Happy 4th Birthday, Adair!

It's hard to believe that Adair is already four years old!  It's cliche, I know, but time really does fly by.  The past year has been one of such growth for Adair.  She has gone from toddler to preschooler.  She learned to write all of her number and letters, she became a big sister-twice, she traveled to Disney World and to China (and constantly requests to go back to both...to Disney World to visit the princesses and to China to bring home another sister).  All in all, she has handled every change and every transition with grace and she has made us so very proud.  We love watching her grow into a little lady and pray that God will grant us wisdom as we continue to mold her and influence her.  She is our precious first born and we wouldn't change a thing about her.  She will always be our first love.

We had a fun week celebrating Adair's fourth birthday! 

Starting a week before her birthday, we counted down with a little gift to open each day.  I think this is one of Adair's favorite parts of her birthday.  Each day she woke up anxious to see what was inside her package for that day.  She got a children's devotional book, goggles, pool toys, a magnifying glass, binoculars, a ball, Brain Quest cards and two new pearls for her add-a-pearl necklace.

A week of birthday gifts

The first gift of her birthday countdown

Since Emalyn's birthday follows Adair's closely, Hank and I suggested to our parents that we all go in together and get the girls a swing set for the back yard.  They all thought it was a great idea and we managed to pull it off as a surprise for the girls.  Mimi, Granny, Uncle Eric, Aunt Laura, Ben, Kate, Lucy, Nona, Joe-pa and Mama Alice all came for the big reveal and to celebrate both girls' birthdays.  Adair and Emalyn were both very surprised and are loving their new play set.

Kate, Emalyn, Lucy, Ben and Adair

Kate, Ben, Laura, Eric, Emalyn, Hank, me, Adair,

Granny, Lucy, Mimi and Myla Grant

Emalyn, Hank, me, Nona, Joe-pa

Mama Alice, Myla Grant, and Adair

Memorial Day was Adair's actual birthday.  All she wanted to do for her birthday was eat pancakes and go to the pool, so that is exactly what we did.

Make a wish!

Emalyn, Adair and Myla Grant ready for the pool.

Adair, Daddy and Emalyn

(This was also Emalyn's first time at the pool and she loved it!)

After naptime, we took Adair for her favorite dinner...pizza, then out for ice cream at Doodles.

Myla Grant, Adair, Mommy, Daddy, and Emalyn

Nona, Adair, and Joe-pa

Adair's Last Day of 3K

Adair had a great 3K year at God's House!  She made alot of sweet friends, grew relationships with some she already knew from church, learned the sounds each letter makes and how to write them, learned how to write numbers, did lots of adorable art projects, memorized Bible verses, and enjoyed music.  Every day when I would ask what the best part of her day was she would say "playing on the playground".  This girl loves to play outside and learned to peddle a tricycle and began learning how to pump to swing on the God's House playground.

This year was a great year of growth for Adair.  We look forward to seeing what 4K has in store for her.  To simplify our lives a little, Adair, Emalyn and Myla Grant will go to Trinity CDC next year for preschool and Mother's Day Out.  Trinity is great school and is super close to our house, so it should make our lives a little easier with less time spent in the car.

Adair, Dobbs and Asa playing legos

Sarah Kathryn, Adair and Caroline

Adair with Mrs. Kasey, her sweet teacher

Last day of 3K

Adair, Caroline and Clark

(sweet Clark loves to join right in with the big girls)



Mother's Day

My, how much has changed since last Mother's Day.  I am and will always be overwhelmed with gratitude that God gave me the gift of motherhood.  I cherish each of these little lives and feel completely unworthy to be their mommy, but I am thankful that God's grace is sufficient and He gives me the wisdom, patience, energy and strength to spend my days loving, teaching and correcting these precious ones.  I love these three more than words can express, so much it hurts!

Our best picture...I find it humorous that Adair and Emalyn are doing the same thing with their finger in front of their mouth and Myla Grant looks like she is riding a roller coaster.

Pure sweetness...I love how Emalyn and Adair love Myla Grant.

Around Here (v. 2012.2)

We Love Homewood Day Parade

Adair has always loved parades and successfully taught Emalyn how much fun they can be at the We Love Homewood Day parade.  I'm convinced Adair's favorite part is gathering the candy, but she also loves the band and the pom poms the cheerleaders carry.  This was Emalyn's first parade and she had so much fun following her big sister and gathering the candy and goodies that were thrown.  Her little pink cast didn't slow her down or deter her in the least.

On our way to watch the parade.

Daddy, Emalyn and Adair-excited for the parade.

Waiting anxiously for the first piece of candy to be thrown.

Painting

This craft session began as a card and picture making session for Nona and Mimi's Mother's Day gifts, but quickly turned into a freestyle session.  Both girls love to paint and it's neat to watch them create.

A Big Girl Day at the Zoo

My mom has been an amazing help during the transition from one daughter to two to three.  She came to keep Myla Grant so that I could spend some quality time with my big girls.  We had a fun day a the zoo, just the three of us.

These drums may be a favorite over the animals!

Riding the carousel is one of Adair's favorite things.  She's never met a carousel she didn't like and loved getting to share the fun with Emalyn.

First carousel ride.  She wasn't really sure about all the movement...around and around, and up and down...but I think she had fun and I was proud of her for trying something new.

Pinterest is such a great source of activities for kids!  I found this zoo scavenger hunt there and Adair had a blast checking off all of the animals that we saw.  I think it brought a newness to the zoo we visit so often.  She loved having the goal to see and check off everything in the pictures.

Cast Bath

Emalyn likes taking a bath now and we are convinced that bathtime is a huge reason she sleeps so well at night, so there was no skipping bathtime just because she had her cast on.  They were quick and sometimes the cast got a little damp from her splashing, but it was worth it to have a clean, happy and rested baby girl.

Ice Cream You Scream

These girls love ice cream and there will be no leaving the "milk" behind at our house!

Mother's Day with Nona

The big girls had so much fun making Mother's Day gifts for Nona and Mimi.  Nona has been such a special help during these last few months.  All of the girls adore her and we appreciate her more than words can say.  She's a great playmate, she enjoys helping with household chores and volunteers to give us rest.  She retired right after Myla Grant was born and we couldn't be more greatful to get to spend so much time with her.  The girls were very excited to give her their picture they were so proud of this Mother's Day.

Emalyn: Three Months in Our Arms

Three months ago today we waited anxiously to meet our daughter.  At three o'clock in the afternoon, we heard a baby crying in the hallway outside of our hotel room and greeted a very scared and tearful little girl.  She had little light in her eyes and was barely walking and not talking. 

Today, she is the light of our lives.  She possesses such a playful, outgoing personality.  She can light up a room with her smile and laughter.  Not a day goes by that she doesn't entertain us with her funny faces and actions.  She runs everywhere she goes, climbs the stairs (and everything else), loves to play in boxes and baskets and says at least twenty words.  She is so sweet and is quickly learning to be loving, to share and to obey. 

In a short three months, her life has changed drastically (understatement!) and she has handled it with such grace and flexibility.  We have every confidence God designed her to be a Powers, even though another mother carried her for nine months. 

Here's to three months in our arms!  A milestone for which we are extremely thankful!

Myla Grant is One Month Old

Myla Grant is one month old!  I don't know exactly how much she weighs, but according to my "in home" scale I think she's about 9 1/2 pounds.  She has obviously grown a lot over the last two weeks and is really filling out.  At the risk of sounding cliche...time just seems to be flying by.

She is awake more and more during the day and has started following us with her eyes.  She is discovering her hands and feet and kicks and flails them constantly when she is awake.  She still enjoys being swaddled when she sleeps and is sleeping four to five hours at night.  She eats about every three hours during the day, except in the evening when she clusters feedings together about an hour and a half apart.  We are so thankful for our precious youngest daughter.  She is almost always content and is the sweetest baby.