7 years...how can that be?? Happy Birthday Alayna!

I will never forget what a true blessing you are my sweet Alayna girl!  After trying for nearly a year to get pregnant, I was sad that I would never experience pregnancy again.  Before taking the pregnancy test that told me I was pregnant with you I was on my knees praying that if it was His will that it would be a positive pregnancy test...there were countless times when it was negative...but this time it was positive and tears of joy streamed down my face.  I was so thankful!!  To find out later on that it was a girl was just a blessing I can't explain (after having your big brother, I was hoping this time we would have a girl).  The day you were born was a bit crazy.  Dad stayed home from work and we walked the mall for a bit to see if my contractions would continue...they did...they were getting too intense...then we went to the hospital.  I was 4cm dilated...then contractions nearly stopped.  I couldn't go home and you weren't coming out on your own.  After waiting all day to see if I would progress they broke my water and that was just what you needed because you were born VERY quickly after that. :)  My heart welled up with love for you and I couldn't get enough of holding you and kissing you.  You were a super easy baby (for me anyway)...for everyone else (including daddy) you were a lot of work.  You cried and cried and cried and cried and cried...until I came back.  Daddy will always remember that (and will probably remind you of that from time to time).  It's funny to think about now when you absolutely LOVE cuddling up on daddy's lap that there was ever a day when he couldn't make you happy.

You are a sweet, compassionate, helpful, attentive little girl...periodically you have moments when you can't control your emotions and now you are starting to realize it means you need sleep or time alone.  I love you more than words can say--though you continue to try and convince me that you love me more...I know it's not true.  I will be forever thankful to the Lord that He blessed your dad and I with YOU!!

January 27, 2005

January 2006 - 1 year old

January 2007 - 2 years old

January 2008 - 3 years old (with a bit of frosting)

January 2009 - 4 years old

January 2010 - 5 years old

January 2011 - 6 years old

Our Last Celebration

We spent our last Christmas out in Kindred.  The kids had a lot of fun sledding (for the first time this year...though there wasn't much snow, it was JUST enough...and then it melted a day or two later), playing with the dogs, playing games, watching movies on their gigantic screen and challenging each other on the Kinect.  We have a continued game of Nerts that happens every year (multiple player solitaire) and this year was no exception!  

Our first...and at this point it seems 'only' snowman of the year!

They are now friends...as well as cousins!!

Seth is an animal lover.  Jack and Maggie get PLENTY of love when Seth is around!

A little dance competition on the Kinect

Grandpa being a good sport...he later had 4 of this fluffy bracelets in purple and pink as well.  They were given to him by his granddaughters to wear while they opened up their presents. :)

Our Family Christmas

** I need to catch up from Christmas so I can continue blogging about life. :)

We had so many wonderful celebrations with family!  The weekend of Christmas we were actually at home with just us.  We had a lot of fun driving around looking at Christmas lights and eating popcorn in the van, we enjoyed going to a movie together, opening presents, we went to the Children's Museum in town, we rang the bells for the Salvation Army, Seth and Alayna sang at church and we had Dan's mom, stepdad and a family friend Cleo over for lunch and games on Christmas.  It was a really fun and incredibly refreshing weekend!!

Field Trip

A field trip to visit a hospital equals lots of fun things to play pretend with after school.