A day in the life...

Today was a fun Tuesday so I thought I would share some of what we did…

First, we woke up and all hell broke lose. I mean not really, but it definitely isn't all roses in the morning in our house. I mean I have 3 kids. One being an Emma…

We finally get out the door and got Emma to school and (Surprise!) there was an art show. Good thing I didn't have Tuesday morning plans because this totally slipped my mind. It was actually really cute and I was very impressed. Don't ask me what Emma made, some kind of volcano? Anyone read Spanish?

Emma with her artwork

Showing her artwork to Luke

Then the boys and I had a few errands to run. First, we went to Market Street to order a cake for Harvey's baptism and y'all. The stars aligned because there was a fire truck in the parking lot, AND Luke had on his fireman rain boots.

Luke with the fire truck

Next up, we ran into Gap to make a couple exchanges… and make a few purchases. #sorrybrian.

Then we headed over to Emler for swim lessons. Luke was SO excited and kept saying "my turn now?" while we waited. I'm so glad he has decided he likes swim lessons after all. It's way more fun for everyone involved.

"my turn now?"

Harvey having a little floor time poolside. #poorthirdchild

After swim, we ran home for lunch and naps for the boys. I had to wake up the boys to go get Emma, which is pretty much the WORST. We picked up Emma and headed to speech. On the way out of speech this happened:

Me: "Emma, can I take your picture?"
Emma: "No."
Me: "Fine, whatever." (walk away)
Emma: "I was waiting on you to offer me candy."

No candy sister. I did get a pic of those great curls though.

After speech, we headed home and ordered pizza for dinner since Brian was working late. I'll leave you with a pic of Harvey in the tub. Because those rolls. #allthehearteyes

Harvey loves bath time!

Happy Fat Tuesday! For Lent, I decided to give up Facebook. I feel like this will be the hardest thing I have ever done. Really though.

I am debating on how I am going to continue sharing this blog. I plan to continue blogging, not sure if I will share on Facebook or wait until Easter though. I guess we will see how strong I am!

XOXO,

Lexi

Fun Friday!

Luke's typical speech session was rescheduled for yesterday, which meant that the boys and I had a free morning while Emma was at school. We decided, well I decided to take them to check out this consignment shop in Dallas called Small Pockets. I follow them on instagram and have even purchased a few items off of instagram from the shop, but have yet to make it to the store. (Side story: I even purchased a Christmas bubble for Harvey and messaged to ask if they had any matching big sister dresses and she so kindly pulled several dresses that matched and then shipped my purchases to me!)

Emma's dress was purchased at Small Pockets.
(I don't have a good picture of Harvey's bubble.)

Back to my Friday… I had seen on instagram that every Friday from 10:30-11:00 they have a story time so I thought we would shop and listen to the story and then head home. Well, we arrived at 10:00 when they opened and they immediately asked Luke if he wanted to play with trains in the lower level of the store (I could totally keep an eye on him, don't worry)… ummmm yes he would, thanks. I shopped and found a few things to purchase #sorrybrian and then Harvey and I went downstairs to sit with Luke during story time. The gal in charge read two stories about "pizza" and Luke soaked up every minute! Then she led the kiddos in a craft where they made "pizza" using paper plates, construction paper shredded (for cheese of course), stickers for pepperoni, and paint for the sauce. Suuuuper cute. I was not expecting a craft, or at least not more than a coloring page! When Luke finished his pizza, she even wrapped it in foil. We will definitely be returning, and very soon!

Story time

Adding tomato sauce

Adding shredded cheese

We had such a good time and everyone was in good spirits so we wondered next door to a little sandwich place called East Hampton Sandwich Co. I had a turkey, bacon, avocado sandwich and it was delicious. Luke had a grilled cheese. We both had some amazing chips, and Luke loved his blueberry lemonade. We will definitely be going back. Probably next Friday, who wants to join?!

My lunch date

Entertaining each other while mama polishes off her sandwich… and licks her plate.

All in all, it was a fun morning and one we will repeat soon. I already have the Friday of spring break on my calendar so Emma can enjoy the fun too!

XOXO,
Lexi

Luke Jackson

Now that I'm caught up on Emma, up next is Luke. Luke is now 2.5. I'm not sure where to start with Luke. About a year ago, I started questioning Luke's expressive speech. I can't remember exactly what he was saying (or wasn't saying) but I knew he was behind. (Cue the reason for the blog- so I'll remember what on earth was going on with our life when I had 3 littles at home.) He also had 5 ear infections in 9 months. I remember this specifically because his pediatrician suggested that when they have 6 within a year that we should see an ENT. Well, I figured the odds were good he would have a 6th in the 3 months so I went ahead and made an appointment with an ENT. He failed his hearing test in both ears and had a  noticeable amount of fluid, therefore the ENT did recommend tubes. We went ahead and had this done in March of 2016. (He has since passed his hearing test twice.) Poor guy- the ENT said we probably sounded like we were under water. All I can imagine are the way the adults sound in "Charlie Brown." No wonder, he had a speech delay! We also began speech at Bliss Speech in North Dallas.

Fast forward to now. He has been in speech at Bliss for about a year now. He also just began at the Callier Center at UTD. We have been VERY impressed with Callier and I am on the wait list to add an additional session there. We are also wait listed for a class called "Talking Toddlers." This class focuses on kiddos ages 2-3 who have an expressive speech delay. It only has 4 toddlers and each toddler has group goals as well as individual goals. Unfortunately, we are still wait listed for this class, but hope to get into the summer session. Luke is making a lot of progress, he is started to "talk" a lot more, speaking in sentences of 5-6 words. However, they are difficult to understand as he often leaves off the ends of words. His therapists are focusing on completing words and articulation in order to make his language more clear. We are excited that he will be in preschool next year, because I think he will benefit from a classroom experience as well.

Luke just started gymnastics a few weeks ago and LOVES it. His first day, he cried when it was over. His class warms up with Emma's, but then separates and he does great. (The same child who doesn't like to go to Target because he is worried I'll leave him. Serious separation anxiety.)

Luke also started swim lessons a few weeks ago and he cried the first 3-4 lessons, but today he did GREAT. He was all smiles and laughed the entire time. He has the same teacher who taught Emma to swim at Emler. Again, we LOVE Emler. Can't say enough good things. We also love Ms. Sara. If you go to the Plano location, request her.

Luke loves the color blue. He loves trains, cars, planes… any vehicle really. He is very sensitive and kind. He always thinks of others and will often bring me a blanket if he thinks I'm cold, or Harvey a  burp cloth if he spits up. I don't think he has ever gotten a snack without getting two to give one to Emma. I'm starting to think no matter how much we try to teach kindness, some of it has to be innate. He is still my "squishy," and I love his cuddles. I hope he cuddles me forever. Like when he's 18, he better still cuddle me. (Cue the tears.) Okay, let me find some recent pictures of Luke!  I can't for the life of me figure out how to change the order of these so I apologize that they aren't in order… sigh.

Luke got a balance bike in the spring of 2016 and loves it! 

Luke and baby Harvey

More of Luke and Harvey

Rosemary Beach 2016

Rosemary Beach 2016

Announcing baby #3!

XOXO,

Lexi

Catching up...

I decided that I really wanted to start blogging again for several reasons. I want to keep family and friends updated on our family's latest and greatest, as well as have a virtual scrapbook to look back on one day. I hope this way, I can maybe remember some of Harvey's milestones because let's be honest, I'm basically a walking zombie these days and I have a bad feeling that in a year or two I will look back on this time and just see fog. The last time I blogged, Emma was just over a year and I was pregnant with Luke. A LOT has happened, I don't even know where to start! I debated on trying to get everything updated on this blog, and trying to make it look pretty before sharing, but if I do that, you may never see it so I am going to start by posting an update on each kiddo one by one.

Let's start with Miss Sassy Pants  Emma Grace. (She has recently decided she would prefer to go by Emma Grace for the record.) She is officially 4.5 and is already planning her 5th birthday party. (Doc McStuffins swim party at the club.) I am hoping that I can convince her to change the theme because… Doc McStuffins? Sigh. She is in her second year of preschool at Spanish Schoolhouse and goes 3 days a week. We have been very impressed with the teachers, curriculum, program as a whole, etc. However, after much discussion and a lot of prayer, we have decided to put her in an English speaking preschool next year for a transition kinder year. She will be attending St. Andrew UMC preschool in Plano. I toured it for Luke a month or two ago and fell in love. She will be going 5 days a week and will be in a pre- k5 class specifically for children with summer birthdays who need an "extra" year before beginning kindergarten. The plan is that she will go on to start kinder in public school the following year. However, due to the fact that Kinder isn't required in the state of Texas, if we decided to go ahead and send her to first grade the following year we could (most likely we won't, but it is a possibility.)

Emma is in her second year of ballet at The Texas Ballet Theatre School in Richardson. As much as she loves to dance, she isn't super into it. I think this will be her last year, unless she requests to resume at some point.

Emma is in her first year of gymnastics at Woga in Plano. She LOVES gymnastics. I'm pretty sure she would go every day if she were given the chance. We have had a wonderful experience at Woga, I highly recommend for anyone looking for a gym! (Side note: Luke just started too and after his first class, he cried because it was over! Ha!)

She is also about to do a small fry soccer league through the YMCA. I had to convince her that girls do indeed play soccer too (shout out to Aunt JoJo for inspiration here.) It is a 6 week program where they have 3 practices and 3 games (I believe- I'll let you know more on that later.) She starts at the beginning of March.

She is counting down the days until summer because she is DYING to try out for the swim team. Is that a thing? What is the age for that?! Haha! Last year I was told if they turned 5 over the summer, that they would be allowed to try out. I haven't decided how I feel about this one yet. What time are practices? How often? Because I'm tired just thinking about getting 3 kids to the pool. Brian would love for her to do this though, since he was a swimmer as a child. We were impressed with her swimming ability last summer. Thanks to Emler, she was swimming all over the pool, even going off the big slide and diving board into the deep end without her puddle jumper… Emler is worth every penny, no question.

Let's see what else can I say about Emma. Her favorite colors are purple and pink. (Purple has officially taken the lead over pink.) She sings and dances all day, every day (anybody else feel like they live in a musical?) She will pretty much watch any show, but has managed to watch the movie Trolls about 6 times since Valentine's day so I think that is a recent favorite. Her favorite food is macaroni and cheese. Her favorite restaurant is "The Pig Place" aka Ten 50 bbq (they have a pig out front if you have never noticed.) She wants to be a "painter" when she grows up. She loves to be read to, and has too many favorite books to list. Her daddy recently taught her the Lord's prayer so that's pretty neat to hear her recite. I cannot believe that she will be 5 this year. Where has the time gone? I am so grateful every day that God gave me this sweet and sassy angel. Now I'm tearing up… okay, let's find some photos.

Emma's dance recital
Spring 2016

Valentine's Day 2016

Rosemary Beach 2016

Rosemary Beach 2016

First Day of School 2016

Emma and Harvey

Christmas 2016

 Whew! That was a lot of Emma Grace! I think I'm caught up on her. For now…

XOXO,
Lexi