Mini Photo Shoot

So, I took about 100 pictures of the girls. And I told myself as I went thru them I was only going to post A FEW...just my VERY FAVORITES.

Half an hour later I had it narrowed down...to about 80. =) What can I say, I think these 3 little girls are the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

So, here I go, posting waaaaaaaaaaay too many pictures of the girls, because I couldn't decide on just 5. Please to enjoy.

The little stinkers just melt my heart. Lilah is 8 months now and growing growing growing. I am trying to do this more often, b/c I am the worst about taking pictures...and then I turn around and she will be starting Kindergarten...and I will have no baby pictures.

Besides, we have some vacancies in the family picture frames on the wall going upstairs that I purposefully left open for a certain tiny face. So, gotta go fill in those blanks with our new addition.

Karaoke

♪♪♪Doooon't stop...belieeeeeeevin♪♪♪

Hi, I'm Lilah

I am the world's sweetest 7 month old.

I love to eat my fingers.

I adore my big sisters.

I love my fishy teether.

I say "Hiiiiiii!!!" when Mommy comes to get me after nap.

I suck my thumb when I am sleepy.

I am Miss Perpetually Mellow.

I love to scoot around in my Jeep (just like my Mama.)

I love to give slobbery kisses.

I grab everything.

If you give me my blanket, I grab it and go right to sleep.

And sleep for 10 hours. =)

I have the most gorgeous hazel eyes (just like my Daddy.)

I am ALWAYS ready with a smile.

And if you come to visit me, you will fall in love. ♥

Back in business

Unreal.  What has it been, 2 months?! Blogger is still having issues.  So I loaded the photo in the HTML tab beeeeaaaaaaatch!!!!  Stay tuned for some recent pictures, I know you guys are dying for a baby fix!!

Dear Blogger....

DIE!!

DIE!!

DIE!!

DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Still can't upload pictures......

......still getting a 'server error' message.  Not sure what the problem is.  Anyone?

Hmmmm....

Well, I keep trying to upload photos and I'm getting a "server error" message. Is anyone else having issues with blogger?  I'll keep trying, I have a landslide of LaLa pictures that are just burning a hole in my hard drive!!

Stay tuned....

Family Day

Jesse suggested a family walk and a swim in the lake this morning and boy am I glad we went!  Absolutely lovely 4.5 mile loop trail called the Iron Hill Trail.  Totally in the shade the whole way, slathered with moss on all sides, and around the lake a lot of the way so you can see the water, which was perfectly clear and emerald green.

Now I wish I had taken a few shots of the trail on the way because it was really a treat to walk on.

The girls are basically fearless when it comes to the water, which could be a bad thing, but I don't worry when Jesse is so close by.

Silly and sweet, sweet and silly.  They take turns. :)

And the very best part of the day...Daddy had to take Lilah for her very first dip in the lake.  With him as her Daddy, it will be the very first of many.  But I think it is supercool that we got the moment "on film."  The older girls were both about 2 their first time on the boat, so it won't be long before she is joining them on their fishing excursions.

We all had a great time and by the time we got back to the Jeep the girls were completely pooped.  They are sacked out watching a movie and eating popcorn right now, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't both sound asleep in the next half hour.

On the drive home Jesse said, "We should make this a Saturday morning tradition."  ♥♥♥  He's the best.

The summer is winding down, school has started, and in the mornings there is the teeny-tiniest breath of Fall.  We all look forward to the weather breaking in the deep South, but after today, I do wish we had another month of Summer to enjoy a new found Saturday morning tradition.  Maybe we can squeeze it in again a couple more times before it gets chilly.

Hope your Saturday's been full of family and fun!

Recent pics

Some recent pics of my little sweet cheeks.  She will be 3 months old on 8-27.  Would you just look at those fat little cheeks?  It is from all the smooches we plant on them, I believe.

Smiley, relaxed, alert, happy child.  She sleeps like a rock and loves to babble and talk to her sisters.  She is an absolute pleasure to be around.  It is amazing how quickly one's family is forever altered - I can't imagine life without her now.  We are all madly in love.  (And you are too, I know.  It's okay.  She's awesome like that. ♥)

Natalie's little friend Brynna came over Saturday for a playdate.  The girls slid down the stairs on a blanket, built a blanket fort, and otherwise partied hard for 2 hours.  When it was time for Brynna to leave, Natalie said, "But you JUST got here!!!"

These two have been in the same class together since Kindergarten, but Brynna's family is moving to NOVA and as soon as their house sells, they are on their way.  We will be sad to see them go.

The girls are loving school and I could not be more proud of them.  Pretty sure I am the most blessed woman on earth because I get to be their mom.  :)

Madeline's first day of Kindergarten

Yes indeed, it has happened.  Another of our daughters has started school.

No one ever told me how emotional this would be.  I was completely unprepared to feel the lump in my throat rise up, again!!  Didn't I get this out of my system when Natalie started Kindergarten?

Watching her give her folder to Mrs. Lena and hang up her back pack, I was doing fine.  Proud of her, excited for her, blessed that we have the privilege of having her in such a fantastic school, with the same teacher Natalie had for Kindergarten.

This means the world to my sweet little Mini-Me.  She is cautious in her approach to new situations and it takes her a while to check out anything new and feel comfortable with it.

But since Natalie had Mrs. Lena, Madeline was with me every day to pick her up, and every single day, she saw Lena and said hello.

And Mrs. Lena would smile and say, "Hi Madeline!"

You might think that is small, but it was huge to Madeline.  And me. :)

So on her first day of Kindergarten, she looked comfortable, relaxed, and excited as if she was walking into her own birthday party.  Seeing her sitting at her desk, bright-eyed and smiling in anticipation, made it so much easier for me to walk out that door.

And then it happened.

Lena said to me, "No tears."

I smiled and said, "Oh, I'm fine!"

You shouldn't lie to your child's teacher.

Walking out to the car, I was fighting aforementioned lump in throat.  My middle child is in school.

Jesse, on the other hand, hopped in the Jeep with his characteristic excitement and positivity, ready to do the "FREEEEEEEEEEE-DOM!!!!!!" shout from Braveheart.

Obviously no lump there. :)  Then from the backseat, he was reminded by the coo of a tiny cherub that we aren't home free just yet. :)

Her first day was Tuesday, and she has come home every day with a huge smile on her face, stories to tell and projects to show.

And I have finally whooped the lump. :)