My Seal

I have looked over my photos for this post and I am wondering what goes through the mind of my little boy preparing for his race. Ayden is on the Seals, our neighborhood swim team. Every day we go to practice and it tires him to the point of easy sleep each night. Each Saturday we pack up our tent, cooler, toys, snacks, drinks (plenty of water) and kids and head to the pool for a swim meet. It is quite a spectacle, with 300 kids on our team alone. The place is packed with little and big swimmers, hot and loud, eager and ready to swim! My awesome swimmer races in the relay, 25 freestyle, and 25 backstroke. The first few days he was nervous at the anticipation of not winning. We had to explain he would be competing against 6 year olds, who would be faster. That he wouldn't win each race. It didn't take long for his complancy to set in, and now he tells us it is ok if he doesn't win. He even told the coach at practice one day when he asked for them to race, that it was ONLY PRACTICE!  He has gotten several ribbons, not quite first place, but he is just as happy, and doesn't quite know the difference yet.  Sweet young lives!  He has perfected his dive and practiced with a smile in our backyard. He really loves to swim, and has made some fantastic friends on the Seals.

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This is the one...right here...what is he thinking?  What is his little mind processing.  He has said he wants to make us proud, he is such a pleaser, such a wonderful little creation of God.  I hope he is thinking about finishing his race and doing the best that he can!

All grown up...part 2

Wednesday was Ayden's school party for Pre-K. Glenn took the morning off and joined me to be there for our little man. We got to go to chapel with him (just warms my heart), play fun games outside and enjoy a McDonald lunch. Ayden has been so blessed with amazing teachers this year that really went beyond their calling! Ayden's class this year had 12 crazy boys and 3 sweet girls, so just with this fact alone, you can see how he has WONDERFUL teachers!

All grown up...

Not really but each year is another notch. The end of the year program this year at Ayden and Mason's school was so enjoyable! This year there was not a crying toddler scared to sing his Mother's Day Out song. There wasn't a little boy stuck to a Mommy or Daddy's leg. There were two brave preschoolers singing their songs and holding their hearts like little boys do best. Ayden's class did the cutest little hand jive!!! They made us so proud. Mommy, Daddy and Reid loved watching our little men preform with their classmates that have become best friends, and their teachers that are more like family and less like teachers. We are so thankful for their school and all the people that help them become the boys that God wants them to be (most of the time:)





After their program we had a nice, crazy and chaotic mexican dinner out with 11 people! Three little people that loved sitting with all their family and getting tons of attention. Fun burping games and ice down the shirt games. Too much salt on the chips, and when Momma says that's enough, Gomer sneaks them another dash. Yummy food and good laughs. That is what life is all about!

Play time

There is a new place and type of play in our house! Baby play on the living room floor. Ayden and Mason are so sweet with their baby brother. They play chase, we wrestle, we giggle, we roll on the floor, and laugh at Reid's little baby giggles!




PS Check out little man's crab walk. He does this very quickly and it is his way of protecting his cute little knees on our mostly hard floors!

Feed Baby!

Well these next few posts are a tad bit old, spanning back to the beginning of May.


Since Reid has started eating solids I have enthusiastically made his food for each day. Recently we added some new foods: blueberries, meat (that is an experience to make pureed), and some fun finger foods. He devourers egg yolk only french toast, he adores bananas, he enjoys all breads, and he tolerates most fruits. Reid is a very happy eater, and gets anxious each time Ayden and Mason sit down at the dinner table.


It makes me happy to know that we have feed him the best possible way~ and hope to continue to year one! When the kitchen is torn apart during a meal making session I have to remind myself that Reid is getting his food in the least processed way!

Mother's Day

I really wanted to blog about my day, but did not want to be a debbie-downer. Normally this blog is a place of happiness, but I picture myself reading this blog in several years and smiling about this crazy day! I am thankful for this mother's day, because I did what I do best...be a mommy no matter what life throws in my way.

Reid came down with the killer of all virus's this week, fevers reaching 103-104, sleepless nights, relentless nursing, and never allowing me to put him down except when he drifted in to sleep. Mason was put on some pretty heavy duty asthma meds for the week and kept him acting like a crazed lunatic! It is May in the world of A-Beautiful Pools and life was heavy this week!

Yesterday was Ayden's first swim meet and Glenn worked himself to the bone completing our four volunteer shifts in one day! PS Ayden got first place in freestyle!!!

So this morning I wake with a stuffy head and a sore throat- totally appropriate for a mother who has nursed her sweet baby back to health, sparing no expense! My husband mustered the strength through the sore muscles from the previous days work to hop up at 6:30am and get Reid, and turn on cartoons for the big boys. After a morning meal Reid and I snuck out of bed and made our way to the living room. While he played happily on the floor for 10 minutes I cleaned the kitchen and tried to get the boys ready for breakfast at my favorite restaurant, Egg and I. I had it my mission to have a happy Mother's Day breakfast and that meant we had to hit the door by 8:45am, or we would be faced with a long wait. Chaos ensued and Glenn was summoned out of bed by my big boy, mentioning momma needed help! We finished getting ready and Glenn decided he would stay home with then fussy Reid and Ayden and Mason would take me out for Mother's Day breakfast..catch though, I drove, I paid and I entertained! Breakfast was delicious with nicely behaved little men! We had a DS, TV free ride and wait, and I had great conversations with my two little people! We arrived home to a still sore and overwhelmed Daddy...sick fussy babies are no fun, I know! I decided I had to help Daddy deal with his day, so I offered to take Ayden and Mason with me to work. Glenn packed the boys lunch and I packed the DS's and we took off to an orientation for one of my pools. The boys behaved nicely, played on the playground, had lunch and played their games while I got some work done. Ayden even made a friend at the park! We came home, let the boys nap and Glenn and I tried to lounge on the couch with a fussy Reid. We packed up after naps and rest time and headed to New Waverly for dinner with the Dominy's, Gigi and PawPaw. My head was full and nose was running but I pushed through. We had a nice time, and everyone helped me get a break from little Reid by walking with him outside, and watching the big boys play at their wonderful house! Dinner was delicious, and conversation was delightful! At the end of dinner I started slipping fast and my head got cloudy again. At this time my husband mentioned he was staying and getting some work done. Bummer...visions of bed time with three kids and a sick momma were flying through my head. Glenn made it a tad better by deciding to tackle baths at Mimi and Pappy's before we left. We got home, brushed teeth, got in jammies, gave kisses, fixed boo-boos (everyone got banged up at Mimi's and Pappy's) said prayers, nursed baby and crashed on the couch to watch Desperate.

Just another day in motherhood. Spending time with the little people and wonderful husband that bring me joy no matter what condition I am in. For my family today was just another day in the life. For me it was reminder that I am given these little people and wonderful mate by God to love, care for, and mother each and every day!