The Coulson Family

?????

2012-01-23T20:06:00.002-06:00

Not sure what to write on this post, maybe the pictures just speak for themselves.......or maybe they don't. Either way I can't really comment, this activity was all Carter's idea!

No School!

2012-01-23T15:05:00.001-06:00

We went to Parties on the Move to meet friends while school was out for MLK's birthday. We were so glad they opened so we would have an outing! Maury had a rough morning as you can see (can't get pic to rotate). She hid between bouncers and cried/whined because Ginger was making her picture and because she missed her Daddy, she was loads of fun ;)

First Fry

2012-01-23T14:56:00.000-06:00

I'm pretty sure many years from now Caroline will wish I had never given her her first McDonald's french fry but it has happened and she loved it! This was MLK weekend when Daddy was away hunting, I let Maury and Carter pick anything they wanted for supper one night. Not sure that would have been my #1 pick but I do love the fries too!

Tight Squeeze

2012-01-23T14:50:00.003-06:00

I have run into a dilemma now that Caroline is out of her infant car seat. How do I fit 3 kids in a buggy at Publix? Luckily, for now they all fit into two race car spots! I try not to take 3 to the grocery store very often but when I have no choice this set up will do!

No Girls Allowed

2012-01-09T20:59:00.002-06:00

Owen and Carter had a big weekend!!! Friday night they went to Monster Jam with Pierce and Matt and then on Saturday they went mud riding! Carter had the time of his life! The girls went to get our nails done, Maury LOVES to be pampered and Caroline LOVES to people watch!

8 Months and a Bow!

2012-01-09T20:49:00.001-06:00

Caroline is 8 months old! Maury thinks she now has enough hair that she needs a bow.....I wouldn't say she needs a bow but she isn't too far from having some bangs! She is the happiest, sweetest little thing ever. Never really fusses or cries (now that she is well). She thinks her brother and sister are the funniest people on the planet (especially Carter), still loves to bounce, still no teeth, she is learning to self feed (still loves to eat), and she has become REALLY loud when she squeals! She has become quite a nosey little thing and she has started one of my favorite skills/milestones- reaching for me, melts my heart! The little stinker, all she does is grin and she wouldn't dare give me a smile for this picture!!!

Year End Fun

2011-12-31T20:38:00.000-06:00

We spent the last two days of 2011 in Nashville! Owen and I enjoyed see the Bulldog victory at the Music City Bowl while the kids had tons of fun at Aunt Chris and Uncle Scott's house! Their house on the hill makes for all kinds of outdoor fun for Maury and Carter (need to get pics from Migi's camera)!

Caroline saved Carter's spot while he shopped!

Maury wore her party dress for our New Year's Eve Party!

On our way home we stopped for fireworks! We had fun ringing in the New Year but no one at our house saw the clock strike 12!

Christmas Morning

2011-12-31T10:11:00.000-06:00

Santa came!!! But the first thing they noticed was that he didn't eat all of his cookies and immediately (before looking closely at his gifts) Carter asked if he could eat them. Santa left everything they wished for except for a Dippin Dots maker that was on Maury's list (Santa thought the Easy Bake Over and Blizzard Maker were enough and he was hoping she wouldn't miss it, he was wrong). They loved it all! Carter's favorite is definitely his pirate ship and his marshmallow gun is a close second. After making a batch of delicious cookies, Maury moved her Barbies/house to her top fave. Caroline loved her ball popper and was a trooper with her 4th ear infection, poor baby sick on Christmas when the pediatrician is closed.

With Christmas Day on Sunday this year we got to go to church (with kids in the service) and celebrate the miracle of Jesus' birth and praise Him on this special day!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:14

Getting Ready for Santa

2011-12-30T21:22:00.000-06:00

After our Christmas Eve service at church we came home to get ready for Santa! We made cookies, poured his milk, and sprinkled reindeer food on the lawn. The kids also opened their gifts from each other on Christmas Eve. Oh, and Santa came by on his firetruck (try explaining that one) with his sirens really loud after Caroline went to bed. They were pretty good about going to bed but it wasn't quite as early as Santa would have liked!

Christmas Brunch at Nana's

2011-12-30T21:11:00.000-06:00

"Happy Birthday Jesus!"

Re-creating a pic/pose for Nana from a pic of us as kids.

The morning of Christmas Eve we left Mimi's and headed to Moulton to have brunch with Nana and the Weatherwax cousins. Good thing it wasn't too cold out because that many kids in Nana's house is a bit much. They all did a lot of running/chasing/tackling in the yard. We look forward to Nana's Christmas every year! We had lots of fun as always but we missed seeing John Clark, Morgan, and Samuel.

Christmas at Mimi and Gandy's

2011-12-30T20:52:00.000-06:00


He held tight during Dirty Santa!

"Jingle Bell Rock!"

The girls were inside.....

Playing cars

The babies loved the wrapping paper!

After a morning of caroling we packed up, loaded the car, and headed to Decatur for more Christmas cheer! So much went on over the 48 hours we were with our cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and great-grans. Of course there were presents, lots of food, a game of Dirty Santa (with the kids playing), a dance to "Jingle Bell Rock" (choreographed by MB), a trip to see an impressive train collection for the boys and Gandy, some movie watching, the coloring of a princess house, and the highlight was Mimi and Gandy's scavenger hunt around the house. Mimi and Gandy read clues and the kids found gifts and puzzle pieces that they put together in the end and the puzzle said "We're Going to Disney World!!!" They kids were/are so excited! Although, one of the last clues said something about a trip to the moon so Carter was a little disappointed because he had his heart set on the moon. We had a wonderful time and are counting down the days until February 11th!!

Caroling

2011-12-22T13:33:00.000-06:00

We went caroling this morning with a group from church to an assisted living facility. Carter put on a show and loved going around and telling the residents "MERRY CHRISTMAS" as loud as he could and giving out homemade cards. Maury was a little standoffish but she did do a little dance performance on the stage at the end when she thought no one was looking! All of the kids (even those who couldn't read, including Caroline) thought they needed to hold the carol words in hand!

Live Nativity

2011-12-22T13:26:00.002-06:00

Last night we went to the Live Nativity at our church. It is one of my favorite events of the season for sure! Maury and Carter are old enough now that they know the story and seemed to understand as they watched. Caroline loved her very first live nativity (when she was left alone)! The hot chocolate and cookies afterward are always a hit!

Maury's Vacay

2011-12-22T13:18:00.003-06:00

Maury got to stay 3 more days as an only grandchild in Brandon! She had so much fun! Migi sent me these pictures of her dressed in Aunt Cami's ballet costumes! They went shopping, did nails, cousin Olivia (who Maury adores) spent the night, and Mari Lampton came to play! We were afraid she wouldn't want to come home but she cooperated and said she really missed us :)

Carter, Caroline, and I had lots of fun while she was away (but missed her a lot). We went to Winter Wonderland at McWane with Davis and Lilly one day and they next day we spend the day with Pierce!!!

Mississippi Christmas

2011-12-22T13:04:00.002-06:00

He opened this sweatshirt, said "WHAT?" and threw it over his head.

After class partying we headed West to Brandon dropping off the big two at the Triplett's to spend the night. Then we headed on to Aunt Cam and Uncle Lee's for a grown-up party! Saturday we had a fun family Christmas at the Aunt Ingrid's and Maury and Carter had a big time at their sleep-over! Sunday it was time for presents at Migi and Papa C's where we learned Carter is very vocal when he gets something he doesn't like (such as clothes or a duffel). With the exception of a few of Carter's gifts (things I told Migi to get) the kids were thrilled as they opened each present. We had a wonderful weekend, it just went by too fast!!!

3K Party

2011-12-19T15:16:00.004-06:00

Another day, another party!

Carter and cute Lola

Caroline and I also got to attend Carter's Christmas party!!! Caroline is a trooper tagging along everywhere we go! Of course the kids had lots of yummy treats but the highlight of the party was playing the Reindeer Shuffle against another 3K class, Carter's class won!!!

4K Party

2011-12-19T14:56:00.005-06:00

Caroline and I got to go to Maury's school Christmas party! They all took a gift and drew numbers and then opened what they got! This was a new experience for Maury so I explained the process before we went because she had in mind who she wanted hers to go to. They ate snacks and decorated a Christmas tree (ice cream cone) with icing too!

Hustle and Bustle

2011-12-19T14:19:00.003-06:00

This is what it look like most evenings around here this holiday season, I actually woke Owen up before I took this! And this was at 6:45 pm.

Breakfast With Santa

2011-12-19T14:07:00.002-06:00

We had a great time at Breakfast with Santa this year! The crafts were fun, the food was yummy, and Santa was jolly. Maury has never been a big fan of Santa and I'm pretty sure she hasn't sat in his lap since she was an infant so she carefully chose a spot next to him and let her siblings take his lap!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

2011-12-19T13:58:00.000-06:00

I got to drive 4 sweet girls on the 4-K field trip to see Twas the Night Before Christmas. I loved listening to their conversations in the car and the play was pretty cute too!

7 Months

2011-12-06T20:48:00.001-06:00

Caroline is 7 months old! Soooooo hard for me to believe! She was 20 lbs 8 oz at the doctor today (long story but everyone is well). She is a joy, still loves that jumper, loves to squeal, eat, and sleep. No teeth yet but I'm sure they will break through any day, she is sitting well, rolls from one end of the room to the other, evidently does gymnastics in her crib at night, and is beginning to reach for people (so sweet)! Love that precious girl!!!

Twinkle and Batter Bash

2011-12-06T20:30:00.001-06:00

Grace LOVES Caroline!

We rested up Saturday night so we could prepare our Christmas Tree Brownies and be at our best for the pre-school musical at church Sunday night! My 2's choir was on their best behavior, Maury did great, and Carter was a little distracted for some reason which lead to him distracting the rest of the 3's. He did sing but he was up, down, and all around. After the performance we headed to the fellowship hall for Batter Bash where Maury and Carter served their delicious treats!

Festive Fun in Tupelo

2011-12-06T20:17:00.001-06:00

So tired, watching The Grinch

They loved the parade!

Carter ate his house before it was complete

Char is the 4th angel from the left

Last weekend we headed to Tupelo to see Charlotte perform in The Nutcracker but we packed a whole lot more into 24 hours! We have too many cousins to crash at Aunt Leigh Ann's now so Mimi got a room at a hotel with an indoor pool!!! Carter was the first one to jump right in and he quickly realized his swimming was a little rusty but it didn't take him long to remember! They swam for several hours and were exhausted so it wasn't hard to get them in bed. The next morning it was time for pancakes, a parade, gingerbread house making, lunch and then finally The Nutcracker! The boys and babies didn't make the show, they were glad to stay behind and play at the Wise's. Char did great, we were so proud!!!

A Few More Ornaments

2011-12-06T20:12:00.001-06:00

We put the finishing touches on the playroom tree and have decided we are totally fine with it being our only tree this year ;)

Art Appreciation

2011-12-06T20:05:00.001-06:00

If you know Maury you know that she LOVES anything related to arts and crafts. In fact, that is most of what is on her Christmas list. So it came as no surprise that the cover page on her thankful book that came home from school last week says "I am thankful for new paint." She did mention Mommy, Dad, Carter, and Baby Caroline inside at least!

Red Returns

2011-11-29T12:34:00.001-06:00

Red the Elf is back. He was in the Christmas tree when we got back from Brandon and this morning Carter found him in the fridge when he was looking for his milk! Maury is a little nervous this year after watching the Elf movie a few nights ago. She does not want anyone getting close to him in fear that he will be touched and lose his magic! We are all being super careful (except Carter who says "he isn't real" and wants to touch him so bad)!

Thanksgiving in Brandon

2011-11-29T11:57:00.001-06:00

Caroline's first cookie!

I REALLY wish I had taken more pictures while we were in MS for Thanksgiving, I'm hoping Migi did and I can add them later! We had a great time with family eating, shopping, and just hanging out. Owen and I had a great date to the Egg Bowl (no pics) and I so appreciate all of the help with the kids throughout the long weekend! We are so thankful and blessed by/with our wonderful families!!!

Thankful for Cousins

2011-11-29T11:48:00.001-06:00

The boys in their fort

If only you could see the detail on Mimi's green velvet formal Maury is wearing!

We went to Mimi's last week for the day to play with cousins and help fill one of our days without school. They played so hard, ran what probably would add up to several miles out on the golf course, did some crafts, fought some bad guys and worked hard on Mimi's Thankful Tree!

Ruben's 1/2

2011-11-29T11:29:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday I ran my first 1/2 Marathon since having 3 kids! It was a little harder than I remember it being almost 6 years ago but my time was almost the exact same! I had fun running and training with these sweet friends!!!

Sisters

2011-11-29T11:24:00.001-06:00

Maury is excited that Caroline can wear these pjs that we bought before she was born!

A Tub Full

2011-11-29T11:21:00.001-06:00

In an attempt to multitask I bathed everybody together one night last week! They thought it was lots of fun!

A Little At A Time

2011-11-29T11:13:00.001-06:00

Christmas decorating around the Coulson house is slow this year. I put a tree up the week before Thanksgiving, did the mantle a few days later, working on the outdoor stuff today.......and talking myself out of putting up our main tree at the moment! Not because I have no Christmas cheer, they are just so thrilled with the kid tree in the playroom that I'm not sure it is worth the trouble! So here's a few pics of the playroom tree decorating. The night I put it up they decorated it with barbie, bows, cars, clothes, and whatever else they found close by. The next day we put ornaments on :)

Back to Starkville

2011-11-14T14:33:00.001-06:00

Saturday we all headed back to Starkville for the last time this year. Thankfully, Migi and Papa C will keep the kids for me and Owen to go to the Egg Bowl alone! They actually did they best they have done all season this game, no major meltdowns! The Dawgs didn't win but they played a pretty good game against Alabama!

Girl's Night!

2011-11-14T10:31:00.001-06:00

Maury finally got over her 5 day virus on Friday (although she enjoyed being sick, lots of attention and a trip to Mimi's all by herself) so we met a few of her friends from school and their mommies at the movies that afternoon! We saw "Puss in Boots" in 3D! The girls had lots of fun!

Chattering Chipmunk

2011-11-14T10:27:00.001-06:00

Carter's class has been learning about Indians at school and they made headdresses last week. They all got their very own Indian name, he was "Chattering Chipmunk." He has the same teacher that Maury had last year.....her name was "Quiet Dear." Mrs. Molly picked up on their opposite personalities early on!

Caroline's 6 Month Check-up

2011-11-14T10:20:00.001-06:00

Not the most flattering angle!

I took all 3 to Caroline's check-up. Lots of fun. Maury and Carter needed to get flu mist but Maury was sick so just Carter got it. Lucky for Carter his 5 day fever virus had just ended, but Maury's was just getting started. I think Carter acted worse with his mist than Caroline did with 3 shots. Anyway, she is happy and healthy at 19 lbs 5 oz (holding steady from last week), 27 1/4 inches long, and her head measured 17.5 inches. Big girl is in the 95th percentile across the board! We thank the Lord for another chunky monkey!

Happy Half Birthday Caroline!

2011-11-05T09:17:00.000-05:00

Caroline is 6 months old today! She is the sweetest, happiest baby girl (she's come a long way) and we enjoy every minute with her. She is working on sitting up but is a little unsteady. We are looking for teeth soon because she tries to bite everything in site and drools a lot. She had her second ear infection this week and was 19 lbs 5 oz at the doctor, she is taking after her big brother on the scale. Caroline will have her check up on Tuesday so we will see if she is off the charts! Happy Half Birthday Caroline!!!

My New Babysitter

2011-11-05T09:06:00.001-05:00

The doorway jumper is Caroline's new favorite spot. Our dryer has been out so I was way behind on laundry and had to do 6 loads yesterday. I put the jumper in the laundry room doorway and there she jumped for quite a while. She will jump and jump and jump, never gets tired of it! When I take her out and hold her, her chunky legs are still going! I'm thinking she may have already lots a few inches in her thighs! And I must say that she is a very advanced jumper compared to her brother and sister at this age. Maury and Carter like to jump on the floor next to her and they all get tickled :)

Chuck E Cheese

2011-11-03T08:58:00.001-05:00

Pierce has a super special Halloween birthday but with all of the Halloween hype on his big day his mommy wanted him to have a special lunch at Chuck E Cheese the day after. We were super impressed with the newly remodeled, sparkly clean CEC. The kids has a blast, I think we may be back soon!

Halloween Night

2011-11-03T08:48:00.003-05:00

After a weekend filled with Halloween fun we still have the main event to go?!?! What will we do with all of this candy?!?! The Patterson's invited us to come over for pizza and trick-or-treating in their neighborhood. I've never seen kids do up and down a street so fast! The parents (and the 2 year olds) had a hard time keeping up but we all made it back safely for hot chocolate!

Trick-or-Treat at School

2011-11-03T08:34:00.001-05:00

Halloween morning Maury and Carter got back in costume for school! Maury went with Snow White again this round. They got to Trick-or-Treat at the retirement home by their school with their classes......the candy stash was overflowing by this point and the big night is still to come!!!

Crest Fest

2011-11-03T08:26:00.000-05:00

Sunday night the Bat Crew got into costume and headed to the church for Crest Fest! Maury and Carter ran in different directions all night and Owen and I struggled to keep up! They bounced, played games, ate lots of goodies, and of course Maury made time for her favorite booth, the hair glitter/face painting station! Batbaby enjoyed the view from her stroller as usual. Maury was stuck to Sarah Elizabeth's side most of the night (I'm counting on pics from SE's mom) and Carter and Pierce stayed close as they fought crime in the parking lot!

Carter won a cupcake at the cakewalk as soon as we got there!

Pumpkin Pancakes

2011-11-03T08:25:00.000-05:00

We made a special Halloween breakfast last weekend!

Princess Party ;)

2011-11-03T08:08:00.000-05:00

Kathryn invited Maury to go to a Halloween festival at Veteran's Park last Friday night. We were going to take the boys but decided that they would be happier in bed so we let the Daddies take the big girls. We told Carter and Kathryn's brother Jacob that they were going to a Princess Party! Carter was just as happy to make (and eat) Halloween cookies with me. Snow White and Rapunzel had lots of fun!

Shadow Lake

2011-10-27T08:04:00.000-05:00

This makes our 5th year to go to the Pumpkin Patch at Shadow Lake. It's our favorite because it's close, never crowded, and it has everything the kids love about a pumpkin patch. There's bouncers, face painting, a train, a hay ride, games, and food! And of course, it's always more fun with friends! We can't wait till next year!

Pumpkin Carving

2011-10-27T07:55:00.002-05:00

Maury and Carter were so excited about carving our pumpkin this year, maybe because it makes the one and only Halloween decoration at the Coulson house this year (I did get the rest out of the attic but put them back the same day)!

Maury's Barbies were in on the fun too, I asked her what they were doing and she said "Catching stars."

Weekend Getaway

2011-10-27T06:02:00.002-05:00

Last weekend Owen and I went to the beach with ADULT friends for the weekend. That meant special trips to Grandma's house for the kids! Carter and Maury headed to Migi and Papa C's and Caroline to Mimi and Gandy's. I decided if I wanted them to be invited back soon it was best to split them up!

I think Migi and Papa C fit in every activity possible in 3 days. They went to the movie, the pumpkin patch, made candied apples, did crafts, went shopping.......I know Migi and Papa C were exhausted!

With sweet Tre at the pumpkin patch!

Caroline did a lot of lounging and smiling I think. She visited Nana and Gene Gene and played with the Jackson girls, and watched football with Gandy. She was on her best behavior, Mimi didn't want to bring her back!

Shrinky Dink Duds

2011-10-25T14:45:00.000-05:00

I picked up some fake Halloween Shrinky Dinks at the store last week. Maury and Carter we thrilled as they colored and cut them out and then watched through the oven window with excitement. I was feeding Caroline and they kept asking when they would shrink, I kept repeating "Keep Watching!" They never did a thing. That's what I get for buying off brand Shrinky Dinks at 60% off. Poor kids.

Hudson's Hallowen Bash

2011-10-25T14:40:00.000-05:00

Hudson turn three and had a Halloween party to celebrate! We made haunted houses, got tattoos and went on a ghost hunt!

Bonnet Baby

2011-10-25T14:38:00.004-05:00

Caroline wore one of Maury's hand-me-downs to church last Sunday. I love a baby in a bonnet but it seems that baby #3 doesn't get dressed up or have her picture taken quite as often as Maury did so I made sure I captured this sweet moment!

Ballet Sneek Peek

2011-10-12T15:55:00.000-05:00

I didn't work today so I got to peek in at Maury's ballet class! It looked like they were having lots of fun tapping away!!!

To Grandmothers' Houses We Go

2011-10-12T15:52:00.001-05:00

We took a quick trip to Decatur this week to spend the night with Mimi! We also got to visit with Nana and Gene Gene while we were there. We spent a little time with the Jackson girls too, Maury's highlight may have been going to gymnastics to watch Gray!

Baby's 1st Boo!

2011-10-08T21:32:00.004-05:00

I found hand-me-down Halloween pj's in the drawer tonight! They don't look much alike in these pics!

Caroline


Maury 2007

Carter 2008

McWane + Railroad Park

2011-10-08T21:24:00.001-05:00

We met friends this week for a fun morning at the McWane Center and then headed to Railroad Park for a picnic lunch! It was a beautiful day and the kids loved the new park!!!

5 Months- 1st Ear Infection

2011-10-08T21:17:00.001-05:00

Caroline celebrated turning 5 months old with a trip to the doctor! She had a bad cold that turned into an ear infection which meant she got her first round of antibiotics and probably has tubes in her future! Big girl weighed in at 17 lbs and 9 oz! She is rolling all over the place and is starting to like rice cereal and fruit a little. She really likes her beauty sleep, we struggle to keep her up till 7:00 pm! 5 months with this sweet girl has flown by!!!

Bluff Park Art Show

2011-10-08T21:07:00.001-05:00

Loving the bus ride!

We look forward to the BP Art Show every year, especially Maury. She loves to go in the kids art area and create masterpieces! Carter liked the baked goods and Caroline got bored and took a nap!

Lost and Found

2011-10-08T21:00:00.002-05:00

Caroline was dressed in this when I picked her up at Near and Dear last Friday. Guess I would know where to find her if she got lost while wearing this sleeper ;)

Just in case you missed it on the front.....

MSU/LA Tech

2011-10-08T20:55:00.001-05:00

The MSU/LA Tech game was our first game to get to tailgate this season! We introduced Caroline to our favorite spot and she was right at home under the tent playing with her best cousin Catherine! Carter talked all week about tackling John David and that's exactly what he did all afternoon while Maury followed close behind big girl Char. We also had to squeeze in a visit with Bully, face painting and a trip to the bookstore. After BBQ and lots of treats we headed into the stadium to see the Bulldog win!

Breakfast With Daddy

2011-10-08T20:45:00.001-05:00

We love when Daddy has the weekends off! He is the best breakfast chef we know!!!

4K Field Trip

2011-09-26T20:03:00.000-05:00

Maury went on her very first field trip last week! They went to the Children's Theatre to see "Cinderella" and she said they had a great time and she loved the play! She got to ride with her best buds so that was definitely a highlight of the trip!

Another Milestone for Daddy!

2011-09-26T07:19:00.000-05:00

Caroline's first smile was for Daddy while I was running one morning and then last Sunday she rolled over (again, I had gone running)! Either I need to stop running or she needs to stop growing so fast!!! AND her first laugh went to Mimi while I was at work one day! What am I going to do with that baby girl??? I'm crossing my fingers that she will remember her mommy when it's time for sitting up, crawling, and her first steps!

Caroline's First Game

2011-09-25T16:58:00.000-05:00

Looks like fun, right???

It was not an ideal situation but State's first home game was on a Thursday night and we didn't want to miss it. We knew it wouldn't be easy and that we wouldn't see much of the game but we all survived and Caroline LOVED her first visit to Starkville and was a trooper as we all cheered on our Bulldogs! We even got to eat with the Wise's pregame!

Back to Ballet

2011-09-17T16:29:00.002-05:00

Maury had taken ballet in the past but it has been a while. We tried ballet at school last year and she was not into it but when she found out Sarah Elizabeth and Grace were doing it this year she was beyond excited!!! She loved it! Brooke got to sneak in the first class to get a pic, Maury is on the back row looking at her feet in 1st position I think :)

Big Girl's Check-Up

2011-09-13T21:01:00.003-05:00

Caroline had her 4 month check-up today! She is bigger than I thought weighing in at 16 pounds, 2.5 ounces, 25 3/4 inches long, and her head measured 17 inches (I was thinking she was around 14 lbs). The nurse even came back in to remeasure her head thinking she must have done it wrong because it had grown so much, but the first measurement was right! She is in the 90-95th percentile for all three. She is right in the middle of where Maury (13lbs/13oz) and Carter (18.5 lbs) were at 4 months. Caroline did well with her shots, didn't even cry with the first one and only a minute with the second. Dr. Hamm said she looked great and we are so thankful for a sweet healthy baby!

We tried rice cereal for the first time tonight! She wasn't a huge fan but she didn't gag and I think she swallowed a few spoonfuls!

Oh No!

2011-09-12T17:38:00.001-05:00

We just got back from a wonderful family vacay to Ono Island! On the way when we told Carter where we were going he said "Oh No? That sounds like a scary idea!"

We did a lot of swimming,

enjoyed riding on Uncle Lee's boat, the big boys went fishing,

took some family photos,

and went outlet shopping where we found these cute pjs!

Maury and Carter LOVED the beach this trip!

We are so glad Migi and Papa C planned this trip and a special thanks goes to Uncle Lee for letting us stay at the Ono House! We had such a great time!!!

4 Months

2011-09-06T16:36:00.000-05:00

Guess who's 4 months old!!! Our sweet baby Caroline has developed quite a personality in the past few weeks. She is laughing out loud and is very vocal, we think she may be a talker like her brother. She is getting to be a chubby girl and is so heavy in her car seat. Caroline is slowly outgrowing her fussy ways but still likes her mama to be in view. We were supposed to have her check-up today but the power was out at the pediatrician's office so stay tuned for stats next week!

Here's the other two at 4 months, she's starting to favor Maury more!

Lobster Anyone???

2011-09-06T13:55:00.001-05:00

Carter rode to work with Owen on Saturday and they came home with Lobster! Carter was so proud that he got to tour the VCC kitchen, see the live lobster, and bring some home for us to eat!

Boots

2011-09-06T13:52:00.002-05:00

If Maury and Carter go missing I can usually find them in my closet trying on shoes. They don't stay missing for long because I can easily hear their footsteps when they choose these boots (which is not ideal with a sleeping baby in the house)! In Carter's defense, he thinks the cowboy boots he is sporting belong to his Daddy!

Pictures by Erin

2011-09-02T22:13:00.001-05:00

Erin Nolen has been our photographer since Maury was a baby. She is so talented and always gets great shots even when I finish the session exhausted, about to pull my hair out, certain that she couldn't have gotten anything! Fussy Caroline did give her a run for her money this time, it took us 3 tries, thank goodness Erin is not only super talented but also super flexible!!! Here's the slideshow: www.erinnolenphotography.com/coulsonsummer11

1st Game Day

2011-09-01T22:25:00.001-05:00

Hooray! Tonight is MSU's first game of the season! We are watching it on TV since it's in Memphis but we can't wait until the first home game! Not sure how we will manage but we will be there with cowbells and 3 kids in tow! Caroline does not know what she is in for! I've got to go dig through the hand-me-downs for some maroon and white so she'll have more than a bib to wear! GO STATE!!!

Happy Birthday Mimi!!!

2011-09-01T22:15:00.001-05:00

We went to Decatur for a special birthday lunch on Sunday! Not only was it Mimi's special day but we celebrated Leigh Ann and Mary Bradford's birthdays too! Lots of kids, lots of cake, and lots of fun!!!

Thank You Pierce!!!

2011-09-01T22:07:00.000-05:00

It seems the baby gear we own is a little on the boring side. Our neutral papasan chair only vibrates and has a single bunny that hangs down but doesn't do a thing to entertain Caroline. So I called for reinforcements! Ginger let us borrow Pierce's super exciting bouncy seat! When Carter and Maury woke up the first morning we had it they both immediately sat right down by it and Carter said "Oh, thank you Mom!" The rainforest bouncer with its lights, moving animals, music, nature sounds, and vibration has definitely made things a little easier around here! Caroline even slept in it one night!

Last First Day

2011-08-23T07:11:00.000-05:00

Before

After

Yesterday I dropped my last baby off for her first day at Near and Dear. I warned the sweet ladies that she was a little different than the other two: loves her mama, fights sleep, reflux issues, etc. They were all smiles and said she would be just fine and I knew they would take good care of sweet Caroline. I wasn't so much worried about her, I felt bad for her caretakers because I know she is a rotten mama's girl. She started fussing as soon as I handed her over, and then when I went to visit at lunch, same thing. When my work day was over I found her swaddled tight and strapped in a swing, sound asleep. They do some strong work at Near and Dear!

Splash Pad

2011-08-21T08:09:00.000-05:00

We took a little drive North to the Splash Pad in Gardendale this week! And to make the outing even more exciting Pierce and Ginger went too! They splashed and played hard all morning and Caroline enjoyed a nap in the shade!

Rock Stars

2011-08-16T20:03:00.000-05:00

Maury's friend Sarah Elizabeth came over to play yesterday. As soon as she got here they ran upstairs and I heard SE say "Let's have a dance party!" and M replied "Oh yes, but lets keep our panties on!" Whew, thank goodness! They quickly stripped down (to their panties) and then selected the perfect outfit for their party. SE said she was a rock star and she said Maury was a model! Ha!!!

Tummy Time

2011-08-16T19:58:00.000-05:00

Tummy time is not Caroline's forte. She pretty much pukes each and every time we attempt it so she is a little behind on skills like rolling over and her head is still pretty wobbly! This could also be because she has been held most of her life! Anyway I snapped a few this week, you can see the remnants of formula on the second one!

First Day, Hooray!!!

2011-08-10T17:25:00.000-05:00

The days went by slow but the weeks so fast! It's hard to believe summer is over! Maury and Carter were so excited to start back to school on Monday. They gave big thumbs up on the way and had lots to report on the way home! I can always tell how much fun Carter had by how filthy he gets and he may have broken his dirty clothes record on his first day back!

Caroline's Dedication

2011-08-10T17:11:00.000-05:00

A special thanks to Joe for getting a pic of this ;)

She was so ready to get out of that gown!

Caroline was dedicated at church on Sunday and we had family in town to celebrate. She was a sweet girl during the dedication but big brother showed out a bit! We enjoyed having lunch with family and I am so thankful for my Mom and Mother-in-law for cooking because I could not have pulled that off!

3 Months

2011-08-05T16:30:00.001-05:00

Caroline is 3 months old today! She is still likes her beauty sleep but is having a little more awake time each day. She is still having some issues that we think is reflux related so we've gone up on her Zantac in hopes that she will fuss a little less. Mommy's arms are still her favorite spot but she's branching out a bit to the swing and she really likes sitting/sleeping in her car seat (thank goodness)! Even though she's a screamer, she is a precious baby and we are so blessed!!!

AND as a special 3 month birthday gift to Mommy, sweet Caroline slept through the night! I sure hope she keeps it up!!!

It's Almost Time!!!

2011-08-05T16:20:00.000-05:00

We are so ready for school to start back around here, only a couple of days to go! We have almost survived the summer! Last night we went to Meet the Teacher at Maury and Carter's school. Carter has Mrs. Molly, Maury's teacher from last year, and Maury has Mrs. Kortney who was Carter's teacher during Mrs. Lora's maternity leave. They were excited to find their spots at the table and to see a few old friends! Carter was really interested in the little treats in each room ;)

Fort Morgan Fun

2011-08-01T16:32:00.001-05:00

We just returned from our annual beach trip to Fort Morgan with Mimi! We sure missed Gandy and Daddy this trip but fun was had by all! I'm pretty sure I came back a little more exhausted than when I left but thanks to help from Mimi, Aunts, Uncles, and a babysitter, me and my 3 survived the week!!! I felt like I was always holding a baby instead of a camera but I still got some good pics!

The Big Girls

A cool spot in the baby cabana for Caroline!

If Carter missed his nap after lunch he could be found here in the evening!

The boys jumped in in pjs one morning!

The baby girls liked to stay in!

Looking surprised about something.....

Dolphin Cruise!

Worn out!

The boys had a blast together!

These two preferred the pool to the beach

Going to dinner with Mimi

Pig shirts from Gandy's store

Silly faces

These little piggies went to market!

The only pic I got of the three of them

The only night we all went out to eat- Tacky Jacks!

We learned early in the week Caroline definitely needs her Zantac (I left it at home and she screamed for a few days till I got it called in), she sleeps best in her own bed, and when she is tired she only wants Mommy to hold her. She shaped up by the end of the week! She was my bed buddy all week long!

Happy to be heading home!

Cars, Copy-Cats, and Cupcakes!

2011-07-22T13:46:00.000-05:00

Oh, and COUSINS!!! We went to Decatur for a couple of days this week. We went to see Cars 2 and Maury and Carter had a big time playing with Char. Maury did and said everything Char did and said. When asked what she wanted for lunch Maury would reply "whatever Char's is having!" Maury got to stay an extra night with the Jackson's, I'm afraid she will have on a Justin Beiber t-shirt when she returns today! She loves her big girl cousins and wants to be just like them! Carter has been missing Maury today so I took him to Gigi's cupcakes for a special treat. He was in heaven, that boy LOVES cupcakes!!!

James' Pool Party

2011-07-22T13:35:00.000-05:00

Maury got shot down!

James invited friends over to his grandmother's pool on Tuesday! The kids did a lot of swimming and a lot of running! Maury and Carter were exhausted and slept most of the afternoon!

Bowling With VCC

2011-07-19T21:57:00.000-05:00

The past few years we've gone to Alabama Adventure for Vestavia Country Club's company picnic but this year they rented out Vestavia Bowl! Maury and Carter were thrilled! They cheered with each pin they knocked down and loved the arcade with free play on the games! Caroline slept the whole time we were there and missed all of the fun!

Swimming Lessons

2011-07-19T21:47:00.000-05:00

Maury had her swimming lessons at Shades Cliff last week! She learned how to swim better with big arms and strong kicks and she learned the jellyfish float, the dead man float, and the back float. She is a little more confident in her swimming skills now and she loved her teacher Mrs. Caroline!

10 Weeks and STILL Growing!

2011-07-15T14:19:00.002-05:00

Caroline was 10 weeks old yesterday and seems to be putting on the pounds at a rapid rate! I'm thinking she needs to move out of the sink and into the bath tub!!!

She's is a very happy baby (excluding the evening hours) and is beginning to love playing in her crib and under her play gym!

Caroline's First Sunday

2011-07-15T14:16:00.001-05:00

Last Sunday was Caroline's first time to Sunday School! We made it there in one piece and only 10 minutes late (Daddy was working) and she was a sweet girl!!! I did not do a great job of taking pictures, only took one of her and evidently had my finger over the flash!

Keeping Cool

2011-07-15T14:01:00.000-05:00

I couldn't keep these 2 out of the cheese balls!

We've been stuck inside a lot the past few weeks with the weather being too hot for Caroline (all of us really)! We've been to the gym, the library, and Chick-fil-a a few times. But last weekend we got to go to James' birthday party where there was lots of water to keep the big kids cool and we found a perfect spot by the fans for baby C!

Caroline is 2 Months Old!

2011-07-08T14:11:00.000-05:00

7-5-11

11 lbs, 2 oz

Caroline was 2 months old Tuesday and had her check-up on Wednesday. Mimi and Nana came for a visit and kept big brother and sister while we were at the doctor. She was 11 lbs, 2 oz and 23 in. Caroline is such a sweet baby. She smiles all the time now and even laughed out loud this morning! She coos, she loves to look around, loves lights and loves to be outside. She is a pretty good sleeper and really likes her bottles (as you can tell with her 2 lbs gain since we started supplementing 2 weeks ago)! So thankful for another healthy and happy baby!!!

July 4th Weekend

2011-07-05T14:28:00.000-05:00

He said he was Aqua-Man!

Caroline and Tre relaxing poolside

Feeding the ducks (this taken before they attacked)

Maury's back-yard restaurant

Migi bought matching flag shirts!

Sitting on Uncle Lee's trailer of fireworks pre-show

We took a road trip to Brandon for the holiday weekend. This was Caroline's very first visit to Mississippi and to Migi and Papa C's! We had a great time swimming, playing in the yard, and watching Uncle Lee's amazing fireworks show! I have never seen a show quite so grand, it was even bigger than the ones we watched at Disney! Carter is still not a fan of fireworks but Maury liked them. Caroline was asleep in cousin Tre's crib and somehow didn't hear a thing! The other highlight of the weekend was watching Carter learn (teach himself) how to swim. I guess he has just learned from watching Maury, I can't believe we have two little swimmers now! I guess they'll be teaching Caroline in a few years. We had a wonderful weekend spending time with family and celebrating America!

PandaMania!!!

2011-07-05T13:27:00.000-05:00

Maury and Carter went to another VBS last week and loved every minute! They are still singing and dancing to the songs!

Crazy Hair Day! Bug didn't go to VBS but wakes up with crazy hair most days :)

Hat Day!

Doughnuts with Pierce before VBS

The end of the week performance was great!!! They really showed out!

Aunt Amy to the Rescue!!!

2011-06-29T21:48:00.000-05:00

Straight from the slip-n-slide to the bathtub!

Owen and I had a party to attend Sunday night and I had a dentist appointment Monday morning so we had to call in a super sitter for double babysitting duty! Aunt Amy was happy to help out and Maury and Carter think she is the best! I wish I had a picture of Amy but she wouldn't let me take one (because she didn't have much time for making herself camera ready while tending to 3 kids, I know the feeling)! Gray was here part of the time and was happy to smile for the camera! THANK YOU AUNT AMY!!!

A Pedi With Kathryn

2011-06-29T21:39:00.000-05:00

Our sweet friends and up the street neighbors Kelly and Kathryn invited me and Maury to join them at the nail spa Sunday afternoon. Maury and Kathryn were in Heaven, I wish I had a video of their faces as they got their legs massaged and feet scrubbed! Their pedis turned out fabulous complete with polka-dots and flowers!

Zantac = More Smiles

2011-06-23T21:22:00.000-05:00

We've had a rough couple of weeks around here. I just figured it was that bad newborn stage and I was was trying to wait it out but after several nights of sharing the couch with Caroline I decided to take her to the doctor. The other two had reflux so I was hoping Zantac would help but we also found out that she may need a little formula to make her happy. So now with a fuller tummy and a little Zantac I'm hoping we are heading to a happier place! We are seeing lots more of these sweet smiles!

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-23T21:14:00.000-05:00

Adding one more to our family for this Father's Day makes it an extra special one for Owen! Maury, Carter, Caroline and I are so thankful for their wonderful Daddy! It is really crazy these days at our house but Owen is a Super-Dad and can handle all three like a pro! We are also lucky to have Gandy and Papa C in our lives!

A Princess?

2011-06-20T17:20:00.001-05:00

Maury came downstairs in this garb the other day and said "Mom, do I look like Belle? Kinda like a princess or something?" Note her magic wand.

Children's 100th Celebration

2011-06-19T10:12:00.000-05:00

Children's Hospital is celebrating 100 years and we went to an event for employees at Railroad Park yesterday! They had everything from a ferris wheel to juggling clowns and the face painting was pretty impressive! What didn't come off of Maury and Carter's pillows at nap time washed away in the pool later that afternoon. It was a fun family outing, Caroline even got to go stroll around!

First Smile for Daddy!

2011-06-19T10:02:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning when I went running our grumpy 6 week old shared her very first smile with Daddy! He managed to capture it with his camera phone! She did give me a little smile later in the day so I wouldn't be upset!

Mimi's VBS Week

2011-06-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

The only pic I have from vbs, stolen from Cate's mom's blog :)

Since I couldn't teach at our VBS this year because Caroline couldn't go, Maury and Carter went to VBS with Mimi! They had a great week and were totally exhausted by the end. VBS + lots of swimming with the Jackson girls can take a lot out of two pre-schoolers. They had a ball and I'm so thankful for Mimi and Aunt Amy helping me out! I only have a few pics to post since I wasn't at VBS but you can see they had a good time!

6 Weeks (And Not Happy About It)!

2011-06-18T15:04:00.000-05:00

PASSY PLEASE!!!

Sweet Caroline was six weeks old on Thursday and I'm not sure if she is unhappy about growing older, has frequent gas pains, is hungry, or is just a grumpy baby but she is well into the not-so-fun infant stage. She can be calmed fairly easily when held but she does not want to be put down and DOES NOT want to be without her passy. This too shall pass! We love every moment with this precious baby girl!!!

Much Better!