Darling Little Children

Tradition has it that my babies will get their pictures Professionally taken when they are 3 mo. and then at least yearly. So, since Andie was 3 months and my boys are making their year marks of 2 (Packer) & 4 (Benson) Here we are with current pictures of the kids. Our photographer was great. The boys laughed hysterically, and she got Andie to even smile a few times. There were so many good ones, but my funds are limited... so here are the ones I chose:

Andie-Girl

My 3 little Hooligans!

Benson Boy

Pack-Man

Big Brothers & Little Sister

"These Are A Few of My Favorite Things"

Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvQ0Sj6Qm_Y or On Youtube, look up Hillary Weeks, These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things, and enjoy! As a Mother -- at least for me... this song is so true. I'm glad someone finally put them into a song. I sing this song almost daily!


Bedtime & Naptime, And Bedtime & Naptime...

Bedtime & Naptime, And Bedtime & Naptime...

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things.

Did I mention It's Nice When the Kids Go To Sleep?

BEST OF BOYS

Benson and Packer, when not poking, hitting, kicking, biting, yelling, chasing, sitting on, or throwing things at each other, are the BEST OF BUDS! Sitting Quietly watching a show together, playing trains, puzzles, drawing, digging, riding bikes, helping Daddy together is what being brothers is all about.

On our Morning Walk the other day:

Benson: "Why is the road made out of Rocks?

Mommy: "Well, what should it be made of?

Benson: "Rainbows."

DUH MOM!

Sunglasses Are Cool

Sunglasses are the COOLEST! Ever since Daddy (Ben) got his eyes lasiked this last May, he's been wearing sunglasses a lot whenever he's outside. Benson & Packer love to be just like their favorite pal: Dad. Here they are showing off their super cool Spiderman sunglasses, camo shades, and Packer's Thomas the Train sunglasses.
During the couple of weeks I spent at the NICU with Andie, Benson & Packer did a lot of traveling too, spending a lot of time at Grandparent's houses. On our way home, Benson fell asleep with his shades on...

Packer has personality exploding from every body part. Here he is showing dad how "cool dude" he is.

He is definitely full of cool!

Blessings

Andie's Blessing Day. She got to wear her first white dress today. Grandma Atkin made it for her, and she looke absolutely beautiful!

There's just something about being in Daddy's or Grandpa's arms that makes you feel secure and safe...making sleep so much more beautiful. Grandpa Lloyd is a pro after 5 baby girls of his own.

Dig Dig Dig!

Packer is always playing in the dirt. Whether we're in the mountains ... (Packer with cousin Brynlie)

Or at a party... (with cousin Max)

Or at home with his Big Brother Benson... Dirt is ALWAYS a good idea.
However, with dirt, comes bath-time. Therefore, bath-time happens more than once a day, and that never ending mountain of laundry... it continues to be never ending!

Baby Girl

Andie is a pretty good baby. She has a soft cry when she does cry(which is really nice -- I recommend the soft crying babies), but she relatively happy most of the time. Pretty alert for how tiny she is. She's a good sleeper, and loves to cuddle - which is so fun! My 2 boys were NOT snugglers. So finally having a snuggler is fun!

She's Home At Last

Andie made it home. And we are all so ecstatic about it! Benson wants to always be holding her. Packer wants to hold her occassionally, but really is just glad that Mommy is back home and things are going back to normal -- well, normal-ish!

Andie is gaining about 3 oz. a week. I know only because I have to take her in to be weighed weekly just to make sure she is gaining. She is!

She has some terriffic brothers to watch out for her.

Child Number Three

Here is number 3. Andie Atkin. When we visited her in the NICU, we had to wash our hands for 5 minutes with a scub brush. Believe you me my hands were amazingly exfoliated after 10 days at the NICU. These pictures were taken a day before she was released home. Note no tubes, or wires streaming around her! She lost quite a bit of weight in the NICU. She dropped to 4 lb. 9 oz. but was back at her birth weight of 5 lb. 4 oz. when she left the hospital.

I don't recommend the NICU. Bake them until their done if you can!