Happy 4th of July

Every year our neighborhood has a small parade around the neighborhood where all the kids can decorate their bikes/scooters/tractors/wagons/etc in patriotic decor and then put it on display.  Led by the volunteer fire department a large fire truck comes in.  This was the first year the kids got to participate mainly because we haven't been around in the past.  Ashton was super excited.  A BIG THANK YOU to Molly for decorating the kids tractor and wagon on Tuesday night as that was a big day in and of itself, with Mr. Elijah Hayes coming home.  Then on Wednesday, the kids participated in the parade along with Mimi and Molly (who so sweetly pulled Ms. Reese along).  At the end of the parade they gave out prizes for the best decorations and Ashton won for best tractor!  He was so excited!  The kids then got to play on a giant water slide and had a great day.  Happy 4th America!

Happy Birthday Elijah Hayes Lee

Happy Birthday Elijah Hayes Lee!

On Sunday, July 1, 2012 at 10:02 PM, our family was completed with the addition of our beautiful son Elijah Hayes Lee weighing in at 7lbs 11 oz and 20 inches long.  Pure perfection!  God's work constantly amazes me but is personified each time a little baby is born and Casey and I have been beyond blessed not once, not twice but three times to be chosen as parents.  I will due a post later on Eli/Hayes' birth story.  And yes, you read that right...this sweet boy's "day to day" name is still yet to be determined.  He will either go by "Eli" or "Hayes" and we are trying both of them out.  A name is such a HUGE decision and while we LOVE his full name, his day to day name is something we want to make sure fits this little man.  For now I will leave you with a lot of pictures of my newest love.

Our first "family" photo...Lee Party of 5!

 First picture of mom and dad, minutes after the birth (not the best picture but want to hold on to these memories!)

Butterfly

It constantly amazes me how kids look at things, with such innocence and awe!  This little butterfly was found fluttering helplessly in the pool and thankfully Ashton was there to rescue her!  Casey helped Ashton get her out and then it was Ashton's turn to care for her.  The kids were mesmerized as she worked to dry her wings off and get herself in flying condition again.  The kids we sad later in the day when they went to find her and she had flown away.

Happy 2nd Birthday Reese

Happy 2nd Birthday sweet Reese!  Oh how we love you more than you will ever know!  There are a few things I want to remember about this time so I am going to try and break them down:

Nicknames: Reesey Peesey

Weight/Size: Roughly 25lbs, not sure how tall (haven't been to the dr yet) but seem petite to me.  You can still wear some 12 month shorts but for the most part 18 month clothes fit you the best...2T is a bit on the larger size

Food Likes: Hot Dogs, Cookies, Cheetos, Watermelon, Broccoli (takes after her mother), Spaghetti, Lucky Charms (picks the marshmellows out), cucumbers, chocolate....honestly you aren't that picky and will normally try anything, but you have a tendency to request something and then take 2 bites and call it done which can be VERY frustrating

Other Likes: ASHTON (or in your words As-ton), Mr. Spook (wish the feeling was mutual), baby dolls, mimicing big brother, swimming, being outside, DADDY...favorite word to say "Dada, Dada, Dada" over and over again

Dislikes: Bedtime---you don't want to miss a thing, sharing (working on this, but you are a stubborn little girl and have no problem telling someone NO even when they say please)

Sleeping: Speaking of bedtime...why are my children such night owls and early risers???  Usually asleep by 8:30ish (on a good day), up by 6 am...one nap during the day normally about an hour....you just don't want to miss anything!

Milestones:  You have gone pee-pee on the potty a few times which is awesome!  You are showing signs much earlier than your brother that you are interested in potty training so we have started working on this and hope over the next few months we can drop the diapers.  You have also started talking so much and using phrases/sentences.  I am amazed by how much you changed in just the last month and how clear you can speak.  You love to sing the ABC song but your absolute favorite is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with Patty Cake as a close second.  You can also count to ten.  You amaze me how you are able to navigate an IPAD and an IPhone.  There have been moments where your dad and I have looked at each other and have tried to figure out how you have managed to do something...at the same time, to your dad's frustration, you manage to reset his Iphone/IPad at least once a week if not more. 

Reese, you are just BEAUTIFUL, both inside and out!  Your blue eyes and dimples tend to melt everyone's heart that you meet and I am not going to lie, it doesn't get old when people tell me how cute you are, because I just have to agree (I may be a little biased).  I can't wait to see you in your role as a Big Sister.  I know some people worry about "middle child syndrome" but I feel very confident you will always know your place and make your presence known.  Oh how your Dad, Ashton and I love you and the rest of the family.  Happy Birthday precious girl!


For this special Birthday you got your first American Girl Doll Bitty Baby and then many accessories to go with her...

Mo and Mimi gave you the Bitty Better kit and then another baby doll, which was my first baby doll when I was a little girl, along with the baby bed that my Great Uncle had made.  I am so glad my mom held onto all of these things and that I have a daughter that now gets to enjoy them all.

Saturday morning, Mimi, Ashton and Aunt Jac all helped to make a Birthday cake and cupcakes.  Boy did you enjoy them!!!

Mmmm Icing

I have a new helper in the kitchen!  While Ashton was at the lake with Mo, Mimi, Jac, Capt. Mark, Nannie Marge and his cousins, Reese stayed back with Mommy and Daddy and we had some cookies to make.  I wanted to make princess crowns, Spiderman and Batman for their Birthday party and I had the perfect helper.  The best part?  No one to share the icing bowl/spoon with!

Fish in the Water

It's hot outside and it is only going to get hotter.  So pretty much everyday the kids ask to go swimming.  Ashton amazes me it how much he remembers from last summer.  Now I am not saying the we have the next Michael Phelps in our house, but we definetely have a little boy who LOVES the water and has retained enough to make Mommy & Daddy comfortable with him in the pool without floaties.  Occassionally he will ask to put some on, most of the time it is after he has been swimming for a while, and is looking for something to hold him up, I can't blame him.  If you watch him, you will see that he gets a major work out everytime he swims.  Reese on the other hand took a bit of time to warm up to the water this summer.  But in the last week and a half, and getting her a puddle jumper, she never wants to get out.  Thankfully Mimi, Nannie Marge, Molly and Grandpa all took turns this week spending time in the pool with our little fishies, and I finally remembered to pull my camera out.