Cabin Trip.

We took a little getaway to Driggs, ID this weekend with some friends to visit their cabin and celebrate Aaron's 29th birthday. There was a whole lot of this going on...

And also Stella decided she wanted to go back to sleeping in a crib. Yay for regression that helps the world sleep better. And Mabel decided she is done nursing. Yay for getting my boobs back, soggy as they may be, but boo that I wont get the nursing snuggles anymore. Change is good right?!? Thanks Taylors! Happy Birthday Babe. Love you!

We Party Hard Over Here.

Here are the photos from our 1st birthday celebration for Mabel. We opted for pizza and applesauce since they are Mabel's favorites. A big thanks to the University Federal Credit Union for the Costco gift card the day of the party that funded it and to my mom for providing Sweet Tooth Fairy cupcakes at the last minute after a cupcake "malfunction" earlier in the day. Also, i'm pretty sure that for every future holiday I am going to cover the table in brown paper again. It was one of my better ideas. Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us. Love you baby, Happy Birthday!

Dear Mabel.

Happy 1st Birthday Little Red! 

My life has changed more in the past year that in any other year of my life. I am so blessed to have you with me to help me along the ride and bring sweet magic to our family. I do love you so. You seem to have decided that age one is old enough to be big and it is breaking my heart a little bit even though it is so fun to watch you play. You climb everything now including onto the couch and beds. You also have started saying your animal sounds (Dog, Cat, Tiger and Wolf) and holding up your arms when you want to be held just melting my momma heart. The most bittersweet change that age one has brought with it is the lessening desire for you to nurse. You are weaning yourself and I don't know that I am quite ready to give up that special bond. Although, less nursing means you are sleeping way better thankfully. Just stop growing up so fast already. I love you to the starts sweet Mabs! 

Love, 

Momma

^This is the newest face you make when I ask you to smile. Also, a special thanks to Steve and Micah for gifting little Mabel her Pony that she loves so much!

October Bliss.

I was made for October. I was also born in October as well as some of my most favorite people on this planet. That crisp wonderfully smelling air is nearly impossible to beat. Oh and did I mention my favorite outfit is jeans and a t-shirt with a hoodie at the ready. Perfect October attire. This year in October we celebrate Mabel's 1st birthday, bittersweet. And Aaron's 29th, our last year before he hits the big "30" and have to pretend we are actually adults. But this October 1st marks a very special day on my calendar. Stella Sue is officially potty trained. Holla! And she did it all on her own. I am one proud Momma. Happy October 1st everyone. I hope your day has been as fabulous as mine. Here's to Stella, the feisty little firecracker who does things her way on her own time just like her stubborn Momma. And to Mabel, my sweet little Red. Happy Birthday tomorrow! Don't get too old.

Dear Mabel.

Little Red,
The 11 months you have blessed our lives so far have been the fastest and craziest months of my life. You are trying so hard to keep up with your sisters. You walk along all the furniture, stand and climb everything. This month you cut your bottom two teeth and decided while doing so that you wanted a binky. There was one left in the toy bucket that you discarded as an infant and now wont let go of. You are starting to self ween and after all the grief nursing has given me I am really sad about stopping. Baby food is a thing of the past and you like to eat everything. Blueberries are by far your favorite. You have quite the little vocabulary for one so small, saying "Dada" "Mama" "Dah" (Dog) and "Nana" (Eat). You hold a very special place in my heart my sweet angel girl.
Love you to the stars,
Mama

Dear Mabel.

Happy 9 months big girl! I think you are officially a red head. And you can't seem to stay out of trouble for one minute if you are left on your own. The bathroom and the floor lamp seem to draw you in every time I set you down. You have mastered the speed crawl and have permanently rashy/dirty knees because of it. You have also learned to pull yourself up to stand but aren't super sturdy yet, probably due to the fact that you prefer to stand on tip toes. Sleep is still a battle we are fighting but you are nursing faster and for less time each day so it's not too bad to nurse you all night since I get the extra love. You love to watch dogs, wave, clap and blow raspberries. You still hate bottles, binkies, diaper changes and sleep. You also started this funny new move we call the mermaid. When you are held under your arms you point your toes and flip your legs back and forth like a mermaid. It is adorable and a crowd pleaser every time. Mabel, you are still my little angel baby and I am continuously reminded of how much I needed you in my life and what I was missing before your journey to earth. I love you to the stars little Red!
Love, Momma

Dear Mabel.

My dearest Mabs,

I am sorry I missed last months letter. Life has been flying by and I can't seem to catch up. So, happy seven and eight months little one! You continue to bring sunshine to our family on a daily basis. Seven months brought new adventure because are officially on the move. It didn't take long after you learned to sit to decide it wasn't exciting enough and you took off crawling a few weeks ago. You are fast. And for some strange reason are attracted to the tightest spots and get your self wedged between furniture over. and over. and over. You are still as stubborn as I am and refuse a bottle so you are always by my side. Thankfully you started to sleep better since we moved you into the basement room with Nora. I think you like the cooler temperature down there. You have acquired a love for food but only if I let you pick it up and feed yourself...like I said, stubborn. But I love you to the stars sweet one. Forever.

Love,

Momma

Picture taken by the talented Samantha Kelly.

Dear Nora.

My sweet Roo Roo. I am forever grateful for April 5th because that is the day your beautiful arrival made me a Momma. You are an incredibly smart, funny and wonderful four-year-old. Wise beyond your years with a heart of gold. I do not know how I became lucky enough to deserve you. I love you to the stars Tootsie. Happy Fourth Birthday!

Love you forever,

Momma

*We let you get your ears pierced after almost a year of asking. Not a tear was shed and you are proud as can be. My little princess.

Dear Mabel.

Happy Half-Birthday. Sorry you had to celebrate by getting a cold and an ear infection. Even though you are sick you are a still the sweetest baby to ever live. These past six months have been the fastest of my life. I know that so much will change in the next six months and it makes me excited and terrified. You are trying to sit on your own right now and soon you will get teeth, love food, crawl, walk and turn one...and i'll probably cry just like I did at six months. Your blonde hair continues to sprout straight up and you have acquired quite the impressive leg chunk, weighing in at almost 17 lbs. (Still smaller that your sisters at 6 months if you can believe it). I love you to the stars sweet Maybe Baby! 

Love you forever,

Momma

Dear Stella.

Oh Stells,
You feisty little thing. I often forget you are only two with all the spunk and personality you have. You talk my ear off these days and overnight decided you are now a big girl. The cutting off of the mullet helped the big girl appearance too. Your birthday was celebrated with cake, dinosaurs (at the Natural History Museum) and Captain Rio (a.k.a. Cafe Rio) upon your request. You didn't even care if you got gifts as long as you got cake, but we gave you some Duplos and a little backpack too. You finally are sleeping through the night a little better in your big girl bed but still get up at the crack of dawn. It makes for a grouchy Momma but i'm trying to work on that. Naps are becoming less and less frequent but often times you fall asleep in the car or on the couch right before dinner. You have decided you don't want to eat meat of any kind and will only eat all your other food if it is in tiny tiny bites. Meal times these days are sloooow. You seem to be happier each day if we can take a break and play outside. And you love to be hands on with things like blocks, Duplos and Play-Doh and have no interest in t.v or being read to. You would rather play and read alone in peace. I don't blame you ha. You love your sisters to death. You can always get a smile out of Mabel and you want to copy everything Nora does. Your Daddy and I love you to stars sweet Stella. Happy Golden Birthday!!
Love,
Momma

Dear Mabel.

Sweet Mabel, 

My little peanut angel baby, 

This first month has flown by. You have taught me to believe in miracles.

I love you to the stars!

Love, Momma

Picture taken by the talented Christine Olson.

A Party In Pictures.

Saturday we celebrated Stella and Oliver's 1st birthdays. They are six weeks apart and BFF's. I can't wait to have babies that close again. The duplex is going to be overrun with kiddos. The party was a huge success. I was very lucky to have Katie and her hubs and MIL help so much because Aaron was at school and I had spent the entire morning barfing. It was so fun to celebrate together! Here are some pics Katie took. (I forgot my camera as usual) Thanks to all the friends and family who came to celebrate.