Four never looked so good

Today is our girly tomboy's 4th birthday. We've joked for sometime that Mary Claire likes to get just as dirty as the boys but she wants to do it dressed to the nines and with a hair bow.

Mary Claire is our first girl after four very rough and rowdy boys. We just knew we finally had a princess. We just didn't know our princess could hold her own. Since her surprise breech birth, Mary Claire has been changing all the rules.  Kent frequently says that if you can say "My child never . . ." or "Kids don't . . .", then you didn't have enough children. Mary Claire definitely taught us this!

She is the life of the party, the perfect blend of sassy and sweet. She has her own ideas and she's not afraid to share them. Apparently, turning four is when life begins. She's convinced that she will get bigger and her hair will grow today. She's also planning a wedding to "Numbody".

We have loving referred to her as our runt. They say that tiny packages are the most powerful and dynamite doesn't even hold a candle to all that is packed into Mary Claire. Papaw used to call her a little pistol and it's a very fitting nickname.

She was our first child to really pinpoint her older siblings personalities. When she wants another Mommy, she runs to Madisyn. If she needs muscle, Ty is her guy. Griffin is lots of fun when she needs a tv watching buddy. Finding hidden treats is a job for Ben. Henry is great at following her orders and Liberty is the best dress up friend in the world!

She is a lover of all things pink and Minnie Mouse is the most stylish being of all time. Mary Claire is just at home hosting a tea party as she is digging in the dirt or attempting scooter stunts.

I can't imagine how boring life would be without this perfect for us little girl that always keeps us on our toes.

Happy Birthday, Mary Claire! 

I pray your life is packed with as much awesomeness as your personality.

Felicity Anne You Are SIX Weeks Old!

WOW! Six weeks!

You weigh 13 pounds and wear 0-3 month clothes!

You started smiling this week.

You are having a terrible time with reflux. We're giving you 0.5 ml of liquid Rolaids to help with the burning.

You celebrated your first Valentine's Day complete with a party with several friends.

Once we get you some relief from the reflux, you have slept a 6-7 hour stretch once a night.

You are a really good car rider. You attended the Arkansas Auctioneer's Convention and rode all the way across the state.

You made your first visit to the nursing home with the 4-H group. The residents and nurses all wanted to keep you there.

You are really good at going with the flow of our family. If I put you in the wrap, you're up for anything.

You still really like the swing. It's your favorite place to hang out during school.

You are such a sweet little girl and we're so blessed to have you.

Felicity Anne You Are ONE Month Old!

 Every time we have a baby I always ask, "Why can't time more as quickly when you're pregnant as it does once the baby arrives?" and the last month has flown by at lightening speed!

You are changing so much everyday.

You wear 0-3 month clothes.

You weigh 12 lbs 2.6 oz.

You are 23 inches long.

Your head is 39.5 cm. You are growing way too fast for Mommy!

You really seem to like the swing and will often fall asleep in it. We put you in it in the afternoons.

Your hair seems to have a mind of it's own. The top is frequently standing straight up and the back sticks out from your head.

You nurse every 2-3 hours.

We're still working on your night sleep, it's not that great right now.

You survived your first ice storm. The electricity going out for 14 hours didn't bother you one bit!

The last week or two you have been spitting up more. I'm hopeful it's a passing phase.

During your awake periods you are very alert. You look around and have a very serious look. You stare very intently.

You are a very welcome addition to our family. Your brothers and sisters {especially Madisyn and Griffin} always want to hold you. Mary Claire is very protective and reminds everyone that "that's ours baby". No one will be walking off with you on her watch! Liberty isn't quite sure what to do with you, she very carefully pats your head or back but she hasn't figured out what your "purpose" is yet.

Felicity Anne You Are 3 Weeks Old!

You weigh 11 lbs 8 oz! You are growing way too fast!

You are in size newborn diapers but only until the package is empty.

You seem to have settled on a Born Free Orthodontic pacifier, in pink - of course.

You had your first outdoor photo shoot this week. We took brother/sister pictures for the birth announcement.

You are nursing about every two hours during the day.

You meet the Mashburns this week. They came for a visit and brought us some wonderful food. Mrs. Jess made you an adorable taggie lovey with super soft minky fabric.

You were footprinted for the canvases at the back hallway. Your little tiny feet look extra small next to Madisyn and Ty's feet.

Most nights you give me one four hour stretch of sleep. You are a night owl and seem to think 1 am is an appropriate bedtime.

You participated in your first Sam's shopping trip. The whole family went and we ended up with three carts. Amazingly enough, we still had room for more food in the van.

You've been in our homemade version of a Moby Wrap twice this week. Both times your slept the whole time we shopped.

You are having a bit of a hard time with a blocked tear duct. It just doesn't seem to want to clear up.

You are changing so much everyday. I'm still in shock that the Lord gave you to us. 

Felicity Anne You are Two Weeks Old

You weigh 10 lbs 12 oz. You've gained 10 ounces in the last week!

You wear newborn diapers.

You had your first non-family visitors, the Tims this week. Mrs. Candyce brought us some awesome stew and a few outfits for you and Stella to be twinkies.

You had your first real bath.

You took a pacifier, though we're still trying to determine what brand you like best.

You went to a restaurant for the first time.

You got a new gown, made by The Shifty Fox.

You went to Daddy's office and took him to lunch.

You nurse about 12 times a day.

You are such a blessing, I honestly can't believe the Lord gave you to us.

You are a highly cherished member of our family.

Felicity Anne You Are One Week Old!

Felicity Anne you are ONE WEEK old!

In some ways I can't believe a week has already passed and in other ways I can't believe it's only been a week since we first laid eyes on you.

Just last night, Daddy and I were talking about how we can't believe the Lord blessed us with you.

 Big Yawn

You nurse about every 2 hours.

Your night sleeping leaves something to be desired, especially between the hours of 2 and 6 am.

You made your first trip away from the house. We went to the chiropractor in Memphis. You slept all the way there and all the way back. 

You had a check-up on Friday and were already back to your birth weight of 10 lbs 2 oz.

You attended your first church service yesterday.

The entire church loved meeting you. You even got to take part in welcoming a new family as members.

You are quite long. In fact, newborn one-piece footed outfits are too short when you stretch.

You have very long fingers like Ben. Lots of speculation has been made that you will be a tall girl. We'll have to wait and see. ;)

Introducing . . . .

Miss. Felicity Anne

Felicity made her appearance Sunday, January 5th at 5:42 am in another God-orchestrated, perfect birth. She weighed 10 lbs 2 oz and was 21 1/2 inches long.  

We're absolutely smitten!

Happy Birthday, Mary Claire!

Wow! It's hard to believe it's been three years since your little upside down self, turned our whole family upside down!

Pretty much since you were born, you've been the life of the party. I frequently say that you are smart like Madisyn, expressive like Griffin and act like Ben - that's a troublesome combination!

You bring us such joy. There isn't a day that goes by that you don't make us laugh, cry and shake our heads, usually at the same time.

You are rotten and so very loved!

Happy 3rd birthday, sweet girl!

Liberty Kate . . .

You are 18 months old!

 

You are 30.5" tall.

You weigh 20 lbs 12 oz.

You wear mostly 12 month clothes though some 6-9 month still fit. We have quite a bit of 18 month winter clothing so you wear those as well.

You just in the last month finally started really walking. You would take a few steps here and there but preferred crawling. Crawling is becoming a last resort now.

You are almost always happy.

You love to dance. You bounce up and down and flap your arms almost constantly.

You are a little monkey and love to climb on the fireplace and train table.

You also love to eat. As much as you eat, you should weigh a lot more!

You love your big sister. She is very much a second mommy. During school read aloud time, you often climb up in her lap and snuggle. You are just as jealous of someone else sitting in her lap as you are when someone sits in Mommy's lap.

Happy 11th Birthday, Ty!

It's hard to believe that 11 years has passed since the Lord blessed us with our first born son!

Ty has always been big for his age, he started off at 8 lbs 10 oz and hasn't slowed down since.

I think one of his very first words was tractor and he has always loved everything John Deere.

He's always been very interested in how things work. This interest has gotten him in trouble on multiple occasions when objects were found taken apart and never quite went back the same way.

He's always had a dry sense of humor and can crack most jokes without a smile. He isn't nearly as serious as he often comes across.

Ty has an amazing ability to retain information. His ability to recall facts blows me away.

He has never had any interest in any endeavour that is remotely domestic. He might mix up some brownies for a competition but he prefers to leave the cooking to Sissy.

Lately, his little sisters and really warmed up to him. They know that he has a great lap for sitting and love for him to read them a story.

Ty is my muscle man. Whenever a Sam's trip is planned, Ty comes along and pushes the cart. He unloads the groceries and carries all the heavy items.

He's the leader of the pack with the boys. Unfortunately, his younger brothers often forget they aren't quite as old or big as Ty. That doesn't stop them from trying to be just like him.

Tyler has has an awesome ability to be his own person. I've often said that he has never been embarrassed. He does his own thing and if no one likes it, he isn't the least bit phased.

 

Ty is a wonderful son and a fantastic young man. He's growing, not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. We are so thankful that the Lord chose us to be his parents.

Happy Birthday, Ben!

It's been six short years since you were "Baby Ben"! You were our smallest baby at 6 lbs. 15 oz.

Pretty much from day one, you have always been a fun loving guy! You love to have a good time and you seem to have boundless energy.

You love to get dirty. You seem more at "home" when covered in dirt than any other time. We often joke that you could get filthy in a sterile room.

You are also quite the dare devil. Daddy frequently says that you enjoy pain. You will experience something painful, recover quickly and then say "Do it again!".

You are also a very smart little man. You don't forget much {unless it's useless information like do your chores or brush your teeth ;-) }.

We also so blessed to have you in our lives. You bring such joy and excitement! We can't imagine life without our Benji-boy!

 

 

Happy 6th Birthday!

 

 {though Mommy is pretty sure it's just your 4th :-)}