Tag Archives: baby

A Letter to my Daughter on her Fourth Birthday

20 Jan

To my Aviendha,

Today, you turned four. Four years of life. You started out stubborn as all get out and things have not changed. There are a handful of things that you will stand solid on and not budge, no matter what the motivation for otherwise.

Peanut butter, Ponies and Princesses, oh my!

Our most recent battle has been with food. You have always been extremely picky with what you do and don’t want. In order to take you away from your strict diet of pepperoni (whether on pizza or otherwise), fruits, peanut butter and yogurt, we have had to put some restrictions at dinner time. If you don’t eat one bite of something from our plates and chew for 10 seconds, you won’t get tv for the next full 24 hours. Since we put this into place, you have yet to miss a day of tv. It’s amazing what we can do when finding the right motivation.

Doing laundry and get this little munchkin to help me. She helped me vacuum too! #mamaslittlehelper #distraction #ilovemyfamily #mydaughter

This spirit is amazing. It’s something I love because even when you are angry, you are still one of the sweetest little girls in the world. You do not hit. You may scream or shout, but if asked, you will take a deep breath and a break. You know that daddy gets headaches and if your fit has him around, you will stop almost instantaneously.

It's going to be another long night.

Your greatest joy comes when you are around babies. At least once a week, you say that you wish you could be a big sister. It hurts me just a little bit when I tell you no. When I say never, you reply with maybe someday. The eternal optimist.

Helping Nana feed her second cousin. Cutest thing ever. And no, Avi still won't get a little sibling.

Kissing cousins! No, she is NOT choking him, contrary to how it looks.

Our new kitty Pumpkin has been such a great gift to our family. You are so happy with him! He loves sitting on your lap to snuggle with you. He puts up with you picking him up, brushing him, feeding him….he also keeps your bed warm and helps keep you in your bed at night.

These two are going to be dangerous with each other, I can tell. He already puts up with her so much, purring the whole time and she gives him an internal monologue. #weneedarealitytvshow #ilovemyfamily #catstagram #mydaughter

Irony in my own fat orange cat joining us to watch Garfield and Friends? Nope, not at all. #ilovemyfamily #snuggly #catlady #catstagram

We have been so blessed to have Suzanne in our house to help keep you in line. She has introduced us to BJs and their Tea Party fun:

Coffee date with my girl! I love the little Tea Party option and so does Avi! Work dates are the best! #mydaughter #ilovemyfamily #ilovemyjob

We moved to a new house this past spring which allowed us to have Suzanne move in. It’s the fourth move you’ve had in your short life, but this is where we will most likely stay for a while. Letting you have your own bedroom and room for Suzanne and an office means we’ll be here for time. Plus, the pretty door handles make for some fun.

Aren't my door handles pretty?

This year, we’ve also progressed to you sleeping in your own bed. Thanks to a “Brave Buddy”, you became strong and powerful to sleep in your bed in your own room. Most nights, you still end up in our bed, but you start out every evening in your own!

We found a Brave Buddy (tm) to keep Avi safe in her own room. We shall see if it works. Right now, she has it, a blankie and pillow and is laying down on her toy box. #nojudgement #crazybaby #strongwilledchild

Your excitement for performing makes me happy. You do one thing and if we giggle or laugh, you will do it again and again and again.

"But mooooom! You need to put more Backyardigans on!" #teenageratthree #ummmwhat #sassypants

Funny faces? Check. Great costumes? Double check.

Avi is scary! At Baby Max's Monster Party! #monster #costume #scary #pleasedonthavenightmares

I love you, my sweet baby girl. You are so amazing and make our lives better in every single way.

Avi chose to play with a toy tank at the table today. We talked about the letters on the front and she recognized the S and the A. We then asked her if she knew what the United States of America was. "Umm, I think it's where the good guys live?" #kidssayt

We went to visit @thekatspajamas today and Avi found a new friend! Major #temptation to get another dog for the family. #projectlife365 #bigolddog #puppylove #mydaughter

Two seconds later, Avi starts singing a song about being a mermaid. She will have a career in song writing by 5. #ilovemyfamily #mydaughter #swimming #singing #songwritingcareer

Words cannot even begin to share how happy I am that these two are in my life and love each other so much. #iamblessed

Run like the wind, my True Fairy Princess. Your entire life is ahead of you and it will be glorious!

"Run like the wind, True Princess! We can't stop til the day is done!" #mydaughter #ilovemyfamily #yesmydaughteriswearingatanktopin46degreeweather #donthate

Happy 4th Birthday, sweet Aviendha. I love you!

The birthday girl has some serious #style with her dance moves. #projectlife365 #princess

Small Style :: Eclectic

29 Mar

In an effort to start blogging again, I thought I might follow along with some of my favorite bloggers (Adventures in Babywearing and So Fawned) and show a little bit of my daughter’s amazing style. Nothing is designer. Most of it is hand-me-downs or a gift. But I’m fine with that! Especially since this was Avi’s fourth outfit of the day, not counting PJs in the morning an at night, we need lots of options.

In this outfit, there is a sundress that her papa and nana got her when they were in Hawaii, a silver tutu from Christmas pajamas two years ago, a brown corduroy skirt and plaid pants from a friend and shoes also from a friend. Underneath her pants, she also has a pair of pink striped leggings with seahorses on them.

Overall, a very common outfit in our house!

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Enjoy and visit Mama Loves Papa for more small style!

A Letter to my Daughter on her Third Birthday

19 Jan

To My Dearest Aviendha,

Holy cow, you are three! THREE!  How did that happen?

One day, you are my little baby and then suddenly, you’ve become a passionate, opinionated, talkative, brilliant little girl. It’s amazing.

Over the past year, you’ve moved from your “Avi-ese” language into full blown English. To where strangers can understand you. Granted, they still have some trouble with some words, but you are very good at getting your point across.

This morning was wonderful…you woke up when Daddy was making coffee and I was putting my makeup on, so we got to do a wonderful “Happy Birthday” snuggle. Your Daddy said “Happy Birthday” to you and then asked you how old you were and your little voice shouting “THREEE” so happily made my morning.

You bring so much joy to my world. Fully weaned, sleeping in your own bed and almost totally potty trained – you really are a big girl now.

I cannot wait to see what this next year brings. Whatever it does, it’s going to be amazing.

Because you are incredible. You know when your daddy has a headache or when he is sleeping. It’s normal. You handle it so well and are so amazing.

Just to share the difference a year can make, two different dancing videos. One from your last year birthday and another from this year. You grow up so fast!

2011 Dancing Queen   2012 Dancing Queen

iHeart Faces – Soft and Sweet

2 May


Come Here You!

Soft focus but such a sweet shot. I love how sweet my daughter is!

Disgruntled

25 Apr

I hate not feeling wanted. And today, even though I have some wonderful and exciting news that I can’t share quite yet, two things happened today that crushed the happiness. I knew they were both coming. And I can’t really go into the details….but it’s disappointing. Draining. Soul crushing even.

But instead of dwelling on that, I want to focus on the happy.

The beautiful weather we had this weekend. Including on Friday when we managed to get home right before this happened:

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Snuggling with a 3 month old baby and being content with having a single child.

I've Been Babied!

The AMAZING 70 degree day on Saturday and playing at the park after enjoying the Alpenrose Dairy Easter Egg hunt aftermath (we parked the car after the gun went off to start….probably about 10 minutes later it was over. If that.

Playing in the Sun

Putting makeup on to celebrate Easter:

Easter MakeupThe Easter celebration I spent with family yesterday, Ryan included. It was so wonderful seeing him interacting with the conversation. Chasing Avi around with an egg. *sigh* It was very happy.

How was your Easter?