Happy Birthday to Jesus

It's really not about the stuff. It's about the birth of a Savior, our Savior. Here's Jack and Jo, singing happy birthday to Jesus.

Crazy "FOUR" Katherine Joy

What a month for Kate......
She continues to amaze us with her outgoing personality and love of people. If you have read the book about the four personality types, then you know she is a true sanguine. She is happiest when someone is talking to her, holding her and paying total attention to her. She is so interactive - talking, laughing, and aware of everything going on. Now, just because she is a people person doesn't mean she is always happy....no, she can turn on the tears in a heartbeat. But, we have loved seeing her live up to her middle name "Joy." Yes, she is a true joy to us.
We have taken her off Prevacid as she seems to be pain-free. Praise the Lord! This month saw her being able to sleep flat on her back. If you have had a baby with acid reflux, you know what a big deal this is. Up until now she has been sleeping on an inclined crib mattress, in the swing or bouncy seat. She is now sleeping great - still swaddled - flat on her back in her crib. Another praise!
She still likes her pacifier, swaddle blanket, music, and being rocked. She grabbed a toy for the first time this month and likes it when she remembers how to put her hands in her mouth. We call her Kate, sweetie Kate, cutie Kate, Katie-girl, Katie-bug, and sister. We are surely crazy about this girl!
Kate is an active, high-maintenance, happy, and cuddly 4-month old. She is our best Christmas gift this year and we look forward to sharing our "Joy" with our families over the holiday.

Dear Evelyn,
Welcome to the world, sweet Evy Lou.
We thank God for your birth and life.
You are so beautiful and perfect!
You are extra special to me because your Dad is my little brother, and your mom is my best friend.
Know that you are loved, and that we will be praying for you as you grow.
Happy birthday to our niece and cousin.
We love you,
Aunt Cara and co.

Wonderfully Made

"God made me,
God made me,
Head, shoulders, knees and toes.
I am wonderfully made,
Thank you, God."
Music is such a part of our days, and this Mainly Music song has been on my mind and heart the past few weeks. I was reminded of it too, when Jack's recent memory verse at Awanas was "I am wonderfully made." Psalm 139:14
It is no coincidence that God has been speaking this verse to me. He must have known that we would need this reminder as we saw our little boy lay in a hospital bed for 24 hours, bleed uncontrollably, and undergo testing. He must have known that we would need this reminder when we received the diagnosis that our son is, and will always be, hemophilic.
Jack is wonderfully made, and we thank God for this boy. He is clever, musical, kind, generous, a perfectionist, and athletic. God knows him and has entrusted him to our care. He will not leave us alone as we learn to manage his protein "factor 8" deficiency. I am sad, but that doesn't change what God made him to be. I wish it were me instead of him, but still GOD KNOWS HIM AND MADE HIM WONDERFULLY. Thank you, God, for your wonderful piece of work, Jack Davis.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at the LHIGP.
The season is going to be fun with three little ones. We are reading all of our Christmas books, working on our Advent tree each evening, and enjoying the fun decorations. Every morning when Jack comes downstairs, he comments on the beautiful tree! Thanks to the Eubanks for sharing one of their old ones with us this year. We look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus, and we wish you a merry Christmas from our home to yours.

Hip Hip Hooray

We still love going to music class every Wednesday. The kids get so excited to see their friends, dance, and sing along to the great songs.
Jack is still our musical man but Josie is breaking out of her shell more and more. Our favorite song at Mainly Music is "Hippopotamus." It talks about all the things God made from the moon and stars, to you and me. The gist of the song is that everything was made to praise and adore Him, and some things he made just for fun, like the hippopotamus. As soon as the music starts for this song, Jack gets excited and says "Mom, it's our favorite!"
Here's Josie, dancing like a hippo this week at class.

Thankful for our 3-Month Old

When we thanked God on Thanksgiving for our many blessings, our Katherine Joy was at the top of the list. We love her so much, and are a more complete family with her. This month saw her really interacting with coos and smiles, and following us with her blue-gray eyes. We thank God for making her more comfortable. She doesn't even need the medicine every day. We hope she will continue to need it less and less. The highlight of her month was taking her first flight with me to see Unc, Kat, and cousin Clay in DC. She was a joy to be around, and especially loved sleeping on me during the 3-hour flight. She visited the farm a few more times - one with her BFF Avery Mainz. The two didn't notice each other much, but they will soon! Every once in a while, Kate will find her thumb, but she still likes the pacifier and swaddle blanket to help soothe her to sleep. She is a Mama's girl, and even spent one day at Sonshine Club with me. She sat in her bouncy seat, slept in the swing, and smiled at all of my students from the comfort of her Baby Bjorn! She continues to be very sensitive to her environment, and does well on a schedule. Her fluffy dark hair still cracks me up and won't hold a bow no matter how much I try. She found her hair this month and likes to rub and pull it - hilarious. Besides a stuffy nose, the Lord has protected her from illness. She nurses great and sleeps at least 9, sometimes more, hours at night! I look forward to seeing her big smile each morning and getting to know her more each day. Thank you, God, for giving us three months with our Kate.

Big Brother

Jack is a natural big brother. He is a leader, yet gentle and sweet.
It's obvious he loves his sisters, but no one else can aggravate him like Josie either. Right now he has nothing but love for Kate, and always talks to her in his high baby voice. She lights up when he's around. My mom and I were talking about how fun Jack is right now....especially when he's "with no sisters." He was able to spend a few days at the farm all by himself, and I think all three had a great time. It was quality time for him - building with his new Legos, roaming the farm with Doc, going to the Clifton Cub football game, helping in the garden with "gar-yick," (garlic) and eating all his favorite foods.
Here are some things we have heard big brother Jack say about his little sisters this week.
"Kate really likes to cry."
"Josie is really messy, remember that?"
"Josie is just whining for some reason."
"Kate is just smiling at me, Mom."
I loved having a big brother, and I think Josie and Kate have a great one too!

A Pirate, a Princess, and a Peanut

Happy fall from LHIGP.
We are enjoying our days at home - runny noses and all.
Not much to report this week. The cooler weather has made for fun days...playing in our backyard, going on more stroller walks, and grilling hamburgers (Jack's fave!) and hot dogs. Here is our pirate and his princess, as well as our little peanut who is growing fast and becoming a little person with a big personality.

Week of Firsts

With my mom here for a visit, I decided to have some one-on-one time with my kids this week. I loved it, they loved it, and here's a few photos to document the special time.



Monday was Josie's day with Mom. I took her to get her first haircut - a cute little bob - at Cool Cuts for Kids. She is usually very shy and slow to warm up to new situations but was extremely outgoing at this place....maybe it had something to do with all the balloons, toys, cars to sit in, and Dora movies to watch! She actually cried when it was time to get out of the car. She sat so still, and I was very proud of my big girl. We then went shopping at the mall, ate Chick-Fil-A at the food court, and bought her some new church shoes. It was a fun, girly day!




Tuesday was Jack's day. We have been reading this Dora book called "Show Me Your Smile." It is all about going to the dentist, so he has been asking when he could go to the dentist for the first time. We have been talking about Tuesday being the big day, so he was ready! He did great - sat still, opened wide, and was brave. His teeth were x-rayed, cleaned, and flossed. His choice for lunch was "Okie Donalds," where Will met us for lunch. We had a fun time with our eldest, and couldn't remember the last time we were just with him.....life has really sped up since then! He kept saying, "there's no sisters here!" I then took him to Kohl's and bought him some new church shoes as well. I was surprised that he was a size 9! I am so proud of my big boy.




Today was Kate's day with Mom. It is my last Thursday at home since I start teaching next Thursday at Sonshine Club. Little Kate will be with my mom on Thursdays in November and December. She is doing great at taking bottles that I have pumped so I am not anxious. I look forward to being at church with Will, Jack and Jo. Kate and I drove to Dallas for both of our 2-month dr. visits and both went well. She is growing so fast and received a good report from Dr. Halsell. She had lots of smiles for me today, until the 5 vaccinations came. Ouch! She is still cranky as I write....poor little girl.

All in all, a good week at the LHIGP. Thanks for checking in on us.

2 for #3

Sister Kate has been with us for two months!
This month saw her learning to coo, smile, and hold up her head very well.
She also had a few firsts: first church outing (today!) first babysitter, first music class, first trip to the farm, and first laugh.
I love this little girl. Yes, she is still high maintenance but I just can't get enough of her fluffy dark hair, half-smiles, and kicking legs. She is consistently sleeping through the night and taking great naps, but is still uncomfortable with her heartburn. We are thankful for the meds (and an awesome swing!)which seem to be helping and leading to more happy wake times.
I look forward to taking her to the doctor this week to get her stats. She is still very petite, but growing well. She's my little bundle...my sidekick, my baby, my girl. Here she is with the birthday bear today after church. She slept almost all the way through her Daddy's sermon!

Eat, Burp, Repeat

Josie is learning the schedule of a newborn quickly. She has become a little mother to her babies and mimics my every move. I found her today on the couch with Kate's boppy pillow and she followed the steps perfectly - feed the baby, burp the baby, repeat. The first time she gave her baby, whom she also calls "Kate," a bottle. Then she burped the baby over her shoulder. After burping and saying "sshhh," she decided to lift her shirt and nurse her baby on her tummy! Looks like someone is paying attention. She is going to be a great mommy someday.

BFF

Jack + Josie = Best Friends Forever

Conversations

Jack and I have great conversations, and I love it. There was a time when I thought, "when is he going to talk?" And now, there are times when I think he might not ever stop. I look forward to Saturday nights with Jack. This is when we talk about important things - the most important thing - Jesus. I put Josie and Kate to bed, and we do his Awana lesson together. They are learning about creation, and were on the fourth day this week. We talked about the sun, moon, and stars, and how God is the creator of all light. We went on a scavenger hunt to find different kinds of light. At the end of the lesson, we did a review, which is my favorite part, because it is amazing how much he absorbs and really "gets." I asked him what God created on each day, and he was able to tell me! Then he paused at the end and said, "Mom, God made the Bible too. It's His words. We put the Bible in our hands, take it to church and read it." It's moments like these that I just want to pause and say - "thank you, God, for this child that you have wonderfully made....and may he always follow you with the innocence of a child."

Gracias, Dora

The following took place at lunch yesterday.
Jack: Mom, we're playing rocket ship with our water bottles.
Mom: Cool, 3-2-1, blastoff!
Jack: Up, up, they go!
Josie: Arriba, arriba!
Mom: What are you saying, JoJo?
Jack: Mom, she's saying "arriba" like Dora. That means up.
Mom: (who has a minor in Spanish) Oh. Arriba, arriba!

This is the Way I.....

1. ....dress up like a pirate. Jack is really into pirates, finding hidden treasures, playing on his pirate ship (playset) and climbing his pirate ladder. For weeks he asked us every night for an eye patch. His dad gave in to his request. Now he wants to wear the whole get-up everywhere we go. Tonight is crazy hat night at Awanas so he is excited to show it off!

2. ....make a mess. Josie continues to be our messy girl. It drives me crazy but I love her for it too! She basically needs a full bath after each meal. Her brother often comments during meals, "Look at her, mommy. She is so messy." He is the exact opposite and likes to have a napkin or wipe by his plate. JoJo has taught us that the best way to eat popsicles and ice cream is in the bathtub. This photo was taken post ice cream sandwich. Proof enough?


3. ....coo and sleep. Miss Kate is growing up - 7 weeks tomorrow. We are still praying for comfort for her and her doctor has doubled her meds to help with the pain. She had some very good days this past week, with smiles and even a laugh! I can't complain about her sleeping. I swaddle her and she sleeps upright in her swing or vibrating seat. She nurses every 3 hours during the day, stays awake for an hour, then sleeps for 2 hours until the next feeding. At night she is really stretching out her sleeps, and has even slept through the night a few times. Most nights she is still waking between 3-4 for a feeding but goes right back to sleep. Jack and Jo love this girl despite her crying! They love to mimic me and take care of their own babies. Today we noticed that Josie was trying to nurse her baby doll!

Life is good at the LHIGP. We thank God for these three blessings that keep our lives interesting, trying at times, sweet, and fun.

My Trip to San Antonio by Jack Davis

Hey…Jack here. So this is what a blog is! That typing class I am taking at Mother’s Day Out School is really paying off. Anywho…I wanted to tell you guys about my trip last weekend with my dad.

I discovered my San Antonio roots while staying at my Uncle Sam and Aunt Shannon’s new house. It was great being able to catch up with my cousin Connor and play on his new playset. Jack enjoyed seeing his Mimi for a little while before she had to drive Aunt Tynan back to New York City. Aunt Shannon had a trip to Sudan so it ended up being a crazy guys’ weekend.

On Friday we spent the morning at the San Antonio Botanical Garden where they were having a fun exhibit (Dora and Diego’s Garden Adventure). You have to find different clues in different parts of the garden by following The Map. I couldn’t find my friend Tico though.

We then went to the oldest amusement park in America, Kiddie Park. It was founded in 1925 and we had a blast riding the boats, the planes, the bus, and up in the ferris wheel. My mom probably would have used a box of wipes per ride…some of them looked kinda old. My dad said he used to go there when he was a kid but he remembers it being bigger. Uncle Sam and dad decided to ride the last ride with us (the helicopters) and we were great afterwards but they were both looking a little squeamish. Yes, I learned “squeamish” today at school.


On Saturday we spent the day at Sea World and it was incredible. We first fed the dolphins. I won’t lie…I was a little nervous when those guys opened their mouths right next to me. We then saw the Clydesdale horses and the sharks. After that, we went to the sea lion and walrus show which was pretty amusing. But that was just a little warm-up show for my favorite one…SHAMU! It was so cool to see this huge beast do all of his flips and tricks and splash people. And after the show, we got to back stage to see our friend Leslie who is one of Shamu’s trainers. I got to sit on the side of the pool and pet one of his big pectoral fins. I wanted to reach out and hug that 9,000-pound killer whale but the trainers were holding on to me pretty tight. Thanks Leslie for that fun treat!
We were getting pretty hungry and tired at that point…so we got some chicken fingers, waved at a few penguins, and then hit the road. We all took a hard nap and then went shopping for some Spurs paraphernalia.
We got up on Sunday and drove to Mam and Doc’s farm in Clifton to pick up the girls. Dad and I really missed them so it was great to be together again.
Thanks so much Uncle Sam and Connor for hosting us. It was a trip to remember! And thanks Mom for handing over the reins on your blog for a little while.

A "Berry" Good Party

We celebrated Josie's 2nd birthday with a strawberry party and picnic in our backyard. It was a good time with friends, family, food, and lots of backyard fun. Josie wasn't her usual playful self due to a strange night of restlessness but she was still sweet and loved swinging, eating strawberry cupcakes, and opening gifts. She received some fun art supplies, a soccer ball, (she is really into kicking these days) some cute clothes, some books, the awesome playset from Doc and Mam, and a purse/makeup set. She invited her friends Mia Brimberry, Kiris Blue, Hannah Darjean, and Rachel (Ray-Ray) Starr. She was looking cute in her strawberry outfit and was so proud of her "berry bow." Thanks to everyone for coming and celebrating our little girl.

One Month Old

Kate Davis
1 month old
Likes: swaddle blanket, pacifier, swing, vibrating seat, riding in the car, being rocked and sung to, eating, crying, her brother's voice, sleeping on Mom in the baby Bjorn
Dislikes: tummy aches, being tired, acid reflux, being alone, sleeping in her bed, having a wet or dirty diaper
Can't believe a month has flown by with our Kate. She fits perfectly into our family and is deeply loved and treasured by each member. We look forward to seeing what this month has in store for her. She is growing and eating well. She still cries quite a bit but is also having more content times. She loves Jack's voice (and dance moves) but hasn't grown to love being smothered by Josie. Her longest stretch of sleep is 4 hours from about 11pm - 3am, but she usually goes right back to sleep until 7 am.
Happy 1 month, Kate. We love you.

Team Davis

Jack is really into team sports lately. Maybe it has something to do with his recent start of the Awana program at GPBC, or maybe it's a way he can bond with his Dad, or maybe the competitive spirit is just in his blood. Whatever it is, it has been fun to watch him play basketball, football, and baseball in our new backyard. Did I mention that our backyard alone is worth the move so far?
As soon as Will gets home each day, Jack wants to put on his "team shirt" - a jersey of some sort. Then he tells Will which sport they will be playing....if it's baseball, then he hits a homerun every time and runs the "bases." If it's basketball, he really has an amazing hook shot that makes this baller proud. And if it's football, then he wants to practice "handoffs" with Dad. Josie tries to get in on the action by running around aimlessly, but I know that, in no time, she will be able to compete with her big bro. Here is two-fifths of Team Davis in action.

Is That a Smile?

Thanks for the prayers for little Kate. As each day passes and we continue the meds, she seems a little more content after eating. I am seeing more smiles and happy waketimes. We thank God for the work He is doing on her little body already.
For the next two months, she and I will be home alone on Thursdays while Jack and Jo are at school. Although I miss J/J, the house is so quiet and I was even able to journal, clean and scrapbook a little today!
Here is Katie Joy at almost 4 weeks. I know I am biased, but what a cutie.

"I Birthday! I Two!"

These were the first words we heard this morning from Jack and Josie's room. We have been talking to Josie about her upcoming birthday, and she was so excited about her big day. It was fun to celebrate her birth today with presents, song, special meals and treats, and going to music class. We look forward to celebrating again soon for her picnic party.
We can't imagine our family without Jo. Will and I agree that she has brought so much sweetness, fun, and pure joy to our lives. She continues to be our cuddle bug, our playmate, and a friend to everyone around her....young and old alike!
Happy 2nd birthday to our Josephine Marie. We love you dearly and hope you will always greet the morning with such excitement and delight. It's been a great two years with you, girl.

Like Father, Like Son

I love these handsome fellas!

Our Bundle of (Katherine) Joy

Looks like our little sweetie is now 3 weeks old.
Kate, we're so glad you are in this family. You fit perfectly into the chaos and are Jack and Josie's new favorite person.
Here's a few photos of our beauty. She still has "the hair," dark blue-grey eyes, and perfectly pink skin. Dr. Halsell commented that she looked "perfect" at her 2-week appointment. I have to admit that these first 3 weeks have been less than perfect as she was diagnosed with acid reflux. Right now she is basically sleeping or screaming! We hope and pray that Prevacid (an antacid) will help make her more comfortable. We do love our bundle of joy, but look forward to the day when her waketime includes more than just crying in pain. Happy 3 weeks Katie-girl. We love you.

On Going Back to School

Dear Jack and Josie,

I write on your first day of school. You are both attending Sonshine Club this year on Thursdays at GPBC. We have been preparing you for this day by talking about school, your friends, your teachers, practicing taking naps on your nap mats, and getting you, Jack, potty-trained for preschool. I want you to know that I am so proud of both of you. Really, my heart swelled with pride as we got dressed, ate breakfast, and loaded backpacks and lunches this morning.
Your Dad and I always loved going to school, and pray that you will have positive experiences as you learn about the world around you. We commit to praying for your school experience - for compassionate and skilled teachers, for encouraging peers, and for wisdom and knowledge for you both. As parents, it is difficult to let go and watch you become independent, but we trust God to be in control of your learning and social interactions.
I will be joining you in a few months at Sonshine Club as I teach one of the older classes. I look forward to being just a few doors away from you both! I was so excited to pick you up today and was encouraged by good reports. I hope going back to school will always be this exciting for you!
Love,
Mom, or Mommieeee (per JoJo)

Jack Davis
Pre K - 2
Mrs. Jamie
First day report: "Jack bragged about new sister Kate. He had a good day and stayed dry and clean. We studied letters A-E, the color red, and found all the circles in the room! Jack knows his opposites - stop/go, up/down, and fast/slow. From the Bible we talked about how God wants us to be healthy and obedient. Jack did great today but didn't take a nap."

Josie Davis
(there is another Josephine in her class who goes by "JoJo," so all of her things say "Josie")
Pre K-1
Mrs. Tammie
First day report: "Josie did really well today. She ate most of her lunch and took a great nap. She enjoyed singing the gingerbread man song and talking about how our bodies are a temple of God so we need to take care of them with healthy food. 1 Corinthians 3:16 We learned the color red and drew circles. The only incident was when Josie tried to take Mia's blankie at naptime. She really loves her blankie!"
My report: When I picked up Josie, she was so happy to see me....ran to me, hugged me and said "Mommieee, I school!" I think she felt so big and proud. She looked adorable in her purple (her new fave color) dress, mosquito bites and all.