A few pics...

We took Jack on his first trip to the Harbor this past Saturday!! (Nana and Gator watched Wade and Brody all day Saturday and kept them overnight...thank you so much!)


Almost 3 years ago with Brody and Wade!


If you give a boy water...he will have fun for hours! Brody was the shooter and Wade was the runner - how fun!!


Baby Legs...Ever heard of them?? Cutest. Things. Ever...thank you Mags


I will let the picture speak for itself......!


They are still borderline obsessed, and I would not have it any other way!




Check out their sweaty, crazy hair and beautiful eyes.....


And this one is becoming more beautiful each and every second...and he was already perfect the moment he was born! He is already 1 month old...wow.

Gussy Googenheimer

We lost a family member on Monday...my Mom and Bill's sweet 11 year old lab, Gussy. He was the sweetest dog you ever did meet and will always be missed.......(this is why we were not able to spend Father's Day with Gator...)

Father's Day 2011

How do you even begin to show the Father of your children just how much he means to you and your children? Todd is the most incredible Dad any child could ever ask for. Period. He is constantly teaching, laughing, disciplining, rewarding, loving and enjoying his 3 sons. I find myself stopping what I am doing and watching him enjoy his boys. He truly enjoys his time with them and that makes me incredibly lucky...thank you Todd for continuing to be the best Daddy in the world...we love you!!

We spent Father's Day morning making cards, picture frames and surprising Daddy with sleeping in and McDonald's breakfast!




We then spent the rest of the afternoon celebrating with Pop's and Grammie...also one of the best Dad's in the world!!! Thank you Pop's for spoiling our boys with love!


The boys got in on the action by helping me make green beans and got in a little snuggle time with Daddyman in the early evening...

Jack-Jack

Sweet boy is starting to crack a smile. I could stare at him all day long! I cannot believe it has already been 4 weeks! Jack has rolled over from his tummy to his back a few times already. I know it is a fluke, but he amazes us with his strength he is already exhibiting! He holds his head and shoulders up right and lovesto kick his arms and legs. He has started to gurgle and coo and is keeping our gaze. It truly feels like he has always been a part of our family...I cannot remember life without him! We love you so much little nugget!

Visitors!!

One of my dear friends, Kelly, from college and one of her sons, Gavin, came to visit from New Hampshire last weekend...and we had a blast! Kel and I were roommates for years, backpacked across Europe, skydived, moved to Colorado and were busy sowing our oats for many, many, many years...so to have our children finally meet was incredibly special! We always dreamed of living next to each other, having our husbands be the best of friends, as well as our children...but we all know how that goes...so now we look forward and relish in our yearly visits, now including children! We cannot to do it again next year!

They stayed at a condo on the beach, that had a great water/splash park, perfect for toddlers! Mags drove over from Gulf Breeze, her cute little 9 months pregnant self, and joined us for the chaos of 3 toddlers and a newborn. We were a sight, walking down from the 5th floor condo, across the pool deck and eventually into the splash park. All 3 boys ran like crazy men down all of the hallways; Wade refused to ride the elevator, so me, B and W had to trek down 5 flights of stairs, all the while holding my diaper bag and Jack in the carseat...did I mention the stairwells are not air conditioned?? Gavin had a slight meltdown in the middle of the pool deck, for all to see...poor Kel kept her calm, scooped him up and kept on walking...and poor Mags was holding both B and W's hands, the cooler, her pool bag and whatever else...remember, she is 9 months pregnant...and the heat index was 110 degrees. After a few diarrhea blowouts in our swim diapers and one overwhelmed Momma...we decided to to head back up to the condo for snacks and air conditioning. The visit was a blast, but it was my first outing with 3 kids, by myself, and it was pretty overwhelming!


We decided it would probably be a better idea to spend Saturday in the comforts of our house...just a little easier at this point. And the visit was fantastic...we played in the back yard, in the front yard, downstairs, upstairs...enjoyed bath time and dinner time...really got to actually visit! We miss you guys already! Thank you SOOO much for coming...until next time!!






Wade, Gavin and Brody...next year Madden and Jack will make the pic!


We also had 2 other VERY special visitors pop in and see us on their way back from Kentucky...Uncle Andy and Aunt Marilyn! Thank you both so much for going out of your way to stop in and meet sweet baby Jack!!

Life with 3 boys!

We are finally getting adjusted to sweet baby Jack and our life with 3 boys! It is definitely a little more chaotic, but for the most part, he just fits right in. The sleep deprivation will kill ya, but we still have 2 wild toddlers on our hands that require lots of activities, trips to the park, snuggles while reading a book, warm bubble baths, playing with balls in the front yard, coloring and painting and singing....a the while still maintaining the house, laundry and meals...on virtually NO SLEEP!!! I know, I know...we have all been there, done that, but boy, do you forget how much a newborn wakes up!

Sweetie pie Jack already has my heart. He is more alert these days, taking it all in, gulping down about 3 ounces at a time, enjoying his baths and letting his big brothers smother him with hugs and kisses...He appears to have curly hair, still loves his paci and we are finally getting over the gas and constipation from the formula...a teaspoon of prune juice a day helps tons!! I am able to start breast feeding again today...thank God...so hopefully his tummy troubles will be a thing of the past! Pictures of the little nugget from his first couple of weeks:







I think he is mixture of Brody and Wade...definitely a Harrell! Here are all thre boys around 2 1/2 weeks old. We make some big lipped babies, eh?


We attended two birthday parties last weekend, just the 4 of us. Nana watched Baby J so that we were able to spend some 1-on-1 time with Wade and Brody! First, was Reagan's 3rd birthday party at Abrakadoodle in Destin. Really neat party...Happy Birthday Reagan!




Second was Maddox's 2nd birthday party in FWB, filled with balloons, balls and bikes...Happy 2nd Birthday Maddox!


The temps have started soaring, with a heat index of 110 degrees today... We try to stay cool with popsicles on the front porch!
Happy B-man!! Really hasn't skipped a beat since Jack was born. I really thought that he would be the child to show signs of jealousness in regards to the new baby, but he has really stepped up and put on his big boy hat. Way to go B!


Wade perfecting his new shy face...He has been more clingy since the babe came home with us. He cries when we drop him off in the mornings at school, which he hasn't done since his very first week. He is more whiny and sensitive...To be expected, but still pulls at my heart strings. He seems to be doing better every day!


I think potty training is right around the corner. We are actively encouraging potty time and are hoping to make the transition into big boy underware very soon! They boys are just growing up so fast...Writing the first letters to their names, B-man drawing a star at school last week, Wade trying all of the time to poop on the potty, both helping Mommy with dishes and dinner...Wade giving the dogs treats and B-man helping to let them in...They even stood on the little bench in their play room the other night and told me they were looking at the moon, the stars and planet Mars! (I promise our windows are not that dirty...well, at least you cannot tell when there is not a flash showing all streaks and handprints...hehe)


Happy June!

How do I even begin to tell the story of the newest arrival to our family?? Words just cannot do it justice...it would be a 40 page blog post...so instead, I will leave you with a few summarizing details of our past 12 days with the littlest man who completes our family!! The complete birth story and details to come later...

Arrived at hospital on Thursday, May 26th, on time and ready to have this baby...at 12:35 pm, screaming Baby Jack entered this world, weighing in at 7 pounds even and 20.5 inches long! It was love at first sight and literally took our breath away............Big brothers Brody and Wade greeted us just hours later...Wade already smitten and begging to hold and love on baby Jack and the B-man not to sure about Mommy in the hospital bed, with tubes and leg pressure cuffs...very stand offish the first day...

Baby Jack latched right on...slept like a champ and we were all discharged and ready to head home on Saturday morning to our lovong families and anxious big brothers! Once out of the hospital setting...both B and W became almost obsessed with their new little brother. Always asking about him, loving on him, talking about him, kissing him...we are incredibly blessed!!

Jack just fit right in...we did not skip a beat and he was even sleeping 4-6 hour stretches the first few nights at home. Then, all hell broke loose on my end. Ended up with cellulitis on my incision, almost re-admitted back into the hospital...without Jack...(don't even get me started on that one)...and many antibiotics that left me unable to breastfeed...subsequently forcing Jack to be formula fed (only temporarily) and filled with a gassy belly and an over-emotional Momma...

Jack David Harrell is just about as sweet as they come. Loves to snuggle right up under our chins, laying across our chests...lost his cord at 7 days...only cries if something is wrong(well, for now anyways)...loves his paci, despises a dirty diaper and loves to eat. Continuing in Harrell fashion, he developed thrush...a yeast infection in the mouth that both Brody and Wade had around the same time as well...

Finally, a week later, we are almost infection free, loving how adoring B and W are towards Jack, are continually amazed by how much we love another child and how it seems life was not complete before he entered our little world...

Join us on our new journey as we celebrate each and every second of 3 under 3.............

Tons and tons of pics:

Welcome to our family Jack David Harrell!!!