Quints- 9 Months

Our babies keep getting bigger and are changing so much. All of them are 16lbs except Mia. None of them are sleeping all night yet, which makes it hard on us. I'm ready for them to start sleeping all night so I can start getting some good sleep. They all have been sick lately. They had the stomach virus over Thanksgiving and as they got over that virus, they all got sick with bronchiolitis, and they're still sick. Brant has an ear infection and as of late, is our sickest baby. Hopefully, they will start feeling better soon. We still work on taking a bottle with the girls. It's still hit or miss when it comes to how much or if they will try the bottle at all. I think being sick right now has a lot to do with them not taking a bottle well. They all eat baby food well. They're getting more mobile. They are starting to fight over toys and love to steal what the other one is playing with or even steal someone's paci right out of their mouth. They all still get PT & OT, and the four girls still get Speech Therapy to help with their feeding issues. I'm enjoying this stage but I will say, you can't take your eyes off them for a second. They move all over the place and it's tough to keep 5 babies in the same place for long. They are starting to show jealously in different ways. Tessa will cry and Gracie will throw herself down and have a little hissy fit. They're starting to wear some 9 month clothes and are between 2-3 diapers. Mia can still wear 2 diapers but everyone else is starting to wear 3's.

Our girls (l to r) Rayleigh, Gracie, Mia, & Tessa

Brady snuck and jumped in Rayleigh's chair

from l to r: Mia, Tessa, Brant, Gracie, & Rayleigh

We tried to get a pic of Brady with the babies, but he will not hold still for pictures.

Ugly Christmas

For our Christmas, we asked everyone to wear an ugly sweater/shirt/outfit. Almost everyone participated and it was so much fun. I have to share my crazy family with all of you. We always have so much fun together. I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful and loving and fun family.

Our crazy crew

Kara, Marty, & Erin

Grandma

Gavin & Kristian

Gage, Makenna, & Kayla

Grandma with her grandkids

Steven being goofy....

And silly....

And ridiculous.....

Much better

Makenna, Kayla, Gage, & Jeremy

I look forward to next year!!!!

Christmas 2014

The first couple of days after Christmas are such a let down to me. It seems like we spend 5 months gearing up for Christmas; decorating and shopping and then, it's over before you can blink twice. Christmas is one of my most favorite times of the whole year. I love the decorations, music, Christmas shows, and overall feeling of goodwill that coincides with this special holiday. I do feel, however, that the true meaning of Christmas is overlooked by a vast majority of people, so I hope to teach my kids what Christmas is really all about and that the true reason for the season is to celebrate Jesus' birth.
The best part about Christmas is that I get to spend so much time with our families. We went to three different Christmases away from our home this year and we also hosted everyone, as we usually do. Our first stop this year was the Saturday before Christmas (which is the earliest I've ever celebrated). My stepdad had surgery 2 days before Christmas, so we celebrated early so he could participate. Sunday we went to my dad's for Christmas. Monday we had our big Christmas here. And Christmas Day we went to my grandmother's house. It was busy, as usual, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

The kids had a great Christmas. Santa brought Brady trains because he loves Thomas the Train. We now have trains coming out our ears because everyone else gave him trains too. Santa brought all the girls Care Bears. Brant got some balls and blocks. They all got bath toys in their stockings.

Santa came!!!

Teresa & Brant

Me with Tessa

Loretta & Gracie

Rayleigh

Tessa

Nana & Mia

Brant & Brady had matching Santa pjs

Gracie & Rayleigh

Preston with Tessa

Mia

Brady playing with his trains Santa brought

I must have been a very good girl this year, Santa brought me a new sewing machine that also embroiders. Now I just have to learn how to sew!

The most precious gifts aren't the ones under the tree, it's the loved ones around the tree. I'm so thankful for my sweet family!

Favorite Christmas Decorations

So Christmas is just a few days away, which means I don't have much longer to enjoy my Christmas decorations. Christmas is such a beautiful time of the year. A few weeks ago, I decided I needed to make some memorable decorations with my kids' feet. I love how my mistletoes and our snow family turned out. I'll treasure these decorations for many more Christmases to come. 

My baker's rack.

Look at Brant's fat little feet.

Our family. I'm so in love with this masterpiece!

A lot of thought went into each snowman/girl. Brant and Gracie's are probably my favorite...a cowboy and princess.

Happy 8 Years!!!!

Tuesday was our 8th Wedding Anniversary!!! It's so hard to believe it's been that long since we said our vows. What an amazing and crazy eight years it has been. Our lives are nothing like we thought they'd be. God had much bigger and different plans for us. We have been blessed with great jobs, a nice home, and we've taken some amazing and fun trips. We've also experienced some heartache along the way. But through it all, Steven has always been by my side, holding my hand, and loving me no matter what. He's such a wonderful husband and daddy to our 6 kids. I am so incredibly blessed to share my life with him.

He wears many hats. I love watching him with the kids. This is him & Brady. 

We enjoy taking trips together.

No matter what the situation is, he's always by my side.

We've been through a lot in 8 years, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Here we are about to welcome the quints into the world.

I can get him to do "just" about anything....even dress up as a dogcatcher for Halloween.

He can even be a little jealous sometimes...lol.

 We neither one need anything, so we decided, instead of buying gifts, we'd go to Dallas for one night and enjoy being together, just the two of us, and sleep!!!! We shopped, ate, got facials, and most importantly, we slept all night!!! I always enjoy spending time with Steven, because he's not only my hubby, he's also my best friend.

Before our facials...this was Steven's first time to have a facial and he liked it!

The hotel was decorated beautifully for Christmas, which is so fitting because we had a Christmas wedding.

I'm terrible with selfies, I was trying to get a pic of the beautiful hotel, but that didn't happen.

We ate at Pappadeaux.....yum!

Then got dessert to-go from Cheesecake Factory.

And ate in the car... aren't we so romantic!? ;)

Steven loves his cheesecake.

So, here's to eight years of marriage! I hope we share many, many more together.