Harper Grace is 5 Months Old

Harper Grace, you are 5 months old (on the 29th). Oh my mercy, our lives are blessed every day with you as a part of it. You are such a sweet sweet baby and we are so thankful for these past 5 months with you!
What are you up to at 5 months old Miss Harper:
-Weighing around 14 pounds or so
-Wearing size 1 diapers (but we will move you up to size 2 next time we buy diapers)
-Wearing size 3 months clothes and some 3-6 months clothes
-You have rolled over from back to belly, but have not figured out how to roll from belly to back (this is so backwards...most babies roll from belly to back first!)
-You are still swaddled when you sleep
-You sleep in your crib at night but you nap in your swing
-You take about an hour nap in the morning, a 2 hour nap in the afternoon and a cat nap after 5 then you go to bed between 7 and 8pm and sleep until 7-8 in the morning (waking once to eat....we are having to let you cry a little at night because you think you need to eat every 3 hours at night...silly goose)
-You have the sweetest little laugh that is easily brought out when your big brothers do something silly
-You adore your brothers and your daddy (this is not an exaggeration. Your entire body lights up as you smile when your brothers or daddy talk to you...this is such a sweet thing to watch with you!)
-You are gradually getting used to your car seat. You still get pretty upset in the car, but it's not every time we are in the car, so that is nice!

Oh Harper Grace, you are so loved and cherished. We love you sweet baby girl!

Paxton

Our sweet, stubborn, strong willed, spirited, spunky, hilarious, youngest boy, Paxton James is truly growing up right before our eyes. He is talking up a storm and has quite the personality. Sure, sharing is not his strong suit and he is easily annoyed when others are in his space or move his beloved toys, but he is growing  into a smart, fun loving little boy. He can now count to twenty, knows most of his shapes and colors and can easily repeat anything he hears. He knows all the letters in his name; however, when asked how to spell his name he says "p-x-a-x-t-x-o-x-n-x" Ha. Guess he really likes that 'x'.
 He can carry on a conversation, but we often have to remind him to simply use his words rather than get so frustrated. He is a blast to watch play. He is so creative and can build some pretty amazing structures with his blocks. He still loves cars and trains. He loves his big blue blanket, ribbit and his paci. He has now started saying "hi" to everyone he sees and although he is a stubborn two year old, he is very polite with his please and thank yous. He has recently started begging for things when he is told no. He will say "pleeeeeeaaaaaaasssseeee" Ugg, drives me bonkers, but at least he is polite about it. Ha.
Paxton loves his big brother. He has recently started climbing the ladder to get on Maddox's bed to snuggle.....while this is cute, it is dangerous, thus the ladder has been removed from the bunk beds once Maddox is in his bed. He also loves his little sister. He likes to see her smile and always tries to give her a pacifier. He adores his daddy. Paxton loves playing wrestle and "flying" with daddy. He is pretty smitten with me as well. He gives amazing hugs and randomly says "I miss you mommy" if he has been in the other room playing for a bit.
Oh Paxton James, you are so much fun and so challenging all at the same time. I am so proud of how far you have come this year and I love to watch you break out of your shell more and more everyday. Love you sweet boy.

Grow Up Day

Maddox is absolutely loving school. He is learning a number and a letter every week. He knows how to write the numbers 0-6 and letters A-G. This week was 'G' week and Friday was GrowUp Day at school. When I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up he responded "I want to be a car painter like Uncle Austin". SO cute! Uncle Austin gave him a painters mask and a small paint gun to take with him to school and we made him a T-Shirt that has Uncle Austin's body shop logo on it!

LOVE LOVE LOVE that Maddox looks up to his uncles so much!!!

Thanks Uncle Austin for being such an awesome influence on our little man!!

Snoozin

This precious, beautiful baby girl slept in her bed all night last night. Not a single tear was shed over the transition from swing to crib (she is snoozin away in her crib again this evening...fingers crossed for another great evening). Way to go sweet sweet girl!

Lullaby

I am sitting in Harper's room as we attempt to get her to sleep in her crib. I am rocking in the recliner...the same recliner that I spent many hours rocking both Maddox and Paxton. I am listening to a baby lullaby CD....the same CD that Maddox slept with for nearly 18 months and the same CD that Paxton refused to listen to. It is so funny how each child brings something so unique and so special to our family.
Maddox, with his never ending questions and his ability to carry on conversations like a grown up. He is so inquisitive, smart, creative and  imaginative. He is extremely social and always prefers to play with someone...anyone, rather than being alone. Everything is black and white. Rules must be followed. People are either mean or nice and there is a hard time distinguishing when someone is playing or joking.
Paxton is full of life, prefers to play alone and mimics almost everything his big brother does. He is a jokester, he has a temper, he has the best laugh and marches to the beat of his own drum. He likes things a certain way and gets very upset if they are moved around. He likes structure but enjoys rocking the boat as well.
Harper is joyful, snuggly, smily, beautiful and has every single one of us wrapped around her tiny little finger. I love the fact that as our family has grown, our love for each of them grows as well. I have learned to love the parts about them that make them individuals and different from each other; however, I am thankful that there are portions of their lives that I can share the same memories with each of them.
I will always remember listening to this lullaby CD with Maddox as we rocked and rocked and rocked during the night when he absolutely would not sleep. I will always remember that he would not sleep without this music playing. I will always remember the fact that Paxton did not like listening to the music at bedtime, he preferred the quiet and just wanted to be held closely. And now, for the first time, I am gaining a memory with Harper as she peacefully sleeps in her bed for the first time with me rocking in the recline listening to the lullaby CD and thanking Jesus for our wonderful wonderful blessings.

Halloween 2012

Once again Grandma Voda went above and beyond to make the most adorable Halloween costumes for the boys and Harper! Maddox decided he wanted to be a sherif this year and of course Paxton wanted to be just like his big brother! These two sherif boys were adorable and they LOVE playing in their costumes. 

Harper went along with the cowboy theme as a sweet little lamb. 

Thank you SO much Murlon for making these adorable costumes for the kiddos. They were so stinking cute and it is so special to have hand made costumes that were made with love for our kiddos.

We took the kids to my Granny's retirement home to go trick or treating. It was so special to see Granny and her friends and the boys were certainly a show stopper. Maddox has such a sweet sweet spirit. After he got his candy, he picked his biggest sucker and brought it to Granny and asked her if she wanted it. Melt my soul.