These babies could not be sweeter.  They're crazy and silly and wild and a bit stubborn, but my word they are sweet.  We had another wonderful Easter and went to Cat's house that afternoon for the now legendary front stoop picture.  Cawley was a master baby holder, as always, and the kids were actually very cooperative.  After we took pictures we hunted way too many eggs and ate an incredible beef tenderloin, salad and homemade mac and cheese.  Justin was so sweet to Hardin.  H has a serious attention to detail.  He's pick up an egg, look at it, open it, examine what was inside, maybe close it, maybe eat it, close the egg and place it his bag.  Meanwhile his cousins were running around snatching eggs up like crazy.  Jason was holding Hadley so Justin stepped in and tried to keep Hardin on track.  It was so funny to watch.  

Can't wait until our littlest bunny is running around with these big kids next year!  Pictures and the 10 minute egg hunt must have worn her out, because she pretty much slept the remainder of this year's Easter.  

 LILLIAN!

 I don't know if a boy has ever loved his cousins more than this kid.  

We are lucky the feeling seems to be mutual.  

Mimi bought Hadley this sweet little bubble at a little boutique last year when we all went to the beach. As she said, we could have never imagined it's little occupant would be as precious and sweet.

Four Months!

I can't believe this little smiley baby is four months already.  A third of her first year is over.  Wow.

She's still every bit as sweet and happy, as long as you are holding her, and she's definitely found her voice.  She loves to squeal and yell.  It's pretty impressive, honestly.  She's loud.  It's also incredibly cute.

We think she weighs about 17lbs according to our pass-the-baby-to-Jason-on-the-scale method.  We'll find out officially at her pediatrician appointment Monday.  She's strong like her brother as well.  Watch out when she gets a handful of your hair.

She loves to stand in your lap and bounce, lay on her changing table and kick, she'll tolerate the swing and the Little Einstein's play mat.  Mostly she just likes to be held and talked to.  When you sing and talk she tries her hardest to imitate you, when she's not smiling.

Last but not least, I'll elaborate on the smile.  It is nothing short of amazing.  Seriously.  If you so much as look at this baby she smiles with her entire face.  Her eyes especially.  She has the squinty McWhorter happy eyes, and I've never seen anything more beautiful.  I realize these aren't the smiliest pictures, but mama took off all morning for Hardin's Easter egg hunt at school, so I had to work a little later than expected and she was just about to fall asleep on me.

The Bunny Pictures

I'll make this story short.  These are not my favorite pictures, but I love how the photographer captured their natural expressions.    Part of it is my fault, because the photographer wanted to reschedule due to the chance of rain and cooler temps, but I couldn't because I had to work during her weekday options.  The other part is that I'm not crazy about bright color edits.  My kids were not wearing neon clothes.  I also didn't voice that, so maybe it's all my fault, next time I'll mention my preferences.

Either way, they are cute enough and worth the little bit we paid for a mini session.  Especially to hear Hardin talk about the bunnies and chicks, he loved it.  Sister Smiley on the other hand was not impressed.  The girl literally grins ear to ear if you even look at her around our house, but when we are out and about she's as serious as H was soaking it all in.

Everything else is going very well.  Although life is crazy right now, I sometimes feel like I'm holding my breath in the calm before the storm.  Like things just can't stay this good for that long.  Our careers are going well.  We are all happy and healthy.  And these two babies are very literally as good as it gets.  Throw in the fact that I honestly can't remember the last time Jason and I argued or raised our voices towards each other AND Hardin is 100% potty trained, and I need to pinch myself.  It certainly hasn't always been this way, and won't always be this way, so I'm trying to make a very conscious effort to enjoy it while it last.  Lots of blessing counting in our world right now.

Picture Day

Today was class picture day for Hardin.  I couldn't resist snapping a few of him at the house before we left.  He's become quite the little man, and I couldn't love him anymore than I do.

My favorite little faces.

Jason offered to take Hardin to hit golf balls this afternoon and he jumped at the chance.  He knows now he has to put on a golf shirt to look "fancy like daddy."  He looked so handsome when I got him dressed I had to snap a new big boy picture of him.

After the boys left I spent a few minutes outside with my girl.  In true Georgia spirit, it was very nice when the boys left and by time I changed Hadley and got her outside it felt 10 degrees cooler, and was getting worse.

Even with the chill, she loves to be outside.  It's Gigi's favorite way to get her to calm down.  She's not as smiley as she normally is though, she's too busy looking around.

We had a great weekend with these two and managed to sneak in a last minute trip to see George Strait on his final tour, it was absolutely incredible.  Throw in an early T-ball game Saturday followed by a two match tennis party for Jason, and it was a very full but extremely fun weekend.

Tennis

In our old neighborhood it literally took us two years to make friends.  Two full years, it was pathetic.

When we moved into our new subdivision I immediately started asking Jason to play tennis.  It only took a few weekends here to see how much everyone plays and what a big social scene it is.  Jason was my secret weapon.  He's quite a good player and it didn't take long for word to get around.

Fast forward a year and a half, and there was a two week stretch this month where he was on 4 separate teams.  His ALTA Mixed and T2 Men's winter leagues both made it to playoffs/finals, and spring ALTA Men's and T2 Mixed had already started.  It was ridiculous the amount of tennis he was playing. Be careful what you wish for.

It has been a ton of fun, and certainly fast tracked our friendships with some truly awesome people.  For that I can't think him enough.  Every Saturday that there is a home match the team brings tons of food and all the kids and lots of the spouses come and go down at the lake courts throughout the match.  Hardin calls this the "tennis party."  He asks at least every other day when the next tennis party is.  Of every thing the kid does, I can say with certainty tennis party days are his favorite thing next to a Cawley/Lillian visit.  I love being able to visit with everyone and get to know their kids.

Hardin's made tons of friends of all ages.  These kids have all grown up playing down there and it's so sweet to watch how the older ones take care of the little ones.  They play and play and play and play and play.  And sneak way too many sweets from the food table.  The area is gated and most people drive golf carts except the opposing team.  But even those cars drive slow because there is no pavement, it's gravel.  It is so nice to have somewhere safe he can run free and have so much fun.

Last weekend was the ALTA championship in Alpharetta.  Only the folks playing in the final match were there with kids, but Hardin had a blast with those few.  There was also a table competition.  I may bring nothing to the table athletically, but I can get on board with a themed table decorating competition like nobody's business.  Jason's team won both the city championship and table competition.

I think tennis will most likely be a big part of our lives for many years to come, and I think we are all very happy about that.  They are even trying to get me to take lessons...  Lord help us all.

Jason's partner for both mixed leagues, Cindy

 

 

I made the cupcakes, and the table was designed by the talented Tracy