McLleyton's Walking!

All of a sudden McLleyton is really "walking"! My sweet boy is growing up SO fast! 

Here's a few videos of him walking! 

Officially a Kindergartner ...

Graduation...

Shae "graduated" from preschool this week! The end of the school year was definitely bittersweet for her! She loves school, so she was a little sad about being done, but very excited that she'll get to go 5 days a week in kindergarten! 

Her year of preschool was a great one! Her teacher was wonderful, I loved her! It is a small program at a church right by our house, but her teacher was great and she did an amazing job of mixing in faith with learning. It's a very neat little school! She and Sophia loved being together and it was always fun to pick them up from school and hear what each one would report on. They get along very well! 

I will definitely be sad when this summer flies by and it's time for her to start Kindergarten. I love having her home and the thought of releasing her to someone else for 1/2 a day 5x a week, seems a little difficult :). But, she is MORE than ready and it's fun to see how much she loves to learn. 

We have spent the past few months really praying about where she will go in the fall. We want her to be in school with her cousins and so together with Jill and Darren we looked at a few different options, really we are blessed because there are a lot of good schools right around us. We decided that the best fit is a k-8 Charter school, Chandler Woods. We just found out this week that Shaelyn is off the waiting list and accepted, so that's exciting! It's about 12-15 minutes from our house and there are not buses, so from that aspect it will be a commitment, but it seems like a good fit for the time! It's amazing that we have already reached this phase of life! 

As a proud Mommy, I thought I'd share what Shaelyn's teacher wrote about her for the end of the year report. I'm definitely proud of what a kind, thoughtful little girl she is! We pray she'll continue to be a leader and grow in confidence! What a blessing she is!!

11 Months!!!

McLleyton is 11 Months!! He's learning new things every day and he definitely fills our home with a lot of smiles, giggles and now a few words!!! It's amazing to think that in just a couple of weeks we'll be celebrating his 1st birthday!! 

At 11 months you...

Have taken your first steps! Just a few and they were wobbly, but they were steps!! :)

Now have 5 teeth! You had 3 cut in on top on the same day! Overall you've done great with teething! 

You are down to nursing 2x a day! Morning and night time! During the day you eat 3 meals and usually 1 or 2 snacks. You just have water to drink in a sippy! 

Have a new word! "DOG" it's very clear and you use it for pretty much any animal! You love dogs from a far, but aren't so sure of them when they are at your level. (understandable :)). 

You are working hard to communicate verbally. It usually includes pointing to what you want us to see and then trying to "talk" about it. I can just tell you have the words in there, it will be fun to watch you learn them over the months to come! 

Books and pictures have become very interesting to you. You'll now sit and look at books by yourself. You especially like the animal books. To which you'll say "Dog, dog, dog" :). You also love it when I carry you around the house and let you look at the pictures on the walls. Especially when you find one of daddy! 

You are still taking two naps! A short morning nap and a little bit longer afternoon one. Occasionally if you sleep in you'll just take one in the middle of the day if we make afternoon plans.

You love playing in the play room with your sisters. In the morning you'll easily entertain yourself for an hour or two happily! But, if they leave to come upstairs you will immediately cry. It's amazing how you play by yourself, but how you like having them around you! 

When you play with your toy trucks you'll make sound effects. 

You still LOVE balls. It's you're other favorite word! Every where you go you'll find balls ... or shapes you think look like balls! You are great at playing catch and you love to do it.

You love to wrestle with daddy! 

You will offer kisses ... without me even asking now! :) Love that!

You are VERY much in need of your 2nd hair cut :) Daddy says we could just leave it and you could go with a "Justin Bieber" look! 

Laughing at daddy, right after you woke up from a nap!

Showing off your Justin Bieber look...

Weekend with the Loftins...

My sister Jenn and her four came in to town for a long weekend and it was so great to be together! We had two wedding showers for our sister-to-be Kelly and a lot of cousin time! The kids loved being together and it was fun to see how much everyone has grown since Christmas! Jurrien is now an amazing reader, Meagan gave me some great hugs, Patrice and Monreau got along better and it was fun to see Darren and his patient, sweet personality! 

We spent part of the weekend out at the cottage. It was a lot of kids and a lot of fun! 

There will be a lot of biking at the Lake this year... 

Getting closer to walking ... 

I like this picture ... it's fun to have so many cousins! 

Laurie Parton also came into town! Always great to have her here!! We love the Partons! 
How many nieces and nephews can fit? Watching the Kentucky Derby. 
Trouble ... x's 3!!! It was so much fun to see the three boys together! It's amazing how much they have grown since last summer when we would lay them all under the gymini together! 

This chair is too small... 
There that one is better :)
Are you three trying to escape? 
Quick GO!! Yes the years ahead are going to be fun!!! 
McLleyton's first pronto pup :)
Laurie's too! 

We're excited the Loftins will be back in June! 

No More Paci's ...

As Monreau's 3rd birthday approached we continually reminded her that when she turned three she would have to give away her Paci's. Three is definitely too old to have a paci ... 2 1/2 is probably too old, but I knew that when we took them away she would pretty much be done napping, so I pushed it off as long as I could! But, she's three now, so the paci's are gone. We made a colorful package and "mailed" them to the hospital for a few newborn babies to receive. She happily participated in the making and even the mailing of the paci's ... but I knew she wouldn't be such a happy participant when bedtime came. The first night was as bad as I expected. She cried for a good two hours and then woke up in the middle of the night and cried for another hour. The second night was better, but she still woke up in the middle of the night looking for them. But, by the the third night she went to bed pretty well and hasn't woken up during the night since. Truthfully, she did SO, SO much better with giving them up than I ever expected. She was SO attached to them, but she surprised me and really let go of them pretty easily. Like I expected, she has not napped since we took them away and I have a feeling that besides a random one here or there my days of her napping regularly are gone. But, it feels good to be done with them. She is growing up :). I now have only one in diapers and only one with a paci ... the years of "baby land" are flying by!! 

Mothers Day...

I feel blessed today to be celebrating Mothers Day! It was a great, relaxing day! The kids made me a sweet card, got me Starbucks, a doughnut and a new watch! (all before I got out of bed :)). I felt spoiled! I am so thankful for today and that each day I get to wake up and be loved by these three, sweet, amazing gifts! 

We got to celebrate our with our mom's too. 

Birthday Celebrations...

My sister Jenn always says that the week of your birthday is "birthday week" and in their family they celebrate all week long. I've always been more of the mindset that you get one celebration :), but Monreau got 3 for her third birthday! Matt was out of town the weekend before her birthday, but all of her cousins were in town, so we did a cousin birthday party at the Cottage. Then on her birthday she picked dinner at Chuck-e-Cheese and two nights later we had a dinner with her Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt! Yes, that's a lot of birthday! Of course she loved it and felt loved! 

Here's a few pictures of the fun! 

Happy 3rd Birthday Monreau...

Today, we celebrate Monreau's 3rd Birthday... here's a picture trip down memory lane...

Monreau Jillian Shatto    May 4, 2007   6lbs 8 oz (my tiny, little peanut) 

        (Her labor was a bit rough (on us both :)) as she was born in the wrong position. This is her about 2 hours after delievery and really she looks a lot better at this point. I couldn't bring myself to post the just born picture as she looked so brusied) 

Just 3 days later looking so much better :)

Monreau at 2 weeks

Monreau at 1 year

2 years

Happy 3rd Birthday! 

Dear Monreau,

Happy 3rd Birthday! Today we celebrate you! My sweet, joyful girl! You are the laughter in my days. You bring life to our house and personality to our family! You are confident, fun, sweet, silly and beautiful! 

This morning as I laid in bed snuggling with you and thinking back to the morning you were born, I felt humbled by all the Lord has blessed me with through you. You are His child, but for the time He has blessed my days with your joyful presence! You make me better. You challenge me to be a better mommy. To be creative in how I love you, my sweet middle child, and to think out of the box on how to "parent" you. Your carefree spirit and love for life is contagious and a gift!

 

I love how you love your sister and desire to be with her always. How you laugh and imagine together. How you allow her to be your big sister and to teach you new things, but also how your confident to try them your own way. I love to see your tender side with McLleyton and how you always want to be the first to tell him good morning. You can always make him smile! 

Monreau, you are beautiful. Yes, every mommy thinks that about their little girl and I do love your long, silky hair and your amazing smile, but even more than that I love your beautiful spirit. I pray that as you grow your spirit will always out shine your physical beauty.

Monreau, always know how deeply I love you. And as much as I love you, it will never compare to your heavenly Father. I pray that you'll come to see and know Jesus and understand how much He loves you. 

You have many gifts and talents ... I can already see them in you. I am so excited for the years ahead and to see how they will be used. But, today I cherish that you are just three. That the year ahead will still include learning your letters, counting, coloring, dancing in the kitchen, baking cookies and snuggling too early in the morning. There is nothing I love more in this world than being your mommy! Happy Birthday sweet girl! 

Love, Mommy