My babies at bedtime...

Bedtime can be my most favorite thing in the world, or a time that I seriously dread. More often it is not the latter, but those days do happen.

Cash has always been a very easy baby. Very little crying. Easy to potty train during the day and at night. Just easy. But since he has gotten older, he is starting to think the dark is a spooky place to be by yourself. And to be honest, I can totally remember that feeling. The feeling of not really be scared by anything in particular, but just scared of the unknown that the darkness brings. Just recently he has been asking to lie in or bed for "2 minutes" and the he will go to his bed. He loves lying in our bed and talking and talking and talking. He dreads when I tell him his 2 minutes are up and he will often times throw a fit. But we somehow make it to his bed, where he asks me to lie down in his bed for "2" minutes. Oh geez...

After a 10 hour day at work, I am tired. Ready for bed when I walk in the door. And as bad as it sounds, sometimes I just want to curl up in my bed and go to sleep. But I have tried to take a different outlook over the last week or so. I am looking at it from my future mommy eyes. The eyes that will be in 15 years. The eyes that will see when Cash doesn't want me to lie in his bed. The eyes that see when I looks at my crazy for asking to lie down to read a book with him in bed. These days won't be here forever. And my baby won't ask me to lie down with him forever. So I will relish these moments and be patient and take all the snuggles I can get. 

Presley Mae is quite the sleeper as well. She is taking after her big brother and proves to really like her beauty sleep. She likes to be held to go to sleep or she likes for you to put her on her stomach. Either way, she doesn't really care. She will sometimes reach for her crib when you are holding her, as if to say "I'm ready for my bed now. Please put me down". But sometimes I fight her struggles to lie down in her bed and just hold her. For all I know she could be my last baby, and the amount of time I get to hold her is slowly dwindling. So forgive me, baby girl, if I don't let you put yourself to sleep every night without some cuddles first. 

Your daddy...

He loves you. A lot. I mean, a lot.

That's all.

Dear Presley,

My sweet daughter. You are such a bright beaming light of love and happiness. You smile nonstop and yell "MAMA" when you see me coming. You are not afraid of anyone or anything. You are just you. The best possible version of you there ever was. And my fear is that you will some day change.

Growing up in this world is hard. Hard enough for anyone, but especially a girl. The constant feeling of needing to be accepted and look a certain way or talk a certain way. The number of female role models for girls is dwindling and I'm afraid by the time you are old enough to start looking to outside places for role models, there will be none worth finding.

So here is my advice to you sweet girl...

1. Girls can be really mean. And I mean really mean. They will make fun of you for being happy or cute or Godly or for just no reason. If a girl is ever jealous of you are something you have she will be mean. When you get old enough, don't be that girl. Be happy for other girls and what they have or how they look. Don't judge them or make fun of them. Be sweet and nice to them, because maybe nobody ever has before. Continue to be the bright shining beam of happiness that are you now.

2. Find you a great core group of girlfriends and stick with them. Girls change "best friends" as often as they change their clothes, which is insanely a lot. Find friends that think you are great just the way you are. No if, ands, or buts about it. They just like you because you are sweet, happy, fun, and encouraging. There is no better friend in this world than the one who is genuinely happy for them and their successes. Be that friend. And your friends will be that for you.

3. Pray. Pray that you will continue to walk down the right path. That you will not be tempted by the world that is high school politics. Pray that you will be an example of happiness and encouragement. Pray for your friends and ask them to pray for you.

4. This one is going to be a bit hard, but please try. Listen to your daddy and me about boys. Your daddy is going to be completely unreasonable when it comes to boys. And that is just the way it is going to be. But he is smart baby girl. Very smart when it comes to boys. I mean, he used to be one.

5.Never be ashamed of who you are or your family. No matter what happens, your family will always be there to love you, support you, and embarrass you.

I love you sweet girl,
Mommy

Happy fall y'all...

Fall is one of my most absolute favorite times of year. The air gets crisper. The leaves start changing. The comfort food starts being craved. The pumpkins are strategically placed on the front porch. And of course...it is the beginning of all things sports. Football and basketball.

We opted to take a little trip to the Orr Family Farm with some of our most precious friends. That is place gets 2 thumbs up in my book. Great atmosphere. Tons to do. Tons to see. Great people. And the best kettle corn your mouth will ever touch.

The kids had a blast and were throwing fits when we had to leave. Great time with great people on a great fall day. Ahh. Just an awesome time of the year.

We love football season...

We have such a blast at our tailgate. We love spending time together and cheering on our Sooners! I will forever cherish these days together. As our little tailgating family.

Big boy riding a big bike...

Cash absolutely loves riding his bike. He asks to ride it every. Single. Day. Such a boy thing. 

He's getting better and better. Riding longer and longer. 

Proud mom.