There’s a reason I have five kids. I love, love, LOVE newborns, I love the first year. I don’t mind getting up at night, the first smiles, the first giggles and those little goos and gahs make a little loss of sleep totally worth it. No, there will be no more Rigbys, so I was thrilled to get my newborn fix! I’ve known his Daddy since forever, pretty much. The first time he was in one of my classes in our sophomore year in high school, I slapped him in the back of his head when he raised his hand after the teacher asked if there were any 9th graders in the class. And that’s how it started. Then he met the best thing that ever happened to him and this is their 3rd little one. It was great to see you all!!

My sweet baby girl will be one exactly one month from today. This year has gone so quickly, it blows my mind. I’m so grateful for every second we’ve had with her in the last 11 months. It’s amazing to me how one little, teeny, tiny being can change a family so much and so quickly. We love you, little Lylah-belle!

This little girl defied the odds, maybe even more than mine did. She comes from a very, VERY long line of boys. She has two big brothers and a bunch of boy cousins. And she was worth the wait. She is the sweetest little thing and she was super cooperative. She made my own daughter look positively impossible in comparison .

Congrats R&C!!!

Oh how I love this family!!! Grandma (of the little girl) is one of the best people on earth. She would tell me all these stories about her son and how my boys reminded me of her son when he was young, how wonderful his wife is and how gorgeous their little girl is. I can only hope that my kids turn out as well. I was so excited to meet them, and they lived up to every expectation I had. We had such a great time. And I felt like old friends by the end of the session. Grandma’s ulterior motive in setting up the session was to show them that you can have a big family and still be *normal.* Uhhhhhhh…hopefully

This little guy could not be any cuter! Poor little man took a little header in the middle of the session, but he bounced back like a champ! I’m so excited to see his two big brothers soon.

He is so used to me with a camera attached to my face, he didn’t think anything of me laying on the driveway, slithering around trying to find the coolest angles. I told him to show me that he was strong like Spiderman and this is what I got. It’s oddly reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty. His “torch” is a fiber optic skull flashlight thing. I’m sure Spiderman has one with him at all times

He works hard. Never complains about always being in the outfield and in the bottom of the order.  He wishes out loud that he could move up to the middle of the line up, but it hasn’t happened in the 4 years he’s played. His asthma holds him back, we’re sure.

But today was good. Last Saturday was actually good, too. He’s hitting the ball. Hard. Into the outfield. He came in the front door and announced, “Mom! I got the game ball!”  One old, beat up ball has never meant so much to anyone.  <3 <3 Congratulations, B!  You deserve it, little man!

She’s been out as long as she was in.  How I love her.  Even if she does give me the stink eye occasionally. Someone make time slow down. I love this age.

Sweater hand knitted by Grandma!

So here goes the first post ever! And what better way to start it off than with our day today. Gorgeous day, some free time (not much of that with 5 kids), some burgers and walk around the lake.