Grant's First Bottle

Dear Gage, Gabe and Grant,

I went back to work on May 18, so that meant it was time to give Grant a bottle. I had been pumping for several weeks between feedings to store up some milk in the freezer to prepare for me going back to work. Of course, I work third shift so I will be gone while you all are sleeping, but Grant, you're still waking up once during the night so we want to make sure you have something to eat while I'm gone.

Gage, you were so excited about me going back to work because that meant you could give Grant a bottle. You have been so anxious to help out. You help with diaper changes and clothing changes but up until now, I've been the only one able to feed the baby. So after I went to work on Monday night, you gave Grant his very first bottle.

He did very well with the bottle and you did such a great job giving it to him. You're such a great and helpful big brother!

I love you,
Mommy

Grant's First Visit to Indiana

Dear Gage, Gabe and Grant,

Last Friday we went up to Indiana to visit Great Grandma. She has been home for a few months since breaking her hip in November, but we've had a lot going on and not had a chance to visit. We did go visit her in January while she was in the nursing facility, but it's not the same as a visit to her home. We got to her house around 11 and introduced her to her 16th Great Grandchild! She has 16 Grandchildren and 16 Great Grandchildren and when you were born Grant, you evened out the numbers to 16 boys and 16 girls! How cool is that?

We visited while I fed you Grant and then we headed into Fort Branch for lunch at Sandy's Pizza. They have great food and it had been a very long time since I've enjoyed their pizza. After a delicious lunch we stopped in to see Uncle Steve and Aunt Peg.

We made our way up to Princeton to visit with Great Grandpa. He's in The Waters, a long term care facility. He was doing pretty well and he got to meet you Grant. It absolutely melted my heart to see him hold you and love on you. The facility was having a circus day so there were some activities in the main lobby. Daddy took you boys down to check out the fun while I visited with Great Grandpa. We had a nice visit and I was so happy to see him.

 

We finished out our day back at Great Grandma's house. Gage, you were so excited to play in the basement and had talked about playing since we told you where we were going. Great Grandma's basement was always a paradise for me when I was a child and it hasn't changed much at all. Daddy helped Great Grandma with a few gardening chores while I fed you Grant. Before we knew it, it was time to head back to Kentucky. We had such a wonderful time visiting the Hoosiers. I was so happy to see my grandparents and look forward to seeing them again soon.

 

I love you,
Mommy

Happy Mother's Day 2015

Dear Gage, Gabe and Grant,

This year I was off work for Mother's Day since I was on maternity leave. It was nice to be able to spend my special day with my special boys. We went to church in the morning and then had lunch at home. Granny and Pa came by to visit and we gave Granny an outdoor lantern for her flower beds.

Selfie with two of my boys

Love, love, love this!

We went down to the creek for a little while in the afternoon to enjoy the sunshine. Gage and Gabe, it you love playing in the water and throwing rocks. It is such a joy to watch you all enjoy the outdoors.
We came home and Daddy made my favorite dinner: roasted veggie pesto pizza. Sissy came over to eat with us and it was so nice to see and visit with her.



Presents for Momma

 After dinner, we played outside and ate cheesecake.

Daddy took it easy with a sampler cheesecake for dessert

Mommy and Sissy

At dusk we came inside and ate some popcorn. We gave Dows her necklace as her gift.

Mommy and Gage

Mommy and Gabe

Mommy and Grant

Giving Dows her necklace

I love being a Mommy!

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful step daughter and three handsome sons. I love you all so very much! Thank you for making my Mother's Day perfect.

I love you,
Mommy

Sissy and Preston go to Prom

Dear Gage, Gabe and Grant,

 

This year Sissy went to prom with her boyfriend Preston. We went to see her before she went so we could take some pictures. She looked absolutely gorgeous. We're so proud of our beautiful Sissy.



 

 

Gage, you thought Sissy looked like a princess. You actually asked if she was getting married. Haha! When we left, you were so sad you couldn't go to prom with them.



Gabe, you fell asleep on the way to Sissy's house, and since you are a bear when you get woken up prematurely, we just let you sleep.

I love you,
Mommy

Visit to Nashville Zoo

Dear Gage, Gabe and Grant,

On May 5, we decided to head down to Nashville to visit the zoo. I had never been there before, so I was very excited to check it out. I had been wanting to take you all for quite some time and we decided that morning would be the perfect day to go. We didn't tell you all where we were going so it would be a wonderful surprise. We stopped and had lunch before we got to the zoo and Gage, you thought your special surprise was a visit to Burger King! Ha! Ha!

We got to the zoo around 11:30 and went right to exploring. We came upon the Kangaroo Kickabout and we were able to walk around inside their enclosure. We were instructed to stay on the path and not to approach the kangaroos. We were allowed to pet them only if they approached us. Unfortunately, none of them wanted to be petted but we were still able to see them up close.

We rode a little train and got to see an ostrich, some antelopes and some horses. It was quite small, but you boys were so excited to be riding on the Choo Choo.

We found the tiger exhibit, and got to see one off in the distance. Gage you were wondering why they weren't "Rahring." Too funny.

That's why they weren't "rahring."

We visited Flamingo Lagoon and got to admire the beautiful birds. Gabe, these were your favorite. You loved looking at the birds.

Red pandas in the tree

Gage posing with the bamboo in the Bamboo Trail

Giant tortoise eating its lunch

We stopped at the petting zoo: Critters Encounters. You boys were so excited to pet the little goats and chased them around until they let you pet them.

Hanging out with the lemurs

We loved the lemurs

African elephants

 We took a break from the exhibits and the heat to have a snack. You boys got green apple snow cones and I had a dark chocolate and coconut covered frozen banana. Delish!

Of course, we can't enjoy snow cones without making a huge mess.
Luckily, we were outside.

Beautiful giraffes

We had such a wonderful time visiting Nashville Zoo. There were a few exhibits that were closed down and a few under construction. We were still able to see a lot of animals. It was such a good time!

I love you,
Mommy