Before heading to Chicago, we headed to the beach last Wednesday, to see Sloane, visit with friends, and eventually fly out. The weather was perfect, the kids were in good company and so were the adults!
We had a boatload of kids! Literally, an entire boatload. They were in heaven and the adults sure enjoyed watching and photographing. We were so grateful to “officially” meet Ruth & Chris. Ruth is a very talented {Dallas} photographer, if you recall, her very kind husband, Chris helped me with the move to the new blog! They combined “the professional portrait photographer weekend” with a week-long vacation and it was so much fun getting their kids together with our kids and Marla & Shane’s kids.
This is Avery {Marla’s oldest} holding Gracie {Ruth’s youngest}.
John Martin and Gracie are just a few weeks apart.
Gracie lacked the battle-wounds that John Martin always seems to be covered with… but she can hold her own when it comes to making silly faces. Ok, they both can hold their own when it comes to making silly faces!
Later that evening, Erika & Morgan made us pizza while Sloane took it all in.
While they rolled & tossed I escaped to the backyard with Sloane to take a few pictures of her on her new blanket.
She’s so precious and pensive! And I see so much of Erika in her.
John Martin, on the other hand, did not find her to be precious. Nor did he like me to hold her. Here he is petitioning his right to be the caboose of our family.
In case that fit didn’t work, he decided he’d try to poke baby Sloane in her eyes.
He has no understanding whatsoever of the word “gentle”. While this {screaming & poking} is taking place, Erika is in the kitchen making pizzas nearly having heart failure that John Martin is going to kill Sloane. If you know Erika, you can hear her. I assured her he wouldn’t; I play mean defense and I’m bigger than him!
He finally moved on to torment the dogs while I enjoyed holding at a baby that actually somewhat resembles me!
We finally found the best seat in the house for Rover.
Completely confined. Erika, can I borrow it?
2nd: We went to Chicago… up next!
elizabeth
October 6, 2009 at 10:54 pmDarby, have you considered going into photography? Your pictures are great!
Sloane is so sweet and beautiful…..I want to drive from KY and get her:)
Amanda Thrasher
October 6, 2009 at 11:02 pmHave missed you! Can’t wait to hear about your trip. I actually hope there’s not much to tell—hope you got to enjoy lots of R and R. KNow it will be worth the wait. LAter Gator,
Amanda
Tomara
October 6, 2009 at 11:16 pmThat last photo is so, so cute! I love that grin! Beautiful!
eringianni
October 7, 2009 at 1:14 amsweetness! that pic of you and sloane… and all of her hair! beautiful. i wish i was there to catch up with your whole extended crew and meet the new baby. going to email you later with a stateside update, we are headed your way, sort of kind of! congratulations on being an aunt, what a special honor! ps. does rover’s less than rosy reaction to another little one mean that you will be stopping at 3?!:-)
Lisa
October 7, 2009 at 7:14 amYES!! Sloane does look like you! Who would have thought that some dark haired mommies can only seem to make blond haired babies!?! I feel your pain! (ha ha!)
LOVE Rover…he is ALL boy! So stinkin adorable. Love the bruise. It’s gonna be his signature- like bows for the girls.
Glad you’re back.
Bon
October 7, 2009 at 7:23 amHi Darby! Nice to hear from you again!
I had to giggle at the picture of the Rover trying to poke the two of you out. At least you know he loves you huh? *g*
The picture of you holding Sloane, and how she is looking at you…its breathtaking. She is so yummy! Her little quilt suits her. Great Job!
Ashley
October 7, 2009 at 7:29 amSo stinkin precious.
Mommasissy & Sloane
October 7, 2009 at 8:27 ammelt my heart right out of my chest!
these are such precious photos – thank you for bringing your gaggle to mi casa! it was so fun. i love having a boatload of kids in my backyard… chance went out and bought another kids life jacket – he wanted one so paiger could ride too!! maybe next week when you visit!? i love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
alison g. (brazil)
October 7, 2009 at 8:38 amI love it ALL – boatloads of kiddos, plus one, tiny sweetie taking it all in. Looks like the best kind of family chaos!
You know, I wonder what Sloane’s hair will do? My Avery was born with a ton of nearly-black hair. Everyone said she’d probably lose it, but she never did, it just got lighter and lighter – now, she’s a honey-blond – go figure! I can’t wait to see her grow!
Looking forward to….the REST of the story! 😉
Meredith
October 7, 2009 at 8:53 amhow much fun!! sloane is just precious! can’t wait to hear about Chicago!!
Melissa
October 7, 2009 at 9:03 amOh my! That picture of you and Sloane is gorgeous! You can see the love in your eyes and hers too! Can’t wait to hear about the rest of the trip!
Erin
October 7, 2009 at 9:06 amI’m having lots of opportunity to identify with you on this post, Darby. Having my own rover, I can definitely vouch for the awesomeness that is the Chicco hook on seat. Our 2 year old rover has been sitting in his since he could sit up at 6 months (we have the hippo version https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265739#) and it is a lifesaver. It’s a breeze to clean too – I just take it outside and hose the sucker off.
I’m a twin too, and my sis just recently had her first wee one, and my son had a super duper major meltdown the first (and second, and fifth, and twentieth) time he saw me holding my nephew.
Ashley
October 7, 2009 at 9:11 amI love the picture of you and Sloane, she does look so much like you a Erika! She is perfect! Poor Rover, his heart might be alittle broken! 😉
Melise
October 7, 2009 at 10:01 am….”and I’m bigger than him”…..
Hahah! LOL. you’re a crack up!
Jacci
October 7, 2009 at 10:58 amLove it. Especially John Martin and his poker fingers. Too cute. And totally normal, btw 🙂 My son is a little over 2 and a half. On a regular basis we play “repeat after me”:
“I will be gentle with my sisters”
“I do not tackle girls”
“I will not hit with my toys”
He’s a peach. And look at SLOANE!!! 🙂 She *does* look like you and Erika. Sweetie pie!
Glad you were all able to visit. Such a precious time.
Jacci
kt
October 7, 2009 at 12:32 pmthanks for always sharing. sloane is gorgeous!! looks a lot like you and your sissy. looking forward to hearing about chicago. miss you! the kids are growing up too quickly…how badly i wish our children could play together.
Brittan
October 7, 2009 at 12:45 pmWonderful pictures!! SHe is so precious! Love all of her hair:)
Tara
October 7, 2009 at 1:55 pmLooks like you went the right direction! I Love it when all the cousins get together. We have a trailer full of kids that get pulled with the tractor. JM is so precious, he will learn to be gentle soon. Good news for thought: I showed my sis your blanket she said she would pay good money for it.
A.
October 7, 2009 at 3:07 pmSloane looks so beautiful. She has so beautiful eyes. You can see her soul.
I had to laugh really hard when I read that Rover was poking. Not nice but from far away really funny. Thank you for my laugh Darby!
Could it be or is it my imagination that Morgan and Paige growing so fast? If you do not post for some days I think I can see a difference.
But maybe I am silly….dont know… 😉
Elizabeth
October 7, 2009 at 3:44 pmDarby, Love, love, love your blog!! Where did Erika find the Red Booster Seat/ contraption that Rover is sitting in??? I have a 20 month old that will not stay in his high chair and when we ate at the beach at Tacky jacks they had one of those and it was wonderful becuase he could not get out!! Do you have a name for it to look online for????
Elizabeth
Bryn
October 7, 2009 at 3:57 pmso precious! I love it all! And it must be a trip to have a baby that isn’t your own look JUST like you!!! twins are so fascinating 🙂
Bryn
October 7, 2009 at 3:59 pmoh and ps – little Rover melts my heart, he reminds me so much of my littlest brother when he was a baby. The blond hair and big brown eyes. I was morgan’s age and I used to take care of him like he was my own 🙂 Someday your kids will look back at all these pictures and be so so thankful you took them all!
Mary Frances
October 7, 2009 at 5:05 pmMy own kids are now adults, but when we brought our daughter home, our son, then 21 months old, reacted the same way as Rover did! Even before that, when his daddy hugged me he would squeeze in between us and say, “Mommy is MY woman, Daddy!” He soon discovered his sister needed a protector, and when she got bigger she would say, “Be gentle to me!” They are best friends now, and call, email, text or Facebook each other daily…started that when our daughter went away to college and have continued ever since. I hope Sloane doesn’t lose her beautiful dark hair…it is one of the prettiest features her mother and aunt share…second only to your beautiful faces!! Still praying for you daily…Mary Frances
kate
October 7, 2009 at 10:09 pmAgain fantastic pics! What a fun family and friend time at the beach! I noticed in the pics Sloane is wrapped in her new quilt from you. How precious! The seat that attaches to the table is the best! I found one through the internet, Inglesina (I think)for about $30 bucks. It was the best investment. Henry my son who is nearing 3 ate most meals in it and I even put him in there to play with his toys or color while I made dinner or needed him to be in one place for a few moments to catch my breath. Looking forward to Chi town!
Hillary @ The Other Mama
October 8, 2009 at 12:03 amLove all the pictures!! We have that hook in chair and it’s fantastic- although mine are both too big for it now! And those faces are adorable. What a fun trip and a great job defending that little cutie!
erika@BluLabel Bungalow
October 8, 2009 at 10:46 amWhat a great trip! Photos are superb and really capture the moments. I almost feel like I was there!
Kristi
October 8, 2009 at 12:51 pmThat is so neat to get all the kids together like that. I have no other babies in our family to get together with! I agree with others you take amazing pictures and all the kids could be models!!
Betty Baker
October 8, 2009 at 10:51 pmHello wonderful family: you have so much to be grateful for – such a wonderful loving family. I am a great grandmother to three beautiful children and another one on the way. You are much like my grandaughters raising them in such a beautiful way. Congratulations. I live in the great north – Ontario – not that far north really, but we do not have the wonderful temperatures that you do. Keep the faith and be happy!
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