Coloring

The boys have been playing together a lot lately.  Now that doesn't mean that they always play well together.  It just means that they do the same thing at the same time.  

Either they are all playing football. Which consists of someone running around instead the house, until a brother tackles him, wrestles him, steals the football and then proceeds to run around in with the other two chasing him.  It is slightly dangerous and provides ALOT of teachable moments.  Like how to let your younger brother have a turn.  How is isn't a good idea to two hand shove someone from behind How they need to be self controlled with their mouths and not call each other names or scream.  How they should be mindful of poor Wynnlee or just starts to blink fast and puts her arms up to grace herself when they start running in her direction.  They usually end up changing into athletic shorts and taking their shirts off.  And most often ends with someone crying because they never get a turn and the other two mad at each other as bitter rivals.  Enter dinner time, where we get to discuss how to have a godly heart while playing football.  Yes this is a challenge.  And after chugging their water they quickly are best friends again as they enjoy their meal.

Or they are playing legos.  These are among the few toys that they boys get to claim as their own.  Leighton has his legos, McCabe has his, and Brooks has his.  You would think that this provides less brotherly conflict, but for some reason God provides more teachable moments through this activity.  Like not telling your brother how they have to play with their legos.  

Another favorite activity is coloring.  This one is usually calm.  Usually. It may explain why I was able to snap a picture of it.  And although I wasn't a disciplinarian, teacher, helper, encourager, fixer, explainer, or exhorter, during this activity, I did get to sit down a color with them which could end up proving to be the best parenting choice I made all day!

Parenting is non-stop, all-day!  It is hard work but it is such a joy. I try not to take for granted any moment spent with them, or any teaching opportunity among them.  It is scary how fast time is going.  And any confidence I have about who they will become comes from the fact that I believe God will hold up his end if I cooperate with him on my end.  As I obey his commands in parenting and Chirst-likeness, THEN, and only THEN, can I trust his promise tied to it!     

The Boys

I love being a mother to these boys.  These three boys are incredibly different and I praise God for how He made them and praise God that we get to enjoy them.

  

  
The boys are growing more adventurous as the days go by.  Tipping over their 4 wheeler is one of their favorite things to do.  No injuries yet.  Just lots of giggles.  

Leighton ...  

 

McCabe is a man of dress clothes and jeans.  He loves his jeans and wants to wear them everyday.  On Saturdays I wash them so they are clean for church and he insists on wearing a different pair of jeans while they are in the wash.  He also loves dress shirts.  In fact, when he was sick and stayed home from church, he was so sad that he wouldn't get a donut that he didn't get to wear a dress shirt (I let him wear his church cloths at home!). 

 

Brooks is a man of a million faces; A million hysterical and contagious faces.  Just try to have a conversation with him and not get one of these faces as part of his response.  I dare you. 

My 3 Little Ones

It is fun to take pictures of all three of them every now and then. Maybe if I do this weekly and take a 20 pictures each time ... maybe Ill eventually get one where everyone is looking at the camera and smiling. In the mean time, we can all just enjoy my little bundles of joy just as the are!

Now that I stare at these pictures a little longer - I changed my mind - I think these pictures are just perfect.

Shirtless Basketball

The other night the boys were playing basketball and got very sweaty! So I took off Leighton and McCabe's shirts. It was too cute ... so off came Brooks' too. And then came the camera!

Sweet Boys

I think my boys are so precious! These pictures may all look the same to you, but not to a mother! I just had to post all of them! Leighton and Brooks were very similar babies. I tend to think that they look a like as well, but who really knows!

I just had to post this one below. When you ask McCabe to smile, he closes his eyes really tight everytime! They best part is that afterwards he will start laughing because I start laughing and sometimes I can manage to get a smilying shot in.

Leighton doesn't seem enthused about these pictures but let me tell you, he somehow managed to smily most of the time ... except when I took the picture. And he was so proud of himself after the photo shoot. He was always very excited about getting to hold Brooks.

I couldn't get McCabe to lean in closer for a picture unless I told the boys to kiss Brooks!

I adore my kids! They are so wonderful and unique and special! In the words of a country song I think they are so, "kissable, huggable, loveable, unbelievable!"

Any thoughts about who looks like who? Leave a comment!

Oh So Cuddly

Leighton and McCabe love to Cuddle and Leighton is a master at giving him kisses. Luke and I try so hard to get him to kiss us, but when it comes to McCabe, he is quick to show Love.

Here is Leighton's way of saying "Shhhhh McCabe, don't cry!"

More Kisses!!!

Warming Up to Each Other

Leighton is starting to really warm up to McCabe. He tries to give him a pacifier, he tries to hold him, and likes to touch his head and face. It is so cute!

Leighton Meets McCabe

Leighton came to the hospital tonight to meet his brother. He did okay! I think he was a little confused and didn't like that I was in bed.

Being a big brother, though hard at first, will produce in Leighton such amazing qualities like love, the ability to put others first (share), and the blessing of being united in friendship! Hopefully these qualities don't take too long to produce!