Yee-Haw!

Friday night we went with my family to the Mesquite Rodeo. It was SO.MUCH.FUN! We had great seats, sat under cold AC and watched lots of entertainment. Rett watched and clapped eagerly as each cowboy tried to ride the broncos. When it came time for the bull riding he was more apprehensive....and actually got a little scared. Ellie was a little ball of energy and bounced off everyones lap the entire night and Ben slept in the carrier. Definetly an attraction I would take the kids back to....

The group:


Rett riding a pony:




Ellie loves Lauren!

Who knew? They Grew!

About two weeks ago I took all three kids for their well-checks at the peditrician. It was absolute chaos and I even had my mom there to help wrangle kids. When the appt was over I seriously felt like I needed a stiff drink!
Here are the kids stats as of July 22,2011

Rett: 4 years
Height: 40" (45%)
Weight: 46.6 lbs (95%)

Ellie: 2 years
Height: 34 1/4" (60th%)
Weight: 27 lbs (60th %)
Head Cir: 49 1/2" (85th %)

Ben: 2 weeks
Height: 21 1/2 " (75th %)
Weight: 9.3 lbs (60th %)
Head Cir: (25th %)

Splish-splash

The kids having some fun at my in-laws neighborhood pool while I was in the hospital with Ben. They really look like they are missing mommy, don't they?

Rett's 4th Birthday

Wednesday, July 20th Rett turned four years old. To me, four "sounds" so much older than three. Three you are still kinda a toddler...but by four you've turned into a BIG BOY! Rett went to "summer fun days" at LHUMC on Wednesday....and they made his day very special. He got lots of special attention and his class sang him Happy Birthday during chapel.
Later that evening when Troy came home, we opened the presents that he received at his birthday party and I served his favorite meal: hot dogs, corn on the cob, watermelon, and Cheetos! For dessert we made brownie ice cream sundaes. :)
He went to bed that night a very happy boy!

PRESENTS!




Ellie's favorite present (a star wars helmet and laser gun)




Rett's sundae he made ALL BY HIMSELF!

Since we've been home

We've been home from the hospital as a family of five for just under a week now. Things are still pretty unpredictable from day-to-day and I am anxious to get into a routine.

Bennett's belly button has fallen off (quicker than I remember with the other two) and his circumcision is almost healed. He is nursing just about every three hours round the clock and we are going through about 6-8 diapers daily. :)

When we came home my mom had decorated the front of our house to welcome us. We tried and tried to get a "good" family picture on the front porch to put in Ben's baby book. This is what we got.



Ellie pouting because she wanted to hold my baby, not hers.


Rett wanted to take the picture:



The best we got:



A few other pictures I have taken over this past week that I like:

Ellie's REAL 2nd Birthday

Since yesterday was Ellie's REAL 2nd birthday we had a little celebration for her in the evening. We pulled out all the presents we had saved from her birthday party and she opened them (with alot of help from Rett)! Let's just hope that he lets her help him next week when it's his birthday. Anyways, Troy had to go to a Pharmaceutical Dinner that was already planned so my parents brought over BBQ and Strawberry Shortcake and we had a low key evening. Ellie is a very lucky girl because she has so many people that love her and gave her many fun gifts! Thanks y'all!





New swim goggles!



Ellie opening her first Barbie


Rett says this is his favorite gift Ellie received. :)



Ellie feeding her baby


Rett is really going to be a nurturing father someday.

Happy 2nd Birthday Ellie!

Today is Ellie's 2nd Birthday. While it's been a whirlwind past few days I couldn't let the day go by without recognizing and celebrating my sweet, sweet, girl.
Ellie is gentle and girly! She loves babies(esp real ones) and books! Not a day goes by that I am not eternally grateful that I have such an amazing daughter. I can't wait to see what this little lady does as she grows up. I think she's definetly going to surprise us!

Here are my favorite pics from her birthday (July 14th) over the past two years:

July 14 2009



July 14 2010 (Just learning to walk on her first birthday)



June 26,2011 *almost two*