Five Months Old!

Ellie is five months old today and what a little cutie! We just love having this easy-going girl around and we think she likes us too!  Cooper and Penny are really good at making her laugh and entertaining her when Mama is busy.

At five months Ellie:

• Weighs 14 lbs and is 24 1/4 inches long. 
• Eats every 3 to 4 hours during the day and sometimes once in the middle of the night.  
• Takes three naps a day.  One in the morning, one in the middle of the day, and one in the late afternoon.
• Still sleeps swaddled up in her bouncy seat.  Mama doesn't see any reason to mess around with that reflux business.
• Drools all the time and teethes on everything in her reach.  There are no signs of any teeth yet.
• Gets nervous when people other than Mama want to hold her, though she is starting to go to Daddy and Ma-Mas more easily.
• Reaches for Mama's or Daddy's face when we hold her.
• Has discovered that her feet make great teething toys.
• Likes to sit with her ankles crossed.
• Mostly says "mmmmmmm" when she wants to talk but occasionally will let out an "ah!" or "ga!"
• Experienced her first Mother's Day and Easter.
• Traveled to the ranch, the lake house, Boerne, and to Houston to visit Nonnie and the cousins.  

Cooper takes time out from swimming to keep Ellie company.

Penny just had to have her picture taken with Ellie!

Getting Ready to Roll (Outta Here!)

Over the weekend we spent a day pouring over our new house; checking things out, moving stuff in, and making plans.  Well, the parents did those things.  The kids mostly ran wild through an empty house and drove the parents crazy.  Their excitement couldn't be subdued and I spent a few moments thinking about what a big move must be like for them.  They are young and so this is just one big fun adventure for them.  They have none of the stress or strain for which I am grateful.  This is also a unique experience, as they will never be these tender ages and moving in to this house ever again.  

Our first day in our new house!

Look at my "house" Cooper!

They fell right at home in the new playroom...once we opened a few boxes for them.

This little one was a good sport all day long, letting Mama and Daddy work!

First lunch in the new house.

Penny tries out the porch swing.

We took a break to swim in the pool for the first time!

A New View

Evening view we have enjoyed for 4+ years. 

Soon our family history will be marked by a major event.  An event not quite as large as the birth of each child, but prominent just the same.  In a few weeks, we will be moving away from the coast to live in the Texas Hill Country.  The Hill Country has been calling to us for some time now, and we are finally at a place where we can act!  We have many fond memories of our time here...I grew up here, David and I married here, and each of our sweet kids were born here.   All of these events were coupled with great friends and family whom we are sad to move away from.  After over 10 years and three different houses later we are excited to embark on a new adventure and fulfill part of a dream!  It feels for David and I as if we are hitting the "reboot" button on our life and we are excited to continue raising our kids in such a beautiful place! 

Our new view!  How could we resist?

Scenes From a Perfect Mother's Day...2014

Cooper and Penny were thrilled when we decided to spend the day with Ma-mas, Pa-Pa, and Uncle Clint at the ranch.  After opening my gifts from Daddy and the kids, I got the added gift of being with our family and watching happy kids have fun.

Cooper spends some rare contemplative time on the porch.  No sooner did I get this shot, however, that he was off and running again.

Someone please tell me what we are to do with this pink mess! I do really love that she lets me take her picture!

And then this sweet baby!  This was my first Mother's Day as a mother of three and I really enjoyed it.  After a day of family at the ranch my body was tired but my heart was full.  I am pretty darn lucky to be the Mama of this crew!

This is the Way We Start Our May

The school year is rapidly coming to an end.  Cooper's class got to go on a field trip on May 1st and had "Crazy Sock Day" the next day.  He is going through a "not cooperate for Mom and her camera" phase.

After "crazy sock day" we headed up to Houston to visit Nonnie and go to cousins' Brayden and Brycen's birthday parties.  Cooper LOVED the blow-up water slide, though in this picture he is still a little uncertain.

Penny chose not to go down the big slide, but had fun in the baby pool and the flooded yard that was created from the water slide at Aunt Amanda's house.

After a big day of watching Brayden play soccer, two birthday parties, and no naps, we were glad to get the kids back to Nonnie's for a quiet evening.  Ellie is teething!  She did not sleep well on Friday night or during the day on Saturday.  Luckily she did on Saturday night!

We are in the count down now!  22 days until summer!