Because Babies Grow Up, We've Learned to Our Sorrow ...Happy Birthday Baby!

Well, I have to admit, my lack of blogging lately is yes, because like all of you I'm busy, but I have been avoiding this post!! I can't believe how hard it has been on me to realize my baby is a One-year-old! I know, I know, as if blogging it will make it not so! I can clearly remember her just being born and me tormenting my anesthesiologist, and now this...my baby turns one!

Wow, I love this little Nicolette. She has brought a tremendous amount of joy and love into our home that I will forever be thankful for. She is the light of my nights and the icing on the cake. I will miss her babyhood. I have realized, now that I am older ( it's true I am now admitting I am heading towards my mid-thirties, boo hoo boo hoo). that babyhood is such a small slice of the start of life. When Lexi was a baby I was sure she would never grow up. I thought she was a newborn for an eternity. (poor Lex) and Nicolette's newborn life slipped by in the blink of an eye. What I have also realized is, once that baby grows up, she is gone! She turns into someone else. A wonderful sweet child, independent, busy, and full of energy and life. All wonderful things...just not my baby anymore.

So, I just want to make sure I always remember my baby Nicolette. She is truly a blessing to this family. She is the 5th daughter and just as important as the first. Nicolette is fun and sweet and loves every sister unconditionally. She loves her mom and Dad and thinks were the greatest. She is a wonderful explorer and thinks the toilet is the best. The bath tub is second runner up. She loves to say "whoof" and the doctor says this counts as a word. She loves to eat fruit and cheese and loves to throw the food she is not in the mood for on the floor. Her spirit is pure and amazing. I can still feel how close she was to our Heavenly Father, not that long ago. I have so much gratitude for her, and that she exists not only in my life, but in our family's life. Happy Birthday Nicolette!



Now, this post turned into drama, poor crying mother, etc. Now, because Nicolette is so sweet and loving she will understand and not be annoyed with me. I realize the poor child does need a second post that is a happy birthday one....so, that is soon to come!

My Kids Today...

We had just picked Vivi up at ballet class. The girls always love to have the windows down on the way home. Ava thought this completely wonderful today and this was her reply, (while letting her hair blow out the window) " HELLO BEAUTIFUL WORLD...HELLO". She repeated this a few times. This just made my morning. It was a purely sweet and happy girl, enjoying our beautiful world.

Vivien and I spend a lot of lunches just the two of us. Sometimes I only have time to feed Ava and get her off to school, get Nicolette down for a nap, and then focus on Vivi and her lunch. This was a little bit of our conversation today...
Vivi: "Mom, how old do you think I will be on my birthday?"
Me: " Well, Vivien, I am not sure, what do you think?"
Vivi: " Well, probably 17 or 16 or 15"
Me: " Well, honey probably just 4"
Vivi: "oh..........(sigh)"
My poor little Vivi thinks she should be a teenager already? She does seem to be a 15 year old stuck in a 3 and 1/2 year olds body, in many, many, ways. Bless her heart:)

A Birthday For Our Nine-Year-Old.

We had a great celebration for Lilli. Nine has been good to her so far! Lilli enjoyed her birthday and celebrated it to the hilt! If anyone needs to know how to party, Lilli is definitely the person to ask:)

When Lilli is in a good mood, she is truly one of the most fun people I know. She is full of life, energy, and love. I am so grateful for Lilli and the sweet and fun spirit she adds to our family. She is often a good example to me and her sisters. I feel so blessed to have a child like her.

The birthday started out with the breakfast with dad tradition. They went to Paradise Bakery (yum, yum!)

Grandma came over before the party to wish Lilli happy birthday. Lilli was thrilled to see Grandma and the wonderful American Girl Doll gift!

Daddy was gone to the Priesthood session of conference this night. He made it home for cake and ice cream though! Yeah Daddy! Lilli is holding her new monkey from Build-A-Bear. She wanted to take all of her sisters with her. We headed to Build-A-Bear before the party and the sisters all had a wonderful time choosing their new pets.

Ava and Vivi loved Lilli's birthday! They were so thrilled with her that she took them to Build-A-Bear. Happy Birthday Lilli:)