12 months old

Today we celebrate for you are officially ONE.  You are growing up to fast and there is no slowing you down.  You are full steam ahead and don't get in your way.  You are Trouble with a capital T.  You clap with excitement, point when you want something, bite when are frustrated and smile from ear to ear all the day long.  Now that you are one, my mission is to take the bottle away and get you on sippy cups.  First, I started with introducing you to whole milk and you seem to like it about as much as you do formula, so thanks for making that so painless.  You are not that picky, pretty much eat or inhale anything we put in front of you.  You are a great napper, still taking two a day.  You go down for the night around 8pm and love to get up around 5:30am.  Most times I can feed you and you will go back to sleep. You are now pinching and biting when you get frustrated, not sure what this is all about.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not be a biter.  I so hope it is just a phase and you will get over it once your teeth are all in.  You have 4 teeth on top and three on the bottom with another one about to come through.  You love to climb and get into cabinets.  You know when you are doing something wrong because you look at us with the face and flash an evil grin.  You are still a little shy and not so sure of other people.  In that way you are much like your brother.  You are our amazing daugther who brings so much joy to us every single day.  We love you with our whole hearts and are forever greatful for having you as our baby girl. 

Happy 1st Birthday

Today is a big day!  One year ago today, in the early hours of the morning you entered this world.  A whole two pounds bigger than your brother and to our surprise, dark hair.  You were wide eyed and alert from the moment you were born. You looked nothing of your brother, you were your own person from the start.  I will never forget the second night in the hospital, after everyone had left, I laid you on my knees and just stared at you forever, just amazed at how perfect you were.  With your foggy,newborn eyes, you stared back at me as if you could see clearly and that you had known me forever.  For two hours we did this.  I snapped picture after picture so I could remember your newborn face and eyes staring back at me.  And finally, a yawn, your eyes shut and I knew it was okay to let you go off to the nursery.  Especially, because our wonderful neighbor Debbie took care of you in the nursery that night, she even made a special hat for the most special girl I know.  Happy Birthday sweet girl!!

A lesson in sharing

The funny thing about Hayden and Halloween is that once he has all his candy, sorts through it and takes inventory, he rarely ask for it. I think David and I end up eating most of it. Well, today he asked for a piece after school. He picked out a ring pop and as soon as Emerson heard them wrapper she came running. Remember, this girl has a serious sweet tooth, she can sense sugar a mile away. It is kind of crazy. I could open a cracker package right in front of her and she wouldn't even blink. But if I were to open an ice-cream or piece of candy, she could hear it from upstairs and would do everything she could to get down the stairs to get a lick. So, Hayden being then sweet boy he is, asked if Emerson could have a lick. Pretty impressive, I am not so sure I would share my candy...haha. One lick from Emerson and it was OVER! She was hooked. I had to have Hayden hide in our room with the door shut. She banged on that door for a good 10 minutes, before she finally gave up. I learned my lesson. I will think twice before allowing Hayden to share sweets with his sister again.  I love the progression of these pictures...first she is getting into trouble looking all sweet, then she hears zones in on the ring pop and watch as she creeps into the picture and then you see the reaction as I tell Hayden to run for his life. 


Trouble



So sweet and innocent



So excited about his ring pop



We have a creeper

Give me some

Yum

and another lick

one more

Why is that not in my mouth?

So very sad

Ladybug Girl and Batman

David is not a huge fan of Halloween, he calls it the Devil holiday. I totally disagree, I love everything about it. To me it is the beginning of cool weather and the start of the holiday season. There is something about kids dressed up with huge smiles on their faces as they race from house to house to fill their bags full of candy. I can't imagine how David could not love Halloween, because he is not afraid to dig into Hayden's candy. I think about the the kids decorating pumpkins. David thinks about the kids smashing pumpkins. I think about how much fun people have decorating their houses with creepy spiders, graveyards, ghosts and ghouls. David thinks about our house and cars and hopes we don't get egged. I think he forgets about all that when he see's Hayden and Emerson all dressed up and the excitement on Hayden's face. Seriously, has there ever been a cuter ladybug in all the world? And how lucky is that ladybug to have a superhero, big brother to watch over her? She sat in the wagon the whole time, holding onto a lightsaber and never made a peep. Just watched as Hayden and his friends filled up their bags full of candy. I know next year she will be running right behind her brother, treat bag in tow, and a huge smile on her face.

First Halloween

I can't believe this is Emerson's first Halloween. It is so weird to think I was still pregnant last year, waddling around the neighborhood as our little Woody ran from house to house screaming "trick or treat". I remember thinking that since Hayden was early, Emerson would for sure be early and would arrive before Halloween. Nope, she decided to wait it out another week. I think that is part of the reason it does not seem right that this is her first Halloween. In fact, it doesn't seem right that she will only be turning one. It is hard to explain, I can't imagine life without her and don't remember life before her. It is like she has always been here.

Peer Pressure

A few weeks ago, a new family moved in and they have two boys a little older than Hayden.  While we were at the park one day, the boys asked Hayden if he could ride a bike without training wheels.  I was not around when this conversation took place, but apparently they laughed at Hayden because he said he could not.  Well, ever since that incident, Hayden was determined to ride a bike without training wheels.  Seriously, for three days he begged to go outside and practice.  So I screwed his training wheels off and he practiced and practiced his little heart out.  Three days later...he was off and not looking back.  He was so proud he just had to ride his bike to the boys house and show them how he could ride without training wheels.  He rode right up to them with his chin held high and showed off his new skills.  A few minutes later, Hayden comes over with a sad look on this face and said "they said my bike was small."  Ugh...my heart broke for him.  Looks like we are bike shopping as soon as possible.  Sure enough, that weekend after Hayden's soccer game, David, Bob and Sonia went bike shopping as I went to Emerson's boyfriend, Henry's, birthday party.  He came back so proud with his big, blue, tricked out bike.  And Dad and the rest of the family looked stressed and worn out.  I am telling you, he is picky and has problems making a decision, just like his Mother.  His bike has a horn, a handlebar that sounds like a "dirt bike" and some blinky lights on the tires. This is one serious bike!  Even though it makes me sad that the boys upset Hayden, I know that it forced him to learn to ride his bike.  I can't wait to see him show off his bikes to those two boys....I bet they don't have a "dirt bike" as cool as Hayden's. 

cheering on big brother

teaching her all about riding a bike

A job well done

Busy, busy, busy

I can't believe October has come and gone.  Fall is officially here and we are loving it!!  We have been busy with school, soccer, choir and preparations for Emerson's birthday.   October is a busy month for Hayden at school.  We went on a field trip to Gentry's Farm and this is always so much fun.  This is his third year for this trip and he always looks forward to picking out the perfect pumpkin.  Finding the perfect pumpkin is serious business for Hayden, he could look for hours.  "This one is dirty, this one is bad, the stem is to short, this one is rotten".  Thankfully, it was time to jump back on the hayride so he was rushed to make a  final decision...whew! 

He also had a Halloween Carnival at school.  Last year I missed it, I did not know that parents were allowed to come.  I remember picking him up from school that day and he was so sad that I was not there.  I felt awful, so this year I would not miss it for the world.  It was a blast!  It was the first time I got to see Hayden interact with all his friends at school.  There are ten boys in his class and they are the huggiest boys I have ever seen.  The first thing they do when they all see each other is hug...it is quite strange and funny at the same time. He has made some good buddies this year and I can just tell how much he loves going to school.  He never fights me anymore, never complains of his stomach hurting and is even going through the carpool line.  Wow...my baby boy is growing up.

His best bud Kellan

Here is some of that hugging I was talking about