1st Carolina Game

Eli and I had a great time at the Carolina game today! We were blessed to share this day with Papa & GG! Eli had so much fun! He cheered the whole game and was so excited with the win!

1 Year Comparisons

 Knox 2010

Briggs 2012

Eli 2009

Happy Birthday Briggs!

We can't believe our sweet boy is 1.  He's actually 13 months old by the time this post made it to the blog, the same age as Eli when Knox was born.  Whew...

Dear Briggs,

You are the sweetest little baby.  You bring so much life and joy to our family.  You really love your brothers and are pretty confident you can do anything they can do.  I think you'd be walking by now if it didn't limit your ability to keep up with them.  Eli still marvels everytime you stand unassisted.  He's a little concerned you may never walk.  Knox would like for you to stay little forever as he insists on spoiling you rotten.  You can say a few words that we can understand.  You say Mama and Daddy really well and we can hear the beginning sounds of ball.  You were so excited when we opened our Christmas ornaments.  You said ba, ba, ba, over and over.  You have some attachment issues that are really pulling Mommy away from Bible study on Thursday mornings.  The first few times you screamed they feared you had an allergy because your face broke out in welps from crying so hard.  You are definitely a dramatic one, not quite as bad as Knox yet, but there's still plenty of time to reach that level.  Balls are still your very favorite toy and you also really enjoy cars and trucks.  You aren't one for baby toys, you like to play with the toys the big boys enjoy.  You were beginning to be a fairly picky eater until Mommy took away two of your daytime bottles.  We are trying to let go of the nighttime bottle, but you have made it very clear that you're not quite ready for that transition.  We don't mind still treating you like a baby.  You still take a morning and afternoon nap and sleep for 12-13 hours at night.  We're thankful you are a good sleeper.  You were in the 85th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for height at your one year check up.  You're very well proportioned and healthy!

We love you so much and are so thankful for you.  We continue to pray for your health and safety.  We also pray that you will one day know God as Savior and serve Him well. 

Love,
Mommy

Perfect Beach Trip

Our family was so blessed to spend quality time together this week at the beach.  This was the first time we've been away just the five of us.  We definitely missed MaMa, Paas, Papa & GG, but there was something special about being together.  We enjoyed lots of beautiful weather and reminded each other that God made all of His creation for His glory and our pleasure.  We certainly took pleasure in all He has given us this week.  There are so many times that I want to freeze this stage and enjoy their ages a little longer, but it is also such a privilege to see our boys growing and developing their personalities.  Eli enjoyed walks on the beach collecting shells.  He is fiercely independent, but still relishes in direct attention from either of us.  Knox was perfectly content to hunt for crabs.  He's mastered this too, as he caught several on his own.  Briggs is becoming quite the character.  Wow.  He is trying so hard to talk to us and insists on participating in whatever it is the big brothers are doing.  He loved the ocean and wore his knees out crawling on the sand.  He is easily the most easy going baby I've ever known.  He rolled with the punches our entire trip and didn't give us a fuss about anything except a football he spotted in Old Navy.  He got the football.  All in all it was an incredible time and we enjoyed every minute!

Our sweet boys started preschool a few weeks ago...can't believe it's already Fall! Eli is at Mt Pisgah four days a week and Knox attends three days.




J and I took Briggs to breakfast on the first day of school. He is almost 11 months old!

Briggs-9 months

Dear Briggs,
You continue to bring so much happiness to our family. I'm not sure any of us remember life before you! Knox is still your biggest fan! You never bother him and he wants to be the first to greet you every morning. He thinks you are the best. Today I heard him tell your Papa to call him if you were crying. He adores you. Your oldest brother, Eli, is less enthused with your antics and more aware of your safety. He loves you too, but is definitely less forgiving of your busyness with his stuff. You are our most active baby, the only one we have confined in a pack and play. You are very dramatic at times, but extremely laid back too. You sat in your stroller for two hours this week watching your brothers play. I do believe you would be walking if speed was not your top priority! You can now point at each of us if we ask you who's who. You "talk" a lot! You can say bye bye, paas, papa, dada, and mama. You have us wrapped! We sure do love you!








The first time your brothers earned $...they watched you to help Mommy.




Look how proud you are in this picture! All the big kids pretended to drive the fire truck and you did too!








This little monkey seems to be your bun-bun. Eli was exactly 9 months too when he found his favorite. This made your daddy's night!

Yellowjackets

Tuesday was very eventful for me and the boys. As Briggs napped, the three of us played in the front yard. The boys began climbing our magnolia tree which is something they do all the time. Poor Knox stepped on a yellow jacket nest under the tree. He immediately began screaming and I yelled for Eli to get down and run. Somehow Eli climbed down from the tree and escaped with no stings. Knox and I were stung 14 times. We had to run to get away and they continued to sting us both. It was awful. Thankfully Sara and Mac were arriving for lunch and she quickly diffused the situation. She's such a blessing to me! J and Dad got the job of burning out the nest. Thankfully they were successful!

Adventure on the Farm

This afternoon we ventured out to the farm in Summerfield. Uncle Jack offered the Kubota and we headed to the creek. These little boys would be great country boys. I can't imagine how they'd be if we lived in the country. We found turkey feathers, treasure rocks, and fresh veggies. Happy birthday, Uncle Jack! We loved crashing your party!

Smith Mountain Lake

Today we were blessed to meet dear friends at their family's lake house. We left Briggs behind and soaked in every minute with Eli & Knox. They were so excited to ride a fast boat! Eli surprised us and jumped right in to ride the red board! Our little boys love water!

Baking soda + Vinegar

We had a great time this week! I found a little activity for the boys that would help them practice those fine motor skills by pinching an eye dropper. The best part was the fizzing baking soda and mix of colors. Blakely joined our fun! They all loved it!