5 Monthers

I've really had some "Come to Jesus" moments lately. I get so frustrated when I don't have time to keep up on things like blogging, cleaning, laundry, updating baby books, cooking, working out, making headbands, coordinating family night, etc. I eventually am forced mid-freak-out to sit back and remember 4 VERY important words in my life right now:

 "You're Gonna Miss This"

...Easily followed by 4 EVEN MORE important words: Kayson, Hallie, Payten, Saydee. Yes, I am human and I'm going to have my lunatic moments...I'm GOING to feel overwhelmed 75% of my day...but...I will miss this. If I got everything accomplished that I needed to, or was caught up on every blog post or task, I would be missing this. And that's not what I want. Sometimes I have to remind myself, with the help and comfort of the Lord, that putting ALL of myself into my children right now is all that matters and everything ELSE I'm able to accomplish is a bonus. And that's all it is. It's not easy when I like my house spotless. But everytime I look at a mess I can't get to, instead of feeling helpless and frustrated, I try to tell myself...it doesn't matter...you have the rest of your life to keep a clean house...NOW IS NOT THE TIME. Phew. There. I said it. I'm giving up to give THEM more. Now it's a work in progress...it's not always easy...but I agree to it...and here's why:

Dear Hallie Bear,
Your beautiful blue eyes and long curly eyelashes captivate me. I find myself staring at them sometimes. When you open up that big smile you melt me. I see so much of myself in your little personality. Strong, confident, independent, demanding, loving. I think you make a perfect "baby A" as I can see you being such a leader and good example to your little sisters. You were always the smallest and the last 2 months you've passed both of your sisters up and weigh the most. Your cry is so unique...sometimes we can't figure out if it's a door squeaking or a cat meowing...it's a toss up. I can't get enough of your chunky little thighs and I'm going to be sad the day my fingers no longer wrap all the way around them! I absolutely adore the way you babble to us and keep going and going interrupting us...you have to get the last word in always! You are our snuggler...big time. You could just sit in our lap, quiet as a mouse for hours. You're infamous for waking hours early...around 5 or 6am demanding to hop in bed with mom and dad...which we are suckered into every time. Who could resist the precious way you suck away on your binky and cuddle into our arms? You protest being on your tummy, you eat like it's a race, you hate getting in your carseat and your reddish hair gets so cute and curly when wet. You're a sleepyhead and usually have to be woken up after nap. You've already figured out how to pull your binky out and you love babbling to your sisters. You don't laugh much yet, but you find the tone in our voice funny at times and you almost giggle. We love you so much "big sister"!

Dear Payten Leigh,
What can I say? You are our Little Princess and Sweetheart. There isn't a masculine bone in your body. You are the most elegant, dainty priss I've ever seen. You are so long and lean, measuring an inch taller than your sisters but weighing the same and sometimes a little less. You love to talk...although it sounds more like singing the way you do it. You have these quiet, purrlike noises when you talk and you smile anytime someone even looks at you!! But you're bashful, sometimes you'll smile so big and then turn away in shyness. And you hate to smile in front of the camera. I absolutely adore the way you love to tickle mommy's chest and face to get my attention. You are a morning person...which you got from me! You are always the last one up in the morning and usually it's because you're just laying in your bed talking. Big brother Kayson is often in your room talking to you when you wake up...you two have a special connection. You love when mommy sings to you and you are quite a daddy's girl. You have a pretty quiet cry unless you're REALLY mad. You love to play with toys and Zebra is your favorite. You're difficult to put to bed because you just lay there smiling at us! We always find you in a different spot in your crib because you're a wiggle worm. I think my favorite thing about you is the love you have for your sisters already. You are always looking at them with a huge smile on your face and you reach out slowly and lovingly to touch them. You're always trying to snuggle them, get their attention, comfort them when they are crying...it's precious. I know as you grow up that you will be the peacemaker in our home and the glue that holds you and your sisters together. I love that about you. You're such a good baby...the definition of "an easy baby". We love our Princess Payte!

Dear Saydee Bug,
My are you my feisty little ball of energy. And as of late...our smileybox!! I can't even describe the happiness you bring to everyone around you when you infect them with your big bright smile! Your face can have one very serious & calm look one minute, and the next your smile owns your whole face...your eyes squint, your tongue sticks out..I mean you have the biggest smile in the world and it's to DIE FOR!!!! You will smile at the sound of just about anyone's happy voice, even if it's not directed at you. You love to babble and your favorite sound is "geeeee". You still have a cry that starts out like a cough and ends up as the loudest scream on the block...often getting you first class service. You're our little munchkin. You are still pretty short and have a darling little noggin...precious little bug. You have these big beautiful blue eyes and they are the first thing people notice about you. You're a sweet sweet baby...you love attention and you love to play. You love when your sisters talk to you and you smile at just the sight of them. You love to spit up and you still make cute piggy and lamb noises! Don't ask me how. You are our strongest baby...the first to push up and rest on your arms while on your belly...the first to stand on your legs. You love to sit and just look around taking everything in around you. You're a great observer. You like to discover your toys and you LOVE to watch colorful movies on tv. You haven't really grown any hair yet so we can't wait to see what your hair is going to look like one day, but you're a pretty good sport when mommy puts all her headbands on you! We love your bubbly attitude and can't get enough of the cheer you bring to our home!

This was the best picture I could get of the 3 of them....

...and THIS is how most of the shots turned out...haha...3 adorable frowns!

Last, Great Grandma Kathy came to visit us for a wonderful week full of lots of snuggles and kisses and a huge help to mommy!! Kayson loved having "G.G" visit and he slept downstairs with her almost every night!