Lola - I just can't believe it!

Every 3 months Lola has to have her blood drawn to monitor her thyroid. Since birth her thyroid has been irregular and so the doctors have kept a close eye on it. I dread more than anything going to the lab to have them drawn blood from my sweet baby. I start planning about a week before I have to have it done because I "change" my plans so much and end up leaving this task to the last minute. This month was the same, Megan was in town so I found every excuse not the take her, then asked Adam to take her, but then decided I wanted to be there, back and forth, back and forth. So I took her yesterday and when they called our name my heart sank. We got up in the chair she put her arm out, and the nurse says "1,2,3". Nothing happens, Lola is chattering to me looking at my phone. I said to the nurse, "did that not work" she told me "It sure did, I am almost finished". WHAT?? Lola is not squirming, crying and really vaguely aware the are pricking the heck out of her. Lola looks over at the tubes of blood and says "Oh pretty". I am still in shock. The man told her she did a great job, she replied with a kind "thank you" and he let her choose her sticker and we were on our way. I am still just in awe over this. What a girl! So proud of my tough Lola. Wish I could have been so tough with all the poking I have gotten throughout pregnancy.

Look at this happy playful face - who would have thought?

Hanks Smile!

Hank is by far the smiliest child I have ever seen. When he is not eating or sleeping he is smiling and often times he even smiles in his sleep. We are getting bigger smiles by the day and loving them all. He rolls with the punches and rarely fusses! What a guy, I am so smitten with this precious boy!

Special Time with Fave!

Fave is so much fun to have around. One of the special things she does is on our kids birthday she takes them shopping to pick out their gift. She does this to get to spend extra time with them and to get awesome one on one time. It was Lucy's turn and she could not have been happier.

Lucy got dressed up in her new dress which she loves from the Milam's, the bow that Brooke made and was on a mission to buy a new purse.

Posers!

Lucy and Fave got home just while Lola was waking up. One of Lucy's gifts was nail polish so Fave and the girls went to paint nails - YES Lucy and Lola were in charge...you should see Fave's nails.

Check out Lola's technique!

Fave reading new books!

Lola - No more paci!!

I have been holding off from posting this because I wanted to be sure it would STICK. Lola is paci free! Lola loved her paci so much I thought it may be a long time challenge to get rid of it. I felt as if she was not talking as much and it was always just stuck in her face. She is too cute to be a paci girl. Anyway, Hank came home kind of liking his paci and so Lola would give him his and then put hers in. Well on the last day of school I could not find her paci so on the way home I told her we left it at school and she could get it next time she went...WALA!!! School was out for a month. That was the end of the paci. Lola was so sweet and said "OK, next time" Any paci she finds at home goes straight into Hanks mouth. What a sweet loving big sister! Way to go Lola!

A trip with Fave!

My girls dream a mini store...their imaginations were going wild!

Lucy checking out Lola's groceries

Captain Lola!

Lola pulled up in her little red car to the bank!

Fave milking the cow

Now Lucy gave it a try

Yes mam please take our order

Hope on the trolley!

Fave and I took the girls to San Antonio to the children museum. It started as a great idea, then turned into a bad idea, when we got there I decided it was a good idea again and then we drove home and BAM a bad idea again... still unsure what I really think. I guess my answer is GOOD idea because I would do it again after seeing these cute pictures. We drove in and ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant on the river walk and then went to play. The girls LOVED every minute and Hank slept the entire time.

Hank slept ALL NIGHT - 8 weeks old!!!

Hank gave Adam and I the biggest treat - SLEEP! He is such a good baby and I have felt sleep on the horizon but was so excited when it happened last night. Oh the feeling of 8 1/2 hours was heaven. I didn't sleep the entire night, I had to get up and check on him and his cuteness to make sure he was ok...but he was and just peacefully sound asleep. We have been sleep training him which can sometimes be challenging but well worth it if this sleep keeps up.

Hank is now 2 months old. He had his 2 month check up and was 11.5 lbs and measured in the 65% in height. He had 2 shots and hated every second of that. He is smiling which just warms my heart so much and is cooing. I love watching him try to coo after I talk to him. He loves his sisters and smiles the most when they are around. So far, he gets the award for the easiest baby EVER!!! I love this little guy!

Welcome to the Royal Ball (Park) - Lucy's 3rd Birthday

For Lucy's 3rd Birthday Adam and I hosted a Royal Ball! We sent an invitation to all of her friends and sent a ball gown in the mail to all the little girls. One of the great things about being a dance teacher is extra costumes!! I happened to have blue Cinderella ball gowns on hand and sent them out with the invitation. We asked the boys to wear their baseball uniforms. Lucy wanted to have her party at "dad's office" and wanted to wear her ball gown so this is how the party came together. The ball park was the background which was great but I was struggling with the decor...as you can tell. Our friends are so amazing and all came out to the party in the heat (5:00pm in August was not the ideal time to host an outdoor party) and celebrated with us. We are so blessed by our family and friends!

It is so hard to believe that Lucy is 3 years old. She is so precious!

This birthday girl was SO excited!I

Our party favors were magic star wands and baseball cookies with the #3 on them. They were a bigger hit than the cake.

Party Area!

I had to snap it...and post it. She was so tired of me taking pictures of her and the party had not even started. You know your a mom when even your child's pouty face melts your heart!

So excited to see our first guests!

This cake looks very much like last years. I have come to the realization that I love polka dots. If you would have asked me I would not have said I loved them but they appear on everything I do. The cake was so yummy!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Lola was SO excited to see Fave...okay we all were but check out this greeting!

Lucy and Fave, Lucky us to have Fave join the party!

FAVE!!!

These girls are such buddies! Johanna was in Lucy's class during the school year and Lola's during the summer. She is such a little sweetie.

Lola and Johanna checking out each others princess look!

Lola, Lucy and Johanna chowing down on some pizza

Parker wasn't really feeling the party, so Lucy was trying to convince her it was going to be fun!

Oh so cute! Libby in her shades, I love love love this picture!

Anne Marie & Lucy

Lucy and Connor! Best buddies!

The 3 amigos - Lucy, Lola and best buddy Connor

The kids waiting for the cake

Sound asleep but in his baseball gear.

Sweet Lola fearless and wondering around in her own little world.

I love this picture of Lucy in her gown in a circle of boys!

My sweet mom! She was in charge of Hank the whole party...and did a great job he slept the entire party! They are big time buddies!

Lucy telling Johanna a big story! I can't even begin to think what she is saying!

Dylan and Will - cuties in baseball attire!

The kids + many more running in the birthday parade.

Her birthday could not be complete without Rusty and Sammy!

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet Lucy!

Happy 3rd Birthday Lucy. You mean the world to Dad and I. You have such a sweet nature and are such a kind little spirit. You are always eager to please people and do so in such a loving manner. You are a wonderful big sister to Lola teaching her everything you can about life. You are helping her learn many new words by asking her to repeat after you and she does every time because she thinks you are the greatest! You are so gentle with Hank and ask to hold him or to snuggle with him at least one time every day. You sing to him in your darling high pitched singing voice. You have such an incredible imagination and it keeps Dad and I on our toes. You have a friend named "Big Girl" who hangs around the house and who you talk to a lot. You also teach school to the decal dots on your wall. You love to dance and teach others to dance. We spend hours coloring a day and you are so great at it. You love drawing circles. You have a wonderful vocabulary and use words that you must here from me a lot. I got Hank dressed yesterday and in your tiny voice you said to him "Oh my goodness Hank you look adorable". You are such a lover and give snuggles to each of us all the time. You love making others feel good about themselves. You love to read stories and make up pretend ones. We read to you before nap and bed time and how ever many we choose is never enough. You can recite almost every single book in your room. You have gotten adventurous at bedtime and ask us to leave the door to your room open - "Can you leave the door cracked open?" Almost every time we do you venture down stairs for one or snuggle or to tell us something "very important". I have a hard time taking you back to bed because you convince we whatever you came down for was well worth the trip. You love leading us all in prayers at meal time and seem to know the important role God plays in your life. You told me yesterday you were God's Princess and I melted. Lucy you are a gift from the Lord and I feel so honored to be your mom. It is hard to imagine that 3 years ago today you came into this world and have impacted us so much. Your spirit is captivating. I am blessed to get to watch you learn and grow. We love you so much honey! Happy 3rd Birthday!

Birthday Fun with Grammie!

Lucy's 3rd birthday is tomorrow. My mom is here to celebrate this awesome event. Today we took Hank out for his first of many "girls days". Grammie, Lucy, Lola, Hank and I went get pedicures and our hair done. It was such a perfect memorable day where everything just fell into place, everyone was in great moods and we all had a blast.

Here is Grammie and Lola spinning in the chair while Lucy is getting her hair cut.

Lucy with her new hair cut

Lucy getting her haircut.

Lola's final cut

Lola getting her haircut

Check out how relaxed they are

Lucy is all about the pedicure

I love these little feet!

Guess who's? Miss Lola Caroline and her cute little piggies!

Lola wasn't too sure at first but LOVED every minute. She sat still and was cracking everyone up. The lady asked me "Does she know how funny she is?" I had to laugh because that is right on...she is so stinking funny!

I love this picture...poor Hank just hanging out waiting on the girls to get finished.

I just love these girls - many more pedi's in our future!

Here we are...my mom was hanging with Hank snapping our pictures!