Cousins

There is no boy I love more than my nephew. He's the closest thing I'll ever have to a boy of my own. I HATE the fact they live so far away. I'm hoping that will change someday soon! When my brother and sister in law told me they were pregnant, I was ecstatic! I couldn't wait to spoil him or her! When I found out a few weeks later that I was expecting, I was so excited that these two babies would grow up together! We have big plans for them! Even though they are just 6 months old, they love each other already. Ella and Emory adore the little man! It's fun to have some blue in our life! 

They came for a visit this weekend and we had a great weekend! I am already counting the days until they come back! 

I love Ella's face in this picture. Priceless! 

The Big Move

For a year or so now, Cameron and I have talked about moving closer to family. It's something that has always been in the back of our minds. Mobile is a great place to live, but when you have 3 little ones and no family, it was hard...and it got harder. With Cam working from home, we can live anywhere. I had already planned on not going back to work, so we decided to put the house on the market just to see what happened. It sold in 6 days to the first couple that looked at it. At first, we said we would live in Tuscaloosa. Then I felt like we would have the same issues that we had in Mobile (traffic, going non-stop, school issues). So we decided to give small town living a shot. We are now in the town I grew up in... A little place called Aliceville. It doesn't look like much as you ride through, but there is so much here. We see Jeje and Pops everyday and Namaw and Granddaddy most every day. The other night at 930, I was making a cake for July 4th and realized I had no vegetable oil. Jeje brought me some... How lovely! The girls are adjusting great. The only thing they don't like is all the bugs! The house sits in the woods, and we are having to learn to love all of God's creatures. Stay tuned for more stories from the country! So far, we love it! 

Yes it took 2 trucks 

Boxes to unpack

Month 5

My sweet love is now 5 months. I can hardly stand it! Libby is such a happy baby. She sits back and takes it all in! There's never a dull moment with three kids.... Someone always needs something.... When all three are playing in the floor together, I breathe a sigh of relief and smile.... Ella thinks that she is capable of taking care of Libby. It's precious at times, but stressful at other times. Emory adores Libby and thinks it's the best thing ever when Libby smiles at her. Since moving to Aliceville, Libby has becomes a Jeje baby. She rolled over for her Jeje first, and also reached out to her before "reaching" to anyone else. I'm so thankful to be here with my parents and grandparents, it truly is a blessing. Libby isn't a fan of any food except green beans and squash. All other food is a no-go. I guess she will eventually eat other foods. This baby continues to make my heart fuller by the second. I seriously could hold her all day, kiss those cheeks, and look at the perfect gift from above we've been blessed with all day.

Libby and her best friend and cousin, Coleman

Month Four

Oh this baby couldn't be any sweeter or more perfect. I hate to brag, and I know I'm biased, but I can't help it! This month, Libby decided to start sleeping through the night.... Praise The Lord! Usually bedtime is around 10 and she gets up around 7. It is awesome! Libby thinks her big sisters are the coolest thing ever and they think she is.... It's pretty sweet... They love it when she smiles at them and now that she's started cooing, that's the best! My little bit has started chunking up. I had to get some 6 month pajamas because she couldn't stretch out in the 3 months. Libby has also found her hands and feet, and it is so entertaining to watch her look and her hands and grab her feet. She thinks they are the best thing ever. I'm totally in love with my baby. She's been a blessing and a joy since she was born. I truly can't imagine life without her. She makes our hearts so full.

1. 

Big Girls

Oh my big girls.... it's amazing how they aged so much when Libby arrived. Ella is finishing up her first year of big school. She is reading like a champ. I'm so proud of her! I worried about her being so young, but she has had a fantastic year! Her teacher, Ms. Roberts, has really pushed her and Ella has really broken out of her little shell.... Maybe to much. Ella loves to draw, read, write, dance, and pretend she is grown. I have to remind her daily that she is 5, not 25. 

Dance Recital Outfit

Loves to get her hair straightened every once in awhile 

Like I said, 5 going on 25

Emmecat is finishing up her year at St. Mark's Early Learning Center.... Hard to believe.... She loves school and her best friend, Hannah! She is in a room full of boys... Only three girls... I'm pretty sure those girls run that room. She has had a fabulous year with fabulous teachers. She wants to do everything her big sister does... Each night when she has to put a pull-up on it absolutely breaks her heart... This girl loves being outside.... I hate it's getting so hot and miserable...emory a newest obsession is wearing headbands.... We have about 40... I finally got smart and started making them myself... I'm looking forward to this summer with my big girls.... Lots of change is coming our way.... We are excited! 

Boat time 

Loves riding her bike... Rides circles around Ella...

There are no words at all...

Selfie time with mommy 

Such a good big sister 

Month Three

I can't believe I am already blogging about another month that has flown by. You, my love, have brought so much happiness to your mommy's heart. It's not that I was "unhappy" before you, but wow, I didn't know what I was missing not having a Libby Craker in my life. Being a mom of three is exhausting. There is always something to do, somewhere to be, or someone that needs something. When the big girls are at school, we snuggle a lot, and I rock you a lot, and I also talk to you in crazy voices and in return, you give me some crazy looks. You have started smiling this month. It melts my heart and makes me laugh every time you grin. You have two different smiles, the crooked smile and the ear to ear smile. I go back to work on Monday. The thought of leaving you makes my stomach hurt and makes me teary. I keep telling myself it is only 3 weeks and we can do anything for 3 weeks. Then, it will be OVER! Our awesome babysitter will have you here everyday and your big sister Ella is super excited that I am going to be at school with her now. It's been since January 10. That is a long time! You are not sleeping all night yet, and if you could arrange that, it would be great. You get up around 2 or 3, and then again around 6:30. You like to sleep a lot still.... mostly. A few weeks ago you were not seeming like your sweet self, so I took you to see the pediatrician. I knew something was up, and it was.... you had a double ear infection. What 10 week old baby gets a double ear infection? You, that's who! You also had your first trip to the beach this month. You thought it was bright, which it was... You hung out under a tent, with a hat, covered in sunscreen. You were the cutest little beach baby. We love and adore you Libby Lou, and you are so loved.

Trip to Tennessee

 

Last week was Spring Break and I thought a road trip with the big girls to see my sweet nephew and his mommy and daddy would be fun. Jeje volunteered to keep Libby and I took her up on it! Cameron was in Colorado for work, so I needed to leave Mobile anyway. I wanted them to get to do something fun, because our going and doing has been somewhat limited since Miss Libby arrived. We drove to Aliceville on Saturday and left Sunday headed to Tennessee. We took our time and stopped as needed.... We had no agenda except to get there. It was 459 miles from my Aliceville to James and Holly's. They live in Kingsport and it's in the northeast corner of Tennessee.

 

 

 

It really wasn't a bad drive and the girls liked seeing the mountains. I checked the weather several times before I packed and there was not snow in the forecast, but guess what? It snowed and all my girls had to wear on their feet were flip flops.... It only snowed for a few hours on Tuesday and it melted as soon as it hit the ground. It was fun for them to see snow since it's a rare sight it South Alabama. We visited and I loved on my precious nephew. He is so stinking cute and I love him to pieces. He is my first nephew and he will always have a special place in his Aunt Sara's heart. I can't wait to see him again. They live too far away for me to spoil him the way I plan to. It was a fun road trip.... I missed my Libby Lou more than I imagined I would... I think Jeje missed me... I really appreciated Jeje and Pops keeping her. 

 

Stopping for some lunch

My sweet nephew

He looks at me like I am crazy....kind of like his daddy does sometimes

Out to lunch

It is snowing but you can't see it

They love him so much! We miss him and his parents already and can't wait to see them again soon! Thank goodness for FaceTime!