In Case They Ever Wonder

Holiday Recap: Christmas 2011

2012-01-23T17:42:00.023-05:00

We had a busy, but wonderful Christmas season this year. We were in Christmas mode from the day after Thanksgiving right up until, well, let's just say our Christmas tree was down before MLK day! Some of the highlights of this year were:

Breakfast with Santa - Now, if I'm being honest

this one got off to a rather

rocky start! I don't

remember all the details, but I think it was one of our first attempts at being anywhere early dressed and ready as a family of six! What I do remember is finally arriving and

sitting down to eat, and Will looking across

the table to his cousin, saying loudly, "Hey Zoe! Did your mama and daddy get in a big fight on the way here too?" Thanks buddy. As it turned out, we did have a good time, and this wound up to be a big day for our family because later that afternoon, we had...

Lucie's Dedication - We were so happy to dedicate Lucie at TPC Spring Hill with both Tato and Uncle Derek

on had for the service. Lucie's service was very sweet, with a

small group of parents and children gathering to promise to raise their children according to principles of Scripture. Lucie wore the same dress that I wore when I was dedicated, just as Sophie and Lillie did as well. There was a great reception following the service, and it was a special time to pray for our family, specifically for Lucie that she will come to know and accept the great love that Jesus has for her.

Walk through Bethlehem - This was another big day for our family as we were celebrating Uncle Derek's 30th birthday! After church and cake we continued with one of my favorite activities of the Christmas season. The Walk through Bethlehem put on by Woodmont Christian each year is truly an can't-miss event! Your family is transported back in time to Bethlehem, and you experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the first Christmas. The sheer number of volunteers and then the attention to detail that those volunteers put in makes this day an incredible gift from Woodmont Christian to the city of Nashville. I could and should write an entire post just about this

event, but some of the highlights include:

the amazing foods the children try (Sophie's favorite this year was pomegranate seeds)
the various animals the kids get to see and pet!
the crafts the kids make - this year our crew all made dolls to give to the baby Jesus
the gorgeous set - I've said before that other than a Disney experience, I've never been so "transported" as I am during Walk through Bethlehem. The church does such an amazing job not only with beautiful and historically accurate props, but also with music and smells of spices and animals that make it hard to remember that you are smack in the middle of Green Hills!
the incredible way the actors all remain in character and interact with the children - From the Roman soldiers whom the kids are told to protect Baby Jesus from to the village people who are so amazingly knowledgeable about their
jobs in the town to the beautiful actors who play the familiar faces of the nativity story, the whole experience helps Scripture come alive for children and adults.

Sleigh Ride at Shadrach's - We didn't know quite what

to expect from the Christmas event, but it turned out to blend two of our families favorite

things - Christmas and the fair! After a fun sleigh ride (I think it was actually a

hay ride without hay because of the size of our family), our "colorful" driver

dropped us off at Santa's tent, where the kids had a blast riding expensive carnival rides while the adults enjoyed feasting on expensive fair food! It was not a typical Christmas experience, but we truly had a blast, only to go back to Patti-Grams and Tato's for our first...

Big Family Christmas Get Together - Lucie met Mee-Maw

and Big Dad for the first time, and the next day we all met Leo for the first time! It was a

super-short visit before a longer visit closer to

Christmas, but we were all excited to see one another.

Christmas with Aunt Judy - We kicked off our celebrations with family by getting together with Aunt Judy and exchanging Christmas gifts. This was also Lucie's first chance to meet

Aunt Judy! These were the kids' first Christmas presents (Zoe's first ever!), and they were all truly grateful and excited! It was great to spend some time with Aunt Judy and to spread the holiday fun out a bit so the kiddos didn't get so overwhelmed.

Sophie's Gingerbread Decorating Party - I'm not

quite sure how Sophie talked me into having a party the week of Christmas, two

months after moving to a new house and one month after having a new baby, but she invited the second grade girls over to decorate gingerbread on December 20th, and we had a great time! Patti-Grams, Aunt Tori, and Aunt Hope all helped us to get ready, and Uncle Derek had Will for the

afternoon, so I was able to focus on Sophie and her friends. We had several sweet girls, some siblings, and their moms, plus plenty of cookies and icing for everyone! I was so

proud of my "homemade" gingerbread cookies, that I'd stocked up on in the freezer section at Target. The highlight of the desert table was the gingerbread house, that was actually a gorgeous cake made and decorated by our friend Michele.

Ice at Opryland Hotel - For Aunt Tori's 30th birthday, we had an

awesome birthday cake and then bundled up and headed out to look at lights at Opryland

Hotel and visit Ice with the Merry Madagascar characters. We all enjoyed the amazing sculptures featuring the

Madagascar crew, but the ice slides were a huge hit too! I think everyone was actually most amazed by the ice nativity at the end of the exhibit. After taking the very worst picture with Santa

that my kids have ever made, we walked about 50 miles to a restaurant we'd heard was great, only to find the wait was several hours (even though we didn't see anyone waiting). Needless to say, we cut our losses and headed back to Patti-Grams and Tato's for...

Big Family Christmas - It was then time to celebrate Christmas

with Mee-Maw and Papa, Pammie and Joy,

Jamie, Ry-Dog, and Leo. We had a ball, taking some special pictures with Mee-Maw and Papa (which I can't wait to see and

post), and we even squeezed in some last minute shopping. Ry-Dog

didn't get into town until later in the

evening, so we were a little worried about

the kids making it without a meltdown, but they all did amazing. They had a blast opening presents, playing and spending time with Baby Leo!

Christmas Eve Service - This was Zoe (and Lucie's) first Christmas Eve service, and

as Sophie pointed out, her first as a Christian because she was sick for last year's service. Christmas Eve at TPC is always a beautiful service, and this year was no exception. I was

overwhelmed with how many blessings we'd been given since last year. Last Christmas Eve,

I was celebrating Lillie's very first Christmas, and this year, she was the big sister. Last year, I was so wishing Zoe was with us, and this year, she sat laughing and playing with

her co

usins, already fully a part of our family. Last year, I had no idea that I would be

cradling another sweet baby in my arms, and this year, I celebrated the birth of my Savior with sweet Lucie in my arms. And the Christmas Eve service is only the beginning of what turns out to be one of our latest and hardest-working nights of the year, all to get ready for...

Christmas Morning - Again, the difference of one year was amazing! Santa must

have brought an extra sleigh to bring all the gifts to Patti-Grams and Tato this year! Jesus had a birthday, but Sophie, Zoe, Will,

Lillie, and Lucie got the gifts! There was too much excitement and too many presents to name them all, but Santa brought a few extra special presents. For Sophie, there was an Egyptian playmobil set, for Zoe, a Loving Family dollhouse and family, for Will, a Cars 2 World Grand Prix set,

and for Lillie, presents galore including a special Minnie

Mouse playset. Lucie hadn't put in any special requests, but even she got a gigantic pink teddy bear! Patti-Grams and Tato gave the kiddos special gifts as well, with Sophie getting a Playmobil dream castle, Zoe, a trunk full of costumes, Will, a train desk, Lillie, a piano, and Lucie, a beautiful blanket and pillow. We had a great breakfast, a truly amazing lunch, a much-needed rest, and then a special birthday party for Jesus, complete with Tato reading the Christmas story. We had so much excitement packed into 24 hours, the adults could have slept for the next 24 hours. If only the kiddos had felt the same way!

Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year, and this year was such a special one. I know these are the years that our children will remember when they think back on their "childhood Christmases," and I am so thankful for the memories they are making and for the precious people they are making them with.

A Birthday Lullaby

2012-01-18T03:28:00.015-05:00

My Lillie Pie is turning two tomorrow. This was her lullaby tonight.

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger

And it's so quiet in the world tonight

Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming

So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you everything's funny, you got nothing to regret

I'd give all I have, honey

If you could stay like that

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up,

it could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart

And no one will desert you

Just try to never grow up

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple

Won't let nobody hurt you

Won't let no one break your heart

And even though you want to, please try to never grow up

Some people are born "old souls," - but not my Lillie. She is young, not just because she's two, she's young at heart, beautiful and charming, winsome and hopeful, full of joy and wonder. I am so, so lucky to be her mama. Happy birthday Lillie! And even though I want you to grow to be a mature woman of God, I pray that you retain your beauty and charm, your winsome ways and your hopeful heart. May you never lose your joy and wonder. And in those ways, I pray, you don't ever quite grow up. I love you as big as the sky!

*Never Grow Up lyrics by Taylor Swift

Holiday Recap: Thanksgiving 2011

2012-01-17T00:18:00.008-05:00

Since Lucie decided to be our Thanksgiving turkey instead of our Halloween pumpkin, the holidays kind of snuck up on me a little! We didn't get around to reading all of my Thanksgiving favorites, but we did manage to make our hand print turkeys and at least read the Thanksgiving

story! But even with our two-week old turkey, we had a very special Thanksgiving, celebrating Lucie and Zoe's very first Thanksgivings!

Highlights of this Thanksgiving were:

Sophie's Thanksgiving feast at FCA - We are just crazy about Sophie's school, and I am so thankful that even though part of schooling is at home, that she is able to experience more traditional "school" experiences like a Thanksgiving feast. She was an adorable pilgrim, and apparently the feast (prepared by the kids) was pretty good because Will couldn't get enough "friendship soup!" We brought two little native

Americans of our own, not to mention an adorable pilgrim baby!

The kids' Thanksgiving skit at Patti-Grams and Tato's (This was our first go at this, but a tradition we definitely want to continue). Sophie was a Puritan,

Zoe and Will were native Americans, and Lillie was a turkey! They were hilarious!

Zoe being able to eat Thanksgiving turkey! Since she had been on a mostly liquid (with only very soft foods) diet since her surgery, Zoe will getting super hungry! I couldn't stand the thought of her not tasting turkey on her first Thanksgiving. We were so thankful that she was cleared to eat a just a little, so she was able to enjoy her first Thanksgiving feast!

Our midnight run to Target with the four big kids all home with Tato! (Another tradition, I think should continue!) I have no photos of this one, but let's just say when we finally returned in the wee hours of the morning, all three of the big girls were in bed with Tato and I don't think a whole lot of sleeping had gone on!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, with oh-so-much to be thankful for this year! Patti-Grams and Tato's house was messy and loud, full of crafts and crumbs and the sounds of laughing and crying at nearly all hours of the day. But we were thankful to be all together, with two more added to our number and blessings overflowing. At the end of the long weekend, we were full of great food and memories, and we were ready to start the celebrating the Christmas season.

Our tired little turkey!

Snapshots: January

2012-01-15T01:23:00.000-05:00

In an attempt to blog a little more this year, but also realizing that I will be even less capable of coherent thought than I've been thus far, I want to take some "snapshots" of who the kids are and how they are changing throughout the year. Even though this is a crazy-busy time of our lives, there are times when I look at my four and wish (even if just for a moment) that I could freeze time and keep them at exactly the stage they are now.

Truth be told, I want them to keep growing and changing, and I wouldn't survive it anyway if Lillie was a toddler forever, but I do want to remember this stage of life. (And I have a sneaking suspicion, that I may wind up a bit fuzzy on the years 2010-2012!) So, in addition to taking way too many pictures, these are my "snapshots" of Sophie, Will, Lillie, and Lucie.

Sophie: I am learning so much about Soph right now. Always my child who, like the little girl with a "little curl, right in the middle of her forehead," is very, very good or...not so good, she and I have definitely had a rocky patch in the past few months. Because she is our first, she's always the one that enters a stage, we figure out a strategy, and then she enters a different stage. She is also my most intuitive child, and I know she has felt and responded to a lot of the stress that our family has been under this year. Anyway, I have definitely needed to take a step back from how we are relating to and disciplining her. By praying through some things and reading some great books, I am learning lots about my firstborn (and actually a little about myself as well.)

Sophie is a definite dreamer. She is artistic and intense, and she sees the world through

the lens of creativity. When she colors, she mumbles/talks to herself the entire time is coloring.

Once, I asked her what she was saying while she colors, and she told me that she makes up stories about what she is coloring. She loves art and is enjoying her art lessons. She is incredibly messy, and selectively forgetful. She also loves to write and illustrate her own stories. She is still an avid reader, and though she reads about as well as I do, I am making a priority to read to her every day as I know that is something that she truly loves and a great way for us to connect. I make my biggest mistakes as a mom with Sophie, but I love her fiercely, and I am committed to learning from my mistakes and loving her well. The main thing I'm learning in parenting Sophie is to strive to be a good example of how to handle my emotions and to admit my mistakes when I fail.

Will: Will has come into his own this year. He is usually my guy who doesn't handle change well, and we've had another year of big changes, but my big buddy has really matured. My instinct is that his preschool teacher has provided him with a lot of structure that has helped him deal with some of the other big changes. He loves our new house and his new room, and he is adorably confident in his role as big brother this time

around! Will loves to know the rules, to follow them, and to ensure that everyone else follow them! He can't stand to be wrong or to have to apologize. Once he finally come terms with having made a mistake,

manages to force out an, "I'm sorry," the person he's apologizing to better be quick to say, "I forgive you" because those are the rules! Though he does struggle with perfectionism, Will has a heart that longs to be strong and true. He wants to be a "good guy," and I can't wait to see how the Lord uses his desire to be "good" to grow him into a man of godly character.

He lives and breathes for cars and racing, he loves to say "bathroom words," and he still uses head-butting as his primary form of

communicating both love and frustration! He loves playing cars, and because of him, I know the name of more vehicles than I ever dreamed possible. Will has recently discovered Mario Kart, a racing game on Wii that he loves to play with Matt, and this has only increased his love of cars and racing. I am basically putty in his hands, and after a trip to the grocery store where I had agreed to a $4 car, and we came home with a $20 spyplane, Matt and I agreed that I can't take Will to the grocery store anymore! I am always learning with Will, but I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a mama to my son. The main thing I'm learning in parenting Will is to battle my own perfectionism so that he might learn to strive for excellence rather than perfection.

Lillie: Oh, my goodness, our little Lillie. What she lacks in stature, she makes up for in spunk! We've decided she is part beautiful fairy, part naughty elf. If I forget Will is still three because he is the size of a five year old, I forget Lillie is not quite two because she carries on conversation more like a three year old! She is crazy verbal, amazing at the alphabet, and wonderful at counting. The most amazing thing about Lillie, however, is how relational she is and how she uses her personality to get exactly what she wants. Where Sophie and Will would exert their will to try and get their way, Lillie uses her charms and manipulates her way to what she wants. Matt is already praying about Lillie as a teenager!

Lillie is also very different from her older siblings in that she gets in to everything! She

is a total plunderer! Every bag, drawer, and cabinet I have has been emptied with its contents thoroughly examined! Her latest feat was getting bright pink lipstick all over our white bedroom carpet! And just today, she came out with toothpaste all over her hands, pointing her finger at me, saying "Stop, I made a mess. I clean up my whole big mess!" And to top it off, she has no fear! The higher, the faster, the wilder, the better! My little fairy is very different from her big brother and sister, and she is definitely keeping me on my toes, but along with lots of scares and messes, she brings incredible love to our family. Though the day can bring lots of surprises with Lillie, I can always count on waking up to "I wanna snuggle mama," with lots of sweet kisses and cuddles, and I know our day together will end with Lillie charming me into extra books then singing along on her lullabies. I'm amazed daily that I have a child as sweet and gentle as my little Lillie. The main thing I'm learning as I parent Lillie is how contagious attitude is. As Sophie recently told Lillie, "you can make a bad day, better," I'm learning as a parent Lillie that having a "merry heart" really is amazing medicine for the soul. I want to bring relief in stressful situations through my attitude as Lillie does for our family.

Lucie: What a good-natured, laid-back baby we have! Our Lulu is so very relaxed, can sleep through most anything, and is busy smiling, cooing, and trying to laugh! The only "milestone" I had a question about at her two month check up was "startles at loud sounds." I told our pediatrician, I've seen her startle a couple of times, but it takes quite a loud sound! It is funny, though, that Lucie is most alert and engaged later at night after her siblings are in bed! She doesn't worry about getting one-on-one time with mama, she just gets up after the crew has turned in! Or it may be that she can only relax enough to "talk" when she is not being so well loved on by her two surrogate

mamas and her big protector. There is no shortage of love and attention for this baby. I have no idea what Lu's personality will turn out to be, but I am so grateful that she been such a delightful baby. The main thing I'm learning and trying to remember in parenting Lucie is to treasure each and every moment. She is making that lesson a joy to learn.

Bama Baby

2012-01-14T23:44:00.005-05:00

Well, it just so happened that the national championship game and Lulu's two-month check up (and very first immunizations) fell on the same day. I'm pretty sure it was due to the shots, but right before kick off, Lucie got angrier than I've ever seen her. It was the first time we haven't been able to comfort her within a minute or so. We even walked her outside! I told Matt that if Bama was half as mad about losing to LSU as Lu was about her shots, that they were going to kill LSU! Apparently, they were just as mad because LSU was only allowed to cross the midfield once, and the final score was 21-0!

This Bama baby settled down just before kickoff and slept through most of the game, but when she finally woke up, she felt much better and had two very happy parents! Overall, Lulu's first national championship was a huge success, and we hope she has many more like that one in her future!

We Love Lucie: Two Months

2012-01-14T23:11:00.008-05:00

Sweet baby Lulu is two months old, and she has done some major growing! She's weighing in at 13 pounds, 10 ounces, and she is 24 inches long! She is in the 95% for weight and the 98% for height! She is just behind her big brother who was 14 pounds and 24 1/2 inches at his two month visit! Our wonderful pediatrician said she looks like a perfectly healthy four month old!

She took her immunizations like a champ, crying a little, then calming right down. Just before the Alabama-LSU game, she had her first major fussy period, which I think probably had something to do with the shot. She slept after a good cry, but would wake with a cry and then fall right back to sleep. By late that night, she was back to her normal, even-tempered self.

Lucie is obviously a champion nurser, but she is also a great sleeper. She sleeps like a champ during the day and then comes alive when her siblings go to bed. She is determined to get her one-on-one time with mama! We are enjoying her smiles and coos, and I especially love when she tries to sing along with me. She loves when I sing a song I made up for her.

My little Lulu,

Your eyes are blue, blue

I love you true, true

My little Lulu

How I love you, you

Oh, yes I do, do

My little Lu

She kicks and coos and tries to sing with me! She hasn't had her first real laugh, but she is definitely trying! We are so enjoying getting to know sweet Lucie, and we are so thankful she has joined our family!

Very Last First Time

2011-12-03T23:29:00.007-05:00

I have always loved babies. I don't remember a time when I wasn't playing with dolls dreaming about being a mom. I picked out names from the time I was a preschooler myself. I can honestly say that having children has always been one of the greatest desires of my heart.

And even though we've just had our fourth, and I'm certainly waaaay more relaxed (maybe a little too

relaxed) about welcoming a new little one, I can also say that there is still something completely magical about a new baby.

As I think about the way we've welcomed our children, I love that each one has been so special for a different reason. With Sophie, everything was brand new. She was the typical doted on first born. I saved the bandaid from her first immunization, and I probably took pictures of her first diapers. It was utterly ridiculous. I rocked her and stared at her for hours on end. With Will, he was our first boy, and not only Matt's and my first boy, but the first boy in our family in generations. And though I didn't know it at first, I totally fell head over heels with being a boy's mom, and went baby crazy in a whole new way - baby boy style. I stared in wonder at my son, and as I've stared, I've watched him transform from a baby to a boy right before my eyes. Then along came Miss Lillie, and I really thought she was probably our last baby, so I treasured every moment with her. We also found out that Dad had cancer when she was two weeks old, so our whole family had a special awareness of how precious each day was. I was intentional as I stared at Lillie and clung to the hope that her life represented.

And now, once again, I am cradling a sweet baby. One more blessing that the Lord has given me as an answer to one of the greatest desires of my heart. I feel quite sure that Miss Lucie is the last baby the Lord will bless our family with, and in her three short weeks, I have realized time

and time again that I am experiencing the very last "firsts"

of many kinds. We've had our last coming home from the hospital. Our

last first night home. Our last first trip to the doctor. Our last first bath. Our last first Thanksgiving, and pretty soon, our last first Christmas.

Though another baby was a great surprise to us, I couldn't be more thankful that I am experiencing these last firsts one more time. And while it can be difficult to make the "fourth" first time as exciting as the first, in my heart, I am treasuring each last first. I am stopping to stare long at my baby girl. This time around as I stare, I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I see her as the answer to the deep cries of my heart. While Lucie definitely has to share me, my time, and my lap more than any of her siblings did as a baby, she has my undivided love as much as Sophie, Will, and Lillie.

And as I fall more and more in love with my precious baby, I am cherishing these moments that I have the wisdom to know are quickly fleeting. I'm not worried about

when she'll roll over, crawl, sleep through the night or walk. It will all come too quickly. And though the days with four little ones can be overwhelming to me, I am working hard to remember that while many things remain undone, I will take the time each day to stare at my baby and thank my God for allowing me to experience the very last first time.

We Love Lucie!

2011-11-22T17:23:00.009-05:00

Well, Miss Lucie White Roden finally exerted enough energy to get around to meeting her family! After being told I was dilated to four on October 18 and to expect her "any day," by Halloween, I was briefed on what to do if she was born in the car! By November 7, I was dilated to six, and even my conservative midwives began to talk about induction! In fact, one of my favorite midwives wouldn't give me the "recipe" for the labor-inducing concoction because she felt sure I would never arrive at the hospital in time! So, after having contractions for most of the day on Tuesday, I went back to the midwife so they could monitor me, and I only had two contractions the entire time I was there! They did agree to induce me early Wednesday morning, but with the warning that if I went into labor that night, to make haste to the hospital!

With visions of Will's labor dancing in my head, I quickly made arrangements for a hotel at the

Vanderbilt Loew's (thanks, only to Uncle Brad for the great rate and impossible to get room since it was CMA week!) After only three short hours at the hotel, one great dinner with Patti-Grams and Aunt Hope at J. Alexander's, and the shortest bath ever, I knew I would not be spending the night at the Loews!

With the assistance of the most amazing nurses I've ever had, a fabulous midwife, Melissa, and

Aunt Hope, Patti-Grams, Aunt Tori, Aunt Ashley, and of course, Daddy, we had a virtual labor party, with my water breaking on its own and no induction necessary, in order to welcome Lucie White Roden into the world at 2:38 a.m. on the morning of November 9! She weighed in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long, bigger than all her siblings, except Will! Of course, she decided to cook at least 10 days longer than Sophie, and two full weeks longer than Lillie! She even outlasted Will by several days!

And her laid-back attitude about joining us seems to be a mark of her personality so far! She is by far the most easy-going, contented baby we've had. She rarely cries, and bless her heart, when she does, she gives it very little effort. She pretty much snuggles and snacks, snacks and snuggles, 24 hours a day. I do think she has her days and nights more mixed up than any of her siblings, and Sophie says it is because she was born in the middle of the night! She's so laid-back that even when she's awake at night, she isn't any trouble, she just wants to hang out a bit.

Sophie, Will, and Lillie are all three crazy about her, and it is amazing to watch their individual

relationships beginning to form. Sophie is truly like a second mother, and she begs to hold and care for her throughout the day. She has held her for hours on end, and has even changed dirty diapers! Will has much more confidence as a big brother this second time around. He loves on Lucie and lavishes her with compliments. He holds her with confidence and tries to protect her

from her third mama, Miss Lillie! Lillie has overnight transitioned from baby to mama. She is crazy about Lucie, but interestingly will not refer to her as anything but "the baby." All day long, it's, "I want to see the baby. I want to hold the baby. I want to love the baby." All so sweet, but a little scary as well! She is really as gentle as a 22-month old could possibly be, but I do believe the transition has been toughest on her. There is also lots of "I want to hold you,

mama" and more "where's Daddy?" than before Lucie's arrival. Overall though, I couldn't ask for the kids to be more loving or accepting of a new baby. With each addition, I have been amazed and thankful for my kids' capacity to love another child.

For now, we don't know too much about Lucie other than she looks like all our other kids, she has an easy-going demeanor, and she is never in a hurry! When our photographer was here photographing her at six days old, she commented that Lucie was the best newborn she had ever shot! Lucie snoozed as we did outfit changes, position changes, and diaper changes! After being naked for at least a half hour, she waited until her diaper was back under to go pee-pee! A photoshoot-cooperative Roden newborn has to this point been a total oxymoron, so we were shocked to say the least!

As ready as I was to meet her, no doubt the Lord knew what

He was doing in a giving us a fourth child who isn't in a hurry. I am enjoying each moment with my peaceful baby, and yet, I am excited about each day that she grows as I get to know a little more about who she is and how she fits in the dynamic of our family. Of all that we still don't know about her, we are very sure that we all love our precious Lucie!

Wonder Girl

2011-11-06T01:18:00.007-04:00

Though Zoe has only been here for six months, it is hard to remember life without her. She is such an important part of all of lives, and we are amazed by how much and how deeply we love her in such a short period of time. We wonder exactly how this little girl from thousands of miles away has worked her way so quickly straight into the center of our hearts.

To say that Zoe is a lot like her mama is quite the understatement, and that makes me

love her all the more deeply. I can't imagine that Tori could have given birth to a child any more like her. Both of these girls are crazy competitive, sharp as tacks, full of mischief, and overflowing with love. Not to mention that both of them will laugh their tales off if they happen to see you fall! They are quite

a pair, and I wonder as I watch them that even though Tori didn't give birth to Zoe, they are as much mother and daughter as any two could be.

And I'd love to report about all the amazing things Zoe has learned to say in six short months, but in truth, there is no way to report those things because there is absolutely nothing she can't and doesn't say! I'm amazed when I talk with her or when I watch her interacting with the other kids, and I realize that six short months ago, her life was so very different. And as I watch her experience and process so many firsts - first time in her room, first trip to the zoo, first birthday party, first time on the beach, first day of school, and so many more, savoring every moment of experience, I can't help but feel a sense of wonder at all the ways she is learning and growing.

In a truly strange turn of events that had Zoe receive a chest x-ray just to double check

about a cough she had very intermittently, doctors discovered that Zoe had paraesophegial hiatal hernia, which means in very simplified terms that her stomach was in her lungs! Most children born with this condition don't live more than 10 days. And those who do have horrific symptoms. Zoe, having lived the vast majority of her life in a third world country, was not even diagnosed until the age of four, at which point she was completely symptomless. A complete wonder.

So, much to our surprise and really confusion, doctors at Vanderbilt informed Tori and Derek that a seemingly-healthy Zoe would need to undergo a seven hour surgery that would likely involve cutting her open, and possibly even involve cracking her chest. So, our seemingly healthy, energetic, happy girl needed major surgery that was likely to leave her feeling worse (at least in the short run) than she felt before. It could not have made less sense. I told Tori it was the exact opposite of what many parents face when they know something is wrong with their child, but can't get anyone to tell them what. It was the feeling of being convinced your child is totally fine, but not be able to get a clean bill of health, and worse, being told she would need to undergo major surgery. And we were all left to wonder how and why this was happening.

But despite the frustration and fear, Tori and Derek totally rose to the occasion and prepared themselves and Zoe for the big day, and in true "White-family style," even managed to make surgery exciting with presents, movies, and ice cream. And on Thursday, October 27, at 9:45 a.m., Zoe's surgery began. And

though the surgery did in fact take seven hours, Zoe's amazing surgeon, Dr. Rauth, was able to perform it laporascopically, and though he prepared them for at least a five day stay, Zoe was discharged less than 48 hours post-op! By Saturday at lunchtime, Zoe was home and ready to play, with her only complaint being that everyone else was eating solid food and she couldn't.The symptomless wonder girl recovered without any of the possible complications we had been warned about!

And though she should have been still been in the hospital, she trick-or-treated her little heart out on her first Halloween. And at 10 days post-op, the lack of

solid food remains her only complaint. She hasn't complained of any pain, she hasn't wretched or vomited, she hasn't even acted more tired or sluggish. And though now I'm left wondering how to grind up turkey so she can have an authentic first Thanksgiving, in light of what we could be dealing with, soft food is a manageable problem. Truly, Zoe is an unstoppable force of nature. A strong survivor. Our wonder girl!

We thank God that He has and continues to have His hand upon Zoe's life. And that He set about to see her healed when we didn't even know she need it. Truly, He has shown Himself to be wonder-ful through His work in her life.

My Little Lillie at 21 Months

2011-11-06T00:10:00.007-04:00

I know there are only so many ways to say that a baby is sweet without sounding trite, but if you know Lillie you realize that there is an unbelievable kindness, gentleness, tenderness about her that is unmistakable. Especially when you consider that she is my child. Sophie and Will are amazing kids, but they both have heavy doses of their mama's personality, and run a little light on sweetness. Lillie is the child who wakes me up with kisses in the morning and sings her own lullabies with me at night. I honestly can't imagine what I ever did to deserve her. Matt must have done something. At any rate, Lillie radiates joy.

Though my joyful girl isn't without a will of her own. Lillie

knows exactly what she wants even though she is kind about expressing it. She is probably sneakier than either of her siblings, and because she is so charming, she gets by with a fair amount of mischief! She definitely plunders more than Sophie or Will ever did, and I can't count how many times my cabinets and drawers have been unloaded by her. And she isn't afraid to use her big baby blues to try and get her way either. Just this weekend, she saw that Patti-Grams was trying to take the remote control from her, and she pointed to a football game on tv and said, "Oh, look! The ball!" hoping that she could distract mom and make off with the remote!

And there is virtually nothing she can't say. One evening while I was rocking her, she looked up at me and said, "I love you with all my heart!" Her repertoire of songs is unreal, and we still mistake her voice for Sophie's in the car because we can't believe she could possibly be singing verses to songs! Her ABC's have been perfect for a long time, and she actually likes to quiz others in our family to be sure we know ours! She counts to at least 14, and recognizes many of her letters. She still loves to sing Jesus Loves Me, You Are My Sunshine, Twinkle Twinkle, and Whole World, but she has also branched out to the theme song of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,

the Hot Dog song, Jesus Loves the Little Children, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and a whole slew of worship songs off Sophie and Will's car cds. Her cutest number in the past couple of weeks is "Shake You Booty, Shake You Booty, Get Down Tonight, Get Down Tonight," complete with precious booty shaking!

Though she loves Sophie and Will dearly, she will also rat them out with a drop of a hat, with "Will pinch me," or "Sophie's crying!" She tells them to "stop it right now," whenever she's had enough or tells them, "hum on, hold my

hand" when she wants a dance partner! She especially loves to dance with Zoe, and they still share a bond over a love of baby dolls. She and Will are beginning to play well together (especially when Sophie is at school), and because of Will, Lillie

can take a hit like nothing you've ever seen. Sophie continues to be great with Lillie, and they love dancing together and playing tickle. We've tried to tell her a little about Lucie, but I'm not convinced she's going to be all that thrilled about a new baby once she realizes the baby will be staying with us forever! She's pretty comfortable in her role as baby of the family, and she's still very attached to me. I predict a period of adjustment, but I'm hopeful that in the end, Lillie's gentleness and loving heart will help her grow into a great big sister.

Lillie melts the hearts of everyone in the family. She is really loving her daddy these days, and

she's always super-excited when he comes home from work. Needless to say, Matt is putty in her hands. She has been a huge fan of Patti-Grams and Aunt Tori for a while, but she is also starting to specifically ask for Hopey! I think she recognizes a kindred spirit in Hope. She talks about Tato incessantly, especially when he isn't around, but her true love is probably Uncle

Derek, whom she calls "Dekkick." Lillie has always loved Derek, and it is so funny to watch her light up whenever she sees him! As far as loves a little closer to her age, she is a big fan of Jack, and she has all but ruined our baseball picture of him by carrying it around and giving it lots of kisses!

I continue to be incredibly grateful for the gift of parenting Lillie. She infuses joy into our daily lives like nothing I've ever experienced. As we get ready to welcome yet another personality into our family, my overwhelming love for Lillie is a great reminder of how quickly our children become an integral part of our family, one that we can't imagine we ever lived without. And though I know in my head that we've only had the joy of knowing Lillie for less than two years, my heart can't remember life without her.

Back to School

2011-11-05T00:07:00.010-04:00

All three of our kiddos experienced a sort of first day of school this year! We celebrated Sophie's first day of second grade at her new school, Foundations Christian Academy. Will celebrated his first day back-to-preschool, which is even more exciting because he and Zoe are in class together. And even Lillie got in on the first day action, with her first day of "school" (going one morning a week to childcare with Zoe)!

The schedule has worked out great, with Sophie in school on Mondays and Fridays (something we thought we wouldn't like, but is actually working well), Will is in school on Tuesdays and

Thursdays, and Lillie goes on Wednesdays. It has been great for me because by only having two home for at least a big chunk of any given day, I have a little more to give to whoever is home. Now, we'll have to see how all that goes once Miss Lucie arrives!

Sophie's teacher, Mrs. Griswold, could not be any more perfect for her. They are truly kindred spirits. Sophie truly loves each day at FCA, and my only complaint is that they don't meet three days a week! Mrs. Griswold is an artist and has taught Soph so much science (my weakest area) through art that I feel like Soph is developing a genuine interest in science. Mrs. G

is also a great history teacher, and even though Sophie is studying the ancient time period for the third time (once when she was in preschool, one in first grade, and now again), she still says she loves history! Sophie actually switches classes for language arts, and her other teacher, Mrs. Rudder has also been wonderful. She had a great beginning to the school year with me at home. Though we had a very rough patch right around the time of our move, she seems to be getting back on track with the help of a some positive reinforcement vs. me just dolling out punishments. Overall, I couldn't be more pleased with all she is learning, and I am so very thankful to have found a place like Foundations to provide us with a framework for the rest of our schooling.

Will also has the perfect teacher for him. Ms. Kathy is a total pro, and I knew the moment I walked into her open house that she would provide my kid who loves structure with a safe place to learn and grow. I have not been disappointment. Even when Will got in trouble for

disobeying (his only real trouble except for the time he flattened a kid who had hit him last year), Ms. Kathy handled my sensitive boy with the firm, but loving discipline I want to

demonstrate, but so often fail to administer. Just yesterday, Will came running out of the bathroom, hugged me around the legs, and said, "I love Ms. Kathy!" When I asked him what he loved most about her, he said, "I love her love." I'm so glad Will is spending two days a week with someone he would say that about, and as a huge added bonus, he is also spending those days with his cousin and best buddy, Zoe! There relationship continues to grow, and even though they can still fight like cats and dogs, it is interesting to watch how they deeply they love each other and depend on each other, and how their bond has been strengthened by going to school together.

Miss Lillie is also getting to spend some time with Zoe at what Sophie calls "little school." Ms. Michelle is a friend of ours and also happens to be our amazing "cake lady," but has made herself most dear to us by loving and caring first for Zoe, and now also for Lillie so well. Ms. Michelle takes care of Zoe on Mondays and Wednesdays in Spring Hill and Lillie is enjoying spending time with them on Wednesdays. Also in her "class" are three adorable triplet boys, just a few months older than Lillie, and I'm pretty sure Lillie has found a boyfriend out of the

deal! It's all good because the boys' parents are huge Alabama fans, so we are fine if she winds up with any of the three! Ms. Michelle truly enjoys the children and she always incorporates learning, music, and some kind of craft in her time with them. I wasn't sure about Lillie being away from me before she was two, but she really seems to enjoy her time especially with Zoe, and it is amazing how much I can get done with Sophie and Will in the four or five hours she is at "little school!" I will say though that hers is one smile we are always ready to see when we pick her up on Wednesday afternoons!

Other than our crazy school schedule, (which has me packing a lunch five days a week even though I never have fewer than two kids home with me), Sophie is in dance on Tuesday afternoons and art on Thursday afternoons. She really doesn't love dance, and this may be her last year of it, but she is truly flourishing in her art class. We laugh that when she walks into the studio, it is like she is "home." Her teachers seem to love her and praise her creativity. I, of course, know next to nothing about any of it, but Matt is very impressed with the school and the work Sophie is doing. I was impressed when I first met the staff and they kept reiterating, "the interest is the gift." Sophie definitely has the interest, so we are trying to nourish that gift in her.

Will wasn't quite old enough for basketball, so he isn't doing an extra-curricular this year, though he is attending three year old children's choir. He has fun every time he goes, but my homebody, tries each week to get out of going! Lillie isn't in any sort of class yet, though we know that she needs to be in a music and/or dance class as soon as possible. She is definitely the most musical of our three, and they are all pretty musical! I can't wait to watch her love of singing and dancing grow.

We are so thankful that all three kids are "back to school" in situations that are so tailor-made for them. The framework of routine that school provides has helped them through a chaotic month of moving (for the third time in 16 months) and waiting for another baby. And though we know routines are about to be disrupted for a while with a new baby, Thanksgiving, and the Christmas season, we are know that come January, we'll head "back to school" and hopefully, back to some sense of routine once again!

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-01T22:54:00.008-04:00

Baby Lucie still hasn't joined us, but that didn't stop four little trick-or-treaters from having a blast on Halloween! Ariel, Lightening McQueen, Princess Tiana, and the cutest little flower you ever saw walked all over the neighborhood, faithfully chiming "trick-or-treat" followed by "thank yous" that were music to the mamas and daddies ears!

We had our annual pumpkin-carving fun the night before, and Matt and Derek really outdid themselves! Unfortunately, there was a run on pumpkins, so the adults weren't able to carve, but everyone knew that I would have won the contest anyway! As it was, Zoe's first pumpkin, a joint effort between Derek and Matt stole the show this year! (Although, Will absolutely could not have been happier with his Lightening McQueen! He doesn't get that excited that often, but boy, when he does, it really melts your heart!) Even little Lucie had a pumpkin, but that girl is on her own if she isn't here by Thanksgiving!

Summer 2011

2011-08-16T17:01:00.017-04:00

As school begins next week, and I think about the summer, I'm amazed by all the kids have gotten to do. I'm even more amazed by how much I've not blogged about all they've done. This has been a rough pregnancy, and I haven't been able to keep up with the events as they've happened, but I want to be sure to remember all the fun memories we've made during this long, hot summer!

Summer Highlights

Finishing up ballet and Sophie's dance

recital - Sophie was a "confused chicken" in the ballet! It was the perfect part for her, and she did a great job!

Will's first season of t-ball! - I could not have been a

more proud mom as my big #6 took the field

for the first

time this year. It took Will a good while to get the hang of batting. (We kept telling him to hit the ball like he hits Sophie!) And he got a little better at fielding once the cicadas went away! By the end of the season, Will was getting the hang of it, and we look forward to more seasons with our little "slugger!"

VBS at TPC Spring Hill - the theme was Big Apple Adventure, and the kids all had a ball. This was Lillie's first year, (not to mention Zoe's), and the first-timers couldn't have had more fun! I'm so thankful for all the hard work Derek, Cissy, Meredith, and the amazing volunteers at TPC Spring Hill put in to make VBS such an important week in the lives of our kids!

Our ultrasound to find out we have a Lucie rather than a Charlie! Almost all of us were all smiles (with one notable exception in Big Will) as we celebrated the gift of another healthy baby girl! After our very crowded ultrasound, we celebrated over pizza at one of our favorite new restaurants, Bella Napoli!

Cars 2 premiere - Will dreamed of this day for nearly a year. We waited and counted down like we were waiting on Christmas! Finally, his big day arrived, he suited up, and enjoyed every second of the sequel of his favorite movie!

Zoe's Sip and See - The theme of Zoe's shower was one of our families very favorite lullabies, You Are My Sunshine, or according to Zoe, You're My Son Johnny! We celebrated our little sunshine with lots of yellow (her favorite color), a delicious breakfast, and of course, her favorite part, a candy bar!

Princess and Warrior Camp - Sophie looks forward to Royal Purpose Ministries', Princess Prep School every year, and this year did not disappoint! It was Will's first year to attend Warrior Prince Academy, and he was so excited about being able to go that he potty-trained in order to qualify to go! I am so thankful for this ministry and the amazing seeds they have planted in the lives of my children.

Sophie's Rapunzel party and 7th birthday celebration - Aunt Tori and Uncle Derek pulled off

yet another amazing birthday party, as we opened the "Snuggly Duckling"

cafe, and in honor of Rapunzel, painted the "walls" of our fence. Rapunzel (looking a little like Aunt

Hope) stopped by, and the kids even chased after

Flynn Rider! I've never seen Sophie happier, and then we

continued the celebration on her actual birthday with a day of swimming with her best buddy Jack, a picnic, and dinner at her favorite, Logans!

4th of July - We had a low-key, but very fun time celebrating Zoe's first 4th of July! Everyone actually stayed awake for fireworks, though Zoe would have preferred if they had been silent. We grilled out at Patti-Grams and Tatos, visited with friends, and watched the kids have a ball playing!

Two weeks at the beach (Navarre and Perdido) -

We loved seeing Zoe's first time feeling the

the sand and seeing the ocean! The kids got plenty of beach time the first week, and lots of pool time the second

week. Lillie isn't sure she's a beach fan (her fair skin and the sun don't necessarily mix well), but Sophie, Will, and Zoe were three little fishes! The

kids took two trips to see the Blue Angels,

and we spent one full day exploring the Naval Aviation Museum. All that plus, Will's first crab hunting adventure made for some worn out kiddos!

Zoe's 4th birthday (at the beach) and later her Mary Poppins party! - We celebrated Zoe' fourth birthday (her first in America) at the beach with a

day of swimming, followed by a fun dinner at Lulu's, topped off with a trip to Build A Bear! After we came home from the beach, we celebrated more at Zoe's practically perfect Mary Poppins birthday party! I forgot my camera, but I took tons of pictures with

Tori's, so I will definitely get them from her to show off how amazing the party was!

Will's 1st Titans game - We may have

ruined Will forever because his very first Titans game (a big thanks to Uncle Brad and Aunt Ashley) was in a humongous suite, complete with the most amazing view of the field, a delicious full

dinner spread, a suite attendant, and two of his best buddies! I'm afraid it's all downhill for Big Will as far as sporting events go! Even so, his first Titans game is certainly a night he won't soon forget!

Needless to say, our summer has been full! I am looking forward to getting back into more of a "school days" rhythm. And as I waddle through these last days of summer, I am really looking forward to the cooler days of fall. But once again, I find myself thankful for all the memories we've made and fun we've shared.

Lillie at 18 Months

2011-08-12T11:19:00.008-04:00

I feel like whenever I write about Lillie I am constantly using words like sweet, precious, and darling. It sounds so cheesy, but if you know her at all, you know that there is something about
her nature that is so special. Now, before I paint a picture of an absolute cherub, I should mention when necessary, our little lamb can be quite the

lioness! About a month ago, I took her to the doctor determined that she had an ear infection or that something was wrong with my sweet girl. Lillie was being unusually fussy, but she also had begun screaming whenever she wanted anything and sometimes apparently just for fun. Really, more than a scream, it was like a high-pitched screech, like what I imagine a prehistoric bird might make. Her favorite place to let loose was her highchair, or actually, her most favorite was in the highchair of a crowded restaurant, but she also began screeching if she simply dropped something in the playroom and wanted me to pick it up for her! I was convinced something was terribly wrong as my child's personality had seemingly changed overnight. After a thorough examination, my wonderful doctor, half-apologetically gave Lillie a clean bill of health and welcomed me to toddlerhood and temper tantrums! I believe my third-born learned from her siblings that the squeaky, or in this case, the screechy wheel gets the grease!

After a few weeks of readjusting, the screech has died waaaay down, and I'm sure not coincidentally, been replaced by a good hundred words or so! It's kind of like she was just
warming her voice up, getting ready to blow us away by all
she's learned. There's no way to list all that she says, but I'm most blown away by all that she sings! When my doctor was asking at her 18 month check up about her language, I assured her that Lillie was talking well, but of course, a typical Roden child, she wouldn't perform. As the doctor and I talked on, Lillie began singing her ABC's! Dr. Myers was amazed, and even went into the hall and told several of the nurses about the 18 month old singing her ABC's nearly perfectly!

In addition, to ABC's Lillie's favorite songs include, YES, Jesus Loves Me (with the YES sung as loudly and with as much enthusiasm as possible!), You Are My Sunshine, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, and Whose My Pretty Baby. She doesn't have to hear a song many times before she's singing along, and several times, Matt or I have thought Sophie was singing in the car, only to turn the volume down and discover it was Lillie!

The only thing she may enjoy more than singing is dancing! She definitely has her daddy's sense of rhythm and love of dancing, and one of her favorite things is for Matt to give her a beat, so she can practice her moves. She recently discovered the Hokey Pokey, and she begged me to

play the nine-minute song over and over! While most of her moves, seem like a pole should be somewhere close by, I'm hopeful we can take her love of dancing and move it in a positive direction!

She also loves books, and she's begun picking her bedtime books herself. Some of her favorites are Princess Baby, More, More More Said the Baby, Time for Bed, Charlie Parker Played Beebop, and we always end with Prayer for a Child. The other day we gave baths early in the afternoon, and she cried and cried because we didn't go straight to the chair to read after bathtime!

One of the sweetest things about Lillie is how affectionate she is. As soon as she sees the kids in the morning, she says, "I ont kiss!" or "I ont love." She gets so excited each time she sees Zoe, and she can't wait to smooch all over her too! Each night after we read, I rock her to sleep, and sometime before she drifts off, she scoots off my shoulder and reaches up to give me kisses. I'm sure that there have been nights when I was ready for her to go on to sleep, but for the most part, that time with her is one of the most precious parts of my day. It's impossible to spend that quiet half hour with Lillie without feeling like the luckiest woman in the world.

Not only is she affectionate with our family, but she also loves to take care of her babies.

Sophie was never as interested in baby dolls as I was (I think I played with them until 7th grade!), but Lillie seems to have inherited the same love. She strolls her dolls, "feeds" them,

puts them to bed, and she's always sure she has
her angel baby in the crib with her when she goes to sleep. In fact, the only real trouble we have with Lillie and Zoe is that they both want to be the mama of all the babies in the world, and they will fight to the finish over a particular baby doll! I can only imagine the showdown they will have over Lucie! :0

To say that Lillie has her daddy wrapped around her finger is a major understatement. Matt gets her out of her crib most mornings, and I don't know how many times he's come into our room, and said, "I think we may take this one for granted!" She is definitely learning the affect her big blue eyes and sweet smile have on the

menfolk, and based on the way, Matt, Uncle Derek, and Tato fawn over her, I'm afraid we may have trouble on our hands in a few more years! Whereas Sophie and I wouldn't

have the first clue how to flirt, and even less inclination to learn, Lillie already seems to have mastered the art at 18 months!

I wondered how any child would fare coming behind Sophie and Will, but once again, I see that the Lord knows exactly what He is doing. Lillie more than holds her own in our family, and she can accomplish as much through sweetness and smiles as Sophie and Will do through determination and strength! I prayed that Lillie would inherit her Aunt Hope's gentleness, and I'm so thankful that God is answering that prayer. Her smile lights up a room, and her sweetness fills our home with joy. We could not be more thankful for Lillian Hope.

Slow Down: Sophie at Seven

2011-08-05T22:35:00.012-04:00

My favorite job I've ever had was teaching second grade. I always suspected I was born to be a mother, but I didn't know until after college that I was also born to be a teacher. Thankfully, I discovered it in time to have four amazing years at a wonderful school teaching the most precious children from families that became dear to me. I can still name each of my second grade students, and I vividly remember all thirteen of my first class of second graders. Several of them I still know and love today. In just a couple of weeks, my first class of second graders leaves for college. I'm still not quite sure how that is possible.

In that same couple of weeks, my first baby will head to second grade. I'm not sure how that is possible either, but what I'm more concerned about is the fact that all I did was blink my eyes, move a couple of times, change a few hundred diapers, and teach a child to read in the time between that first day of teaching second grade and the time my first class leaves for college. I am afraid that if I blink, move again, keep changing all these diapers, and teach another one to read, that I will be packing Sophie's bags.

My first baby is seven, and I'm okay with that, but I'm not really okay with this going any further. I don't know if it's because we (mostly) homeschool or because I've been very intentional about cherishing the moments, but thus far, I've done pretty well with Sophie growing, changing, hitting milestones, etc. I was not one of the moms crying on the first day of kindergarten (now, she did only leave me two days a week...). I didn't get weepy when she moved into a big girl bed, gave up her pacifier, or even when she learned how to pronounce the word "out" instead of "ourt" (though Matt still tears up over that one!)

For the most part, I've adopted my mom's stance of: I enjoy my children more and more as they grow older, primarily, for me, because I get to know them better. But recently, (and it may

have a little to do with pregnancy hormones, but probably not, since when I am not experiencing those?), I've begun struggling a bit with how quickly she is growing. And though I think it started with the wiggling of the top tooth, I also know that I can perfectly picture each of those thirteen snaggly-toothed kids from PCA, not quite little ones, but certainly not big kids, and today, I can pull up way too many of their pictures on facebook and see what, for all practical purposes, are beautiful/handsome young adults. Oh, my goodness, it feels like someone has cut the brakes!

So, because I want to slow things down a bit, I want to remember, and I want to count my gifts. When it comes to my snaggly-toothed 2nd grader, I have many blessings to count. So, here's what I've been paying attention to, counting seven important gifts about my seven year old:

Sophie is a reader. Not only does Sophie read phenomenally well, but she also reads phenomenally often. We have the rule that as long as she stays in her room, she can read as late as she wants. It is regularly after 11 before she falls asleep with the light on, and after 12 is not at all unheard of. Her current goal is to read every book in our home. I would be fine with that, except that she insists that after she's read the books, they be removed from her room. The rest of the house is quickly running out of room. If you go in any of our three bathrooms, you will find a book, either laying on the bathroom floor or on the back of the commode. She wants to be sure she is able to read at all times. Her favorites are Boxcar Children, Magic Tree House, Junie B. Jones, American Girl, and most recently, The Series of Unfortunate Events. But she'll read most anything put in front of her, recently including, Shakespeare for Children, after which we overheard her asking Zoe if she was familiar with Shakespeare!

Sophie is an artist. Aside from reading, Sophie's other primary reason for getting up in
the morning is to create art. Coloring, painting, using markers, pastels, colored pencils etc. are all on the list of Sophie's favorite ways to spend an afternoon. At her 7th birthday party, in honor of Rapunzel, we painted the "walls" of our fence. I don't think I've ever seen Sophie any happier! We gave her a nice art kit on the morning of her actual birthday, and she lit up like a Christmas tree. It's so funny to me because while I totally understand and relate to her love of books, I can't draw a stick man, nor do I have much inclination to. But her love of art comes naturally to her by way of her dad, and I am learning to appreciate my daughter's desire to create.

Sophie is strong. Her will is remarkable. She is perfectly delightful as long as everything is going her way, but she can absolutely smell weakness, and I better feel strong and courageous whenever I need to tell her no. She has an amazing ability to exert her will on other people, and I must confess to times of letting her have her way because I didn't have the energy to fight her. That is not our family norm, however, and the primary "rule" I use for disciplining Sophie is "pick your battles carefully, but win what you pick." I am thankful that this seems to be getting ever-so-slightly easier as Sophie matures, and particularly as she grows spiritually.

Sophie is growing in wisdom. She has a new, but growing relationship with Jesus. This past year, after several months of thought, she decided to ask Jesus into her heart, and though she is still currently a no-go on baptism, she is growing in wisdom and insight. She faithfully reads her Jesus Calling, and writes a word on her wrist to remind her of the "main thing" to remember for that day. Though I see in her the same stubbornness that I know firsthand requires a painfully long chipping-away process, I know that He who has begun the work in Sophie will be faithful to complete it. And as her parents, Matt and I are anxious to invest in Sophie spiritually as she grows.

Sophie has a child-like heart. Sophie loves to laugh and makes us laugh each day. She has a certain way of seeing the world and an even more dramatic way of expressing her perspective
that keep Matt and I (and many of our facebook friends) smiling. I'm never quite sure what will come out of her mouth, and I feel like I should pin a note on her dress whenever she's at school, church, dance, etc. to the effect of "the views expressed by Sophie do not necessarily represent the views of Matt, Carrie or any member of the Roden or White family."

Sophie loves well. Though she would have made a very comfortable only child, she has continually wanted us to have more children (though we've decided to quit letting her make that decision), and for the most part, she is a loving, helpful big sister. She and Will are getting to the ages of a little more bickering, but even when she's ready to throttle him, she loves her big buddy, and it's not uncommon for me to hear her telling him he's the best boy in the world. She's crazy over Lillie, and I can always count on her to entertain Lillie and be an extra set of hands in taking care of her. She's already thrilled about Lucie, and she has never even once questioned whether or not she will get less time or attention. She dearly loves Zoe, and though she has dealt with some jealousy, I'm proud of how quickly and fully she has embraced her cousin. Now

Soph is far from selfless, and she might prefer to have things revolve around her, but I'm thankful for how freely she showers love on the children in our family.

Sophie longs for adventure. She may be part gypsy. She has a natural love of adventure, as she comes from a long line of world travelers. She didn't blink about getting on a plane and going to Africa, and she tells stories of a monkey stealing fruit from the kitchen there like most people would tell about seeing a bunny in the yard. She's made trips to LA, Chicago, New York, and several trips to Disney, and she's always plotting and planning her next adventure. (She's currently gunning for Patti-Grams to take her to London!) She is actually pretty "go with the flow" when it comes to travel, and I'm proud of her bravery, her flexibility, and her love of new experiences.

So, I cannot make the clock stop. As Sophie reminded me today, she is now "half a teenager." I will blink. We will move. Goodness knows I will change diapers. And, I will teach other little ones to read. And, at some point, I will pack her bags. But until then, I will pay attention. I will give thanks. And in doing so, time will slow.

"Giving thanks for one thousand things is ultimately an invitation to slow down time with the weight of full attention." - From One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp

Signs of Life

2011-06-22T00:00:00.001-04:00

Now it's not for sure, but for the first time in several weeks, I feel like I might live through this pregnancy. (Since this is the fourth time I've done this, I know in my head that I will live through it, but you cannot convince my body of that fact.) Signs from the past week that this pregnancy may not totally end me:

I cooked dinner last night (for the first time in I'll-never-tell-how long), and we actually all ate together at the table! Now, it was no masterpiece, but there were vegetables! I almost felt like a real mom!
I made it to yoga last night. Now, it was Yoga for Relaxation, not my former kick-my-tail yoga class, but seeing as how it has been months since I've exercised, I'm still calling it a win!
I've stayed up past 9:30 most nights this past week! Sophie has outlasted me plenty of nights during this pregnancy, but I've actually seen her sleeping in her bed more often than not in the past week or so!
And, this may be the biggest sign of life so far, Sophie walked down the stairs this morning, and said, "Mama, have we hired a housekeeper?" Far from clean, and even farther from organized, our house (the downstairs at least) no longer looks like a war zone.

Now, I know better than to get cocky. I've told people a couple of times now, "I think the worst is over" only to find myself throwing up into a cup while driving down the road. But even if it is just a break, I am grateful for each day that finds me a little closer to functioning. Another major encouragement is that Miss Lucie is fluttering away! I was able to feel her moving just a couple of days before the ultrasound. It always makes the pregnancy seem more real, and the sickness feel more purposeful to feel that most precious sign of life.

It's a Girl-Brother!

2011-06-21T23:24:00.005-04:00

Well, Will decided that he was having a brother no matter what, and the best we were able to do to prepare him was to help him expect either a boy brother or a girl brother! Well, when the ultrasound tech told us we were having a little girl, nine voices (only ten of us were there for the news!) cheered while one little low voice began chanting, "no girls, no girls, no girls!" Well, big brother has come around, and he's taking comfort in the fact that he is mama's only precious son, making him all the more special!

Meanwhile, we are so excited about another little girl, and we can't wait to meet Miss Lucie (middle name TBD) this October or November. Growing up I dreamed of having three little girls, and my dream is coming true, with a big 'ol bull of a boy, who is beyond my wildest dreams, thrown right in the middle! I am so thankful to the Lord for Sophie, Will, and Lillie, and our precious new baby Lucie!

Party of Six

2011-04-24T23:01:00.007-04:00

I really still have a hard time believing that in around six months, there will be four children sitting in this window seat. It's even harder for me to believe that in six months, we will be a party of six whenever we go anywhere! But I went for my 13-week ultrasound last Friday, and I think I've finally found the strength to actually blog about the fact that we are adding another baby to our family!

I still feel pretty certain that we just did that, (added a baby, I mean), and I'm 100% sure that I had a still-nursing, not-yet-walking infant when I learned this news a couple of months ago. I've definitely had a bit of an adjustment period to the news of our growing family, and this pregnancy has been very tough sick-wise, second only to my pregnancy with Sophie. All this has resulted in very little blogging, even less cleaning, and close to no cooking. Only the very strong (i.e. Aunt Pammie) would dare to visit the Roden home right now! In addition to hyperemesis, I seem to have developed narcolypsy, so Matt has become Mr. mom, the chief cleaner, and the man in charge of bringing home dinner. (The guy could really use your prayers, as I haven't exactly been a delight.)

To say that most things are turned upside down is putting it mildly, but at 13 weeks, I'm beginning to feel almost human again. I'm praying that the worst is over, and I'm hoping we can find a "new normal" for the remainder of this pregnancy, (and then of course, we'll need to find a "new normal" as a party of six)! Like most "parties," I'm confident that it will be lots of work, tons of mess, and plenty of chaos, but I'm hoping and praying it will also be full of fun, laughter, and memories.

Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now!

2011-04-10T23:32:00.005-04:00

Not only is Lillie Pie walking as of this weekend, but she has been weaned and on whole milk for several weeks! Our sweet little baby is now a sweet, slightly wild, way-too-brave toddler! She has her 15 month check up in about 10 days, and I'm hoping and praying our big girl has gained big time weight! Lillie's current favorite past time is playing dress up in any and all jewelry she can find and trying on "big girl" clothes and shoes! She continues to bring amazing joy to our family, and we love our "big girl" as big as the sky!

Letters to Zoe

2011-03-20T23:16:00.005-04:00

Well, we can hardly wait to hear that Tori and Derek pass court in the morning, so we can start counting down the days until we meet Zoe! In the mean time, we are going to write some letters to our precious girl, both to help the time pass more quickly for us, and so she will have a written record of how much we loved and prayed for her even before we met her!

Dear Zoe,

Hi sweet girl! This is your Aunt Carrie! I can hardly sleep tonight waiting to hear if we get to start our countdown to

meeting you! We are going to write you some letters to help you get to know all the members of our whole big family! I will introduce you to your Uncle Matt (the crazy one), and your cousins Sophie (the ring-leader), Will (the half bull/half boy)and Lillie (the sweetest baby ever). The Rodens are a wild bunch, but we are definitely not boring! Then, you will also meet your Patti-Grams, Tato, and Aunt Hope! And that's just the beginning of your family!

Well, I have lots to tell you! Especially funny stories about your mama and daddy! But for tonight, I want to tell you what I'm most looking forward to doing with you. Well, first, I am pretty much known as the family librarian, so I'm your go-to girl for trips to the library, any kind of story hour, and visits to the bookstore! And should you ever have a particular story you want to read, just say the word! Also, I'm a pretty good outing planner. Parks, museums, exhibits, special events, you name it, I will try to keep you busy experiencing all our area has to offer. And when we travel, well, that just gives us tons more places to explore together! And last (for tonight), I am so excited to play baby dolls with you. I heard that you absolutely love babies, and I absolutely love babies, so I think we are going to have a ball playing babies together!

Well, Sophie also wrote you a letter today! Now your cousin Will still has some confusion about whether you are a girl or a dog! (The only Zoe he knows is our good friend, Ms. Paula's dog, so until he actually meets you, I think he may stay a bit confused). Don't be surprised if he tells you not to bite him in his letter to you! But Sophie knows exactly who you are, and she has written you tons of letters and drawn you even more pictures! This one is from today, and it was handwritten in one of her notebooks, but I'm copying it (misspellings and all) onto the blog so all the letters will be in one place.

Dear Zoe,

Remeanber I love you! And Momma and Daddy will take care of you! Live, learn, life!

LOVE, Sophie

P.S. Will and Lillie love you too!

(Then there is a picture of Soph and you with Sophie wearing a I heart New York shirt and you in a shirt that says "Freedom!") Hilarious!

We love you big as the sky Zoe!

Love,

Aunt Carrie

Z is for Zoe

2011-03-08T00:25:00.011-05:00

Well, in most children's books, Z stands for zipper, zoo, or zebra, but at our house, Z stands for only one thing - our cousin Zoe (well, maybe for zebra too, since zebra has become the unofficial theme for Zoe's, room, clothes and accessories)!

Sophie, Will, and Lillie could not be more excited about meeting their cousin, and though we still can't show her pictures online, buckle up, because once we get the go ahead, there will be no shortage of photos of this beautiful girl! We pray for her daily, and Sophie and Will can both find Ethiopia on the map (or at least somewhere near), and even Lillie is learning to find the "zebra" on the map.

We are all dreaming about all the adventures we will go on together! Sophie is planning slumber parties, Will is planning on showing Zoe the ropes in preschool, and I've already got a stack of books I can't wait to read her! But for now, we would greatly appreciate your prayers for Tori, Derek and Zoe's adoption journey. We are trusting the Lord for His perfect timing in bringing Zoe home, and we are asking our family and friends to pray that the path will be made straight.

This has been a wild ride already, and recent developments have reminded us of what we know, but we sometimes forget: We are not in control. Even when we desperately want to be. We are not in control. Even of our children's lives. We are not in control. And this is a hard thing, but it is a good thing. Because the One who is in control loves them even more than we do.

Please join us in praying that Tori and Derek pass court on March 15 and that Zoe is making mischief with these three very soon!

Counting

2011-02-28T23:13:00.005-05:00

If this blog could have "talked" this February without me having the mental energy to form coherent thoughts or the physical strength to type them out, it would have had quite a bit to say. Ironically, the times when my blog is most silent are the very times when there is little silence to be found in our home! In fact, my posting has been pretty light since the new year began. So for those who are counting... Number of blog posts in February (before this one): 1.

Number of blog posts so far in 2011: 4. Well, if the blog could have talked on its own, there are a number of things it would have told of:

parties, parties, and a couple more parties - celebrations of weddings, birthdays and babies. You name it, we've celebrated it. Number of parties: at least three but up to five, depending on your definition of a party.

a seemingly-unending cycle of sickness, hot fevers, coughs, runny noses, and the dreaded ear infections. Not a week has gone by since January 17 when I haven't been in the doctor's office, and a couple of times, I was there multiple times in a week. Dr. appointments: I refuse to know for sure, but between well checkups, weight checks, and sick visits, I'm guessing 8.

travels near and far. An amazing trip to Vegas for Matt on the heels of Winter Retreat and a whirlwind trip to Birmingham for the rest of our crew to celebrate Jamie and Ry-Dog's wedding. Number of trips: 2

disappointments, struggles, and more waiting for our precious Zoe. Number of court dates: 2. Number of days until we expect to hear great news: 15 Number of days until we meet her, hold her, and love on her: we still don't know

little hassles that wear a person down. getting sick with daddy out of town, car trouble, needing to rely on my family's help, a terrible washer and a broken dryer Number of times my car died before finally getting repaired: 4. Number of family members required for me to make it through this month: 6

meltdowns (theirs and mine). Sick kids make for grouchy kids, and grouchy kids make for a on-edge mama. Number of tantrums that have been thrown by my three kids: I can't count that high Number of tantrums I've thrown: I will never tell. But I know that crying late one Sunday night on my kitchen floor, I had myself an old-fashioned fit. Try as I might I could never tell you exactly why, but I know that the feeling that you have all you've ever prayed for, but you are hopelessly screwing it up is not a feeling I ever want to have again.

learning and re-learning that whether I'm in the midst of celebration or disappointment, sickness or busyness, annoying hassles or gut-wrenching meltdowns, the answer lies in counting my gifts. Number of gifts: way more than 1000, but the counting must begin somewhere.

#1 the deep giggle of boy who doesn't giggle for just anything

#2 waking up without feeling like I've been hit by a truck

#3 watching my big girl love on her brother and sister

#4 the blue, blue eyes of my baby

#5 a husband who keeps on even when the plans change

#6 a mother's willingness to make everything alright

A Long Look

2011-02-07T01:08:00.019-05:00

All was quiet in our house. Snuggled up with my boy, tucked in between the wall and a bed rail in an old double bed that belonged to his great, great-grandmother, I watched my precious, fierce little man-child moving from drowsy to dreamland, when all of a sudden, the silence was broken.

"Stop staring at me!"

I don't think he even opened his eyes, but he knew his mama was watching him, and how is a boy to sleep with his mama watching? I already embarrass him with how crazy I am about him.

I told him I'd try, and I did... for a minute or two. But really, I couldn't help myself. I let him get a little more to sleep and took another long look.

I know that not everyone who sees Will really sees him. I know some people totally miss the wonder of who he is. If you are busy or distracted or disinterested, what's wonder-full about him can be overlooked. With just a glance, you might just see a big kid who loves trains and a good piece of beef. But if you slow down, get to know him, watch him a bit, if you stare at him

for a while, you'll find quite a wonder boy.

Will turned three yesterday, and as we celebrated his special day, I thought back on the past

year of his life. Three weeks before Will turned two, he became a big brother. He adored Lillie from the beginning, but he looked at me, formerly the center of his universe, with the look of a boy whose girlfriend is cheating on him. The night before Will's second birthday, we found out my dad had cancer, and the day of his party we

found out exactly how serious the cancer was. He didn't understand all that was going on, but my sensitive boy knew something was wrong with his buddy Tato. Just three months after Will turned two, we moved to Franklin. My boy who loves routine and order was flung in to a six month period without much of either. Will's had a year full of major changes, not the least of which was his transition from baby to big boy.

This time last year, I was rocking my baby to sleep, reading books, then singing countless verses of He's Got the Whole World, He Loves Me Too, and Down by the Station before laying him down in his crib. These days, after books and prayers, we often have a complete conversation that starts with "lay down with me," before my big boy finally declares, "I'm tired out." This time last year, when big brother Will wasn't playing trains, he was counting Lillie's toes or narrating every gurgle and coo she made. These days, Will loves little sister Lillie ("she's precious, mama"), but he's actually big sister Sophie's frequent playmate, and if the truth were told, he worships the ground that girl walks on. This time last year, Will was a baby; technically a toddler; but for the most part, I had two babies, one that weighed 7 pounds and one that weighed 37 pounds! These days, Will is a big boy, a man-child. My strong and true son.

Will, you are the greatest unexpected joy of my life. I can honestly say I had no idea how much I would love having a son. Maybe that's part of why I can't stop staring at you. Though I often feel like I don't know what I'm doing, I'm having more fun figuring it out than I ever dreamed possible. Here are just a few things I've noticed while "staring" at you this year.

- You are a bull in a china shop. From the way you snort and snarl when getting ready to attack,

to the way you full on head butt whoever has it coming. From the way both of your sisters are as delicate as china dolls to the way the girls tend to collect toys that you can demolish in an instant. You definitely have an interesting road to hoe being in the middle of a sister sandwich, but you

are definitely bull enough to handle it. My only hope is that you don't give Sophie, Lillie, or me a concussion before your fourth birthday.

- You like to play hard, but keep your feet on the ground. You dream of going "faster than fast, quicker than quick," and no wrestling match is too rough for you ("I like it when it hits me in the face"), as long as both your massive feet are firmly planted on terra firma. As off-the-charts tall as you are, you aren't a fan of the ole heights, and you faithfully carry your step stool (which you can lift over your head with ease) wherever you go, because after all, you "might fall." You take licks that make me cringe without batting an eye, but you firmly believe that big boys should keep keep their feet on the ground.

- You are one of the most precious, sensitive souls I've ever known. You love your family so very well. You think your daddy hung the actual moon, and this morning you asked me if I would "stand right behind you" while you played. You can't stand it when anyone argues, and boy, there is nothing like being corrected for "talking wooedly" by your little boy! When you are excited, well, there isn't much better in all of life. You have this kind of grunt you make when you are happy that is music to this mama's ears.

- You are a boy who likes order. Like Sir Toppam Hatt's railway, you like efficiency and consistency. You think change is overrated. You like your day and your things to be arranged the way they were the day before.You like your milk in the morning, your bath in the evening, school on school days and dinner on the table. You're happy to read the same books day after day, particularly if those books include Thomas or Cars. I would give anything for an ounce of your consistency.

- You appreciate strong women. You adore your big sister (though you may also do her bodily

harm). Your current plan is to marry Sophie, and she's also your "best friend." You also come close to worshipping your great-grandmother. One day we were strolling through Target, and you pointed to a shirt and told me, "Mee-Maw would be beautiful in that!" The two of you are ridiculous together. And even though Daddy is still your favorite, you love your mama well. Even on days, you've been to the time out spot a time or two, I'm so thankful I still get to hear "hold me" and "let's be cozy."

And for now, most nights, I am the one who hears, "lay down with me," and I am usually the one who hears the last of your thoughts before you close those big chocolate eyes. And yes, I am the one you have to tell, "stop staring at me!" But try to go easy on me buddy. After all you are my only son, my strong and true boy, and I have to look long to make sure I don't miss a thing.

I love you big as the sky my son! Happy 3rd birthday!

Baby Mine

2011-01-19T18:52:00.012-05:00

Baby Mine is song that makes me think of my sweet baby Lillie, so much that we put it on her first birthday cd that we played and gave our guests at her first birthday party. One part in the song rang in my head as we had her one year old check up today and found that this baby of mine is a little bitty thing.

From your head to your toes
You're not much, goodness knows
But you're so precious to me
Cute as can be, baby of mine

So, at just 17 pounds, 5 ounces, Lillie is definitely the runt of our family, and my goal in this next month is to fatten this baby of mine up a bit. She can keep nursing, but we may add in some formula, and I'll definitely be pushing the whole milk, along with scrambled eggs, full fat yogurt, cheese and almond butter. I've already beaten myself up for not eating or drinking right, not taking my vitamins, being too stressed etc. etc., but at this point, all I can do is make fattening up my little runt my top priority.

In better news, her pediatrician also said she had the best verbal skills she'd ever seen in a 12 month old! Lillie may be little, but she doesn't know it. This baby of mine is a big talker. When the doctor arrived, Lillie and I were engaged in an intense game of "Where's Lillie?," but when Dr. Myers walked in, Lillie greeted her and babbled along in the conversation, just like we were understanding every syllable. She "told" Dr. Myers as clear as a bell that she wanted "that" (that being Dr. Myer's stethescope) and then she "told" her just how frustrated she was that she couldn't have it! Never crying, but giving the doctor a good scolding for denying her polite request!

So, we will spend the next few weeks eating and talking, talking and eating. This works great for me since these are two of my favorite things. And big or small, from her head to her toes, Lillie is so very precious to me, and I love every last ounce of this baby of mine.

Treasured

2011-01-18T21:59:00.005-05:00

Oh my sweet Lillie-Pie! Today is your first birthday! I just rocked you to sleep after a day of birthday doughnuts, a new play kitchen, play time at Peek-a-Boo Playtown, and a Chuy's rice and beans topped off with a little sopapilla. All this on top of your first party last weekend. And, yes, I've been accused of trying to drag your special day out a bit; in fact, Will told me today, "No more Lillie's birthday! I'm next!" But I am determined that you always know how special you are to me. Maybe, it's a hang up for me because you are my third, but I suspect that first, third, or fifteenth, I would want you to know how loved you are.

So, even though you didn't have a huge baby shower or an elaborate sip and see, and your calendar and baby book aren't filled out as well as your siblings, even though you were born in a year that involved lots of changes and instability, you, sweet Lillie, have been treasured. In fact, with all we've been through, I think I'm bonded to you in a very unique way. You alone heard much of my crying out to the Lord as we rocked and nursed, nursed and rocked. Plenty of tears fell on your little face, and you heard first of the planning and praying that accompanied each change our family has undergone. And of all my babies, you've spent the most time in my arms; largely for your own protection, but also because you are so very happy there. Though I've wanted to be strong for your brother and sister too, your pressing infant needs - to eat, to be changed, to be rocked, have kept me moving on days when I thought I couldn't.

I've written and talked so much about how absolutely precious you are - what a joy you've been to parent. You are so very good-natured and smiley, funny and sweet, and you make people feel like a million bucks when you grin at them. But there is one thing in all my bragging on you I think I haven't made clear:

While I love your personality, and I'm thankful that you've been "easy," if you wake up tomorrow and decide to cry and throw a fit every day for the rest of your life, I won't love you one ounce less.

You see, I don't believe it is your job to make me feel good, and I don't love you based on your behavior. You don't have to be the "sweet one" or the "easy one" or the "smiley one" if that's not who you want to be. Not only will the love I have for you not change, my acceptance of you won't change based on whether or not you live up to an expectation. You can be whoever you want, and you, my dear, will be loved. You can't do anything to make me love you any more or any less, and I am so excited and thankful that I get to know more about who you are and who you are becoming each day.

Lillie, you are rapidly approaching the toddler phase, and I've been there a time or two, so I know that we will butt heads in the not-so-distant future. And for pete's sake, after parenting your brother and sister, I'm pretty much a pro at tantrums and fits, so you can hit me with your best shot in that area! Whether you're smiling or not while you do it, you will disobey, and I will correct you. You will fuss, and I will attempt to comfort you. You will ask for things, and sometimes I will say no. You will have some tough days being a baby, and I will have tough days being a mama, but each and every moment, I will love you. I guess what I'm trying in a very sloppy way to say is: smiling or frowning, happy or sad, easy or challenging, I will love you no matter what. And though I already know I will fall short at times, I promise that, to the best of my ability, you will know that not only are you loved, you, my precious Lillian Hope, are treasured.

Happy 1st Birthday Lillie-Pie! I love you big as the sky!

Mama

Celebrating Life

2011-01-10T00:45:00.017-05:00

I was beginning to wonder if I would ever write again. At times when I've been crazy-busy, I've written blog posts in my head, but not actually had the energy to type them out; but in the past month, I haven't even had the energy to write a post in my head. It's been like a flat line in my brain.

In less than a month, we've moved out of our house in Atlanta (literally outrunning a snow storm and traveling to Atlanta from Nashville by way of Birmingham to do so - oh, did I mention my mom who travelled with us to help was horribly sick?), moved into a house in Franklin, moved out of the storage unit, had Christmas with Birmingham family, celebrated Tori's birthday, had Christmas Eve services, Christmas, a week of move-in madness, New Year's fun, moved out of the condo and back-to-business!

For all the craziness, we had a wonderful Christmas season. Not that I ever want to repeat this one! We missed out on many of our family's normal Christmas traditions, but we maintained the most important ones - spending time with family, worshiping together on Christmas Eve, reading the Christmas story, and singing Happy Birthday to Jesus. We went to Opryland Hotel, had the best Santa picture ever, and played in the (manmade) snow! We stayed up crazy late waiting for the kids to fall asleep and then bleary-eyed, we watched as our kids eyes nearly popped out of their heads as they took in all that Santa brought! We played games as a family, laughed, talked, and ate amazing food.

We watched wonder-filled Lillie experience Christmas for the first time (first Christmas gift, first Christmas cookie, first Christmas Eve candlelight service). We watched Will start to "get it," and experience genuine excitement as Christmas became his favorite holiday (he's already told me it's coming back "next year!") We watched Sophie experience Christmas for the first time since she asked Jesus into her heart (she had herself quite a moment at the nativity scene at Opryland Hotel!) And on Christmas Eve, we watched precious Zoe (on video) learn that she has a mama and daddy that can't wait to meet her (we alternated between laughing and crying as we watched this beautiful little girl get her first introduction to her family).

We survived 2010 (which is saying quite a bit), actually a bit stronger and infinitely more grateful, and we had a blast ringing in the new year with great friends! All in all, the holidays, though extra-hectic this year, were all the more precious as we celebrated life itself - Dad's, Lillie's, Sophie's new life in Christ, Zoe's (her name actually means life), and of course, Life, Himself, God coming to earth as baby, making a way for us to have abundant and eternal life.

Gift of Hope

2010-12-13T02:41:00.011-05:00

Of all the gifts I've received this year, Lillian Hope is by far the greatest. Still, after 10 months, I just cannot believe she is mine. She is without a doubt the sweetest, funniest, most precious little girl. When I think about this year and the goodness of the Lord in giving me such a laid-back sweet-natured baby in what would be one of the most stressful years our family has known.

Lillie can bring a smile to the face of the most sour-faced stranger. She loves nothing better than to catch someone's eye and flash her toothy grin from one ear to the other. In fact, she stopped the whole parade at Disney World because the characters could not waving at her and even coming over to meet her! I won't be a bit surprised if she doesn't grow into an amazing encourager because she seems to love to make people happy. And she has lived up to her name by bringing hope to our family during a year when we so desperately needed it.

The other night as I was rocking her, just thinking about what a gift she is, I realized how perfect it was that God sent hope in the form of a baby. Strange that a baby, on the one hand needy, is on the other hand a source of courage. As I rocked my precious bundle of hope, I thought how incredible it was that Mary rocked the Hope of the world. Hope may be the best gift you can give, and a baby really is the best way to give it.

Happy Birthday Uncle Derek!

2010-12-12T23:04:00.001-05:00

My kids are over-the-moon about their Uncle Derek! Not only is he an amazing uncle, he is truly the best brother-in-law and Matt's favorite partner in crime! We are so proud of Derek's passion for helping transform every day kids into passionate followers of Christ, and we are

thankful for the way he willingly shares his many gifts and talents with everyone around him. Our family feels so blessed that the Lord brought he and Tori together, and we are amazed at how perfect they are for one another.

Together Derek and Tori form "Team Jones," and in just a few months, that team is gaining one adorable little member named Zoe! We just know that Uncle Derek is going to be the best dad! Partly because Sophie, Will and Lillie have provided him with more training than he ever could have imagined! From building castles and pirate ships to changing toddlers in the trunk of a car, to wearing an infant in a sling to giving countless surprises to his nieces and nephew to hosting movie nights and Chuck E. Cheese to sneaking sips of Dr. Pepper, there is nothing Uncle Derek hasn't done show his love for my kids. We know first-hand just how lucky little Zoe is to have our Uncle Derek as a daddy!

So, though the snowy weather has prevented us from a proper birthday party, we are celebrating the fact that on this day, 29 years ago, one pretty special guy was born! And though he's known as Mr. Derek, D. Rock, and soon-to-be Daddy, at our house, he is the one and only Uncle Derek!

Counting Our Blessings

2010-11-26T16:42:00.014-05:00

We enjoyed a wonderful, though somewhat quiet for our crew, Thanksgiving, with just the White Family. Unfortunately, because my branch of the family tree experienced a week of the little-virus-that-could (first Will, then Sophie, then Matt, finally me - only the baby was spared), our favorite people from Birmingham decided they'd better not risk exposure. (The only thing worse than this virus would be missing the Alabama-Auburn game for this virus!) We missed everyone (not just Birmingham family, but LA and Chicago too!) like crazy, but it will make seeing everyone over Christmas all the more special!

I guess he just couldn't handle a Thanksgiving without Mee-Maw, so Matt actually headed south late last night to go with Aunt Pam and Big Dad to the big game! Thanks to lucky Aunt Pammie, Matt is experiencing his first Alabama game with two of his favorite people, traveling in style, by limo with great food (Dreamland, of course), great tickets, and sideline passes! The final verdict isn't in yet, but when I talked to Matt last, he said it was the experience of a lifetime!

And the fun isn't over! What do you do after having a baby, beating cancer, experiencing multiple moves, dealing with major stresses at church and nearly completing an international adoption? What else? We're going to Disney World! We leave at various times on Sunday, but, we will all converge on the Contemporary Resort for a week of magical fun! Will has no idea what to expect, and as excited as Sophie is, Tori and I are at least 10 times as excited. We've planned and plotted, made and changed reservations, packed, unpacked, and repacked, and all that is left is one week with our favorite people in the happiest place on earth!

So though we're running headlong into the most wonderful time of the year, with all the lights, music, parties, and presents, Thanksgiving isn't forgotten in our family. For as we sat around in honor of the first Thanksgiving counting our blessings for our five kernels of corn, (or in our case, the five lollipops we used to keep Will interested), we realized that it is in the difficult years, you decide whether or not to choose as Patti-Grams calls it, "an attitude of gratitude." And in our family, after this difficult year, we've decided that we have more blessings than bushel's worth of corn kernels. Here are just a few of the blessings we named "one-by-one."

homes * massage therapy * peace *a new baby as sweet as pie * parents *a precious new boy at TPC Kids * a stronger family * grace * sisters * God's faithfulness * cousins * Diesel 10 * aunts * health * grandparents and great-grandparents * Zoe * shoes that fit * husbands and wives * food to eat * Disney World * Sophie asking Jesus into her heart * mercy * uncles * learning lessons * being together * leadership * provision * life

First Steps

2010-11-25T23:41:00.002-05:00

My girls are growing. (Actually my boy is growing too, but he's already so big, it's not quite as noticeable). But my girls, they are changing before my very eyes.

For one thing, Lillie is gaining teeth while Sophie is losing them! Poor Lillie was toothless for ever-so-long, then finally got her two bottom teeth, but for months, she's sported huge swollen bulges where her two top teeth should be. All of a sudden, her two rather large (rather Will-looking), top teeth have broken through, and another top tooth is on its way! At this rate, she may have a full set by Christmas! And though Sophie's been claiming to have a lose tooth for at least six months, she finally lost her first tooth just last night! I can literally see how my girls are growing just by looking at their little mouths.

And it isn't just teeth. My laid-back Lillie, who seemed liked she'd never sit up strong, then didn't seem to have much interest in crawling, decided she was ready to go mobile. About two weeks ago she decided to give it a try, and though for a few days she looked like a lame dog, keeping one leg tucked under her the entire time she scooted, before I could blink my eyes she was flying all over the floor! (Matt and I think she may actually be the most adventurous of our crew!) And Miss Lillie isn't finished. No, this girl has experienced a taste of mobility, and now she is ready for an adventure! I'm just not sure I'm ready for this, but I know that her first steps, clumsy though they will be are just around the corner.

And she isn't the only one. A couple of Thursdays ago, we were driving home from dinner when Sophie said, "Mama, Daddy, I think I need to become a real Christian tonight." Matt and I

looked at each other, not quite sure what to say. Soph has been thinking about asking Jesus to live in her heart since VBS this past June. She was very excited about all she was learning, but when it came down to letting him be "the boss of her life," thereby giving up the role she believes she currently holds, she decided she needed some time to think.

So she's been thinking for about six months now (probably while she was loosening that tooth). And then, out of the blue, driving home from her favorite meat and three, she decided the time had come. Of course, like so many parents, Matt and I believe this is an important first step in her journey as a Christ follower, and we wanted to be sure she really understood what she was wanting to do, so I threw a couple of questions at her, asking her why she thought she was ready. I wasn't quite prepared for what I heard.

"Mama, I just really want to be God's true child. I want to be on His team. I've been thinking about it, and I think I will be happier if I follow Him."

(To which, I interrupted, "Now, Soph, being a Christian doesn't mean..." And she interrupted right back...)

"Mama, I know that there will be troubles, but I think I will be happier if I go His way. I really want to be with Him forever."

Well, that was enough for me. Dabbing at my own tears, I listened as Sophie and her dad prayed a prayer asking Jesus to live in Sophie's heart. It was one of the greatest privileges of my life. I know she is at the very beginning of her journey. I know that, as she said, "there will be troubles," but I cannot ignore that my baby is beginning her walk with Christ. Just as I'm watching Lillie pulling up to standing, anxiously waiting to take her first clumsy steps, I'm watching her big sister standing on her own, taking her first steps in her journey with the Lord.

So tonight I am thankful for my growing girls. Even though it pricks my heart a little that they aren't tiny babies any more, I must remember that their growth is the answer to my many prayers. I am thankful for teeth, in and out, that remind me that my girls are healthy and growing. I'm thankful for scooting, crawling, and cruising that reminds me of the adventures God has planned for them. I'm thankful for the honor of hearing prayers prayed out of an earnest heart that has come to understand it's better to go "His way." I'm thankful that I get to be their mama. Most of all, I am thankful for first steps, for clumsy as they may be, they are the only way to begin to walk the very best journey.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

2010-11-17T00:25:00.007-05:00

It may seem strange to refer to my mom as "The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything," but if you've read the children's book (one of our Halloween favorites), you know how appropriate it is.

Now I, myself, have always been a fraidy-cat. I don't watch scary movies, I make Matt go to the car if I forget something at night, and I've slept in between my mom and dad...as an adult. But my mom... Well, she isn't afraid of anything.

Now I've always loved having a mom who isn't afraid of anything. She's always had the attitude, "why should I be afraid?" And she isn't simply naive. For after all, her father owns the cattle on a thousand hills, her God knows the plans He has for her, her Bible tells her that no weapon formed against her shall prosper, and she knows a thousand other promises that make her sure she doesn't need to be afraid.

Having a mom who isn't afraid of anything is pretty great because it makes everything seem okay, even if it isn't. I guess that's why I ran to her so many times after having a terrible nightmare. Or why I've called her on the cell phone when walking through dark parking lots. Or why she is one of the few people that even know what makes me the most fearful. But I never knew just how not afraid of anything Mom was until this past year.

On February 4, Mom, my two-week old and my two-days-shy of a two-year old, and I spent the day shopping for Will's birthday, then picking Soph up from school, hauling her to dance, fighting the 5 o'clock Atlanta traffic. We were a crazy crew, moving slowly so newborn Lillie could nurse, driving in circles so Will could nap in the car, and giving Sophie extra time to pick out just the right present for her brother. Just as we were finishing up errands in Target (wherelse?), we got the phone call that changed everything.

I will never forget that moment or the total sick feeling that came with it. I will never forget knowing I needed to be brave in front of my three children. I was with mom that night when she got the call that Dad had some kind of cancer. And I was with her when she got the call about a week later that it was serious - lymphoma. And I was with her when the doctor told us a few days later that it was worse than we'd originally thought. If she struggled to be brave, I never knew it.

Now, I'm not saying she was out of touch with reality. She was very concerned about dad. She was so sad for him, and so sad for our family, but she was also the picture of courage. I heard somewhere that courage isn't not the absence of fear, but taking a step forward when you feel afraid. Mom kept stepping forward. And somehow, once again, being the daughter of the little old lady who was not afraid of anything made everything okay, even though it wasn't.

Mom, little did we know that cancer was only the first thing this year that would sneak up behind us coming to scare us all. But through it all, you have been brave and made everything okay. Thank you for teaching us why we don't have to be afraid. Thank you for being a picture of courage, firmly rooted in trust. Thank you for being the little old lady who is not afraid of anything.

Happy Birthday! We love you big as the sky!

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

Will School: C is for Candy!

2010-11-14T23:25:00.014-05:00

I'm behind on my reporting about Will School, but the letter C timed out perfectly with Halloween and Matt's birthday! C is a great letter for sweet treats, so we took full advantage!

C is for Cranky the Crane, one of Will's favorite Thomas characters!

C is for cars, Will's second favorite thing on earth! (He can't wait to see Lightening McQueen when we go to Disney soon!)

C is for crayons, and Will loved coloring and hearing Harold and the Purple Crayon.

C is for cows and chickens, and Will giggled through Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type!

C is for Corduroy and our favorite monkey, Curious George.

C is for cowboys (Will's favorite cowboy is Woody)!

C is for Chicago, where is our cousin Joy lives, and Will's top choice of city he wants to visit!

C is for candy, cookies, cupcakes, and cake! We had a little of each during our study of the letter C! We had plenty of candy from trick-or-treating, cookies at Patti-Grams, cupcakes from Gigi's, and Daddy's birthday cake! Needless to say, we were on sugar-overload, but it was lots of fun!

Happy 31st Birthday!

2010-10-31T00:00:00.008-04:00

Happy 31st Birthday Matt! Most people say things like, "I can hardly believe it's been a year since we fill-in-the blank... My, where does the time go???" Well, I know where the time since your last birthday has gone. It's been right here backing over us like a mack truck!

All I can think as I remember last Halloween is how has it only been one year since you were celebrating your 30th birthday by going to a Halloween bash designed for teenagers while Aunt Pam and I took the kids trick-or-treating in the rain? It seems like at least three years ago since you and I were in the house with a princess throwing a fit about something while Aunt Pam was on the front porch knocking on the door to let us know our dragon had just made himself throw up to avoid wearing his costume. Seriously. Are you sure you're not turning 35?

Since this year has been oh-so-eventful, I thought it would be no problem to come up with 31 memorable moments from the past year!

1. Begin at the beginning. Cool drizzle. Cranky princess. Ticked off dragon. Crazy-busy husband. Pregnant wife. Life-saving aunt dressed as Dorothy. Happy Birthday.

2. Cancer. Aunt Jan's death. "Grave yard day." Sadness.

3. Thanksgiving. An amazing game. An impromptu trip to Bass Pro Shop somewhere on I-20. (Only Santa could have lured us in!) Spontaneity.

4. Our last Christmas in Atlanta. (Though we didn't know it). Pink Pig. Lenox Santa. Snowfall in Atlantic Station. So much fun.

5. An anniversary celebration also known as Hibernation Weekend. (Remember us telling Dr. Robbins we might go see a show! Ha!) The last night without children for a loooong while. Rest.

6. Christmas memories. Excitement over Santa. Comfort of family. Pictures on the front porch. Kids at such fun ages. Joy.

7. New Year's - pregnant again - (when am I not pregnant or nursing for New Years?) Seriously. 2010.

8. SEC Championship Game. Chili. Nesting. The promise of snow. The promise of a baby girl. Excitement.

9. Mama down on a Saturday night. Crying, shaking. A plastic bag. Visions of a baby in a bed. A 3 a.m. call to a neighbor, ambulance ride, 1st hospitalization of 2010. Feeling like a real grown up. Feeling thankful to have a real partner. Stress.

10. 10 days in the bed. Patti-Grams to the rescue. You letting me watch tv going to sleep since you knew I wouldn't sleep much anyway. Conan vs. Jay. Team CoCo! Waiting.

11. A Sunday night. A feeling we'd meet her soon. A Monday morning call home from the office. A relatively uneventful trip to the hospital (did you really ask me what contractions felt like on that ride?). Our second visit to the hospital in 2010. An easy-breezy delivery followed by an attempted MRI. An absolutely perfect baby. New life.

12. A blissful couple of weeks with a precious new bundle. A

doting big brother. An excited big sister. An amazing extended family. A couple that loves each other and three healthy children. Gratitude.

13. A two week old baby. Preparations for a second birthday. A call (in the middle of Target) that changed everything. Uncertainty.

14. A delayed party. A dreaded diagnosis. (Both came on the same Friday afternoon). Cancer again. This time closer to home. A choice to celebrate life. Worry that gives way to faith.

15. Doctors appointments. Around-the-clock feedings. Blur. Adjustment. Re-entry into school, church, life. Trying to get our footing. Six-week checkup. Passing out. Nursing in an ambulance. The third hospital stay of 2010. (We're only in February). How you managed those couple of hours before Aunt Pam came to the rescue again I'm sure I don't want to know. It's a secret between you, God, and Justin Owens. I can laugh about it now, but only tears then. Stress.

16. Adjusting to life with three. Patti-Grams. Aunt Pam. Ashley. Hope. The cavalry arrived. Help.

17. Our first Easter apart. Your total understanding and encouragement for me to be with Dad. Reminders of what Christ came to bring us. Hope.

18. Trying to make cancer fun. An unexpected phone call. A spring full of questions. Praying and pondering. Opportunities and possibilities. Waiting and wondering. Trust.

19. One more last

time. Dance. School. Play. Atlantic Station. Botanical Gardens. Crossroads. Six Flags for the first time. News of a flood. Too much stuff to pack. Too little time. Too much rain. Overwhelm.

20. Mother's Day, Dad's birthday, Lillie's dedication, quick trips for you, finishing well and beginning anew. Celebration.

21. You there. Us here. Atlanta, Myrtle Beach, Franklin, Birmingham, Orange Beach. A trial, followed by a fall. Lack of routine, lack of time together, lack of sanity. Craziness.

22. Life in the condo - "the condo makes me throw up," kid in the hall, nobody sleeps, everybody cries, and no one knows where their shoes are.

Adjustment.

23. A beach trip and blue angels. A fun 4th of July. A 6th birthday. First

food for Lillie Pie. Sweet CeCe's on two-punch Tuesday. Summer fun.

24. Getting to really know our baby girl. Smiles. Giggles. Beauty. Love.

25. New parks. New playgrounds. New schools. New routines. New normal. Settling in.

26. Tapping telephone poles and taking trips to New York. Attempting order in the condo, attempting order in your office. Spending 24 hours in Atlanta and speaking on the main stage. Whirlwind.

27. First Day in the First Grade. All aboard the Preschool Train. Sitting up. Cutting teeth. Growth.

28. Sol without kids. The

Chihuly Night that wasn't. The Chihuly Night that was. Pei-Wei and Fox's regardless. Free babysitters that actually love our kids. Picnicking on a hillside without anyone asking us for anything. Dates.

29. Football games. Roll Tide Roll. Pumpkin patches and petting zoos. Corn mazes and hayrides. Fall. Franklin. Family.

30. Pumpkin crunch and fire pits. You spending hours making sure our kids have

amazing jack-o-lanterns (even though I won the contest as always). Laughing and listening to our favorite Halloween tunes.

Traditions.

31. Thinking about the adventure we've shared. Looking forward to another year with you. Realizing that there is no one else I want to do this with. Thankful for all the time we've had and hopeful that there is an abundance to share. Back where we started. Happy Birthday.

Matt, we've lived enough life this year for at least three years. And as crazy as it's been, I am so thankful that I got to do life with you. So this Halloween, when we take the dreaded front-door pictures, Fancy Nancy may be melting down, Will, more than likely, won't put a toe into his Thomas costume, and our pink poodle may fall asleep before the first house, but either way I will be standing next to you. And that is exactly where I want to be.

Happy 31st birthday! I love you.

Pumpkin Carving

2010-10-30T02:35:00.008-04:00

Last weekend we had our traditional pumpkin-carving around the fire at my parents house. I can't say how wonderful it was to be with the whole family, carving, laughing, and eating pumpkin crunch, without having to make a 4 1/2 hour car trip!

Anyway, Matt outdid himself, reminding me once again of what is probably the main reason I married him: so my children could have really cool jack-o-lanterns. This year's creations included:

A Barbie silhouette for Sophie

Diesel 10 (you have to be a Thomas fan to know this one, but the resemblance is uncanny) for Will

Lillie's pumpkin portrait

Oddly enough, my pumpkin won the contest (as it does every year), but the kids really loved their designs, so they were fine with it. And the craziest part is that I'm always the first one finished, yet I always win. Weird.

Despite the fact that my classic design once again stole the show, I thought Matt's creations for the kids were pretty decent. In fact, if the student pastor thing doesn't work out, I think he could become a professional pumpkin carver. And that is high praise considering the fact that I'm pretty much a pumpkin-carving expert. I only hope that Matt will develop my speed so he can enjoy more time around the fire and not have to spend quite as much time carving. Oh well, not everyone can have speed and skill.

Back It Up Buddy!

2010-10-28T23:06:00.006-04:00

It's official. Will has had his first fight. I knew this day was coming, but I didn't expect it to come while he was still two!

The story (as reported by Ms. Theresa to Aunt Tori) goes something like this...

One of Will's little buddies hit him (or as Will corrected me, "he didn't hit me, he punched me in the face!) At which point, Will put his little buddy on the ground. Then while his buddy was being put in time out by the teacher, Will proceeded to make his bull-snorting noise (or as Ms. Theresa called it, "that aggressive sound he makes") to the entire rest of the class including the teacher (which earned him a little visit to time out)! I'm pretty sure he was just letting everyone else know not to make the same mistake his little buddy made. I mean Will likes his friends, but it's nothing to him to put someone on the ground. At least he warned them.

I asked him if he said sorry to friend, and he looked at me like I was a bit slow, and said, "No, he punched me in the face!" When Matt first asked him if he and his buddy were still friends, he said, "of course," but by the time I asked him later this evening he thought about it and said, "now, we're not!" I'm pretty sure it will blow over by Tuesday, but just in case it doesn't, I asked Will what he's going to do. He just snorted and growled, "back it up, buddy!"

Will School: B is for Boo

2010-10-22T00:10:00.010-04:00

Last week in "Will School," we talked about the letter B! We had lots of fun since Will is a big boy and a big brother whose favorite color is blue! We learned that B is for:

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? (both of which Will can "read" perfectly and nothing is quite as precious as hearing him say "flying fwirrel, flying fwirrel, what do you see?)

The Bible - Will loves "Bible time," and since we usually have a devotion in the mornings, any time I mention the Bible he asks for a vitamin!

Baseball, Basketball, football, soccer ball - Even though some of our family members already have him playing o-line, we aren't sure which ball will is going to take to. Even though he's talked about soccer, I'm hoping to get him interested in baseball since he's not quite as "fast, fast super-fast" as he thinks he is!

Blue General, Byron the Bulldozer, Sir Toppenhat's blue car, and Bulstrode the boat - Will's first love is trains, so any connection to Thomas is always a plus. And "the General" is all-time favorite train (the real one is in Atlanta at the train museum we often visited), and Will has both a black and a blue general, both of whom are always mentioned in his prayers. (The rest of the family may or may not make it in, but the Generals are shoo-ins!

Boo! - Will is getting excited about Halloween this year, though it is still up in the air as to whether or not he will put on a costume (last year he got so mad he threw up). But he is crazy-excited over his new favorite song Boo Boo, Choo Choo (don't even listen to it once or you will sing it for days)! And between it and God Is Bigger Than the Boogie Man, there is nothing Will is afraid of these days! He's like the main character in his current favorite non-Thomas book, The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, and his favorite part of that story is when the scary pumpkin head that yells, Boo!

B-A-M-A - Roll Tide Roll! Not to mention Bear Bryant, also known as "coach" around here! And we don't have to be having a perfect season to be cheering for our team

Baby - And of course, we have a pretty great one of those! Will loves his beautiful baby and he is the best big brother!

Fall Family of Five

2010-10-17T01:31:00.008-04:00

It's beginning to look a lot like fall, and, occasionally, it even feels a bit like it (though it didn't today)! Since Matt's birthday is on Halloween, the onset of autumn brings extra excitement at our house, and this being Lillie's first fall is even more special! Today, we visited Gentry's Pumpkin Farm, and had a ball! It was Lillie's first trip to this family favorite, and she was definitely the cutest pumpkin in the patch!

We ran through the corn mazes (getting way more lost in the kiddie maze than the adult

maze), explored the log cabin outhouse, and

teepees, and played in the barn maze and on the slides. (Will couldn't get enough of the slide even though he was nearly as long as it was!) We played in corn, saw lots of farm animals, and played with lincoln logs, a farm set, and tons of other neat toys in the

granary. Will loved riding on the toy tractors in the toddler section (though I thought I might have to show his birth certificate to prove he's only two), and

Sophie was introduced to swinging on tire

swings - daddy style (let's just say Matt pushes a little

higher than I do!) Lillie discovered hay, and I realized that if we just had a couple of hay bales, I could get rid of all the baby toys! We had more fun than should be had in one afternoon, and I can't recommend Gentry's Farm nearly enough for families in the Franklin or Nashville area.

Snacks, a hayride, and the nature trail finished out our day. With "just one more" whirl on the tire swing, even Sophie was tuckered out, and we were ready to pick our pumpkins and head for home. After nearly four hours of outdoor fun, Matt and I remembered why we always pick one day and carve on another! We wrapped up an amazing day at the pumpkin farm, but we are just getting started with fall fun as a family of five!

Go Skunks!

2010-10-12T23:28:00.010-04:00

Sophie's best friend in the world is Jack McClanahan, who is the son of my best friend in the world, Ashley McClanahan. Now one might think that Sophie and Jack have been forced into

being friends, and really, they have, but their love for one another goes far beyond anything that ">Ash and I could have ever forced upon them. And even though Soph has had their wedding planned for years now, they actually act more like brother and

sister than anything else!

Even though he wants to play football men and she wants to read a book, and she wants to color while he wants to wrestle, most of the time they are able to meet in

the middle. Now that we are back in Tennessee, they are having so much fun spending more time together.

This past Saturday, we were able for the very first time to watch Jack play soccer on his team, the Nashville Skunks! This is Jack's third season playing, but our first time watching him, so we were more than a little excited! Hence, the skunk poster and mascot!

Even though the Skunks had a little trouble (they don't officially keep score, but Jack is a math whiz and highly-competitive, so we definitely stayed informed...), Jack played great! He is an awesome defensive player, and he did amazing keeping his head and heart in the game even when his team was behind. Of course, Soph was utterly exhausted from all her cheering, and she would have downed all Jack's water if I would have let her

(Will actually did eat some of the team snack)!

Now the Skunks' coach is the perfect coach for fans who are more than a little excited! From choosing a hilarious team name to teaching the kids their Peeee-U battle cry, Jack's coach keeps the fun in the soccer experience. He is more than a little excited himself about coaching and about building into the kids, teaching them to work hard and stay positive, and he

made Sophie feel like a million bucks by giving her tons of attention for working hard on her poster! And everyone loved Lillie as the team mascot! Sophie and the Little Stinker were even asked to be in a picture with the team!

It was so fun to see Jack's world of sports and Sophie's world of art intersect so perfectly. It was a neat reminder that even though they are totally different kids, they make amazing best friends. We had such a great time watching Jack, and we can't wait to go back out to cheer for the Skunks! Peeee U!

Will School: A is for Alfie

2010-10-05T23:12:00.011-04:00

Sophie decided it's time to educate Will. She is rather unimpressed with her brother's command of phonics, so she decided to begin "Will School," a letter a week, tailor-made to interest a two-year-old boy. Sophie is in charge of the planning (with a few suggestions from me...), and I'm responsible for implementing. Sophie did a great job with letter A teaching Will...

A is for...

Alfie (a Thomas character, we are trying to using Thomas characters as sure-fire attention grabbers)

airplane and angel (Will is a huge fan of Blue Angels after our trip to the beach)

Aunt Tori (We were sure to have lunch with Aunt Tori to celebrate!)

Alabama (believe me, we talked about this particular A a whole lot on Saturday)

apples (we snacked on them all week. Of course, we always do, but I pretended it was all about A!)

Animals, Animals (one of Will's Eric Carle favorites), Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No-Good Very Bad Day, (one of Soph's favorites, but one of the first times we'd read it for Will), and The ABC Bunny.

By the end of the first day, Will was running around telling us "A says a a a! and A is for Alfie and A is for Aunt Tori" By day two, he had "A is for apple, A is for airplane, A is for angel." Sophie could not have been more proud of her "pupil," and she's already busy planning for B week!