Happy 8th Birthday Dear Maddox

It's Official!  Maddox Ren is 8!

 This little girl counted down the minutes and the days and the seconds until it was finally her birthday!  She was just so excited to be 8!

 Everyone was excited for her as well.....yet this one little soul could not deal....she just wanted to be in on the action of unwrapping the presents too!  Bless.   

 Birthday week consisted of a mother/daughter pedicure session....

 and some cool crafting for friends....

 and painting pottery with friends...

 Maddox was so sweet.  I asked her what she wanted to do during her day with her best friend, Brooklyn, and she asked to go paint a piece of pottery to give to Maryn.

 Maddox is always thinking of things to do for others!

 Birthday morning arrived and Miss Maddox asked for ice cream for breakfast!  Who am I to say no to such a request?!

 And it was matching dresses for the win with her best friend Brooklyn!

 It was a fun-filled day with friends, gifts and cookie cake!

We are so thankful for our little Maddox Ren!  She has the kindest of hearts, she is the best staller of all, she loves her role as big sister to two, she is so creative, when asked what her favorite school subject is she replied "writing! I love to write!" and when asked what her least favorite subject is she said, "definitely math!"

We know God has big plans for this girl!  She is a light to many!  She talks often of her dreams of being a surgeon - "gross things don't make me sick!" and she loves the idea of helping those in need.  She is an "old soul" at times and will tell you how it is even when you don't ask!  

We adore every ounce of this little girl and we are thankful everyday that we get to watch this little one soar!  

Seabrook Photos of the Littles

I love photography and photographing my kiddos is a favorite of mine!  

One afternoon, we set out on an adventure to capture the three littles beachside....

five years old is the perfect age....this little one was all things fun and beautiful to capture!

Maybe little sister needed to be photographed too....and maybe her mother forgot the right attire, gasp, but all was well - we just went with it and savored the moment for memories.

Chapman is all about the "cheese-grin" these days....

Maddox was not 100% in for this event....she kept "itching" with a bite on her leg and then on her arm....

so maybe she was told that she could visit the $5 Target aisle if she would just get a pic or two!

And while Maddox was trying to figure out her feelings on photos, Maryn was all about the camera!  She was shouting, "Hey!  Over here!  Get me smiling this way!"

The hand on the hip is a favorite of mine....

and the tongue???  Goodness!

She loves her dress and says she is a princess each and every time she is given an opportunity to wear it!

This little one is a light in all of our lives.  

I couldn't help but think just how much this little one has grown in just one year!

She is most always dancing or hopping or skipping....

or twirling....she is a light to all of us and we are thankful for our Maryn!

The cheese-grin....she is just precious!

Chapman is by far the busiest child we have ever parented....

we are thankful for this thumb....it slows her down just long enough for us to get some good snuggle time with her!

One year ago, Maryn took on a new role in her life - the role of big sister.

She was not so sure about this new place in her life for quite some time....

in fact, she often would ask, "can we just take her back to China tomorrow?"

How times have changed!  Now, Maryn will say, "Mommy, can we get another baby just like Chapman?  She is just so cute!"  Full circle, friends.  

Meanwhile, Maddox decided Target shopping sounded good so she posed a few good poses....

and smiled her gorgeous smile....

and then Chapman took over once again!

to capture this little's full personality behind a lense is nearly impossible....she is just so funny and silly...

and she just laughs when others laugh or laughs because she finds herself funny....

or she stops for a moment of reflection....

and then she continues on, silly and all, trying to place grass over her eyes???  

And we end with this sweet Maddox Ren. 

How did we ever get so lucky to have these three littles in our lives?