Day 75: Backyard Playtime (8/8)

Summer is quickly coming to an end. The days of being naked in our backyard are almost done. I don't know what they kids are going to have to do when they need to wear clothes all day. We started out in the pool, made our way to the sand box (best thing ever!!) and ended our time on the air plane. The sand box was given to us from a neighbor down the street, we add nice sand and a few sand toys and I can't believe how much the kids love playing in it. Whenever they make it to the backyard, they always end up in the sand box. We are slowly losing sand as well but I can't complain. They love it so much. 

Day 71: Big Brother (8/4)

Rallie, Wes, and Eisley love Gavin so much. It's crazy how they follow him around and want to be doing whatever he's doing. Today, Gavin was play his DS and Eisley climbed up onto his chair and under the covers just so she could watch him. Gavin helped her up and under and talked to her the entire time. It warms my heart to watch Gavin, Rallie, Wes, and Eisley interact with each other. 

Day 43: The Last Baby (7/7)

Eisley hardly ever just sits with me and lets me hold her. So when she fell asleep on my chest I was ecstatic! I enjoyed it so much, my last baby. So many first lasts. Its so sad to have these first lasts. This is part of an article that I read one day and it fit us so perfectly. It's something I wanted to cherish and be reminded of at times. I found the following article at Scary Mom: The Joy and Sadness of the Last Baby. It's written by The Biff and her husband's blog is Almost Coherent Parent.

The Joy and Sadness of the Last Baby 

As she's the fourth child, that's enough time to emerge from the newborn fog and for life to settle into the new normal. It's also enough time to reflect on the enormity of this finality for our family, for she is the last one.

In fact, she's the bonus one. When envisioning our family, I always saw three kids. I wrapped my mind around three college tuitions; I thought about how we'd divide and conquer three simultaneous extracurricular activities, and we bought our house in part because it had a sharing room, to be occupied by the two siblings of the same gender. Three, we were going to have three.

That is, until we had a fourth. While I absolutely adore our newest little ball of baby, I can't pretend that she wasn't a bit of a surprise. So as soon as we found out about her, hubby went and got snipped so that we would never be surprised again. Meaning that we headed into her babyhood fully knowing that there would be no more. Which is why it surprises me that I'm having such a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that she is the last one.

The last one whose flutter kicks I'll feel inside my belly. The last one whose milky sweetness I'll breathe in, in the middle of the night. The last one who will be absolutely content to be carried around strapped to my chest in the Moby carrier. The last one we'll ever get to see develop from a squishy helpless baby meatloaf into a full-fledged person.

Our oldest is young enough that there are many firsts still waiting for us. We have yet to send a child to high school or on a first date. First kisses and first breakups are still (hopefully far) in our future.

College, marriage and grandchildren seem so distant I can't even think about them yet. But this is also the end of firsts.

The last first smile. The last first words. The last first steps.

This day had to come eventually; we can't keep having babies endlessly. But I always imagined that when we got here, I'd look at my family and feel "done." As it is, I could easily see one or two more smiles there. If it were an option logistically, financially, and health-wise, I'd keep having babies forever. But alas, it is not, so this is it.

After this baby, we'll retire our crib and high chair. Bottles, sippy cups and tummy time mats will get put away for good. She'll be the last to ride in a stroller, the last to need a carseat, the last to head off to school.

She is taking us to the next stage. Our lives are going to change dramatically as this little one grows up.

There will be a time without diapers. There will be a time when every member of our household can put on their own shoes and get themselves into the car. There will be a time when everyone's in school. And eventually, there will be a time when they won't need us anymore.

My head knows this is the right decision for our family, but my heart isn't quite on board yet. So here I am, in tears, mourning the end. Because although we are still at the beginning of her life, we are also at an end. For her firsts are our lasts, and the end of something so wonderful is sad.

Day 40: Happy 4th of July (7/4)

This year we were able to host the 4th of July party. My mom, dad, Molly and her boys, Aunt Shanda, Uncle Greg, Ava, and Faye with Garvis and Sami coming in later, were all able to make it to our house to celebrate. 

On my phone, most of my pictures were only of Eisley! I do have video of my other kids celebrating but only pictures of Eisley. I did steal a picture from Aunt Shanda of most of us in the pool. It was a nice day to visit and swim. Later, with Aunt Sami and Uncle Garvis, we shot off some fireworks in our backyard. Perfect way to end the day. 

Day 39: Eisley Cait (7/3)

She was loving this GoGO Squeeze applesauce! Eisley kept turning her head from one side to the other. It was so adorable. You can just see the smile in her eyes. LOVE!

Day 35: New Bathing Suits (6/29)

Like I said yesterday, all summer has been spent in the pool. Why not get some cool new swimsuits too?! 

Day 33: Sunbathing Beauty (6/27)

This little ball of fire cracks me up!! I know I've said said it before {check out the post: Eisley is Spiderman} but she loves to copy her brothers and sister. Rallie did this first, Eisley watched and as soon as Rallie ran off Eisley climbed in and laid out. She is so smart. 

Day 31: Messy Eater (6/25)

Eisley's is one of our better eaters. Rennie made hotdogs and chili for lunch and I thought for sure no one would eat it. However, the kids surprised me and they loved it!! Especially Eisley. They all asked for seconds and scarfed them down. 

I need to no regulate or second guess the things that the kids may or may not eat. I want them to try things and be adventurous when it comes to tasting food. I think I messed that up when Gavin was younger and now he's a very picky eater. Maybe it's just genes but I think that if they have the opportunity to try more food as kids they will be more likely to try different or new types of food as they grow older. 

Day 28: Eisley's Fall (6/22)

Poor Eisley! Saturday morning we ran a quick errand.  Rennie and I were unloading the car, I unbuckled Eisley and let her roam around the car while I carried some other things in. Rennie opened the back door and out she tumbled! Face first onto the concrete. She's a tough girl. Eisley was the first of our four to go to the ER and she's also the first to get a black eye. I feel like she's going to be our strong athlete, who always has and injury but plays through. We shall see.

To take Eisley's picture now a days, I have to turn on the front facing camera so she can see herself. She likes to stick out her tongue and wiggle it. It's something she and PopPop do all the time. 

Day 22: Eisley is Spiderman (6/16)

Eisley watches and watches intently. If she sees Gavin, Rallie or Wes do it, then she must do it as well and just as good. She watches them play and as soon as they walk away or drop it she picks it up and imitates what they were doing. It's so fun to watch her learn and grow. Today Wes was playing spiderman and she followed him around and watched him chase and growl at everyone. She laughed and ran from him. As soon as he dropped it, she picked it up, put it on and growled at me. She crawled around and chased who ever would run. She laughed and laughed. I can't believe that we have four kids but I am do blessed that my fourth one was Eisley. Her personality brightens my day and she's amazing. 

Day 15: Gavin and Eisley (6/9)

Rallie and Wes have a special bond, so it warms my heart tremendously that Gavin and Eisley have a special relationship. It's hard to explain because right now it's just little things that Rennie or I notice about them. I can only give you examples of things we notice. 

When Gavin wakes up (which is usually later than Eisley) and comes out of the room, Eisley screams and runs to him, she hugs him and puts her head up to him for a kiss. 

When Eisley wakes up from a nap and Gavin goes in first. She jumps up and down and babbles something excitedly.

If Eisley's crying and I can't get to her right way, Gavin is usually there to sooth her until I do.

When Eisley gets in trouble and goes to her room, Gavin follows her to comfort her.

Eisley is always included when Gavin is around.

When sitting on the couch the first place that Eisley chooses to sit is next to Gavin. 

Eisley is defiantly the baby in our family and treated as such but she and Gavin have a special relationship that I am thankful for everyday. 

Day 9: Library Fun (6/3)

Yesterday, my friend and principal Tracy invited us to go to the Piedmont Library for music and fun. This was the first time we've done something like this and I was unsure if the kids would enjoy it or behave. Oh em gee, THEY LOVED IT. I am so thankful that we were invited and actually went. All the kids participated, even Eisley. It was so much fun. I can't believe it's already nine days into summer and I haven't done this yet. I will researching Mustang and Yukon library to see what the library offers there. I want to do this at least once a week. 

Day 4: Zoo Day! (5/29)

Since we have family pass to the zoo, we try to go often. This way we don't have to walk the whole zoo each time and can just hit little pieces each time. This morning it was overcast and looked like it was going to rain again! (This month we have had more rain in the month than we have had in years combined. Flash Floods and water had done some damage around Oklahoma.)

This time it was just the kids and myself. Rennie is still working at school. They are pretty good about listening and as long as they take turns walking (expect Eisley) it works outs. The weather was perfect and so we headed out for the morning. 

Day 3: Sweet Baby Eisley (5/28)

This sweet girl has been the perfect addition to our family and to answer the question A LOT of people ask, "No, we won't be having any more kids!" Eisley is so sweet and certainly the baby of our family and probably gets away with a lot more than any of the other kids ever did. She is brave and thinks she is a year older than she is.

Eisley's motto: If some one else did it or gets one, so do I!

Day 2: Daily Walk (5/27)

I try to get them all outside daily. We play on our bikes or take a walk. We have to wear out that energy in some way. :) Today, we walked our neighborhood. We usually take the same route. Down the main road, by the creek and then around the cul de sac and back to our house. Sometimes if the twins are really energetic, I'll then put Eisley in the stroller and head farther down the road.