"For the First Time in Forever..."

I'm baaaaaaa-aaaaack!

When I started this blog, way back when, I was the owner of a Dell laptop, and typing up a blog took no time at all and I was able to do it more easily and frequently.  When that laptop bit the dust, I was gifted an iPad by my husband for Christmas, and while I LOVE my iPad, it is not very convenient for typing long blog posts.  

I didn't realize just how much I missed blogging until my baby boy turned 1 and I realized I had not documented his first year like I had done his sisters.  This made me SO sad, because as a middle child myself, I know he's going to miss that one day.  Sorry, future Austin.  Thankfully, his Daddy does a FANTASTIC job of journaling every few days in a composition notebook.  But it's just not the same. 

So, for my 29th birthday (TODAY!), Christopher surprised me with a brand new Mac laptop!!!  Y'all.  I could not be more excited!  I am ecstatic to get back into the world of blogging and fill up posts about Lucy & Austin's daily doings.

Aaaaannnnnd the new baby's!  That's right -- #3 is on their way!  We found out February 24, 2016.  I got the notion to test when I started gagging while browning turkey meat to make spaghetti, and the smell of tuna made me want to vomit.  So, while Lucy was at dance, I went to Kroger and bought a test, came home and it turned pink RIGHT away -- like, before the control line even had a chance to show up!  I freaked out, went and picked up Lucy and planned how I was going to tell Chris.

I decided to put the test in a bracelet jewelry box that I had saved (I save all of my jewelry boxes) and wrote on the top "Something Special for You..." 

You see, Chris and I had decided to try for a 3rd baby, but the other two took us nearly 6 months before we got pregnant, so we figured it'd take about the same amount of time, we'd get pregnant this summer and have an end of school year baby so I could take the rest of the school year and the summer with the baby.  Turns out, God had a different plan and this baby came a lot sooner!  So, he was not shocked but surprised and VERY happy! 

We kept it a secret, just the two of us for a while, until I started having a weird pain to the right of my belly button... about 4 inches to the right.  They wanted me to come in to make sure it wasn't an ectopic pregnancy, so I rushed up to the doctor.  On March 2, 2016, I saw our baby for the very first time.  Still so tiny, looking nothing more than a little bubble, I could see their heart beating at only 6 weeks 1 day pregnant.  The doctor was thrilled that everything was in place, that he could already see the heartbeat (must be strong!), and said the pain I was feeling must just be ligament pain or gas.  Everything was perfect!

So, when I came home, we told Lucy that I had something in my tummy.  She has been wanting another baby (particularly a sister) for quite some time.  She even asked Santa for one.  She was very excited to learn that there was in fact a BABY in my belly!  We created a fun little video on iMovie and announced it to both of our families that way.  We went and showed it to his parents in person, but I just couldn't stand not telling my family right away and sent them the video over my phone.  

Needless to say, everyone was surprised but THRILLED!  We cannot wait to welcome #3 to our family and round out our family of 5.

Stay tuned... This will be updated a lot more frequently now.

Much love,

Happy 1 Month, Austin!

Austin, Austin, Austin!

 

I asked you when you were born to not grow up as fast as your sister has, and you're already doing it -- this first month has FLOWN by!!

 

It is so much fun experiencing the newborn stage all over again.  There are so many things I dearly remembered from when your sister was little and couldn't wait for again (the sweet baby smells, the knocked-out milk comas, the snuggles, and ALL the feels you feel when you hold a baby close to your heart) but there is so much I had forgotten about (How much milk do you drink at one time?  How often should you be sleeping?  When do you start a schedule?)  Luckily, you and your sister were born in the Google era -- I can look anything up that I need to! ;)

 

Austin Christopher this month you::

 

are 10 lbs. 8 oz. and are 23 inches long!

 

are wearing size 1 diapers (say it isn't so!!  wahhh!)

 

are showing the beginnings of smiles and starting to coo :)

 

went on your first vacation!  We went to Panama City Beach with your Daddy's family and stayed at Edgewater Beach Resort.  Never again will we stay there.  You and your sister inhaled way more smoke than you ever have in your lives combined during our week there, it was incredibly crowded and everything seemed to break (2 families had to move condos because their air went out, one moved because theirs flooded from a busted water heater, our ceiling started leaking and CiCi & Papa's condo had bed bugs -- ick!)  You were a champ though!  We took you down to the beach almost every morning and you would nap down there on me for about 2 1/2 hours -- you loved it!

 

don't love your car seat as much as your sister did, but don't HATE it either.  It's just not your preferred seating arrangement and periodically on the drive you will cry out just one time and not too loud, just loud enough -- almost as if you're saying "just letting y'all know, I don't like this.."

 

have a blocked tear duct and it makes you have crusty eye boogers in your right eye all the time -- sad!  Although, it doesn't seem to bother you too badly.

 

LOVE your sister!  You watch her and listen to her all the time.  I know that when you're able to, you're going to be chasing her all around this house!  She loves you, too!  She has yet to be jealous of you or our time together.  She enjoys holding you, but really takes pride in noticing when you need your paci and getting it in your mouth -- just right! :)

 

love to sleep on your stomach (shhhh!)

 

eat 3-4 oz. of milk at a time and eat every 2-3 hours.  Breastfeeding didn't work out for us, either.  So you're on Similac Sensitive formula.  The Similac Advanced seems to hurt your little belly. 

 

Even though during the day you eat every 2-3 hours, at night you'll go every 3-4 and sometimes longer than that!  There have been several nights where you have gone 6 hours and those are the nights I thank you for!! :)

 

are hairy!  You were born with a head full of dark hair (although it has started to lighten some and even look a little auburn at times), but also had thick, dark hair on your biceps, thighs, back and forehead -- so funny!  No wonder I had so much heartburn!! :)

 

are a Mommy's boy!  You can be so upset and nothing will calm you -- not your Daddy, not your swing, not your paci, not milk -- and as soon as I hold you in my arms, you're content! :)  Oh, this warms my heart!  You are attached to me in a way Lucy never was.  You and I just fit together when we snuggle. :)

 

look just like your Daddy!  You have his feet & toes, his legs, his chin, and his ears :)

 

Austin, you have brought so much more joy into our lives that we didn't even know was missing!  You have a different relationship with each one of us that really is special!  I love our time that we've had together so far and can't wait to see where your life takes you -- the world is yours, baby boy!

 

With all my love for you,

Your Mama

Happy 3rd Birthday, Lucy!! :)

Happy 3rd Birthday, Lucy!!

I can NOT believe you are THREE!!!

At three years old, you::

Are 31 lbs. and 38 inches tall!

Love to dance!  It is not uncommon for you to just tell me "I need music!" I turn some on my phone and you will twirl around the room throwing your hands in the air and wiggling your fingers.  You took ballet this last year through the Vibe at Learning Safari, but will take both ballet and tap this next year in studio.  This summer, you completes two of their dance camps.  One was "beach" theme and involved ballet and tap, the other was "camp swagger" and involved hip-hop dance.  You're definitely more into ballet and tap! :)

Love to sing and are actually really good at it!  You can carry a tune well, and love playing instruments -- any kind!  You love your little piano and your guitar. You'll carry it around for hours and actually hold it like you know what you're doing.

Know all of your letters (upper and lowercase) and the sounds that they make.  You're even beginning to blend sounds to make words.  Thanks to some apps on the ipad, you know a lot of the -at and -an word families.  You can also recognize your name and do an okay job of writing it (pretty much only legible to me, but that's ok!)

Can count to 30 (but usually skip 15?)

Love to look for deer when we are out riding the golf cart

Love to swim in the pool (with puddle jumpers floatie) and are even braving jumping off the sides/steps in the deep end.  You are terrified of the diving board, though! 

Austin Christopher Giles

Oh, sweet boy, where do I start?

First, perhaps with an apology for not blogging more often during my pregnancy with you or any sooner than now.

Let me begin with a recap of my pregnancy with you..

Your Daddy and I love your sister so much, we couldn't wait to try again for another blessing.  When we found out we were in fact pregnant with you, it was just a day or two before we went to Disney and we were ecstatic!!  Of course, this meant I couldn't ride any of the big rides at Disney, but you were every bit worth it!

My pregnancy with you was so different than my pregnancy with Lucy.  It was so easy with her.  Aside from a few weeks of nighttime nausea, it was every bit of expected pregnancy discomforts.  With you though... I was nauseous all day, every day until about 14 weeks.  I never actually got sick, but I had a tinge of nausea that stayed with me all day long, regardless of any medications the doctor gave me to try to help it.  And just as soon as the nausea ended, it seemed as if the heartburn/reflux/indigestion began!  And it lasted the whole pregnancy... I also had bad foot cramps and pelvic discomfort with you as, unlike your sister, knew which way the exit was, and were low and in place for a long time.  Part of the hardships with my pregnancy with you could have also been attributed to the fact that I was chasing around your 2 year old sister, that I was working a more rigorous full-time job, that it just was my second pregnancy, that you were a boy, etc.  I was also very anxious to meet you, and so I couldn't wait for the pregnancy to be over and have you in my arms!!

The day we found out you were a boy, I could not stop smiling!  I knew in my heart the whole time you were a boy, and couldn't wait for the changes having a son was going to bring to my current life of tutus and hair bows!  I was also nervous because I know (& love) the girly-girl world that your sister lives in.  I find so much enjoyment in hairbows and ruffles and glitter and pink and frills and sparkles!  How do I change tracks to rugged and sports and cars and mud? I want to be able to invest all things boy into you like I've done all things girl for your sister.

You were actually due on July 4, 2014, but we were able to schedule your c-section delivery for June 25, 2014!  I started counting down months ahead on my phone and would text your Daddy with updates.  I kept a countdown in days remaining on my desk calendar at school and looked forward to marking through the number every morning.  Towards the end of school, all teachers countdown to the end of school, and it did that too, but I was way more excited about the countdown to YOU!

After school ended, Lucy and I had about a month together before you would be here.  I loved and cherished that time with her as our only child and tried hard to prepare her to be a big sister.  She seemed to understand about being careful around my belly and why I couldn't do as much playing as I used to with her.  Oh, she loved you so much in my belly!  Every night, she would say "Can I talk to Baby Austin?" And she would lift up my shirt and get really close to my belly button and say "Hey, Baby Austin!  It's Lucy.  Come play with me!"  She'd give you her Lovie because she thought you were sleepy, and cover you with her blankie when she thought you were cold.  Then she would give you "jamurmus" (ginormous) hugs and kisses.  It really was the sweetest thing, and I just hoped she would love you on the outside as much as she did on the inside.

The day you were set to arrive, I was beyond ready!!  Surgery was not set until 12:30, so your Daddy and I didn't need to be there until 11:00.  I, of course, was not able to eat past midnight the night before, but didn't much feel like eating because I was a ball of nerves and angst!  We were a little bummed we didn't get the 7:30 surgery time slot, but this actually worked out better, because we were able to just wake up and take things slow and make sure we had everything before leaving.  There was no rushed, anxious, feelings.  Your Daddy and I dropped Lucy off at CiCi and Papa's and left for the hospital in Macon.  We checked in and immediately things got started.  They hooked me up to monitors, put in my IV, etc.  from there on, it was just a waiting game.  With Lucy, surgery kept getting pushed back, and we ended up waiting almost 4 hours, but everything was on-time for you!  What a nice change! :)

For whatever reason, I was so nervous about throwing up during surgery.  I don't know why.  I didn't with your sister, so not sure where this angst came from, but it was definitely there.  I told every nurse that stepped in my room that I didn't want to throw up, I didn't want to throw up, I didn't want to throw up.  Thankfully, I didn't!

Just like my pregnancy with you, my delivery with you was different, too!  Perhaps because Lucy was sideways, but they were literally having to push you out of my ribs so hard, I swore they were going to crack or break one of my ribs!  I just remember thinking, "but he's worth it!"  And at 1:01 pm when you were born, they held you up over the curtain and I could see how worth it you were!   They wrapped you up and let me home you immediately for about 10-15 minutes, something I was not able to do with Lucy.  My heart, in those first few moments with you, immediately grew 7 lbs. 12 oz. and 20 3/4 inches bigger!  Oh, how I loved you so much!!!

They had to take you away and clean you up really fast while they finished stitching me up, but we were soon reunited again in my recovery room, again, something I was unable to do with Lucy.

Those next two hours with just you and your Daddy were so sweet!  We just watched you and loved on you, and just soaked up your sweetness!

When we got back to the room, we wanted Lucy to be the first one to see you.  Your Aunt Kiki brought her back and videotaped y'all's first meeting.  It was love at first sight!  She just kissed on you and loved on you --  I could tell immediately how great she was going to be with you, and could tell y'all are going to have a lifelong friendship.  Before much longer, hey brought in your grandparents, and Pop, and my friend Kendall :). They all loved you!

You were born with a head full of dark hair that was so long it came past your ears.  Your Daddy joked that we were gonna have to set up your first haircut before we left the hospital.  In fact! You were hairy all over!  You had hair on your legs and arms -- so much testosterone!  No wonder I had such bad heartburn/reflux with you!  You were only slightly jaundiced in the face, but all of your bilirubin levels were low, so no heel pricks or lights for you!

You were born on a Wednesday afternoon and we were able to go home Friday morning.  Bringing you home and settling in as a family of four felt so weird but so right all at the same time!  You just fit right in!  Lucy loves giving you your pacifier anytime you cry, and looking at your "tiny everything". She thinks you're "so cute" and loves when you wake up and look at her!  She's given you a couple of bottles and likes to hold you.  When I asked her the other day her favorite part of being a Big Sister, she rolled up all her favorites into one and just said "Baby Austin!"

Baby boy, we love you so much and are so happy you're in our lives!  You are just precious to me, and so far, I'm LOVING being the mommy to a little boy!  I know it's only going to get more fun!  Your CiCi said the other day "I want to hold him, but y'all always look like you fit so well together, I don't want to disturb him." And we do!!  You just snuggle right into my chest and we sit like that for hours!  Oh, I soak it up, because I know now it won't be long before you're flying around our living room fighting pirates, and defending our castle from dragons! 

All my love,
Your Mama :)

Dear Baby #2 (13w5d)

Dear Baby #2,

Hi! :)

I want to first apologize for this being the first post to you.  People always said "you'll do things SO different from the first:  won't take as many pictures or keep up with info the same." And unfortunately, as much as I baulked at their comments and remarks, they were right.  But trust that it does not mean we love you any less!  Trust us, we love you a lot!  And in my defense, this pregnancy with you has been so different from the one I had with your sister.  I'll get to all that in a bit.  First I want to catch up on where we've been up until this point!

I found out I was pregnant with you two days before were to leave for Walt Disney World - how magical!!  Like with your sister, I had not been having any symptoms, but knew it was about time to test.  Since Lucy and I were on fall break from school, your daddy went to work while we continues to sleep.  When I woke up, I talked myself into taking a test (he was already gone for work), and checked Facebook while I waited the 3-5 minutes.  After I was sure it had been enough time, I went in to check, and OMG there were two very obvious lines!  I could NOT believe my dream of having a second child had come true!!  I knew this week at Disney would be magical, but not THIS magical! :) From there, I really didn't know what to do.  Your daddy was at work, and I was about to bust keeping it in.  I didn't want to tell him on the phone, so instead I just recorded a message by myself for y'all. ;) I tried to convince him to come home for lunch so I could tell him, but he couldn't, so Lucy and I met him for lunch instead.  I dressed Lucy in a "promoted to big sister" shirt and met him in the chick-fil-a parking lot.  As soon as he saw her shirt, he said "are you serious?" And I proudly got to nod my head "yes!" :) we were so excited!!!

Keeping it a secret was just as hard as it was with your sister.  We didn't wait long though!  While at Disney, we had Lucy wear the same "promoted to big sister" shirt to wear in front of my side if he family to see if they noticed.  Big Daddy saw first (after some prompting) and was elated!  Kiki noticed next, then Sara, and last was your Memaw, and they were all equally as ecstatic! :) the family standing in line behind us got a big kick out of watching them all find out.

Being pregnant kept me from being able to ride some of the rides, but that was fine -- you were worth it! :)

When we got home from Disney, we had Lucy wear the shirt one more time to CiCi and Papa's house, when they thought we were just coming to eat dinner and tell them about our trip.  Lucy wore a jacket, and when CiCi toon it off she saw it, but wasn't sure she read it right.  So, she asked Lucy to turn around so she could see her shirt better and was tickled!  Papa caught on after a bit and was just as happy! :) after dinner, we rode to Kacie and Wesley's to tell them.  As with Lucy, they were excited another cousin was being added to the family! :).  At this point, I was just about 5 1/2 weeks pregnant with you.

We had our first appointment on Nov. 12, 2013.  The 4 week wait times between appointments don't seem as long since I have your sister to keep me busy, but the wait for that first appointment seemed to take forever!  I just couldn't wait to see you on the ultrasound!

When that day finally came, we were able to not only see you, but were able to see your heart beating AND hear it!  What a treat!!  Your heartbeat was in the 150s.  Which was fantastic they were even able to hear it that early and that it was so strong!  You measured 6w4days, and we determined your due date was July 4! How fun!! :)

We eventually told other family and friends as it was brought up in conversation, and eventually announced on Facebook.

Lucy is only 2, and though very smart, she didn't totally grasp the whole baby in my belly thing, or little sister/brother concept.  As the pregnancy has progressed though, she's becoming more aware and interested.  She, on her own, will ask to play with you by tickling my belly or patting it.  She also helps you "take a nap" by covering you with her blankie and giving you her lovie.  She already loves you as much as we do, and I look forward to the special bond and relationship that the two of you will have.  It'll be so different than anyone else's relationship with you or her, one only the two of you will have and know -- :)

I haven't taken the weekly belly pictures with you like I did with her yet, because as I mentioned earlier, this pregnancy with you is very different than mine with her.  With Lucy, I would feel great all day until around 7pm and then be nauseous as all get out!  A medicine, zofran, helped calm the nausea with her and I'd feel better.  But with you... I've felt nauseous all.day.long!!!  And zofran wouldn't touch it.  So I just haven't felt my greatest.  Besides, I've been very bloated, so not much to see baby-wise.  I'll start taking weekly pictures now that I'm in my second trimester and feeling much more like myself! :)

We love you so much, and can't wait to find out if you're a boy or a girl on January 18! :)

With a hahaha and a heeheehee and a couple of la-di-da's!

Oh my goodness!  Lucy keeps me laughing all day long!  Before I forget them here are her latest funnies from today:

When she woke up this morning she said "baaaaa" and I said "oh, you're a sheep!" And she said "uh-huh!" And then she said "meow" and I said "oh, now you're a cat!" And she said "nope!" I looked confused and said "well, what other animal says meow?" And she said "a kitty!"

When Meow was playing with her on the back deck by pawing at her feet she turned around and said "Stop it, Meow! You're buggin' me!"  (It's not uncommon for you to boss Meow around simply because you can.  She can just be sitting in the bench and you'll turn to her, point your finger at her, and say "hush, meow!"

The other night I was trying to get you to settle down for bed and instead you asked for gummies.  When I said no, you promptly turned to me, held up your finger and said "I'll be right back!" Ran down the hall and said "Daddy, gummies please!"  This was the first time you really played us against each other.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Lucy!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Lucy!
 
I cannot believe you're TWO already!! 
 
I look back at pictures of the day you were born and feel like it was forever ago, while at the same time feeling like it was just yesterday.  As cliché as it sounds, it is so true when I say I don't remember life before you, and don't know what I did without you in it!  You're my shadow!!  You follow me everywhere and help me with everything.  Not only are you my shadow, but also my mini-me. :) People tell us all.the.time. how much we look alike!  I always tell them, "thank you, but she's much prettier than I am" because it's true!  You are stunning with your blonde ringlets and bright blue eyes.  I just think you're the prettiest little girl I have ever seen! 
 
Let's see, Miss Lucy... At TWO YEARS OLD::
 
You are about 25 lbs and about 34 inches tall.

You are still in diapers -- size 5.  Although, we have attempted potty training, and you are successful at it, we have just been too busy this summer to buckle down and make it happen.  I'm pretty certain it won't take you long when you go back to daycare and get back on a schedule (in just a week and a half!  gasp!) that you'll be potty trained in no time!

You are able to eat anything you want.  You don't have any food allergies (that we have come across yet).  You can eat like a horse one day and like a mouse the next.  Some days, you'll gobble up whatever we put on your plate, and other days you're a little more picky.  Now that you're able to open drawers, we've made the bottom drawer of the refrigerator "your drawer."  We keep yogurts and applesauce squeeze packets in there.  You can't open the refrigerator, but you'll pull one of us to the refrigerator saying "yogurt, please" or "applesauce, please" and get us to open the door.  You like to open the drawer yourself though, pick out what you want, and close it all back all by yourself.

You are so great at using your manners "please," "thank you," "bless you," and "excuse me."  You're working on getting better at "ma'am" and "sir," although you do use those when we remind you.  You're also getting the hang of saying "you're welcome" after we say "thank you."  It's really the sweetest to see you turning into a well-mannered little girl! :)

You call me "Mommy" and only "Mommy."  You call your Daddy, on the other hand, "Daddy," "My Daddy," or "Chris."  It's really funny when you use his first name and although you know mine, you won't use it for me.  We both melt when you call him "My Daddy."

You still love to read, but have also started loving to build with blocks.  You have FANTASTIC hand-eye coordination and can string beads onto a shoelace.  You're starting to want to play pretend, telling me you want to "cook supper" with some pots and pans my friend Kendall Castillo gave you for Christmas.  So, your Daddy and I got you a play kitchen for your birthday -- it's pretty awesome. 

You're OBSESSED with the show Blue's Clues (you call it "Clue's Clues"), watching it every morning during breakfast and several times during the day.  We even have a DVD of it in the car, that you watch any time we're riding anywhere.  You know all of the characters: Blue (you call him "Clue", Steve, Mailbox, & Shovel and Pail) and will sometimes answer Steve's questions -- you're so smart!  The cutest is when you do the dances and sing the songs that are on the show.  We're throwing you a Blue's Clues themed birthday party -- it's super cute!

You also like to watch "Minnie Mouse" (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) and love all of the characters on there as well (Donald Duck, Daisy, Pluto, Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, Pete).  You will do the "hotdog dance" that plays at the end of every show and dance just like the animated characters -- it's too funny.  You'll swing your arms side to side like a helicopter and then flap your hands like wings. A lot cuter in person than when it's described on a blog -- sorry.

And you still even sometimes ask to watch Elmo. :)

You are SUPER smart!  At two years old, you know all of your colors, can count to twelve (you can actually count past twelve, but we can't make out the numbers you're saying.. I think you actually get to fifteen), know all of your shapes (circle, square, triangle, diamond, pentagon, star, heart) and can recognize all of the letters of the alphabet (upper and lower).  You can even point out a few states on a map (Georgia, Florida, Texas, California, Pennsylvania). 

You're an excellent talker -- You just take off talking all the time.  You still sometimes talk faster than your mouth can move and it sounds Vietnamese.  You're getting pretty cute with your sayings though.  Like the other day, your Daddy & I told you to go get your Lovie and Blankie for bed and you crossed your arms and kinda looked up and said "Well...." like "I would, but I'm not ready for bed just yet.."  Or the other morning, I asked if you were ready to get up (you love to just lay in bed when you wake up and just do your own thing, whether it's just laying there sucking your thumb, or playing with your stuffed animals you have in there with you) and you told me "No.  Leave.  Close the door.  Bye!"  You just were not ready to get up, I guess!  I also asked you just yesterday if you wanted to get up, and you laid back on your pillow and said "No. I relax." I just laughed because what does a TWO year old know about relaxing??!? Too funny!!

One of the more recent things you've said that astounded me was when you bit me (you started doing that a couple weeks ago, just randomly and VERY hard!  Maybe it's because I tell you "I'll eat you up, I love you so!" and that's your way of telling me how much you love me -- no??  ha!).  I had been trying to just sternly get on to you, but when you bit my cheek, I popped you.  You very quickly turned to me, pointed your finger at me, and said "No hurt me, Mommy!"  I explained to you that I popped you because you had bitten me.  It was such a heartbreaking moment for me, but I was so proud of you for sticking up for yourself at the same time -- ha!

You are a FABULOUS sleeper -- people tell us all the time how lucky we are at how well you sleep.  And we know!  We have friends and family members with children who don't sleep!  You will generally sleep 12 hours from whatever time you go to bed.  We try to make your bedtime at 8:30, but since it's summer time it has gotten pushed back later sometimes.  I'm sure when the school year starts, it'll go back earlier.  You still take a nap every day and it's usually a good 2.5-3.0 hour nap!  You have lots of friends that sleep with you in your crib: "Minnie Mouse" (you actually have two of them), "Lion King Baby" (that Emma McCrae from across the street gave you), "Dolphin" (that we got from the Georgia Aquarium when we went for Sallie's birthday), and "Baby" (a little baby doll).  You, of course, still sleep with Lovie (this summer, you've slept with both the one you have at home and the one you would take to daycare) and Blankie (the same one you've had since you were a baby).  Sometimes, during the day, you'll just go in there and grab whichever one you can reach (lovie or blankie), pull them through the crib slats, and carry them around with you.

While you have recently started showing interest in playing with baby dolls, we will ask you if you want a baby brother or a baby sister and you reply "nope" to both.... oh well!  You don't like it when I hold other babies, but are getting better at it.  Maybe you won't hate us if we give you a brother or a sister one day.

You love to play chase or peek-a-boo with your Daddy & I usually getting so tickled you get the hiccups or laughing so hard you spit up!  Your most favorite thing in the world right now is "dance." We put the t.v. on a country music channel and we will have dance parties in the living room.  You think of all kinds of crazy dance moves!

You're also really into copy-catting right now.  You will copy anything your Daddy & I do (or say!) and want us to copy you, too.  You'll say "do this!" and then do something funny with your hands like squish your cheeks together or pull your mouth apart with your fingers.  You also like us to "close eyes" and pretend to be asleep. 

You have recently loved it when your Daddy & I hug and kiss and want to be included, too.  You'll jump up between us and squeeze all three of our faces together by wrapping your arms around our necks and pulling us in tight.  It's precious.

You have lots of little friends, and it makes my heart so happy -- your best friend is probably still Noah Franklin.  The two of you have such fun together and light up when you see each other.  According to his mom, he talks about you all of the time even when you're not around, and you do the same for him.  I love his family and hope y'all will always be friends (his mom and I may or may not be planning y'all's wedding ;) shhhhh!)  You are also friends with Amelia Tanner, Caylin Stancil, Anna Caroline McMillan, and Carson French.  We have played with them several times this summer.

Your cousins, are of course, still higher than any other on your friends list.  You play with Sallie like you don't play with any other child.  The two of you have a special relationship that I hope you'll always have.  It's like y'all have always understood each other even before y'all could talk -- y'all laugh and play differently than you do with anyone else.  It's VERY sweet!  You both look out for each other, never drink from each other Sippy's and talk to each other often through FaceTime or Skype.  You also love watching Nathan & Mason, and seem to be in awe at everything they do.  They're like the big brothers you'll never have :)  You are also big fans of Macie & Mollie, always asking to play with them.  You must think they live at CiCi & Papa's house, because everytime we tell you we're going over there to see them you say "and Mollie and Macie." Ha!  At this time in your life, you play better with Mollie than you do Macie, but still love her just the same.  Things may be different next year, or even next week -- you can never tell with girls! :)

Lucy, your Daddy & I love you SO much and are just in awe at how perfect you are.  You never cease to amaze us with your beauty, intelligence, or kindness to others.  You are perfect in every sense of the word and I cannot wait to see what this next year brings you!  You are my sunshine! :)

-- Your Mommy