A Blessed Thanksgiving

We have so many things to be thankful for in my household. My husband and I's lives could have turned out so differently if it wasn't the dedication of our family and God. This Thanksgiving seemed to be extra special since we were celebrating the birth of two new lives in our family, not to mention our other cousin Kelli is pregnant and due in April.

Cayleigh-Grace and Vincent @ Grandma's for Thanksgiving

Its amazing the more children I have the more I seem to appreciate them and everything that comes with them. Babies and children are a lot of work, but you know I wouldn't change anything about my life. I love each of my children so much and even though we got pregnant so young (I was 17) our lives have turned out wonderfully. When you get pregnant young the only thing people tell/yell at you is that you have ruined your life, and you will never have anything good, and you will never amount to anything. Well I believe that we have proven everyone wrong. In our own way that is. We are by all means not rich, but we are rich in love and support for each other. Its amazing how strong Kiale and I's relationship has become. We love our children unconditionally and we support each other 100%. I have learned several things during the past almost six years since I found out I was pregnant with Kiale, it doesn't matter what anyone else's opinion of success is, or any of their opinions for that matter. What does matter is everything that goes on within these walls that we call our home. We are a very close and tight nit family and I pray that we will continue to become closer as our children age, and that Kiale and I's relationship continues to blossom and grow throughout the years. I know that God will continue to play a special role in our family, and I cannot wait to see what is plans are for us in the future.

God has truly blessed Kiale and I with each other, our three children, and our ever growing family. This I am completely thankful for.

My sisters and I at Thanksgiving... really they are both taller than me but I was cheating and standing on a step.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday... Busy Busy Busy!!!

My goodness has the past four days been crazy busy! I honestly feel like I have been going non stop forever now, I think all of the busyness really caught up to me today. Talk about feeling overwhelmed and overextended... needless to say my house was trashed, and I was about 5 loads of laundry and 2 loads of dishes behind! And we are supposed to decorate on Friday... right... I still need to do all of the housecleaning that comes after dishes and clothes and that's a lot.

Sunday... was a wonderful day the five of us got up bright and early and headed up to Jax to go see my wonderful cousin, her husband, and her new baby Vincent at the hospital. I have never held a baby so small in my life he was 6lbs 12oz & 19 1/4in, all of my babies were big(7lbs 15oz, 8lbs 11oz, & 10lbs 7oz), he is so sweet and tiny. I have to admit, although you are not allowed to tell my boys, he is the cutest baby boy I have ever seen. He is just so incrediably cute!! He has John's nose, and in my opinion the rest of him looks like my Uncle Jimmy. Genetics are so amazing.
Later that afternoon we went to my Niece/ 2nd cousin's 2nd birthday party. I cannot believe that she is two already, and so cute too!! The party was followed by a trip to two different puppy shops, although we came home empty handed, and dinner at our favorite Japanesse Steakhouse!

Monday... I got up and took the boys to my Mom's house for the day while I went back up to Jax to help out my cousin. She was, and still is, recouperating from her C-section. Not to mention she & Vincent had to figure out the whole breastfeeding thing. Which as any first time mom would agree is never easy. Vincent had a Dr. appointment that day also, so it ended up being a very busy day. We even squezed in a very short trip to Target. I am so amazed at my cousin Lindsay, I don't know how she is doing it with the section recovery. I think I would be layed up in bed, she is getting up and around wonderfully!!

Tuesday... The kids and I all headed back up to Jax again. It was such a wonderful day. The boys are very taken with their new little cousin. Little Kiale was such a big helper. Vincent was crying after Lindsay had breastfed him, and following his suppliment of formula, and Kiale couldn't find his pacifier so he decided that maybe he was still hungrey so he went (all on his own) and grabed his bottle and started feeding him what was left in it. Needless to say he was right Vincent was still a little hungrey. And Kiale new exactly what he needed. He is such a wonderful Big Brother/Cousin!! I am so pround of my little man!

Kiale's Last Soccer Game

Kiale's last soccer game was on Saturday, he did such a wonderful job. Its amazing how much all of the kids have improved throughout the three month season. Kiale actually scored three points during his game!! (I was, and still am a very proud Momma) It was wonderful to see him having so much fun playing. He is now looking forward to T-Ball in spring. I cannot wait to see which sport, if any, turns out to be his niche. He loved soccer, so we will see how T-Ball goes, I know I am excited.

Kiale fixing to score one of his three goals.

Kiale and his buddy Matthew playing it out for the ball.

Getting his trophy from his coach.

Getting his certificate from my mom.

Vincent Eric is here!!

Vincent Eric made his grand debut via C-Section at 7:45 tonight. Weighing in at 6lbs 12oz, and a full head of black hair. Mom, Dad, and baby are doing wonderfully!!

All Finished

For our sweet Vincent Eric, I cannot wait to meet him tomorrow!!

The Birth of a New Day

Today is a wonderful day. I woke up this morning with such a sense of hope and gratitude for what God has made. Today my cousin who is 5 months older than me and way more like a sister than a cousin will be welcoming her sweet son into the world (well it could be tomorrow). She will be heading to the hospital for her induction at 8:30 tonight, she is already 4cm and 60% effaced, so I am giving her six hours of labor tops... at least that is what I am praying for. This is her first child, and with that comes all of the fears of the unknown so please keep her and her husband in your prayers on this wonderfully blessed day.

Children are such a wonderful blessing that God gives us and it is so amazing to know that he has once again blessed our ever growing family with another member. Between family and friends by January of 2009 we will have added 5 new lives to our ever growing group. I cannot wait until Colin's birthday party in March when we will be able to get a group shot of all the kids again (we have forgot at the boys parties this year.)

Well I am off to Walmart, I am short on fabric, and I have a special baby blanket to make today for one sweet little man who will be making his grand appearance into the world within the next 24 hours... or so.

Talking and Rolling

Cayleigh-Grace talking to her "babies" Abby and Zoe, they are her favorite toys.



Finally got video of her rolling over, unfortunately it was at the end of play time so she isn't too happy.

Play Time

Cayleigh-Grace is starting to play now!!

My Sweet Girl

Cayleigh-Grace can rollover from her stomach onto her back now. I put her on her stomach today and she immediately rolled over onto her back, so I put her down on her stomach again and she then rolled the other direction onto her back. I was so surprised when she did it! So I went and got may camera to video her rolling over, and did she... of course not, but I did get some really cute footage of her. You can even hear her talking a little, make sure you have your sound up. She is so cute and precious, this sweet girl has totally captured all of our hearts!! I am so grateful that God gave her to us, he has truly blessed Kiale and I with our wonderful children.

Ears and Needles... tough 2 month day!

So the day started out rough for poor Cayleigh-Grace, it began with a trip to the Dr.s for her two month appt. She is now 13lbs 10oz and 23.5in long. So she has gained 3lbs 3oz, and has grown 2inches already!! It has been so amazing to watch her grow and develop. She has so much personality! The Dr. said that developmentally she is already at a 3month stage, and size wise she is at a 4month stage (not that we are surprised about that one!!!) She did very well with her shots she cried for a few minutes and then that was it she was fine. At 4:30 the little boys and I took her to go do what I have looked forward to having done since I found out I was expecting a daughter. I got her ears pierced. Nana blessed us with an ear piercing kit from Walmart, so it didn't cost me anything. I just took her in and they did it for me for free, Thank you Nana!! The woman that pierced her ears did a wonderful job and I am very pleased with them. She cried less getting her ears pierced than she did getting her shots. Little Kiale took all of the pictures from getting her ears pierced, I think he did a pretty good job for a 5 year old.

Cayleigh-Grace 2 months old

Kiale can READ!!!

My little man can read!! I am so excited. He was looking at his Phonics book that I bought him, and he just starts sounding out the word Cat, and he got it!! He then sounded out Bat, and Hat!! I cannot believe that he is reading already, it is so awesome!! Just had to share!!!

Go Gators!!

Trick or Treat!!

Kiale Jr. aka Optimus Prime

Colin Hunter aka Bumblebee

Cayleigh-Grace aka Baby Kitten

Halloween was wonderful, the boys had such a good time trick or treating! We went to the boys school and played there first. They have lots of games for the kids to play, and food for the parents. Then we went into town and trick or treated at all of the shops, and they even got there picture taken. I cannot wait to see how the picture turned out, but it will probably be a couple of weeks before we see it!!