4 years

So today this baby of ours turns 4 years old.......

2:24pm this sweet girl was born......what a day it was! to say the least we were a little nervous at the fact that we were about to have our 3rd child in less than 3 years?!! (since it was july...we had 2 more months before reed even turned 3 years old?!!) crazy yes....but obviously the Lord's will and plan for our family!

we survived....and 5 months later this was our life......yes the 19 month old is trying to step on the 5 month old.....God gave us grace, much grace! grace towards each other in our marriage, with our children; and it was by Him we persevered!

 and then a little over a year later.....life looked like this.....never a dull moment with these three!

oh boy has this baby girl grown and changed.......such a sweet, sweet, but ever so curious baby girl she is! and sometimes she still is awful curious.....i think this is more her personality

that round little face and those big brown eyes! we sure have been smitten with you! and how fun and thankful that you and your big sister so adore each other! what a  sweet relationship you two have as you really have grown up together!

sweet sisters

of course always a daddy's girl

yes you always find a way to get into something......something you shouldn't, something you're curious about.....but that little cute face....who could resist you!

even this face.....the famous furrowed brow look.....i still occasionally see this look....it's still so stinking cute!

our silly girl

our little fish....you've yet to ever be afraid of the water! you still (whether you have that life vest on or not) will just jump right in!

 you wake up in the morning and this is your attire of choice most days

1st birthday

2nd birthday

3rd birthday

our animal lover

and of course you are the best big sister

 we sure love this mary etta caroline.....thankful for her spirit and love in our family. she gives the best snuggles and hugs....always a big smile for everyone! we love you baby girl! you are a blessing to us indeed!
Happy 4th birthday!

7 months

As usual it is about 2 weeks later I'm finally writing Maggie is 7 months old.....guess it's just remarkable I find time to take a picture much less write a blog post about it-ha!

This little girl continues to be so much fun.....and seriously the easiest baby! Hmmmm wondering if we'll have a different toddler?? Well, regardless......at 7 months she......

**sleeps so good! 2 and sometimes 3 naps a day still
**so I'm experimenting......still no solids yet.......she's happy and full and obviously gaining very good weight, so really with our crazy, busy life I'm in no dire need to spoon feed mushy baby food if I don't have to!
**she's rolling both directions from belly to back and now back to belly.....starting to push up some with her arms. I once saw it look like she was attempting to be on all 4s....but we still aren't there yet
**still needs support when sitting....so haven't mastered that skill either
**is vocal, vocal, vocal! this baby is a chatter box! she loves to yell....it's so funny how loud she can be. and she definitely always is chimming in during our morning bible story reading. the big kids are always saying they can't hear
**gets so excited when she sees any of us....me, casey, siblings....it's so cute! she just smiles and laughs at everyone
**love those sweet little giggles! man can't get enough of them!

 she loves those feet! grabs them constantly

 oh my just love, love, love this sweet thing! so crazy to think last summer at this time we were wondering what she'd be like, look like....and now here we are....7 months later!!!

 first 4th of july at grandpa and grandma's......well not much of a lake day since it down poured rain all day long!

first lake cabin experience....rained quite a bit there too....but she still loved time with Nana and sitting on the deck! and seriously this baby is always so happy....she really smiles all.the.time

oh how we love our little maggie starks.......so thankful for her sweet little life......she continues to be so fun and such a joy!

Strawberries and baseball

So in June 2009 we began our annual strawberry picking at Boyd's Orchard. The kids have always loved and we love the fresh and yummy strawberries! Last year with the dry weather the crops were never very good so we didn't get to go. But we made up and went this year! 

Strawberry Picking 2013

Here is Strawberry Picking 2010

Here is Strawberry Picking 2011

oh my how little are these 2 girls!! Emery-Claire was 3 years and Mary Etta almost 2 years

More pictures from this year's picking..........

 So excited to pick those strawberries!

 Sweet friends......

 I think this is the most they all have picked! As you can see from the previous years all they did was stand there and eat the strawberries!

Rocking and enjoying their treats afterwards!

My berry pickers

So also earlier in June we wrapped up our 2nd season of tee ball....well last year was actually "wee ball"......and next year will be coach's pitch if he wants to play again. Which I'm sure he will because this boy is all athlete! He continues to love all sports! He had fun playing......we didn't have the greatest team as I think they only won 2 games the entire season, but learning the game and having a good time is all that matters!

 Pep talks from coach after the game

2 best little buddies.....they loved playing ball together!

5 years

So May 20th our sweet girl turned 5 years old. She had so much fun celebrating....and got lots of celebrating. Birthdays around here always seem to turn into birthday week!

 family celebration with dinner and dessert treat! 

 she loved getting her birthday balloons delivered from gigi and pops!

 our fancy nancy party

 gigi helped with the accessorize station......jewelry, makeup, nails.....definitely a hit with little girls to get made up "fancy"

 we decorated "fancy" placements

 the girls loved reading fancy nancy "spectacular spectacles" and then we decorated our own "spectacles"

sweet girls enjoying their sweet treats

Daddy and his girl

 daddy being silly at the party

 sweet friends

So fun and such a treat to celebrate our Emmy! We love you sweet girl....and are ever so thankful for you zeal and zest for life! Happy 5th birthday!

More on 6 months

So in a little less than 2 weeks away this girl will be past the 1/2 year mark......she is just growing and growing so fast! I can't keep up fast enough! So right at the beginning of June (seriously are we almost to July??!!!) I did take her 6 month pictures.....

 she is seriously this smiley and happy and vocal almost all the time!

 FEET.......this month she found her feet and love to grab them whenever she gets a chance! she also started rolling over from back to belly! at then end of march she mastered belly to back---but of course got "stuck" and couldn't get back to her belly! now in the past couple weeks she's been rolling both directions!

 loves sucking....her tongue, her lip, her fingers, whole hand....anything she can! she is taking a paci some more to help soothe and can hold onto it some as well;

her tear duct on the right eye appears to have cleared up in the past couple weeks too. i realized over a week ago it wasn't draining and needing constant wiping. so shortly after turning 6 months (may 30th) it must have finally grown more and quit draining as it had been the past 6 months.

 all smiles and such a happy baby! we couldn't have imagined an easier 4th child!!!!

 big girl....her 6 month checkup she weighed in at 16lbs, 7 oz (50%) and 27 3/4" (97%)....this girl is gonna be tall unless her height slows down. she is definitely surpassed all her siblings in her rapid growth!

 love these feet! can't get enough of them!

Father's Day 2013

 we love you sweet Maggie Starks......oh how you brighten our days......you are joy and such a precious blessing daily!