Everett started T-ball

Ever since we found out we were having a little boy almost 6 years ago Drew and I dreamed of the day he would one day play t-ball. We couldn't imagine our tiny little first born ever growing old enough or big enough to be out on a field playing but that day finally came.

Everett was so very excited to start t-ball and had been practicing with his Dad to get him ready for playing with the team. At his first practice, he still looked to small in his Mom's eyes to be out there playing, Everett worked hard for about 10 minutes and then told his Dad he needed to rest a minute and have a drink. We hadn't really been working on endurance up to that point and it gave us a little hesistation about the coming season.




Our little buddy figured it out quickly though and became quite a good hitter for his team the, TinCaps. He absolutely loved his coach who he would always refer to as "coach." He really loved his uniform and putting it all on and was always excited for his game. When playing in the field Everett could often be seen picking the grass or looking for bugs but he always tried hard when he had an opportunity at the ball ( and noticed it.) He was the absolute cutest kid in his uniform and looked to grown up for this Mama's heart! His games were scheduled twice a week and extended over about 6 weeks, by about half way through it was feeling a little long for all of us and Everett's enthusiasm really began to waiver until it came to the end of the game and snacks were handed out ( this was also Haven's favorite part). He always had a cheering section though with his Dad, Mom and Sisters and more often than not his Aunt Neeley, Uncle Lane, Cousins Norah, Merritt and Emma and Mimi and Aunt Kelsey all there for him! It was a great first experience at a team sport for all of us! Most of all we were so proud of our Everett for trying something new and giving it his all!

Welcome to the Family Scout!

We added a new member to our family this year, no it wasn't another baby! Meet Scout, our black Golden Doodle.

Drew has been pushing for a Dog for the past few years but we agreed to wait until we had a back yard and owned our own home. Once those things happened with our move to Midland in September, he began the search for a dog pretty heavily. I kept pushing him to wait until Rory was older, until Rory could walk, until Rory was out of high school. Not really but kind of. Drew appealed to my weaker side by looking for dogs he knew I wanted, Great Danes, Golden Doodles, Labradoodles. I kept putting him off.




Everett has been such a dog lover from the very beginning. He started his life with a pit bull and golden doodle in the house and has asked for a dog for a long time. Drew and I both having grown up with dogs wanted to get one so that the kids would grow up with one too and learn respect and companionship for animals from a young age. Finally Drew caught me in a weak moment with a black Golden doodle that was in Lubbock and would be ready right around Everett's birthday! We picked him up on the way back home from a trip to Amarillo and the look of pure shock and excitement on Everett's face was everything we could have hoped for! Rory of course didn't care less about the dog and Sissy was a little nervous at first but took to him within the first couple of days!

Scout has grown big quickly but that hasn't stopped the kids from cuddling and playing with him! He loves to play with them, will lay on the floor to let them lay all over him, Runs after Everett on his bike, sits while Rory pulls at his hair or Haven plays beauty shop by brushing him. He is truly my 4th baby following me all around the house, usually Rory and Scout together on my heels as I move from room to room doing housework. He has been such a wonderful addition to our family and made all of us feel so loved!

Everett turned 5!

Everett Tristan Neal, how in the world did you get to be 5 already? It was just yesterday that we were bringing our first baby home, scared to death not knowing what to do with this brand new babe, and now here you are a big 5 year old!!




Oh Everett you are such a sweet tender-hearted little boy! You love your family so much but are such a Mama's boy! You tell me that when you grow up you want to just stay with me and it is the sweetest! I know you will change your mind of this one day. You are the first to tell me that you like my hair, or lips, or dress when I actually put effort into them. You are a proud big brother to your sisters but have a special place in your heart right now for Rory. You are quick to care for her and give her lot of kisses. You love to play with Haven outside trying to get her to play Jungle Book or some Dinosaur game with you! When your Dad comes home from work you love to play animals with him or just let him tickle you!


Everett you have started your first year of Pre-K and are doing so very well in it! You have your cousin Norah in there and you two are the very best of friends. I have been so impressed with how quickly you have picked up new skills in school and your desire to learn more. You tell me that your favorite part of school is playing on the playground where you and Norah play together. Everett you remain the pickiest of all eaters only liking chicken tenders, not nuggets, buttered pasta, and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. You never want any sauce on anything!

Dinosaurs and wild animals are still your absolute favorite things ever! You are king of the dinosaurs and always want one when you have the option to get a toy. You ability to imitate animal noises is still unbelievably realistic and on point to whatever animal you are doing. For your show and tell each week in Pre-K you somehow find an animal or dinosaur with that letter to bring. This year you have also started playing t-ball for the Tin Caps. Your games have been twice a week and will last about 6 weeks. You have really enjoyed playing and really like your coach. You are a good little hitter and quick runner but get a little bored when fielding and spend a lot of your time playing with the dirt or twirling around. It has been so much fun though to go out and watch you push your boundaries into a new area and you are adorable in your uniform.




Everett you are still my big movie watcher and will sit down through just about any movie and watch from start to finish. Your favorites are Jurassic World ( you got probably a too early start on this one),  Lion King (still!), and anything else with animals in it. I credit your love of movies to when you were a babe and I would take you to the theatre with me swaddled in my arms. I look forward to sharing this love of movies with you as you grow up! 

At your 5 year well child checkup with your pediatrician they detected that you may have a slight astigmatism in  your left eye. So after following up with an opthamologist you received your very first pair of glasses and you area ADORABLE in them! I finally feel like I can claim more of your appearance after 5 years of everyone saying you look just like your Dad,  you now look like your Dad with glasses like your Mom. You picked out some bright blue glasses and have done amazing at keeping them on so far. You have to wear them all the time and I hate that this will be something you have to deal with for the rest of your life most likely (only because I have to and I get grumpy about putting on glasses everyday)  but I am also extremely grateful that it is a simple astigmatism and that you look so stinking cute in your glasses! 

For your birthday this year we were going to have a dinosaur party with all of our family here in Midland, however you threw up at school that day and were sent home early. So instead we had a small family party at home. The next day, on your actual birthday, you still weren't feeling well so you stayed home and you and I watched movies, played dinosaurs, met Dad for lunch and when you felt a little better went to pick out a special new one for your birthday! It wasn't the big party I wanted to have but it ended up being even better because we got to spend special time together! When you were able to go back to school the next week we took cupcakes with little dinosaurs on them to share with all your classmates.

Everett Neal, what a blessing you are to our family! You are such a great big brother to  your sisters and precious son to your Dad and I! I cannot believe that you are already 5 years old, it happened in a flash but I adore every new stage with you and love watching you grow, learn and become such a sweet little gentlemen!

Haven's 3rd Birthday!

Oh Haven Molly how in the world did you get to be 3 so fast?!

Beautiful girl you are so full of life! I think that this year going from 2 to 3 has brought the biggest changes in you. It seems that all of a sudden you went from our little baby to our little girl. And what a beautiful girl you are Haven! You have the most beautiful brown eyes that just shine all the time but especially when you are laughing. Trying to keep you to sit still, even if just for 30 seconds is a massive challenge because you just can not be bothered to sit there is just to much other things to do or explore! You do however love to have Mama hold you and "rock me like a baby" which I gladly do every time!





Haven you are a fierce big sister to your Rory. You love to show her things and play with her but want her to only play like you want which is hard for a 9 month old baby do to. You are always the first one to hear her cries and come get me when she needs something. Your favorite playmate right now is your brother and you make him laugh harder than anybody! He thinks you are so very funny with your silly voices, noises and dance moves. You are the first person to try to get a laugh out of anyone around you and you spread so much joy this way Haven!

When it comes to needing someone to run an errand with me or Dad you are always the first one, usually the only one, that wants to go! We love these times of getting to take you by yourself and watch your confidence and independence as you explore the world around you! You started Mother's Day out this year Haven and you absolutely LOVED it! You would run into your class with hardly a glance behind you to tell me bye, until I walked by again after dropping off Emma with Aunt Nene in her class down the hall, and then you were the loudest one at the door waving "Bye Mom" furiously! I imagine that in that short 2 minutes it took to walk Emma into her class after dropping you off, you did the rounds of the room surveying the toys out that day and who was in class already only to circle back to the door looking for something new to grab your attention. It always made me feel so good to leave you there knowing you were so happy and having so much fun! Your teachers loved you and often said you were so very sweet you just never stopped moving. On the days you were home with Me and Rory at home while Bubba was at school you love to spend your days coloring, playing dress up (Belle is a favorite), and doing puzzles. You also love to sing so much and you have the sweetest little voice! You have a sweet little soul and will always just say "Mom I love you so so so much" out of no where. It absolutely melts me! You have learned to use "I love you" when you are in trouble though and that shows a bit of the smarts you have got going for you my love. You catch on very very quickly to things Haven and it takes you no time at all to imitate what someone has done from singing a song, to a phrase that's been said, to trying to use a knife to open something instead of asking for help. Haven you love to give sugars and kissing you is like kissing a cloud because you have fullest sweetest lips!




Haven this year you learned how to ride your bike. Dad taught you at the park across the street from our house in Midland and once you picked it up you could not be stopped! It wasn't long before you even tried to jump on the neighbor girls bigger bike. This is another think that I admire so much about you Haven, you are fearless! It also scares me because you aren't scared of anything. It is not uncommon for you to be yelling hello out to passing dogs, picking up bugs, turtles or frogs that we find, or jumping into a swimming pool with floaties on after the first try. What is not shocking about this is that you were our first child to be taken in to the Urgent Care for what we thought was a broken bone. Turned out to be you dislocated your arm at your elbow while playing in a jump house at a birthday party. You wore a sling for a day or so and then were back to your full speed self.




For your birthday party this year Haven we had a Bee themed birthday party. It seemed especially fitting for you my sweet girl because you are always buzzing from one place to the next usually at a sprint. We invited all of our family to come and celebrate you at our house. I made lots of decorations to support our theme and cooked your Nana's Shrimp Queso recipe with cookies, cupcakes and a special cake just for you! You were showered with so much love Haven and were celebrated by so many!





You are such a special girl Haven Molly! You have brought so much Joy to your Dad and I from the moment you entered the world and we feel so incredibly blessed to get to be your parents! I can't wait (but kind of can) to see how much you will change and grow this next year! I love you my sweet sweet girl!!

10 Months of precious Rory

Darling girl, what a precious treasure you are to us! 10 months have come so quickly!

This month we have experienced some new things like your finally big and strong enough to ride in the cart basket without your car seat. You often get to sit next to your sister in the seat which can be a good and bad thing because she gets so excited she can't control herself around you not knowing just how strong she is. Mostly though it has been so nice to ditch the carseat and just wheel you around in the basket. I have gotten the Moby wrap back out recently to help carry you that way too when there isn't a basket to put you in. We also tried swinging for the first time at the park across the street and you were not a big fan. You tend to like to be snuggled in close rather than out drifting on your own in something like a swing.

You are loving crawling around and discovering all new things, especially those that are behind cabinet doors  that you shouldn't be into. You are pulling up on everything now and are able to reach a lot more of the things that you shouldn't be into. Somehow you and our puppy Scout can cause quite the mess together in no time flat. Your favorite places to make messes are the bathrooms ripping up toilet paper.

Rory you are eating more and more food and loving trying new things. You don't tend to like anything to chunky but really enjoy eating cheerios and goldfish. You are taking less and less of your formula although we have slipped back into taking a bottle in the middle of the night after you were sick with a cold. I'm now trying to break that habit that I started out of exhaustion.

You have a mouthful of teeth now and everyone who sees you can't believe how many you have. You are really discovering biting anything that comes near  your mouth or when Mom is holding you you try to bite my shoulder and your teeth are very sharp. You are so very strong Rory and when you don't want to do something you but your whole body against it such as when you don't want to take a nap and wiggle or flatten out your body until it's impossible to hold you. You are so never not moving, unless your sleeping, you are constantly on the move or wiggling your body around. You have learned that your head shake "no no no" really means No and use it when you don't want something especially when you are done eating.

You still have the sweetest little smile Rory that just brightens up your whole face! Now there are 10 teeth proudly showing with each smile. Your eyes are still the most beautiful blue! After being in the sun some while playing outside or watching your brother play t-ball your hair seems to be lightening up some. You still favor Everett and look just like he did when he was your age. You have the cutest rolls on your legs that make me just want to eat you up.

Rory we adore you and are so thankful that you are our's!!

8 & 9 Months with Sweet Rory

Rory Ashton we have gotten through 8 & 9 amazing months with you and you are growing up fast!

We officially moved you into your crib full time and you have handled the transition in great stride. I miss having you beside me every night but it's beyond time for you to be in your own crib plus Sissy is loving having you sleeping in "her" room with her. Not sure when she will realize the room belongs to both of you!

Rory you have a few more teeth coming in now and it is causing you some minor discomfort. I took you to the Dr. thinking you maybe had an ear infection after you started waking up during the nights turned out no ear infection but you had 6 teeth coming in so no wonder you weren't too happy! You tend to only want to be in Mom's arms when you are not feeling well and I love getting the extra snuggles.

You are really on the move Rory, crawling very fast now and really flying when wheeling around in your walker. It takes no time at all for you to zip from room to room no matter your mode of movement. You like to get into your brother's room and play with his animal toys or books. The only trouble comes when you get yourself stuck behind a closed door.

Rory your newest trick is shaking your head "no no no." It is pretty cute and your sister thinks it is the absolute most hilarious thing! She tries to get you to do it all the time. Your Sissy also loves giving you hugs and tries to pick you up to carry you around, even after we tell her not to. You are just irresistible to her and she can't wait to play with you.

Food is something you are really enjoying more and more. Your love the baby food crunchies when you are in need of a snack. In the mornings you are really enjoying baby yogurt eating it up in a hurry. For lunch and dinner you are pretty much a big fan of all the other baby food we have tried except banana flavors. We have also tried you with some eggs and avocados neither of which you loved too much.

Rory at your 9 month well child check you weighed at 21 lbs. 7.9 oz (89%), height of 27.8 inches and (58%). Right now you are wearing 12-18 month clothes.

Rory you are an absolute doll to look at and share your smile willingly, if you are feeling good, with all who see you! We absolutely adore you beautiful girl!

7 Months with the sweetest girl

We are celebrating 7 months with this beautiful blue eyed girl and I feel like this has been one of the biggest months yet!!

This month we are celebrating the arrival of two new teeth on your top middle gums! It took a week or so for these little teeth to cut through. Now that they have you think it is super fun to grind your matching top and bottom teeth together but it is not fun for anyone around you to hear you do this!

Rory you are now officially a crawler! You are finding your way all over the house crawling on your hands and knees. If I leave you in a room playing with your toys on the floor then its a matter of seconds and you have found me where ever I went in the house, and you are FAST!

You are really discovering more of your voice lately. Making lots of loud babbling noises, screams, and the sweetest laughter ever! I also have year you babble "Bubba" and "Mama" so needless to say Everett and I are very proud to be your first words! Dad may be a little jealous saying that you "dont know what your saying your just making noises" but I hated to tell him that is how all baby talk starts! You have sure started saying Mama when you find me in a room though or when you are wanting me to come get you from your bed!

This month you also had your first major sickness getting RSV over Christmas. You were the most pitiful and saddest thing we had ever seen! Absolutely broke my heart! We temporarily moved you back into your swing to help you stay elevated to get some sleep. After about a good week of sickness you rebounded right back with your precious joyful spirit!

Rory your eyes are still the most piercing blue and they cause strangers in stores to stop and marvel at your beauty! Coupled with your still red tinted hair you have these sweet traits passed down from your Nanas! You are still mostly favoring Everett at this point from when he was a baby also and he is the most proud of it! He loves to come in and say "Hello Beautiful Girl who looks like her Bubba!" It's no wonder you said Bubba first when he constantly showers you with compliments and sweet hugs and kisses! Your Sissy is always soo excited to see you and is so anxious for her chance to play with you she just still has not gotten the hang of gentle play yet. I am so looking forward to the day you two will be the sweetest of friends!

I have tried you in your crib a few times now for naps and they have gone well mostly! Since your crib shares a room with your Sissy I have been less energized about moving you over but you are quickly outgrowing  your bassinet and it feels like a good time to move you. You also recently spent your first time in a nursery at a church we have been trying out. I had a constant nervous feeling all through church and could not wait to get back to you! When Dad and I got back to the nursery we found you soundly asleep on the shoulder of a nursery attendant!

Mealtime is something you are really enjoying these days Rory! We are giving you food 2 times a day and you are devouring most of it! You are a big fan of the squeeze food when we are out and on the go but also like to get down on some regular veggies at the dinner table.

Rory Ashton, what an absolute blessing you are to our lives every single day! You have the most joyful spirit! When we you get excited, which is most of the time, you bounce up and down and pant rapidly! Anyone who comes in to contact with you will have a better day because of it! We love you so much sweet Rory!!