Happy Birthday Emma!

Emma is in the middle. She was WAY to excited to pose for a picture for me :)

We helped the Eaton's celebrate Emma's 4th birthday at Jump Zone, which we all LOVED. It was very fun and Sydney had a blast trying to be a big girl. She took several steps during the party and I must say, Brent and I both jumped to. I highly recommend taking your kiddos there. And Happy Birthday sweet Emma!!!! I don't know how many of you know her amazing story, but several times during the party as I was watching her play, all I could do was praise God for His awesome plan. Basically, Scott and Ashley heard about a 5 month old baby that was living in a homeless shelter and in 2 days agreed to adopt her. Ashley says "that one decision can change a life" and that is certainly true. She has already overcome so much in her little life, and I stand in amazement at the wonderful and sweet girl she is growing to be.

Happy Memorial Day!

Poor Daddy. He is surrounded by women who want all of his attention :)

Happy Memorial Day (OK 2 days late) to everyone. When I think about how many families in our country sacrifice for my freedom, I am overwhelmed. Scott Eaton is home from Basic Training, and the poor guy had to grill out for all the girls on Monday and clean the kitchen afterwards! Sydney had a wonderful time with Emma and Elli and thought she was such a big girl. We are looking forward to many more play dates this summer!! Speaking of... 4 DAYS AND COUNTING!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and thanks to Julie and Aiden for the adorable dress!

Caught In the Act

Sydney's favorite drawer in the house is under the TV where Daddy stores the extra cords for the TV and XBox. She also loves dancing and "My Friends Tiger and Pooh".

Sweet Sydney

Showing the dog some "lovin"
Thanks Aunt Erin for our new dress!!! She was stylin' at church this morning!

And... Our first attempt at PIGTAILS!!!!

Don't worry, we just went to Best Buy and she had managed to pull one of them down by the time we got there ;)

MUCH Better!

The top picture was taken less than 8 hours after surgery, and the bottom picture was right before they took her back yesterday morning. I just noticed- she is pulling on her ear :(
We celebrated Mothers Day Weekend in Heber Springs with my parents and my handsome brother. This was the only picture I captured, but the weekend was very fun (minus a quick run to a storm shelter due to a tornado warning!)

Thank you everyone for your prayers, comments, phone calls, emails, etc. Sydney is doing SO MUCH BETTER. She has been in the best mood since about an hour after surgery. We got there at 6:45am, and I swear, I buckled her in her car seat at 7:25am! I was nervous, but so pleased with the staff and doctors at Arkansas Otolaryngology. Dr. Gardner was able to suction both middle ear cavities and get the tubes in in around 6 minutes. The sweetest thing- we were waiting in recovery when she came out from anesthesia and the first thing she did was say "Momma Momma". I will never forget hearing that sweet voice!!!! She was fussy for about an hour, but after a big breakfast, she was ready to play and she was her ole mischievous self all day. She dumped over a trash can and dug through it, climbed into the dish washer, found a kitchen butter knife, pulled out all of her dirty clothes and hangers from the floor of her closet, and more! Oh, and she took 4 or 5 steps!!! I have no doubt that not having a severe double ear infection feels SO MUCH better to her! Anyway, we are so thankful for modern medicine and are hopeful we are moving in the right direction on her ears.

Please pray for Sydney

Well, I have a prayer request. We took Syd to the ENT this afternoon because we have had 7 ear infections, but in the last 4 weeks she has had a "resistant to antibiotic double ear infections" (we have had to give her TWO rounds of oral meds for 10 days each set plus a big shot). Anyway, both ears still looked severely infected today and we are going for tubes... at 6:45 am tomorrow! I know that it is a common procedure, but when you have to sign that you understand the risk of anesthesia for children and that you won't sue if something happens... well, you can imagine. PLEASE pray for Sydney's safety during surgery and a quick recovery from these ear infections!

First Weekend in May!

OK, it is the last year of my twenties! Thank you for all the sweet emails, text messages, phone calls, cards, gifts, dinners... I am officially the most spoiled girl in the house tonight!
The family sang me "Happy Birthday" but in typical Sydney fashion, all eyes were on her and she clapped her hands and smiled as if it was all for her ;).
Oh, Sweet Girl! You are so close to walking and yet- so far! You love to walk behind this car, and you will even stand up and act like your ready to just take off, but so far, the closest thing we have to walking is maybe a little step into a face forward fall. I know you will when you are ready.

Gigi and Granddaddy trying to encourage her to take a step.

She must have just done something because she looks very mischievous

Gigi and Sydney (13 months)

Yesterday there was a shower for Megan Inman Bennett, and somehow we didn't get a picture of the OBU girls until after Megan left! It was sincerely so fun to celebrate with Megan and her family, and to get to see all of the new babies! Maddox and Addison were napping during this picture, but they are adorable. I got to have Pierce all to myself this weekend, and Georgia is so sweet and good natured. Great friends and great shower!

Look how pretty Megan is! I think she is almost 24 weeks along!

And a big "Happy Birthday" to my nephews Drake (April 28th) and Nick (May 5th). We got to celebrate with them a little on Friday night before they headed to the Travelers game

We'll be back soon

A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” - Unknown

Ok, I have 3 very beloved friends (you know who you are) who have been very wonderful, loving, listeners to me this week! I could cry with how thankful I am. I will be back to the blog soon, but for now, cue the Golden Girls theme song...

"Thank you for being a friend"

Big Girl

I finally put her face forward in her new big girl car seat. She was hilarious this morning! I buckled her in and she didn't smile, laugh, talk or anything. She was just staring at me like "Mom, have you lost your mind?!?!? You put me in the car wrong!!" She rode all the way to school very quietly, just looking out the windows on both sides and watching me adjust the air, etc.
OK, this our newest "trick". Sydney is signing "more" all the time now. Especially for food :). Please notice that in the lower picture she is asking for more Cheerios while she still has a mouth full of them. Last night at McAlisters, I was holding her while ordering. I guess she figured out that the cashier was the keeper of the food because she kept leaning forward, signing more, and almost whining like "Please, don't you see me!!! I am ready for my food!"

Beautiful azaleas at the Parker's house.

My new artwork

I wish I could act really cool and just say "Here are the new pictures I made for the playroom", but I am stinkn' proud of them because they took me forever! I painted and glazed the canvas, then used fabric and ribbon to create the flowers. I am not artistic at all, so it was a stretch for me. Thanks to Brandy and Samantha for the artistic support, Cynthia East, Michael's, Jo Ann, and Hobby Lobby for the materials and Brent who didn't comment on the huge mess out for a week on the dining room table. They are going to be hung above the TV cabinet in the playroom. Next project- finish painting the den and sew the curtains for both rooms. Stay tuned, maybe in 3 months :).

Clear Channel Baby Fair "Model"

"Whoo, this is hard work. I need a snack and a nap!"

Not so excited about Cinderella... yet.

Please don't roll your eyes and think "Oh Lord, she's THAT mom". About 2 weeks ago, one of the coordinators of the fashion show for the Clear Channel Baby Fair called Sydney's preschool to get a couple of names and numbers of kids whose parents would be willing to bring them for a little fashion show. She called us, but was needing an 18 month old who was walking, so we didn't make the cut :). This morning, the little girl who was going to do it canceled, so guess who was the understudy! It was fun and a very small part, and Sydney liked being in front of everyone I think. She wore a little lady bug rain coat and boots and the little boy she "walked" with wore a green frog one. All of the moms ended up walking with the kids so it was very low-key. I sat Sydney down at the front of the stage and she clapped her hands with everyone :). Brent tried to capture a few pictures from the audience, but our personal photographer Erin was at a baby shower, so we didn't get any great ones. Enjoy our small moment, but don't worry, we'll pass on the offers that are now flooding in :).

Monkeying Around at the Zoo

My Mom and I met my birthday twin Jackson and his Mommy at the Zoo this weekend. The weather was perfect for a stroller ride and....
A TRAIN RIDE!!!! I already think I am big enough to travel without a chaperon, but my Mom insisted.

I must say, the train is pretty amazing. I mean, the wind in my face and people waiting at the cross walks just for me to travel by and wave at them! I loved it!

Hey Jackson! I love you! Let's hold hands...

:) SUCH A SWEET MOMENT!!!

One Year Pictures

These are a few of the proofs but I am happy with them. The photographer loves the one of her "reading". And, Aunt Teeny, props to me for 4 posts in one week!!!!!

Hello Baby!

I forgot to mention how obsessed Sydney was with the bouncy seat! Interesting, we were in Dallas probably 8 weeks ago, and she really didn't pay much attention to Pierce. But since turning one and getting 2 baby dolls, she is crazy about babies! She kept wanting to climb in the bouncy seat and be a baby, then she would crawl out and put something in either the seat or the carrier and rock them like a baby. John Austin was a trooper about it, although at least twice I saw his eyes get really big like "Hey, kid, you are in my personal space!". We have loaned our bouncy seat to Ms. Andi (who should be having her baby any day now!!!) but maybe we need to get it back for Sydney's babies :).