Loser Cruiser? Who said so?

I was driving down the road today with our sunroof open~YAY~(side note:can you believe they actually make mini-vans with sunroofs?? I'm in awe..who said they were loser cruisers?) and I was listening to one of my favorite cd's..Kari Jobe..awesome if you ever have the chance to hear it..anyway, I was singing along to this song called "The Revelation Song". In my opinion it's the most awesome worship song ever made!! As I was belting my grammy nominated voice (I know..bbwwhhaaaaaaaa) out :) , the sun was shining on me and I thought...how great is our God? I'm worshipping right here in my van and I feel so close to the Lord..just because of the sunroof. Because it was open and I was feeling the warm sunshine and the cool air coming through, I just felt like I was actually in the presence of the Almighty. I just had to turn my right palm up and praise Him! It was great!

Thought these were too cute not to share!

Here we have a police officer with a red kool-aid mustache, a sweet baby girl and then an "Indian Cowboy"...



Then we have, well, it's self explanatory.......

Thankful for today & everyday!

Psalm 92:4 For you make me glad by your deeds; O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

Again, I am joyful today and it is by God's love and mercy only! Thank you to those who have been praying for me. The last couple of days have been rough because I have not felt good, but those prayers are being answered. I woke up today with my throat feeling much better and a lot of energy. I was even able to work out for a little bit this morning and I'm glad because I haven't been able to do that since last Wednesday. I actually enjoyed running this morning-who would have thought?? LOL! When momma's sick, everything seems to stop, but big thanks goes to D & Dee-deed for helping me with everything this past weekend that moms have to do. Thank you for letting me rest when I needed to!! What precious jewels you are in my life! I am so thankful for you!

My heart is so full today because I was reminded on the way to taking M#1 to school, just how blessed I really am day to day. Life really is fleeting and who knows what tomorrow may bring. I read this morning on a friends blog that a friend & co-worker of hers and her husbands was killed in a motorcycle accident on Sunday. He was only 21 and had only been married for 7 months. I can't imagine what his young widow (22yrs old) is going through today. I can't even begin to imagine the pain she is dealing with. I don't even know this girl but my heart goes out to her. The good thing (and it maybe the only good thing right now) is that both her and her husband were believers and she is continuing to trust in God through this situation. I know that He is carrying her through this as only He could.

As I was driving and thinking about her, I just started praying and thanking God for everyday that I have been able to live and share with my family. God reminded me that I have been holding on to bitterness from some things that have happened in the past and within the last couple of years and that I needed to leave it at the cross. Bitterness is like a vine and if you don't take care of it at the root , it will continue to grow and grow into this gigantic mess and ultimately gets to be ugly. I don't want to be like that. I want my face to shine with the joy of the Lord and not the ugliness of bitterness. I'm not saying that it won't be easy to fall into the trap, but I'm thankful that I can continue to leave it with God and He will take care of it. I am thankful that I don't have to constantly have that burden on me.

Thank you God for your ultimate sacrifice, your Son..Jesus. He died so that we could live and He is the ultimate example of how and what love should be!!

Now, I have to go and be diligent......:)

Please say a prayer

I am still not feeling very good today. Everything from the neck up hurts and especially my throat. I also have a lymph node that is really swollen on the right side of my neck. Gonna have to keep an eye on that b/c of my dad's lymphoma that he's been dealing with over the last couple of years. I'm sure mine is swollen because of the sore throat and stuff but please continue to keep him in your prayers as well. Sorry if this doesn't make any sense. I'm about to go lay down for a little bit.....

Being silly..even as an adult

Yesterday I felt horrible. I woke up with a sore throat and everything from the neck up was hurting including my teeth. I guess it's my allergies but man, I felt horrible and stupid me stayed up late last night watching one of the dumbest movies...Night at the Museum, you know, the one with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. Now, I like both of them, but this was dumb and I can't believe I tortured myself to actually stay up that late to watch it, but what's done is done..right? I did take two Alieve last night and felt better this morning when I woke up. My throat is still a little sore but much better.

The kids were playing this morning in Dee-deed's cooler (???) and I snapped these pics..too cute!




I took the kids to a birthday party today. It was a High School Musical themed party with karaoke machine and all. My kids don't really know much about HSM b/c in my opinion they are too little to be watching teenagery stuff like that, but to each his own. I sprayed this pink glittery stuff in M#1's hair and blue in the boys hair. And all of them got little tattoo's. Boogie's is so cute up on his arm..just like daddy! One of the other moms and I were getting a little silly ourselves. We both put tattoo's on since we are both too chicken to go get a real one and then we both sprayed this clear glittery stuff in our hair...oooohhhh how I'm sure that some of the other parents were thinking we were weird but we didn't care. We were laughing and having the best time. The other mom actually put on two tattoo's, one in a more hidden area and she was spraying that glittery stuff all over her. It really was funny and we had a lot of fun. Sometimes it's ok to be silly as adults because otherwise we have to be so serious all the time. As long as we were laughing, we didn't care! So here's my silly little tattoo!! :)

Little things matter

Today was rough and I could tell the evil one was laughing at me. I had to apologize many times today to the ones I love the most and explain that it wasn't them, it was me. Not that this is an excuse, but I think I'm starting to feel the pressure of all that's going on with us and the busy-ness that this time of the year brings. I will be glad when school is over and we can just relax. I will be glad when my baby starts talking and doesn't need speech therapist or special instruction therapist to help communicate with me. I will be glad when things start to slow down and I'm not complaining by any means because I know there are those who don't have anyone or anything in their life to be busy with. For right now though , I feel overwhelmed and I need to step back and get a grip and know that I need to lean on the One who made me. The night has ended better. D and I went to Walmart by ourselves(of course, Dee-deed was watching the babies) and it was nice to quietly walk around and look at stuff and get the things we needed without all the fussing. It was nice to be able to enjoy each other as adults and not parents. It was nice to be able to engage in adult conversation without having to interrupt the other person to say "please be quiet or mommy's talking right now or you're being rude" or whatever .... it was just nice and sometimes it's the little things like that that matter.

I thought I was doing good, but......

My day started out like this.....I woke up to a quiet house and was actually able to sit down with no interruptions and actually have a quiet time. After that, I got the kids up, fed them breakfest, dressed and off to school. Me and "boogs",(for those who don't know M#3 was donned Boogie Bears for some reason when he was little and then shortened with Boogs, anyway..) came back home and I worked out while he teeter-tottered back and forth from Toy Story 2 to his big wheel in the garage where I was. Everything was going just fine until we picked up the kids from school. As soon as they got in the van, I hear "Mommy, I got my graduation pictures in today and M#2 got his pictures in too!" I said, "Ok, let me see 'em. Immediately I burst in to tears as I saw my baby girl in her cap and gown. It's just precious! And of course, M#2's pics are as cute as ever too, but something pulled at my heartstrings at that cap and gown pic. What a little lady! Here are their pictures! I know, I'm hearing the "Awwwwwwww's" now!! Two things: M#2 has different poses because these were his spring pictures and it looks like he was playing with a marker right before the pictures were taken because he has marker on his nose, anyhoo....






~He looks so much like D here when he was little!

So I have recovered from my crying spell, but who knows...the river flow just might start again at any time...:)

Smiles

Today is such a beautiful day! My three M&M's & I went to the park with one of my best friends and her three children and had a picnic lunch. Of course I was the bad mom and swung by Mickey D's to fill up my babies with their ever so nutritional meals of cheeseburgers and nuggets ,but I did choose a small side salad for my lunch with some sliced apples so at least one of us was eating healthy. But we'll just pass on from that...it was a lot of fun! I was able to visit with her while the kids all played along with each other. I enjoyed the adult conversation even though we talked alot about babies. What a blessing it is to be able to sit and enjoy a friends company. I'm so thankful to have her in my life. There are many people who don't have good friends to be able to share things with..that makes me sad. So the next time you see someone who looks lonely just smile at them and it just might make their day. You never know what may be going on at home with that person and maybe a smile or simple "hello" may make all the difference in that person's life for the day! So to whoever may be reading this..I'm sending *SMILES* your way! :)

Lost another one!!

We had something special happen at our house last night. Our baby girl, who is growing up way too fast, lost her 2nd tooth!! She was biting into a squishy basketball and her tooth got stuck in it and came out. She was so excited because it had been loose for a while now. She knew the tooth fairy was going to come and wanted to make sure that the tooth fairy would leave her tooth under the pillow..even though "she" is supposed to take it.
Early this morning, and I mean early, M#1 had woken up and come into our room and was crying hard at the foot of our bed. It woke me up and I asked her what was wrong and she said through her sobs and crocodile tears.."the tooth fairy took my tooth and I wanted to keep it"....I know.. awwwwwww, so I had to tell her that when I knew the tooth fairy had already come (hee-hee), I took her tooth and put it up for safe keeping (b/c silly me ACCIDENTALLY threw away her first tooth that she lost). It wasn't until she woke up this morning that she found the money that the tooth fairy had left for her. She was excited! Anyway, here is her sweet pic!

I think the "gym guy" tried to call me again this weekend. I'm sure to find out what was going to be our decision in joining the gym. I'm sure he works on some type of commission or something and bless his heart I don't think he was married much less had kids,but anyway I tried to explain to him the other day what our reasons for not joining were..one reason b/c we live 20min away and gas just keeps going higher and higher with no end in sight and it would cost more in gas a month then it would be for the actual membership. Families like us have to take that into consideration when doing a budget...mabye he'll get the point one day when he has a family of his own to worry financially about. BUT, I have been using my treadmill here at home and doing some other type of exercises so hopefully that will pay off. I have really been trying to watch what I eat too. The hardest thing for me is that I want to see results right now! It took me within the snap of a finger to gain the weight, why can't it come off that easily too? I just keep telling myself "no pain, no gain" right??

Today

Today I had the opportunity to see an amazing service at the church I grew up in. I haven't been to my "home" church in forever, but I went today to see a sweet young woman get baptized. She has been through a lot in the last couple of years but to see the transformation in her life was amazing. The whole service was awesome. We had communion and then watched a lot of people get baptized. I also got to see some people that I haven't seen in years as well. It was a great service!!

I'm about to go outside and enjoy this beautiful day that the Lord gave us with my babies! :)

Fabulous!

I'm feeling fabulous right now! Just got through working out and even though I am sore, it is a good sore. We decided not to join the gym mainly for financial reasons. With gas being so high the drive to and from there would costs more than the actual membership. SOOO I'm just gonna use my treadmill here at home and hopefully stay committed to working out. Maybe if we move in closer within the next couple of years then we'll rethink the membership.

D's working today so I'm hanging out here with the babies and Dee-deed! For those who don't know, Dee-deed is what the kids call my twin sister. Or as M#3 calls her "La-La". SOOO cute!! It is so beautiful here today! I thank the Lord for allowing us to see this day today!

Yesterday I had to run an errand and I heard a song that I hadn't heard in years. It was called "The Champion" or something like that, but it's by Carmen. It is a story between God and the devil and it tells of a ringside battle between the two. It gave me chills and reminded me that the Lord has already defeated the evil one and what a glorious day that will be when I get to see Him and get a hug from Him! What a day that will be!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! LOVES!! :)

Sweet kiss & no diligence.

I didn't get in the bed until late last night and as I was laying there almost asleep I felt this sweet little kiss on my forehead. It kinda startled me, but when I opened my eyes there was my sweet little girl saying "I love you momma". I immediately turned over to my other side and let her get into my nook and there she got snuggy wuggy with me and fell asleep. I thought at that moment how blessed I was to have her in my life and that I always hope I remember that moment. I know there will come a day when she will be too big to do that but I hope she will always know that I love her and am there for whatever type of comfort she needs.
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I'm going to try something new. In my MOPS Bible study that I go to we have been studying about the Proverbs 31 woman. Yesterday we talked about being diligent in whatever tasks we may have for the day. I realized that although by definition I am not the "lazy" woman, I did come to realize that I am a person who likes to start a project but may not always finish it due to other things that I start on. As I write, I have winter clothes or clothes that don't fit anymore of the kids that I cleaned out of their drawers just sitting around waiting for them to be boxed up. What am I waiting on..for them to just automatically jump in the boxes themselves? Why haven't I finished what I started? I am bad about getting the laundry started but not finishing it to the end because I absolutely hate to fold clothes. Maybe because that's what was one of mine and my sister's chores growing up. I don't mind sorting, washing and drying the clothes, but when it comes to having to fold them..I would rather make a mountain. And then of course I end up having a huge mess and have to sit for awhile and do nothing but fold clothes. You would think that I would get the hint..I'm a slow learner. My hubby says.."Why don't you just fold them when they come out of the dryer?" Of course I have an answer but in reality it is just an excuse. I have other things to be doing then stop and fold those hot clothes. Those are only two examples of my lack of diligence, but I am going to try and be more diligent in the tasks that I start. More diligent so that I can actually finish what I started. And most importantly because it will honor the Lord. Now, I know I won't be great at it to start with but we all know that we have to start with baby steps when making a change. AND I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!!

Tiny fingers, Tiny toes....

Well, I made it through the finding of the pics for M#1's graduation. I didn't even cry..can you believe it? I guess it was because I was so focused on which pics to use (b/c I can only use four) that I didn't even think about it. Looking back over her pics from the last 5 years was fun and there was a lot of "Awwwww-ing" going on. I can't get over how the time has just flown by! Where have the years gone? There is a song that Kevin Derryberry wrote and sang a few years ago that pops into my head.."Tiny fingers, tiny toes..what's in store God only knows..my prayer is that you'll be, healthy and love the King..." and it goes on from there, but I remember when she was born, I would sit in the recliner and cry over how little her fingers and toes were. What a sweet baby girl she is! As D likes to say..That girl's my pearl!

Updates

A couple of posts ago I mentioned that I had been "targeted"(lol) at Walmart for a gym membership at a local gym. Well, I decided to check it out and see if there was a catch. And of course, I "won" the "contest" he was telling me about which would give me a $100 gift certificate. I was excited..WOW a $100 gift certificate. Wonder where it is to and what will I spend it on? That's alot of money. My curiosity got the best of me and after asking some questions...I found out the gift certificate would be given to me to be used towards a membership at the gym. HUH?? WHAT?? Great!(and that's a sarcastic great). Well, I have been using my one "free" week pass to see if it is worth it, but at this point I don't really know if we will be purchasing a membership. Do I really need to spend the money when I already have a treadmill here at home and even though I haven't used it in a while is that really the point? It's not like I live right down the street from this place..it's a good 20min away and then I have to think about the gas. It's just so high right now. Is it worth traveling 20min away & spending that kind of money a month only to be eaten up in gas? It would cost more money to pay for gas to go to the gym and use their treadmill(because right now I'm just starting out so not real big on all those intimidating workout machines they have), then it would be for me to just use what I already have. So, we'll see. We did find out that D's place of work offers a corporate membership but it would require us to sign a years membership. It's all up in the air right now. We'll decide by the end of the week.

Update on M#3. He has been seeing a speech therapist and a special instruction therapist to help with the speech delay. He still has a long way to go, but so far the few times they have seen him they have been encouraged. We are learning some signing words for him to use to be able to communicate with us. We saw a nutritionist today to discuss his very picky appetite and she suggested that he see an OT to make sure he isn't having any oral issues. They wonder if maybe his big tonsils is what maybe kept him from eating certain foods but now that those are out we are going to try some new structuring habits. She said he is on target with height and weight so she knows that he is getting some nutrition in the few types of foods that he does eat. Wonder if all that is somehow connected to him not talking?
I long to hear my baby tell me what he needs or wants or what is hurting or what he gets excited about. We seem to take some things for granted and when times come our way that we don't see is normal, we then realize how much we miss those little things.

Update on M#2. He is just as fiery as ever! So sweet though and doing much better with socialization at school! We are so proud of him! Excited about who may be his teacher in K4 next year. Same as M#1's k4 teacher.

Update on M#1. She is about to graduate kindergarten in exactly one month from today. WOW! can't believe this time has already come! We are supposed to get some pics together for her graduation night and just the thought of that makes me a basket case. You wait until that night..I will be worse than a basket case! Let me tell you this..back in October when we were going on a field trip to the pumpkin patch..ok..the pumpkin patch...I started to think then about her graduation night & I started balling in the van. I know..crazy but my how the time has flown since she was born! I have to stop now because writing this makes me get teary eyed. Only a mother's heart!

Just for this moment...

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to buy us both a kiddy meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my fingers through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms,
and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day..............

(author unknown)

What was he thinking?

We are hanging out at home waiting on some bad weather that is headed our way & I thought I would show you what the kids have been up to.









Such fun being kids! Makes me sometimes wish I could be a kid again. Of course if I jumped on the couch cushions I would probably make all the stuffing pop out! HAHA!

Ok,so after I picked up the kids from school today, I had to run into Walmart to get a few things. I had one child sitting in the little seat in the front part of the buggy and two that were running around but staying close to me. I had to look for a card for someone and wrongfully decided to go down the "kids party" isle. What was I thinking? Of course the older two just had to stop to look at all the party favors and right before I went down the isle I passed a young guy who made eye contact with me and we both smiled and said hello and I proceeded to go down the isle. As I'm halfway down the isle holding my youngest down in the seat (wouldn't you know it the strap was broken) and quietly fussing at my other two to put down all the party toys and to keep up, I noticed this young man following me down the isle. I thought he was looking for something but realized that his eyes were on me with an "I'm gonna get this one" look. I then glanced back to see that my middle child had knocked over a huge pinata and was leaving it on the floor and so I had to get him to pick it back up and catch up with me all the while holding my youngest down in the front part as he's screaming to get out. He started running down the isle and almost ran into this guy that had the look. I politely looked at the guy again and he starts talking to me about this promotion that his business is running. I glanced at the writing on his shirt and realized that he was from Gold's Gym. Now why was he targeting me? Did he think that I don't get enough exercise from chasing three little ones around all day? Could he not see the trouble I was having just trying to get them to go down the isle? Did he really think that it would be that easy to just stand there and talk to me about this promotion? He clearly saw what I was going through, but that wasn't going to stop him. I think he saw me and thought..Wow this chick needs a membership to a gym. I really am laughing about all this..I just thought it was a funny situation. I did end up getting a free weeks workout trial for Gold's gym. Maybe I'll take this card and go workout quietly and alone. Free from children and the funny thing is..they have a daycare at the gym.

True Joy

Ok, so my heart is so full today. I feel genuinely happy. There are several reasons: First, I saw the most amazing smile last night from a sweet little girl who has never met me. When I walked into her room to visit with her for a few minutes , it was as if she had known me for years. She greeted me with a smile and kept smiling the whole time I was there. This precious baby girl has not had an easy life since she was born but you wouldn’t know it because of her smile. I cannot get her sweet face out of my head. I felt real peace and joy when I walked into her room and I still feel it even now. She truly is an angel!!

Second, I have been praying about an important decision and I know that God is answering. Granted this decision still has many more decisions wrapped up in it, but I know that God will give me the wisdom that I need to do what I believe He is calling me to do. And in this decision making process, God has showed me that I really do have some special friends who have been more than willing to give me advice and share information when some of them are going through some tough trials in their own life. I truly feel blessed!

I'm listening to a song right now that describes how I feel. It is by Chris Rice and is called "Deep Enough to Dream"...loving it. Here are the lyrics:

Lazy summer afternoon
Screened in porch and nothin' to do
I just kicked off my tennis shoes
Slouchin' in a plastic chair
Rakin' my fingers through my hair
I close my eyes and I leave them there
And I yawn, and sigh, and slowly fade away

Deep enough to dream in brilliant colors
I have never seen
Deep enough to join a billion people
For a wedding feast
Deep enough to reach out and touch
The face of the One who made me
And oh, the love I feel, and oh the peace
Do I ever have to wake up

Awakened by a familiar sound
A clumsy fly is buzzin' around
He bumps the screen and he tumbles down
He gathers about his wits and pride
And tries again for the hundredth time
'Cause freedom calls from the other side
And I smile and nod, and slowly drift away

Deep enough to dream in brilliant colors
I have never seen
Deep enough to join a billion people
For a wedding feast
Deep enough to reach out and touch
The face of the One who made me
And oh, the love I feel, and oh the peace
Do I ever have to wake up

'Cause peace is pouring over my soul
See the lambs and the lions playin'
I join in and I drink the music
Holiness is the air I'm breathin'
My faithful heroes break the bread
And answer all of my questions
Not to mention what the streets are made of
My heart's held hostage by this love

And these brilliant colors I have never seen
I join a billion people for a wedding feast
And I reach out and touch the face of the One who made me
And oh, the love I feel, and oh the peace
Do I ever have to wake up

Do I ever have to wake up
Do I ever have to wake up
Do I really have to wake up now

What a day...so far.

~Ok, so this morning started out a little rough. We had hitting,spitting,fighting & discipline all before 9:00a & that's including pulling the van over on the way to school. LOL! But, I gave this day to the Lord & asked that He please help the kids to understand the importance of being kind to one another & obeying mommy.

~I wonder when they will get it? Did I "get it" when I was little or was it only as I grew much older. I don't really remember much of my childhood~wonder why? My sister & I got into some doozy's when we were little & sometimes have disagreements now as adults, but thankfully we have can look back & laugh our heads off at the things we used to do to one another & as adults work through them to make sure that we maintain a close relationship. It's hard having kids so close in age to one another & sometimes I think...wwwhhhhhyyyyy did we decide to do that, but I'm reminded that kids are going to be kids & have disagreements with one another & it's my job as the mom to help them try & work these moments out, so that they in turn can maintain a close relationship with one another as they grow older. I know I can't make them be close but I can do my part in trying to heal the hurts towards one another & show them the love they should have with each other through the relationships with my siblings. And as far as my question about why we decided to have them so close in age, the answer is because we wanted them to hopefully always be close even as adults when the actual relationship part seems to be more important. Does that make sense? It only comes with maturity.

~It's almost time to pick the kids up from school & I will be praying that God will help the rest of the day go more smoothly than the morning did. Or at least ask Him to help me, the referee, be fair & use certain "moments" as teaching moments.

Letting them be little....

Tucker Times

~Ok, so this is my first "blog" as you would call it & I'm not quite sure how this works, but oh well, I'll still try anyway. :) My purpose for this blog I guess would be to share with family & friends the happenings of the Tucker household. It can be crazy around here sometimes but I choose to look at each day as a blessing! We have 3 children that keep us on our toes all the time. They are the joy of our life and they make us better parents every day! There was no way possible for us to ever know the love we would feel for our little babies until they were in our arms!

~We'll start with Mimi. We tried for a few months to get pregnant with Meghan to no avail. I know that seems only like a short time, but for us, each passing day that went by with no "positive" only made us long for a baby even more. It wasn't until someone told us to just relax & stop thinking about it that it happened. We had an idea but weren't "officially" told until the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. Yes, the day the world stopped turning. Here we were in the midst of a national tragedy and national sorrow, but two people in our little neck of the woods were getting the best news anyone could ever hear. We mourned with the nation , but were excited about this new precious little life that was forming. We had a little scare at the beginning with hormone levels dropping which would indicate that I wouldn't be able to carry on with the pregnancy, but the Lord God kept our precious baby in His hands until she was born at 39 weeks. I also had gestaional diabetes almost immediately from the beginning so I was on insulin..yes, giving myself a shot every night, all the way until she was born. She was a beautiful baby girl that had us wrapped around her little finger way before she was ever brought in to this world. I remember just sitting in our recliner crying at the sight of those tiny little fingernails and toenails. I never had to "think" about what we would name her..I already knew even before I met her. Her name means Pearl & my God is a vow or God is my oath would be her name. She definitely was & still is our "little pearl"!!

~Now we've come to Bud. I found out I was pregnant with Matthew when Meghan had just turned a year old. Wow how that year flew by! Thankfully with this pregnancy I didn't have to be on insulin as long as I was with Meghan. David laughs & says that it was all the "girly" hormones going on. I remember when we found out that we were having a boy I was so scared. Why? because I had always heard that having a girl was harder than a boy, but we thought that having a girl was soo much easier..maybe because that's what we were used to. I remember thinking..."Oh my gosh, a boy! I don't know how to take care of a little boy. What if he pees all over me? I'm telling you I had silly questions like that, but at the time they weren't silly to me . I had great friends who said..just cover it up, when changing a diaper, with a burp cloth & he won't get you! (For those of you who have boys..you know exactly what I am talking about!!) Anway, I also worried and really cried because I was thinking..I know how much I love Mimi and I can't imagine having that much love for another little baby. I wondered if I would love him as much as her. I really stressed over that. I couldn't seem to fathom loving him as much. I was afraid that he would know it too. But as soon as he was born I automatically had this overwhelming love for this sweet baby boy and somehow I still felt the love for Mimi. It's only a God thing! Each passing day the love just continued to grow & grow for those two sweet blessings! His name means Gift of God & Beloved!

~Then there was Boogs. Mysteriously (haha-we really did want another baby, but didn't think it would be so soon) I was pregnant with our 3rd child. We were excited & overwhelmed at the same time because we thought..how are we gonna take care of three kids? I'm sure God was laughing at us because we were worried when He asks us "who can add a single hour or day by worrying"? It's funny to look back at it now! I did have gestational diabetes with Boogs too, but I didn't have to be on the insulin with him until almost the end. With this pregnancy, I didn't have to worry about not loving him because I was constantly chasing after my two little M&M's. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I did have and would love this little man as much as I loved my other two. When Boogs was born, this blond haired, blue eyed little bundle of joy loved me despite the fact that my love for him was being shared with two older siblings. He was my caboose, my baby! His name means Like the Lord and Manly or Courageous . At that moment we then thought ...Now we have a new adventure....how to raise three under the age of three?