My little singer

Maddox loves to sing and she is really good at picking up on lyrics to songs. At bedtime we sing lots of different songs from Amazing Grace to Coldplay and The Beatles. Recently, her favorite has become "Hey Jude"

I finally got it on video..Enjoy ;)

Potty Time

We have had Maddox potty trained for several months now and we were wanting to get Lukas started as well.  From the beginning, we had decided to let them do it at their own pace and we weren't going to make this a horrible experience on everyone by pushing them before they were ready. BUT...Lukas had turned 3 in December and we were wanting him to be a little interested in potty training and he was NOT...so a little pushing was going to be required.



We spoke with his teachers at school and they recommended that we put him in underwear and they would do the same at school.  After psyching ourselves up for the task, picking out new underwear and selecting a LONG weekend to start the process, we were ready to train.



At home we went sans underwear and pants, because it was easier to watch him and make sure he wasn't sneaking off to go in his underwear.  However, we had issues with going Number 2 which EVERYONE told us was the hard part.  He actually had some success with it at the very beginning, but then he regressed and refused to go on the potty.  Then we had success mixed with failure and it was frustrating because he would do so good and then just start going in his underwear again!  After several clean-ups...which in underwear is simply awful, we were getting frustrated.



The Sunday before Spring Break Cody sat Lukas down and told him that when he went #2 in the potty he made Mommy & Daddy really happy.  From that day forward, he has not had 1 accident in his underwear.  It was like it just clicked for him.  He started going on the potty every time.

We even traveled to Missouri to visit my brother and his family and Lukas didn't have one accident in the car and we only had to stop 1 on the way there and 2 on the way back (in a 5hr car drive).

I can't tell you how proud we are of him.  He is such a big boy and to be completely potty trained in a few weeks was WORTH the pushing to get him started!  We are also happy we only have 1 baby to buy diapers for...we can see the light.

2 down, 1 to go :)

Liebster Award

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Allison gave me a Liebster Award.  From researching a little bit, it seems to be a fun way for small bloggers to learn a bit more about one another and for you to find new blogs to follow (or at least I've used it for that).  If you don't know my friend, Allison , she and her sisters are probably the nicest girls you will ever meet.  They defy all typical stereotypes given to girls.  They love each other with all they have and they are truly an inspiration to anyone around them.  Having two girls myself, I have asked how their mother raised them to be so kind and genuine to everyone especially one another.  When I think about them, I think about stock show trips to Houston, Vanilla Cream Dr. Peppers from Sonic, Intramural Basketball Games and lot's of laughs.  Allison recently welcomed a BEAUTIFUL baby girl named Hensley into the world and I love to follow her blog to see updates on her sweet family.  Thanks for the award, Allison!!

So back to this award business, here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and link your post to their blog. (See Above)
2. List 11 facts about yourself then answer the 11 questions given to you.
3. Create 11 more questions for your 9 nominees, all of whom have 200 or less followers.
4. Comment on their blogs to inform them of their Liebster Award nomination

11 Facts about Me:

1)  I eat my meals, one food group at a time and don't mix between different foods. Example:  I'll eat my veggies first, my starch second & my meat 3rd.

2)  I'm the proudest member of the Fighting Texas Aggie Class of 2006!

3) I am an avid music/lyric lover.  I listen to just about everything, but have a soft spot for Acoustic Singer Songwriters & Indie Rock.

4) When I was little, I used to be terrified that someone was going to kidnap my parents.  I used to go check on them in the middle of the night (Thanks to Children of the Corn).

5) I met George Strait at a roping when I was in High School AND I still think he is one of the most handsome men to this day.

6) I have three kiddos and constantly hear "Wow, You have your hands full"...I love to follow it up by "If you think my hands are full, You should see my heart".

7)  My best friend/husband and I  have been together for 11 years.  I still love to tell him everything and enjoy just getting to spend time together.

8)  My mother is amazing and I aspire to be like her.  If my kids love me as much as I love her, I'm in a good place.

9)  I have a fascination with giraffes.  I love everything about them, so at the zoo when my kids want to feed the giraffes I'm secretly soooo excited because I get to feed them too!

10) I have some of the best friends a girl could ask for.  I feel blessed to know that if I every needed anything I have a few people that would be by my side in a heart beat.

11) I love to read and I love inspiring quotes.

11 Questions Given to ME

1) What is one piece of marriage advice you would give someone?

• Marriage isn't always easy and it takes a lot of work, love and patience to keep the peace.  Try to give one another 100% everyday.  On days where your spouse doesn't give 100%, give him 110% and vice versa.  

2) Beach or mountains?

• Mountains - I love the cooler weather and being able to bundle up and snuggle

3) You are given $1000--what would you buy?

• This is a hard one for me, because I always default to something for the family or savings.  BUT, if I had to spend $1000 on myself...I would probably say clothing, shoes, accessories

4) What form of social media is your favorite (if any)?

• I would say Instagram.  I LOVE looking at and taking pictures of my friends and family.

5) Favorite type of shoes?

• If we're talking brand, I like Rocket Dog, Sanuks or Reefs.  But if we're talking type, I love like ballet flat type of shoes.

6) Favorite memory from childhood?

• I loved birthdays, because my mom would take us to the bakery and let us pick out our own cake and having friends over for slumber parties always made lasting memories.

7) At Christmas, do you want your gift to be a surprise or do you want to peek ahead of time?

• I want to say surprises, but I'm really nosey and will pester until I find out.

8) Why did you start blogging?

• When we found out we were pregnant and then found out we were expecting Twins , I decided I wanted to be able to keep our family updated on everything since we lived so far away. 

9) What is your favorite blog?

• I don't know that I have a favorite aside from reading all of my friends blogs.  I do love Clover Lane and Bakerella.

10) Favorite dessert?

• I love White Cake with White Icing (think Wedding Cake) and vanilla bean creme brulee.  I also LOVE Bread Pudding from Chef Point Cafe in Watauga.

11) One place you want to travel before you die?

• ITALY!!!

My Nominees (in no particular order):

Jaime (although she probably has more than 200 followers

Sara

Charee

Melissa

Kristi

Kim

Eva

Jennifer

My Questions?
1)  What is your number 1 parenting tip?
2)  What is your favorite book and why?
3)  What is your favorite inspirational quote?
4)  If you knew now, what you didn't know then what is something you would change in your life?
5) What is one of your favorite songs?  When you hear this song, what memory does it hold?
6) What is your go-to meal that everyone in your family loves?
7) Who is your hero?
8) What is your favorite scent/smell?
9) What qualities do you look for in your friends?
10) What is your major pet peeve?
11) If they made a movie about your life, who would be cast as you and people closest to you?

My Letter to Ridley

My Dearest Ridley,

I cannot believe 1 whole year has come and gone.  It seems like yesterday I was hearing the doctor say "She has a big head and she has big shoulders, we have a 9 pounder I guarantee it".  He was right.  You were this perfect 9lbs 8oz bundle of love and I was smitten.  Truth be told, I'm still smitten to this day and if I've learned anything in the short 3 years of being a mother, it is that you will always hold my heart.

I am in awe of the wonders of our Lord and how he gives us exactly what we need. To be able to create a life out of love is one of the biggest gifts that we could ever receive and that was made apparent to me again 1 year ago today.  

You see, you aren't just a normal little girl.  You are the perfect fit for our family.  You are very laid back and happy, which is perfect since we had two crazy 2 year olds now 3 year olds running around.  You are super sweet, but you have just enough spunk to keep your brother and sister on their toes.  Our family wouldn't be complete without you.

Baby girl, always know that Maddox & Lukas love you so very much and they are your forever protectors, even when they don't want "Ree Ree" to get in the way of their things.You will be a force to reckoned with as you get older. You already know how to pester them and they love you for it. 

You have given us more joy in this last year than I could have ever imagined, which is saying a lot because at one time I thought my heart was full.  I have thoroughly enjoyed all the moments leading up to your birthday and I look forward to seeing how your personality grows and develops in the years to come.  The Lord has already blessed you with some wonderful qualities and while I can't wait to see the future that he has in store for you, I enjoy you being my little baby girl.

Ridley Harper you are so very loved and will forever be one of the biggest blessings in my life.  You are one of a kind and I'm so lucky to be your mother.

Happy Birthday baby :)

Things I'll Never Forget Part 2

I've been busy and a bad blogger. But I'm going to make it up with pictures, because honestly that is usually everyone's favorite thing to peruse on a blog ;)

Moments I'll Never Forget

So I've decided to start documenting "moments I'll never forget" in pictures using Instagram. I'm going to make this an on-going theme to my blog and be sharing these moments with you. Mostly, so I won't forget them and because I love looking through photos and adding them to their baby books.

As life happens, I don't want to forget the small things that happen on a daily basis that melt my heart.

Here are a couple to share:

1st Birthday Photo Shoot

Since Ridley's 1st Birthday falls really close to Christmas, we had just paid for Family Pictures. I got Ridley's 1st Birthday outfit in and was DYING to get some really great pictures of her in it, but couldn't justify spending a ton of money on pictures when we JUST took pictures.  Lucky for me, I have a good friend that is SUPER talented and was willing to help me out for a nominal fee (think Starbucks & wine).

Here are some of my favorites and let's be honest I have a million favorites, so you get to enjoy LOTS of pictures today!