A Trip Down Memory Lane

 These are some of my favorite pictures from the past 6 years of life.  LOTS of things have happened, and looking back I see just how TRULY blessed the Lairsey's are.  Thank you, Jesus, for my life.

 New Year's Eve 2006

Honeymoon 2006 ... Aventura Spa, Mexico

Our 1st Anniversary ... Charleston 2007

425 Santa Anna Trail ... when we bought it in April 2007

 Christmas Card 2007

Cruise with Brent and Karla, December 2007

Caleb's Graduation ... June 2008

August 2008

Nonny and Eve ... August 2008

Mommy and Eve ... September 2008

Eve ... October 2008

Baba and Eve ... Christmas 2008

Christmas Card Pictures 2008 

Eve (looks like Ellie) ... January 2009

Nonny and Eve ... spring 2009

Poppa just thought this was a handful :) 

Father's Day 2009

Beach 2009

Family Pic 2009

Washington DC Trip ...  July 2009

Eve's Birthday Party 2009

1st Birthday

1st Birthday Picture 2009

Cousin Picture 2009

Christmas Card Picture 2009

Helping Daddy in the garage ... January 2010

First Snow ... February 2010

Playground ... Spring 2010

Easter Egg Hunt 2010

Fripp Island 2010

Fripp Island 2010

Swimming 2010

Summer 2010

 Youth Camp 2010

Eve's 2nd Birthday .. 2010

Bath Tub ... Fall 2010

Lights of the South ... December 2010

December 2010

Clara and Mommy ... 2010

Clara NICU 2010

Ellie NICU 2010

Sleeping together ... January 2011 

January 2011

Coming Home ... February 2011

Sisterly Love ... February 2011

Cuddled Up ... March 2011

Putting on some weight ... April 2011

Daddy and His Girls ... April 2011

May 2011

Fripp Island ... June 2011

 Ellie's Smile ... June 2011

Clara's Smile ... June 2011  

 Eve's Pout ... June 2011

Disney World ... July 2011

8 months old ... August 2011

 Daddy's Shoes ... August 2011

 Ellie ... September 2011

 Eve ... September 2011

Clara ... September 2011

 Clara and Ellie's First Birthday ... 2011

6th Anniversary ... January 2012

  

Coleman Jude ... January 2012

 425 Santa Anna Trail ... after LOTS of hard work from Eric, it is a perfect home for our family of 6.

prayers, horseys, and attitudes

Eve really likes to pray...and I am glad :)  She usually volunteers to say the blessing at mealtime, pray before bed, and even raises her hand to pray at chapel/See You At The Pole for Mother's Day Out.  Her prayers recently have gotten more and more hilarious... mostly because she rambles on and on.  A few nights ago, her prayer for dinner was "dear heavenly father (she got that from her papa), thank you that we love EVERYTHING that we love and we eat EVERYTHING that we eat and we love our friends and our family and thank you that i dont want to eat ANY of my dinner.  amen."

I noticed a few red spots on the back of Coleman's neck this morning and pointed it out to Eric.  I'm sure it's nothing of importance, I had just never seen them before.  Eve heard me, and said "i know who can fix those red spots!"  "who?" "God can.  I can just lift up my shirt, and tell him to come out of my heart to go into Coleman's neck.  He can use his special tools that wont hurt Coleman, and he will fix those spots."  She lifts up her shirt and says, "Ok, God and Jesus...come out. (long pause)  Momma, why is he not coming out?"  i love the way her mind works.

Eric and Eve have some special things that only the two of them do together... like when Eric throws Eve into the mirror after her bath, or when they chase each other around and around the pantry in our kitchen, or when Eve gives daddy SPECIFIC instructions on hide-and-seek.  It sounds something like this, "Daddy, you go hide in the closet with the light off, and I'll go count to fifteen and come find you and when I open the door, you say 'rawr!!'" :)  Another one of those things is riding the horsey.  I'm sure LOTS of dads play this game with their kids, but I'm not sure how many dads can do the following tricks (as a horsey, of course).  First, Eve grabs a baby blanket to wrap around Eric's neck for reigns.  Then her commands go something like this, "Getttttty up, horsey!"  "Eat grass!"  "Get me a rose, horsey!"  "Give it to momma!"  Then Eric dumps her off his back onto the couch.  Eve and her daddy have a fun connection, and I look forward to watching it grow over the years.

Although I hate to end this blog on a downer...I want to document/remember the annoying, ridiculous, insanely silly, interesting things that are HUGE on Eve's "these things make me melt down" list.  Most of these things revolve around her morning routine.  It is a nightmare.  Really.  She can pretty much throw a fit about any of the following things on any given morning: choice of outfit, length of sleeves, pulling pants/tights up too high on her belly, wearing socks, putting on any shoes except flip flops in summer or her stinky, silver ballet flats in the winter, brushing teeth/brushing hair out of order, which bow/clip to wear, where on her head the bow sits, the position of her panties/tights, and putting on a jacket, sweater, or double layers of any kind.  We spank the girl... frequently... but still she cries about these things.  Boy, does she cry.  Eric and I have a really hard time understanding what it is that sets her off so quickly about these things.  I try to be accommodating to some of her quirky ways, but let's be realistic.  The kid cant wear the same red penguin dress with no tights or bow and her stinky shoes everyday!!!  :)

Clara, Clara, Clara.  I am amazed at the transformation in personality that I have witnessed in the twins over the past 6 months or so.  Clara is strong.  I always knew she was, but I had NO IDEA she was as feisty.  The girl knows what she wants, and she will let you know if you don't give it to her.  When we first brought the girls home from NICU, Ellie was the fussy, needy, 'i want to be held' type.  Clara was easy.  She slept excellently, didn't require much attention, and rarely cried.  Wow, how things have changed :)  Ellie is a sweetheart.  She is laid-back, gentle, easy to please, and happy.  She doesn't sleep quite as long as Clara, but she wakes up in a pleasant mood.  She is thoughtful and analytical.  Ellie is quick to catch on to "no" or a pop for disobeying.  Clara is a go-getter.  She is adventurous and determined.  She will scream instantly when you tell her "no" or take away something she has gotten into.  When she escapes from our barricaded living room and crawls quickly for the steps, she yells and kicks as soon as you pick her up to bring her back into the "play-zone".  She arches her back and fusses when you put her in her car seat and she takes whatever toy she wants regardless of who is/was playing with it.  Clara is also hilarious.  She giggles and chuckles constantly and can easily (and quickly) turn her screams of frustration into a belly laugh at something Eve or Ellie is doing.  She is a delight when she is satisfied.  If not, LOOK OUT :)  I look forward to watching her grow into a little girl who can reason things out in her mind...and hopefully reduce the melt-downs.              

The New (and improved) Lairsey Family

Coleman Jude Lairsey

born Thursday, January 19, 2012

at 2:14pm, weighing 8lb 6.7oz and 21in long

I am in ABSOLUTE LOVE with this little man. 

He likes to be swaddled and snuggled.  He is very content and happy.  Rarely cries. 

His sweet, smooshy face has captured my heart.  I could squeeze and kiss those cheeks all.day.long. 

Eve-aroo is his biggest fan.  She adores him, and he lets her hold and snuggle him to her hearts' content.  She is an excellent big sister...caring, loving, gentle, and sweet. 

The twins have also made the transition VERY easily.  They couldn't care less about their new house-mate!  Every once in a while they will glance his way, stare for a second, and then go on with their business.  I have forced them to hold him and kiss him, and they oblige me, but really would rather be playing with their toys.  PRAISE THE LORD!  :)  I was VERY nervous about the girls being jealous or rough with him... but God has been gracious to me.  My family has grown, and so have our hearts. 

He is my only child that was born with hair.  TONS of hair.  Last night, after his bath, I brushed it up into a mohawk...and it is ADORABLE.  When he woke up this morning, it was still holding strong :)