Catching up!

Mary Etta LOVING her toes! She's been looking at them for some time now, but just in the past week started grabbing at them. So fun!

No real excuse of why I haven't posted in awhile.....besides the fact of just the routine, everyday busyness of 3 little people :) So here are a few recent pics of them.......I know that is what you grandparents and aunts and uncles out of town REALLY want to see, right?!!

Playing in mommy's shoes....I guess that is a girl for you! Any time I leave a pair out she finds them and is trying to walk in them...usually tripping over them mostly!

Pushing up more on our belly...while drooling lots in the process!

Just having fun being brother and sister!

Last week we had some very, very dear friends come to town for a visit! It was too short but still we enjoyed our time with them! My friend Kathy, who I know I've mentioned before, came this time (last year she brought name baby Isabel) with sweet Addison. Kathy and I got to know each other while we were pregnant with both Reed and Addison, and realized how much in common we had with one another. April will be 2 years ago that they moved back down closer to their families, and we, or really I, miss her greatly! Though I am still thankful for her friendship even though miles away....

Little buddies.....look back here! So crazy that they are both turning 4 this year! They were just Emery-Claire's age when they moved!

Eating mangos.....after already cutting the mango he found the core and continued to try and eat it!

Quote of the day

No connection to the "quote", just thought this picture was hilarious!

Me: (as we've been working on the Children's catechisms)"Emmie who made you?"
EC: God
Me: What else did God make?
EC: All dings (all things)
Me: Why did God make all things?
EC:I dunna know (I don't know---answer is "For His Glory")

Guess who is 6 months old?!

First bites of cereal

Our sweet, sweet girl is half a year old......sigh......I know I can't slow it down, so I try and soak in every moment with her every day that I can with our busy household. She is just growing, growing too! We started rice cereal about 2 weeks ago (she turned 6 months this past Saturday, Jan. 16th)....and eats it soso. I know I now need to try some veggies, but oh the mess, oh the mess! And she's not a super aggressive eater, so I continue to hesitate if she's not as interested as she could be. She has officially left our bathroom--yes, Mary Etta is in her own room--yeah! Pictures to come of the big kids room sharing (lots to report on that later too), and Mary Etta seems to LOVE the crib and is sleeping wonderfully! She is forever addicted to swaddling though. I had to buy the LARGE size blanket--yes, the LARGE! She was busting out of the small/newborn and so I found the bigger size and she won't sleep any other way! The poor girl will want to be swaddled til she's 15 at this rate--such an oddity to me since the other 2 loved their bellies so much. She continues to be so happy and vocal--lots of smiling and laughing at her brother and sister, she loves watching them! And I can tell probably eagerly awaiting to move and follow all they do! She also has been loving her exersaucer, so fun to manipulate all the fun toys on it. She's such a joy and we love having her as apart of our family! We love you sweet girl!

The snow is here, to stay!

Last week, well after the holidays really, we've dropped down to the 20s and teens.....and it's been snowing like crazy! Today we hit 30s and tomorrow 40s--yeah, warm to us! There were several school closings last week and surrounding counties this week as well. Oh the winter is here......and will be til like April! But we did out go in it for a little last week....though when you ask Reed if he wants to go out and play in what is STILL left on the ground this week, he says...."no, my hands are cold!" He kept loosing his mittens that day and had red, cold hands when we came inside after our maybe 20 minutes of snow play.

My favorite little snowbunnies!

Better late than never

Well, I'm actually posting some of our Christmas pictures finally. I debated (especially now that it's 7 days into January) even bothering posting them, but I'm giving in tonight and doing it anyways. We did still have a sweet time together, despite all our plans thwarted due to sickness and many a travel plans having to change about 3 times. Since we have been home I've been organizing like crazy! I have made a very detailed schedule to really try and implement more order and routine to our day....which with our 3 little ones, I have been feeling for some time I desperately have needed. So all that to say, all my "past-times"....blogging, facebook, sewing, etc. have all been on a very back burner lately. "Training" the children to the more structured time/activities/expectations/etc. throughout the day has also been a little more exhausting. But I know staying consistent will hopefully benefit us all! All that to say.....here's a glimpse into our Christmas!
A family picture of all 5 of us! It's rare we get pictures of all 5 of us period, much less a good one. So I was pleased with this one!
Sweet Mary Etta....she did well our 2 nights in Georgia, not so well in Nashville for the NY Conference. It was a little rough on her and me...lots of crying and sleeplessness (which for her means not good eating either--which all around is not good for either of us). I tried as best I could to somewhat keep her routine normal, but I suppose she somehow sensed it was different. Even the first couple days home were rough too, but she seems to have adjusted back now--thank goodness! Though I think more "hunger" is setting in...since she has been waking up some at 5 and 6 am....so we officially started cereal this week. Have I mentioned before I really don't like the baby food stage.....but it's part of it, right? So far she has done well, though about 1/2 of it ends up on her bib!

All the Willis cousins.....sad that this is the first time they've all seen each other since last Christmas! Reed enjoyed playing with them!

A Christmas Eve ride in new Christmas pj's and hot chocolate...to look at lights...they loved this! And you can see how excited Emery-Claire was!

Christmas morning pictures.....we already had "our family Christmas" the weekend before since we thought we were leaving town Monday. But due to all the sickness we stayed put til Christmas morning (when we headed down to Georgia). So we tried at least having some fun family time together (Christmas Eve service at our church, a hot soup meal together when we got home, and the hot chocolate/lights ride).

Reed's first ride in Uncle Chad's jeep! Probably the highlight of his trip!

All the girls minus one with a little sick boy, and one sleeping baby girl!