How can it be?

Summer Journey is turning 3!

You joined our then family of three on July 17, 2007.

You weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces and were 21 inches long.

You were born with beautiful brown eyes, just like your daddy.

Since then, you have brought so many more smiles and so much more laughter into our home. Your big brother, Carter, has been your biggest fan from the beginning, and today the two of you are best buddies. We pray this will always hold true for you two.

There were not too many months where it was just our family of four. During those months, we had a great time together. You grew and grew, we traveled to Arkansas, and took you to the zoo.

After Tilly was born, we became the party of five. You have always been such a sweet big sister to Tilly. Daddy and I love to watch the three of you play together. It is so sweet.

You are growing up way too fast! Your big brown eyes and sweet smile are a sight to behold.

There are so many sweet pictures that I have of you; I am having a hard time choosing only a few. You are such a beautiful little girl, inside and out.

Summer, one of the things we love so much about you is your sense of adventure and your brave spirit. As a wee little one, you climbed on top of our dining room table and tried to reach the chandelier!

This past year, you went to school with Carter and Mommy for the first time. Carter took such great care of his little sister during her first year of school, and you clearly adore him for it!

The latest season of our life brought yet another baby girl for you to be a big sister to. Thank you for being such a sweet example to Tilly and Story of what being a big sister is all about!

Happy third birthday, sweet Summer! Daddy and I love you so very much. We pray that the One who gave you those gorgeous brown eyes and precious smile will woo you early in your life with His love and ultimately use you in mighty ways to bring Him glory. We love you to the moon and back!

Chapter 2 Meet the Nephew

One of the reasons we were so excited about traveling to Arkansas was to meet a very special fella! He arrived just shortly after we did on Thursday evening, and we could not have been happier to kiss his sweet cheeks. Lincoln! I think he might have been a little overwhelmed by all of our little people, but he handled it so well.

Not long after meeting Lincoln and seeing his sweet parents, it was time to go to bed for the night. For Friday held lots of promise. However, Thursday night not long after we put Story to bed, this is what we found. . .

So, I wonder is she going to be a thumb sucker? I am not sure if this is better or worse than the pacifier; we are definitely not going to encourage either, ha!

Anyway, we started off Friday just right with the pool and slip-n-slide, thanks to Papa and Gigi. Cory (or Court according to Tilly - she is still asking if he is in the shower!) and Daddy were a great help putting the pool together. Papa even had to use some of his engineering skills to get it set up on level ground. It's a good thing he did because our children lived in the pool most of the week! So fun!

Friday night was a first for Carter, Summer, and Tilly - snow cones! David and I developed a love for these while we lived in New Orleans, the best we've ever had for sure. Thankfully, Juie remembered her camera to commemorate the event for us. Summer ordered a princess one, and Carter's was Mickey Mouse. Tilly, well, she just mooched off anybody who would give her a bite, ha!

Saturday promised even more fun, for O'Dell's from around the United States would be joining us on Summerfields Drive for a pre-family reunion cookout! Stay tuned!

Brusha, Brusha, Brusha

Today, David took Carter and Summer to their very first dental appointment. I was so worried about how they would do. Would they scream and cry? Would they not allow the hygienist to clean their teeth? Would they bite the dentist? Would they cause a scene? My worries were in vain because they did none of these things. In fact, according to their daddy, they were awesome, stellar, rock stars! And no cavities! See you in 6 months.

On a different note, tomorrow we take Tilly for a follow-up ultrasound. We covet your prayers of complete healing in her little body.

Chapter 1 The beginning.

Let's start at the beginning because, after all, the beginning is a very good place to start. Thursday, July 1, O'Dell party of six departed Brooks Drive and headed westward on our journey "home." This was after spending a week packing for our adventure. Little people and husbands :) require so much stuff to travel, especially our littlest person. But we are not complaining because we like her so much, and she traveled better than anyone, me included! Our adventure was pretty smooth to start off. We made it to Birmingham without even having to turn on the DVD player. That is a miracle in and of itself. When we got to Alabama, Carter said, "Are we in Arkansas yet?" David and I just laughed out loud because we knew we were nowhere close! We did stop in Birmingham for lunch because one of the best things about Alabama is located in Birmingham.

You know what I'm talking about. . .Dreamland!

David and I discovered our love for this place our last summer to work FUGE while in Mobile, Alabama. We also lived close to one when we first moved to ATL. If you have not experienced the goodness that is Dreamland, then please don't wait another minute! You won't be sorry. All in our party of six are in full agreement that this place rocks!

After we had BBQ sauce all over us and full tummies, we headed across the street to a little park with a playground to let the children expend some energy. It was a great idea, and the children had a blast!

I know that we stopped again, but to be honest with you I cannot remember where. I am thinking it was a quick stop, oh yes, at Zaxby's for a little snack, but more so that we could feed Story again. We did not stop again until we arrived at Papa and Gigi's house in Arkansas. Boy, they were a sight for sore eyes. Don't worry, there is lots more to tell, but that sums up the beginning quite nicely.

First things first!

(photo taken by LindseyFaith Photography)

Sweet Story turned two months old (July 10) during our journey to several places we call home. Today, I took her (all by myself, what! what!) for her check-up with Dr. G. I usually have David take the children when they are getting their shots because it hurts my heart so much, but it is crunch time for David with his school work, so I took one for the team, put on my big girl panties, and went ALL BY MYSELF! And I did not cry. For those of you who know me well, you understand this monumental event. When Carter went for his two month check-up and it came time for the shots, I cried harder than he did. They don't really warn you about this as a new mommy. No one ever tells you about the shots or the fact that you have to hold down your precious baby while they stick them with those awful needles. In fact, I don't know if I have been back for shots since my first experience with Carter. So thankful for a Daddy with nerves of steel and a willing heart. Anyway, Story had one oral vaccine and three shots. Whew! She was mad as fire and cried louder and harder than I have ever heard her, but when I picked her up and held her real tight, she stopped. Melted this momma's heart. So, sweet girl, here is what you have been up to for the past two months:

• You weigh 12 pounds 12 ounces and are 23 1/4 inches long, putting you in the 90-95% for both.
• You are wearing size 1 diapers and 3-6 month clothes.
• You eat 5 ounces of formula with a teeny bit of rice cereal every three hours during the day.
• At 6 weeks, you slept through the night for the first time.
• Consistently, you go to bed at 7:30, we wake you at 10:00 for another bottle, and then you sleep until 7:00 the next morning! Mommy and Daddy are so happy about this! Thank you, Lord, for BabyWise!
• You take 3-4 naps per day with your longest and best being from 1-4 with your brother and sisters.
• You smile A LOT and have started cooing lots more as well. Melts our hearts every time.
• You rarely cry, but when you do, your brother and sisters make for certain that we know, "Story is crying!" They are very worried about you.
• You can turn your head back and forth and put weight on your legs. Dr. G. commented today on how strong you are.
• You do not enjoy tummy time, but we are doing it anyway ;)
• Your eyes are dark blue and so pretty.
• Your hair is now a mo hawk because it is falling out on the sides. It is a light brown with maybe some strawberry blond.
• We still think you favor your big brother.
• You have traveled to five states: Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
• You are a rock star on long road trips.
• You sleep in a pack and play in our room.
• You bring so much joy into our family and we could not imagine life without you. Mommy, Daddy, Carter, Summer, and Tilly love you so much! We love you to the moon and back.

Home

This simple, four-letter word means so many different things for so many of us. I have learned in my life that home is not so much a place, but the people who go with you along the way. Home for David and me has become so many places, as we have lived in 5 different states during our soon to be 9 years of marriage. David and I, along with our four sweet children, have been on a journey home for the last 10 days. We traveled home to Bryant, Arkansas, where David grew up to celebrate generations of the O'Dell family and a certain brown-eyed girl's third birthday. We traveled home to Jonesboro, Arkansas, where David went to college and where some sweet friends married this past weekend. And we traveled home to Marmaduke, Arkansas, where we made our first home together as husband and wife, also where David served on staff as a youth pastor at MFBC. Finally, tonight we traveled home to our residence on Brooks Drive. Believe me, I have lots to share about our journey home, so stay tuned! You are in for quite a ride. For now, we are thankful for yet another safe trip home and a wonderfully, refreshing visit with family and sweet friends.