Growing

Hannah Reece skips into the kitchen with a huge smile on her face.

"Mom, guess what?  I don't need a stool anymore or the potty to stand on...I can reach the sink all by MYSELF!"

At age 3 years and 8 months you wear a size 4/5 in clothing (just a teeny bit smaller than Graham) and wear a size 11 in shoes.  You are growing like a weed girl!  Daddy loves to take you shopping at Goodwill or Target for clothes, if only you'd wear them.  Within 30 minutes of dressing (in any outfit) you say that it's "hot" or "itchy" or "it's bovering me."  You'd be perfectly happy to be naked all. day. long.

Jokes

I was feeding Camille in the living room today, Graham went into the girls' room and decided to have a little fun on the baby monitor.  The receiver was right next to me.

Hi Mommmm!

Hello Graham.

Mommmm!  Knock-knock.

Who's there?

Ball.

Ball who?

Ballcano!!! (wildly laughing...I had to laugh too!)

Graham, that's VOL-cano. 

Mom!  THAT's what I SAID BALL-cano! Laughs wildly again. 

Knock-knock.

Who's there.

Ma.

Ma Who?

Mario!!!! (wildly laughing)

(I'm crackin' up now too, and that really get's him going!)

Knock-knock!!!!

Who's there.

Pa.

Pa who?

Papa, I'm on the stool!!!!

I think it's safe to say, Graham enjoys entertaining-others and himself.  :)

Busted!

Even Miss Charly has moments (like a couple of other little folks I know) when she wishes she could still be the baby!  :)

Daddy Love

Daddy got SMILES today!  Camille first smiled on Sunday...and today we were able to capture those sweet gummy grins to share with you!

All of this smiling makes me sleepy!  :)

Baby Bliss

After spending 9ish months of wondering, waiting, anticipating...it is pure enjoyment to sit and watch and learn our baby girl.  We're starting to recognize certain cries...tired, wet, hungry or hurt. Soaking up every expression, gurgle and coo. Though I haven't yet captured it in a photograph...recently we've even seen sweet, happy SMILES!

Miss Camille is a good sleeper; however, she'd like to be stuck to momma... especially when she's sleeping.  All that to say, having a hands-free moment is few and far between these days.  :)  So even though I'm tempted to sit here and write all kinds 'a business about this precious baby and post a million and one pictures...I'm realizing that I've gotta pick and choose what I need to do during these precious few moments...and y'all I am POOPED!  So I'll post a couple and then it's off to bed for this worn out momma.

Speaking of that, have you ever felt like the Lord's using every voice around to speak a truth that needs to be heard?  Well here's a peek at just a couple of voices I'm hearing with a very similar (and timely) theme, that I sure need to hear... and maybe these thoughts and these will be an an encouragement to you, also.  God is so good to gently lead with whispers (and sometimes shouts!) of encouragement and grace.

~Camille Grace at one month old on April 14~

Camille is our first baby to take a pacifier without hollerin' about it, but she's still on the search for that thumb!

 Sweet sleeper...at 4 weeks Camille developed baby acne, it's starting to fade but definitely gets redder when she's sweaty or upset.

Camille's first bottle was a joint venture.  I never gave the other two kiddos a bottle because I had such trouble using the pump.   I decided to give it a go again for Camille so that Daddy and big brother and sister could help out with feedings too... so far, so good. This little invention (which Hannah Reece refers to as my bre*st leaker) has been awesome for collecting extra milk, too.

These three keep us hoppin'!  :)

New Life...Everlasting!

I hear the Savior say,

“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down
All down at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Lyrics: Elvina M. Hall, 1865. Composer: John T. Grape.

First Days

One thing I've learned by now, is how FAST these first days, weeks, months go with a newborn.  I'm forcing myself to take this rare quiet moment to remember (and share)...because I don't want these precious fleeting days to blur together.  

Honestly, I think I'd be content to sit in my rocking chair staring at my baby girl's sweet face, all day long.  ;)  Thanks to our moms and my husband, I've been able to do just that for over 2 weeks now.  Just look at my view...burping our baby....she's so sweet.  We've taken to affectionately calling Camille my little "glue-dot" because she's happiest when she's stuck to me like glue.  :)  So far, she loves to sleep and when she's awake, very peaceful and alert.  She's especially fascinated by her big brother and sister's antics-oh there are some funny stories to tell, but that will have to wait for another post!  

For now, here are a few fun pics from Camille's first 2 weeks...

Daddy's happy place....they're all asleep!  :)

Camille found her thumb, she'll also take the pacifier...

but that thumb's so convenient! ;)

Her first bath...not a happy camper.

Wait...is that my thumb?

Big sister, "fixing" Camille's hair. 

Reecie is my little side-kick in baby care.

We have been so fortunate to have Dan's mom and my mom (Grandma and Nana) stay with us for the last 2 1/2 weeks during this time of transition. They have helped with meals, cleaning, laundry, errands, spending quality time with Graham and Hannah Reece, and anything else we've needed along the way. We are so incredibly grateful for their gift of time with us. Camille is our first "away" baby, living far away from family. It's been different but do-able because of their time with us and for the help of precious friends we've met here in North Carolina.

Big brother had his first bout with Strep Throat this weekend. This was nerve-racking especially because Dan had class on Friday and Saturday, thank goodness Nana was here to care for Graham and provide germ-control.

Here's Miss Camille with Grandma and Nana