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.