GRACER

We ADORE Madelyn Grace!!! (Yes, we call her Madelyn Grace.)  Dr.'s told us last March that she most likely would be born early.  At twenty-eight weeks I tested positive for preterm labor.  So, we prayed and prayed that she would come not a day to soon.  She came at the perfect time, and was the perfect gift for B and us.  We struggled with a name for a while, and Madelyn fit her and Grace was a description of God's Grace to allow her to grow until that perfect time.    It is fitting that her nickname is Grace or Gracer.  She is sweet, kind, and well puts up with Brynn nagging from time to time. The song she loves to be sung is Amazing Grace.  A little rocking, and Amazing Grace with put her to sleep in moments!   So below is our GRACER:

JuJu, the babysitter at night!!

It's Christmas Time!!

The Holidays are a wonderful time of the year!!!  We love watching Christmas through Brynn's young eyes.  She is excited about EVERYTHING, and makes Birthday Cards for Jesus daily with her glitter glue and what ever she can find.  This year Brynn has been attending Pinedale with friends of ours, and they have a preschool choir.  Brynn loves to sing, and we loved watching her preform.  Below are a few pics from the performance. 

Another exciting thing for Brynn are PARTIES!! Christmas Parties. . this week it was preschool party!! So we backed the cupcakes together the night before!! Brynn was a BIG helper!!!

Then we frosted the cupcakes in the morning!! Including Frosting on the lips!!

Then it was off to preschool for the Party. (She still wants to be Fancy Nancy, so a dress was found for the occasion. :-)   At the Party. . waiting to eat!!

Just Shy of 6 Months

It is hard to believe that Madelyn is going to be six months old this week!! The time goes faster and faster each week. She continues to be the BEST baby I have ever met, and has the sweetest personality. She is patient, and laid back. She loves Brynn, and smiles when she sees or hears me.  Below is and update on Madelyn:
Favorites:  Toys that Light Up or Make Noise, and Exosaucer
Food: Any Fruit or Veggie Purreed.  (She will Eat ANYTHING)
Sleep: One Morning Nap (1 to 2 hrs.) One Afternoon Nap  (1 to 2 hrs)  Cat Nap around 4, Bed:7:30,
Wakes to Eat at 10, then at 5:00ish.
Milestones: She is begining to sit up for short amounts of time.  She grabs everything, and is begining to show the begining signs of crawling.
Language Skills:  Babbling. Will Babble with you, and back.  (No real words)
Clothes (6 Months, slightly smaller than B)

Thanksgiving, and FANCY Brynn

This year was the Clayton's Year for Thankgiving. So, this year Lisa graciously opened up her home and hosted all of us.  Below is a picture of the Clayton Family. Everyone was able to make it beside Matt's brother Josh.  Brynn loves events like these as she plays and plays with Sam and Charlie.  At the end of the day she cried and cried as she had to go. However, she slept like a CHAMP that night. 

 

On Thanksgiving we also determined tha Brynn was begining to make connections with books.  She has been fascinated with the book character Fancy Nancy.  Fancy Nancy is a character that LOVES to be fancy with her clothes, how she eats, and talks. My Mom, (Yia,Yia) has sent her books about Fancy Nancy for each Holiday. We read and reread them, and laugh and laugh.  Brynn has decided lately that she wants to be fancy ALL the time.  So, each day she picks out her fancy dresses and wears them all day. (I have put aside the Christmas Dress, for ONLY Sundays)

 



BIBLE IN 30 MIINUTES

Friends of ours have a Theatrical Ministry and invited Brynn to try out theater.  (small scale) Their first play was going to be; The Bible in 30 Minutes.  Each week Matt, and Brynn would go to practice and begin to learn how to take part in a play.  Well, along the way Matt got involved and became part of the show.  So, together Brynn and Matt learned a few lines, learned how to act, aspent a LOT of time together, learned more about the Bible, and made some new friends.  This weekend was their first performance.  Matt was Jesus.:) Brynn was Cain, and Children in the New Testament. Both of them did excellent are remembered all of their lines. 

Getting Ready for her parts.

Bryn and Parker Acting

Brynn listening  by Daddy

Matt acting out his part.

I AM THANKFUL FOR. . MY SISTER

Madelyn Grace 5.5 Months

Madelyn has been with us for about five and a half months.  Each day I am amazed by the love that Madelyn can give, and that is given to her.  As Madelyn entered the family we knew that there would be a time in which Brynn was  not as excited about having Madelyn any more.  Being honest we have seen those times where Brynn is jealous, or acts like a NUT-O to get attention.  However, those "moments" are few and far between.  What we have experienced more often are those irreplaceable moments of unconditional love between siblings.  Brynn wants to do everything for and with her. (wash, feed, walk, crawl, buckle, dress, etc)  She also is very proud of her, and often tells those around her; I got the BEST Birthday present when I was three!! What did you get?;  Madelyn Grace.  So, at preschool the teacher asked each kid what is the one thing you are most thankful for this year?  Brynn quickly said; MADELYN GRACE!!!   Below is her picture that

 

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B's Preschool

I have come to the realization that I will not be everywhere my kids are at all times.  Of course there is always some guilt, as I see other parents be everywhere all the time. However, I am content knowing that we have placed Brynn in a preschool that is helping her develop academically, socially, and spiritually.  One thing we are becoming thankful for are those people that are present, and capture the moments we can not. I know someday, I will be able to do that for someone else once the kids get school age. So, I could not make it to B's preschool party.  Another mother did, and captured the day for me and e-mailed these great pics.

Ms. Allison's 3year Old Class

Kenzlie, Lylhia, and Brynn

The Girls

Hay Ride!!

BIG SMILE!

Brynn, Flynn. . they Rhyme

On the way home from a friends house last night, Brynn asked to play a game.  Usually she asks to play "Doggie, Doggie Where is your Bone? or I Spy. (Games a Three Year Old LOVES!!)   So, I asked her what came did she want to play hoping we had something new.  Her response was,: Rhyming Game.   She continued to say I say a word and you say a word that Rhymes.  It went something like this.
B:  Cat
Me: Sat
B: Hat
Me: Rat

Soon I realized she really knew how to Rhyme, so we tried again with long vowels, and short vowels. Sure enough each time she was recalling words that rhymed or making up nonsense word with the same sounds. I was so excited I called my friend Tammy, and sure enough she would give her words and B would spit back Rhymes.  :)  As an educator and a mom, it makes so excited to see her learn concepts at an early age and LOVE it. 

Helping Mommy Bake, Mouth a Mess, in a her Princess Shirt!

Above is my favorite picture of B from the week...  we were cooking together.

Madelyn is Turning 5 Months Old!!

Madelyn is just about five months old, and is developing more and more of her own personality.  One thing I love about Madelyn is she is very adaptable.  She LOVES to be held, and to be LOVED.  She now smiles when I enter the room, or when she is finished eating.  She loves to giggle at Brynn making weird akward noises, and cackles when B jumps in her crib to assist her. (B loves to SNEAK in, because Madelyn called her.:))  She has begun to eat puree veggies, and a few fruits.  She is an alright sleeper, she takes one good nap a day and a bunch of cat naps. We are still getting up once a night to feed, but quickly back to sleep.  However, this time around I am enjoying that snuggle time and rocking time.  Below are a few reccent pics. of Madelyn. YES! Both of the girls resemble one another.  It is even closer since they are sharing many of the same outfits and supplies. 

On a Side Note~ The last few weeks have been a little rough for our M. She got what we believes was pink eye, that turned into cephalitis of the eye.  Her little left eye is recovering, and we are praying that it continues to heal and that no damage was done.  We will have another check in a few weeks.  The doctors and nurses were great.  One of the nurses saw us numerous times, and claims our M has her own.  We have seen her out in public, and she loves to come and see and hold her. 

Halloween

Brynn LOVES Halloween, and gets so excited to get dressed up!! She loves all of the games, candy,and kids that come along with a good night of Trick 'R Treating.  Brynn's preschool hosted a Trunk R Treat, so we visited SGUM Preschool first, and then headed to the neighborhood for Trick R Treating.  Brynn was a pumpkin and Madelyn was a Pea Pod.  :)   The weather was a little chilly (40's), so we were bundled up and went out for a while. 

LAZY 5 RANCH

I  At the begining of October my parents drove down to see the four of us.  Times with my parents are always cherished as we do not get to see one another as often as we would like.We enjoyed their time here, and always pack a lot of things into a short amount of time.  During their visit we went to visit the Lazy 5 Ranch. The Lazy 5 Ranch is an Open Range Farm that allows families to interact with animals that we do not always interact with.