Firsts...

The Beckner house has been full of firsts this week!

Brynlee has been sitting up by herself this week. She still falls over to the side, back and front after a bit...but she is doing well. She sat up in the tub tonight for the first time too!

This little cutie had her first day of preschool today...AHHHH! She is going to 2 year old preschool 2 days a week! It is weird to me because Reese was 2 1/2 when she started and Hadley just turned 2...but she is ready! She did not skip a beat...she literally got out of the car so fast took Reese's hand and just walked off without even saying goodbye! And yes, like all of the past years with Reese...I cried..but she did not!
Hadley has the same teacher that Reese had for 2 year old preschool so I am really happy about that. When I picked her up she had been crying so I was upset at first...but then her teacher told me that she had fallen down and bit her lip...our little Hadley is full of bumps and bruises! She really did have a great day...I knew that she was ready when we dropped Reese off yesterday and Hadley cried for the next 10 minutes saying over and over that she wanted to go to school too!

I was trying to take a picture of Reese on her first day, yesterday, and Hadley wanted to be in it...Reese loves her little sis...Hadley loves her big sis!

Last, but not least, here is little Miss Reese. She is LOVING school. She loves her teacher and Jason and I were really excited when we met her last week. She is really sweet and totally on her game! When I picked Reese up yesterday...she got in the car and said, "I want to do school again Mommy" I said we will tomorrow, and she said, "no, now I want to do it again now!" This was her first year of being sad that certain friends were not in her class...she was sad...but now that school has started she loves her class. She goes 4 days a week from 9-1 and yesterday and today she has come home talking all about what they did and learned...I LOve IT! I feel like for me...I have had two days of getting my head screwed back on...seriously!
Oh...and in case you can not see it...her shoes are some Sketcher light up shoes...she has been asking for them since her birthday...I am afraid she may never take them off!

You know I have to do it...a look back...

Reese last year...August 2010 3 years old

Reese first day of 2 year old preschool

August 2009

The half milestone

August has been a month of milestones in the Beckner family. Hadley turned 2, Brynlee hit her 6 month mark and Reese is 4 1/2! I am behind on Reese's milestone...but as she reminds me a lot...she is 4 1/2! That is a big deal!She is right...that half of a year has been a world full of change and growing up for my little Reese! Reese really has grown up a lot...she is so much more than 4 1/2. Sometimes, I forget that she is only 4. She helps me out tons with Hadley and Brynlee and really loves playing the role of a little mommy. Since Hadley has started using the "big potty" Reese loves to take her to go potty and then tell her "Good Job Hadley...you are such a big girl", it is really sweet!

She loves doing things herself...and I really love it too! She can pretty much get anything out of the refrigerator that she needs, including getting the milk out, pouring it into her glass and putting it away without any spills! She loves to help me cook dinner and she likes to pretend we are on the cooking show Chopped...I always get chopped!Reese loves reading books...and we are starting the process of helping her read on her own! She loves to memorize books (seriously she knows sooo many) and tell me she is going to "read" them to me! She also loves to tell stories and to have stories told to her...her imagination cracks me up. She loves having time with just mommy and daddy. We have had a few date nights with her and we are going to continue that with each of them!

Reese has had quite a few play dates with friends this summer. It has been hard for Hadley when Reese leaves...but yesterday I overheard Reese telling Hadley (in response to Reese going to a friends house) "don't worry Hadley...I will be back and mommy will play with you while I'm gone...and I promise this is the last time I will leave!" I could not decide whether I should laugh or cry at that!

So, there you have it...my little peanut Reese...is growing up so fast...4 1/2 on her way to 20!

6 Months... a little late

Oooo my little Bryn is 6 months old! Brynlee still holds the place of "calm" in our house! She just takes all of the drama in and watches (I hope she is not saving up for drama of her own). This girl loves her tongue...she sticks it out and it is long...she pops it on her lips and giggles! Brynlee had her first tooth pop up on the bottom on her actual 6 month birthday (August 10th). She had been a little fussy, so we thought something was going on!

Check out the tongue Pictures tell it all...we tried giving Bryn "food" for the first time last week...did not go so well! She would have nothing to do with it! So, we tried again this week...and she likes it...I think. She still makes a horrible face, but I really just think she is getting used to the texture. Right now she has been eating squash and sweet potatoes.
Brynlee loves bath time. Normally she takes a bath by herself so she can stretch out and kick up a storm...but sometimes we throw them all in! The tub gets really small...really fast!
She has discovered her cute little face in mirrors. This is me holding her in front of a mirror...she was grinning and talking to herself! On her play mat she gravitates right to the place where the little mirror is...vanity starting early! But, I don't blame her...I would want to look at myself if I was that cute!Brynlee loves being in her "Johnny Jumper" and she laughs when Reese or Hadley get in front of her and give her a little "swing". Truth be told I was in the kitchen and heard Brynlee laughing so hard...I came around the corner to see her swinging...really swinging...Reese helping...I had to calmly let Reese know that it was not a swing...one of those moments!

Brynlee loves being held and really will just hang out with whoever has her. She just observes! At Hadley's party, Bebe held Brynlee for a long time (sorry Bebe...I think I got a little distracted) and she loved it!
Brynlee loves sitting in her Bumbo to play and in her exersaucer...greatest invention...but that things takes up sooo much space! We are working on sitting up...but as for right now the Bumbo is her "helper".

Like our other girls...she is a daddy's girl. She gets a really big grin when he starts talking to her or when he comes in the door! Brynlee is still a great sleeper...and she is starting to love books. She tries to grab the books when we read to her! We love you little Bryn...you really do make our family complete!

Hadley is 2

August 7th....Happy Birthday To Our Hadley Grace!

I can't believe that about two years ago you were this little peanutNow look at my cutie pie!

Here are some of my favorite pictures of my little Hadley! She truly is just my spot of sunshine each and every day! Hadley continues to just soak up everything she sees and hears. She talks like she is 4...not like she is 2...and she continues to baffle strangers who hear her talking so much and so well! She makes me laugh all day...she is the comedian of our family for sure! She has surprised me this past week by deciding she wanted to start going potty! So, for an entire week she has worn big girl undies all day except for nap times and of course during the night! She has done great...and so far we have only had 5 accidents in 7 days...so I am pretty excited!

It is challenging being out and about with the 3 of them...and not having her in a diaper...but the thought of not worrying about diapers for her makes me push on! So...just beware Birmingham people if you see a crazy lady with 3 little redheads making a mad dash for a public restroom!Hadley still loves to eat and she sings during most meals! She eats really well...but we still have to work with her to eat her green veggies! She is the queen of going up to anyone who has anything in their mouth to ask them "what do you have?" You can not hide anything from her!

Random but Hadley captivates every waiter at basically any Mexican restaurant! The love all of the girls...but for some reason they eat Hadley up. We will be eating and there will be 5 different waiters that come by and wave and talk to Hadley...she just grins and waves at them.She still adores her best friend Reese...they have the typical love/hate relationship. In a span of 1 minute it can go from hugs and laughing to crying and yelling...ahhh sisters!

Hadley loves being outside and she loves being in the water....she would take a bath twice a day if I would let her.

Hadley laughs all the time and normally Reese is the one making her laugh the most. She loves being tickled!

Hadley still loves her babies...she caries them everywhere. She is quite the little mother...she tucks her babies in, swaddles them, feeds them and talks so sweet to them.

Speaking of her babies...Bryn is by far her favorite. She wants to hold her all the time...and she loves to talk to Bryn and get Bryn to smile at her..."Mommy, Bryn smile at me...she said cheese!"

Little Fancy Hadley loves to dress up...she watches Reese and literally does anything and everything that big sis does.

I love being able to spend time with this little peanut. She is a mess...but she is a mess full of joy for us!

Happy Birthday my sweet Hadley... we could not ask for a sweeter little girl. Your daddy and I are so lucky to have you and we pray every day that God would help us be the parents you need....We love you!
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BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!

Someone had a birthday party...

IT WAS ME...(all week Hadley would say...guess who's having a party...ME)

Oh Yeah...and I am a ham!

We did a low key party at our house...really in the backyard. We invited a few friends and grilled out, watched the little ones swim and play...and just had fun! Aunt Ashley came a brought the girls a princess pool...which was a huge hit for the party!

Ashley and the girls

Here are the pools...Lillian was taking it all in...

The Beckner girls were a little wild...very unusual!

Pop came up to see Hadley and the girls and helped us get ready for the party...I knew he was here because while Reese was "suppose" to be taking her nap...I heard her squeal and say "Pop is here"!Random picture...but while I was taking pictures Reese wanted me to be sure to take a picture of the punch fountain...she called it! She was sooo excited about having punch (truth be told it was Crystal Light pink lemonade)

The eating area before the party started! We had the torches lit to keep away the mosquitoes...and I think it worked pretty well. I wish we had, had something to keep away the heat!
Bebe came over for the day as well to help out with the girls so we could get ready for the party...thank you Bebe! Hadley and Maggie...both with the same idea...cool off!
Shocker...look who pulled her chair right up to the table...she was ready to eat!
Ellie taking a dip in the princess pool
The cake...so cute and soooo good! I love Publix...seriously they have done all the girls cakes! And while I know I could make my own for very cheap...everyone has their things they like...and well mine is cakes...I like them to look really cute...and if I made it...well let's just say it would taste good...but that is about all!
Hadley getting ready to blow out the candles...she is normally not shy...but I think everyone singing to her and looking at her shut her down a little!

Now I said shut her down...it did not slow her down! She went after her cake!Hadley with her Aunt Memi ( Hadley's godmother) in her new outfit made by Grandma Shirla...so cute!

Opening some presents with daddy...she really loved the presents...but I guess typical 2nd child...Reese was all over ever present that Hadley opened...Hadley does not stand a chance!
A present from Grandma Shirla...a princess sleeping bag...thank goodness they can both fit in it!
We had a great time and these three were worn out! Lots of swimming, sweat and sugar will do that to you! Happy Birthday my little Hadley!