"I Miss Pa"

While we were in Newcastle, one night Mackenzie just started sobbing and saying she missed her Pa. It was heartbreaking. She cried for nearly 15 minutes. I miss my Dad all the time, and I sometimes forget how much he was a part of Mackenzie's little life and how much she remembers and misses him. A huge hole has been left in her life, without him. It is almost like realization is still setting in for her that he isn't coming back. She is the most sensitive, emotional little girl. We had come across a little pair of camoflauge gloves that Pa bought for Mackenzie when she was about a year old. They just now fit her, and when she saw them, she remembered that Pa bought them for her and it made her sad. G-Ma held her and they cried...G-Ma reminded Mackenzie that it was okay to be sad and cry sometimes, but also that Pa wouldn't want her to stay sad because we know we will see him again one day. A while back, Poppa Jim gave Mackenzie a tiny little picture frame with Grandma Jean's picture in it that we keep in the girls' room. Once she stopped crying, she asked G-Ma if she could have a picture of Pa to put in her room. So they sat down in the hall floor and got out a bunch of pictures. Mackenzie would get so excited and say, "I have to have this one!" She wanted pictures of when Pa was a little boy, pictures of him with me when I was born, pictures of him with her...it went on and on. I think she had a pile of about 25 pictures when it was all said and done! G-Ma is going to make copies for her and put them in a little photo album. 

As a mother, it hurts so bad to see your children hurting. I wish so badly I could take the pain of missing her Pa away from Mackenzie. It also makes my heart break that Madison won't remember him the way Mack does, and Jonah never got to know him. I really don't know how people who don't have the hope of heaven survive losing someone so dear to them. Even though Pa is no longer here with us, he is still very much a part of who we are and the life that we live. His memory will live on in our hearts forever.

G-Ma & Jonah...and Madi

Everyone asks how the girls have adjusted to the new baby...my answer is always the same, "Well, pretty good, unless their G-Ma is holding him!" At least for Madi...she doesn't want to share her G-Ma. I think I have blogged about it before, but it didn't take long for her to tell G-Ma, "I don't want you to hold baby brother EVER again." Uh-oh! And at bedtime, she has reminded G-Ma several times "Don't hold baby brother." She wouldn't want him getting any attention, even when she is sleeping! On a more serious note, it really has been a big adjustment for Madison. She has been used to being the "baby." She has been fully potty trained for quite some time, but all of a sudden, ever since the baby was born, she has been having frequent accidents. It makes me so sad. We try to give her special attention and one-on-one time, but it is still a big life change for her. I'm just hoping that things even out and get back to a new normal soon. Jonah just requires a lot of time and attention at this stage in his little life. Madison does love her baby brother and says often that he's a "cute little sella!" (fella) I know that it is normal for her to feel a little bit jealous of him.

These pictures crack me up! I don't think Jonah wants to share his G-Ma either...he was not a happy camper. Any time G-Ma is holding Jonah, all of a sudden Madison is right there, demanding her attention. Thankfully, G-Ma has enough love and attention for all three of her grandbabies!

Jonah's "Meet, Greet & Eat" Party

We had a "Meet, Greet, and Eat" party so that our family and friends in Newcastle could come see baby Jonah. G-Ma is such a wonderful hostess and always makes things very special. We have done this after each of our babies were born. It is always so fun to show them off! We had all kinds of delicious food, and there were around 40 people who came to meet the newest addition to our family. Jonah got to meet his Great-Grandma Shaw for the first time on this day. She went on and on about how beautiful he is, and she especially liked all of his dark hair! I am having fun with the whole "whale" theme...ironically, whales seem to be very popular right now. I made the party invitation and we ordered the whale party supplies online. And if we are having a party, of course there will be cookies! It had been a very long time since I had made any cookies and I forgot how much work it is...but they were so cute and delicious. We were hoping for pretty weather so everyone could enjoy sitting outside, but it was raining so we were all very cozy inside. Jonah was passed from person to person for pretty much the entire two hours of the party.

When we have gatherings like this, especially at the house, it is still so strange that my Dad isn't there. He would have loved showing off his firstborn grandson, and he would be SO proud of the fact that he is named after him. It makes me smile to think about it! We have the best family and friends in the world, and it meant so much that they took the time to celebrate Jonah's arrival with us. 

We were busy getting everything ready that morning, and of course Jonah wanted to be held! So he helped G-Ma get some of the food ready. Thankfully, Sharon Huddleston and Louise came over and helped us get everything ready before the party started. We never would have been ready without them!

G-Ma does so much for us, it is unbelievable really.

We had the table set up and Mackenzie made labels so we would know where all of the food was supposed to go. She is such a big helper!

I especially loved her cookie label!

Have you ever seen a more beautiful spread?

Jonah with his Great-Grandma Shaw

I love this very special picture!

I didn't get pictures of everyone who came, but I tried to take as many as I could. This is our good friend, Saundra Stone, holding Jonah. Jared, Julia & Autumn also stopped by. It is so good to see old friends. Some other people who came that I didn't get pictures of were: Kelley & Donna, Weldon, Uncle John, and Uncle Jimmy. (I'm probably forgetting a few.)

We call Poppa Jim the "Baby Whisperer" because he is so good at putting babies to sleep!

Carol Cornett is a special friend of our family.

I remember holding Leesa's boy's when they were brand new. How special that now she is holding my little boy!

Paul & Faye and Rick & Kathy came to see Jonah.

Cogi & Rose Beatty 

Rose kissed Jonah right on the forehead and gave him some pretty lipstick. It didn't phase him!

My fellow Disney Fanatic, Sherrie Pennington, holding Jonah.

Jonah with two of his Great Aunts, Sheila & Sara.

Our longtime friend, Annette Lang, came to see Jonah. It would mean so much to my Grandma Jean that she came. 

Finally, Jonah got to take a picture with some men! Dan & Shane Flood are good friends of ours.

Jonah & Aunt Gala

Kim Martin & Caden 

Cogi brought the girls new Barbies and coloring books. The Barbies came with colored hair spray...how fun!  =0/ The girls absolutely loved it, but it was a mess! I think G-Ma is probably still cleaning pink hair spray off of her coffee table.

Uncle Rodney

After the party, Brian had to drive back to Tulsa for church the next day. The kids and I stayed in Newcastle because he was coming back for a conference on Monday and Tuesday. It worked out perfectly.

Mackenzie was a VERY big helper!

When the party was over, I laid Jonah on G-Ma's bed and he just stretched out and kicked his legs...I'm sure it felt good to be free. So good in fact, that he put himself right to sleep!

This was the last time Jonah was able to wear this little whale outfit. It made me so sad that he outgrew it. It will definitely be one that I keep forever. So, so sweet! I loved his little blue shoes too.

Some September Stuff

These are just some pictures I took with my phone throughout the month of September. They didn't really fit into any other posts, so I just decided to put them all together in this random post.

We went to Chili's for dinner one night. We were talking about Mackenzie's birthday and how she is growing up so fast. Brian told her she would be going to college soon, and she burst out crying. It was so precious, sweet, and sad...she said, "But I like you!" By some miracle I managed to hold it together and reassure her that she didn't have to worry about that for a long time. On the inside, I was very sad about how quickly my babies are growing up. When Mackenzie started crying, Madison started crying. They don't like it when the other one is upset. I was either going to laugh or cry, so I stuck with laughing!

 We were "photo bombed" by a youth minister friend of Brian's. =0)

We were on our way to Chili's and I looked back to check on Jonah...the girls had fixed him up!

One weekend while we were in Newcastle, I got my hair done and Jonah went with me. I love these little brown sandals. His big toe likes to escape!

I posted this picture on FB with the caption, "Visiting an old friend today." It has been so long since I have done cookies. I forgot how much work it is! I made cookies for Jonah's "Meet and Greet" party at G-Ma's and again for Mack's birthday party a week later. I honestly am not sure I will ever do it again as a job. I know life won't always be this crazy and I will have more time one of these days, so we'll see...

 It took FOREVER to decorate these cookies....between taking care of the girls and a crying baby, I didn't think it would ever get done.

 I was so excited to see my friend Leslie! She lives in Louisiana now and we don't get to see each other very often. We met her and her sister-in-law, Wendy at Chick-fil-a for about an hour. It was so good to see her, and introduce her to Jonah.

 This picture makes me laugh!

 After meeting Leslie at Chick-fil-a, I guess I was feeling ambitious...I took all three kids into Old Navy to shop for me some clothes. WHAT was I thinking?! It was a disaster! Madison's shoes wouldn't stay on, she hadn't had a nap and both girls were very whiny, and Jonah was SCREAMING. But I was determined to find something. I took him out of his carseat in the dressing room and had Mack hold him and sing to him while Madison patted his back. I was so stressed that I just grabbed a bunch of clothes and bought them. When I got home and tried them on again, I hated them and ended up taking every single thing back. Total waste of time! I can look back on it and laugh now, but at the time I was so completely frustrated and stressed out. That will be the last shopping trip with three kids for a while!

 This cracks me up! Jonah finally passed out from crying so much and this is what his carseat looked like by the time I finished slinging clothes everywhere! Hahahaha!

This was one Sunday when we were at church with G-Ma. Jonah's little "mullet" was so cute that I had to take a picture...even if it was in the middle of a prayer!

My little "joey" likes his pouch!