My 6-year Old

Oh, my girl.
6 years ago right now we were in a stuffy hospital room with handsy nurses and an idiot doctor with a golf game to get to. It had been such a hard pregnancy, such a long wait. There was a couple of points where my life was in danger, and then one point where hers was. The doctor sent me home at 20 weeks pregnant with a "50% chance of losing her". I had been at my weakest up until then, but when that percentage was tossed at my feet, and that clinic room door slammed I rose up. She rose up. We've been battling together since that day. 15 hours of hard labor with a doctor constantly threatening me with surgery if we didn't meet her timeline. We did not. But as Adeline likes to do, she made her own. 5:25, 20 minutes of pushing and I was a momma to an 8lb 1oz 21inch long baby girl.

She didn't take it easy on breaking me in either.
We had nursing issues for 6 weeks until we finally got everything right.
She had colic tendencies and cried ALL of the time.
The only way she would sleep was on my chest.
The only way she was content was if we walked circles around our house bouncing and swaying.

Toddler and preschool years were not much different.
She reached milestones weeks and months early only preparing herself and me to get into trouble earlier than the rest.
Early walker, talker, and learner which was equally bitter as it was sweet.
We would rate her temper tantrums in "Category 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5s".
The 5s were bad. Those required both of us.
So many nights we'd lay in bed repenting our mistakes, questioning our methods, and searching our hearts as to the best way to parent this strong-willed beautiful hurricane child.
She's always been sensitive. Always been passionate. Always tough.

There hasn't been much that came easy when it came to Adeline.
Except loving her.
There is no challenge that could make us love her any less. No trait. No flaw.
I love Adeline as passionately as she loves this life.
As passionately as she loves Jesus.
As passionately as she loves people.
As passionately as she loves that stuffed turtle she's had since she was 4 months old.
As passionately as she loves art, dance, and creating.
As passionately as she loves to cuddle with her daddy.
As passionately as she loves babies, particularly mine.

And if you know Adeline, then you know that means I love her a lot.
We are celebrating 6 years of passion and life and so much unconditional love for this child today. Happy Birthday my sweet Adeline Jean.





and because do come here often to see posts about the kids I've written in the past, I found this question post on her 3rd birthday entry. I re-asked her all of the same questions, and I was surprised most of them haven't changed.

1. What is your favorite color? green
2. What is your favorite toy? my turtle
3. What is your favorite fruit? apple
4. What is your favorite tv show? Doc McStuffins
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Jelly and Butter sandwich
6. What is your favorite outfit? Mickey and Minnie pajamas
7. What is your favorite game? hide and go seek
8. What is your favorite snack? crackers and peanut butter
9. What is your favorite animal? Turtles!
10. What is your favorite song? 'Let it Go'
11. What is your favorite book? Tinkerbelle
12. Who is your best friend? Lily!
13. What is your favorite cereal? Apple Jacks
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? ride my bike and scooter
15. What is your favorite drink? tea
16. What is your favorite holiday? my birthday
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My turtle
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? pancakes
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? tacos
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? mommy

Oh kid. Here's to six.

October Sunsets

My Friday evening was spent with bare feet on cool grass in a succulent sunset.
Crawfish bisque was on the stove, and while Gideon and Philip napped, the girls and I practiced catching big fish in the yard.

Practice makes perfect, and we're going to be glad we oiled up our casting arms tomorrow morning when Daddy brings us fishing.
This will be Adeline's first time in the boat, and I'm so excited.

I'm also really excited about those photos of Selah I got in the sunset today.
I mean really, she's so freaking cute.

A Sweet Spontaneous Summer Day

Philip and I were talking last night about how August is bringing a lot of transitioning for us as a family, but more importantly the kids.

Adeline is very much like me in the fact that she thrives in routine, prefers organization, and gets anxious when things aren't normal.
Philip and Gideon seem to be very opposite of us in that in the fact that spontaneity seems to bring them much more happiness and freedom than a schedule, plans, or routine. 

I know I struggle sometimes when things don't go how I thought they would in my head or when I'm out of my comfort zone, but I also know that some of my happiest moments came from out of no where. Nothing that I could have planned or controlled just spontaneous happiness free flowing in whatever form God willed it.

Last night in talking about how we will have to give the kids some extra grace, reassurance, and love during a month where a new sibling will be in the spotlight along with a couple of new places, programs, and activities for Addie. We are also suspecting our soft-hearted, cuddly, Momma's boy may have a rough time sharing some cuddles with a new little sister who will probably be in my arms a little more than he may be. Simple and common problems when adding a little change to a family, I'm sure, but just something we want to be sensitive to.

I hung up the phone with tears in my eyes and a heavy burden on my heart, so I just prayed it all away until my words faded off somewhere into sleep and dream. I prayed something I don't pray often, but should be prayed daily. I asked God for HIS will to be done in our lives. I relinquished control and my way to His way and complete contentment in it. I prayed for ease and peace through finding and fine-tuning what will soon be our new normal.

So this morning I made a really conscious effort to let go of some normals and do whatever it was came up. I prayed to let God's will control my day, and that it was filled with His glory.

and as usual. He showed up!

 We made a peach pie, and delivered it to someone we hadn't seen in a very long time.

 We brought the kids new tent/club house out from the living room into the back yard with [gasp] 90 degree heat, bugs, and grass long enough to be eerie about creatures lurking.

 Adeline wore her milk mustache/beard, and Gideon swiped my decaf frappe that I drove all the way to Thibodaux for after the kids woke up.

and when Adeline asked me if she could pick a flower for daddy, I told her she could pick a few.

 I can admit that it really bothered me that she insisted on putting these in water in her bucket. (Isn't that ridiculous?!!) I even told her no because flowers go in a vase or a jar inside on the table with water, but I momentarily revoked the veto since flowers really don't go anywhere except where ya want them, and the green castle bucket was fine.

Even though I was really ready to go inside and wanted to avoid swollen frisbee feet this evening, I decided the requested wagon ride would be fine too, and besides I had my camera already so I could take cute pictures. Bonus!

Right. Well while I watched brother wrestle with the wagon and so badly wish he were bigger
I turned to see why sister was quiet which was because of:

 which led to this:

 .....which is so wrong because YOU GUYS you don't play in the water hose in your clothes! You have to have swimsuits on to get wet!

 ....but I guess that's not really true either.

and I felt so content and my heart was so full as the day's moments went by uniquely--slowly today.
One by one and not a one on a check list or mapped out in my head.
I watched kindred spirits laugh and enjoy little things that are hard to notice in a mundane routine.

It was a really nice day, and I really needed that.

Gone Fishing

Princesses in penguin pants like to go fishing too, ya know.
They keep their bait in their "puppy purse", and they protect their golden locks and pearly skin from the sun with an over-sized polka dot hat.

Sometimes though, they put their shoes on the wrong feet on accident when in a hurry to get out while the fish are still hungry.

If daddy isn't home to take her fishing, she's really good at improvising.
Most princesses have a bunk bed that doubles as a boat. They have to be careful though because sharks swim really close to it.
Always do the run and dive when getting into the boat.
A smart princesses out on her own carries a map that looks like a book so she always knows where she's going.

Our lives are really adventurous.
Tonight we're heading into the jungle. 

The Park

It's always a good day when you get to go to the park, but when you get to go with friends it's pretty much equivalent in excitement to your birthday party.... or something else children think is really super awesome fun!

As professional park hoppers we tried out a new park (to us) across town, and lucky for me it was super shady and a little overcast so I was able to stay and enjoy friends and their babies for a good while! 

That's my kid, not Nina's, but I love that picture of her and Gideon. I also love Silas' face in the last one. We took so many of Candace and her three and in almost every one each one was making a funny face. Adeline and I laughed out loud going through all of the pictures. These kids are so fun!

I love these of Adie and Kole. They play so well together, and he's just the sweetest little boy you'll meet! From my observations at this stage in their mature toddler lives, I won't mind if they marry in a couple decades. 

This dude isn't allowed to get married though. He's all mine. To squeeze foreverrrrr!!!

We would adopt this little Lilly of we could. She enjoys playing the little momma role to Gideon, and she's Adeline's absolute best fwiend. Squig asks to play with her every single day, and when she isn't around many times she's imaginary around. Not that I have a weird kid who talks to someone who isn't there, but.... okay maybe I do have a weird kid who pretends like her best friend sleeps in her top bunk.

Precious children they all are!