Update

I have been so behind on the blogging, I know! I didn't realize how hard it would be to be big pregnant during the holidays!! Any free time I have, I try to spend resting!! So........here is a Hooks Family update: We went to the Greenwood Christmas parade (despite the freezing temps.). On December 11 we had about 3 inches of snow in Brandon - Will didn't play in it long, he doesn't understand that snow is rare here! We have a "due date" for Ann Phelps - I will have a section on February 10 (Lord willing). In case anyone is wondering, it is hard to have a 3 year old and 1 year old and be 31 weeks pregnant :)!!!! Oh, also I turned the big 3-0 today - I don't know if I "feel" old or if it is the pregnancy :)? So.........that is what has been going on in the Hooks household. We are now getting ready for Christmas and Santa. It will be fun this year because Will understands Santa now. I promise to do better on the blogging! May God bless your holidays!!!

Boys having fun!

Here are some random pics that I have taken lately of the boys. They are really beginning to act like little boys - they love dirt, four wheelers, etc... Enjoy!

The Doctor and the Lion

Here are some pics of the boys in their costumes. Will is a doctor - this shocks me because if I even mention the word "doctor'" he freaks out. I waited two weeks to purchase his costume to make sure he wanted to be a doctor. Every time we went to Target I would ask him what he wanted, he turned down Thomas the Train, Handy Manny, and Bob the Builder every time and picked doctor? Ben is a lion. This was Will's old costume. It was very hard to get Ben to sit still for the pic. Notice the pics where he is not happy! Enjoy!

Pumpkin Patch

Last week Will's class went to the pumpkin patch. He had fun choosing a pumpkin, but he liked looking at the tractors more!

Delta Boy at Heart

A few weeks ago, Will saw a cotton picker in a John Deere book and asked what it was. Being from the Delta, I couldn't have my children growing up not knowing about cotton!!! So...I asked his Pap (my Dad) to find a cotton picker in action. Last Thursday we headed to the Delta to pick cotton and ride a REAL cotton picker!! Will loved it. He talked about it for two days. Ben didn't get to ride the picker, but he picked a little cotton.

Recent Pics

Just some recent pics of the boys. No matter how hard I try, I can never convince them to take separate baths - Will loves to make Ben laugh in the tub. And whenever Will is in there by himself, Ben is trying to crawl in! It is getting harder for me (being pregnant) to wrestle with them during bath time, before too long poor Rhyne will have this duty all to himself :)!!!

What a Shock!!

We are having a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!! She looks healthy and is measuring right on track! Praise the Lord! Rhyne and I are still in shock, but excited! It will definitely be a change of pace!!

Introducing Bedo?

Bedo - that is Will's new imaginary friend. We are always having to clean up before Bedo comes. He has been to the park with us and I have to "make" him a sandwich too. I don't know where he came up with the name. It took me a while to realize what he was saying. Sorry I don't have any pics of Bedo to share (for obvious reasons). Just thought I would introduce you to the friend who is always hanging out around here!!

The Big 3-0!

Happy Birthday, Rhyne!! Today Rhyne turns 30. I used to think 30 was the starting point of being old - now I don't like to think that since we are here!! Our family is so blessed to have Rhyne - he is such a GREAT father, husband, and best friend!

Happy Birthday, Ben!

Ben turned ONE on Sunday (September 7). I can't believe how fast this year has gone. We had a family birthday at my parents' house. It was a lot of fun to see him eating his cake! I took him for his check-up today: he weighs 30lbs. and is 33inches long!!! WOW!!

Thomas in Nashville

Will and I went to Nashville during the Labor Day weekend to see Thomas the Train. My good friend, Ann Morgan, braved the trip with us (including her husband and their son, Jake). The trip was fun, but long. I told Rhyne that I will not do that again being pregnant trying to chase after a 3 year old. It was all worth it, though, to see Will so excited to see the "real" Thomas!! He even got to ride the "real" Thomas train. I was a disappointed I didn't get good pictures, but I had to take them fast before Will ran to the next thing!!

You should see the other guy......

These are the words that Rhyne wanted me to type as the title for this post! It finally happened - Will had to get stitches, 7 was the final count! As many of you know, Will is not the most graceful child. He is always falling and smacking his head on something. I am so surprised that we haven't had stitches until now. Sunday, he was at Northpark Mall going up the escalator (it was broken, not moving) and he missed a step. He fell head first into the teeth of a step. He had two deep holes to show for it. He was such a trooper. The only time he cried at the ER was when the doctor came near him. That was the most awful experience for me to go through as a mom. They had him strapped down on the table and he was crying wanting me to hold him - awful!! Anyway, we are fine. The doctor told me he would probably be in pain and to give him Tylenol, but not Will. He has not cried nor complained about pain. I think he is so tough because of his rough start into this world. (The picture makes it look a lot worse than it is)

First Day of School

Will started school on Friday (August 15). He is in K-3 at Pinelake Christian Preschool. We had him enrolled at Trinity Presbyterian, but when we found out baby #3 was on the way, I didn't think it would be smart to drive 45mins. one way for half-day preschool (versus 15mins.). He seems to really like it. His teacher is a veteran - she has been teaching for 31 years!! I really can't believe he is at this point in his life, it goes by way too fast!!!

Rhyne's the Cook

For those of you who know us, you know that Rhyne is the cook in our family. I can cook some things, but you can only eat chicken so many times a week. Rhyne enjoys cooking. He watches the Food Network to learn new recipes. Cooking stresses me out. I get so nervous when I have to cook. Early in our marriage, Rhyne decided that he would be the cook. I think I stress him out when I cook! Plus, whatever he cooks tastes sooooo much better! So for those of you who didn't know this, now you know that I am not the perfect housewife! But it works for our family. Today I was craving pancakes. I didn't want them, the baby did - I hate eating because it makes me feel so sick, but the baby still wants food!! So, I decided to try and cook pancakes. Big mistake! Some of you are laughing wondering how I could mess up pancakes, but I managed! Will couldn't figure out what I was doing in the kitchen- he once asked my mom if she got her HOMEMADE pancakes from McDonald's like his mom does!!! Needless to say, I did not eat the pancakes - we loaded up in the car and let McDonald's cook them for us!! By the way, when Rhyne got home and surveyed the damage, he told me my pan was too hot!

Brandon Splash Park

There is a park near our house that has just added a splash park. Will calls it the "water park". I decided to be brave and take both boys by myself. It really turned out great. It is not very big, so Will felt confident enough to go play by himself while I took care of Ben. Ben sat in the stroller for the most part, but I did let him experience the water for a little while. Of course we had to leave after an hour because baby #3 was getting hungry :) !

Flashback

I wanted to post these pictures on Will's birthday post, but I couldn't find them on the computer. I found them today and wanted to share them with you. Many of you probably remember getting these when we sent out updates. It is so hard to believe that my active three year old was once so small! God is so good!!

What gets me through it

As many of you know, I have terrible morning sickness. It lasts all day. I have experienced this with every pregnancy. Every morning I wake up and dread the day ahead filled with sickness. The sickness is worse each time because I have another child to care for. I really want to be a fun mom who wants to play games and pretend with my boys, but the all-day sickness keeps me from this. I hate to admit that Will has probably watched more hours of TV in the past three weeks than he has watched in his entire life! And poor Ben, I force him to take a nap every two hours, just so I can lay down!! One day Will found me lying on the bathroom floor - he didn't say a word, he ran and got a blanket and laid down with me! It reminded me of why I was willing to go through the "yucky" stuff - to bring a new life into this world. I also had another revelation about morning sickness. I am constantly asking God why he would give me this that I don't feel I can handle. I lean on the promise that God will not give me anything I can't handle. Not that God owes me an answer, but He gave me one. He knows me. He knows that I would be worrying 24/7 wondering if the pregnancy was going like it should. He gives me the sickness to calm my spirit. The sickness lets me know that this new life is developing like it should. He knows I need this reminder (constantly) to calm my fears. So, this gets me through the day and I try not to complain too much. Don't think I am super woman - I remind Rhyne all the time how sick I am!! I still complain. But I thank God for this "yuckyness" because without it, I would worry non-stop!!

Birthday Tradition

When Will's first birthday was coming up, I wanted to start a tradition that would honor the memory of Matthew and Harris. For now, we have let two birthday balloons go each year on Will's (and the twins') birthday. It might change as Will gets older, but it works right now. This year was really the first year Will participated. We explained to him why we let the balloons go - I think he understands? It was such a sweet moment!

Party

We had Will's birthday party at Pump-It-up in Brandon. It was the easiest party - they decorated, served the food, organized the presents, and cleaned up after the party!! I didn't do anything but take pictures! I don't know who had more fun, the kids or Rhyne!! We had a train party - Will loves trains! Enjoy the pics!

Happy Birthday!

Today is Will's 3rd birthday!! I cannot believe three years have gone by (too fast)!! We had such a fun day. I will post pictures from the day later. Here are some then and now pics:

Explained: It's a God thing!

First, let me apologize for the poor quality of this scan. I am not the most computer-literate person. If you squint, you can see a tiny butter bean - that is another miracle God has given us. I am due February 22. Rhyne and I were (and still are) in such shock when we found out. I felt like I had just gotten adjusted to having just two! I feel like I need to explain why this is such a miracle to us. When Rhyne and I decided to start a family, we wanted at least four children (God-willing). In 2001, we began trying. This is when our infertility journey began. After many surgeries, tests, tears, negative pregnancy tests, and so much more, we turned to in vitro fertilization. Going through all of this, my faith was on a roller coaster. I would love to say that I never doubted God, but I did on a daily basis. I couldn't understand why He gave me a desire that was not fulfilled. Then he answered our prayer, we found out in January 2005 that we were pregnant with TRIPLETS! When we found this out I thought finally, God had answered our prayer for a full house (it wasn't the four we had planned, but we had only prayed for one this go around). So many of you know our story, but I don't think you know what I was really feeling during all of this. As you know, I gave birth to three boys on July 12, 2005 (at 27 weeks). God was so good (I really mean that), He gave us the one we had prayed for, Will. I lost the twins (Matthew and Harris). It was the toughest thing I think I will ever go through! I thought I had God figured out - He made me pregnant with triplets to fulfill my desire for a full house in one pregnancy. Why do I ever try to figure God out - no one can ever truly know why God does the things He does. I do find comfort in knowing that the events of that day did not catch God by surprise, He had it planned - that makes my spirit calm!! I wish I could say that I always trust God and never try to question Him, but that would be a lie!! I do have to say that despite the wide-range of emotions I have felt since July 2005, God has never left me feeling alone. He has been the constant in my life. I will spare you the soul-searching and revelations I have gone through since Will's birth. I am writing this post to give glory to God. He has done a marvelous work in our life (mine and Rhyne's). Everything you have witnessed us going through is nothing we have done - it is truly a God-thing. After Will's birth, I felt hopeless that he would have any brothers or sisters. After all, I could only get pregnant with the help of doctors - God brought glory to himself and crushed that thought! What a miracle Ben is! Now I find myself pregnant again with another vessel to bring glory to God!! It can't be explained by science why I can now get pregnant naturally, but God had this all planned - it is a God-thing!!! Many would look at my situation and pity me - being pregnant with another child this soon. I don't see it that way - for so long I thought I could never be pregnant. I will not trade God's timing for my timing. He created me, who else better knows what I need!! So, after all of this rambling, if you only take away one thing - take away that God deserves all the glory and all of this is a God-thing (that explains it)!!!

The Beach

We just got back from the beach last night. We went with my family. If you know anything about my dad, you know that he is not a "beach" person. Out of all of us, he had the best time! We stayed in Sandestin - Baytown Wharf. Very nice! It was so much fun watching Will play at the beach. Poor thing, he only enjoyed one day before he was knocked out by a stomach bug!! Ben didn't care too much for the ocean nor the sand! On the 4th, Baytown had a wonderful fireworks show - we sat on our balcony and had a great view! It was a great trip overall - just being with family and making memories makes it worth it!!