Beau Harrison at 5 Years

 

Our sweet and spunky Beauman turned FIVE this month! After discussing many party themes with him, he finally settled on a Lego party to celebrate with his buddies. My favorite part of the party ended up being this Lego photo booth backdrop my mom set up, complete with wacky props. As you'll see, some kids in came back quite a few times!

 

Cool families take awkward photos together on purpose.

Ella and Mal must have tried every prop we had. They are such sweet friends!

The Johnston crew, looking sharp!

Lillian & Nora

Laughing Hillary & cool cowboy Jackson





 

 

My kids rounded up every basic Lego piece we could find, along with a bunch of wheels. Thanks to the genius of Mr. Justin Chamblee, a car ramp station was constructed! Several boys never seemed to leave this area.

We've used our church fellowship hall for most of the kids parties over the last few years. What a blessing to have a great space to use that doesn't involve twenty kids running wild through your house!

This may be the saddest looking Lego cake ever constructed, but Beau was pleased. Orange cake & orange icing for my orange loving boy!

Five-year-olds playing Twister is just greatness!

Even better when an adult joins in!

Car construction concentration (say that five times fast!)

Funny girls!

We'll save this for their wedding slideshow! ;)

We've used our bounce house at Beau's last three birthday parties. Recycling at its best!

It's a shame that this child is so uncomfortable with being the center of attention. He directed the chorus as his friends sang happy birthday to him.

Birthday joy!

Precious cousin friends!

Payton adores Mal, and this picture made me laugh!

Papa in disguise

Me & my favorite brother

Brody & Papa

Pinata time - stand back!

Aaand they're back!

My kids have such fun grandmothers!

Sherriff Mal

Nice look, J!

Aubrey couldn't get enough! She even convinced her big brother to join her.

You're never too old for Legos!

Mimi & Pops

 

As a big five-year-old, Beau continues to have a huge personality for such a little guy. He seems to have limitless energy but still loves to snuggle and gives unsolicited hugs and kisses often. His vocabulary keeps expanding to include lots of grown-up words that make me giggle when heard coming from a preschooler's mouth. His memory is sharp, and he holds us to anything we say.

 

Beau loves just about everyone he meets and adores his brother and sister. But as high as any of us in his family may rank, we know that his favorite person - hands down - is Nora. She is probably the biggest reason he's sad about leaving Texas. Thankfully, she loves him too and is planning to visit us in Georgia. Our gregarious little man never meets a stranger and is happy to talk to anyone who will listen. He seems to say at least twice as many words in a day as other children, and much of what he says is hilarious!

 

Beau Harrison, you are pure joy. Your daddy and I love you dearly and know that God has great plans for that winning personality of yours. Happy birthday, sweet boy!

 

Beau Harrison is 3!

Just a few moments ago, this was my life.  This precious little 7 lb 3 oz miracle was in my arms.  That tiny, squishy, adorable bundle was snuggled up with me as I soaked up every detail of him.

For me, Beau will always be my miracle baby.  I know of many families who have faced far more serious circumstances through pregnancy & as they welcomed their children into this world.  But for us, seeing a perfectly healthy baby boy after months of wondering if he would be okay, was truly miraculous.  

Throughout my pregnancy, Beau's sonograms showed his bowels to be echogenic, which just means they showed up brighter than his other organs.  This could have been an indicator of many terrible things, but we were able to rule several of the big ones out with testing.  The doctor said that it was likely just some blood that he had swallowed in the womb & wasn't cause for concern.  Still, I wondered if it truly would be nothing.  I can see now how God used that time to give my patience & strengthen my faith in Him.  

I give him all the glory for the precious, perfect boy that we received.

In the operating room on the morning he was born, we got to see even more evidence of God's protection for our sweet one.  The doctor showed us a fist-sized knot in Beau's umbilical cord.  Thankfully, the knot was loose and hadn't restricted his blood supply.  I'm thankful for that little detail in Beau's story because it reminds me of just how blessed we are each time a healthy baby is born.

All that was just a moment ago, then somehow my baby turned one year old...

then two years old...

and today he is a big three-year-old.  My kids birthdays don't make me sad, but I do tend to become a bit nostalgic.  Because really, I blinked and three years flew by.   I used to laugh a bit and maybe even roll my eyes at those parents who warned me about how quickly time would fly with my kids.  Sure, I thought, even though this day has lasted ten years, I'm sure the next eighteen years will just fly right on by.  Sure.  In just five and a half years of parenting, I've discovered the horrifying truth that they were right.  In fact, I've even become that annoying parent on several occasions, warning newbies to treasure every moment.

So I do miss that tiny, squishy baby that I held three years ago.  But I'm also having a blast with this funny, sweet & often ornery little boy.  I love you, Beau Harrison, and I feel so blessed to have been given the job of being your mommy.

The birthday boy chose pancakes for breakfast on his special day.  He also got to open his present from his two best buddies, a new Transformers toy.  Thank you hugs!

A bit somber, but I think he enjoyed his requested pancakes

Make a wish!

Now it's off to see The Lego Movie for a birthday treat!

15-Month Stats, at 16 Months

Beau's 15-month check-up ended up getting pushed to July 6th, so he was almost 16 months old, but here are my littlest cutie's stats:

Weight - 22 lb 6 oz (15%)

Height - 32" (70%)

Head - 19.25" (85%)

Our long & lean little boy is doing just great!

Self-feeding is a messy business...

but he's slowly starting to get the hang of it!

Beau Harrison at 1 Year

After much delay due to a spring break birthday & Jake's incident upstaging his original appointment, we finally had Beau's 12 month check-up today.

At one year, here are the big man's stats:

20 lb 11 oz (15%)

30" tall (45%)

 19" head (85%) - to fit all those brains!

Beau had taken some steps by his birthday, but really started walking about two weeks later.  He thinks he's pretty big stuff.

My youngest boy is quite the curious one & likes to see what kind of mischief he can get into.  Running away from Mommy is a popular game of his, as is climbing stairs, stealing his siblings' toys & making a mess when he's done with his food.  The Beau-man loves to dance to any music he hears & enjoys being sung to.  He is also a fan of Pat-a-Cake.  Bath time is probably his favorite time of the day.

Beau is a great eater & will try pretty much anything, unless you catch him on a bad teething day.  His favorites are ham, cheese, green beans, broccoli, grapes, strawberries & wheat thins.  Don't be fooled by  that healthy list, though.  He also has quite the sweet tooth & will beg shamelessly for any dessert he sees you consuming.  Be prepared - he's very persuasive!  And speaking of teeth, he only had one at his birthday & now has a second one.  Both are on top, with a pretty significant gap in between, which makes for some cute, funny grins.

Beau is a smiley, happy boy most of the time.  He does have a fiery temper though, one of many traits he shares with his sister.  Taking away something he shouldn't have, picking him up when he wants to be down, making him come inside & telling him "no" are just a few catalysts that can launch him into a sobfest, complete with the cutest pouty lip you've ever seen.  Most of these fits are short-lived, & then it's back to giggles. 

My sweet blue-eyed boy, I love you so much!  Daddy & I are thankful every day that God entrusted you to our care.  We know that your big, bright personality will one day make you a great servant in His kingdom, & we're thrilled to join you on that journey.