Happy 2nd Birthday, Contessa Caroline!

Oh how do I even begin with Contessa! At two she acts more like four or fourteen!

She talks in full sentences and we can understand her 95% of the time.

She eats a lot and isn't picky.

She is bossy and rules over her siblings.

Age 15 months - telling someone what for!

She loves princesses and star wars guys, dresses and cowboy hats, high heels and snow boots, barbies and train tracks.

Her favorite thing is the swimming pool. When we drive by she yells, 'Swimming pool is fun!' and giggles.

She favors Lauren and gets her to carry her a lot...and play with her constantly.

She's got Avery right where she wants her too.

She is a great sleeper. Waking about 7:30 and taking a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon.

She loves to wrestle with Sully. She does not fight fair.

When she is tired she pinches me - hard!

Every morning she asks for toast.

Every afternoon after nap she asks for 'suppa' (supper)

When we start a meal she says, 'suppa.' (which means - good supper mommy - she is copying her siblings who always say this too but she doesnt have time to get it all out...just the one word. its like my favorite thing ever)

She says please and thank you like an angel.

And NO and NEVER EVER EVER like the opposite of an angel.

Age 22 months - her mad face!

She says 'all right' about 55 times a day. Sometimes just to show agreement and sometimes in a sassy tone with her hand on her hip.

She gives the sweetest hugs and kisses.

She is such a snuggler.

She throws the worst tantrums we've ever dealt with.

Age 22 months - I dont want to leave the beach daddy!

And is the most independent two year old we've ever had.

She loves to dance and listen to music. She can really boogie!

She likes to be rocked before bed, but only for a little bit. And she loves her soft yellow blankie.

She loves books.

She has the CUTEST tan lines I have EVER seen!

She calls all fruit - apples

She always wants to go 'bye-bye'

She steals strangers shoes at the pool and attempts to wear them into the water.

She rifles through strangers bags at the pool to find treasures.

(These were actually our bags - I didn't think I should photograph her getting into other people's stuff!)

She pats my leg and says stay when I sit on the edge of the pool. Then she tries to get as far from me as possible. When I stand to go get her she screams, 'STAY!'

(Our pool time is SO relaxing!)

She loves the church nursery.

She loves her uncles.

She loves her cousin Adele.

She LOVES babies.

She gets comments on her blue blue eyes at least a couple of times per week. They are amazing. When they are sad - we melt, when they are happy - we dance, when they are angry - we hide!

She loves nothing more than to go on bike rides with Daddy. She finds his helmet and brings it to him saying, "bike ride???" and he cannot resist.

She covers her ears when she is scared - not just when there is a loud noise - but when she is scared of anything.

Oh Contessa, I could go on and on. I cannot believe you are two, although you act SO two.

But no matter how much we joke about your spirit, spunk and attitude we wouldn't change a single thing about you. Our house was missing something and that something was you! It was much too quiet before you and there wasn't enough laughing and dancing believe it or not!

I mean it when I say that your siblings loved you with all their hearts from day one. They literally fought over you. And I thought it would only last a few days or weeks. But it continues - they fight over who gets to help you with your shoes, play dolls with you or read you a book. And yes, you milk it for all its worth!

You are such a special little girl. You stole our hearts on July 1, 2008 and yet somehow those magical blue eyes of yours make us fall deeper in love with you each and every day.

Thank you for filling our hearts with love and laughter that overflows!

We love you baby girl! Happy Birthday

Love,

Mommy and Daddy.

Birthday Eve

I seem to have started a ritual with myself...looking through old pictures and crying on the night before one of my kids' birthdays.

Miss Contessa turns two tomorrow.

It's evident that we were ALL smitten with her from the very start.

Truly, I dont think there has ever been a newborn to get so much attention.

It seemed she had an unlimited number of siblings fighting over who would get to hold her next.

It went on for weeks. no months. You know, now that I think about it...its actually still going on.

oh my.

She quickly went from my little peanut to a 6 month old...

And then from there overnight she became and 18 month old.

Tonight at bedtime I asked her to promise me that she wouldn't turn 3.

She promised. And she said she would never break a promise to her mommy.

I swear she did.

Introducing...baby #5

Jordan and I got to 'see' little baby #5 today.

We did not find out if we will be adding a brother or a sister to the mix.

Jordan thinks he knows and I think I know...but we both have different opinions based on the ultrasound...so basically that just means that neither of us have a clue what we are talking about!

What we do know is that the dimpled chin is evident.

And we both think he/she looks like Contessa.

Seriously precious.

Our dr. takes a VERY long time to do ultrasounds.

He literally spent 30 minutes studying the brain and and another 30 on the heart. He points out this and that and says, a baby with 'X' would have 'X' here, but your baby looks normal.

I just listen for the words, 'your baby looks normal' to be spoken over and over.

Those are some pretty beautiful words!

I'll admit that after laying on the table for over 1.5 hours I almost gave in and just said, 'Just tell me what we are having!!' But I held out.

And we'll all have to wait until November.

Honestly I don't have a strong preference for which it is.

On #5 I just laid there thinking "Wow, God gave us another perfect baby. We are so blessed."

And even if it was time #5 to see a tiny face pop up on that screen...it was just like the first time. And perhaps even more miraculous that it was happening again.

I guess viewing your own personal miracle never gets old!

I'm losing my touch...

I used to be able to be showered, have all four kids out the door and delivered to their respective locations and be sitting in my office chair all before 7:50 am.

Now if I have to be showered, have all the kids ready and fed before 9:30 I struggle.

I've totally lost it.

Time with Grandma

Time with Grandma Cindy usually involves playing beauty shop to fix up hair and then pictures.

Looks like they got both accomplished!

She's growing up...

Contessa will be two in less than a week.

Time must fly by faster with each child...because I honestly don't even know how she could be one.

Today at the pool I saw someone I hadn't seen in a long time and they gasped and said, 'Is that Tess? She's walking already!'

They truly didn't believe me when I said she was two.

I almost don't believe it myself.

duh

Lauren and Avery spent the night at Grandma Cindy's for fun last night. Jordan left early early this morning for a golf tournament.

It was just me and the little two for the morning.

We had a few hours before the big girls came home and the Sully and Tess were playing great so I decided to catch up on some house work and laundry that had been neglected due largely to the swimming pool this week!

I finished my 'chores' and looked at the clock...really, only an hour had passed? And I got it all done? How?

Oh yeah, because I only had 2 kids home...not 4. Even if they were the 'difficult' 2. Sometimes I either forget or dont realize how long simple things can take when all the kids are home and how much easier it is when they are 'farmed out'. I guess whenever you have fewer than you are used to it seems like a break, doesn't it?!

So then I started thinking about how when school starts and Sully goes to preschool I will get SO much done.

Then it hit me....

duh...

about that time you will be having a baby.

So I guess I'm back to getting nothing done!

Seriously, I forgot that soon there will be another child in the house.

But then I got really excited about meeting this baby so we are good.

:)

little moments

These days are exactly what summer should be like.

I am loving it.

We are still busy, and running around a lot, there are lessons ect. but its fun...

today was the most beautiful day yet.

And this was where my favorite moment of the day came...

we were driving to the pool to meet our friends...

windows down, sun shining, radio turned up, little sun-tanned bodies filling up my van.

And in the back seat is little Contessa...singing at the top of her lungs to

'Free Fallin'

Now that is summer!

And Sully was kind of enjoying it too.

They didn't mind it either!

the trade off

My entry way in winter = boots, snow, hats, mittens, gloves, scarves and bitter cold

My entry way in summer = pool towels and toys, endless flip flops, sand, beach bags, picnic blankets, water bottles and sunscreen

obviously one is way more fun than the other...

but I can never stay on top of either!

:)

Happy 6th Birthday, Avery Elizabeth!

I remember June 21, 2004 like it was yesterday, not 6 years ago.

I was running around the hospital like a chicken with my head cut off for the hospital's 'hard hat' event. I was 2 weeks shy of my due date.

My grandmother was also in that hospital, very sick.

I was torn between wanting to be by her side with all of my family and needing to be part of all the excitement going on at the hospital's event I had spent weeks planning.

Finally, 7pm hit and the event was over. I was sitting in the hospital waiting room and I finally admitted that I was in labor. I remember my boss touched my stomach during one of the contractions and she said, 'Becky, go to the hospital NOW!' (our hospital does not deliver babies).

But I couldn't leave without saying good bye to grandma. So Jordan and I tearfully said our good byes and headed to Waterloo.

At 6am June 22nd Avery Elizabeth was born.

She came out with one push...literally as the doctor walked in the door in time to see the nurse catching her.

My grandma passed away a little later that morning and I remember holding precious Avery as I got the news via my brother over the phone. I remember crying but feeling so blessed...death and new life - so many emotions. Avery was a bright spot to everyone that day and in the week that followed.

Jordan and I were so happy to have a baby sister for Lauren. We had both hoped it would be a girl.

Avery was an easy baby. She slept through the night at 2 weeks, but rarely napped. But she was truly almost always happy. She crawled at 3.5 months - no lie and stood at 6 months. She was all smiles and laughter.

A total joy.

She grew into a wild and CRAZY toddler. We made a fair number of trips to the ER with her for a broken bone and stitches before she turned 2. She has given me many gray hairs.

Then somehow when I wasn't looking, she started to calm down. To change. To grow up. She still has some fire in those eyes, but she is also my girl who will sit and color quietly for hours, who loves to be read to, to snuggle quietly, to dance in her room all alone. She loves EVERYTHING to be beautiful and to sparkle. She loves fairy stories and happy endings.

Avery, you remind me of a younger version of myself in so many ways, in your incessant need to cuddle, touch and hold hands, your ability to worry about things that should never be worried about, your easy to break heart, your love of movies and stories where love conquers all, your wild and crazy ideas and even crazier dreams as you sleep, how you start out timid but end up wanting the party to last all night, how you wear your emotions right on your sleeve - no one ever has to wonder if either of us are happy, sad or mad!

Avery, just like the day you were born, you continue to fill our lives with sunshine, warmth, smiles and laughter in the middle of life's storms.

We love you with all our hearts - you are our 'baby Avie'

Love mommy and daddy

Tomorrow

Tomorrow when she wakes up she wont be 5.

Would it change things at all if I still WANTED her to be 5?

Would it stop time?

I'm going to work on that really hard while I sleep tonight.

More of my Avery

Always full of energy. Always!

And always this beautiful and sweet.

And giggly.

And girly!

Birthday Eve

Avery on her 1st Birthday...or is that Tess?

(its not really, but man they look alike!)

Fall 2005 - best friends from the beginning.

She still loves anything sweet!

15 months old - black eye, stitches, broken arm...yep, that was Avery!

Daddy Time

In our house we don't really celebrate birth DAYS.

We celebrate birth WEEKS.

So Avery is kind of queen of the castle around here this week.

And tonight she got to spend some time with just daddy.

Out on the golf course.

hormones

you know when its obvious that your pregnancy hormones are out of control?

when you sob like a baby during the movie '50 First Dates'.

what is the matter with me??????

Father's Day 2010

Jordan,

There are many words I could write to you on Father's Day.

About your dedication, hard work, spirit of fun, endless energy, words of direction, spiritual direction, tender touch and the list goes on and on.

But for me, none of them can even come close to expressing the type of father you are...like the excitement in our children's voices when they hear you come in the door, or the way they look as they curl up next to you for story time and especially the looks on their faces when they look at you.

I didn't know to pray for a man who would be a daddy like you...

but somehow, God knew to give us that too.

We love you, Jordan.

We are beyond blessed that you are ours.

"Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!"

- Lydia Child

Not so long ago...

This was fall 2005.

Avery at age around 15 months is being hugged/strangled by cousin Aaron at

age probably around 30 months.

This day feels like last week...

how does time go so fast?

And try telling me she doesn't look EXACTLY like Tess!

(Thanks for sending this Garrick)

Another broken promise

I love my kids' birthdays.

Love, Love Love them.

But every time one rolls around I say, "well you can have this one...but only if you promise not to have another one."

And not a single one of them has ever kept that promise.

She turns 6 on Tuesday.

6.

really?

how can 2004 have been 6 years ago? how can that tiny peanut of a baby now be going into kindergarten? how can she now be the big sister? really? where did that time go?

And she makes my heart stop.

The games

My outside games were going to be much livelier than the indoor games ended up being.

But the kids were really good sports.

A little bean bag toss...

Check out Avery's tongue in this one...must run in the family because Sully does this too.

Just cute of Brooklyn and little sister Alex in the background...

Avery and Brooklyn are so cute together...very giggly and all smiles.

I have a feeling we will have fun watching this friendship grow.

My indoor games also did not take up enough time!

So when you get bored what do you do?

Well you take the only boy at the party and you put makeup on him.

And yes, he was all for it...daddy was not home by this time!