Halloween 2009

You wouldn't know it from my blog, but we really did have Halloween here. I just haven't gotten a chance to download the pictures. We enjoyed a fun night of trick or treating with the Rainwaters. So, finally some pics (sorry--they didn't turn out so great) of our little ones at Halloween.

Wow-taking a picture of 5 kids in costumes isn't so easy.

My Lilah bug

Lilah making sure the cooler is doing okay.

What a day of playing and trick or treating does to my boys.

My girls

A couple of weeks ago, I joined 10 other girls for a wonderful weekend in a cabin outside of Blue Ridge (the mountains for GA, small hills for my Colorado family). I wasn't going to write anything about it because it has nothing to do with my kids. I try to keep this blog for them, but I realized that writing something about my fabulous weekend is for the kids. It will show them how I am a better mother because of these amazing girls I'm fortunate to call friends. Some I have been friends with since 9th grade and others I have gotten to know only in the last couple of years. The weekend was full of talking, talking, and more talking. We included a lot of food, many drinks, a walk, some hot tub time, and dancing. It was fun, re-energizing, and relaxing. I love my family more than anything in this world, but I live for weekends like this-a reminder that I am someone besides just a mom and a wife.

I am a friend who loves to laugh and dance.

I am a friend who can ask any question and know I'll get an honest answer.

I am a friend who can talk about things that I would only talk about with my girls.

I am a friend who can offer advice.

I am a friend who is fortunate to receive advice.

I am a friend who can cook and clean up with the best of them.

I am a friend who can reminiscence about the high school and college years.

I am a friend who can trust my words will not be judged nor will I judge those that I hear.

I am a friend that is beyond lucky to have some of the best women in my life that I call friends. I love them. (gulp, I actually called us women which sounds way too old!)

Thank you for the laughs, the advice, the talks, the dances, the food, the drinks, the smiles, and the love. I am blessed to have you all in my life.

Our Cabin

The View from our back deck

A random dog that went along with us on our walk. Sweet baby.

Me with my best girls, Leslie and Caroline. Leslie, Jenn (a fellow mother of 3), and me

To my kids:

Surround yourself with good people. People that you can trust, love, laugh with, and cry with. Good true friends aren't easy to come by. Earn their trust and love. They will make you a better person. They will make you want to do your best. They will support you, treasure you, and encourage you. Their loyalty will guide you through tough times. Their laughter will celebrate with you. Their tears will empathize with you. Their love will help you endure. Lilah-this is especially true for you. We girls need each other. I don't know why, but we do. So, please understand this is what Mommy needs on her weekends or nights away. I need my girls to help me understand that I am doing my best. I need their support, their stories, their advice, and their wisdom. I need them. They make me better.

Wrestling--all day, every day

Okay, maybe it's not that often, but all three kids love to wrestle with Daddy. They love when I join in as well, but that's few and far between.

Here's how it starts...

" What about me, Daddy?"

...And it ends with all three wrapped up with Daddy. I love it.

And she's off...

My lovely little Lilah

My girl.

Oh, how I love her. Lilah Anne Seabolt makes me smile and has so completed this family. I couldn't imagine our lives without her. I realized that I haven't written much about her lately which is odd since she's the one that has changed the most in the past few months. So, I thought I'd give a little run down of our girl and where she is at 10 1/2 months old.

Lilah has taken a couple of steps, but she's not walking yet. She cruises around behind her walker everywhere. If she would just realize she doesn't need it, she'd be off and running. She stands alone, but just won't take any more steps. I want her to walk. Crawling isn't a favorite of mine.

Lilah is obsessed with dolls

(and I admit it, I love that)

Her baby doll is always close by. Even when she's behind the walker, the baby is riding on top (see picture above). When I drop her off at the gym nursery, she crawls as fast as she can (which is very fast) to the basket holding the precious babies. She's obsessed.

My girl is going to eat us out of the house. She eats and eats and eats. She'll eat pretty much whatever we give her, and Daddy loves that she chowed down lima beans and black eyed peas like a good Southern girl. She's the only one who has shared those dishes with her Daddy. Yesterday's lunch--chopped ham, string cheese, an avocado (yes, she ate almost the whole thing), a banana cookie, and some milk.

Although Mommy is pretty much numero uno in her book, Daddy is not far behind. I'm thinking I'll be knocked out of my spot sooner rather than later.

Her thing this week is to scream. Not crying scream--just screaming. Loudly. Annoyingly.

Lilah will throw you a kiss, give high five, and wave bye-bye. She'll even add a "ba-ba" in her sweet little voice with her wave.

The girl loves her brothers. They are good to her, and she thinks playing with them is the best thing in the world.

Lilah loves being out and about. She loves people watching and going places. She's the best behaved when we're away from the house. She reminds me of Landon when he was her age in so many ways. This is one of the big ways.

When Lilah smiles her toothy smile (seven to be exact), she scrunches up her nose. Cracks us up.

Lilah's eyes are still as blue as can be and the first thing you notice about her. Her eczema provides a spot on her face, but luckily for me, picasa has a touch-up feature. And yes, random-people-I-don't-know-in-the-store, I realize that she has "a little rash on her face". The salt water we wash it with is helping some.

As soon as Lilah discovers the bow in her hair, she quickly removes it and places it into her mouth. Awesome.

She's getting curls.

She's going to be a ladybug for Halloween.

My girl can laugh. A laugh that will bring smile to your face. A laugh that warms our hearts. A laugh that reminds us daily that going for three was more than worth it.

Braves 2009

Last week we received tickets to the Braves game from my company's broker. We decided that this year Noah was going to join us, and he did great (and ate a lot even though we had dinner before we even went to the game). Although the Braves lost, we had a fabulous time. Since Lilah stayed home with a babysitter, we were able to enjoy just our boys for the evening.

Doesn't he look so happy to be getting his picture taken with his mommy?

Running the bases...

A letter to Landon

Dearest Landon,

On Friday, our family gathered in the Cooper Elementary cafeteria to cheer you on as you received your first award in school. Your teachers nominated you as the "Citizen of the Month" for the month of September. This is the first award of the school year, and you, my sweet boy, were selected for the honor. I can't explain the pride I had for you as your name was called. You really won't understand how I felt until you have children of your own. I know I didn't. My parents told me (and continue to do so) that they were proud along the way, but I didn't know what they were talking about. I almost felt like they just said that because that's what parents do. I know I felt pride for myself when I got a good grade or played an incredible game of soccer or married the man of my dreams. However, I'm not sure I understood why they were so proud--until now. I wish I could put into words how I feel. I wish I could describe it in a way to put a picture of it in your mind. But I can't. It's unexplainable. However, when you have your own children, I hope you look back at this letter and finally understand how your father and I felt the first time we heard "Landon Seabolt" called out to receive an award. I felt like bursting. I felt like love was literally streaming out of me. I felt honored to be your mom.

I know this seems a bit much for an award that I'm pretty confident you'll receive again (because that's who you are). But it's a first for me, so you'll just have to deal with your silly mom.

You are an amazing boy, and I'm continually overwhelmed with your intelligence, your sensitivity, and your drive to succeed. Thank you for making me see that the rewards are worth the tough times. Your mommy is proud of you, kid. Very proud.

So much love to you,
Mommy