A photo a day ...

I am joining up with FatMumSlim this month and am going to give her " A photo a day" challenge a go!!  I am a little late joining in but am going to try and stick with it for the rest of the year.  I think it will be great fun to look back and remember.  So here goes ....

February, Day 1:

Your View:

My view today was my little office and it's many little piles of things "to do".  Although it isn't my favorite view, that would be the faces of my sweet babes, I do feel blessed to have these things "to do"!  I really have the best of both worlds in that when I am at work if my kids need me I am free to be there for them and am able to take care of what I need to at work in a "part-time" schedule.  I have enjoyed being back in this little office and honestly really enjoyed my view today!

Wash your mouth out with soap!!

As I have mentioned in a previous post, my Georgi is into everything!!  I can't take my eye off of her for a second!!  She is little, she is quiet and she is SNEAKY!! ;o)  The other night, I was getting ready for bath time and things got quiet and I knew that meant trouble.  I looked to find that the babies had gotten into the cabinet below the kitchen sink and were playing with the dishwashing soap,  sponges and the little dishwashing detergent capsules. I have some trusty ponytail holders holding all of my cabinets closed (hush it, Brianna and Lori, haha) but my little babes are getting a little smarter and obviously they aren't working much anymore.  Anyway,  I cleaned up their mess, gave baths and was fixing night time milk when George came over  hacking, crying and "sudsing" at the mouth!!  I had all but forgotten about the previous shenanagins of the 2 man wrecking crew so I FREAKED!!!  Georgia then handed me the remains of the nibbled on dishwashing detergent capsule ... she must have found one that I missed when cleaning up and chewed through the plastic and eaten almost half of the soap.  I immediately put her under the faucet which only resulted in more tears, yells and SUDS!!  I took her to the bath tub and then began the vomiting!!!  It was pitiful and SCARY!!  However, after she got all of it up and out ... she calmed down in which time I called Poison Control just to be on the safe side.  According to the operator, she would be fine and it would just give her an upset tummy and I was so relieved!  I have a feeling this is just the beginning in the adventures of parenting Georgia (and the other 2 ;o),  I can't wait to see what happens next!! LOL

Stinker!!

Jacob (Jake) Nathan

AKA:  Jakey Boy, Biggy, Biggy Boy, Big, Dump (short for Lap Dumpling), My Boy

Jake, my baby boy!  My last born, born on July 8, 2010 (6 minutes after your sister).  You to, were almost 10 weeks early and completely content on staying in my tummy for a little longer but your sister had other plans.  You had a little more trouble, initially, than your sister had and to be intubated at birth but only for a couple of hours and you got the hang of it on your on.  You were a big boy to be so early, 4 lbs 8 ozs, and you continue to be almost off the growth charts!

While you were at UAB those 7 weeks after you were born you were the sweetest little thing.  You hardly ever cried and were content to just lay in your isolet.  I could never leave the hospital while you were still awake because the thought of your sweet, big eyes would keep me up all night. 

Although, you were laid back and content as a newborn things definitely have changed as you have gotten older.  Not that you aren't a joy to be around but you are not happy unless you are being held or have some sort of human contact and you prefer your Momma!!!

Speaking of wanting your momma ... you are a "Momma's Boy" in every sense of the word!  You want to be in my lap at all times and if you aren't, nobody else better be either!  You love playing rough with your daddy and tussling with him but with your momma is where you want to be.  You have started to favor Summer lately, also, if I am busy and can't pick you up that minute you will go to her and asked to be picked up.  She loves it, to say the least!

I am your favorite :), but truth be told you really just like the ladies.  You love MeMe and her name was one of your first words.  You think JuJu and NeaNea are your other grandmothers and they don't mind that at all.  Whenever we are around a new lady you always reach for them, like I said ... Ladies Man!

You walked later than Georgia, you started at 12 months but have always found a way to keep up with her anyway.   You like to let her get into something or make a mess and then you just join in.  You are very vocal and are constantly "talking".  You say Momma, DaDa, MeMe, PaPa, JuJu NeaNea, Georgia, Lu,  No No, Night Night, Juice, Cookie, Ball, Thank You, Cheese, Hello & BaBa.

You LOVE a phone!!  The IPhone is what you prefer, haha, but you will take any one you can get.  Out of sight, out of mind BUT if you get one in your sights you will cry and point to it and say "Hello, Hello".  I always give in so we have to hide the phones everywhere we go!

You are an animal lover!  Between all of us, me, MeMe, JuJu & NeaNea, we have 8 dogs and you love them all.  You have never been scared of them and will go straight up to them and love on them.  Your daddy and I both love animals too, so you get it honest.

When you are so upset and nothing else will work we can step one foot outside of the house and it is like a switch,  you quit crying instantly. You love the outside.  You love to swing, walk up and down the driveway and riding in your wagon.  Another obsession of yours is anything that goes Vroooom.  Cars,Trucks, bicycles, lawnmowers but your favorite is a tractor.  You are such a boy!  I can't wait to see you and your daddy doing all kinds of big boy things together outside, it's his favorite place too!

You love your sisters and boy do they love you.  You will not ever have to worry about being well taken care of because you have at 3 women in your life that will ALWAYS be sure of that.  You and Georgi and buddies and have the sweetest relationship.  I hope that you will always

be close! 



Summer adores you, she calls you HER baby boy and can't wait to get her hands on you first thing when she wakes up in the mornings. She is your little mommy all she wants to do is take care of you!  You are one lucky little fella!

Jakey Boy, 
my life is so much snugglier because you are in it!!  I am never low on hugs, kisses and lovin when you are near by, you melt my heart.  You are my boy and I totally "get" it now what I have always heard about a momma and her boy!  I love that you are a big, rough and rugged boy but want nothing more than to be in your momma's arms ... I hope that never changes.  I  pray for big things for you biggy boy and can't wait to see the man that you become.  You perfectly complete this house full of girls and daddy is so glad that he has you in his corner.  We are so glad that God made us your mommy and daddy!! We love you, Big!!

Mommy and Daddy

Georgia Susanne

AKA:  George, Georgi, Gorgi, Itty Bitty Baby Girl, Tiddy Bit, Tit

Hey there Georgi Girl! My sweet 2nd born (you were born 6 minutes before your twin brother) born July 8, 2010 at 2:18pm.  Even though you were almost 10 weeks early you were so beautiful with a  head full of curly, reddish/brown hair and the prettiest little lips I had ever seen.

We should have known from your dramatic entrance into this world that you were going to be a HAND FULL!!  You are in to everything .... You broke your sac inside of my tummy at 31 weeks gestation,  you walked at 10 months, climbed out of your crib at 12 months and love to be at the highest point of whatever you can find!!  You have fallen off of your changing table, climbed and fallen off of the kitchen table 2 times so far and fallen off of the couch more times than I can count! ;o) Your favorite place to play is in the cabinets and I mean IN the cabinets!!  You will get up on the top shelf inside the cabinet and Jake will shut the door, it's so funny! We call you spider monkey and mountain goat all the time!! 

You're personality is so much like your daddy.  You are serious and reserved in a crowd but when you are on your turf and comfortable you are such a clown.  When you smile your eyes disappear and you have the cutest little dimple on your right cheek.

You are 18 months and you are a tiny little person, or at least  in comparison to your brother and your big sister at your age.  You weigh 24 lbs., wear 18 mo. clothing and size 5 diaper.

You love music and love to dance.  At the first sound of music you stop immediately and break it down! Your brother and sister love to dance with you but don't have quiet the skills you have.  I've never seen a little body move like you can move yours.  It is so cute and we could sit and watch it all day.

You are talking more and more everyday and mostly just jibber jabber with your brother but you do say a view legible words.  The words that you are saying are Momma, DaDa, Bubba, MeMe, Lu, No No, Pretty, Ball, Cookie (Tootie), Juice, Baby, Bottle (BaBa), Night, Night, Thank You, JuJu, NeaNea and BoBo.


You love your brother and even though you two fuss like brothers and sisters often do, your bond is obvious.  You guys will sometimes sit indian style across from each other and talk and laugh .... it is the sweetest thing.  You are concerned when he cries and love to give him kisses.  You have just started grabbing him by the hand and leading him around.  You guys like to team up on me and get into all kinds of mischief,  you are partners in crime.  I pray that you two always stay the best of friends.

You are pretty smitten with your big sister, as well.  You follow her and mimic her and try so hard to do exactly whatever she is doing.  I am so glad you have a "sister" and hope that your relationship will be as special as mine is with my sisters.  She thinks you are the cutest thing ever and you guys love to hold hands and you love sitting in her lap!

You are very independent and don't need a whole lot of cuddles but when you do give them out you give the best kisses and hugs!. However, when your daddy walks in the room, you melt and I swear you bat your eyes and pucker up to give him sugars!

George, 

you are my Itty Bitty Baby girl and I love you so much.  Your daddy and I can't get enough of you.  You keep us laughing and on our toes and we would not have it any other way.  When I put you and your brother to sleep at night, you always cry out for me about 10 minutes after and I go in and pick you up, you put your head on my shoulder and squeeze tight and then you are ready to go back down.  It is secretly one of my most favorite times of the day and I will be so sad when you grow out of that.  I so look forward to our life with you in and can't wait to see wonderful things you "stir" up!  We love you, Tiddy Bit!

Summer

AKA:  Sister, Sum, Summy, Pookie Dook, My Girl, Senorita, SugarBaby, Tootie Bell

Our first born, born October 19, 2006.  Summer came here full of spunk, attitude and lots of personality and has been the Queen of the house since day one!  I can not believe my girl is 5 years old ... seems impossible!!



Summers 5th birthday



Summer takes Gymnastics once a week at SEAGA a local gym and loves every minute.  She received the lessons from MeMe and Papa for her 5th birthday.  She is very good at it and although is one of the youngest ones in her class can do a couple of things that no one in the class can do.  She is great at cartwheels and does a pretty good backbend and does a handstand with a little help!

Summer is really into baby dolls right now and her favorite is her American Girl Doll that she got for Christmas this year.  She goes back and forth between Elizabeth and Mary Clara for names for her doll but mostly just calls her American Doll. :o)

She knows and can write all of her Letters, upper and lower, she can write her name, mommys name and daddys name.  She can write Love, Stop, No, Mommy, Daddy.  She knows her phone number and MeMe's phone number and we are working on our address.  I stand in awe of how smart she is and although she does have a lot of "book smarts"  where she blows me away is with her common sense!  She is very "knowing" and loves to know things and asks SOOOO many questions.  I love that about her even though it can get a little tiresome at times!

Summer is such a wonderful big sister and I don't know what I would have done this year without he.  Her brother and sister adore her and she is so good with them.  They are getting to the age where she can really play with them and it is probably my favorite thing at this point in our lives.  It makes me so proud to see them love eachother.

If there is one thing I know it is that I will never have to worry about anyone ever taking advantage of Sum. Although she is very sweet and cares so much for others and their feelings ..... she don't take no junk!! ;o)  It is one of those things that you know will serve them well when they are older but aren't quite sure how to teach them to control while they are young.  She is fearless and would go toe to toe with a  giant (aka: her daddy)!!  It does cause quite a few time outs in her 5 year old world but will surely give me some peace when it is time for her to go out into this great big world on her own!

Summer's cousins are her most favorite people in the whole wide world.  They are all a few years older than her but close enough that they all play together wonderfully.  They are best friends and I hope that it stays that way forever. 

Sam, Sarah, John & Summer (at Sarahs 6th grade graduation 2011)

Ever since Summer was born she has LOVED sleeping in her own bed.  However, since the babies were born she would much rather be snuggled in between mommy and daddy in our bed.  I think that this probably happened while we were in Birmingham with the babies.  When Summer would come up to visit us on the weekends she would sleep with me and it brought me so much comfort and peace.  We love snuggling and she ends up in our bed about 3 nights out of the week.  Bad habit but we all kind of enjoy it!!

BLING, BLING!!  Summer loves anything that sparkles!!  She is just natrually drawn to all things girly and glitz!  I kid and say that for her, the tackier the better!! I am hoping that her obsession calms down a little and that she'll go more for "class" and not so much for BLING!!   I am a little more conservative in style but her JuJu (my sister) on the other hand is just a grown up version of Sum and just happens to be where she got her nickname "Senorita".  We kid and say she should have been her daughter!

Summer showing off her earrings the day she got her ears pierced (April 2011)!! She could not wait to get those out and put in some "dangle ones"!!

Summer,

   You are such a joy and so much fun!!  You have such a sweet spirit wrapped up in that sassy little personality and we can not wait to see what God has in store for your life.  We know that whatever it is, you will be the best!!  Summer you have been such a comfort for your mommy and have helped me so much since our babies were born.  One of my favorite times of the day is that hour and a half that we have with just you after the babies go to sleep.   We love you so much, Sister and can't even remember what our lives could have possibly been before you!!  Momma (& Daddy)

2012

I love a fresh start and that is exactly what a new year brings.  This new year is also bringing on a few new changes for my little family.  I have started back to work after 18 months off with my babies and although it is a bit sad, it is also a bit exciting for this momma!  Meme is keeping the little ones and Summer, of course, is going to PreK at Funshine.  My schedule is only 3 mornings a week for now and we will ease into 4 full days by the fall at which point Jake and Georgia will begin at Funshine and Summer will start Kindergarten!! WHAT, when did that happen!?!?!  She is so excited about going to "big" school, me .... not so much! So, that is pretty much what has been happening around here so far in 2012. I  hope to do a better job at keeping up with our lives and am excited about what this year has in store for The Spann Family Five!

Jake, 18mos; Summer, 5 yrs old; Georgia, 18 mos
Christmas 2011

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Two Babies in a Tub ...

These babies of mine think their big sister is the best thing EVER.  She can sing and dance and they can hardly handle it!  Nothing makes this mommy more proud than that my babies love each other so.  I caught some of this admiration on camera the other night at bath time.  They were losing their breath they were laughing so hard at their silly sister!!

Tradition

 

My Bama Babies

SEC football kicked off this weekend and we had gameday at our house. Meme, Papa, Julee and her crew, Nealy &  Sa, Papa Lester, Chase and Kayla and my crew spent the day watching SEC football and enjoying each others company.  My daddy is a diehard U of A fan and raised his girls that way as well, and I intend to carry on the tradition!!  Rooooolllllll Tide Roll!!



Papa & Jake



Summer's Sayings ...

Summer at her new desk on the first day of 4K

My sweet Summer is 4 years old, actually closer to 5, and is my absolute joy.   She is the perfect mixture of sweet and sassy, probably leaning a little more toward sassy, and has lots of hilarious stuff to say, sometimes at the expense of her dear old momma!  The other Sunday she and I went to the Dollar General so that she could pick out some snacks to take to the first week of 4K.  We were standing in line to check out and I remembered that I needed some zip-lock bags so I told her to come with me and we headed to the appropriate aisle.  I was speed walking directly in front her and out of the blue she said "Well, I guess my butts going to look like that when I get to be a momma."  I stopped cold in my tracks and looked around for the butt she might be talking about and she was of course staring at MINE.  I said, "What do you mean, look like what"?  "You know, BIG" she replied, in the most serious and matter of fact tone I think I have ever heard.  God love her, I didn't have the heart to tell her she was probably correct.  Needless to say, I started my new diet Monday morning! ;o) 



Summer's first day of 4K 2011



Re-Do

I had nothing but good intentions when starting this blog, around 2 years ago, but like a lot of things these days, it took a back seat.  Better yet, it got out of the car!!  I am still a dedicated blog "stalker" and am always sad that I don't have my on day to day accounts to look back on, so I am declaring a Re-Do!  I hope to be able to record this exciting season of my life so that I can come here and remember when .... I'll leave with some pictures I took while playing outside today (oh yeah, I've added a couple of kids since I was here last) 

Summer, 4; Georgia, 13 mos.; Jake, 13 mos.

13

Roll Tide Roll!!!

Furry Babies ...

Kelly, over at http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/, hosts a MckLinky party every Friday called "Show Us Your Life ". Today she is featuring pets and since we have just a few of those ... I thought I would join in on the fun!! Our most recent furry little addition is Miley the Boston Terrier pup and in my humble opinion, is one of the cutest things I have EVER seen. So far she has been a very easy pup and my baby girl is, to say the least, head over heels!!

Next, we have Betsy, the Rottweiler. She, again in my humble opinion, is the most beautiful dog I have ever seen and is in every sense of the word a gentle giant. She is my husbands dog and even though she is a "man's dog" she is still a girly girl!! Here she is saying "CHEESE"!

And last but certainly not least, the queen of everything ... Miss LulaBelle!!
Lu is our first born child and demands more time and attention than our human child requires. She doesn't realize that she is a dog and that may have something to do with the fact that up until Sum was born she attended all family gatherings and was always dressed to a "T". (yeah, I was one of those people!!) Although, she has taken somewhat of a backseat to our precious little Summer, she will always be one of my most favorite things on this side of heaven!!

Nut Fest

The month of November brings the National Peanut Festival to our area, better known as the "Nut Fest" and I couldn't wait to take Summer this year! In my entire life I think I have only missed one year of the Festival and it was the year Summer was born. It's such a fun tradition and is a very big deal in this South East corner of Alabama! :o) My family, my momma, daddy, sister and their families always go together on Ag night and enjoy riding rides, eating and especially the greasy pig and calf scramble. However, this year one of my nephews was sick and my other sister had a previous commitment so JL went with us and we met my mom and dad and had a big time!!

Summer and John Luke were so excited to ride some rides!!

John Luke was such a good big cousin and rode all the "little kid" rides with his little cuz!

And of course, we all enjoyed an infamous "Corndog Man Corndog"!

We ended the night by watching the greasy pig and calf scramble. Although, it kind of makes you feel like you're living a real life "You might be a redneck" joke .... it is always lots of fun! Summer had a ball watching and I am afraid may have convinced her Sugarbaby that she needs her very own greasy pig! ;o)

Another tradition that goes along with the Nut Fest is the NPF Parade. It happens on the last Saturday morning of the Festival, it is way to early in the morning, extremely long and always unseasonably warm but we wouldn't miss it for the world! This year my sister and her family parked their truck in a wonderful spot the night before so we had the best seats in the house!!

The end of NPF week is always bittersweet!! It is sad to see all the fun roll out of town on the back of all those semi trucks, but as they say, absence does make the heart grow fonder. So, here is to next year Nut Fest, here is to next year ....

Trick or Treat, Smell my feet

I love October!! I love the change in seasons, the decor and I LOVE Halloween (not to mention my most favorite little girl was born in October)!! I have always loved Halloween, not the dark, scary Halloween but the fun, make believe Halloween that my mother helped create for me as a little girl! My mother was never much on Trick-or-Treating but she always had something fun planned for us. We always attended church carnivals or set up at the end of our drive way to hand out candy to the rest of the kids in the neighborhood. And we always had the best costumes. I have tried to carry those traditions into my own family and until this year we have always enjoyed our Church's fall festival. However, this year our church decided to not do the festival and this left me at a loss. We live in the country so handing out candy was not an option and no one else I knew was having any kind of party. So, Trick-or-Treating we went! I have to admit, I was excited and so was my sweet hubby ... wink, wink!! I also have to admit that I am the mother to the most precious TinkerBell I have EVER seen!!

As we were spreading Pixie Dust all over town I would chant .... "Trick or Treat, Smell my feet. Give me something good to eat. If you don't, I don't care, I'll pull down your underwear." Sum thought it was hilarious and after about the one millionth time she decided to give it a try. "Trick or Treat, Smell my feet. Give me something to eat. I don't care if you don't, I'll pull off your panties." Good Try baby girl ... you'll get it, we have lots of years of practice to come!!

Momma, don't let your babies grow up to be cowgirls ...

It's too late now, Momma ...

My baby girl turned 3 years old on Monday October the 19th. I am not so sure how I feel about 3!! It seems like the end of being a baby to me and I am just not sure that I am ready for that (not to mention that Sum decided that she doesn't need her paci anymore since she is a big 3 year old ... a momma can only take so much in one day!!). However, I'll give you one guess how Sum feels about 3 ....

On the day of her birthday I told her "Awwww, Sum, I don't want you to be 3. I want you to stay 2 forever!!" and she replied .... "Well, Momma ..... it's to late now." I guess you are right baby girl, it is to late for you to stay my 2 year old forever, but you will ALWAYS be my baby!!

We celebrated by having a Tinkerbell party at Landmark park with family and friends and even though we lost all of the balloons to the wind and the temps were in the low 50's ... fun was had by all!!!

Summer, your daddy and I love you more than life itself!! Although, these last three years have been nothing short of an adventure, we can't imagine our lives without you. You are so smart and independent and you amaze us more and more everyday. We are so proud that God chose us to be your Mommy and Daddy and we can't wait to see what He has planned for your life. We love you, Baby Girl!!

Just a Swingin'!!!

My girl LOVES to swing!!! My Momma has a swingset and whenever we are visiting MeMe it is usually our first and last stop. Summer's birthday is in October and to this Momma that is close enough!!!! Summer now has a swingset of her very own!! Happy Early Birthday, Baby Girl!!