Kids and Christmas!

As usual, life just continues to speed up. Landry is 4 months old today! I can't imagine life without her. She is my favorite girl. She is starting to get tickled and giggly.. It's so cute! She laughs when we hold her and swing her down towards Luke... When she gets to laughing hard, it always turns into the hiccups (Luke calls them pea-cups). Above her changing table in her room, I have a sign hanging with a verse from Psalms that says "He shall give His angels charge over you." Call me crazy, but I swear her guardian angel hangs out over there. Since the day we brought her home, that table has been a happy place for her. She's really got me thinking that little ones can see into the spiritual realm in ways we adults can't. She always smiles and coos while she's laying there. Makes me wonder, any way!

The holidays go way too fast when kids are in the picture. We barely had enough time to get Luke into the swing of things for the holidays. Heath and I discussed almost daily about where to draw the line in teaching Luke about Christmas festivities. It's not easy to conclude! I think I want to make Christmas fun for him and don't want him missing out on stuff, but lies tend to snowball at Christmas time. I struggle with the guilt associated with all of that.

When my brother and sister-in-law were in town, we got to talking about it, and she shared with me how she had read a blog where the family buys their kids "something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read." I liked that! I still have gifts wrapped for our kids they never opened, and they aren't missing them! After all they got from family, I decided to hold them back for later.

So this year, we got to participate in our church's dinner theater. Heath, Landry, and I were part of the live manger scene and stood in as Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. Landry did awesome both nights! It was a humbling experience for me because I had the comfort of knowing that the real baby Jesus was born to die... So, my babies already have a Savior!

The dinner theater kicked the holidays off for us... And then during the week of Christmas, we met up with friends and family for 6 nights in a row! We were super busy. Here's what I mean..

We started out at the Roses.... John Brandon with Landry.

And Baby Courtney with Baby Norah. :)

The kids all opened presents... This looks like a "(Gasp) What'd you get!?!" look. :)

Luke with his little gator. His first present! He was pretty excited about it.

Jeremy and Landry.... He got some daddy-to-be practice.

Then we had Christmas at my parents' house. I love being home with both of my brothers and their families. It just warms my heart for all those little cousins to play together just like we did with our Rose cousins!

Luke, Jaxon, and Miley decided to join Norah for her bath.

Look at the beautiful skin that baby girl has! Just like her Mama! The hair..... well... that must be from here Mama, too. :)

Dustin, Jordan, and Heath

Rachel & Norah Rose

Opening presents - Jaxon & Papa

Dustin & Steph

All 7 of the kids! Luke, Jaxon, Keeton, Emma, Miley, Landry, and Norah

Next, we went to visit the kids great-great grandparents on Heath's side...

Between babies and Nanny, we can't always get a good picture!

And then to Heath's parents - Guggy and Kakee.

Ben and Luke helped Londyn with her gifts.

Keelee and Londyn checking out her presents. She is sweet and super sassy!

Heath's Aunt Kim joined us for Christmas this year.

Landry just chillin - I had to fold up her Christmas tree on her shirt to keep her from choking on the bow.

Luker and Mama - He cheeeeeeeses it big! :)

Here is Luke reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to Landry. Sweet boy!

Christmas morning - Luke woke up saying, "My gator!?" :)

Ready to ride - even though there's lots of snow outside!

Overdue Pictures and Thanksgiving!

I'm taking the day off today. I rarely do this, but it sure feels good. A day off for me means sweats and DVR. I still change diapers, wipe bo-bos, prepare and serve meals, help get toys out of reach, etc. I just spend all the time in between laying on the couch. It's a treat!

I enjoy having a day at home with just me and my kids. I know it sounds crazy, but Luke sleeps better at night when he gets good one-on-one time with me during the day. He's never been a good sleeper, but when he gets in a slump of not sleeping good, I can usually look back and realize I've been too busy. People might think, "Uhh, you stay at home. What do you mean, too busy for your kids?" I think this house takes lots of maintenance because we ARE here so much. Between a new baby and house chores, I think Luke misses out on some of the TLC he requires sometimes.

I realized I haven't uploaded pictures from my camera in a while...

Landry's first sponge bath after we came home.

Landry meeting cousins Miley and Emma!

Luke was pretty skiddish of her in the beginning.

Landry meeting the Abneys.

Ben and Londyn... Our last summer family get together!

Kakee always has her hands full... Luke and Londyn.

Mimi and Landry

We've had our first broken bone! Luke broke his collarbone somehow. We can't even really recall how it happened. He was fine one night, and the next morning, he cried to be picked up, put in his car seat, etc. We were thinking it was just lymph nodes from the cold we've all been passing around, but we got home after Thanksgiving from Kerrville and noticed the knot on his shoulder. A trip to the ER and X-rays confirmed the break. He's been a trooper though. It was a clean break - didn't need set or anything. They expect it to be healed in 3-4 weeks.

For Thanksgiving, we spent Wednesday evening with Heath's family and Thursday with my family. Afterwards, we took the camper and met up with Heath's parents at Kerrville to visit his Daddy Don. We planned on going to Sea World, but we all got sick, so we're saving that for next time. We are lucky to have both sides of our immediate family in town. Holidays for us are pretty easy going.

Luke loves driving his tractor at Guggy and Kakee's.

Londyn - She's 8 1/2 months and a sassy mess!

Landry's first Thanksgiving - almost 3 months!

Courtney and Aunt Cindy with Landry.

The boys wanted to be in this picture too! :)

Emma, Miley, Jaxon, Keeton, Dustin and Steph

The oldest and youngest grandchildren, Keeton and Landry.

Cousins - Missing Norah Rose!

Best buds - Jaxon and Luke

The Rose Fam

Heath and I with our tired babies!

Papa and Mimi

Daddy Don and Judy at Pappadeaux in San Antonio.

4 Generations around 1 toy :)

Heath's new hobby - RC cars. This could save our marriage during the slow months of farming. Ha! :)

Luke got a balloon bouquet from his Stanley friends for his big boo-boo!

Giving Thanks

Thankful. I think I constantly make mental notes of the things I'm thankful for, but I never really sit down and take the time to let it all soak in because I think it would bring a flood of emotions I really don't have time to handle most days. It's almost a blessing to be forced to take time and just be thankful.

So cliche, but I'm thankful for the cross.... without it, my life would be meaningless. I can't explain the humility I feel in knowing that while I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me. If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking. Lord knows I need an ocean of grace at times in my life.

I'm thankful for Heath and the opportunity to get to share my life with him. He's like my other half! We have 2 farms side by side out in front of where we used to live, and I've told him how I used to ride 4wheelers out on those farms. He said, "I bet you never thought you'd be farming them one day." It's true! At 13 years old, I didn't know Heath would be the guy I'd marry, but I'm proud to call him my husband. He is the best Daddy my kids could ever have. He's handsome, loving, witty, hard working, kind hearted, and genuine. I love him so much!

My kids have shown me just how deep my love can go. I'm so thankful to have wonderful, healthy kids. Luke is just a little firecracker around here. He keeps us smiling and is tender hearted. When it comes to loving Heath, Luke gives me a run for my money. He loooves his Daddy. Heath puts him to bed at night, and I love listening to Luke tell Heath about his day, say his prayers, and then they tell each other "I love you." He makes me proud.

Landry is still the best baby and has made our love just multiply. We are thankful to get to experience life with a daughter. We see every new stage of hers as bitter sweet because it means we're leaving the previous stage for the last time. However, we are glad to be ending the baby phase on such a good note with a happy baby.

Luke giving Landry "fly fly kisses".

I'm thankful for all of my family.

My parents have always supported me and had realistic expectations of me. I've never doubted their love for me. My kids are blessed to have them as grandparents.

My brothers and their families mean the world to me. I can't imagine life without any of them, and I'm proud to have their wives as family. I absolutely love when we're all together.

My in-laws have been a huge blessing to me. They've all taken me in as their own, and they've believed in Heath to be able to farm - which has provided a way of life for us. My kids are blessed to have them as family, too.

I'm thankful for my extended family - The Roses in particular. I'm thankful for all of the memories I have with them. I see my kids building relationships with their cousins, and I pray they're long lasting like ours have been.

I'm thankful for our friends. We are really blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives. I'm especially thankful this year for Traci Stanley and the blessing her and her family have been to us. I wouldn't even know where to start with "thank yous" to them. Life is just sweeter with that family in it.

And last, I'm thankful for our church. I'm glad we can have a place to take our kids outside of our house that will echo what we are teaching them here. I'm thankful for our home, and the confidence I can have in providing a stable place for my kids to grow up. I'm thankful for rain. I am extremely thankful for technology because it is so easy nowadays to capture memories with cameras and video cameras on our phones. I'm thankful for 2 healthy pregnancies and 2 fairly uncomplicated births. I'm thankful for holidays and the opportunities I get to spend time with all of these people I'm so thankful for!

In everything, give thanks. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Harvest and Halloween

Harvest.. I can't believe it's already over! We're glad to have Daddy home at decent hours because of the chaos around here at times, but the circumstances for the short harvest are not all that great. This year has been unbelievable! I know we'll always talk about what a record breaking year it was, highs and lows, for the weather and the crop.

So, we have just been adjusting to our new life with four. It's been challenging here and there! I feel like I need another hand sometimes. It's hard to hold a baby and help a 2 year old potty! Some of my challenges are petty, I know. I really do feel like superwoman sometimes though. I can carry an infant carrier with a baby in it, a 30 pound toddler, a drink, AND a portable cradle in the house at the same time from the car. I'm pretty proud!

Luke has adjusted really well to having Landry here. He was shy towards her at first, but now, he rubs on her head, shows her toys, and kisses on her. He helps me out during the day by fetching diapers or rocking sister in her cradle. His Daddy is his #1 buddy. When Heath is here, he insists on him to do everything... Get him in and out of his car seat, get him a coke for lunch too, put him to bed, help him potty... I can't even tell you how often I hear him say, "No! Daddy do it." -- Heath will take him to run errands in town, and Luke always comes back walking tall. He proudly told me one day he went to "John Deere's house."

Luke was Buzz for Halloween. Getting him to put on his costume was no simple task, either. He's kinda spooked of people dressed up, so he wasn't sure about it. He cried for about 45 minutes after he had it on... He even broke out in his splotchy face from crying - that's bad! Once we got going, he caught on and enjoyed it. We were proud! His cousins dressed up too, so that made it fun for him. Jaxon was Woody, and Miley was Jessie.

We took the kids by to see their great-great grandparents on Halloween. I'm still thrilled that Luke and Landry have gotten to meet them!

Landry with her great-great grandmother, June Moreland.

Landry is smiling all the time now and cooing like crazy. She's talking even when no one is around! She's a picky girl... She doesn't take a paci or a bottle. We've tried all kinds! She, like Luke, is lactose intolerant at this point, so I have eliminated all dairy from my diet. This will surely put a damper on my holiday feasting!!

She is sleeping less during the day, but she still has days where she may only be awake for 2 hours. The last 5 nights, she's slept 9 or 10 hours straight! This is a far cry from our Luker baby. In fact, Luke just now started sleeping good. I'm glad she's so easy. I can disperse my love more equally that way. :) She fusses in the evenings. She starts getting worked up around 6 and we just do whatever we can to keep her content for a few hours. I think the new term for that is "purple crying." But, she sleeps really good after that, so I can't complain.

Gotta share some more Shane and Shane..... I'm loving their new album! I went with a friend to see them about few weeks ago. I've been watching them for a long time, and it's neat to see them in completely different phases of their lives from when I was first introduced to them, probably, 12 years ago. They used to play barefoot with their khaki shorts and maybe have a drummer. Now, their concerts are very instrumental, and they tote their families along and dress kinda preppy. :)

For my babies!

Here lately, I find myself wishing I could just freeze frame time. Heath and I get knots in our throats almost daily about either Luke or Landry, or sometimes both. I just never want to forget certain things. I really wish we could just capture almost every waking moment on video. So, this is for my kids... Kinda odd for it to be displayed on a blog, but a way to document things, nonetheless.

For Luke:

You really are my sunshine. I love almost every waking minute with you. I look at you sometimes and my heart just explodes. I wish I could be more like you in a lot of ways. Your innocence just floors me every now and then, and I never want that to be taken from you! I love it. I love how excited you get to go get new underwear at Walmart... I love how observant you are. You always notice the moon and the stars when we're out at night. You love Blue's Clues, and the way you prance around in front of the TV and sing along always makes me and Daddy giggle at you. You follow Daddy with your lawnmower when he's mowing, and you follow me with it when I vacuum. You love doing chores! When I sweep you follow me saying "My try" (Your version of "Let me try" and "My turn"). I love how you look in the mirror and simply just like the fact that you can see yourself. I wish I could keep the world from ever changing things like that about you.

You get so excited to do anything farm related.... anything Daddy related, really. Daddy puts you to bed at night, and you usually get up right before the sun comes up and come to bed with us. He hears you coming and opens the covers for you to get in bed. You get in and go right back to sleep! About a week ago, Daddy tricked you into going to bed early by telling you you'd get to ride his "big tractor" (the spray rig) with him the next morning. You were all about it! We woke you up the next morning and asked you if you wanted to go.. You calmly said, "Yep." Before ya'll left, you insisted on having your cap and sunglasses. And, when you first started identifying colors, you were dead on on every one except green... You called it "John Deere."

You look up to older boys whether they're 5 or 65. You like Jeeps and spot them on the road because Papa has one and lets you drive it. With your toys, you have a Daddy tractor, a Papa tractor, and a Guggy pickup. We've named the CapriSuns "Kade's juice boxes" (after Kade Stanley) just to get you off of chocolate milk when it's necessary. We use that a lot actually, "Kade goes T-T on the potty." "Kade is a brother like you!"

My heart can break for you in a split second sometimes. You have lots of fears. You're tremendously scared of dogs. You like Timber and Monkee... that's about it. When you're running as fast as you can towards something/someone you're excited to see, fall before you get there, and dust it off even though it hurt makes me get a big lump in my throat. I'm overwhelmed with pride when I see you hand over your favorite toy to a friend (you don't always!), even though I can see the war inside you about doing it.

One of the most entertaining things about you right now is your vocabulary. When you ask for things, you've started ending it with "Pweeaasseee." You'll say, "Mama, more chocwit milk pweeaaaaaasssee." -- When Landry gets worked up in a fit, you volunteer to take her from me. You sat down and patted your lap the other day and said, "Mere baby." -- You yelled out the door and invited the mail lady in not too long ago, "Mon in!" -- We were all eating at the Mall one day, and Daddy left to go get the pickup at the tire shop across the street while we finished eating. I knew you'd want to go if I told you were he was going, so I told you he was going to the potty.... This resulted in you asking me across the table in a very indiscreet voice, "Daddy poo poo? Mama, Daddy poo poo?" -- You hear every "hairplane" that flies over the house. -- You've asked for Coke in the nursery at church when they bring you juice. -- I cried on the phone with a sad friend one day, and you asked me over and over, "Mama, you k? You k, mama?" -- We call you Luker, and your version of that is "Gooker." We'll be going down the road, and you'll put your cap over your face and ask, "Mama, where'd Gooker go?" And I'll say, "I don't know, where did Luker go?" You'll pull the cap down and say, "Right there!"

You're a super sweet boy. Frustrating as ever at times.... Like, when you close your eyes as if it makes you disappear when you're getting in trouble. But, I look forward to every day with you. I'm blessed to have you as my son, and I'll love you forever.

Miss Landry... You've only been here for 6 weeks now, but we can't imagine life without you! You are just precious. We brag on you constantly for how good of a baby you are. I read the other day how sleep patterns for babies your age typically total 12-16 hours a day. You prefer about 20 hours!

You've completed our family in so many ways. Daddy and I both consider ourselves lucky to be able to experience what life is like with a daughter.

I saw Daddy fall in love with you as soon as you were born. I could hear him talking to you and calling you "pretty girl" before I even had a good look at you! He likes sitting in his chair and rocking with you, and you seem to like snuggling with him. He can calm you down better than I can sometimes if you get worked up.

You've started cooing and smiling more. I like getting a smile from you, and you're almost flirty in the way you give your expressions. You scrunch your nose up so that your top gums show, and I think it's super cute!

Just like with brother, I consider myself blessed to be able to spend my days with you. I look forward to watching you grow... I just hope it doesn't happen as fast as the last 6 weeks have gone. I love you more than you know. Maybe when you prefer less sleep, I'll get to show you just how much you mean to me. :)

Newest Addition - Landry Tayte

How sweet to hold a newborn baby... to feel the joy and peace she brings!

Landry was born on August 30th at 6:38 p.m. She was 7 lbs. 9 oz and 20 1/2 inches long.

So, where did her name come from!? We've liked the name Landry since I was pregnant with Luke. He would've been Landry if he'd have been a girl. We looked at name after name seeing if we liked anything else better, but we still just liked it more than anything. Her middle name is something we just stumbled on one day. I had downloaded an app ad was looking up meanings of names when I came by Tayte.... it means "brings joy." It's significant to us, too. A good friend of Heath's passed away last year.. his middle name was Tate. Coincidentally, Landry's due date was based off of his birthday, and she was also born on his youngest son's birthday! We felt like it was fitting. Landry Tayte. It's still fun to say it out loud after keeping it a secret for so long.

We are thrilled to have her here. She just completes our family and has deepened our love. Crazy how it happened so fast! I feel like I love Luke more now that she's here.. just because the depth of my love has grown. She's (so far) one of the easiest babies I've ever known. PTL.

Getting her here was not all that easy! I think it took 18 or more hours. I was induced, but I was in pretty active labor when we got to the hospital the night of the 29th. I had contractions 3-5 minutes apart all night long. I had some pain meds and got a little spacey at about 3 a.m., and I can remember telling Heath, "All I can think about is pump jacks." Haha. If all had went as planned, I would've had her by 11 that morning (after an epidural at 9), but she was facing the wrong way. Her head was down, but her belly was up. They thought breaking my water would get her in to position, but that didn't work. All afternoon, they had me laying in different positions to try to get her turned. If she didn't turn, I was going in for a c-section to keep my uterus from rupturing. At the last minute, my doctor and nurse were able to force her to turn. Once they flipped her (no simple task), she was here in no time!

We were supposed to get to come home from the hospital the day after she was born, but some tests they ran on her 24 hours after birth kept us there another night. I was discharged, but I got to stay at the hospital with her while she slept on the jaundice bed. Staying that extra night kept her levels down and prevented us from having to bring the bed home. Thank goodness.

I think if Heath had any more kids, he'd be so soft I couldn't stand it. He's can be a pushover with these kids! He enforces boundaries, don't get me wrong, but I can just see him melt over them sometimes. The night we went into the hospital, we had taken Luke to my parents and came back home to load up. We were just having small talk, and he said, "I heard that song on the radio today, 'I Loved Her First'......" I looked at him and could see the knot in his throat. I said, "No. Not now." Haha. :)

Luke has been wonderful with her. I think he nested in his own way before she got here. He helped me get everything ready for her. He's freaked out in the past over me loving on other babies, but he's just fine with us loving on her! She sleeps so much, he hardly remembers she's here, I think. Her being such a good baby has helped him transition pretty smoothly. We just praise and praise her for how easy she is. Our first night home, I didn't set an alarm to wake up and feed her because I just expected she'd wake me up. I woke her after 5 1/2 hours! She's awesome. She sleeps better than her brother some nights!

So, here she is....Landry Tayte. We love her more than life itself. We look forward to watching her grow, loving on her, and making memories.

And last, this song reflects our hope for our kids... We pray He makes their hearts His home. We pour our best into them on a daily basis, but even then, we are human and lack the ability to give the gift offered to them through Christ.