Brooklyn is 4 months old!!

I can't believe our little Brooklyn Dawn has been a part of our family for 4 months now!! She is truly a ray of sunshine!! She is a such happy little baby!! She loves to smile and coo and talk!! She is already acting like a girl- what a little talker!! She is a pro at holding her head up, pushing up while on her tummy, and loves to bat at objects in front of her!! She hasn't quite mastered rolling over yet, but she is so close!! She is a very active little girl and I can definitely wait for her to get mobile because I am sure she will be in to everything!! Yesterday we took her for her 4 month check up! She did great!! She weighed 14 lbs 8 oz (75%), was 24 1/2 in long (50%) and her head circumference was in the 25%!! Her hernia has gone down drastically and her heart is all clear!! They said she was doing perfect and growing right on her growth curve!! So thankful to God that our little girl is doing so well!! We love her and can't imagine life without her!! She is such a joy!!

 

Brooklyn's 1st Zoo Trip

Everyone was out of school on Monday February 17, so I decided to be a brave Mommy and take all the kids to the zoo by myself!! It was a little cloudy to begin with and I was hesitant about going. But I am so glad we went!! It turned out to be a perfect zoo day, and believe it or not my kids were pretty much as perfect as you can get!! Brooklyn did great- she never cried or was fussy! Brantley walked the whole day by himself without having to be carried or pushed in a stroller! Jackson was so good and such a big helper!! The 2 things that I really had to get on to Colton for was 1. looking were he was going and 2. to tell him to stop saying, "It Stinks"!! Other than that, they seriously were SO good!! So good that we stayed 4 hours!! I enjoyed myself so much and was so glad I didn't let the weather or my fears about how hard it would be with all 4 keep me from going!! Here are some fun pictures of our day:

Snow Day

It seems like every where else in the country has been graced with snow except Memphis! But today we finally got some!! Sure it wasn't much but it was still enough to have some good family fun!! We took Brookie out so she could see her first snow but we didn't keep her out long. We took her next door to Grams' house so she could stay warm and out of the cold air while Mommy and Daddy had some fun with the boys!! We had snowball fights, swang, and watched the boys slip on the occasional patch of ice! We had so much fun just being together and playing out in God's creation. Jackson was so excited! He said, "God has answered my prayers!" So glad that we got to enjoy this day together as a family even if there was only a tad bit of snow!! And now here are some pics of their smiling faces:

A Typical Sunday Morning

Sunday mornings at our house are CRAZY!! John has a staff meeting every Sunday morning, that way each minister can get his area prepared for morning worship and activities. So for us that means Daddy leaves before the kids get up and it's Mommy's job to get the other 5 (herself + all 4 kids) ready by herself! Church begins at 9:30 which typically means Mommy has to get up by 6:30 to get everything ready to actually leave on time. Part of the morning is spent nursing Brooklyn and pumping, so Brooklyn will have enough milk for Mommy to go to church and Sunday School without having to miss any to feed her. The boys typically take showers or baths at night so I don't have to fool with it in the mornings. However sometimes they have such bad bed head that it is easier for them to jump in the tub, get their hair wet and brush their teeth. It takes less time to do that than to try and calm their crazy hair down. I have already gotten their clothes out but I think I probably have to tell them 5 times a piece to get their socks on, shoes, etc. And it never fails that either Brookie will have an explosion and need an impromptu bath or Brantley will have peed his bed. I always have to factor in an extra 30 minutes for the "unknown". And every week I think we use that extra time. Breakfast is usually eaten in the van on the way to church, and sometimes if we have enough time we may stop and get donuts. I usually bribe them with donuts to get them to hurry up and get ready the first time I ask instead of the 3rd or 4th time!! Brantley has to have at least one glass of chocolate milk before we can leave. I tend to let them watch cartoons or turn on a movie so that I can finish getting ready and pack the van. We usually get to church right on time. We rarely ever get there early, but I am doing the best I can! I try and remember that the most important thing is that we are going, and try not to let the other cause me to be so stressed that we get in bad moods. Satan is against everything God is for. And God wants us to get up and go worship at His house with His people!! So the devil is going to try and do anything and everything to corrupt that. I try and hold my cool if I am frustrated when they are not listening. Sometimes I am able to and sometimes not. We always pray on the way to church to prepare our hearts for worship and for Sunday School. I pray for each kid's salvation and that they would learn more about Jesus each time we go! If it is a morning when I have not been able to keep my cool, I always pray for forgiveness (out loud) as well as asking for the boys' forgiveness too. Even though it is a lot of work, I would not have Sunday mornings any other way (well maybe the part of Daddy not being home with us)!! I am thankful that we still have the privilege of actually going to church and worship freely!! I am thankful that Jesus loved us so much that he died for our sins!! I am thankful the kids have such wonderful teachers to add to the teachings they are already receiving from home! I am so thankful for such sweet friends that John and I have made to encourage us on our journey together!! In conclusion Sundays are crazy and absolutely amazing at the same time!! We love Jesus, we love church and Mommy loves Sunday Naps!!!

Today we were actually running a little ahead of schedule and I was able to snap a few photos before we left for church!!

"But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Mark 10:14, 15 NKJV)