Happy Fourth of July!

This Fourth of July was pretty laid back for our family! We started the day off early, watched a little Sesame Street as a family, then played outside in our little pool and new water table...

Later, we had a few friends come over for burgers and to watch fireworks. Even though there was a major burn ban, the city still had their firework show at one of the local churches and it's less than a mile from our house, so we all took blankets and chairs outside to sit and watch the fireworks!

Bailey loves playing in the grass!

Bronson was the "big kid" and shared so sweetly when the babies wanted everything he had!!

Just trying to get a cute pic...they move too fast!

We laughed, because I walked away to get something, and of course they sat perfectly when I wasn't trying to take a picture!

Griffin, Jackson, and Bailey...we are SOOOOO excited that they're moving here and will live two miles from us! These three are going to have a lot of fun together in the future!

"Hooray for the USA!"

Bronson taking over swinging duties while we sat!

Heading down the road to the field where we watched the fireworks show...so grateful for my family! (It's funny because what you can't see is everyone else singing "If you're happy and you know it" to get them to look)

Does it get much sweeter than that? 

B and G decided to let Jackson in the wagon for a few minutes!

Homemade ice cream!

Griffin's turn!

Watching the fireworks...they did great!

Amazed by the show!

Happy Fourth of July!!!!

Future Bison??

This afternoon, Bailey, Griffin, and I headed to Searcy to see Aunt Hannah while she is at Uplift. I got my undergrad and my masters degrees at Harding and it holds a special place in my heart! Each time I go back (it's only 30 minutes away), I realize how much I loved being there and how many wonderful memories I made while I was there. It's amazing how fast that time in my life flew by! :) 

Aunt Hannah and her sweet friends...I have known these girls for a very long time and I love them so much! Bailey and Griffin were born during Uplift last year, and when they got the news that I was in labor, they circled with Hannah and prayed for us...such sweet girls and I'm so glad Hannah has them!

We love Harding! :)

I planned on getting a picture of them sitting under the sign, but the ground was too hot, so we just got a stroller picture!

Welcome to the family, Andrew!

Last week, Jacob and I became an aunt and uncle for the first time and it's so much fun! Our plans changed a little from our original ones...we were planning on leaving and heading to Nashville, TN, on Thursday afternoon for Jacob's sister, Jessie, to be induced on Friday morning. However, Andrew decided that he wanted to come a little earlier, so when we got the call, the tornado of packing began! In about an hour and a half on Wednesday evening, we had packed our bags, loaded the car, bathed babies, put pajamas on, and headed to Nashville. We thought that they would sleep the whole way there and that we would just put them in bed when we arrived around midnight...but no, Bailey had other plans! She did not want to sleep or be content the majority of the way there, so I sat between their car seats in the backseat the majority of the way there. We made it in one piece, put babies to bed, and waited on the call to say that it was time to come to the hospital. 

The next morning, Andrew hadn't arrived yet, so I dressed Bailey and Griffin, and met Daddy and the rest of the family at the hospital for a little while. After about an hour and a half, I headed back to Gran and Papa's house for nap time while the rest of the family waited on Andrew's arrival.

Jessie and I waiting on Andrew's arrival...she looked great and was in just a happy mood!

Andrew finally arrived around 1:30 and is such a precious and perfect baby! I know that Bailey and Griffin are going to have so much fun playing with him soon...he doesn't know what he's in for with these two! :)

I loved getting to finally hold him! 

The proud Aunt and Uncle

Of course Uncle Jacob would give him a mohawk as soon as he got his hands on him!

Andrew's sweet profile with his cute, little mohawk!

He finally opened his eyes for me!

Bailey and Griffin meeting Andrew...the perfect depiction of their personalities...Griffin is ready to jump in and play and Bailey has her hand gracefully placed on his blanket as she gazes at him! This really makes me laugh!

While Jessie and Andrew were still in the hospital, we decided to have a pool day at an AWESOME pool that one of Aunt Jenna's friends has (we decided the pool was a better place for two babies instead of the hospital). The pool had a little walk in area that was perfect for Bailey and Griffin to sit and play.

Aunt Jenna and Bailey...don't let Bailey's face fool you, she did love it...just wouldn't smile for ANY pictures!

Daddy and Griffin playing under the waterfall

Papa and Bailey...got a little smirk out of her!

Daddy has taught Griffin the word "shoot" and he LOVES doing it!

Aunt Jenna, Cousin Jilli, B, and G

I can't get over the cuteness of our little girl in her swimsuit with all those sweet rolls!

The best picture that we could get of the two of them

The bathing beauty

Our adventurous little man LOVES the water...and I love his face here...he giggled so loud every time we did it!

Sunday, we went to church, then got the news that it was time for Andrew and Aunt Jessie to come home and we were all so excited!

Bailey doing toe touches for Andrew coming home!

Griffin was so excited too!

Bailey is checking him out...so sweet!

The three grandchildren...so hard to believe mine were smaller than Andrew just a year ago!

A proud Gran and Papa with their grandbabies!

We love you Andrew and can't wait to see you again soon! We are so glad that you are here safely! 

A Whole Year Old!

I have such bittersweet feelings as I write this post...I'm so excited that we have reached this milestone, but so sad that my babies aren't babies anymore!!!! They are growing so fast and into everything! We don't have our one year checkup for another week, so I'll just post without their official weights! :)

Griffin Bradley has for sure taken to the name of the "big brother" (even if it's only by 10 minutes)...he is wearing 18 month clothes and is currently working his way into a size 5 shoe! He is tall and slim! Griffin is one of the most active children that I've ever seen and constantly keeps us on our toes! He is trying so hard to walk, but hasn't quite gotten it yet! There is constant standing up, taking one step, and then falling down...he is SO close! Griffin has a mouth full of teeth and uses them to eat anything and everything that he puts in his mouth. His favorites right now are bananas, sweet potatoes, yogurt, and mac and cheese. He has such a unique personality where he is so strong, but so sweet and gentle at the same time. The word "Mama" is constantly heard around our house and he is even more of a Mommy's boy than ever...and don't tell Daddy, but I really do love it! Jacob will be playing with him and as soon as I walk by, he makes a direct line for me. Jacob tries to cut him off, but he won't have that and finds  a way to make it to me...makes my heart melt!

Bailey Jane just makes us laugh all of the time. Don't let that sweet smile fool you...she has quite the little temper and we have to turn our heads so that she doesn't see us laugh. "No" has become a frequent word with Bailey and we have to watch her or she will pounce on Griffin. It doesn't phase her that she's quite a bit smaller than he is. Compared to Griffin wearing a size 5 shoe, Bailey wears a small, little size 2 shoe! She is also about 2 inches shorter than he is! She now has quite the mouthful of teeth, but has become our picky eater. Right now, about the only thing we can get her to eat is yogurt, applesauce, and mac and cheese. I sure do hope we grow out of this soon. Bailey has now had 7 ear infections in her first year of life, and we are scheduled to get tubes next Friday. I sure do hope that makes her feel better. Everyone says that she will be a totally different child, which is great, but she really is one of the easiest little girls! She can be a Mommy's little girl, but she and her Daddy have such a sweet little relationship. Her Daddy is also going to have a long road ahead of him...she has become a little flirt and it is SO funny. She will look at boys (our friends), and grin, then bury her head in my chest. It is the sweetest and funniest thing! 

As far as sleeping goes, we are FINALLY consistently sleeping through the night. Lately, they have actually been sleeping until around 8:00 or 8:30, which is FANTASTIC. One morning last week, they both slept until 9:30 and I didn't know what had happened. I love it!

Looking back on the past year, I am amazed at what a journey it has been and at how fast it has gone. I always knew that I would love my children, but the love that I have for them is more than I can put into words. Although it is the most challenging thing I've ever experienced, every bit of it is worth it and I wouldn't trade this life for anything! I prayed so long for God to bless us with a baby, and to be given my precious family just makes me feel so blessed. As I watch them sleep, as I hear their giggles, and even as they are blowing strawberries with food in their mouth, I find myself tearing up just feeling so grateful for these gifts we have been given. Jacob sent me a text the other day that said "I love our family and where we are in life right now." That said it perfectly to me...even though we have our days where I want to pull my hair out and we never even get out of our pajamas, this is the most rewarding thing I have ever done or been given.

Bailey Jane and Griffin Bradley, I love you more than words can describe!