Introducing...

Audrey Lane Echols

 January 11, 2012

7:23 am

6 lbs, 2 oz  17.5 inches

and

Landry Cate Echols

January 11, 2012

7:24 am

6 lbs, 2 oz  17.5 inches

Happy Birthday to my Big Bug...

Wow, Lila Bug, how time flies.  You are already a "big" 4 year old.  You have grown up so much in the past year.  The thing I notice on a daily basis is your vocabulary.  In the past week, you have used the term "overly sensitive", and the words "awkward", and "literally".  You tell elaborate stories which take many strange turns, and have quite the imagination.  We play restaurant daily, and you pretend to be a dog very often.  You insist on picking out your own clothes, which causes some problems sometimes, mainly because you want to wear the same pair of "skinny jeans" everyday.  Also, you don't really watch a whole lot of TV, but you love commercials, which I find a little quirky.   You have become quite a little Longhorn fan, and love a good trip to the Co-op.  You are stubborn and sassy, but can be very gentle and I think it is so neat that every night you pray for people and you say why we are praying for them.  Still you are not a great eater or sleeper, and I have accepted that neither one of these may change.  We love you very much and are very proud of you.

The Big #4

Saturday was Lila's 4th Birthday.  This was the first birthday that she understood the meaning of, and she milked it for all it was worth.  When you are 4, it is a big deal to celebrate at school, and have treat bags.  So, Thursday we went to the party store and painstakingly picked out some candy and treats for the party bags.  When we came home, she made them all by herself

On Friday she wanted to take fruit and cheese to school for afternoon snack (and special birthday plates and napkins, of course!)

Apparently, when you are 4, it is not cool to have your Mom take pictures of you

passing out the all important treat bags

On Saturday, she woke up and immediately wanted to open gifts

We ran a couple errands on Saturday morning, and she happily told anyone that would listen "it's my birthday, I'm four"

We went to Phil's Ice House for lunch with the Eatons and Natalie

Saturday afternoon, Lila went to our neighbors' where she and Robin made cake pops

and Saturday evening Charli and Michelle came over to visit a while

Saturday night, Lila was exhausted.  She had a very big day, and felt very special.  Thank you to everyone for all the cards and text messages.  She loved opening all her mail, and has her cards proudly displayed in her room...

...and if that wasn't enough, on Sunday we met Gran and Toby at Pappasito's 

She wasn't a fan of the big sombrero or being sung to, but she has never been one to turn down cake.

From the Mouths of Babes...

Lila:  When the babies come out, there's going to be a lot of cryin' and whinin' around here
Me:  Really?
Lila: Yes
Me:  By whom?
Lila:  Um...I think...Daddy

Christmas 2011

This year, we got to be home for all of Christmas.  It was so relaxing.  Christmas Eve, Natalie and J. Gard came over for a while.

They brought Lila this robe, which has turned out to be one of the best, most used gifts ever...who knew?  She wears it all the time.

Christmas Eve night we went over to the Burleson's.  Their house is absolutely beautiful at the Holidays; I don't even try to compete.

Christmas morning when we woke up, we discovered Santa had been to our house

 He left some treats in our stockings...

 and a guitar and microphone!!!

After we had opened gifts, I went to take a bath.   Lila comes in, sets up, and announces "Momma, I am going to sing to you".  It was so cute (but, not very relaxing)

On New Year's Eve, Nana and Papa came over and brought more presents.

 Lila opened these Legos and yelled, "I new I would get these one day"

The Wedding

This past weekend was my sister's wedding.  It was questionable for a while if I would get to be there or not.  This caused me so much stress, numerous sleepless nights, and millions of tears.  Last Thursday my doctor gave me his blessing to go.  It was like a billion pounds were lifted from my shoulders.  Even though I knew my priority was to take care of these babies, I couldn't imagine missing such an important day in her life.  

The day went flawlessly and my sister was so beautiful and way more relaxed than I was on my wedding day.

It was really nice for me to visit with my family and friends.  I owe a huge "thank you" to Cindy, my mother-in-law, who went with me on Saturday, and to my best friend, Jennifer, who was going to come stay with me for the weekend when we thought I wasn't going to get to go.  And, of course, to Shawn who has been a great Mr. Mom. 

Thanksgiving 2011

It was just the three of us for Thanksgiving this year, and it was so relaxing.  Lila and I watched a lot of Thanksgiving Day parades, and Shawn prepared a ridiculous amount of food.  

Lila was really into setting the table for "a family dinner".   I found it really funny because I don't normally use a tablecloth (or even have one that really fits the table); she must have picked this up at school, or Gran's or Granny G's.  She knew what to do to set the table, did it all by herself,  and took a lot of pride in it.

 

 She made the turkey at school and told me that it was the "centerpiece".  I don't know where all of this decorating wisdom came from

 We ate on my Christmas china and she thought that was really special