"The fundamental mission of motherhood now is the same as it always was: to nurture, protect, and instruct children, to create a home environment that enables them to learn and grow, to help them develop a heart for God and his purposes, and to send them out into the world prepared to live both fully and meaningfully."
-Sally Clarkson from the Mission of Motherhood

Sunday, March 29, 2009

First Trip to Church!

Grace and Grant made their first trip to church this morning!  We did not dare put them in the nursery.  They will be 8 weeks old Tuesday, so we'll see what the doctor says then.  Today we just snuck in the Chapel and watched the service on the big movie screen so that we were away from the crowds.  The babies did great, and we truly enjoyed getting to all go to church rather than having to take turns!

Papa holding Grant this afternoon.  (We went to Mimi & Papa's for the afternoon/evening.  They were a big help with the kids, and Mimi fed us a great meal too!  Thanks, Mimi & Papa!)

Untitled from Brooke Patterson on Vimeo.
The video above is Henry & Mimi's band serenading me with an early "Happy Birthday!"  Below is Henry's obstacle course yesterday on the deck!

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Playhouse Disney Live!




Sally has been so incredibly helpful by picking Henry up for school on Tuesdays and Thursdays when she is taking Carter & Maury to MDO.  This pic is of Henry kissing Grace as he left for school Thursday.  Thanks, Sally!  It is so incredibly helpful!  
Nana & Henry baked Easter Bunny cookies this week.  I think they were all gone in less than 24 hours (primarily due to my own lack of self control!)


Wednesday, March 25, 2009

My Little Drummer Boy


Untitled from Brooke Patterson on Vimeo. 
Henry cracks me up playing David's rock band drum set!
Henry finger painting on Monday night.  It was a great distraction for him when both babies need to be fed at the same time!

Untitled from Brooke Patterson on Vimeo.

Sweet videos like this are my favorite.  Grant was so precious in his swing last night watching me cook dinner in the kitchen!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Snapshots of Spring Break

We have had a great Spring Break!  I was actually rather nervous about Henry being out of school all week.  Luckily, we had lots of help from Nana, Pawpaw, Mimi & Papa.  We all had a great week.  Here are some pictures from the past few days.  Above, Henry holding Grant & giving him a kiss.  Below is Henry being the Easter Bunny at Mimi & Papa's!

Helping Mimi with dinner
Grant: "Sister, why are you crying?"
We went on a lot of walks this week.  The babies enjoyed being outside, and so did I!



Aunt Renee even came up for a visit since it was her Spring Break too!  What a great week we have had!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

A Beautiful Spring Day

It was such amazing weather today!  We made the most of it & I took the boys for a walk in the stroller.  I know they enjoyed the fresh air, and I certainly enjoyed the exercise!
Henry was Nana's "happy helper" today!
I got to take Henry to the park earlier today for some one on one time with Mommy, thanks to Nana.  Nana being here this week has been a lifesaver since Henry's school is closed for Spring Break.  She kept the twins so that I could let Henry get out of the house for a little while.

Monday, March 16, 2009

A Fun Weekend!

Cute pictures of Henry hanging out with Grant in the floor Sunday afternoon.

This weekend we took Grant & Grace on their first outing other than to the pediatrician.  They were 5 weeks, 4 days old, and we took them to Mimi & Papa's house.  Henry had spent the night, and we went to pick him up.  We stayed for dinner while we were there, and it was so nice for us (me, Grant & Grace) to actually get out of the house!  I had not been to Mimi & Papa's house since Christmas due to being so pregnant and then having our little munchkins.

On Saturday afternoon Aunt Virginia and Uncle Clarence came over from Newnan, Georgia, to meet Grant and Grace.  We were so excited that they got to see the babies, and we enjoyed their visit as always.  It is always a treat to spend time with them.  Uncle Clarence, my grandfather's brother, reminds me so much of my grandfather.  David and I always enjoy seeing them.  It brightens my day!
Holding Grant
Grandmother spoiling Grant Friday afternoon

Thursday, March 12, 2009

All Dressed Up with Nowhere to Go!



Today is my first day at home by myself with the kiddos!  So far, so good.  (All 3 are sleeping now, hence the reason I am able to make a quick blog post!)  Luckily Henry did have MDO from 9-1, and Sally was sweet enough to take him and pick him up so I could avoid getting the twins out of the house, which is such a charade.  Just getting everyone fed this morning was a challenge.  After Henry left, I gave the twins a bath and put them in cute little outfits!  I know we are just lounging around the house, but it seems every time I post they are in pajamas.  Bless their hearts, they actually both have wonderful wardrobes they need to be modeling!  The clothing today is special too.  Sally actually made Grant's gown for Henry when she was pregnant with Maury.  I loaned it to her when she had Carter.  I actually made Grace's dress for Maury when I was pregnant with Henry.  (We were pregnant with Henry & Maury at the same time.)  Now, she is loaning Maury's dress to me for Grace!  Needless to say, I'm glad that everyone has gotten to wear these sweet pieces. :)

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

A Fun Spring Afternoon

It was about 80 degrees here yesterday afternoon, and it was an absolutely amazing day to be outside.  I think smart little Henry sensed that, as he elected to forgo his nap yesterday in order to play outside all afternoon.  I think we both ran a few miles around the yard.  We were both dirty & tired by dinner, but we had so much fun!  Nana was sweet enough to watch Grant & Grace so Henry could have some serious quality time with me.  After Maury & Carter napped, they came down to join us in the sand box.  I think everyone was covered in sand, but they enjoyed it!

Below is a video of Henry at dinner.  He literally was falling asleep at the table after skipping his nap and playing so hard.  We had an early bed time last night for sure!

Untitled from Brooke Patterson on Vimeo.


Grace on her way to the doctor yesterday morning!  Grant, I'm so sorry, buddy!  Nana was getting you in your carseat &  I did not get a picture!  Grace weighed 7 lb. 7 oz.  That is a gain of 15 oz. in 11 days!  Grant weighed 8 lb. 12 oz., gaining 21 oz. in 11 days!  They were both 5 weeks old yesterday, marking exactly 4 weeks since they came home from the hospital!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Three Under Three


Just some household statistics I've been compiling:

In one week, we use approximately 196 diapers, 84 bottles, and 4 boxes of wipes. We give around 13 baths, feed babies 84 times, go through about 7 -10 loads of laundry and 7-9 loads of dishes, and if we are lucky sleep 35 hours.  (That's 5 hours per night, if you add it all up and/or including any naps we squeeze in.)  However, despite all the chaos, we still find time to have a little peace in this house.  In fact we had almost all our meals on the deck this weekend due to the nice weather! Here's a pic of Henry having lunch on the deck today after church. What a beautiful weekend it has been!

Friday, March 6, 2009

First Pic!

We finally got our first picture of all 3 children today.  It took over a month, but we got one!  (It is now the header on the blog.)  Afterwards Henry wanted to keep holding Grace.  Here's a video.
Untitled from Brooke Patterson on Vimeo.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

One month old!


I cannot believe the twins were one month old on Tuesday!  Wow, how time flies!  They are just growing and doing great.  We learn a little more about their personalities every day, and Henry is adjusting so well.  Below is a pic of Henry yesterday.  Grace was sound asleep, but Henry wanted to share his Shrek with her.  He accidentally poked her in the eye with it (but he meant well!)  Luckily her eye was closed.  
Grace is getting so big!  She outgrew her premie clothes & is in newborn clothes & even some 0-3 month outfits!  Grant has been out of his premie clothes for a few weeks now.  
Both Grant & Grace love to sleep with their hands by their face.  The pic below is a perfect example.  Henry did the same thing, and all 3 always had their hands by their face while I was pregnant.




Sunday, March 1, 2009

First Snow! (Not really, but I'm pretending.)

Henry saw snow for the second time in Alabama in his 2 years of life today, but it was the first time that David & I were with him.  Last January when it snowed, Henry was with Mimi and Papa, because David & I were skiing in Lake Tahoe.  So, today, despite it actually being Henry's second "snow" experience, I'm counting it as his first!  Although he is not smiling in this first pic, trust me: he loved it!  He ran around like crazy, and I had to bribe him with hot chocolate so he would come inside and warm up.  He was soaked & freezing.  I knew we should have bought him ski clothes this year just in case!!
Our neighbor Jack came outside to play too.  Henry was so sweet & shared our sled with him & even held Jack on the sled.  Well, most of the time he held him.  Jack took at least one tumble, but he was fine!





Untitled from Brooke Patterson on Vimeo.

Let it Snow!

Let it snow!  These are pics of the snow at our house this morning.  More is falling now & I'll update with pics of Henry playing in it later today!  We'll be making chili & hot chocolate & playing in the yard!

Grant and Grace snuggling on the couch...except in this pic it appears Grant is trying to get as far away as possible!  
This pic was taken Friday night as they were resting after their trip to Dr. Stone.  Grace weighed 6 lb. 8 oz, gaining 20 oz in 14 days.  Grant weighed 7 lb. 5 oz., gaining 17 oz. in 14 days.  We were thrilled.  They are both doing great!
Henry is such a big helper.  He helped David replace batteries in just about every baby gadget in our house!

Henry insisted David wear headphones the other night.  It was hilarious.  David of course obliged!  They were too funny!