Savoring the time

I used to blog almost weekly...sometimes a couple times a week. Now I often feel it takes me weeks to download the camera, much less blog about things we've done. I'm pregnant, I'm tired, I have a constant to do list; not to mention the dishes, the laundry, the food to prepare, the shopping to do, errands to run, a house to clean, and a family to love, nurture and care for. It all is really kinda endless isn't it? But the one thing I love about blogging is that it's a sort of memory book for me---in all the craziness of our daily life that I don't want to forget even 5 years from now. So I attempt to sit down at least when I can and capture the memories we are making daily. 

Emery-Claire got this flower during her ceremony on the first day of school. She was so excited to bring it home & of course had to have her picture made with it! 

So busy we have been. Starting school, me still organizing and working on my projects, etc. that I guess I think need to get done to keep our home in order. I often get carried away with projects & find them all sucking my time away, so I wonder how worth it they all are. Am I savoring my time and days with these sweet little ones?! Am I enjoying them and pouring into them all that I can?? I would like to think I am, but often it feels like I could always savor and pour in more than I do at the end of the day. 

Me & my girls......boy are the both so full of life, zeal & lots of energy!

 My days often feel long, but yet at the same time they feel short too. I often plan to do more than I can...as I'm sure the combination of caring for 3 little people's needs and being 7 months pregnant (wow 7 months......I can't believe we are getting so close!!) wears me out quicker than I want it to! 

Enjoying a train ride at a recent friend's birthday party at a local orchard. 

This sweet little girl still so seems like my baby.....hard to believe just around the corner we will welcome a new baby to our family. She is 3, which seems so big, yet I suppose being the youngest I still view her so much as the baby. I ask her if she is my baby and her response is "I not the baby! I big girl! The baby sister is the baby!" Her sweet little voice and often unclear speech makes her seem so little to me still. And of course she still hasn't moved out of her crib.....she often asks for a big girl bed. So it's a matter of time before we can finally get the rooms all set up and situated for her; though she still sleeps so good in her own room and in her crib, so it's hard to want to mess with a good thing! Funny how with each child I've left them in the crib longer & longer. Reed was out right away so EC could have the crib (he was right around 21 months), Emery-Claire a little longer---she started climbing out of the crib when she was 2 yrs. & a few months, but didn't get a big girl bed till 2 1/2 yrs (and I thought that was old!) Now here is Mary Etta at 3 yrs. STILL in the crib-ha! She went through a phase this spring of climbing out but then quit and doesn't try now....kinda funny. 

Loving the big slide at the orchard, she just kept taking her sack and going up and down over and over again!

 This boy is loving birthday talk these days (since in a little over a week he turns 6 years old!) Shoo don't even get me started on the fact that my baby turns 6?!! He is loving every minute of his school time, so motivated to learn--especially reading, and meeting new friends! He has loved his man time with Daddy---fishing outings, watching NASCAR (he is a big fan of the car races these days), & of course now football!!! In particular DAWG football! He told me today he does not like Tennessee and hopes that Florida beats them in tomorrow's game. I should be sad, but I'm so proud that he loves his Daddy so much and wants to be just like him & like the things that he likes! So thankful for their sweet relationship & how special their bonding time is since it gets to be just the 2 of them!

At the top of the haystack; this was how he wanted his picture taken!

 I think this has turned into a narrative of all going on with these 3....again for my memory. These 2 are such sweet little friends. It's fun to watch them engage and adore each other so much. Most of the time they really get along so well. The past couple Fridays I've taken them to a local gymnastics place for some open gym time---they stay for 3 hours and play and eat their lunch their. So Reed and I get some bonding time and errand time! They love it! It's so cute to see how excited they are when we come back to pick them up as they tell them all about their "nastics" as they call it! One of the coaches said the first time they just stayed together and didn't separate (almost like twins) but today they played more independently. Thankful they are supportive and so caring to each other! 

Enjoying the hayride at the birthday party

So thankful for  this family of ours!