Memorial Day 2012

For Memorial Day we traveled to Katy, Texas which is about 45 minutes from where we live.  We visited with Thomas's brother, wife and kids.  Thomas's parents were visiting as well.  We spent the afternoon swimming and eating good food.  Rachel and Haley enjoyed the pool.  Rachel enjoyed the pool much better than last summer.  Rachel was so scared of being in a pool a year ago.  Haley loves water and had a good time splashing.  Little Kayla had her first time in the pool.  She was a little scared and cried at first, but then got used to it and did just fine.  She enjoyed watching everyone and seeing what was going on.  Our Memorial day was good and we enjoyed spending time with family.

Haley - on our way to Katy

Rachel

Kayla

Haley

Rachel

Rachel and daddy

Haley and Grandpa Stansel

Thomas and I with our girls

Howard (Grandpa Stansel), Thomas and John (Thomas's brother)

 

Sweet Dreams

Rachel and Haley are active and most days they wear themselves out with all the playing they do and after all the therapy they get.  Sometimes they fall asleep at the table while eating.  Rachel and Haley definitely sleep well at night!  After my girls go to bed every night I love to just look at them as they peacefully sleep.  My sweet little girls just dreaming away....

Rachel asleep in her high chair

Haley fell asleep while eating

Rachel asleep in her crib

Haley asleep in her crib

I had fun doing a photo shoot of Kayla as she was sleeping.  I practice my photography with Kayla because it is much easier since she is not as active as Rachel and Haley.  That will change as she gets older.  It won't last forever so that is why I'm taking the opportunity now while she is little to be creative and practice my photography.

So sleepy.  Big yawn.

Flashback Friday: Look alikes

I came across some old pictures of Thomas and I when we were young and couldn't believe the similarities that Rachel, Haley and Kayla have of Thomas and I.  It's so neat to see these similarities in our girls.    

My sweet Rachel with her beautiful blue eyes and pretty curls looks so much like me:

Me (2 years old)

Rachel

My precious Haley with her big brown eyes and petite stature looks a lot like her daddy:

Thomas (~12 months)

Haley.  Even her smile is similar to daddy's.

My little Kayla with her dark hair, without a doubt looks a lot like her daddy though she has my eye color (bluish grey):

Thomas (~2-3 months)

Kayla

Mother's Day 2012

My beautiful girls and I

Mother's day is and will always be special to me.  I am a mother of nine children - my 3 beautiful girls here and my 6 angels in heaven.  I am so very blessed.  Being a mom is something I have always wanted to be and I am so lucky to be a mom.  I love my beautiful daughters so very much.  I'm grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to be a mom to all of my precious children.  I feel privileged to be their mom.  I know someday I will be able to raise my other 6 children.  I look forward to that day so very much.    

Rachel, Kayla and Haley

 I am also so very thankful for my mom and for all that she has done for me and for her love for me.  She has been there for me through it all.  I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father for my mom.

For mother's day, Thomas gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  He also surprised me with a couple of things that I have been wanting - Adobe Photoshop and a new lens for my camera.  I have a wonderful husband who loves me so very much! 

Kayla is 5 Months old

Another month has gone by and my baby girl is continuing to grow and learn.  Kayla weighs 12 pounds, 11 ounces.  She seems to be gaining about a pound a month.  She is little and petite, but she sure has some cute chubby legs.

 Kayla continues to eat small frequent formula feedings.  She is just not a big eater.  Kayla is moving toward sleeping through the night consistently.  A couple of nights ago she went 9 hours straight!  That is the longest she has gone.

Kayla loves her big sisters Rachel and Haley!  She enjoys watching them play and smiles so big when they come near her.  I can tell she wants to be on the floor playing with them.  Kayla has been working on her tummy time though its still not her favorite thing to do.  I usually put her on her tummy when the girls are playing in the living room.  It keeps Kayla's attention on something other than being on her tummy.  Kayla did roll from her tummy to her back on April 13.  Way to go Kayla!

I'm loving her smiles, squeals and giggles.  She has the cutest laugh.  It makes me smile!  Kayla loves to be held and is definitely a mommy's girl.  I just love holding her.  I will miss these days when she is older.  She is just a delight to our family. 

I fed Kayla rice cereal for the first time on May 9th and she did well.  She didn't push it out of her mouth with her tongue like I thought she would.  She seemed to like it, so I will be incorporating more rice cereal in her diet.  Kayla is also starting to hold her own bottle though I still have to hold it quite a bit.  She still likes to hold my finger(s) when she eats.  I just love that!

Eating rice cereal for the first time

Holding her bottle

Family Pictures - Spring 2012

We had family pictures taken back in March at the Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens.  I just got the pictures from the photographer.  We are so grateful and appreciative for these pictures who were taken by a friend in our church.  She did a wonderful job!  There were several that I really liked.  Here are my favorites.

Love this one of all of us

Rachel and Haley

Haley with her big smile

Daddy tossing Rachel in the air

Little Kayla - 3 1/2 months old

Thomas and I

The Escape Artist

Back in February we got two new baby gates for our living room.  These gates were replacement ones as we needed taller and heavier duty gates to keep Rachel and Haley from venturing into our bedroom and into the kitchen.  We got the baby gates that have a walk thru for the adults.  When I got these particular gates, I never imagined Rachel or Haley being able to open them as they supposedly have a child proof lock.  Well this past weekend Rachel proved us wrong and is able to open them and escape!!!  She is a smart girl!  Haley is not able to see how to open it like Rachel, but once the gate is open Haley somehow knows and likes to escape as well.  These girls have us on our toes constantly.  Despite the frustration of not being able to keep Rachel or Haley within the living room anymore, I'm glad to know that Rachel is able to learn.  She learned how to open the gate by just watching us do it.  She is a visual learner for sure.  My girls never cease to amaze me.

Haley in the living room (inside the gate)

Rachel opening the so called child proof gate

Rachel opening the gate door

Getting the door open more

Rachel is free

Haley following the escape artist

Hoping Kayla won't learn how to open those gates anytime soon.  With that look on her face, I'm sure she will.