I don't want to forget....

Wow! The child that made me a mother for the first time turned TEN a couple weeks ago. It is so very hard to believe and honestly, it's bittersweet. While we celebrate the fact that it's the day of her birth and want her to know she's loved, it is really hard to fathom that EK is 10. She doesn't act like a ten year old in many respects. She can't tell me what she wants or likes. She doesn't argue with me. She isn't able to dress herself, get herself a snack or use the restroom...things most take for granted. I don't know why birthdays hit me so hard, but they do. Each year, the gap between EK and her peers grows. How I wish we could at least figure out a way for her to communicate what is going on in that sweet mind of hers. I KNOW she has preferences. I would LOVE to find something she enjoys doing. I'm so glad Keith suggested horse therapy a few years ago. It makes me so happy that once a week she can ride. She loves being with her siblings too. W...

I cannot believe it's almost been a year since this little blessing joined our family. Here I am, planning her birthday party in a few weeks. CRAZY! Eliza Joy keeps me on my toes right now. She's into everything. While she's still just army crawling, she is quite fast when she is determined. She is sleeping a little better...usually going to bed between 7:30-8pm and sleeping until around 4am, nursing and then back to sleep until 7ish. She takes 2 good naps a day. Her morning nap is how we get a good portion of AC's home school done. Her afternoon nap gives me a chance to do a few things around the house or have a few minutes to myself without wondering what she's gotten into. She's trying more foods. She LOVES veggie straws right now and coconut milk yogurt bites. We do a lot of the baby food pouches as well.  She LOVES her siblings. Her face lights up when she sees them after a nap or if they've been out of sight for a little while. So sweet! She just mo...

We had a low key morning on Christmas day. Of course we enjoyed monkey bread for breakfast with a breakfast casserole I make every year as well.  EJ got a car for Christmas. She loves it and AC and AK love pushing her around. As excited as AK was the night before I had to drag him out of bed in the morning! Silly boy! AC read the Christmas Story from Luke 2 AC with a few of her presents AK got a spiderman sleeping bag that he uses in bed every night now. :) AC got roller skates. I love that my kids are pretty easy to please with gifts. Daddy thought AK needed a nerf gun. They both like playing with it. :) EK got a mini trampoline. I think she likes it, although she really doesn't jump on it. She stands and then falls to her knees. Much easier on her knees than dropping on the floor. Trying out the skates. She's getting pretty good. Later that day we went to my parents for dinner. If you asked the kids about their favorite part of Ch...