Ayris' Birthday Video

I FINALLY got the right program and music working.  I've decided that when I make the kids videos each year, I'll just use pictures from that last year...because it's getting more difficult to go through 5 years worth of pictures!  Ayris still has her party on Sunday so I imagine there will be more pictures later from that!

Happy 5th Birthday Ayris!

Dear Ayris,

How in the world has 5 years gone by?  I was looking through a journal I had started for you a few years back and was noting how special a first child is.  I'll be the first to admit that being a girl alone is rough...but being a girl AND a firstborn...that's a difficult position to hold.  BUT no matter how many kids we may have, you will always be the one who showed your Daddy and I what it meant to really love...unconditionally and so deeply...you changed our lives in so many ways, and for the better.  And with you, we go through all of our firsts...our first holiday program for our little girl...our first experiences with a sick child and a million ear infections...our first baby going off to school...our first child to walk and talk...you'll be the first to drive, and the first to leave for college (you don't have to leave...you could just pretty, pretty please find a local university and live off campus here with us!)...you are the one who has lit our path into parenthood...and is continuing to.  Even though that sassy-pants attitude of yours sometimes pushes all the wrong buttons for me, it is completely overshadowed by all the good that you are.  You are so capable and brilliant.  You stop me in my tracks each and every day with the thoughts that swirl around in that giant brain of yours.  I thank God every single day for bringing you into my life...and for allowing me to be your mommy.  You will ALWAYS be my baby girl and I will forever love you no matter what you put me through in the future =)  So Happy 5th Birthday to you!

(A video montage should be coming tomorrow...it's 11:15 now and I'm having trouble putting it together but I wanted this posted on her actual birthday!)

Here's to 2011!

I have to say, 2010 was pretty great but the optimist in me knows that 2011 will be just as great, if not better!  I don't have any resolutions set in stone but one resolution that I saw on another womans' blog and liked was "Worry less and pray more"...I could get on board with that.  I want to be a better mom...I want to clean less and play more BUT in order for that to happen, I need to pray for my neurotic tendancies to have everything "just so", to be limited...or at least, on a far smaller scale.  I need to pray for patience because I've never had it...and let me tell ya...adding kids to the equation hasn't helped me one bit!  I want to take more time to listen instead of listening while I'm doing other things (like cleaning!)...I want to watch Blue's Clues and Mario Bros instead of writing on the blog...not because I want to but because they want me to, and that should be good enough for me.  That's basically it...become closer to God by praying more and making more of an effort...and being a better mom...I could probably throw in being a better wife too...but I'm pretty awesome now, aren't I Chris??? =)  Seriously though, perhaps my goal is just to be a better person all around.  Nothing else really matters...if I don't lose those 20 pounds...oh well...I'll be thin some other day...

Adler has been clingy lately, to say the least.  Even if he's happier than happy, when I go to sit him on the floor, he starts to fuss...basically if I put him down at all...unless I'm sitting right beside him...like legs touching kind of close.  At first, I thought he had another ear infection...because why in the world was my perfect baby being such a crabby pants?  But once that was ruled out, I realized he must just be going through the seperation anxiety stage...it's just a little more excessive than it was with the other two.  But the other two were in daycare at this age...so I never had to deal with it on the level that I am now...not only that but Adler has been around me 24/7 since he was born, unlike Ayris and Asher...so I guess that gives him more reason to be completely full force in this stage.  None the less, we're getting through it...or I should say, I'm getting through it...he, on the other hand, is loving it...but I can't complain...seriously, look at this cuteness below!

Mom says this hat makes me look cute...like hippy cute...what do you think?



Oh, look at my two new teeth!  I have been working on them for months!



Mom said it was about time I started smiling for the camera without her having to elicit one by acting like an idiot...











I ordered this "Juppy" through babysteals (a website that gives huge discounts on baby products)...it's for when your baby starts trying to walk...you don't have to bend over and deal with the back pain...anyway, I thought it might be helpful/fun to try and Ayris was ready to test it out pronto...she started pulling him around on the carpet with it and he went crazy...so I guess it has multiple uses.




Okay, so I went a little nuts with the next few pictures...I just couldn't narrow them down...he just has so many looks!  And they're all pretty cute =)






















Adler is *this close* to crawling...he starts like this...


And then can't figure out what to do with his other knee...so he just kind of rocks back and forth like this for a while until...


He ends up like this...


Ayris took this shot while I was making lunch today...I'm having to bring out the big guns when it comes to getting things done around here (you know, with his excessive love for mom these days)...


But look at how happy he is!  It's just because he knows who is in control...and let me tell you, it isn't me!  This kid has got me wrapped around his cute little fingers!  And look at that shaggy shag hair...he's about due for his first haircut!