A2's first year

A look back on A2's first year. What a memorable one it was!!!!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

(Thank you Kat and Amanda for the great shirt idea!!!)

I can't believe how fast the last year has passed by. It seems like yesterday that I was cussing that little baby inside of me for causing such a ruckus. I just wanted he/she out so badly this time last year. Of course she came on the day of 2 very important football games. Thankfully she decided to arrive during half time. :) I cried when Cheeto told me she was a girl. She was exactly what I had been praying for. She was such a tiny little thing when she was born. I look back on the year and cherish all those times I got to cuddle with her on those early morning feedings and late evenings Cheeto would work late. I vididly remember how great the holidays were last year. It was so nice to sit on heal surrounded by all the senses of Christmas, watching TONS of seasonal movies, spending lots of time with ALL my family and cuddling a newborn. It was a perfect Christmas!

I just quit nursing her about 2 weeks ago. I had no idea the emotions that were going to go with stopping. It wasn't like that with the other 3. I know a lot of tears will come with the milestones that A2 has just because she is our last and knowing its a lot of last firsts. I don't want another baby it's just hard for me to leave this phase in my life. Cheeto thinks I'm crazy. I even look at a pregnant woman and want to throw up because it makes me ill even think about being pregnant again. This assures me that the answer to our prayers is true. Our family is complete. A2 made it so.
She is such a blessing in our lives. I have to say she is one of the easiest baby ever! Not much ever makes her fuss. She eats great. It took her a bit but she is now a great little nap taker and sleeper. She really rolls with the flow. She is so happy. It's a rare occassion that she doesn't have a big ole' grin on her face. It's also rare that you don't see her tongue twisted on hanging out. It's a A2 thing. :) She adores her older brothers and sister. She does well playing on her own but relishes in the attention she gets from her siblings.
We are so grateful for her. She has made a very difficult year a lot brighter- for all of us! Heavenly Father knew I needed her. Today I hug her a little tighter, a little longer and take a lot of extra mental memories. And of course, since she is a mama's girl... she will love it!

Happy 1st Birthday sweet baby girl!!!

There a few things I felt like I dropped the ball on. There are specifics that I do for all my kid's birthdays and I have been so busy I completely spaced some of them. I had seen some friends make these shirts for their little ones first birthdays and I knew I only had one more chance to make one for one of our kids. I sewed it really quick after church in the 2 hours I had before the party. I also forgot a birthday hat so I made the little party hat to match her shirt. I thought it turned out adorable and she looked so cute in it. It was a really nice 75 degree day here. We got to let her get out and enjoy her day. We celebrated with family on Sunday because weekdays are so crazy. Like she really would care! Thanks everyone for the gifts and helping with the party. We are so grateful for all of you!

thought these were super crazy

This is the outside of a public restroom.

This is the inside look of the same restroom.
Restrooms are not to be made with one-way glass!
I'm sorry but is it just me that would not be able to actually use this toilet?
I suppose if desperate measures were called for I could.

This is quite the painting on the floor of a residential bathroom.

Puts a little things in perspective doesn't it?

Funny Kid Quote of the Day
A2 loves to pull clothes out of my clothes baskets, doesn't matter if they are dirty or clean. The other night I was folding a TON of laundry when my little friend came to help. She stood there for a moment, picked up a single sock and grunted, "er." She repeated this many times, actually for the remainder of the basket. K saw what she was doing and saying and yelled, "C come here! A2 is human now!"

Today the older kids went to the dentist. A1's hygientist was talking up a storm with her. I'm not sure what the lady asked her specifically but it was something about brushing teeth in the morning and what goes on in the morning. A1's response was,"Well, C and K eat their breakfast and mommy says it takes them too long. I help mommy make their lunches because school lunches could kill a kid. (Can't imagine where she heard that. :) ) Then my daddy wakes up so we can say prayers. When the boys get on the bus I get to eat my cereal but I never finish what I eat and my mommy gets mad so I can't have a snack and NOTHING until lunch. After that, mommy works out and gets stinky. Daddy takes a LOOONNNNGGG shower and puts on his church clothes every day! And then he kisses us dirls goodbye and he goes to work. OH... I forget to brush my teeth but my boys brush their teeth EVERY morning." PHEW.... that was a long response huh.... exactly what I though too. Then the lady asked her who her daddy worked for . A1 looks at her almost like she was asking a dumb question and says"He works for money."

Fall Family Pictures 2009

All you moms out there know the time and energy that goes into getting some decent family pictures. There is a reason why we all go years in between them. By the time we have spent stressful hours trying to find clothes that coordinate, get the hair curled and gelled, and then beg and plead with the kids and husband to please put on a happy face; we then find out that there is literally only a couple of pictures out of a hundred that work. I absolutely LOVE the results but man, the stress and effort that went into these pictures is exhausting to even go back and think about. Most of the photo session, we were telling the kids with much stress, "PLEASE, stop! SMILE dang it! Please stand still!" You get the idea. It was ridiculous at moments. It took some serious encouragment to get Cheeto to kiss me. He doesn't believe in public display of affection. :) I'm so grateful for the good friends that took them for us (he does a FABULOUS job) and Sissy for helping me rumage closets to help me get everyone coordinated. We took them two different days so some of the outfits did change due to weather. I'm so excited to get some developed and hung on the wall. Enjoy the video y'all.

Locks of Love

We have talked with A1 for quite awhile about getting her hair cut and giving it to a girl that needed it. She would be excited one day and not so much the next. A1 was very blessed with great hair. It is so thick for a 3 year old and to have hair to her waist at that age is another blessing. We felt it was a great to be able to share it with someone.
A friend of mine was awesome and took some before pictures for me. We had to do it 2 different days to get some with it straight and curly. I absolutely loved her hair curly. There is a picture in the video where she is kissing A2's hand and A1's hair looks like a mane. :) They turned out so cute with our make shift backdrops. Thanks "L"! The day of her haircut she was not thrilled to say the least. I had to drag her out of the car, into the washing chair and into the styling chair. She cheered up after a few minute. She got a bit nervous and wanted to see what "K" was doing with her pigtails. When it was time to cut she was still all smiles but when "K" gave me her pigtails A1 had this face of fear. I could see the tears building from her chest. I was waiting for them and then she says, "But mommy, my hair can still get in my face." Next few seconds she was smiling again. There have been instances over the past week that she realizes that short hair is a lot easier to upkeep. For example, when you put on a backpack it doesn't pull your hair, it's gets done faster, it's faster to wash and dry and comb... the list goes on. Tia "L" also participated in the act of kindness. It was something they did together. A1 was pretty excited to see Tia's "tails" lying next to hers in the envelope. I knew it had to be cut. I let it grow extra long so I didn't have to wack it completely to her ears to get the 10 inches. However, I have to admit that I really miss some length. I'm already waiting patiently for it to grow back out. Her hair hasn't been this short since her first birthday.

Halloween 2009

Our kids got to go to a couple of different parties. A1's costume didn't "agree" with her Friday night so we had to do something different for trick-or-treating. She had so much fun. What a difference a year makes. Even C wanted to keep going. A2 wasn't having such a great time strolling along. A1 even tried sharing her light sticks but A2 wasn't about to give it up. I soon realized she didn't get dinner before we left. I know I'm a terrible mother. I just have a little girl that never fusses and so it's easy to forget she's around sometimes.

K's halloween party

I really enjoy every chance I get to spend time with the kids in the classrooms. I don't get to go often enough but try to help with class parties and field trips at least. C's getting to the age where he doesn't have as many class parties. I thought K was very sweet to invite A1 to come with me. She was such a little helper and very well behaved.

We got there a bit early and decided to surpise K on the playground. He was so excited to see me and said, "Hurry mom, come here! I have something to show you. HURRY!!"
Next thing I know he is literally a monkey! What a comfort it is to me now I know what he is doing at school!