The best 10 minutes of my day

While I'm out on maternity leave with your brother, the best ten minutes of my day have become when I get to pick you up from school and hear about your day on the ride home. You are so enthusiastic in everything you say and truly love the little things about life. It's so refreshing, especially on days when I'm exhausted! You have the best attitude about school and learning and I am so proud to be your mom.  Your voice is so precious to me and I love to hear what's important to you on a daily basis. Here is a sample of what makes me happy every single day:

Kindergarten and a big sister!

Well baby girl, you've had an exciting few weeks! You had your first day of Kindergarten and your baby brother arrived! You have been such a trooper with all of these changes. Since your brother is in the NICU, you've only been able to see him once, but have been super patient and have enjoyed Facetiming him.  You've gotten up with your alarm clock each day, dressed yourself, brushed your hair and teeth, and gone downstairs to eat breakfast. We are so proud of how "go with the flow" you've been!  Grandmommy and Grandaddy have been helping out as mommy and daddy have to spend a lot of time in the hospital, and we are so proud of how good you've been for them. 

You love school! The only complaint was since you started school on a Thursday after the weekend, Monday was hard. You were tired and upon waking up said, "It's not fair! I only get one weekend and then I have to go back to school?" It was absolutely precious!  You have received all positive notes from school so far and are really enjoying it. You were even excited to do your first homework assignment(hope that lasts through high school and beyond!) You continue to amaze us with your kind heart, positive attitude, and creative spirit. We can't wait to see where you go with your schooling and learning!

Your daddy is the best! He took you to your first day of school and loved it!

Mommy just had a c-section, so was sad to not take you to your first day of school.

Our future "famous singer!"

Excited to complete your first homework assignment at your desk!

Summer of 2017 in pictures

Great Wolf Lodge with the Jones Family!

Palm Coast, Florida with Grandmommy and Grandaddy!

Fun at Soda City Market

We spent time getting ready for Kindergarten.

Dinner at Myrtle Beach

Fun with Aunt Stacey, Uncle Mitch, and Kenzie.

Sand Castles with Uncle Mitch.

Snuggling with baby brother in my belly at Great Wolf Lodge.

Looking for shells on Palm Coast.

Besties at Great Wolf Lodge.

Staying out of the rain with Grandmommy.

Fun on the beach with Grandmommy and Grandaddy.

Exploring St. Augustine with Grandmommy and Grandaddy.

Dinner in Palm Coast, Florida.

Around here lately...

It's May, you've turned five and summer is only two weeks away. I can't wait to spend my days with you soaking up sun, getting ready for baby Andrew, and playing fun things with you! Here's what you've been up to lately that Dad and I don't want to forget:

1. Saying "at" when you mean "that." It's precious and makes us so happy. You are very detailed in your storied and explanations, so end up using "at" quite a bit.

2. Learning to read. While you've been sounding out words well for quite some time, you read your first book from cover to cover without assistance the other night. At Kindergarten orientation, you got to pick a book to take home and practice with over the summer. You read it all by yourself on the first try as soon as we got home that night. We are so proud of how much you love reading and doing math and other school work. We pray your love of learning sticks around forever! I didn't get the first reading on film, but you read it again for me the next morning in the day care parking lot. I only got a part before my phone ran out of memory, but it still give the idea of how great you're doing with reading!

3. Graduating from preschool/daycare! On May 25, you graduated from day care. Here you are at your precious ceremony. You have been given a great start by the teachers are your schools (Kids R Kids in Georgia and Creative Beginnings in Irmo). We are especially thankful for the Biblical foundations you have been given at Creative Beginnings from Ms. Virginia! While part of us is sad to see you moving on, we are also proud and excited and can't wait to see all of the great things you accomplish! We love you!

5 Years Old!!

We can't believe that you are already five years old! It seems like just yesterday you were learning to walk. We are so proud of the sweet, polite, strong-willed young lady you are becoming. You are smart and a rule follower and love Jesus and people. We celebrated at our house with church friends and family this year and an "under the sea" party theme. It was a blast!

You on your fourth birthday, just to see how much you've grown in a year!!

Flu catch up and big news.

I've been at home with you yesterday and today as you are sick with the flu. Daddy will take over and stay home with you tomorrow. We hate to see you so pitiful, but have loved all the snuggles we've gotten over the last few days! Since I have some time while you are resting, I'm finally going to catch up on the blog.

1. The big news we've all been waiting for is finally here:

Mommy and Daddy have been trying to give you a little brother or sister for three years now and for the last two years you have literally prayed for one every day and wished for one in every single pond or fountain that you threw a coin in. You've wanted this for so long and are so excited that it is finally here! You are going to be such an amazing big sister and I pray that you and your little brother or sister will be close for the rest of your lives. Please always take care of each other and look out for each other!

2. In other big news, you're getting married. You announced this last Friday when we picked you up from daycare. We had to push Daddy's chin back up, but we did get you to tell the story on video so we could save it. Who knows, maybe this will be rehersal dinner footage if you really do marry Gunnar one day.

Great Grandma Bateman and a National Championship

My sweet Grandma went to heaven this January and mommy had to leave you for a few days to go the funeral in Tennessee. While you had a blast with Daddy, I was happy to see that you missed me like crazy and even rehearsed what you were going to say to me first when I came back: "I love you, OR I missed you, OR I loved you and missed you!" It cracked me up and made my heart so happy when Daddy told me that. My Grandma was one of the kindest persons I ever knew and her heart was pure gold. She laughed with this silly infectious giggle every day of her life even towards the end. I pray that you inherit her love of God, her silliness and happiness, and her devotion to her family.

On a happier note, Clemson won the national championship this year for the first time since 1981! You have been wavering back and forth between being a Tiger fan, Gamecock fan, or Bulldog fan for several months. When Clemson won you decided you were a Tiger fan for good. You wanted to call Dad on the way to school to let him know your decision and once we hung up you said, "I bet I just made him so happy his underwear blowed off!" I think it was pretty close, sweet girl!

Post Christmas Catch Up!

We had a great Christmas this year! You had Grandmommy and Grandaddy here unexpedectly and Grammy Bec and Grandpa Tom as well! You got the big girl bike and drum set from Santa that you asked for and lot of other cool goodies from everyone else as well. You got to be an angel in the Christmas pageant at church and you did such a great job!