in pictures: yellow

Never a dull moment

Brittain is a born performer. She likes the limelight. She's constantly telling us she's going to be a super star. Lately though she's been enraptured with taking pictures with my phone. Her favorite subject is her Kangaroo. (I know because I currently have approximately 501 pictures of her Kangaroo on my phone.)

The other morning she snapped a picture of Ryan and I. Later she said, "Mom, wasn't that so cute? That picture of you and your husband? That was so sweet. You're his wife and he's your husband." 

She's funny.

So, I was sharing the dialogue with Ryan. He asked Brittain if she was going to be a photographer. She said, "No, when I grow up I'm going to be a Mom." So he reminded her about her dream of becoming a super star. "Oh, I'm going to be that for Halloween!" she sighed.  Try as we might, we just can't keep up.

that's what she said: motorcycle girl

Brittain: "Do you want to put my underwear on your head and pretend you're a motorcycle girl?"
Chapel: "Yeah."
Brittain: "Would that be funny?"
Chapel: "Yeah!"

So glad they're along for this ride!

And a few unrelated, out of date (but stinkin' cute) images to wrap this post up.

Christmas cookies. Check!

The cookies are made...

My kids love to bake goodies. They (argue) negotiate who gets to put in which ingredient. "But you did the sugar last time." "Mom, can I put in the flour?" "It's my turn to mix it first." The list goes on. And on. Until at last we're down to the chocolate chips. Then everyone is more concerned with getting a handful of chocolate than whose turn it is to put them in the bowl.

The last time we made cookies of the chocolate chip variety, I was fumbling through the messy cupboard that is congested with cookbooks, spices, and prescriptions (that are most likely expired), not finding the ingredient I needed, I said, "Oh Kay- rap!!"

That's when Brittain, who is happy to help with any job, piped in, "can I put the Kay- rap in Mama?"

She's funny. We've been laughing about that one for a while now.

Merry Christmas! I hope it is peaceful, bright, and full of love!

(on a side note. What happened to my header?! Oh well. It's slightly outdated as I now have 4 children and new baby is closer to 2 yrs. than 1. Yikes!)

Ten

1. My baby is growing way too fast. These pictures are from several weeks ago. She's only gotten bigger. She now wears that dress as a shirt. (Thanks to my wonderful sis-in-laws who keep her so well dressed!)

2. I wish she could stay little for longer. She's learning and growing. I love to see her excitement and determination, but my arms ache at the thought of being empty. I know that's down the road a bit. Right? But life really does move so quickly.

3. Brittain, in her own words, is "so glad to have me". She has more personality crammed into her petite little body than you would imagine possible. I am so glad to have her too!

4.I'm thinking about printing this one on canvas. It is so Brittain:

5. Mason started soccer. He loves it! So I am an official soccer Mom. And I love it too! (Loved this post!)Also, I'm co-coaching his team and it is such a blast.

6.

7. Avery is not loving second grade. "Eh, it's fine." Recess has been nearly non-existent, filled instead with laps around the track until her class can learn to be quiet while the teacher is talking. Plus, her table hasn't earned Popsicles one. single. time. Life is rough.

8. She really enjoyed doing her North Carolina Geography project though:

9. I took the kids to the Health Adventure last week. The first exhibit had a chair of the spinning variety. When you pull your arms and legs in it spins faster, then extend them to slow down. I knew better. I should have known better. But Avery looked like she was having so much fun and she gets motion sick too. So I tried it. I was so SICK! Literally. Me and all four of the babes made a mad dash for the restrooms and crammed inside. I felt a little better afterwards, enough so that I could drag myself from one exhibit to the next and fall promptly into a non-spinning chair. It was super lame. And then Brittain had an accident. Of the poo variety. In her big girl underwear. Not good for an already weak stomach. Somehow we managed to clean that mess up and stayed 'til closing time. Some days are like that. No pictures for this one. You're welcome.

10. And some days are like this:
Whispers and giggles while little surprises are thought up and carried out. Melt my heart.

Two

Party time!

A birthday kiss.

And a birthday wish.

Brittain is talking up a storm and has been forever. She is such a sweet girl and is constantly (constantly) saying, "I love you, Mom.", "I love you, Dad." She calls Avery, "Avery Cakes" and Mason, "Mason boy" just like the rest of us. She gives loves all the time while saying, "oh, ohhh..." If anyone is crying she will be the first to try and console. She's often the first to say thanks for dinner.

Brittain can still balance in the air on her daddy's hand and she loves to do it. She's all smiles and loves to perform. Ryan thinks at this rate he might be able to balance Brittain and the new baby at the same time. I think not.

Brittain loves to dance, run, jump (especially on the bed), and she can already do sommersaults. She love, loves to sing. Anything from I am a Child of God or Old McDonald to Lady Gaga.

She entered the "why, Mom?" and "watch, Mom" phase way earlier than her siblings. It's so hard to believe that she's only two. It's so hard to believe that she's already two.

She gave us a run for our money as a baby but she's making up for it every day! I'm so grateful she's a part of our family!



She's changed so much since last year.

Remember when...

I thought it would be a good idea to check my email while Brittain painted?

(I love watercolors! So much fun. Such a big mess. So quick to clean up!)

All dressed up

(maybe I should have said "decked out") and no place to go. (But it's too darn cold anyway!)

Brittain spent the morning in frustration trying to get and keep both backpacks on her back while keeping her too big, mismatched shoes on her baby doll. Here's a moment when all the world was right!

boo!

May your Halloween be as spooky as what lurks in the depths of my refrigerator.
Mwaahaahaa ha ha...

You can see my little spooks here. (Sorry for linking. The pictures posted better bigger.)

"D" is for Doughnuts!

Last Wednesday was a teacher's workday. Which presented the perfect opportunity to give in to my craving (can you call them cravings if you want them just as badly when you're not pregnant?) for Krispy Kremes. I know all that stuff about, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" and all that jazz, but really, I can't think of a better way to have started the day. Especially considering how the rest of the day went.
I'm in love with these pictures. And also, looking at them makes me want another donut. (Doughnut?)









When can we do it again?!

Beautiful Mess

Before the mess.

I couldn't pass up the sweet light going on in the front yard. So here is Miss Brittain with all of her messy hair, dirty face, slobber-soaked shirt, I-couldn't-be-cuter self. I still haven't done her 1 yr. old pics (and she's almost 15 months!). It's stressful to be on both sides of the camera on picture day so I keep putting it off, wanting everything to be perfect.

It turns out this is exactly how I want to remember her at this age.

Counting my blessings

This is one of those times when you say, "Where was her mother?!"


It was Avery's parent teacher conference. Ryan and I both wanted to go so we gathered the flock, two in the double stroller, and one on foot, and headed up the hill to school. Avery and Mason happily built tree houses out of Lego's while Brittain did everything she could to wriggle free from my inhibiting arms. I gave her my keys. My cell phone. Eventually she won and joined her siblings on the floor.

We continued to look over Avery's work and talk with her teacher. After awhile Avery came over and asked where Brittain was. From the corner of my eye I saw that the back door that opens to the kindergarten playground was open a crack. I jumped up and flew out the door. When I saw that the gate to the playground that leads to the parking lot and road was open my heart fell to the floor and stopped beating.

Brittain loves to be outside. I knew immediately if she saw that she could get out she would. I headed first to the street, running and screaming her name. I scanned up and down what is easily one of the busiest streets this part of town. All the while praying for her safety. Avery came out and I hollered for her to check the back playground. She was nowhere to be found.

Then Ryan came out and was heading the opposite direction. I was in a complete panic. After a while Ryan yelled out, "I see her!" He pointed to the main playground. She had made it down 30-ish concrete steps and was standing at the base of the hill, all but hidden from view, in a pile of gravel. Happy as a clam. She didn't even know she was missing!

We both ran to her. Ryan made if first and held her tighter than I've ever seen. I continued praying. This time in thanksgiving. Once Ryan placed Brittain in my arms my heart started to beat again. Race, actually. I'm sure it was just trying to make up for all the beats it had skipped when I couldn't find my baby.

It's crazy how fast things can happen. It is a miracle that she was kept safe and I am so grateful for that.

So I don't forget

(and also, so I can refrain from knocking heads together. It's been that kind of a week), I wanted to jot down a few things that I love right now.

-the way Mason pronounces his "r"'s like "l"'s and now we all call Brittain, "Blittain".

-the way Brittain covers her ears when we play peek-a-boo and I say "Where's Brittain?"

-the way Avery's face lights up when she makes me laugh.

-the way Avery makes me breakfast almost every Sunday and how she discovered the heat vent can double as a toaster. (Yum.)

-the way Mason says,"Mom, I want to hold you", when he needs some extra lovin'.

-the way Brittain comes running every time the washer is on spin cycle and she'll lean her head against it and smile. Or the way she appears out of nowhere when I open the dishwasher so she can (climb up on the door and jump up and down) help.

-I never want to forget the way I whisper, "I love my baby" in Brittain's ear and she smiles and then leans in close to hear it again.

-the way Avery is so helpful with her brother and sister and how she can make Mason gut-laugh-giggle.

-the way Brittain comes over to give me a hug or lay her head on me for second and is off playing again.

-the way every time Mason sees me putting on makeup he asks if we're going to church. Really, I need to get "ready" more often. Or how he tells me every time I really am getting ready for church that I look beautiful or "like a princess". This morning he told Brittain she looked wonderful.

-the way Avery and Mason will snuggle up in a twin size bed and dream the night away together. Only after much whispering, giggles, and more stories.

There. So now I can remember. And I don't even want to bang their heads together anymore. Two birds. One stone.

More pictures. Really?

I think this may be one of my favorite ages. Smiles, cuddles, unconditional love, sleeping through the night (most of the time). I love watching Brittain explore and just delight in simple things.

I know I've been posting pics of the kiddos like crazy but we've been cooped up. Writing hurts my brain. Photography is therapeutic.

There are more pictures of Brittain here. Some of my favorite to date. If you're bored.

And now for a totally unrelated tidbit. I know I've posted before how crazy Sunday mornings tend to be. But I do love Sundays. Here are a couple of reasons why. First, every time I get ready for church Mason says, "Mom, you're beautiful." or "You look like a princess" albeit a little incredulously, but still, so sweet! And lately Avery has taken it upon herself to make my breakfast. String cheese, an apple, or occasionally hard-to-swallow-toasted-on-the-floor-heater bread (I eat it anyway, even though I know where it's been.) She can be such a sweetheart. It really gets the Sabbath day off to a good start. Last Sunday Ryan didn't have early morning meetings so he was home and Avery made breakfast for both of us. Ryan told her it was Fast Sunday so he couldn't have any. A little later she asked why I wasn't eating my breakfast. I told her again it was Fast Sunday so I wasn't eating. She got wide eyed and asked, "How fast is it going to go?" Honey, not fast enough. Guess we need to explain that in a little more detail.

Light Weight

Brittain is small for her age. She is barely at the 3% curve, at least for her weight. She has 3 more pounds to go before I can turn her forward facing in her car seat. She can easily put away more than her older brother and sister at meal time. I don't know what the deal is. Maybe the fact that she has a minimum of 4 poopy diapers a day has something to do with it. Is that normal?
My 6 month old nephew? He's not so little. He's not HUGE, but he easily outweighs Brittain who is 8 months his senior. Sadly, I haven't even met Braxton in real life. My cute sis-in-law Beckii thought it would be fun to compare their size and came up with the laundry basket idea. You can see her cutie pie here.
This turned out to be much more fun (and difficult) than I ever imagined, as Brittain was much more interested in standing and pushing the laundry basket rather than sitting in it. This girl must be starving. At least that might explain why she was eating blue and green watercolor pencils as I went to fetch the laundry basket.

Mason thought it looked like great fun too.

I love this one of them doing the exact same thing. The best part? They were entertained for the next thirty-something minutes.

Laffy Taffy Worthy?

You decide.

Jokes in these parts have evolved. It used to be the "knock knocks" that had us laughing. This is the type of comedy that has us in stitches of late:

me: "Why did the horse go to the mall?"
answer: "To get her neigh-ls done." Get it? (I totally made that up.)

Avery followed with: "Why did the horse go downstairs?" (We keep the tools and such in the basement.)
answer: "To find some neigh-ls." Pretty funny.

But this one takes the cake...
Mason: "Why did the horse go downstairs?"
answer: "To get the ta- weezers (nieghs the word tweezers, like a horse.) You're on your own with this one. (I'll admit it had us laughing the hardest.)

I feel like a new me. I seriously hibernate during the winter. Thankfully it's not very long in these parts. Now that the sun is smiling, and the birds are singing I have a skip in my step. The other day I took Mason and Brittain to Fun Depot, they have this great soft play area that is usually jam-packed with little bodies. We had that place to ourselves for more than an hour. Mason was afraid to go down the slides himself. He usually hangs with Avery but since she was at school he convinced me to go down a couple of times. It was so much fun! Brittain laughed almost the entire time we were there. I was so bummed I didn't have my camera.

We've also been diggin' the park scene.



And the front porch.

I love this picture of Brittain! I just want to grab her out of that picture and twirl her around. She is just getting to be so much fun. Yay for sunshine!!

High Maintenance

Although it may not be apparent in these pictures, high maintenance is Brittain's middle name!
She is always happy and content outside though. Here she is hoping for more freedom than just the front deck has to offer. We are all enjoying this warmer weather. Or we were before it got crazy cold again.
(Thanks for the outfit Mom and Dad. It's so cute!)

It's your birthday, shout Hooray!

I can hardly believe that you are a year old. Seems like just yesterday you were brand new.

That may be largely due to the lack of sleep from then until now!

You were so anxious to join our family, Brittain. If you'd only known then... We learned you were on your way only nine (and a half) months after your big brother Mason got here. I only panicked a little one Sunday morning when I thought Mason wouldn't even be a year before your arrival. When I figured out I'd done the math wrong and actually he'd be the ripe old age of 1 1/2 years (aka nursery age)I knew we could do it. And I was so excited! I think you two would have been twins if I could have handled it. You are the best of friends and Mason has been smitten with you since day one. You always have so much fun together!



And Avery was so excited to hear you were a girl, "Can't ya believe it! I got my sister," she said. She's such a good helper with you.



You are a wiggle worm. You almost never hold still for longer than 2 seconds at a time. That is why we treasure moments like this...



You are such a tiny little thing. Still. It's so cute to watch you cruising and walking around. You look way too little. You found your voice recently and you love to talk and sing. You've been saying "dada" for a long time and have finally added "momma" to your vocabulary. Thanks for that. We are pretty tight. It's only right that you use my name occasionally.



It's been so much fun watching you grow and come into your own. It is such a blessing having you in our family. I love you so much! I could just kiss you all day long! So please, don't grow up too fast. And please, please, pretty please keep on sleeping at night so that this next year is not such a blur!

Love always,
your Mama