Four years old

Hey Baby Girl,

You are FOUR years old now. I am super late in posting this, but we've just been so busy having fun and just doing life that I haven't made myself stop and do this! So let's talk about you....three was such a great age for you. You really came into your little personality. You are girly and funny and cheerful and also strong and opinionated. The perfect combination in my opinion. You are very affectionate...you love to run into our arms, snuggle on the couch, sit in our laps, and hold hands. You LOVE to sing. You are always singing in the back of the car (which drives the boys crazy lol) and making up your own songs and belting out LET IT GO, LET IT GO! Oh how you looooove Frozen. Well you love anything princess related....fancy dresses, crowns, tiaras, nail polish, makeup, glitter, tutus, and of course anything pink and sparkly. You are most certainly a little princess! I love your taste. It's so different from mine. I was never very girly, so I have been surprised at how much I am loving all the pink and sparkles just because I love you.

Baby dolls...oh the baby dolls. You and your baby dolls. You feed them, dress them, stroll them, tote them everywhere, put them down for naps, even spank them. Ha!!! You are such a little mama. You spend hours in your room every day just playing with your dolls and makeup and all your millions of teeny tiny pink toys. Your room ALWAYS looks like a bomb went off in it, but I can't complain because you are always so entertained in there just playing and playing. 

You are big buddies with your bros. I love that you can hang with them. They do not intimidate you one bit. You jump right into their fort or basketball game or wrestling match with no hesitation. I hope you three are always this close...even though your closeness right now often means you are arguing lol!

You are Dada are super tight right now. I mean SMITTEN with one another. Goo Goo eyes 24/7! You most certainly have each other hearts. I just love it so much. I really believe having his love with make you so confident as you grow up and hopefully its a small glimpse into how much your heavenly loves you and is smitten with you. You are so loved, E.

I can't tell you how much I enjoy you. You are my sidekick, my pal. We have so much fun together grocery shopping, cleaning up the house, running hundreds of errands, and even doing carpool together. What am I going to do when you go to school five days next year?! It's hard to believe that day is coming soon, but goodness you are ready. You absolutely love school. You and price and Audrey rule that little preschool you are in now. Ha! You've had so much fun there, but you are ready to learn and grow and even put on that little plaid jumper and walk into Early Ed by yourself. Where does the time go?

I could go on and on, but really I just wanted to say I love you and I'm so so thankful I get to be your mom. You are so precious to me....the biggest surprise from God....a little girl. I couldn't possibly adore you more. Happy Birthday, Charlie Emerson!

Love,

Mama

8!

Dear Carter,

How on earth do I have an eight year old? In my mind, you are about four! But when I look at all you are doing and how smart you are and the conversations we have, I am quickly reminded that you are NOT a baby anymore. 

You just started second grade a couple weeks ago, and you are absolutely loving it. You have never been one to love to get up and go to school, but this year, you are the first one out the door. You have the best group of little buddies and Mrs. Turner as your teacher, so it only makes sense that you are loving it. 

Speaking of buddies, you've got more than I do! Cooper, David, Henry, Ben, Ethan, Whit, all the Turners and Graebers, and of course your beloved cousins who you count as your very best friends. You spent most of your summer with David who lives across the lake. You two are nothing but giggles and fishing and video games, and junk food together. I love your little friendships.

Some things you love right now are Ole Miss football, riding your bike, basketball, flag football, minecraft, anything Lego, making clubhouses....oh the clubhouses!, creating all sorts of things out of cardboard boxes, Harry Potter, all holidays...my festive child, steak, mac n cheese, all things sugar and junk food, BB and Pawpaw's house, the beach, any time whatsoever with cousins, and the list goes on. 

As far as at home, you and Coop are best friends/worst enemies. I have never seen two siblings closer, but goodness gracious you two beat each other to death! Just yesterday, you were horsing around together, and Coop ended up with stitches in his lip. Boys! 

You and Emerson are buds too. Every now and then you will go in her room with her and help her set up a clubhouse or jump on the trampoline with her, and boy does she eat it up when you give her attention. 

I'm loving the conversations we have as you get older. You aren't one to offer information about your day, but if I get you talking with a few questions, we are quick to solve the world's the problems together :) I love that you will still ask me anything. 

I've really seen you grow so much this year in confidence. Age has been such a great thing for you. You have branched out and tackled things I never would have guessed. You are very quickly becoming a leader. And oh my are you competitive! You love to win....especially races. Lol! We race in the backyard, you are only about six months from being able to beat me. You better believe I'm holding on as long as possible though! I've still got it. Ha!!!!

Most importantly, I'm praying that you continue to grow in your faith and character and love for the Lord. Your sincere prayers and childlike faith amaze me. You truly believe in Jesus and that He died for you and that he's with you. You are quick to remind us that God created everything, and He's in control of everything, and that He's the most important thing in life. I need those reminders! So thank you :) I love your commentaries at our dinner table devotions. I hope and pray you continue to think through your faith and own as your own as you grow up. Every night I pray over you "Help Carter to grow to love you and know you and worship you all the days of his life." I believe God is doing that in you.

I couldn't possibly love you more, Buddy. You are gift, my first born, my baby boy. I am crazy about you. Happy birthday.

Love,

Mama

Oh Coo Coo

Where do I start with you, my crazy Coop? First of all, happy birthday! Oh my how we love you. For six years you have been a bright light in our home. You are just so full of personality...a 40 pound ball of personality. If I could count the number of times you have made me burst out laughing, I would be convinced it was more than that number. The second you walk out of your room in the morning, I start giggling. You are simply a joy giver. And it's not just me. You keep your siblings in stitches, your teachers absolutely adore you, every mom in the city of Oxford wants you to be their child's best friend. You are just so fun and kind and a fantastic little boy....so easy to love.

So let's talk about your year...you fell in love with swimming last year...such a fish!!, you started kindergarten and learned to read like a machine, you put together hundreds of lego sets, had many many playdates with friends, wore way too much Nike and Under Armour, ate too many Chickfila chicken biscuits to count, (let's not even talk about how much candy you ate), played baseball, basketball and soccer, and jumped countless hours on the trampoline.

You love to write notes, play with your best buds Carter and Emerson, eat at concession stands, drink Fanta, pick out your own clothes, be different from everyone, ride your electric scooter, wrap up in a blanket with Molly, go to BB and Pawpaws, spend time with all your many many cousins, and the list goes on.

You are such a firecracker! You want things YOUR way. You are soooo much better at not having it your way, but my oh my do you ever want it your way. The main way this comes out is in your style. You want your clothes to be of a certain brand, feel, color, etc...oh my I tried to take you shoe shopping the other day. We won't even go there. LOL! You are growing your hair out "long and cool" and you are very proud of it. I'm laughing just typing this. I love your opinionated little self.

God wired you so uniquely, and I'm loving watching it unfold. He wired you to be the silliest little boy there is, but He also wired you to be thoughtful and generous. You tried to spend your birthday money on Carter and Emerson. What other six year old would do that? You send all your friends with a parting gift from our house, and I treasure my sweet notes I get several times a week. You make me Easter presents, Valentine's presents, and just every day presents. You pick me flowers and find me cool rocks. You are always thinking of ways to make others smile. I was laughing while I was typing and now I have a lump in my throat.

I love how your knowledge of Jesus has grown this year. You always pray for Grammie and that Pop is having a good time in heaven, and you always thank God for the Bible. I love that so much. I pray that you continue to grow in your childlike faith, and that you grow leaps and bounds in your love for Jesus this next year.

I absolutely adore you, sweet boy. You are such a joy, and I am so privileged to get to be your mama. Happy 6th Birthday!

Love,

Mama 



Not a baby anymore

Dear Emerson,
Happy 3rd birthday, Baby Girl!

How on earth has it been three years since that special Christmas we brought you home in my old pink smocked gown? You are so special to us. Our sweet baby girl. The older you and Carter and Coop get, the sappier I get. It's quite pathetic. Ha! But it is what it is. I am well aware that I am in the midst of the sweetest days and years of my life. It's Christmas Eve, and I'm only going to get so many magical, electric with excitement, squealing kids Christmas mornings. Oh don't you worry though...I am doing my best to soak up every single bit of it.

Let me think back over the past year...you are still and always have been my oh so girly, pink loving, all girly things loving girl. I mean bring on the pink and glitter and make up and baby dolls! You love it ALL! You often say you want to drink out of a girl cup and sit in a girl chair and wear girl socks, etc.. NOTHING that could possibly be for a boy will work. You are so prissy, it's hysterical. But do not let all the pink fool you, you can hold your own with these boys. They will NOT take your cookie, they will NOT touch your toy, they will NOT push you around....you make dang sure of it! Hahaha! You are the furthest from a push over. But oh my you adore your brothers. You want to do everything they do, and you three are always up to something together. 

You love Peppa Pig, pajamas, nail polish, make up, storing candy in random spots around the house, purses and bags (usually carrying hidden candy), your roller coaster in the driveway, singing, school, Price, Millie, and Eva your best buds, stuffing Dada's briefcase full of pictures and treats for the next day's work, coloring, Hello Kitty, cereal, milk, McDonald's, Walmart, and the list goes on.

You love to run up and give us giant leg hugs as we are walking out the door. Your new recent thing is to say, "Mama, you are the cream and I am the cookie" or "Dada is the mac and I am the cheese" or "I am the candy and Dada is the cane."  The combinations are endless.

You are so happy. You love your friends, you family, and especially love BB and Pawpaw.

You are such a treasure. You are spirited and silly and loud and sweet as sugar.

I have loved watching you grow from my big fat baby to my three year old little girl.

We love you so much, Charlie Emerson, and we are so so very thankful that we got YOU. Happy Birthday and all my love.
Love,
Mama



He's 7

Dear Carter,

It's a week past your 7th birthday. I just haven't been able to sit down to write this for some reason. I guess it's because for one we have been so busy with the start of school and two, it's like I just can't get my head around 7! I think it's because I always knew you would go to school full day when you turned seven, and it's hard to believe it's already here. I am so thankful we got an extra couple of years of you at home before you left us ALL DAY EVERYDAY. It's been a huge adjustment for you and for me. I've had you with me for 75-100 percent of the day your whole life, and all of the sudden you are gone 75 percent of the day. I'm sure I'm making a way bigger deal out of this than most, but it's just one more indicator that you are growing up quickly, becoming more and more independent every year.

As I think back on this past year, what stands out to me the most is your excitement. You got so excited about Ole Miss football last fall, crazy excited about playing basketball, excited about all the things kindergarten taught you, jump up and down excited about going to Prattville and the beach and to BB and Pawpaw's house, you did physical flips when it came time for your minecraft birthday plarty. I love this about you. You are just excited about life. Dada and I often say you are the most easily excited kid we've ever seen. When you get all excited about something, you start moving...jumping on the furniture, pacing, running through the house. I'll never ever forget how many times Dada says "Carter, do not jump on the furniture, son." on a weekly basis. Hahaha!

 I also think about how much you love your friends. You have been blessed with a sweet little crew of crazy fun boys that you absolutely adore. I love watching you all interact and laugh and throw your shirts off and smear one another in the grass and on the trampoline.

Some of things you have loved are all things minecraft...the books, the figurines, the Legos, etc..., Magic Tree House books, Legos, chocolate milk, swinging, riding your scooter, running....oh how you love to just run and run, waking up and plopping yourself down in the brown chair with a blanket, Mario on the Wii, melting beads, rainbow loom, shell mac and cheese, homemade pizzas, Kabuki Hibachi, knock knock jokes :), Laquon Treadwell, the Dallas Cowboys, wrestling with Coop, laughing hysterically over everything, hanging your head out the car window like a dog, candy, candy and more candy, dates to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, your cousins...oh my you love your extended family... when I tell you and Coop we are going to Hernando or Prattville or St. Louis to see family or if family is coming to see us, it causes and immediate flip out...BB and Pawpaw's house, BB and Pawpaw's camper, McDonalds, all things Christmas, fireworks, and the list goes on and on. I feel like I could go on for days. You just love life.

I love watching grow and watching how God has wired you. He wired you to jump up and down when you are excited and to be a picky eater. He wired you to want to take care of your siblings and to always wear your emotions on your sleeve. He wired you to scream bloody murder when you get a paper cut and always want to make crafts for other people. He wired you to be super super silly and yet so serious too.

You are such a joy, Buddy. I'm so proud of the way Jesus is working in you...making your courageous and stronger and repentant and kinder. I hope you continue to grow in your knowledge of Him and how much you need Him.

I love you, my big first grader. I'm missing you even now as I write this. Can't wait to pick you up at 3:00!

I love being your mom. Happy 7th birthday, Car Car.

Love,

Mama

June!

 I just looked up and school was out and June was almost over! Life is just passing us by isn't it? Time flies when you are having fun. Carter had a patriotic program at the Veteran's home the last week of school, and it was just beyond precious. Those sweet men loved it, and I cried! I am not a crier! Just so sweet. Probably my favorite performance/school activity yet. 

Then Coop had his TOT performance. Go, Coop! Pumped about that trophy.

 Emerson's buddy, Price. They will be in the same class next year!

 Last day of school water war! 

 Yearly Olympics. I love that their school does this. So much fun. 

 The Bahnaks came in town for Memorial Day weekend. So fun having cousins around. I love how much my kids love their extended family. 

 It's not summer without a good ole slip n slide!

 "Bye Dada, big hug, Dada"

It's potty training time for Miss Priss! She's had done AWESOME!

 I've had a baby in diapers for SEVEN years. I don't know what to do with myself!

Coop is spoiled rotten! His buddy, Jayden, invited him to eat dinner with all the Ole Miss wide receivers. Jayden's dad is their coach. How fun is that?! He ate it up!!!!

Ole Miss football camp, here they come!

Look how big my Coo Coo is. When did he get so old?!

Quick stop in Prattville on our way to the beach!

And we made it! We had an absolute blast. BB and Pawpaw came with us, and it was just such a fun time. 

Date night with Hub thanks to BB and Pawpaw 

Since when did we become the family in tacky clothes for their beach family photo? Hahaha! I guess I've given up in a lot of areas in my older age. Under Armor and Cardinals it is :) It's who they are right now. The all white would have been much cuter, but this pic is so us!!!! 

 Emerson is going to be my amusement park child. She wanted to ride EVERYTHING!

Back home with our buddies!

Emerson is very selective in who she likes, but she loves Mrs. Molly!

Then look who came to visit! Millie!! She was only three weeks old! I ate up having her in our house not to mention Hewes and Aunt Kate. Such a treat!

JuJu and and her crew and Grammie came too. We had a house full of Bells. I loved every minute!

Happy Birthday, Grammie!!! We love you!

Emerson had a special day with her buddy, Miss Katie. And let me tell you she loved every minute of it. Swimming and Chickfila WITHOUT her brothers. We love Katie!

She is proud of her new panties :)

Big bow, big cone, big sticker. Go big or go home.