The Baby I Never Seem to Talk About

This is Grantham "Grant" Banister Jenkins at 9 weeks 3 days gestation.

I don't talk about the baby very often and I don't know why. We are getting excited about the baby coming we only have 11 more weeks left. Grant is expected near October 16th or so. I hope to get more prepared for him after the girls return to school. The Chief and I talk all the time about how we think he might look. If you have seen our children it really will be a toss up! That's the best part of the birth!

It's a boy all right! We were so thrilled to find out we were having a boy, mainly because we had NO name for a girl and both Joel and I just knew it was a girl, I still have no idea what we would have named the baby had he been a she!
I am not too anxious about this baby coming because I feel so un-prepared. It really is starting over for us, even though Gunner and Grant are only 2 1/2 years apart. I pray they form a great brotherly relationship with each other and hold each other to a high standard.

So, there it it is. My little boy is coming and coming soon. I really can't wait to see him and get to know him. We are a truly blessed family!

Mini Vacation

We are back. Here are a few pictures of our trip!

Ema caught the first fish of the day!

Olivia was the very MOST patient out of 6 kids!

A south Georgia bath

No cork screw? WE managed just fine thank you!

Gunner napped here and there, he was a real trooper. We were super tired come Sunday, but really had a good time with our friends. We fished, rode four wheelers, went to the state park, ate the fish we caught and had some good family time. It was really nice to get away for a little while.

Friday Thankfuls (EARLY)

We are leaving for a mini vacation tomorrow so I won't be able to post until Monday. I will take tons of pictures for sure. Where are we going?

We are headed down to Lake Seminole to a friends lake house. We have a ton planned and I will just try and keep up. Oh, yeah and we are getting the ghetto car window in tomorrow morning too. I am thankful for both these two things. The one thing I am most thankful for is only by miracle the Chief is going too, for the WHOLE time! I swear that man never takes time off and I am so glad he will be with us. It will be great to get away for a while.

I will blog to you later...have a great weekend!

The Doodlebugs Make the Paper!

http://thepostsearchlight.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19860315&BRD=2068&PAG=461&dept_id=582245&rfi=6

The Jenkins crew made the local paper for a "Beat the Heat" entry! (well, three out of four did) I had forgotten I had submitted it,until the Chief opened the paper and said "Why are my kids in the paper?" Anyway,it's kinda cute!

Friday Thankfuls...

So I thought I would try something new. So you have to post something every Friday stating what you are grateful for. It can be funny, serious, thoughtful, dedicating whatever it is you are feeling. I will start.

Today as I rolled (literally) out of bed and stood up I realized that at 7 months pregnant I am doing o.k. on the weight gain issue. I am please to announce that my knees are still NOT touching each other! For this, I am thankful. Yeah, me!

Ema and "Jake"

So lately Doodlebug #3 has been calling her brother "Jake", o.k. yeah, see his name is Gunner. Anyway, she does and he answers to her. Why we aren't really sure. So here is a video of her and "Jake dancing, this is Doodblebug #3's favorite pastime besides singing. The two are really starting to show the mear 14 month gap between them are truly great friends and companions.

And, yes I do see my sons attempt at a "Plie" with three sisters what do you expect?

Down in the GHETTO!

So on Monday the girls and I were unloading groceries and Doodle Bugs went to close the back of the truck up and you have to close it like a puzzle on side then the other THEN the glass. So what sounded like a small gun shot was the back of my truck window. No injuries to report, thank God.

Although, I am now driving the "ghetto" car, until it is fixed!

Na, na, na, na,na, na, na, na hey, hey, goodbye...to $500 dollars!

This is the tally since the doodlebugs were born:

#1 D.B.- Excursion window

#2 D.B.- Excursion window, 4 pairs of Daddy's glasses, 5 disc surround sound dvd player, cut own hair, near 'bout severed finger and two surgeries

#3 D.B.- ceiling fan bulbs on back porch, flooded toilets, dozen eggs on couch (on daddy's watch), cut own hair,

#4 D.B.- ball through coffee table, fist through window, swinging on rear view mirror (total loss), art work throughout the house, flooded toilets, dozen eggs on couch (on daddy's watch), stitches in head

A Camping We Will Go!

The Chief decided to have a camp out with the doodlebugs, so I made chili for dinner and he was in charge of smoores, except we had no marsh mellows...so microwaved chocolate later my doodlebugs looked liked this!

Yum, Yum!

Then Daddy made a great tent using every blanket possible in the house!

AHHHHH! Sleep.... finally!

I am gonna hold these pictures of proof that "Yes, your Mommy and Daddy were fun once."

What's mine is yours?

I woke up on Sunday morning to this...

Three little doodlebugs in my bed....but where is Daddy?

Found him! Poor Daddy, had to resort to sleep on the bunk bed just to get some rest.

The Chief said he gave up at some point during the night...sorry honey!

Birthday Party Fun

We had a great time for McKenna's 7th birthday party. We held it at the city pool which was a blast! We had friends and family and fun was had by all.

Kenna RoseThe Mermaid Cake!

My Mei Mei

Mei is one...so smart!

Mei as Popeye

Sweet Girl

So Beautiful

I thought I would post a few pictures of Mei. She is so cute and so smart, (much smarter than people realize) she hardly talks but understands ALOT! She can follow directions and knows many signs for communication.

I must say, having her in our life has only fulfilled something in all of us that had she not been here we would have never known was missing. I am pretty much such a hog when I am around her which is far and in between :-( , see I consider my sisters kiddos my kids too and I desire for them to love me a whole, whole bunch (maybe I have issues :-). So I am probably in her face too much, but I love her beyond words.

I was (ok, am) a nut case at the hospital when my sister had all her babies, and nothing changed while she was in China...so I just wanted to post an update on Mei and show you what a sweet little girl she is and also quite funny and silly too.

I QUIT!!

The crime scene...

The culprit.....

The little criminal...

I am calling in a personal day! Don't I get one or two of those a year?

*SIGH*

Happy Birthday My Sweet Daughter

Mckenna Rose Jenkins
July 7, 2001 at 2:38 in the afternoon this precious little girl was born! Yesterday was her 7th birthday. She is an absolute joy to Joel and I and her two sisters and brothers. As I write this she has Gunner in the bathroom sink scrubbing his feet 'cause the got dirty. She loves her family and is quite the home body like her Daddy. She is a faithful friend and has already learned to stand up for people no matter what!

McKenna- Mommy, Daddy, Olivia, Ema and Gunner honor you this day! You are a precious handmaiden of the Lord and I look forward to seeing you grow and grow in HIM!

You are such a joy!

A Visit Home.

I love going home. I haven't been home for a good visit since Christmas. We had a great time. I enjoyed every minute I had with family (except I didn't get enough time with my sister). We came in on Thursday evening and then had a cook out at my sisters on Friday. Mom, Dad, the kids and I also went to Turtle Park before the cook out and ROASTED in the heat. Then on Saturday, Mom and I took the four oldest grandchildren to see Kit Kittredge (which was excellent). Then onto church on Sunday, lunch out and back home to a hubby that missed us and was terribly missed himself.

My Kiddo's

In Order the eight grandchildren

Nathan, McKenna, Charlie, Olivia, Madi, Ema, Gunner and Mei

Come July 13th the kids ages will be 8,7,6,5,4,3,2,and one! Cool huh?

Why I love being at my Mom and Dad's and visiting family:

1) they love me and the kids
2) I can wash clothes and take them home and smell them for weeks to come
3) staying up late talking with mom
4) cooking with mom
5) dinner's at the table
6) laughter (my dad thinks mom and I are crazy, I am sure)
7) my kids love going home as much as I do...they LOVE Nana's cooking
8) seeing my sissy (although it's always chaotic)
9)just "being" home
10) church

Happy Birthday Dad!Deuteronomy 7:6

"For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be His own special treasure."

Today is my Dad's birthday, my dad is the absolute definition of integrity. I love him with my whole heart. He is full of grace and love. I love you Dad and look forward to spending time with you and the family this weekend.

I Have NO Idea Doctor...

"No Doctor, I have NO idea why I gained 8 pounds in 5 weeks."

Grants favorite breakfast.