January

Owen is going through a spell (hopefully a spell?!) of getting as dirty as absolutely possible when he goes outside. This has caused him to lose his roaming privileges and he’s on a leash now. We’ve invested in a wireless collar that we hope will be our answer this spring.

Jack started guitar lessons! Georgia has had her piano music activity and now Jack has his. He was excited to learn something new.

Sis went to a hippie-themed birthday party for her friend Ellie. We already had this outfit that worked perfect. Added some hoops, braids and the headband and she was transported to another decade!


Sweet girls having a groovy time 


This doesn’t happen much so it had to be documented


Our handsome boy is growing so much! I love this hand dimples. I think he looks more like Jack everyday.


But I think his profile looks like Georgia Grace.




Another day, another disastrous scene. It’s a good thing we love him :)


Snoozing at Gammy’s house while mommy is at work 

He thinks he’s as big as his sister and brother 

John was Will’s good luck charm the day he took his permit test!


Clean and exhausted from reeking havoc on our lives


I hold him for most naps but he was laid down for this one and I just stared at him because he’s perfect. 




We organized and cleaned Georgia’s room, it feels brand new! Her room hasn’t changed since we moved in over six years ago (except crib to big girl bed). I love that about her. She’s easy to please and content.


Georgia’s built-in baby doll


Loving every minute of it too


Such a ham!


Sis for to ride home in the jeep in the front seat with daddy. Can you tell how it made her feel? :)


Georgia had a cheer clinic and this boy used the Tahoe as his play gym 


He loves his activity center Santa’s elves made him!

Goodbye 2020

What a year. I make no promises but I would love to find the time to do a year recap because 2020 was really one of the best years of our lives. Our family was completed when John Parker was born, Jack started Kindergarten, Georgia grew more than she ever has in any other year, we traveled (moderately) and enjoyed our extra time at home. I will do my best to make a recap happen because it's definitely been a year that's worth a trip down memory lane.

This is how you find the two of us most of the time. He has been the most attached of all my babies. It could be the fact he is never put down, not even for naps most the time. He's completely rotten.

We've had a mild start to winter and Jack has rode his four-wheeler a few times. 

Ruthie and Aunt Kait at Christmas cookie baking night at Auntie's. The two of us have a special bond!

I love this selfie Ma and Gram took with the kids in Georgia's room. Gram's face is such a happy smile and I love the way John is looking at Ma.

Just a girl trying a Hanacure mask because I'm a sucker for all the skincare products :) We all have our vices, at least mine is legal.

John's four month checkup. He looks so big here. Like barely fitting on the scale. Babies don't keep. He had a great checkup weighing 15 1/2 lbs and everything else measuring right on target. Dr. Evans and I were talking and John kept making eye contact with him and smiling. He loves people! I think he will be a social guy. He received shots and didn't feel good that evening but was fine by the next day.

HAPPY and loving life!

A side by side of Marcus and John (Marcus is three months older). I have said since the beginning he looks the most Harrison of all our babies. I see resemblances in the nose and eyes, even the expression! Like father, like son.

She has a new baby brother and a new camera for Christmas so that only means one thing... :)

A four month post isn't going to happen but I can assure you he's the happiest four month old in all the land :)

On December 30th, I finally had my hernia surgery. This has been a long time coming since I developed it from delivering Jack (and it only became worse since being pregnant with John). We decided it was best to wait for surgery until after I was finished having babies so we scheduled it for the end of this calendar year. All went smooth and I had an easy recovery. I had never been put under before and the only side effect for me was wanting to sleep all the next day and a half! I've never craved sleep so much in my life. I would nurse John, then go right back to sleep. I'm glad it's behind me and I still love my boys even after what they put me through :)

I've got a nice little half circle scar I will wear proudly. My babies were worth it!

On New Years Eve Tiff texted and came and got the big kids so we could have a break and I could recover. I'm so thankful for amazing friends who checked on me, brought food, kept the kids, etc. I am blessed with the best.

Georgia gave Emery a makeover. She looks up to Georgia so much.

NYE 2020-one day post op mixed with covid and you get a New Years at home laid up in pajamas (me) drinking grape juice and not watching the ball drop because there wasn't one! It didn't matter to us. We had a fun night just the five of us.

Cheers to a healthier world that's closer to Jesus in 2021!

Christmas 2020

You know it's 2020 when you worry the whole month of December about catching covid and being quarantined for the holidays. It has been an unusual year and holiday season to say the least but the silver lining is the time we've had to pause and appreciate everything we have. The things that really matter in life seem to be magnified this year and for that I am thankful.

Our Christmas card 2020. It revolves around a baby boy, much similar to the first Christmas thousands of years ago. Thank you Jesus for another wonderful blessing we do not deserve but have prayed for and you answered.

Big boy doing his part to open one of his gifts from Gram. 

Snug as a bug in a rug! This boy loves to be swaddled just like his brother. We swaddle him every night for bed and houdini usually has at least one arm worked out by morning.

Baby's first Christmas calls for a lot of photo opportunities. You only get one first Christmas.

These two are besties and so much alike. They are just naturally drawn to each other. Is it birth order? Is it their free and wild spirits? I would say a little of both.

Lottie Kate is wearing one of Georgia's outgrown Christmas skirts. I sometimes look at them and I'm just in awe Paige and me have daughters! They might both look like their mamas just a little bit too :)

I found this selfie of G and John on the ipad and it makes me happy.

 

John's homemade hand ornament. I'll cherish this forever.

I was the most laidback about things I have ever been this Christmas. I've learned to not sweat the small stuff. I use to think you had to have your tree up the week of Thanksgiving or else. We bought our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving but didn't decorate it until the following weekend. Christmas still happened. Life with three kids and life in a pandemic has taught me to worry less and be thankful more.

Getting cookies and milk ready for Santa

Christmas morning 2021. My favorite picture I take every year.

The three best gifts Marcus and I could ask for. We seriously need nothing else.

Christmas morning snuggles.

The butt flap Christmas pjs are my favorite

Jack's big gift from Santa this year was a new guitar. He starts lessons in January!

Georgia's big gift this year was a pink camera and a new bike which was a surprise from Santa!

She put the camera to good use and took lots of pictures from Christmas morning. I love seeing Christmas through the eyes of eight year old Georgia.

One of her polaroids-she picked the caption ha!

Ruthie Joy enjoying Christmas at mamaw and papaw's. I love being the family photographer.

All six babies in their Christmas best

Papaw and John boy. He and mamaw are always talking about what a good baby he is.

Georgia and Deenie looking at some Christmas videos and pictures

Our selfie game is a work in progress as we maneuver to get everybody in the frame! 

John and Pa taking a Christmas nap

Ma and Pa and all their babies! Georgia always said she wanted to be the only girl and she got her wish :) She's our princess and helps keep the boys in line.

We gave Wick his first Radio Flyer wagon and now John has his first <3 I plan on keeping these so the boys can use them someday for their babies.

Poor O doesn't make it in a lot of pictures these days. It's partly because he won't be still for me to take one, and partly because we have three kids. Even this one is blurry but we sure love our doggy brother and choose to overlook all the items he's destroyed and all the poop on the nursery carpet :)

Our last baby's first Christmas and it was a special one

And that's a wrap on the Christmas season. It was different than most years with covid having an effect on visiting family and being able to do some of our traditions but we made the most of it. We missed going to church the most. We did our best to keep bringing everything back to the real meaning of the season but we are anxious to get back in church where we get a weekly dose of Jesus. I'm thankful for Christmastime and all the sweet memories that surround it.