can it be? Is my sweet Tiny ALREADY a year old? Yes, I guess she is. I ran across this quote while party planing, and it just suits her.

Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. - James Barrie


...doesn't it?
Our sweet Sunshine was born 22 days early. After a mere 4 minutes of pushing. She was so sweet, and so so Tiny. She weighted just over 5 lbs. I saw her and I was in love.
So were her siblings. AJ was SO proud of her (and her sweet name) and Little, who was only using baby signs at the time just kept signing baby and patting her chest to let us know it was her baby.
She proved to be more delicate from the start. Not only was she small in stature, but she had a difficult time nursing, low blood sugar, and after being home no more then 24 hours, her doctors informed us she had jaundice. Jaundice is always trick for us because Jay and I have such different coloring they often just think the kids have his color. (There is still a heated debate in our house about Abby's case) We weren't that worried.... at first.
Then on the 19 I insisted they check her bibirubin level again, a day early.. By the time her blood was drawn her gums and whites of her eyes were yellow, and she was oompa lumpa colored as my husband so eloquently put it.When the results came back her bili level was 23. When we got the results back the Dr sent us back to the hospital...do not pass go, do not collect $100, the room was already ready for her. Clearly my tiny baby was in danger. It wasn't until a few days later that I learned how close a call it was. When a babies Bili level reaches 25 children often suffer permanent brain damage. And once you hit the 20's the numbers tend to rise VERY quickly. I shudder to think what could have happened if we had waited until Tuesday afternoon to get her checked. But God's timing is always spot on. We spent 2 nights and 3 days on intensive phototherapy before she was discharged . It was the scariest thing I have ever faced as a mother thus far. Only a God with a wonderful sense of humor would see fit to have a baby named Sunshine turn bright yellow, and bring people together in warm prayers like He did...He is so so good.
Tiny has a different feel about her then our other children. She always has. A peace- she is simply happy to be. To be loved, and to be near those she loves. She has taught me more about myself in this year then any of my children before her. Through her God has taught me to accept, and love who He made me to be....she is my unexpected blessing. My third child. The least documented, but surely the most enjoyed. I've loved every minute of her babyhood, yet I can't wait for what the future holds....

Happy Birthday Tiny girl. Mama Loves you more then you could ever know.

This ones gatta be brief. I have a party to prep for....but, this is a story worth telling.

After the initial shock wore off everyone was so excited that we were having another baby, but none more so then Big. He was convinced that this time we'd get it right and he'd have his brother. After all what's a little boy need TWO sisters for. This was almost an end game discussion. Try as we might AJ didn't even want to acknowledge the fact that the new baby could be another sister.

By this point I'm sure, you are well aware of the outcome, but lets just say that at our ultrasound there was ZERO doubt...it was another girl. When we found out I had duel emotions. Another girl meant it was going to be SO much easier for me. We didn't need to buy anything, the babies could share a room, and I could picture tea parties. BUT, I knew deep in the pit of my being AJ was about to be crushed. How can we spin this, I kept thinking. How can we tell him he was DEFINITELY NOT having a brother.

We came up with a 3 fold plan on the drive home.

1. We'd show him the ultrasound photos and let him read/see for himself. Pending on his reaction we'd move on to step 2.
2. We'd tell him that God thought he was SUCH a great big brother to the sister he already had that He decided he'd bless him with another sister to look out for two. Now He'd be the only boy, and the Kuya at that. How cool is that.
3. If all else failed we allow him to give her a middle name. We thought that that would help him bond with his new sister.

Well, He looked at the pictures. When he got to the one that read "it's a girl!" he tossed them on the ground and RAN tears dripping down his red hot cheeks to his room. Needless to say w needed all planned steps, and then some.

Once he calmed down, and accepted the responsibility of choosing her middle name he thought for a moment and said " How about Sunshine?"
OH no I don't think that's a name, why don't you take some time to think about it hun? We have a lot more time.

But week after week I'd try and sway him away from Sunshine, and week after week he stood firm. Finally, after a particularly feisty bout of name suggestions I said "Fine, If it's in the book then we'll name her Sunshine"(funny, this is the first time I noted the color of his shirt the FIRST time he laid eyes on her, how appropriate!)

So here I am....feeling guilty. Even in bloggyland poor Tiny is clearly the third child. I did tons of FF's on Big and Little preceding their respective birthdays, and Tiny, my sweet sweetness Tiny will be one in oh, 12 DAYS and this is the time I choose to go A-wall. I have plenty of great excuses for my scattered brain, but I'm just not that into using excuses anymore.So here we are... A Friday night. My house is quiet and tidy. My husband is miles and miles away. I just finished nursing and rocking Tiny, and I'm flashing back into the not so distant past admitting a truth I can't even wrap my head around anymore...

I could tell you all that when I looked into this sweet four months old face I knew that she was a Little girl who needed to be a big sister.That when I found out days after this picture was taken that I was ONCE again pregnant I was ecstatic and leaping for joy. I could tell you that, but I'd be lying. I wish it were the truth but it wasn't. Actually the polar opposite- I was completely floored, dare I say devastated at the news. Many of my closest confidants got phone calls that were indiscernible groans. I was not supposed to be THAT mom. You know the ones with the double strollers holding babies that could almost be twins. After having Little I didn't doubt that I had enough love, but did I have enough of everything else? What about Little, after all she was just that. How could I be pregnant...how?

Oh, yes those 2 pink lines rocked my carefully constructed world and I freaked out. EVERYONE said it's be fine. I was unconvinced. I found myself once again remembering how it felt to tell Jay about Big. How was he going to feel? How would he react? Yes, we were a million miles from that moment but as I awaited his homecoming it felt just as heavy. It's so funny what fear does to you. I was literally tied in knots. I could hardly speak.

I haven't given you all an update on Tinys vision in a long time.

I haven't because I've been discouraged, and quite honestly a bit ashamed. I haven't been sticking to her treatment very well. As most of you know she's a happy child, a VERY happy child. But, as a friend pointed out to me recently happy doesn't mean compliant. She's so strong willed!!!! If she doesn't want something, trust me you will know. She is very vocal, and assertive. And- she really hates her vision therapies. REALLY.

I started slacking off when she was so sick in Feb. I mean who wants a sick baby to spend her only happy hours screaming and pawing at her eye? NOT ME!

The problem is she got better, but I never recovered. I tried to. I tried putting her glasses on her. It worked. If you count working as physically forcing her to wear them (holding them on, batting her hands, ect.) for 10 minutes as she screamed. Then giving in, taking them off, and listening to her protests for another 10 minutes...I guess she wanted to be sure I got the point. I'd think they are the wrong prescription, except the Dr. has checked it MULTIPLE times for me. Yes, I am that mom. The good news is her eyes are settling. One is crossing more predominately then the other. That means that it almost certainly IS a vision issue correctable with glasses instead of surgery. Now I just have to stick with the therapy. (we see her eye Dr. again in 2 weeks)

So needless to say I've been frustrated (more with myself). She is preparing to walk any day now, and I'm so worried about her view of the world.

Does she see with clarity, or is the whole world like a waking dream?

I don't want her to end up getting hurt because I've been lazy. I don't want her to step off a stair because she can't define the edges. I want her to see this wonderful BEAUTIFUL world fully focused.

So in an effort of encouragement her siblings showed their solidarity. It made her smile. I don't know what she was thinking, but it gave me a new resolve. I will stay the course. I will do what she needs, even if it's hard. because My Daddy has taught me that that is real love.

...I will see her screams as a new song, a clearer vision song.

I will.

In all the birthday frenzy, I realized I haven't posted much on little miss lately.

I wish I could say we've enjoyed wonderful sunny days like her name implies, but February was rough for us. The thing is, rough for Tiny isn't the same as rough for the other kids. She has such a different feel to her, I often call her my sweet spot, or my sweetness. Even though most of February was spent dealing with something or another she stayed sweet. Clingy -yes, a little sad -ok, crazy nursing, and not sleeping -sure, but a grump...no not really.

Within 2.5 weeks she got a bunch of shots, we found out that dairy and her don't mix, she cut FOUR teeth, and lived with a 102.8 fever from a virus that nothing could bring down. And, yet Jay was able to snap this shot of her. I don't know about you but I find that pretty stunning.

Oh and look at those cheeks- so soft and inviting...yum, yum, yum. defiantly sweet.

She's just her own little person. My other two kids could not wait to get moving, but she's comfortable just knowing how to cruise and stand. I'm sure if she weren't afraid she'd be walking now, but she is so she's taking her time. It's kinda nice....because of who she is, who God made her to be, I get to enjoy her so much more. She's content to stand in my lap, she loves snuggling, and if I'm gone she misses me on such a deeper level then the other two ever did.

While I was at class last week she refused the bottle Daddy had prepared. In a moment of pure frustrated genius he walked her over to a picture of me and he said she sighed and reached for it- for me. He was only able to feed her while standing in front of the picture. Is that not the sweetest thing ever?

The great news is that sad sweetness is gone. She's back to her giddy sunshiny self. She's experimenting with her sounds (of course ma is her favorite),she's clapping, and oh, the giggling. Nothing beats baby giggles. Today while watching Little she just started busting up and my heart did a cart wheel.
When I remember that I thought I was done having babies after Little it makes me so glad that God has the final say....really... because I'd be lost without my sweetness.

I think February has become our "Tooth" month.

I've been so sparse in posting for a few reasons. One, is honestly that I've been READING so many great blogs during my limited me time by the time I wander back to my dashboard to write my own someone somewhere is desperate for my attention STAT.

The other is teeth.
First, mine were KILLING me. My wisdom teeth are trying to stage a mutiny in my mouth. YIKES! For almost 10 days I was like the walking dead. We don't have the spare cash to get them pulled just yet, so with a lot of home remedies and tons of good old fashioned prayer they are doing better.

Then, Tiny girl decided she would cut her eye teeth. Hahaha she looked like a little vampire. It gave me fond memories back toBig as a baby because not only does she look SO much like him, but he also got his eye teeth before the top middles (actually he got his fangs before ANY other teeth). If that wasn't enough crankiness for you she has now added the top middles. So her tooth count is up to 6....where is the time going?

Finally Big and Little went to the dentist. See I really wanted to type the big bad dentist, BUT alas our dentist is a total doll. She's so great I just wanna squeeze her. Big got cleaned, and sealed. Turns out what we thought was a cheese-it stain, is a bruised tooth. Go figure. So unless we are loaded someday he's stuck with it. She said it was a cause of tooth trauma when he still had his baby teeth. I'm guessing it can be linked back to this. No cavities though, so minus the referral to an orthodontist (braces are in his future I'm afraid), and the stain it was a good visit. As for Little she did awesome. She loves being like her kuya...but we already knew that didn't we?

See what I mean? It's all about the teeth.

I really do have some fun posts I've been meaning to get to, so hopefully that will happen soon. Tonight I have a surprise "extra" post planned, so I'll see you then!

just a quick post to shout

Yesterday I shared about Tiny trying to wean herself... it's so sad really, and so much more work for me (Thanks Gemma for the GREAT link!) I hope it passes. If it doesn't though I plan to keep pumping through her first birthday.
That got me thinking. Could it be true? Is my sweet, happy, squishy baby closer to toddlerdom then infancy now? When did this happen?
Over the past few months so much has changed. I posted about her break through Indiana Jones style weekend awhile back. Well the adventures and milestone just keep coming. She longs to play with Big and Little- and the closer she gets to her goal a mix of sadness and pride fill me. I can't help but be confused by mommy emotions at times. They are often so conflicting. You feel one way for them, and another about them. I want so much for her to stay my little baby, but I also love watching the joy spread like a wild fire across her face as she accomplishes yet another new feat.
So without further adieu and mommy sulkiness let me share my sweet Sunshine's newest discoveries with you.

*She is a full fledged sitter now! No more pulling to a stand and flopping down with a crash because she can't sit up. Now when she looses her strength she just rest on her bottom a bit.

*She will now tolerate her glasses more, but her patches less....it 's a work in progress.
*She sleeps through the night! YIPPEE!

*She is so good at using her thumb and finger to grasp things.Cheerios, fruit, tiny pieces of her beloved paper, and her sisters hair. I think it's so funny that my only baby with vision problems has the best fine motor skill...God is good.
* she's become so vocal! She doesn't say anything like mama or dada. Just happy little yelps.
* she cruises, and will transition from the couch to a toy if it is close enough.

*Although she's been getting around just fine for awhile now, her style of crawling is interesting to say the least. Just recently though she's learned that she can crawl on all fours with that nice soft belly OFF the floor.
* she is ticklish, and loves finger songs like "Tony Chestnut"
*she LOVES the sight of her family. Little is her hero.Big makes her squeal. Her daddy is her knight in shining armor, and me well I am her sense of security in this ever widening world.

So much is changing, yet the blessing of it all is that she's just the same. Could it be?

... What do you do when your 8.5 month old REFUSES to nurse???? All she wants to do is use me as a tether. ( I have even tried the sacrificial mom thing and allowed her to bite me, hoping she'd then latch on...TMI but, my nipples hate me) She is so hungry, but won't nurse.

I pumped and fed her this morning after 12 hours and much sadness. She wasn't very keen on the idea. I hope this doesn't last. Do you think she's weening herself? Does anyone know how many times a day a 9 month old needs milk, and how much she needs?

argh!

I must remember to post about her HIGHLIGHTS later today so I don't feel discouraged....Oh, Aubree...

While Little was sick, I was overwhelmed, Big was enjoying his last week before Christmas break, and Jay was working Tiny was planning a monumental adventure filled weekend.

For those of you who have know us forever you know that our kids do things fast....usually. I always said I wanted a baby who enjoyed just that being a baby. Big could sit @4 months, and was walking before 9. Little sat @5, walked by 10. Then there is our sweet Tiny. My precious happy baby. She is my blessing. My child who is taking life slower, enjoying the process more, and in turn letting me savor her infancy longer. That was until this weekend.

I say that like she has just been laying around, but that is far from the case. She's been successfully navigating the living room for awhile now. Clinging to any little piece of paper like it was gold. Waiting for the perfect moment to stow it away in her mouth.Savoring every chomp on her wonderful fiber filled treasure before mommy or daddy foiled her plans and pirated it away from her yet again. So life has had it's adventuresome moments but this weekend was the true beginning of her emancipation from babyhood forever. This is a true accounting of the last 3 days events:

She began it by sitting up. Not on her own BUT not completely fighting the idea either. After 7.5 months she can balance while sitting. I believe that once she realized sitting wasn't evil, a veil of woolly eyed babiness lifted and she wanted to explore the scope of her domain. So she headed out to explore further, and discovered the kitchen. OH the joys, and noodles that brought! Who knew her ate was such a benevolent benefactor.

Once the noodles were devoured, she began seeking more adventure. She soon came across the great Mt. Front Entry. She was baffled and entranced by it. She had to conquer it. So she tried many a times from different angles until- yes, success! Up, down, up, down. Once she got the hang of it there was no stopping her from discovering the basket of shoes at the end of the rainbow. EUREKA! What other wonders does this place hold she thought.

All this exploring was tiring so she retired for the evening. Waking up bright eyed is her speciality. So with a HUGE grin and squeal she was ready to see what adventures lay ahead of her today in the land of the Vibats. Lucky for her her mommy was t-i-r-e-d this morning and decided it would be ok if she explored the room she shared with her sister for awhile instead of moving directly to the living room (boring!). The excitement was overwhelming. She had to see more, but wait there was a Huggies wipes ruin in her path. Our adventuress wasn't going to be stopped by Huggies. No, she wouldn't go around it either. She decided to try her hand with her new found climbing skills. So she wnt for it. Yes, success, but wait she wondered what can I do with these ten piggies my mommy is always kissing? So ever so slowly she went for it. One foot, then two and she was standing! She could survey the land and scan for paper so much better from this height. AMAZING!

The land of the Vibats may never be the same again. (I have video proof for the unbelievers that I will post ASAP)

Ok I'm SOOO very behind in posts! I have a list of things I want to share but I thought I'd start with something you Mommy's would appreciate, and get a good laugh from.

On my birthday we had a minor Christmas catastrophe...ok well that may be a bit dramatic but you'll understand where I'm coming from when you see the pictures.....

I was in the bathroom trying to get dolled up for my birthday. Jay was in charge of getting the girls dressed. I wanted to take pictures with them in these matching sweaters they have. (sweaters I might add that were hand-me-downs from different people at different times but happen to be the perfect sizes for the girls to match right now....I love when God does little things like that) Anyways, all was quiet...I should have know something had gone a rye....and I was taking my time, it was my birthday after all. Well when I was done I walked to the living room and saw this:


Oh yes, Little was using a plastic plate and scooping ashes out of the fireplace and dumping them everywhere! I mean everywhere, on Tiny's head, the couch, all over herself and my freshly cleaned living room. Both the girls were happily playing in the ashes as though it were a fresh snow fall. I yelled "what are you guys doing?" and they both looked at me with the 'I didn't do anything face' Now I didn't even know a 6 month old was capable of that look, but I assure you now that they are. I was faced with a laugh or cry moment. I chose to take pictures and laugh. Oh, the mischief of it all. Oh, the future schemes I have to look forward too from these girls. Oh, the sisterly comradery ....LOL. This is not to say that I didn't have a few choice words for my dear hubby. He swears he had just left them a moment before..hmmmm....it could very well be true knowing Little.....














He cleaned their clothes (and helped clean the living room AGAIN) for me and in the end I got these pictures before we left to get our Christmas tree, but I'll save that for another post.

They're here! They're here!

Miss Tiny will now be SEEING the world through rose colored (or framed) glasses. See seems to really like them. She can defiantly see better with them on, she even let out a little squeal, it was so sweet. They are a bit too big, but I think that with the rate babies grow in the first year they will probably fit perfectly in no time.
Now I'm about to get very transparent...
I thought I had totally dealt with all my feelings about her having to wear glasses but as I sit here typing tonight I realize I haven't. I meant to be typing about my "waiting" period before Jay got home to share in this "first" but right now I just think I need to dwell in these feelings, and the amazing vision I too received tonight.

I'm excited for this new world she is seeing through her glasses. Just like when we first started patching her eye, when we put her glasses on her her whole face lit up. It was awesome.Then as I sat there looking at her sweet face I got apprehensive. My thoughts went from focusing on this sweet moment as it was to this: They're too big for her face, I think they're too big. People are going to stare. Does she even really need them? Why is her eye still crossing? Maybe I should try and find her a different pair. Would it matter, she's still going to be a baby in glasses... she will always be my child in glasses,a stand out among her siblings, somewhat broken by the worlds standards... somehow less pretty, less fun...WHOA! Where did that come from (besides some of my own insecurities surfacing)! As I was rambling on in my head about being broken I had a second strand of thought. I thought of something one of you told me recently... ' You are the second person that I have heard refer to herself as "broken" and my first reaction is to say that we are NOT broken! But now I say, YES, let us be broken Lord...break us of ourselves...because that is the only way You can work through us!...' You have my forever thanks for that incite Maritez. I realized I know who tried to rob me of enjoying this moment with my baby by planting those seeds of negativity, hurt, and doubt.

So now I say Get behind me Satan.

She is perfectly broken, as am I, and my God loves and wants us anyways. He will use her in great ways, He already has in my life. She is His. May her eyes always be upon Him seeking His face, and His will- be it through rose colored glasses, or whatever her future holds. That is my wish, and prayer tonight as I wash away my negative thoughts, and focus MY eyes on Him and the wonderful blessing he gave me. Only through worrying about her eyes have I learned how to truly see... and the world looks so much brighter now through these small rose colored glasses.

Moments ago I got back from Tiny's follow up appointment with Dr. Gordon. It was good. She is using both her eyes MUCH better now. She seems to be alternating which eye she uses more at any given moment. The Dr. said that shows her eyes are getting stronger, BUT it is causing them to be misaligned. It seems that the eye she isn't using crosses. He said this is a fairly normal part of the process and was super encouraging about our progress. So now I will be patching her right eye M W F and her left on T TH S...no patching on Sundays (after all that is the day of rest)....whew....good thing I live by my calendar hu?

He also gave me a prescription for her first pair of glasses! She seems to be more farsighted the most babies at her age. She can focus on her own,but when she does so it leads to the crossing. Our hope is that with glasses the misalignment can be corrected and surgery will not be needed. If that is the case she will probably need glasses her entire life like here mama. Her first glasses will need to be these one piece plastic frames she (or more likely her sister) won't be able to break. they are made by Solo Bambini and you can view them here: http://www.solobambini.com Now I need to find a local shop that carries them.

I'm just so grateful right now. I'm grateful we live in a place where a 6 month old can be helped to see better. I'm grateful we have an awesome Dr. I'm grateful for all your prayers, and caring concern for my sweet baby. But most of all I'm so very grateful that I serve the Great Physician. He is using this experience in such an amazing way in my life. I'm watching this blessed baby grow and change right before my eyes and I realize that she is perfect the way she is. She brings something to my life that none of my other children have before. Something I can not even explain. My sweet Daddy is speaking to me through this and telling me that I am not as broken as I often feel. That He sees me like I see her...a wonderful, amazing, marvel of His creation. For that I am unyieldingly grateful.

This week has been something else. Whew! I am totally TGIFin tonight. I don't mean to say it's been all bad; it's just been off with a few great moments sprinkled about here and there.

Jay was out of town over the weekend, and as you all know even with no plans that can be rough. Big always has an attitude backlash, and then a meltdown. He gets so emotional- wonder who he got that from hmmm.... Over the years I have learned what to expect and how to deal with it. It's just that now my blessings have expanded so.... Ok actually, let's fast forward to our current events....

This week Big was asked to prepare a one minute oral report on his favorite animal, and have a picture of it to share. He chose a Cobra. Hmmm, why a Cobra you might ask? This answer comes straight from his report 'I like Cobras because they scare my mama' end quote. Yes, he is a precocious child. Well we checked out a few books from the library and set to work. He typed up his copy, picked his pictures, and drew a few extra then set out to school this morning to give his report. Jay and I thought this was a whole class assignment, so you can imagine our shock when he came home today and told us there was only one other first grader in his school that was asked to give a report too. Turns out he went to all 3 first grade classes and did his report, then once finish held an open forum question and answer period....so Big..... I am so stinking proud of him!!!! I guess all the teachers were really impressed too because when we ran into them tonight at his schools fall fest they were just tickled by his report, and how he carried himself. He really is a stellar kid. I'm so blessed to have him.

Tiny finally broke her first tooth!!!!! She's so much happier now because of it. Let's just pray ( no really I'm asking you to lift me up in this) she stops biting me before it is in fully, cause her gumming has made me sore enough.

Little, my sweet wild child now says Love you. It's so precious and tender, I love it. Next to Hi, Bye, and actually; I love you is probably one the the most used sayings in this house. I'm HUGE on the I love yous, and I've been dying for her to say it back- she used to say bye when ever you told her you loved her. You know like I love you, goodbye. But now it's the real McCoy.
It actually sounds more like wow-whew, but it's genuine. Today before leaving Coffee Chicks she hugged all our friends goodbye and said wow-whew. Yes those are the moments I live for.

I've been going through some stuff. I think that's what really threw me off this week, because looking back now it seems pretty awesome. I'll share more about that Monday night though. I just wanted to count my blessings tonight, and wish you all a beautiful weekend.

Hugs!

A joyful heart is good medicine -Proverbs 17:22a

So here we are 5.5 months, laughing At Last!



....Oh what a divine sound!

Thank you Lord for this joyful child. She is my calm in the storm, and all around blessing in my life.
I love you,
Amen

So as of tomorrow morning my sweet Tiny is 5 months old. 5 months! I can't even believe it!! No, I'm seriously in shock and awe. I know I mentioned before that I think of her as my perpetual newborn. I just want to fully, totally, and completely enjoy her and the brightness she brings to our family. What was I thinking when I said I was done at 2?

So I thought I'd post the things she's doing, and the things I should be doing...now that I've woken up to the fact that I can not stop time.

1. She is rolling EVERYWHERE!!!!! Awake rolling, sleeping rolling, happy rolling, frustrated rolling, always rolling. She often gets herself in many situations like this:

2. She squeals Loudly.
3. I need to let her play with more toys. I'm always thinking "oh no she's too little for that....!" when have I ever done that?
4. She's working on sitting up.
5. I have yet to get her ears pierced. Little's were done months ago by now, again I keep thinking of it but....yeah.... you know....
6. She hates her car seat, and more recently her swing.
7. I need to actually feed her solids more often.
8. I know I need to do #7 because she's been gumming me ( She's teething....yuck....)and seems to think it's soooOOOooo cute. Yeah, no.
9. Her tongue is her new BFF. It's so funny. She's always darting it in and out of her mouth.
10. She knows and smiles with glee at Big, and Little. Even being so kind as to put up with Little's smothering signs of affection.
11. I need to let the kids hold her more. She's not nearly as fragile as I feel she is.
12. She's my sense of calm, my peace, my baby, and she's almost half a year old.



12 things, for the girl born on the 12.

Tiny,

I promise I'll let you grow up (someday), if you promise to always tell your mama you love her kay?

x0x0x0xMommy

Sorry for the lull in posts. The last few weeks have seemed very chaotic and I haven't had much down time. So as my girls nap I thought I'd fill you in on them.

This weekend the Hubby and I decided we needed to enjoy the BEAUTIFUL weather so we went for a picnic at Heather Farms. It was fabulous!!! I love it there, but most of all I love moments where our family can just be together. Those lazy afternoon that seem to be hours longer then they are. I love watching Jay be the amazing father he is. Some how managing to find a moment to get completely lost in each of our children's unique little worlds, enjoying every second of his stay. It's all so lovely and perfect.

While at Heather farms we snapped this shot of them.


It took my breath away, made me delighted, and sad in the same instant. My sweet children are growing up so fast. They all seem so much BIGGER in this photo then I see them. As they insist on growing- big moments are happening in their lives everyday. It's so exciting, yet as their mother it's also shocking. Where is time going???? Why does it seem to be running faster every year, month, day, hour, and moment? I wish I had a way to slow it all down. The only way I know to do that is to truly be fully present with them. Savor each moment, every hug, every BIG accomplishment (even if it's really small), and each stage of their lives come what may. I try my best to do that.

In sticking with the BIG moments theme today here are a few highlights from each of of the kids lives.

Big: Look at this-------->
His face is changing! Suddenly he looks like such a BIG kid. He also acts like a big kid now. He's doing great in school. He even helps the other kids if he sees them struggling. (more on that later) We've been reading a lot of Shel Silverstien as of late and to my great joy; he gets it. Better yet he loves and cherishes the poems like I do. He's working on his second loose tooth. And to my great dismay he's began wiping off my kisses.



Little: Oh my beautiful disaster of a child. How I adore her and her craziness. This weekend she started using the word NO. I thought I'd dread that day but The way she says it is so unlike her I find it so sweet. Everything else she does is BIG, and loud. When she says no she says it in a soft, almost melancholy way. It's precious. She's totally in love withTiny. She's my little mommy. Always trying her best to "help" me with this and that. She's doing an amazing job potty training. She went number 2 on the potty for the last 3 days. She too is looking so big these days.




Tiny: Let's just start by saying GOD is good. Tiny's had the toughest start in life of the 3 of them. After a rough pregnancy, the jaundice hospitalization, and her poor vision she is still by far my happiest child. She's so calming, and sweet. I keep trying to make her stay my newborn but upon the birth of her sweet cousin on the 3rd I had to face the fact that she's growing up. Next to Destiny she seemed HUGE! She's chunked up nicely recently, and has now started eating rice cereal. She can get all around the room by rolling, and scooching. She's began happy screeching, blowing bubbles, and pouting... we are not so patiently waiting for a good belly laugh, but we know it will come sooner or later. He vision seems to be getting better, and that is truly a blessing. ( The patches are irritating the skin around her eyes, if you have any thoughts on how to help that I'd be grateful.)

In everyday moments BIG things happen in the life of a child. Savor them, celebrate them, and always remember how Blessed you are to be apart of them... I know I do...when I'm not crying because they are so fleeting....