke in the evenings when they get out of school. Noni and Brooke pull your brothers in the wagon and I push you in the jogging stroller. You kick those little legs the whole time!

We love you more than ever, sweet boy! Happy 8 months!!