Summer Fun!

Summer feels as if it might be officially here!  We spent yesterday by Tenley's little pool.  She's such a little water baby.  She loves it.  Then we tried to go on a bike ride with her new bike trailer, but it was SO hot in that little trailer that she was not having it.  So instead we drove up town and got some awesome ice cream from the Mikel's.  We spent the evening outside in the shade taking some pictures and enjoying the breeze.  After spending the whole day outside, Tenley was exhausted!  But it was tough getting her to sleep.  Finally a drive around town put her out enough that I could get her back in the house and in her crib.  So that summer sun kind of backfired on me I guess!  We'll have to be careful the rest of the summer.  Today we're headed shopping with my mom and grandma.  Tenley does she well shopping.  She loves her stroller and just likes to be moving!  She gets that from her daddy!
Here's some pictures I took yesterday.

8 Months.

You're 8 months old Tenley!  You're learning so many new things.  Here's what you're up to:

-still eating 7 oz. of formula every 4 hours.
-eating 1 container of baby food for lunch and 2 for supper.
-eating yogurt for a snack.
-the only food you aren't a big fan of is mixed veggies.
-you weigh 19.2 lbs.
-you aren't crawling yet, but you certainly figure out how to get into things!  you scoot on your butt or when you're on your tummy you can push yourself backwards.  I'm sure crawling will come very soon!  You are a baby on the move!
-you LOVE being outside!
-you are wearing size 2 diapers, but will be switching to 3s soon.
-you have two teeth (bottom middle) and two more that have just about popped through on the top.
-you blow raspberries and sometimes will give us kisses!  They are wet kisses but we love them!
-You also know how to do "so big!!" and wave bye-bye!  What a smart little lady you are! :)

We love you so much Tenley.  Your first birthday is quickly approaching and as I am beginning to plan, I'm reminded of how fast this year has gone.  I know that soon you'll be walking, talking, starting school, etc.  I pray that I continue to enjoy each and every moment and never wish for the next- just enjoy the present.  Because before I know it, the next moment, the next year- will be here.

Kaden Turned One!

The first of our little group of kiddos turned ONE!  Mr. Kaden is getting so big.  He's walking now and is so cute doing it, I might add.  We went to his birthday party last night and we had a great time.  It's so fun to see our kids interact with each other.  They all are at different stages so it's nice to look ahead to what they will be doing and look back to see what they've done!

The Birthday Boy!

 We tried so hard to get a picture of all of the kids together.  But, sadly, between the movers who just wanted off the couch, the ones who didn't get an afternoon nap and were very cranky (that would be my daughter) and those who just didn't want to be on the couch, this is what our attempts brought us ...

Eli, Kaden, Tenley, Brayden, Olivia

Oh how we tried though.  Next year I suppose. But oh how I love these little people.  I hope they know they are all  going to be the best of friends when they are older.  They might not want to you say?  Psshh.  They will.  Not an option.  :)

Lazy Day by the Pool.

The warmer temperatures this week have been a great change of pace!  It finally feels like summer is right around the corner!  Yesterday, our house was sweltering.  But Mike and I refused to turn on the air just yet.  So we opened up all the windows and tried to deal with the sudden rise in heat!  Tenley and I were excited when our friend Molly invited us over to get in the kiddie pool!  (Ok, it's possible that I was more excited to see Tenley in her swimsuit, cover up, flip flops, etc then actually getting in any body of water!) But it was a great chance to cool off and  talk with good friends!

Tenley loved the water!  She did so well.  She didn't even complain when I poured water over her!  She loved every bit of it.  Not to mention, she looked so cute in her bathing suit!

 She likes bath time just fine, but she has never protested that much when I get her out.  But she certainly didn't want to get out of the pool!  I even fed her her bottle in the pool part of the time, because she just was having so much fun!

Here she is with her friend Myleigh!  Myleigh is one month older than Tenley, so it's so much fun to see what Tenley will most likely be doing at that age!   They are very close in size (Myleigh is a skinny minnie though!!) and seem to have fun together.  It's fun to see them interact.  We often have to tell them to "be nice!" though.  Here's my favorite picture of the day:

Check out Myleigh in the background.  Molly gave her her bottle and the only way she would stay in the pool is if she had that bottle!  So she laid out in the sun tanning herself while sipping on her milk!  Priceless.

All of this makes me look forward to the wonderful summer ahead.  I'm sure that we will spend lots of time in the water since I know I have a little water baby on my hands!

Blessed.

Little Miss Tenley surprised me with homemade flowers and a card for Mother's Day.  She also is treating me to a pedicure this week!  Isn't she so thoughtful??  :)  I think she got some help from Grandma and Daddy, but she certainly loved every minute of it, too.  I'm so incredibly blessed that God chose me to be her mommy.  I know that I've said that before, but it's worth saying again.

I know that Mother's Day is also a very hard day for some women.  Those who have lost their mothers and those who are aching to be a mom and are trusting that God has a plan.  I pray for you all today.  For those who have lost their moms, I pray that you felt peace today through the emotions.  I pray that you felt your mom with you as you tried to celebrate with your family.  For those who cannot conceive or are waiting on a child, I pray that you will continue to trust the One that knows our future.

Mother's Day

As my first Mother's Day approaches, I'm reminded how unbelievably grateful I am to be a mom.  The title "mom" is something I've wanted for so long and I don't take it lightly for even a second.  There's so many people that ache for a child to call them mommy and aren't able to conceive that I feel the weight of the responsibility that I've been given.  Thank you God for choosing me to be Tenley's mommy.  Thank you for Tenley.  She's such a joy.  She's an easy child and while I know we'll butt heads in years down the road, I know that she will never, ever doubt how much I love her.

wearing and checking out all her Easter basket goodies!