Long overdue updates...the boys

Fetus Update

Baby Chase, our favorite little fetus, is still doing well. Shelby is now 23 weeks pregnant - over halfway there! She's doing great. Chase has recently gotten big enough that other people can feel his kicks. Hunter has felt him, but Avery isn't quite patient enough to leave her little hand on Shelby's tummy long enough to wait for a kick.

Chase now weighs about 1 pound and is about 11 inches long. He looks like a miniature newborn. He can now hear sounds from outside the womb, and his eyelids, eyebrows, and fingernails are fully formed. We can all breathe a sigh of relief next week when Shelby reaches week 24 - the week of viability. That is the week that most hospitals make an effort to "save" premature babies, and Chase would stand a good chance of surviving if born then. But we'd rather not see him until mid-September; ultrasound pics will work til then. ;-)

These ultrasound pics are from Shelby's 18-week appointment. They are pictures of pictures, so the quality's not great (especially in the 2nd one). Chase's head is on the right side, and you can see his cute little profile. In the first pic, you can also see his spine. In the second pic, you can see his "soft spot" on the top of his head pretty clearly. Isn't he cute?

The Graduate

Hunter Whit Lillard is officially headed to kindergarten! He graduated from preschool a few weeks ago and did an excellent job during his graduation program. They sang songs for about 20 minutes straight and a few of them were German! As you can see from the second picture, he was very serious about those songs.

Also, t-ball season is back in full swing! (no pun intended) Hunter has become a little slider this year. He enjoys sliding into home whether he needs to or not, and sometimes he prefers to slide headfirst. It kind of looks like Hunter is yelling at Jared in that last pic...who knows what was going on out there.

The Graduate (again)

Watch out, folks...Jamal Lillard is a *gasp* middle-schooler! He graduated from 5th grade a little over a week ago and is now headed for 6th grade and a new school. I was in 6th grade when he came to us, and I just can't believe he's that old! When I was in 6th grade, my school had just opened and Mom was PTA president that first year. She used to bring the boys up to school in their twin stroller all the time while she worked. Of course everyone just loved seeing them and watching them turn into walking, talking toddlers over the three years I was there. The teachers will be shocked when they learn that Jamal's going to be a student there! The past eleven years have flown by. Oh, and of course my camera died as Jamal was walking across the stage! But he was too cool to smile anyway. I was able to revive my camera enough to take a few pics at the reception.

Jamal is also an official member of the youth group at church now. All the soon-to-be 6th graders were introduced to the rest of youth group this morning, and tonight they had the 5th grade blessing.

Jamal & friends at their graduation reception

And it's baseball season in this house, too. Dad is again coaching Jamal and Jamier's team. Jamal plays shortstop sometimes and Jamier plays first base. But both boys play pitcher most often.

Jamier