22 Months

 Cason Bradley you are 22 months old today!

 You are still wearing a size 18 month, size 6 shoe, and size 5 diaper.  You are such a big boy now with a mind all your own. Your vocabulary has grown too and you have really started to talk in sentences this past month. I think your favorite word is still mama with no mama coming in a close second.

You are a fantastic eater and love most foods. I think your favorites right now are cereal bars, cheese, grapes, and french fries. McDonald's is probably your favorite restaurant because whenever we pass one you yell french fries! You are eating with a fork and spoon and will bring us food from the refrigerator or pantry when hungry for a snack.

 You are the sweetest little boy. The other night you ran up to daddy, wrapped your arms around him and told him you wuved him just because! You love to give hugs and kisses and always tell me bye bye when going somewhere with daddy. You have also started saying thank you without any cues which makes me very happy and proud! You do have a stubborn streak and are not a fan of not getting your way. Tonight you did not want me to take your picture. After several "no cheese mama's" you got upset and started crying until I put away the camera.

 You love playing with your tools, cars, and balls. You have quite an arm and can really throw the ball far for such a little thing. You adore your sister and are usually always two steps behind her. I can't believe you are almost 2 years old. I love you very much Cason! 

Four Year Olds

Emory Grace has been in rare form lately. She has an answer for everything these days and her drama meter is through the roof. Not to mention the daily reminders that she is four and four year olds can ____________ (fill in the blank). I thought I should document some of the "discussions" we have been having around our house lately because although naughty she is down right funny.

One night last week Emory did not want to go to bed and came up with every excuse in the book as to why she could not go to sleep. Some of my favorites were:

* She could not go to sleep because she took to long a nap at Ms. Betty's.

* She could not lay down because her pillow was too cheap.

*She could not go to sleep because she does not like being alone.

Then Friday she came home in tears because her daddy would not let her have a credit card. Oh the drama. She went on and on how four year olds are old enough to have a credit card in their wallet. Four year olds are also old enough to eat with "big" silverware, plates, and cups; not hold hands in the parking lot; fix their own hair; and get dressed all by themselves. And so it begins, the eagerness to grow up too fast.



Princess Party

 

Yesterday we celebrated Emory's fourth birthday with a small family princess party. I debated on having a big party somewhere but then decided to hold off one more year. I am glad I did because things have been crazy around our house lately, plus Mimi, Rachel, Mckenzie and Andrew could not come due to Rachel having been put on bed rest or I guess I should say hospital rest.  Emory also had a party at Ms. Betty's with her friends again this year so technically she had two small parties instead of one big one!

Emory has been asking for a princess party since the day after her party last year! So princess is what I went with.

Happy Birthday Princess Emory!

Emory has been eyeing this cake for months. She has been so enamored with it that every time we are in Wal-Mart we have to make sure they still have it!

 As soon as I sat it on the table she wanted to take a picture with it. Of course she gave me the signature Emory pose! She also insisted on wearing one of her leotards like her friend Olivia wore for her birthday party. Of course Olivia's party theme was gymnastics's but according to Emory when you are four you wear your leotard to your birthday party, so that is what she wore! All day I might add.

Princess Emory

 Her princess party hat was a little big so she had to hold it.

 After lunch it was time to open presents! Cason helped too.

 Wow! A princess nightgown

and sidewalk chalk!

We needed some more, thanks Aunt Cameron!

 Emory really liked her cake. I later caught her sneaking more icing!

 Cason tried on the hat too. Guess what, it fit him! Ha!

 Bradley holding baby Madison for the first time. I swear she had grown since I saw her last weekend!

Alpie and Madison.

 Grandma and Pawpaw gave Emory a Barbie scooter for her birthday and she couldn't wait to try it out. For those thinking "she's not wearing the leotard," oh yes she is. It is under her jocking pants and jacket!

 She got the hang of it quickly and had a blast!

 Thank you Grandma & Pawpaw!

Emory got tons of great things and she loved them all, including two gift cards to Chili's, thank you Mimi & Peepaw and Aunt Shirley & Alpie. She also got the ultimate "art project" kit and she is eager to start creating. Thank you Aunt Rachel, Uncle Andrew, Mckenzie, and Lincoln! We wish you could have come and we can't wait to meet you Lincoln!

This picture cracks me up!

We were singing Happy Birthday to her and all she wanted to do was blow out the candles and eat cake! This look says it all!

 Cason had a blast too. He was everywhere and this was the best picture I could get.

Sweet baby Madison. I can't believe she is almost 2 months old all ready.

Emory had a blast yesterday and has spent the day playing with all her new things. A big thank you to everyone for coming and sharing her special day with her.

4 Year Check-Up & Ballons

This afternoon Emory had her 4 year check-up. I am very happy to announce that she FINALLY weighs in the thirty's, 30.8 lbs (15th percentile) to be exact and is 41.5 (85th percentile) inches tall. She gained 3 pounds and grew 3.5 inches since her three year check-up last year. Dr. Huggins could not believe how tall she was! She passed her hearing test and was a very brave girl when she got her two shots. I think the sparkly bandaids and bracelet helped! Dr. Huggins did refer us to an ear nose & throat doctor because Emory's over sized tonsils grew as well and Dr. Huggins thinks they need to come out. After her appointment we headed to the party store and Emory picked out a few balloons. My plan was to take a few pictures with the balloons but Emory was tired having not had a nap plus it was a little chilly outside, so my hopes of capturing a great smile did not happen.

 This picture pretty much sums up the "photo shoot!"

Not sure how I managed to but a border around this one.

She was being silly!

Emory Grace - 4 years old

 Oh look another border!

She had a major case of the giggles!

After our failed photo shoot we headed to the park to play for a little while.

We had a fun mommy daughter day today!

Olivia's Birthday Party

Last Friday we headed north to visit the Bisbey crew and to celebrate Olivia's birthday on Saturday. We had not seen Tessa, Jason, & Olivia in well over a year. Olivia's party was all about gymnastics's and the tumble bus, which of course Emory loved. For those thinking tumble bus? That would be an old school bus gutted and decked out with gym gear!

The kids learning the rules of the bus!

 

Emory jumping!

Tessa had the cutest cupcake toppers.

Olivia's birthday cake.  

 Olivia eagerly waiting to blow out the candles!

 Still waiting.....

 Blow!

After cake it was time to for the pinata.



 After the party, Clancy, Nicole and I stayed and visited for a little while. We also attempted a group picture. Easier said then done.

Uh oh we lost Olivia. 

 She's back but not happy about it!

 This was the best one I got.

Maggie, Olivia, Harper, Emory, Cason, Hudson, and Turner!

 

The kids had a blast at the party and Emory is still talking about it. Thanks for inviting us Olivia we had fun!

 



4 Years Old

Four years ago tonight I laid in my hospital bed holding a beautiful baby girl with big blue eyes. I instantly loved her. I wondered who she would look like, if her hair would stay dark brown and her eyes blue. What her personality would be like and who she would take after. I ended up holding her all night because I just could not let her go (probably why she would ONLY sleep if she was held for the first 6 weeks of her life). Now she is four.

 Somewhere along the way her hair changed from dark brown to blond. She learned to talk and to talk back. She learned to skip and to count. She can write her name, although the m and r are not always perfect. She is a clown, a cowgirl, a princess, and tomboy all rolled into one. She is hysterical and inquisitive. She loves books, puzzles, horses, and the outdoors.

She loves to throw in adjectives when she really wants something. Some of her favorites are beautiful, cute, marvelous, and lovely. Her favorite word right now is actually. She loves to shop. Her favorite stores are Hobby Lobby and Wal-Mart. Her favorite restaurant is Chili's. She is not a picky eater, but definitely a slow one. Some of her favorite foods are macaroni & cheese, rice with gravy, roast, oranges, and cheese. She is petite but tall.

 She can throw a ball and swing a bat. She loves working with her dad and getting dirty. She is loving, silly, stubborn, and witty. She loves her brother and he her. She is growing up so fast but she will always be my baby girl, even if she doesn't like me telling her so. As she reminded me this morning she is a big girl now, not a baby!

Happy Birthday Emory! I love you and always will!