4 YEARS OLD

Four years ago God blessed us with a son.
What a wonderful four years we've had together.

Such a tiny bundle of joy.

My 1 year old.

My 2 year old beach bum.

My 3 year old comedian.

My 4 year old boy who looks way older in this picture - the time is flying by!

As a four year old, Brooks is sweet and kind-hearted.  He loves to please and make everyone happy.  He is creative.  He is smart.  He is goofy.  Brooks is the best big brother I have ever seen (which is saying a lot considering how high maintenance his little sister is).  He is loving - always telling the people around him how much he loves him.  He's so lovable that I can hardly stand it.  

Happy Birthday, Buddy.

Sick Kiddos

Both kids have been sick and snotty lately.  Laney had a fever first and was completely out of it, and it only took a day for Brooks to follow in her footsteps.  So - we have spent our first week of summer sitting around trying to rest.  We have been watching way too many movies to keep still, so one day Brooks helped me make peanut butter play dough.  The kids loved playing with it and eating some of it, too.  We will have to search pinterest for more inside craft ideas for all of us to enjoy.

Brooks tried so hard to comfort his sister.

The next day they were both sick and spent most of the day snuggling on the couch watching movies.  

Laney totally snuggled into Bubba's chair with all of her comfort items: blankie, baby, and super cozy blanket.

Well, that's one way to do it.

Brooks always has a different smile for the camera.

Once Laney discovered how good the play dough was, it was all over.

My Little Stinker

Delaney goes by many names in our house: Delaney, Laney, Laneybug, Delaney Ann, Pumpkin, Baby Girl, and I also affectionately refer to her as Stinker (that's Brooks' favorite).  She totally lives up to that name.  She is a ball of energy and stubbornness.  She's also completely happy...as long as nobody is getting in the way of what she wants to do.
When I ask her to come here, she looks at me with this adorable smile...and then darts the other way -Stinker.
She'll have her water right in front of her but she'll be fussing for someone else's water - Stinker.
She will take one of Brooks' toys and let him get just close enough to almost grab it, and then she runs like the wind to get away from him, laughing and squealing the whole time - Stinker.
But through all of her tantrums, the 100's of times she tries to tell me "NO!" in a day, her fussing, and food throwing...I am absolutely in love with my Stinker.  Probably because in between the fussing and whining, she smiles all the time, plays so sweetly with her baby dolls, sits and reads a book with me, lets me do her hair, and gives me plenty of hugs and kisses.

My Bug Catchers

Brooks absolutely LOVES finding bugs.  If there is a roly-poly in his path he will definitely find it and possibly put it in his pocket.  I think a bug catcher is a must for his birthday.  The other day Delaney thought she would get in on the action as well.  I love these pictures of the two of them just playing with bugs.  So cute.  So summer.  So in love with these two.

Mother's Day

We spent Mother's Day in Arlington with my mom while Chad was down in Corpus with his parents.  Chad spoiled me the week before with a couple of kitchen gadgets I had been wanting and a beautiful potted flower.  He also hid a couple of cards in my suitcase for me to open on Mother's Day.  He's always thinking of me even when we're apart.
So, Mother's Day morning we decided to get up and go out to eat.  I didn't really pack any nice clothes, so Brooks was stuck wearing torn jeans and a t-shirt.  He's still a super cutie in my book.  We probably had more fun waiting outside Crackle Barrel than actually eating.  The kids enjoyed the rocking chairs and running around, while the rest of us enjoyed the cool morning breeze (trying to soak it up before summer really hits).  What a great Mother's Day!

Summer's around the corner!

Only 2 more days of school, well...3 if count the work day on Tuesday.  I can hardly stand it!  We have so many fun plans for this summer and the kids are at such a fun age that I can't wait to make all these memories with them.  Usually - our summer would include some trips to Arlington and some Ranger games...but, since Gammy and Pops are moving just up the road, I'll have to blog about our last trip to Arlington and our last Ranger game.  Well, of course it's probably not our last trip ever - but our last trip going and staying at Gammy and Pops' house.  We had a great time at the game with the kids.  

It really was a perfect day (except that the Rangers lost).

"All set for the game, Mom!"

Stuffing our faces with some ice cream!  What a classic part of Ranger games.

Post-game smiles despite the loss.
It took Laney all of 2 seconds in the stroller before she was knocked out!

This is my absolute favorite picture because it makes me laugh every time.
The picture on top is the pre-game car ride and then picture below is the post-game car ride.

18 months

Weight: 27 pounds (85%)
Height: 34 1/2 inches (99%)
My little pumpkin is in mostly 2T clothes and moving up to size 5 diapers.

The stats above are debatable.  Laney wouldn't stand still on the scale, and the nurse didn't "stretch" her on the measuring chart quite as much as the times before.  But, whatever.  Laney is growing and growing big.  I LOVE it!  I think I say this a lot, but I'm going to say it again.  I love that she's so big and healthy.  You have to try and imagine me holding her as a 4 pounder and just dreaming of the day she would be big, and strong, and healthy, and not so fragile.  Well, now she IS big and strong and healthy and I couldn't be happier.  I went ahead and put a newborn picture down there - it's always a good reminder to me that God is SO good!

As a little toddler, Laney is learning a lot.  Here are some highlights:

She finally got the green light for tubes.  Chad took her for her surgery and it went so smooth (maybe it's because she was dressed so cute with beads and a bow).  She never even acted like she had surgery.  Chad said that she was such a trooper the whole time.  

She's already trying to talk more and try out more sounds.  She doesn't say a lot of words, but she's working on it.  In her own language (recognizable to mom and dad) she says:

mama, dada, Bubba, Kansas, I love you, baby, milk, please, thank you, bow, wall, shoe, brush, ball, baby, shhhh, no, yes, more, water, all done, naked, okay, bye-bye, hi, where are you, bike, I do, me, bath, dog, book, night-night, and blankie (I'm sure I'm missing some).  We're currently working on animals and sounds.  She'll copy me but she doesn't really remember them without my help.  My favorite is her imitation of a kitty cat.  

We recently took her paci away.  By recently, I mean two days ago.  She only has it in her mouth at nap and bedtime (and long car trips), but she would walk around with it all day if I let her.  The first night she cried for 30 minutes before falling asleep.  The first nap without it was not a good nap.  Last night and today during nap she was totally fine.  Looks like we might be in the clear.  I think I need to go ahead and throw all the pacis away so she doesn't find one and stick it in her mouth.  It kind of makes me sad - like she's officially growing out of her baby phase.

Daddy holding Laney for the first time - she loved her paci even then.

Daddy and Laney post surgery...just a few weeks before we took the paci away.

She still loves her brother to pieces.  She follows him everywhere and totally copies everything he does.  She gets so excited when she sees him.  And when she can't find him she starts calling out, "Bubba!!  Are you?!"  It's adorable.

Playing before Church.

I love this picture!

(Side note: Brooks is really into dressing himself these days.)

She also LOVES her daddy.  She is 100% Daddy's Little Girl.


Our little Laneybug is spunky and fun and totally adorable, even when she's being a stinker.  I just can't get enough of her!  I think she's going to keep things interesting for us, and make sure that we're always on our toes.