Four Years Old

Today you turn four. The fourth gal in our lineup is now four. How quickly this happened.

You have gone from a 8lb 8oz baby to a rambunctious preschooler in the blink of an eye.

You are the spunkiest and most stubborn kid I know. While at times it is so frustrating (just put on your shoes, will ya!) - I know that your drive to do things on your terms will be what makes you great.

You are pretty much smack dab in the middle of the sister line up. And I think it's perfect. You adore your bigger sisters and how much you learn from them. But I secretly think that you and the twins are quite the perfect threesome. You love with all of your small little being, with a heart that is much too big for your little body. Your hugs are fierce and your kisses are sweet. You take care of your sisters and love to be helpful - especially with the twins. Your are the one they look for while you're away at school and run to the car to pick up at the end of the day.

Nothing brightens my day better than a hug and a smile from you. You never let me leave you at preschool with one last hug. You make me the best gifts - just random cut up pieces of paper, but in your eyes they are the most beautiful pieces of art. So that is what makes them special.

It's hard to believe that someone as young as four could love life so much. You wake every day jumping at the chance to learn and to love. I hope that is something that follows you until the end of time. Always keep your drive and your belief that everyone deserves a hug. You are a remarkable girl -- one that doesn't mind getting dirty (who knew you'd pick a dirt bike when we asked what you would prefer. Guess we might have to find a couple of those!) But you love the shiny and sweet things in life too. You're the perfect balance in this crazy world. Just the right amount of spunk, stubborn, silly, sweet, smart, kind, and topped off with a whole lotta love.

 

 

Happy Birthday to my sweetest 4 year old. You are a gal who knows what she wants and you're going to be climbing that ladder to the top for the rest of your days. Keep smiling and loving. It makes each day better than the last.

Happy Birthday Hay-Mae. You are going to rock 4!

xoxo
Mama

Happy 7th Birthday, Aubrie!

Today is your birthday. Another year has gone by and you have aged by 365 days. You are a whole 7 years old. When did that happen? When did you become so big? When did 7 become such a big number when it comes to age? 7 is teetering on the edge of thinking mom is the most awesome person ever, to thinking that mom is the most embarrassing person ever. Right now you think I am pretty awesome, and for that I am grateful.

Seven years ago I was 42 weeks pregnant (you will hear when you are older that this 2 weeks longer than "normal", but don't pay mind to that). I knew all along that you would come in your time, when you were ready. I had a feeling you would be the daughter that danced to the beat of her own drum, and boy have I been right.

When you were born I had dreams of what it would be like to raise you and I can say that my dreams are coming true. I dreamed of a daughter that was smart and silly. Fun and crazy. I dreamed of a daughter that would try new things and accept challenges with open arms. And you have done that; look how amazing you are in your Dual Immersion school. I dreamed that you would be a leader and a teacher. And you are, your strong-willed personality has taught me to be patient in my parenting (at least I try to be). I dreamed of a daughter who would amaze me in ways I didn't think possible. And you do. You amaze me every day.

Over the past year you have grown and challenged me. You have embraced a second language with open arms. You have learned to make bracelets on the rainbow loom. You have learned to honor the Hispanic culture we call our own. You have learned to take one for the team and let Haylie be the rotten dinosaur egg. You are learning to fight fair and when to pick your battles. You are learning to love even when you don't like. These are all important things in life and it makes me proud to watch you embrace them.

Every day that I get to spend with you is a perfect day. You make me smile, laugh and make my days of being a mom great.  I hope that in 7 more years we will still be having just as much fun then as we are now. I hope you'll always think I'm awesome, because I know that I will always think you are awesome.

Happy Birthday to my awesome girl. You are the perfect numero tres in our family. Thank you for picking me to be your mom.

xo,
Mom

One Year....365 Days....Happy Birthday, Averie & Emilie.

One Year. 12 months. 52 weeks. 365 days.

Who knew that it would go so fast. I always find that the first year with a new baby goes by quickly, but this year it went by even more quickly. I think it was because there were two of you. Two of you to keep us busy. Two of you to love. Two of you to watch reach milestones. If one of you weren't doing something, the other was. There was always someone to watch.

For lots of families with twins (or triplets, quads, etc) there is the ultimate goal of surviving the first year. I am proud to say that not only did we survive our first year with twins, but we ROCKED it. You blended into our family perfectly.  You two sure are a lot of work, but every day for the last year has been so worth seeing your smiling faces in the morning.

Averie you are our sweet little bird. You have grown from a itty bitty 5lbs 6oz bundle to an almost walking, talking and screeching little baby. You love to crawl around the house and get into every cupboard, drawer, box and bin of toys that you can. You are our little tornado and while you might be the smaller in size, you make up for in determination. And when you want something a certain way, you are sure to let us know. You are slow to give us a smile, but when you do you're whole face lights up. Can't get better than that! I can't wait to see what sort of mischief you will get into in the coming years.

Emilie you are the sweetest and most smiley little girl. Your smiles come easily and you are happiest when you alongside your sister. You have a very laid back and easygoing personality. You are the baby that smiles at strangers and giggles all of the time. You love to play pat-a-cake and give high-fives.

Averie : 8 teeth, standing without assistance, favorite food: bananas, egg "cupcakes", words you say: hi, mama, da-da, ni-nite, bye-bye
Emilie: 10 teeth, cruising the furniture, favorite food: bananas, turkey & spinach meatballs, words you say: mama, dada, bye-bye, tickle-tickle, mum mum, ni-nite

My look how you have grown over the past year!

 

It's been a wonderful year of making memories with you and I can't wait to see what the next year brings. Thank you for choosing us to be your family. We are so blessed to have you in our lives. 

Love you to the moon and back.

Mama

14 years and counting - Happy Birthday, McKenzie!

FOURTEEN. Yes, I said FOURTEEN. How in the world am I a mother to a FOURTEEN year old daughter?

This daughter.



This beautiful and crazy daughter. The daughter that makes me so proud, but also sometimes makes me pull my hair out.



I stepped into motherhood a fresh faced girl of just 19 and really had no idea what I was doing. Sure, I knew how to change diapers and feed her and love her, but to raise her? I knew I had to teach her and guide her and make sure she grew up to be someone that I would be proud to stand on the rooftops and shout "Yes, that is my daughter and I am proud to be her mother!" And just 14 years later I can stand on any rooftop and shout "Yes, that is my daughter and I am proud to be her mother!"



She is kind. She is loyal. She is loving. She is smart. She is beautiful; both inside and out. She is sensitive. She is daring. She is athletic. She is funny. She is a leader. She is creative. She is an animal lover. She is a wonderful big sister. She is a fabulous daughter. She is true to herself. She has integrity. She is an achiever.



In just a couple of months she will be starting high school and college at the same time. I know she will thrive and excel and amaze us all. I can't wait to see what the next year brings and how she will continue to make us all proud.

As I say every year; McKenzie, thank you for choosing me to be your mother. Even with all of your crazy antics, I couldn't have asked for a better first born daughter.

Love you to the moon & back.

Mom

Happy 2nd Birthday, Haylie

Haylie Mae,

Happy 2nd Birthday, Haylie.

Today marks the day you officially have become a big girl. You are 2. When did this happen? How did this happen? When did you form an opinion and learn to do things for yourself?

Over the last two years you have grown from a cuddly little baby to a wild little girl. And I just love so many things about you.

I love:
being your mom
how you giggle
how you smile
how you cuddle
how your hair smells after a bath
how you make me "smoothies" in your play kitchen; just because you know how much I love a good smoothie
how you show your sisters that just because they are older and bigger, it does not mean they are the boss of you
how you (usually) always wake up with a giggle and smile on your face

There are so many more things that I love about you; it's just too many to list. Just know that I would and will move mountains to make you happy and show you that you are loved in this big, crazy family of ours. Sometimes it's hard not to get lost in the shuffle of 4 (and soon to be 6) sisters, but I promise, you are never lost. You are the perfect pink number 4 puzzle piece in our family and we are so lucky to call you ours. So thank you for picking us to be your family.

Happy Birthday my dear. Party on.

Love, Mama

Happy 1st Birthday, Haylie Mae

Sweetest Haylie.

365 days. One Year. 8760 hours. One Year. 525,600 minutes. One Year.



One year, that's how long you've been apart of our family. It's hard to believe that a whole year has passed. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was cuddling a tiny version of you and introducing you to your big sisters.

You've grown from a *not so little* newborn to a *little and petite* baby girl. I won't call you a toddler yet, because well, you're not toddling. You are however, a master crawler and getter-inner. As in you get into lots of stuff that you probably shouldn't. Your sisters are learning that things of importance must be out of your tip toe reach, because there is no telling what you will do if you get a hold of it. I am also learning that yes, I DO need to make sure the cabinets are locked. Thanks for rearranging the Tupperware, baby.

You still don't have much hair and I'm patiently waiting for pigtails and bows, because well, everyone loves a baby with pigtails and bows. It looks like you might have some curls coming in, which isn't surprising, but we'll have to keep waiting to truly see if you're just a mini version of your big sister, Aubrie. But if the photographic evidence is to be trusted, you're on your way.

This past year has brought many wonderful things, but I truly think you were the best. I've loved watching you grow and become a little person with personality and opinions. Yes, even at one, you certainly have opinions of how you want things done.


Your sisters adore you and I like to think the feeling is mutual, at least most of the time. They love to play with you and you certainly have them wrapped around that little finger of yours.
It's no secret that it took some convincing on my part to get your dad to agree to baby #4. Now that we have the first year under our belt, I think we will both agree that you were very much worth the wait. I've loved spending the last year as your mom. Loving you, cuddling you and watching you grow. I look forward to many more years of watching you laugh and cry and play and love. You'll do it with a family around you that just loves you to pieces and there is nothing sweeter than that.

Happy Birthday, Haylie Mae.
xoxo,
Mama