6 Months

So excited to be 6 months old!

My baby is 6 months old!!!! How did that happen!?!? I can't believe he is getting so big. He has been such a joy and such an easy baby I have been savoring and soaking up as much "baby" time as I can. He is already trying to crawl! Since about 5 1/2 months he pulls up on all 4's and rocks back and forth. Cole didn't even attempt this until he was 10 months old! I think we are going to have a mobile baby on our hands soon! He has also mastered sitting up by himself. He LOVES it because he can play with his toys better and I think he just likes to feel big. I started feeding him some solid foods. So far he has had cereal, bananas, and butternut squash. He is only eating 2 times a day (if that) and I have slowed him down a bit because we got a nasty stomach bug and I have been "tanking" him up with breast milk just in case he gets sick. So far he is in the clear, but we shall see. Bath time is his favorite time of the day! He starts kicking and squealing when he hears the bath water running and when he gets in the water he kicks, splashes and squeals the whole time. It is the cutest thing ever!!! He is still a chunky monkey. He is in size 6-9 month (sometimes 12 month) clothes. He is such a happy baby, he squeals and smiles all the time. He just started "fake" laughing when other people around him are laughing...hilarious! He has one little tooth about to poke through on the bottom left. He is still the most loved baby by his siblings (as I sit here and write this BK is hugging and snuggling him while he sits on the floor and plays).

This week has been challenging with all the sickness and it being so close to Christmas. I had grand plans for the week before Christmas and all the fun traditions. My family was going to come extra early, but because of the puking it has been postponed a bit. Yesterday, as I had just finished cleaning up a puking child, I was snuggling 2 little people and watching the other 2 play around me, I felt completely content. Not that I love puking kids (or cleaning it up) but I realized their is no where I would rather be. Puke and all, my life with these little people and my husband is pretty amazing and I wouldn't change it for the world!

The Nutcracker

I have been to the Nutcracker every year since I was 2 years old. I remember going with my mom and Great Grandma. I remember getting my first nutcracker, I think when I was 2, with my Great Grandma. I'm so excited to carry on this tradition with my sweet girl. She is SO into dancing like a "pincesss" all the time. The morning after we got home from the nutcracker she put on her tutu, I found a nutcracker ballet on netflix and she danced the morning away! After the show their was a tea for the little girls to go to and meet the characters. Our sweet friends, Christy and Emma, were able to go with us (along with Mimi, Nina, Abby and Whitney). What a special day full of amazing memories!

She was a little scared of the nutcracker and Rat king, but she warmed up pretty fast!

Heaven!
Her Prince (Don't tell daddy!)

Tea with Emma


LOVE traditions!
My sweet girl and her new nutcracker

Dreaming of sugar plum fairies =)

Reindeer run and Kid's Praise Performance

This year our whole family ran in the reindeer run and then watched the parade afterwards. I was afraid it was going to be miserable, but it turned out to be one of my favorite memories of the holiday season so far. The boys ran the whole way (Cole cramped up and had a dry heaving episode) and BK ran for about half. She would run for a few minutes and then look up and wave at everyone who was waiting for the parade. She was hilarious. We were the LAST people to finish, but she refused to let me pick her up. She had to do it, "all by myself!"

My little runner (sorry, I can't figure out how to flip the picture.)

All my little runners

Post run lunch...Hazel's hot dogs

Jude decided to suck on his toes instead of eating the hot dogs =)

The boys had their kid's praise performance the other night and they did a great job singing! They were SO cute! Wednesday night is their favorite night of the week because Nina takes them to dinner, they go to Kid's praise and then go out with Nina, Ms. Christy and Emma for Frostys and French Fries. They are some blessed little boys and we are blessed by them!

Family Pictures

So our good friend Lauren Sykes took our family pictures this year. Getting good photo of a family of 6 is no easy feat, but Lauren did an awesome job! Here are a few of my favorites!

I love my little family!

5 months and "Gotcha" Day

So I can't believe it, but Jude the Dude is 5 months old!!! He is a sweet and happy little guy. He loves to sit in the bumbo seat at meals and watch his brothers and sister eat. They entertain him with silly faces and noises. I've given him a few puffs and an organic rice cake, but no official solids yet. I like to wait a while before I add another little person to feed =) He LOVES his feet! He is my first little one who will play on the floor with toys, but he is most entertained with his feet. It is SO cute! He also loves all things in his mouth. The other day he was sucking on both thumbs at the same time. He rolls from his belly to back regularly and has rolled from his back to belly once. He is also big enough to jump in his jumperoo. He has fits of excitement where he shakes all his limbs and squeals in delight. It is so funny! He still LOVES to eat....but sometimes he needs to see what is going on all around him or have a chat with me =) He is getting so big and I love him with all of my heart!

Best Buds!

Today also marks 3 years that Cooper became a Nettles. I can't believe it has already been 3 years, he is growing up so much and I can't imagine life without him! Since I don't have it written down anywhere I'm going to try to remember every detail from that day.

I remember waking the boys up with so much excitement...the day had come, no more wondering if something would change at the last minute. We had already had Cooper living with us for 4 months, he was ours. I was also about 4 months pregnant with Bailey Kate and just starting to show. I had found the boys cute matching outfits for our big day. We got them dressed and fed and we were on our way to the courthouse!

Cooper was a surprise (as much as an adoption can be =) We weren't actively looking to adopt. We had been foster parents the year before, but having an emergency c-section with Cole and my gallbladder removed 5 weeks later we asked to not be relicensed. So 9 months later my sweet friend from work (Susanne), who is one of the most amazing women I know, knew we wanted to adopt eventually and for some reason called me (in the middle of me tutoring a little girl), and plainly asked if we wanted to adopt a little boy. After praying that afternoon we felt like this was definitely God placing this sweet child in our lives, so we said yes!

So we got to the courthouse, my parents happened to be out of town because it was their anniversary, but Diane (my awesome MIL) came with us along with some of my siblings. Susanne also met us at the courthouse. We met with our lawyer and signed the papers. While we were waiting Susanne told me that Cooper's biological grandparents, brother and sister were there to get permanent custoday of Roland (Cooper's biological brother). They had decided not to adopt Cooper because he was showing signs of delays (His older sister is very delayed). They felt like at their age they couldn't raise 3 children with 2 having special needs. When I heard they were there I freaked out! Since we had had Cooper he had thrived. He actually walked sooner than Cole, he was eating great, starting to talk a ton, so happy and full of life and energy. Not delayed at all! I was scared they would see MY boy and want him back. Susanne and the lawyer told me that wasn't possible, but I was still petrified.

After they boys ran around for a whild to burn off some energy we went in the court room full of other families. It was November 17, national adoption day, so they expidited a lot of the adoptions so that they would be final on that day. They called us up, we all walked up, held our boys and the judge asked us some questions. I was holding Cole and Clay was holding Cooper, and then they wanted to switch right in the middle. The judge said something along the lines of, "Congratulations, Cooper Owen Nettles is now your son." (there was also some joke that we were going to have our third, 3 kids 2 and under soon) We took our boy and headed out the courthouse doors as parents to 2 sweet boys! I look at Cooper often and think how can I be so blessed to be a part of this little ones story. He is our special little treasure!

Halloween

We have had a full fall with lots of fun activities. The kids had their halloween parade/show and party. They dressed up and trick or treated through the offices at school.

The boys at there performance

Then we went to the corn maze. Unfortunately, Daddy had to work and Nina and Papa were out of town. Uncle Trey and Aunt Whitney got to come and we had tons of fun. We did get lost in the corn maze and kind of made our own path to get out...none of us have ever been known for our directional skills =)

Clay and I went to a party the Saturday before halloween and dressed as 80's rockers, pretty sure I already regret the costume and the pictures, but we did have a lot of fun =)

ummmm......

ya!!!

Having kids is super fun especially at holidays like Halloween =) Cole decided to be Jake from the Neverland pirates, Cooper wanted to be a cheetah (again), Jude was a monkey and Nina bought Bailey Kate the cutest Strawberry fairy costume. We have an AWESOME neighborhood to trick or treat in (I think all of St Augustine came to our neighborhood!). We went with some great friends from the neighborhood and another family from the kid's school and came back with SO much loot. We only got around one loop and the kids were tired and ready to come home and look through their stash. We are so blessed with sweet friends, fun kids, and an awesome place to live!

Ready to go!

My little monkey

"Really mom!?!"

She had so much fun! It took us forever to get to the houses because she would wave her arms and say, "I fly like a fairy!"

The Cheetah! "Jake"

Going through the loot!

My little pumpkin....4 months...

My sweet little pumpkin =)
"Really mom, is this necessary!"
YUM!!!
My sweet little man turned 4 months old while we were in Antwerp. He is a little world traveller and quite the flirt. He smiles at everyone and is generally happy all the time as long as the food source (me) is close by. He still loves his paci and prefers to have a blanket over or near his face when he is sleeping. This concerns a lot of older people when we are walking through the store, they are convinced we are trying to suffocate him =) He stayed with our sweet babysitter, Mary for the first time and takes a bottle like a champ. He had his first belly laugh in the bath tub. He was laughing at Bailey Kate and it was the cutest thing I have ever seen! He LOVES the bath and Bailey Kate (even though sometimes he looks scared to death when she gets close, I can't imagine why!) He has started sitting in the bumbo seat and LOVES it! He still looks like a little bobble head sometimes =) He is 15 pounds 14 oz, 24 3/4 inches. He has the most delicious leg rolls and is in size 6 months cloths. He is back to sleeping through the night after adjusting from jet lag. He sleeps from 7:30 to about 6am and always wakes up with a big smile. I should probably move him to his own room, but because I'm not going to have another baby for a LONG, LONG time I'm procrastinating doing it =) I love him SO SO SO much! He is so pleasant and sweet and we are blessed that he is ours.

Learning to rest

So growing up I think I had to two hardest working people on the planet as parents. I remember often hearing, "if you don't work, you don't eat." or "Go to the ant you sluggard!" They did an excellent job of teaching me, and all of my siblings, that working hard was not only a requirement, but a command from the Lord. I had a lot of responsibility growing up, and wouldn't change it for the world. I learned how to be a wife and mommy watching my mom serve us tirelessly every day (and she still does =). My dad would work hard all day at his job and then come home and work and serve all evening for his family. I hope I can teach my children to be diligent workers that love and serve others well.

With all of that said, my life is full of "work." I could fill every minute of my day doing something and I still wouldn't get it all done. It overwhelms me sometimes! Lately, I feel like God has been gently reminding me that rest is also important. The sweet moments I could (and should) take advantage of each day will make many more lasting impressions on my children than getting all the laundry folded are having the house picked up. I'm trying to learn to sit and "rest" with my children. Whether that means sitting and doing a puzzle with Cole, reading to Cooper, having a tea party with Bailey Kate, just sitting and cooing with Jude, or sitting and reading a book quietly with Clay...all of these things renew my soul and bless my family. My family won't remember if the laundry was always done, but they will remember if I chose to take time to "rest" and enjoy life with them. I think because my parents did such a good job of teaching me to work hard I sometimes have to remind myself that taking time to rest physically and spiritually is just as important...Here are some pictures of how we have been "resting" lately...

Ice cream truck treats and chatting with Mommy

I learned BK is quite good at puzzles and loves to high five and do a little dancce when she's done =)

A little painting while the bubbas were at school

Frozen yogurt with Daddy and the kids (sorry, it's a little blurry...it was craziness!)