She's 4!!!

I can't believe our cute girl is 4 years old today!! It seems like just yesterday she looked like this...

She has been such a fun girl and we love how she spices up our lives! NEVER a dull moment with this spunky little diva!!

It's A....

GIRL!!!
We are excited to be welcoming another girl into the family. Let's just hope she's just a little more mellow than our little Beetle (who cut her hair last week :( ). I keep telling Peyton (who of course wanted a boy) that she'll probably be a tomboy like mom and not like all the girly stuff like Bailey. Hope I'm right for, P's sake!

We are...

...Having a baby!!!

We are so excited to be adding a little one to our family. The kids couldn't be more excited!

I am a little more than 12 weeks, baby is due August 6, 2011 which will probably end up being the last week in July due to past experience. We find out the gender next month so stay tuned.

Lots of funny stories to come about the kids and the pregnancy...

Missin these guys lately...

Somethin' about being pregnant really makes it hard not having Dad and especially Mom around. I know they are near us and I love that my kids ask about them often, it makes things a little better.

Our Boy...

I can't believe it's been 7 years since we lost our sweet Jackson. The last 7 years have flown by and I often dream about what life would be like with him here. I believe that Peyton has a special connection with his brother and I am so thankful of the reminder that Peyton brings as he often speaks of Jackson and how much he misses him. Even though they obviously never knew each other in this life, I think they share a special Heavenly bond that can't be explained.

Some moments are still hard. Some days are still hard. But to be honest, I am thankful for the times I am able to just take some quiet time to myself and remember what it was like to hold my sweet boy. All those nights spent just me and him rocking quietly, nursing, singing, sharing our time together. I will never forget those moments with my sweet baby, it's those memories that move me forward when times are toughest, because I long for more of them, for more time spent with my boy. I know we will see him again.

I recently came across this song by Jo Dee Messina (thanks to a dear friend). The lyrics express well how I have felt.

Listen to the song HERE

I came by today to see you
Oh I had to let you know
If I knew the last time that I held you was the last time
I'd have held you, and never let go

Oh, it's kept me awake nights, wondering
I lie in the dark, just asking why
I've always been told
You won't be called home
Until it's your time

I guess heaven was needing a hero
Somebody just like you
Brave enough to stand up
For what you believe
And follow it through
When I try to make it make sense in my mind
The only conclusion I come to
Is heaven was needing a hero
Like you

I remember the last time I saw you
Oh, you held your head up proud
I laughed inside
When I saw how you were standing out in the crowd
Your such a part of who I am
Now that part will just be void
No matter how much I need you now
Heaven needed you more

Cause heaven was needing a hero
Somebody just like you
Brave enough to stand up
For what you believe
And follow it through
When I try to make it make sense in my mind
The only conclusion I come to
Is heaven was needing a hero
Like you

Is Heaven was needing a hero
and that's you

One of my favorite picutures of Jackson, taken Dec. 9, 2003

Fall time...

I haven't been to good at blogging. So I'll try to recap what has been going on around our home since August.
In September we went to Peach Days with some friends. It was our first time going to Peach Days. The kids had a great time and I guess we did too?? (fought crazy crowds and spent a butt load of $$)

In October Bailey started dance. She is so girly and LOVES to sing and dance around the house. She has loved being in dance and has been doing well. Parents can only watch the first lesson of each month so we watched her for the first time in November. She didn't really pay attention too much while we were watching and we kept trying not to make eye contact so she would ignore us and dance but it really didn't work. Now we understand why parents can't watch every week.

Halloween was fun this year. We did our regular pumpkin carving with some friends except this year we used foam pumpkins. Foam pumpkins never get rotten and you can save them from year to year so we were very excited at our discovery. This year we carved batman, a skull, Snow White, Iron Man, and one that said Trick or Treat for Jackson's headstone.

Peyton dressed up as Wolverine and Bailey went as Snow White. We had a lot of fun with Beetle's costume, she sure played the part too.

Peyton had a kindergarten program a few days before Halloween. He and his class mates sang lot of cute Halloween songs. I have to admit I got a little teary (I know, I'm a boob) I just couldn't help it, he is so grown up!

Last but not least, we celebrated Peyton's 6 birthday!! I can't believe how quickly time passes. For his birthday we had a little party with his friends then took him and 7 of his friends to see MegaMind. Lucky for us we had some good friends who were willing to help us man the crazy kiddos. Let's just say Dan and I NEVER want to have 8 kids!! Especially all around the same age!!

I just want to mention how thankful I am to be Peyton's mom. He is such a sweet, kind little boy. I'm not saying he never gives his sister crap or is never disobedient but mostly he is perfect. Every time I turn around he is doing something sweet for his sister, helping her with her seat belt, getting her a drink or a treat, playing ring around the rosy with her, all without being asked. Peyton and Bailey have been doing the cutest thing lately, he is really into football these days (probably because it's LSU's football season) so they go into the living room and he is LSU and she is USU and they play one down of football then one round of ring around the rosy, then one down of football then a round of ring around the rosy and so on. Dan and I love to sit and watch them. We truly are blessed.

Peyton's going to Kindergarten!

I can't believe Peyton is old enough to start Kindergarten! He has been so excited to go. The only tears were when he thought he wouldn't see me very much because he was going to be at school all day (he's a Mama's boy, what can I say). Once I explained that he would only be in school for less than 3 hours, the tears were gone!

He did so well on his Kindergarten testing, he knew a lot more then I thought he did, I definitely can't take all the credit. When asked to identify a number the teacher held up number 79 and he knew what it was. She said "WOW Peyton, that is awesome that you knew the number 79! How did you know it?" He replied "hmph, I just sounded it out!" Silly boy.

I know he is going to have a great time learning and playing with new friends.

Going to meet his teacher (nice pose buddy)!

Ready for the first REAL day of Kindergarten.

Birthday Celebration Tradition...

Jackson's birthday has been a very special time over the last 7 years. Sometimes it's a happy day, sometimes a more tearful day, but it's always a day that we are able to remember him and talk about him (more than we do most other days). Here are some pictures of the last 5 years' birthday celebrations. What an amazing opportunity our family has to be able to have such a special brother and son!!