Dancing Beauties

This was a crazy weekend of recitals! Ayda had hers last night and Hadley's was today! Both were so good. Ayda's recital was more formal and was for 6yr olds and up. Hadley's was the younger crew...2-5yrs. So much cuteness watching those tiny dancers on stage. Most just watch their teacher lead the dance! It's great!

Ayda wanted to try Jazz this fall. She really enjoyed it but wants to go back to ballet. She'll be in the older class for Ballet now so i think it'll challenge her more than last year.

Hadley just started ballet this fall. She loves it and adores her teacher. I'm so glad! She's excited to keep going in the spring.

I can't believe I'm a mom of 2 dancers. I had to watch YouTube videos to learn how to do a high bun on Ayda. One of Kevin's dress socks had to be sacrificed but I did it AND it held up thru 12 hours! Ayda had rehearsal from 10-1, then the show was 6-8:30! I did use ALOT of hairspray! I love watching my girls dance and also the other dancers. So much talent!

Harper went to both recitals too. She was so into the recital last night. We were in the 4th row so she could see the dancers. She took a short nap but seriously watched the whole show. Cracked me up! And she watched some of today's show, but we were much further back. We may have a third dancer Ina couple years!










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Random Thoughts

It's been a busy and fast week! The girls are out for break for a couple weeks. I love having them home and I know the two weeks will go fast! We're about to see a lot of family and I cannot wait!!

Harper has been chewing on her hands for weeks but found two fingers to suck on yesterday. It's kind of handy that she'll pop those in her mouth when she's fussy. It is tricky because she wants her arms swaddled to sleep but then can't get her fingers to suck! She and I didn't sleep much last night and I think that's why!

After school today hadley went to my mom's and was supposed to spend the night. My mom texted saying she was weepy and missing mommy. We decided she'd stay thru dinner and I'd come get her. I have to admit it warmed my heart...she has always been a momma' girl. When I was sick she went with anyone and was away from me a lot. She took it all like a champ. Now that things have settled back down I think she likes to stay close to me and home! I know she would have had so much fun with my mom but I hope she always knows she can come right back home!

While Hadley was with my mom, Ayda and I (and Harper) had an afternoon together! I don't get a lot of time with Ayda (and Hadley not be there). We had such a fun time together and it was so nice to give her my full attention!




Sucking those fingers


Fun Jammie's from my mom!


Sisters being silly!

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Puttin on the Ritz

There's nothing quite like loading up 3 kids and a Grand Pam and heading to the Ritz to see a GINORMOUS gingerbread boat! Ayda thought it was awesome and smelled really good. Hadley was not impressed at all. Harper simply enjoyed the outing! Oh and Grand Pam was ready to check in!

It was a beautiful day so we sat outside and enjoyed the ocean view, massive tree, comfy furniture, and fresh air as we pretended we were indeed staying there! Then when the kids got hungry we headed back to the car and headed home! It was a fun little outing and the boat was pretty impressive!



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I'm Back!

Can't really remember when I last blogged but I want to pick it back up. Mainly because I love looking back at what the girls were doing at different ages. A place to keep funny things they say and do. I hope if anyone reads along they'll enjoy a peek into our days. The good and bad!



There's no way I can get caught up on everything so I'll just start with the now! Ayda is now 6. Hadley is 3 1/2. And Harper is 12 weeks. I always said growing up I wanted all boys. I'd be the perfect BOY mom. Well God had others plans for me and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world! I absolutely love being a GIRL mom! Im having to learn how to do buns for dance and better my braiding skills. We watch, play with, and love Pricesses and Fairies (tho I do keep those to a minimum in our house)! People ask if our house is in pink overload...well actually no it's not! Thanks to Hadley we have blue here too...her favorite color! It's so much fun watching the girls bond (even Harper) with each other! My prayer is and will always be that they remain close regardless of their differences. They are such a joy!



Kevin is doing well as a Chiropractor! His office is awesome. It was an interesting road to getting us where we are but this just feels like home. We are all so happy in our community. His patients are wonderful. He's seeing many of them already getting well. His CA is perfect for him and has done a wonderful job helping him open his doors and grow. We are so thankful!



I am busy at home again. I worked at the girls school last year. Now having had Harper, Kevin and I decided I'd stay home with her like the older girls had. It also allows me to pick Hadley up from school at noon. I still love doing my photography. And I am still growing more passionate about natural childbirth and breastfeeding. My journey to breastfeed Harper is long and I'll save that for another post. It is something I want documented for myself and also for others to read.



As 2014 is coming to an end I have mixed feelings about this year. There have been wonderful things happen but also some very challenging times. I am so thankful tho for my precious family God has blessed me with and incredible friends near and far.








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So Much to Learn

Ayda has really taken off in school this year. Even before we moved. Her teacher said in NC she could tell Ayda was on the edge of mastering several concepts. Boy was she right! I'm so thankful the move didn't set her back. She's reading sight word books, knows and loves the 7 continents, and is writing more each week. She handed this picture to me of the world the other day and I was so impressed with her writing Asia and Africa! She acted like it was no big deal but I was a proud momma. I absolutely love and fully believe in the Montessori philosophy. I know she's not just memorizing stuff, she's understanding things from foundation up. I know I'm biased but she's a smart little 4 year old!!


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Easter

I've been looking forward to Easter at home so much this year. So often we travel and it was nice to be home, just the 4 of us. Also the last 3 years we haven't had a church "home" to celebrate in. We went back to Trinity in ATL last year but it just wasn't the same. I prayed we'd find a church for our family to attend when we moved. Not only did we, but it was the first one we visited! It's so nice to be in church again!


Saturday our church had an Easter egg hunt. The girls had practiced a few days before at my moms church in ATL so they were ready! After the Egg hunt there was a story of Easter told and a craft. The girls enjoyed all of it.








Growing up my mom was BIG on tradition. And I loved it! So I decided it was time to start those traditions with the kids. So we died Easter eggs and they got Easter baskets.







Easter is such an important holiday for us. Praise God Jesus rose and is alive. He redeemed this world!! My faith journey has changed a lot the past few years but I'm in such a wonderful place and truly praised my Savior on Easter!

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Hadley is TWO!!

It's been awhile since I blogged. And I decided to set the blog to private (again). So if you're reading great! I want somewhere to store memories more privately and my thoughts. A true journal! Now onto my post!

Hadley,
You are TWO! How is that possible?!? I still look at you as such a baby. When Ayda turned two I was already 5 months pregnant with you. It's different having you turn two and you're truly still my baby. Watching you grow is more fun everyday. You are saying sentences and some just crack me up! And you are so expressive. If I don't know what you are saying I can easily tell by your face, tone and body language if its something happy, sad, frustrating, etc.

You weighed in at 25.6 lbs fully dressed and you are 32 inches tall. You wear 24 month tops and 18 month pants/shorts. You are a size 5.5 shoe (which means you are basically wearing size 5). You are in a size 4 disposable diaper but mostly in cloth diapers. You sleep about 11 hours at night and love to play in bed when you wake up in the morning. You fight your nap but will sleep 1-2 hours in the afternoon IF I rock you to sleep.



You have some funny interests but daddy and I love it! You love dinosaurs and dolls. You picked out a plastic cow for your birthday! You love it too! We also went to a huge car show on the island and you had a blast! Made daddy proud. You wanted pictures with the cars and you wanted to sit in the ones that you could! It was a fun day.



You are getting pickier with your food preference but you have quite a sophisticated palate! You refuse to eat bland food. You like flavor! And you still like daddy's cooking over mine! You really love soup, rice, sweet potatoes, cheese, yogurt, fruit, and some chicken/beef. You like variety so I am always changing up your selection on stuff! Ayda will eat the same thing everyday, but not you!!


For your birthday we celebrated 3 times!! We had a dinosaur party with friends and your Agon and Ama. It was a very fun party. Then we celebrated just the 4 of us by going to Hibachi because you wanted soup for your bday dinner. And on your real birthday we were in ATL visiting Grand Pam and Papaw. We went to the Cabbage Patch Hospital and you picked out your own baby from Grand Pam. You and Ayda had a blast there. Then we had dinner and met The Watsons for ice cream!! You loved all of us singing Happy Birthday to you!!


Where to even start with your relationship with Ayda. You adore her for sure. You both fight plenty but at the end of the day you love each other so much. You miss her when she's at school everyday. You LOVE going to pick her up. You really look up to her and she actually has taught you a lot. She still cracks you up and I hope her sense of humor is something that you always appreciate. I pray you grow closer as you grow older and really rely on each other and support each other!

Baby girl I am excited for this next year. I feel like from 2-3 you will change from my toddler to my preschooler! Not sure I'm ready for that! It'll be such a fun year!


So in closing I hope you always know how incredible you are and how much daddy and I love you! You are our firecracker! You fight for what you want but then snuggle right up to us and love and kiss on us. You are precious! Happy 2 years!



Love,
Mommy

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