Wednesday, April 20, 2011

More Birthday Fun

AG's birthday on April 2 is just the kick-off to a few weeks of special days for our family. T's birthday is April 13, and I just realized this year that whatever age AG has just reached is the sum of his digits...a neat little mathematical "coincidence" that will hold true throughout his 30s (you didn't think he was 43, did you?). So last Wednesday he came home for a birthday lunch and opened presents and cards to celebrate. The girls, especially AG, had really taken some initiative on making sure they all had gifts and cards to give. And we broke tradition on his cake (no jelly cake after 10 years!) and made a peanut butter/chocolate chip cookie cake instead. It was a fun day for us all! We are thankful to get to celebrate another year of life with this wonderful husband and Daddy.





Then last Saturday was LL's "5 and a half" birthday, a day she has been anticipating for weeks, or probably months. She made her hopes for putt-putt and Chick-FilA no secret, so that was the plan for the traditional date with her Daddy. Here's our little "half-pint" in her chosen outfit and self-styled hairdo as they set out.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Oh, Boy!

Little boys are different. People told me that, and I would have said I knew it was true. But I had not experienced it for myself until RL came along. And since he turned one last fall and started walking, and running, and talking, and screaming, and climbing, and crawling around rolling everything with wheels around on the floor (or either turning it over to examine those wheels)I am starting to see what they meant. Hardly a day passes when he does not do something that makes me think, "Did the girls do that? No, they never did that." He is funny and loud and strong-willed and sweet; he raises the roof when he doesn't like something but gives the best bear hugs ever with his little arms right around our necks. It seems he is exercing his will with regard to food in a way we've never experienced...I don't want to say, or even think, that he is picky, but he seems to be black-listing new things daily. Here are a few recent captured moments of the little guy in action.

His favorite thing...bathtime with the boats (thanks TN Womacks!:). Every night when he gets out of his chair after supper he starts emphatically saying, "BAAAAA! BOOOOOOW!" to let us know he wants to take a bath and play with these boats. I tried to upload a video of him saying it, but it didn't work...maybe later. But here are some photos...



A big splash!


Yes, he pushes around the pink stroller, but look what he puts in it!

And at the girls' soccer game, another truck gets a stroll...

He got into one of the still-packed boxes on top of everthing while I was doing something in the kitchen and was fascinated with digging through the stuff he was sitting on. This is the "I know you want me to look up but I'm too busy" look.

He likes to try to stand in or on toys, not a good thing when it's a truck on our hard floors! I really hope this idea passes quickly. He's also showing himself to be more of a climber than the girls were. He loves to stand up on the little chairs and a few times I've found him on his hands and knees on top of the little table, looking like he was so proud of himself.

He's a mess sometimes,but this little guy makes us laugh and melt our hearts!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Seven Years Old

Can it really be? We celebrated AG's 7th birthday on April 2! Time flies when you're having fun (and babies:)! We are so thankful for this sweet, bright girl. She has learned so much, and teaches us so much! At 7, only a tiny remnant of her original bright red birthmark is visible on her back, but her freckles are as precious as ever and not a single baby tooth has offered even a hint of a wiggle!(Maybe not surprising, since she didn't have any til a week before her first birthday). Her thinking thinking a step (or two) ahead, love for Narnia and imaginary play, and her independence and hard work on her piano and schoolwork are marks of her personality for which I give thanks. It is a joy to see her as a big sister to LL, SJ, and RL, and she has already been the one to show the most affection for this new baby-on-the-way, giving my tummy a nightly kiss!

Here are a few photos from her "ice cream" themed party. She had a great time celebrating with her grandparents,uncle, and friends!