Happy 6th Birthday Bean!

To my sweet Bean,

Six years! Seriously, SIX YEARS?!?!?!!? The time has gone by all too fast. You have grown into a beautiful young girl, with a heart that is tender and loving. You love structure and consistency, and struggle with change in anything. I love your independence and your will to do things your way and solve your own problems...but I also LOVE your dependence on me still. Dependence to calm your fears, and quiet your heart. Dependence to give you snuggles and make sure everything in your world spins around smoothly. God gifted you to us as our oldest, and I love your leadership for your siblings. You truly are a gift to us, that we don't take for granted. We thank God for you and all the laughs you have brought to our family, and all of the silliness that we are able to have with you. Thank you for being such a good "guinea pig" for your dad and I as we continue to learn how to parent you and your siblings, and how to raise you up to be a God loving young girl.

I love you more than you know...
Love,
Mom

I Love...

...that Bean LOVES having her own room. She picked out the colors, loves her bedding, keeps it organized, enjoys her reading corner and spends time dancing in front of her mirror. She loves it so much, that she wanted her birthday photo session in her room.

The sign above her bed was saved from the fire. It was "cleaned" but it has remnants of soot and smoke stain if you look closely. She didn't want to get a new one!

But, even with loving her room this much, it isn't enough love to make her sleep in her own bed at night. You see, since the fire last August, the girls started sharing a bed (Queen) in the condo. We moved back home at the end of October, and I think she spent one night in her room. She told us, "Cakies really needs me to snuggle her at night."

So, since then, they have shared Cakies' (full) bed. Every night. Every night before I go to bed, I find the two of them smashed and smooshed together. Sometimes in the middle of the bed, sometimes way out on the edge. And sometimes the snuggling gets so snuggled that Cakies falls out of bed. Hmmmmm...I am wondering who really needs the snuggles. I love it, and I don't care if they share a bed until they are 25! :) Happy Friday!

Bean and Facebook

Are you a fan? Follow along on facebook to see sneak peeks sooner and catch up on any happenings!

And, because I am WAY behind in posting pics of my sweet soon to be six year old...I will put a couple here today! She makes my heart melt...

...and her heart melts easily. One of the things I love is her sensitivity. She feels others "feelings" and is so caring. When she knows she has done something wrong or has hurt someone's feelings (like her sister's), she is so utterly sad. Her eyes well up, and is instantly ready to apologize. She hates to disappoint anyone, and is friends with everyone. My sweet girl...getting so big.

Hope you are having a good day!
***Sneak peeks from two sessions coming soon***

I Heart Faces - Angle Challenge

So this one I get to "kill two birds with one stone"! :) Bean will be turning 6 a week from tomorrow (I know, seriously, where have the last 6 years gone?!?!?!?!), so in honoring her birthday, I am going to post an image a day here of my sweet Bean. And, I am entering it into the "I Heart Faces - Focusing on Angles" challenge.

I would like to also post one thing that I also "love" about her with the image each day. Today, as I am typing this, she is in the family room sharing and playing with her sister Cakies. I LOVE that Bean is an incredible big sister. She is patient with her siblings, includes them in everything and is a best friend to them. I love watching the sibling relationship develop, grow and deepen more and more each day. I pray it continues for their lifetime, because I personally know that a strong relationship with a sibling (siblings in my case) is one of the best things here on earth.

So here is the shot...taken on an angle...of my little Bean in her bedroom. She asked if we could do her "6 year old session" in her room. She picked the outfits, and of course, and hairdo too! Love her independence and confidence...but I will probably write about that another day! ;)

For more cool angle shots, click on the link above!

Bean Goes Back...

Sad, sad, sad. Bean goes back to school today. It was SO much fun having her home for break! She is so excited. She misses her friends, and misses her teacher and misses the bus ride! LOL! She truly is a sweet little girl. I love her so. I love watching her grow. I love listening to her read. I love knowing that I will get to experience all of these fun things with my other two that follow her. She is an excellent leader for our family, and she makes me a proud mom daily (not saying here that she is perfect ALL day EVERY day...but I am honestly proud of her daily). Her tender heart gets me always, and although she wants to be such a grown up, she still yearns to be snuggled by her momma. Life is good. God is good. He continues to fill me up daily.

So, in continuing to put pics up of Gbers, and still counting down to his big day...here are a few...

My husband thinks Butter needs a haircut...I am not quite ready...so please be honest, am I being one of those moms clinging to the babyness of the curls? Seriously, what are your thoughts? Of course if you decide to comment with a comment that I don't want to hear, I will choose not to publish it! ;)

I think he is gorgeous even when he makes goofy faces!

My biggest sweetie with my littlest (the one in between was refusing pictures!!!!)...

One More Birthday Shot...

Here is Bean waiting to blow out the candles...

My Laptop...

I love it. After having a few initial glitches, all is well, and it is great to be able to be next to the kids and "work". Right now Bean is at school, Cakes is taking a nap at Mimi's and Little Man just fell asleep after an hour of so of individual play with me. It was so much fun. He is cooing, smiling, and even laughed yesterday and again today. His little smile still melts my heart, and he is THE BEST baby ever. So before Beanie and Cakies get home in a short bit, I thought I would post a few shots that made me smile from yesterday...how is that for posting updated shots...just yesterday folks!

He loves his bath time...and the girls love pouring water on him.

Solid chunk of love...

Our new wall decor - Bendaroos. They are super cool wax covered string that Bean wanted for Christmas but didn't get...so we got them for her birthday. The girls can play with them for hours, and the coolest thing is that they untwist, unbend and can be used over and over again. Amazing little things. Theses were my thoughts until I walked into my family room and saw our new wall art. The girls were so pleased with what they were doing...and I left them where they are at...they are still hanging and still clinging, guess that could be another cool thing about them.

Cakies had a rough couple of days, but I am happy to report she is looking so much better today. She was miserable starting late Sunday evening, and I took her to the doctor's yesterday. Bronchitis was the diagnosis, and an antibiotic the treatment. Amazing difference from yesterday at this time to today...and even more amazing, she slept for more than a half hour without waking up coughing, I slept for several hours straight and life seems to be more normalized. Those of you who know me, know I do not function well without my sleep. I get cranky, irritated and I am the first to admit that. So the couple of nights that were lacking sleep were really building up, and thankfully last night I was able to get some good catch up sleep!

Beanie lost another tooth today. It was somewhat loose, and she was playing with her water bottle in her mouth and somehow knocked the tooth out. This one was not swallowed so the Toothfairy will really have something to pick up tonight! By the way, I asked the doctor yesterday about the tooth swallowing business, making sure I wouldn't have to "find" the tooth, and he assured me that I certainly don't have to do a poop search and she will be just fine. So, MIL, if you were worried and just not saying anything, the doctor is cool with it exiting on its own and floating away to a blissful life in the sewer! :)

My first scheduled session starts next week...like I have said before...I am very excited about getting back into sessions. Can't wait to see my friends and their cute little ones again!

Thanks for all of the sweet comments on my post for Beanie's 5th birthday...you are all sweet, and much love each of you!

5 Years Old

Today is Bean's birthday. 5 years old. 5 years ago she entered this world with all of her personality already beaming; I just didn't realize then how much of her personality was shining through. She doesn't like change, and didn't then either. I think that is why she refused to be born the way God intended...she didn't want to leave her comfy home. That is her today. Ask her to change anything, and she will immediately become sad, frustrated, mad. 5 years ago, she entered this world rather loudly. My husband jinxed us within the first 12 hours saying, "She hasn't made a peep!" That was the calm before the storm. She then proceeded to cry from day 2 through 4 months old...not all day long, but an enormous chunk...just ask anyone that was around. One of my brother's admitted to cringing when he saw us pull in their driveway because he knew Beanie would cry...and for a long time. 5 years ago...so hard to believe. I remember it all so vividly, and want to make a post recalling that day, for one day my little girl may just want to read or hear about her birthday once again!

On March 29th 2004, I was supposed to be induced. I got up early to be sure to look "pretty" for labor. I wanted my hair to look good, my make-up, contacts...I know...a little vain, huh? Well, that didn't happen. I call these little things in life God's jokes to remind me I am not the one in control...at all. While I was in the shower that morning, my water broke. I wasn't completely sure since the water was running, so I called Tom. He came in and suggested shutting the shower off. Sure enough, another large gush and I knew it was my water that had broken. It wasn't the slow trickle kind, it was continuous gushes. So needless to say, my hair was crazy, no make-up, no contacts, and I arrived at the hospital with a towel between my legs. I refused the wheel chair and insisted that I could make it on my own. Waddle away I went.

Labor didn't progress at all. Induction medicines were used, and Beanie's heartbeat dropped low. Oxygen mask, flip flopping positions were the name of the game that day. I requested an epidural, and it stunk. Well, I continued to have sharp pains, and I was hoping for none at all. Tough stuff, that didn't work for me either! Dilation was slow, and eventually stopped at 8. My little Bean wasn't coming out straight and wasn't fitting in where she should. After 21 long hours, I was running a fever, which indicated an infection of some sort, and it was finally determined that I would need a c-section. As crazy as it sounds, I was relieved. The surgery part was scary, but I just needed it to be over...too much pain, too much worry...just get me my baby.

During the surgery, I was very nauseous, and told the anesthesiologist that I was going to puke. He handed Tom a small little spit tub and told me to turn sideways and puke if I needed. I hit the bucket on spot, but happened to have a little more puke than that little bucket, so Tom's shoes were well decorated with my insides. We laugh about it now, but it was pretty disgusting. On March 30th, 2004, at 2:49 a.m. my little Bean was delivered. Boy or Girl? It's a girl! I didn't believe it; I had convinced myself that it was a little boy. What was her name was the next question. Tom and I looked at each other, both with tears streaming down our faces and said her name together...if you want to know her real name, you will need to ask during a session :). When I first held her, my heart was filled with love...a love I never knew before, a love I can't even put into words. Bean and I try to say "I love you more" and I always end up telling her that I love her more than I can even measure and one day she will experience that love for herself.

My first baby. You are five now. You are a complete joy in my life, and I have loved every stage that we have gone through together. I couldn't ask for a better leader in our family...you are paving the path well for your siblings. Your sweet, sensitive, questioning heart melt my own often. I don't deserve to have you as my precious gift from God, but I am so blessed and so glad that God gave you to me...to us. You are a delight to many, and I look forward to watching you continue to grow. I hope you enjoy being 5, even though you just told me that you miss being 4. That change thing for you...I love it!

Happy Birthday sweet girl. You are loved more than you know, by more people than you know!

A few shots from yesterday...

Did I mention that my big 5 year old girl, lost her first tooth yesterday? It has been wiggly loose for a couple of days and she refused to have it pulled...she swallowed it while eating chicken nuggets!

Smooches for my baby...

And who can deny a smooch from the cute little Cakies...she has been so sweet through all of the celebrating for Bean...she is now very excited for her own birthday...two months away!!!

Cakes showing me her tooth...looks like she has lost ALL of her teeth!

Birthday cake with the Birthday Girl!

This last shot is my favorite...it isn't the best in quality per say, but it is the best of the night. She has been telling me for WEEKS that she wanted a surprise party. So I had tried thinking of several different ways we could surprise her. But, she kept mentioning how she wanted it to happen, and my plans weren't going to suit hers. So, she planned her own surprise. She greeted each guest at the door, and once everyone had arrived, she went up to her room and waited for the entire party to hide. Once we were in spots, she would make her waltz from her bedroom for her surprise. This was her reaction...

...we were all just gathered in one room together...and then yelled "Surprise!" when she walked into the doorway. It wasn't quite what she was hoping or planning for. She had wanted us all to physically hide behind furniture, and then jump out. I hadn't understood that in her directions, and the above picture is telling us that we didn't do it right. Needless to say, I didn't make the entire party hide...when there are 22 members in your immediate family, there aren't quite enough hiding spots available.

Off to bed. Cakes is sick...back to back colds...annoying. Last night I was up for about 2.5 hours straight listening to her cough, and running to her room when she cried out in need. The coughing has calmed up there, so I should go take advantage of the peace and catch a few hours before another coughing fit arrives.

Thanks for reminiscing with me, and have a wonderful week!

Angel Kisses

My four year old Beans, has been more observant lately of what she looks like, and what makes her different from me and others. She will comment on my skin being "brown" and liking hers better because it is peach (I love her confidence!). Conscious of her hair, and often wants to put ponytails in by herself to get it just right, and I have to add that she does a pretty good job at it too.

So the other day, she noticed that she has "red marks" between her eyes, on one eyelid, along the side of her nose and a light one on her lip. She also has a large one at the nape of her neck that you can only see when she wears a high ponytail. Just glansing at her, they are not noticeable, and really are most noticeable in natural lighting. They pop out most when she has been crying, running around, or is super hot. To me, they make her complete and who she is. She was looking in my mirror in our bathroom as I was getting ready. She seemed alarmed at first by them, "Look Mom! I have red marks on my face. What are they?" Wanting to make her know and feel how special those little marks are, I said, "Angel Kisses." Bean asked me, "What are Angel Kisses?" Again wanting to make them special, "They are kisses from the angels before God put you in my belly. They loved you so much and were going to miss you, so they gave you those kisses to remember forever." She seemed very pleased with that answer. (These are the types of things I say that my husband looks up and around for lightning because he swears I will be struck down with my "lying".) She also asked if Cakes had any. Thankfully, Cakes has some also...back of her neck, eyelids, and lower back. That was pretty much the end of the conversation until today.

We were again getting ready in my bathroom, and she was examining herself in the mirror as she usually does. She then looked at me a little dissapointed, "Mom, the angels forgot to kiss this eye! And how did they get their lips on my other eye?" Hmmm. "The angels saved that eye for me to kiss!" So I kissed it and showed her how they got their kisses on her other eye.

Here is a picture from earlier this summer (that I posted before) but you can see some of her kisses, between her eyes, along the side of her nose and a very light one above her lip. She had been running and dancing in her new bathing suit, which makes them pop out. She is a precious little thing, that thinks way beyond an average four year old. I love you Beans.

Bean's Bits

I wanted to get the conversation that we had the other night before bed written down, before I got tired of seeing the piece of paper laying on my counter and threw it out on accident! So, here is a little bit of my Beans. Hope you enjoy...and be checking back for some sneak peaks from this weekend (and from last week! YIKES!)

Bean: I want to live here until I'm a Mommy.
Me: Okay. What if your husband doesn't want to live here though?
Bean: I think he will, when he gets to know ya more.

(Husband and I holding back laughter.)

And she continues...
Bean: My husband and daddy can throw darts in the basement together, and I can be with you.
Husband: (Under his breath) I think I will be throwing the darts at him. (He isn't ready to even THINK about Bean getting married/boyfriends.)

Bean: Do you be boyfriend girlfriend first? Like you and Daddy were?
Me: Yep.
Bean: There's so many boys to pick...how do I know which one?

Oh, my girl. She is the sweetest little thing. Some days she can't wait to be married (of course still living in my house?!?!?!?) and then there are times, like last night when she was trying to go to sleep, that she works herself up to an all out cry, "I want to be four forever!" Last night she also added in, "Can't I have a different birthday so I can be four longer?" I only wish my sweet Bean...I only wish I could keep you little forever. But, I felt that when she was first born, that I wanted to freeze time to keep her tiny, and as she grows and goes through each stage, life gets even better and even more fun, and filled with even more laughs! I love you Beans...

Nap time for the girls...work time for me!

I fell in love...

With these sweet boys the moment I met them! 3 year old, D, was a little chatter box and by the end of the session he even invited me to Mr. Freeze (the reward for being so good during the session!) which I thought was so sweet, and had to decline to get home to my sweeties. Little P, was cuter than ever also. He got tired of me pretty quick, but I was able to get some good ones of his baby brown eyes! And, I also have to add that both boys (and Mom) were total troopers in the sticky humid weather this morning! Thanks for tons of fun!!! Hope you enjoy the sneak peek and I hope to get more posted this weekend! :)



He LOVED climbing on the "gates" as he called them...he just loved climbing on anything I think!

This one melts my heart...I love to see the love between siblings!

The smiles on both of these boys popped right out at me! :)

Sleepiness is coming...


Fighting it...and me trying to take his picture!!! :) If you look closely (click on picture) you can see his big ol' crocodile tears streaming down his cheeks!

A little ride in the wagon, and GONZERS!!!! Isn't he adorable!!! :)

Off to bed! Oh yes, I forgot, I know I am behind on posting pictures of my own family (Cakes birthday in particular), but I have to mention that tonight was Beans dress rehearsal for her dance class that she took this year! It was so much fun to watch it all come together, to see her excitement to be on the "big dance" stage, see her socialize with friends, and know that she is truly another year older...getting bigger by the second! I will be posting those sometime in the near future...hopefully!!!!

A Posting Fool!

Seriously, two posts in one evening?!?!? What? My husband is playing softball, so it gives me a good chance to sit and go through images that need editing. I came across the following picture. It was taken during the middle of KJ's session. Yes, this is one of the examples of what happens during sessions at my home. Thankfully Aunt L is very cooperative and loves my girls to pieces. Why do I have to post this one? I wish she was in a cuter outfit, I wish her hair was brushed all cute, but this picture shows my Bean's personality. She is wearing her new bathing suit (feeling like Little Mermaid, and posing like her), her eyes are sparkling, but most of all you can see all of her angel kisses. The little red marks between her eyebrows, on the right side of her nose and above her lip. I love these little marks. Every time I "notice" them, I remember the day she was born, and remember falling in love with those little marks and staring in awe at her beauty. I don't notice them as often now. They mainly stand out when she runs around, cries or is sweaty. In this case, she was running around singing, "Part of That World". So, that explains the reasoning behind two posts. I couldn't resist this picture and wanted to share it with all of you!




P.S. Here is one of Cakes from the same day. Her personality shining too...stripping herself down to her onesie by noon, ketchup on her mouth due to unwillingness to cooperate with the wipedown, and CRAZY hair because she never lets anything be in it! "No pony." Those two words are very clear! Love my girls! Thank you God for my blessings!