A Note From Mom: Elly is FOUR!!

My little Snugglebear is four today.

Four years of irresistible dimples and sparkly blue eyes. Elly has been mine from the start, a true Momma's girl. Though she's becoming a bit more neutral these days; when she draws draws pictures, she now says that they're for both me AND Daddy. She wrestles with him more; she could sit and listen to him read to her all day. But in the middle of the night when she wakes up and needs snuggling... it's still me that gets that honor. 

This little lady can overwhelm your heart with her kindness and generosity towards others. And then moments later, you'll see her biting or hitting her sister or brother and remember she is indeed a little human. One of the sweetest naughtiest little humans that you just want to squeeze because you just can't get enough of her!

I love her... so incredibly much.

Ellyott, you make me want to be better. You make me want to love deeper and be kinder because I see the effects it produces in others when I see you exercising these virtues. I pray that your love for others only continues to deepen and that you're able to see people through the eyes of your Maker. Little girl, I KNOW that you were created to be used for great things, whether big or small, you will be used in grand ways.

I love you, Elly Belly.

A Note From Mom: Little Buddy is TWO.

This little guy is two today. He's a character. He loves to sing and dance. He's ready to do just about whatever it takes (even if it gets him in trouble) to make his sisters laugh... and they always do. 

Judah has such a sweet, tender soul already. He's the first to go get one of his sister's blankets off their beds if they need comforting. When he says he's sorry, he'll hug you and rest his head on your shoulder. He's just sweet.

He can also be SO naughty. A different kind of naughty than his sisters. And it's cute and frustrating all at the same time. It's different because he knows already that he is a man... a little man, but he is a man. And a man protects and provides and leads those around him... which can be difficult to do when you're only two and the youngest. But it's in him and I love to see it come out in different ways.

Judah, you're the only boy that has ever even come close to having a place in my heart comparable to the boy I love most, your dad. And it's because you're just the tiny version of him. The version that I can pick up and squeeze and hug and kiss and love on and you can't do anything about it because you're still smaller than me. The kindness and generosity you already show people gets me so excited to see how the One who created you will continue to use those gifts throughout your life. Your little heart already leads you to serve others in ways that blow my mind. 

Little Buddy, I love you so much and everyday I find more and more things that I love about you.

Happy Birthday, little man!

Guest Post: Elly Belly aka Little Sister

Hello, it's me, Elly Belly! Lucy asked me to write a little something so that you all knew we were still alive over in these parts! We've been out and about, here and there, doing this and that... we just haven't captured a lot of it with a camera... and we all know that words are so much more fun to read if there are pictures to go along with them! At least that's how I feel. Sometimes, I even like to make up my own words and not even read the words that are connected to certain pictures. It's fun. You should do it sometime.

So, anyway... we're here; we're all still alive; and we're all still running circles around Mommy. Lucy should be back soon. TTFN!

A Note From Mom: Five Years.

It's been awhile since we've written... and we're sorry. Life has just been happening and that's that.

But today... my baby turns five. 

The baby who made me a mom. The baby who changed me. The baby who laughs just like me.

It's unbelievable.

She's a human being... and she keeps growing and learning and figuring life out. And it's sad and wonderful and mind boggling to me.

She wants to pour water into her cup and milk into her cereal bowl... by herself. She claims she's a big kid. How is that possible because we just came home from the hospital the other day???

And her brain amazes me. She soaks things in and spits them back out likes it nothing. She recognizes things from seeing them one time. She listens intently to all her favorite songs memorizing the words and then just sings them to herself as she sits and build towers with her blocks.

She exercises her freedom to have an opinion quite often. She likes to dance and has some really great moves. She can be the naughtiest thing you've ever seen and two seconds later be the sweetest thing you've ever met.

Lucy Jo... my little Love... you are such a beautiful creation and I pray that you always know that. I'm going to let you dream big, and pray that you follow closely to the One who gives you those dreams. I'm going to let you be a big kid, but I'm always here to hold your hand and give you a hug when life may get a bit to big for you. I love you so much, my little Lucy, I just want to squeeze you 'til your head pops off!

Happy Birthday, Baby!

This is such a sweet shot because Lucy really wanted her own umbrella and Elly really wanted to be the one that gave it to her.