Tuck's First Birthday

I can hardly believe that we celebrated Tuck's first birthday yesterday. Tuck's birth was one that most people who adopt internationally don't usually get. We were able to follow his birthmother's pregnancy and knew the exact day when he was scheduled to be born. So, for us, his birth was probably as close to a real pregnancy as we have experienced.

Everyone who has read this blog for any length of time knows that Abbey takes party planning seriously. She decided that this party would be a pumpkin party. So, we have been collecting pumpkins for a little while. Abbey searched for the best pumpkin type recipes and she decided on a nice fall menu.

Unlike most of the parties, Abbey decided that we should invite "family" to the party, so we didn't have the big blowout party that we normally have. Well, that's not completely true. There was still plenty of food and decor, just not so many people that we had to move the location.

The brothers were excited that they got to have a few of their friends come over. Reed had Britton, Nash had Caleb, Will had Paityn, and Tuck had Carah and Cate.

Abbey's menu consisted of homemade vegetable beef soup, grilled cheese on sourdough (my contribution), apples with caramel dip and pumpkin dip, and cheese puff balls.

I think that everything was really nicely decorated. The guests all left with their own pumpkin party mix and the kids got their own pumpkin tray plate. Also, Abbey made pumpkin spice play doh for the kids to play with while they were at the party. Yes, that's right, she made play doh that pumpkin scented.

The special guests for Tuck's party were Pop and Lola, Uncle Bill, Miss Candace, The Batsons, and the Davidsons.

It was a great party.

We have been so blessed over the past year to have Tuck in our lives. Most people knew that having a fourth child was definitely not on our radar. Our family story is an amazing testament of how amazing God's plan is. We were the family that wanted a boy and a girl, which became a boy, two more boys and we were done. Thankfully, God knew that we need Tuck.

He helps move the cuteness factor of our boys to straight over the top!

Fun at Pop and Lola's House

Last week I had to go to North Carolina so Abbey and the boys headed to Pop and Lola's house. The boys were thrilled to get to spend time with Pop and Lola.




Pop and Lola have lots of room for the boys to run and explore. Reed likes throwing balls with Pop.




They got to go to the zoo in Memphis. Memphis has a really nice zoo and the boys loved getting to see all of that animals.







Nash appointed himself to be the navigator. He had a lot of fun reading the map. He is very serious.




The boys got to ride on the carousel which is always one of their highlights of the zoo.




Abbey was looking especially beautiful in the natural light. I'm not sure who was the photographer but I think that whoever did it, did a great job.








Lola got the boys some super cute jack-o-lantern t-shirts. The boys look really good in orange.






Will believes that safety comes first so he was glad to put on his helmet. He was also super cute putting on his helmet.








At the end of the week, Aunt Ava and Baby Brooks drove up from Jackson to see everybody. The boys love their aunt Ava.




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Soccer

Reed is a soccer player for sure. This past Saturday, it was cold so Reed was wearing his hat that Mrs. Abbey (aka Tamara) gave him to wear.





I love watching Reed play soccer. He is so fast and athletic. He is really good.




Coach Cody is so good with Reed. He takes time to explain things to Reed and I am proud of how well Reed listens to him.




And then we have Nash. He is our silly soccer player. I mentioned in the last post that Nash recently got his first goal. I was so proud.




Nash's signature move in soccer is to fall down. Once he falls he sits for the remainder of the play.





Another hilarious (and a little smart) thing that Nash does is waits for the ball to come to him. And when we he sees the ball coming to him he moves into action. He will really go over to the ball and try to get it.




Will refuses to go the soccer field without wearing a soccer jersey. It is so funny. He loves "coccer."





Super Tuck was super cold, but Uncle Bill was great at keeping him warm.





Coach Todd always makes sure the players know where their goal is.


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Sweet little boys

Reed is growing up so quickly. He loves Kindergarten. He has an amazing kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Sarah. He loves her so much and is learning a lot.

Reed also loves kindergarten Sunday School. He loves Mrs. Debbie and Mrs. Julie. In fact, he wakes up many days asking if it is a Mrs. Debbie and Mrs. Julie day?

He also loves Children's choir. He has already learned most of his Christmas musical songs. Of course, I think that he deserves a solo.




Reed is also an amazing soccer player. He does so well. He hasn't gotten a goal yet this year, but this is the first time that they have played with a goalie.




Nash is doing so well in preschool this year. He is really great. He is playing soccer as well. He is more of a ham, but last Saturday he got his first goal. I'm not going to lie, I cried.

He is just such a funny kid. He says funny things and does funny things.

I love him so much. He is smart, and he loves to play video games. He loves iPhones and iPads.





Nash is a womanizer and has all the ladies in his life wrapped around his fingers. It helps that he has the most adorable dimples.




And then there is Will. OK this picture isn't really fair, so I'll post another one, but is he not the cutest thing?





Will is our child of drama. He can turn the tears on at the drop of a hat and then he can be smiling and laughing. He has the best manners and he always says "tank you."

He is our first child who has become a "blankie" kid. Now, I'm not talking a small silky, the child has decided that an ikea duvet and comforter is his blankie and he loves that thing.

He is into everything ... EVERYTHING.





But is there anything cuter?




Tuck is growing up too quickly. I can't believe that in just a few weeks, he is going to be 1 year old. He is the most amazing little boy. He smiles and is so loving. He really loves his mama and daddy. Of course, we don't mind that at all.

He is crawling a lot and has decided that he will not use a bottle much anymore. He absolutely only eats table food and only when he feeds himself. And he must be getting an entire mouth load of teeth in the same week because he is really drooly.




We are so blessed.

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