Treasures

Today Ella Jo has had an off day. I think her tummy has really been hurting and of course we have been on the road to swim lessons and a friends house. We are finally home and she has eaten and fallen asleep. I very rarely just sit and hold this little girl unless she is nursing but today I thought she needed it. I love every moment with my little girl and am so thankful to be home and able to enjoy this time with her. I think we are both in our happy place!

Treasuring these sweet moments.

Singing Cowboys & Firefighters

The boys as much as the fight non-stop, they do play so well together. This week we have singing cowboys and firefighters. Gaines has turned his room into a fire station. I just shut their doors because they have pulled out so much "necessary" stuff for their adventures.

Tough firefighters

Look out fires...

Our next door neighbor, Mr. Barry, plays his guitar on his back patio every evening so the boys insisted on playing their guitars outside to watch the "beautiful sunset" as Gaines says. These two are a mess!

Pickin' and a grinnin'

Will is 4!

Happy 4th Birthday Will Odom!

You have grown up in a blink of an eye. I cannot fathom that you will start Pre-K in august. 

At 4, YOU

• Weigh: 43.8 lbs (93%)
• Height: 41.5 in (75%)
• 20/20 vision
• Love, love,love sports
• Just finished your second soccer season and scored almost every game.
• Are the best playmate. 
• Are very protective of your siblings and your little girlfriends at school.
• Mimic everything your daddy does or teaches you.
• Are a pretty good helper.
• Are still as intense as ever.
• Are cautious and a little timid with a few things animals especially dogs, riding your bike, parts of swimming, and still will not go near mascots, Santa, etc.
• Love school.
• Know most of your letters and numbers.
• Are starting to draw real things.
• Cannot go by your brother without hitting, pushing, or at least touching him.
• Have the best grin.
• Want to be as big as your bro so bad.
• We love you so much William Garrick Odom.

Will Odom from birth to a 4 year old.

Will's Official Birthday

Will woke up to his 4th birthday with balloons, a new shirt, and breakfast delivery from Panera Bread. We had a very busy day celebrating. Strawberry Patch with our church friends, swim lessons, and Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner. Turning 4 is not too bad!

Birthday Breakfast

Celebrating at the Strawberry Patch

Our buddies Luke and Lydia Blevins

Our church play group

Swim lessons

Luke and Will
These boys are getting so big and still pick up and play like brothers

Ella Jo gave Will his gift.

Wrestling and baseball cards and a football. What more can a boy want.

Will is 4!

Sports Fan

Will said the best part of his birthday was his brother playing football with him and these pictures are awesome and pretty much sum of his personality.

Will

Catch me if you can

Love!

Cul-de-sac Crew

We love everything about our new house but I think my favorite part is having awesome neighbors in our little cul-de-sac. Tonight the boys were running back and forth between houses swimming and playing with their water guns. I just keep imagining this crew as teenagers! I hope that we are all here that long.

Will and Clara cruising

Will and Charlotte at Preschool graduation program.

Strawberry Picking after school with Cowles Gals

School Days

Spring Days on the walking trail

Will and Charlotte

Clara and Will
Where is Gaines? Probably sitting with Ms. Amy...

Gaines and Clara
Spring 2014

6 weeks old

Ella Jo,

You have grown so much in the past two weeks. You have such a precious personality all bright eyed and smiling. 

At 6 weeks, YOU

• Weigh 11lbs 4oz which is about 1.5oz a day since your last weigh in!
• Sleep from around 10pm to 3,4, or even 5am. Your mommy is very thankful for that but also worried you were not gaining enough sleeping this long but you are! You may just be an Odom after all!
• Have opened up your little hands and arms.
• Love your activity mat and are mesmerized by the singing star.
• Had your first "sick" visit with Dr. Mukundan for a rash all over your body and reflux. The doc comes in and looks at the red rash from head to toe and says, "what rash?" Come to find out you just have sensitive skin that as the day goes on flames up to treat with lotion 2x a day. 
• Have major tummy issues. Truly the only time you fuss is when you need to spit up or poop and it hurts you so bad trapped in there. If you are in the car seat longer than 15minutes you will spit up everywhere almost as soon as you come out of the seat. The doc have you some meds to help but you do not like it! 
• Are strong and love to arch your back and hold your sweet little head up. 
• Are still uncertain about baths. This is probably because your mom baths you maybe once a week and it is still so new to you. You don't cry, you just have this look on your face the entire time like what is she doing?!?
• Sleep really well with the fan in the bathroom running probably because it muffles the sounds of your big brothers.
• Are constantly toted around everywhere. I think you are the only 6 week old that has been to the strawberry patch twice!
• Are so very loved!

Ella Jo is 6 weeks old!
So long!

One of my favorite pics of this sweet little girl.

Not use to baths since Mommy does not like to do them!

Never have I ever had a child that fell asleep on the mat!

Loves her mommy so much.

I still think she favors Gaines more but it all depends on the day.

Chilling with my brothers

Worship Without Walls

This year was the first year we really got the boys involved with our church's Worship Without Walls day. They had the opportunity to go sing at the Assisted Living home with their Songbirds group. Will has learned the songs and is so close to 4- I broke the rules and signed him up anyways. I was so proud of him! He did such a great job!!!

Worship Without Walls

Add caption

Our Offer Group representing

So proud of my big boy Will

One Month Old

Ella Jo,

Today you are one month old! The time is flying by but I am enjoying every moment cuddling with you. 

At one month:

• Weigh 9lbs 11ounces and finally gaining consistent weight with nursing exclusively.
• Nurse on both sides 7-9 times a day
• Sleep anywhere from 4-6 hour stretches at night but seem to wake around 3am no matter what time we put you down.
• Sleep in the travel lite pack-n-play swaddled because we got paranoid with you sleeping in the rock-n-sleep thing. 
• Are changed by Daddy in the middle of the night and then Mommy feeds you.
• Your eyes seem to be changing from that dark newborn blue to shades of gray.
• Have dark hair, way darker than your big brothers.
• Really only seem to cry when your tummy hurts and it all seems to be better once you spit up, toot, or poop.
• Will cuddle and be held by anyone
• Seem to spit up after every feeding and every time you are in the car seat. Mommy is hoping reflux is not in your future.
• Take the paci ok.
• Have very dry skin right now.
• Seem to have rather large feet like you Nonni!
• Already smile and have such personality!
• Have already been to your first baseball and soccer games in the Baby Ergo carrier and seemed pretty content.
• Do not seemed too bothered by noise hence having your big bros around.
• Are loved on all day long by Will who cannot keep his hands off of you. Gaines loves you too but he is busy doing other things as well:).

Ella Jo Odom, you are amazing!!!

9 pounds 11 ounces

So many expressions already!

Ella Jo is 1 Month!

First stroll 

Celebrating daddy's 35th birthday with our new family of 5

My new norm and what is not pictured is 5 minutes before I was nursing Ella Jo with these monkeys on top of me.

Ella Jo meeting her third cousin Debby (Nanny's side) and Don.

Poor baby girl has already been to baseball games.

Soccer and baseball all in one day.

Sweet pea