My Miracle Three Year Old

My daughter was six months old and there I was staring at two pink lines on a stick. I couldn't believe my eyes! This wasn't supposed to happen! My husband and I were amazed and I remember saying to my husband "God must really want this baby in the world!" 

I got pregnant while nursing, without having anything close to a period since giving birth to my firstborn, AND we were using protection. I'll never forget the look on my doctor's face when I told him I was expecting. He asked me "How did THAT happen?" My son was a miracle baby and while I was not crazy at all about being pregnant again (I cried and not in a happy way either!) I was excited about my child. 

On October 8th he came into my arms and latched around my heart in a special mother - son bond that is even stronger today - his third birthday. 

He proved quickly to be a happy baby and very content that is until he got older! 

One Year Old

 Then he was ALWAYS HUNGRY! You would think that I was starving the poor boy the way he asked for food! But his hunger wasn't the only thing that grew. His heart grew too and he became the a sweet - tenderhearted little boy who is shy but loves everyone. Especially his sisters. 

Love his smiles! 

Then we got to the "fun" stuff, the stuff that will make me laugh for years to come! This little boy keeps me on my toes! Every time I turn around he is into SOMETHING! Whether its finger-painting the recliner with Lotrimin, painting the basement floor and his entire body with REAL paint, or running around the house outside with not a stitch of clothing, he always found SOME new way to get into trouble.  

He is my Cody, my tender, sweetheart of a boy that can make a hurting or sad Mommy smile with just one hug or kiss. I love you sweetheart! Happy third Birthday! 

In HIS Grip, 

               

Few of My Faves: Designing Kids Birthday Parties - Link Up Party!

So I know I've been a little forgetful about my favorite lists but here is another one that is very fitting with this week for me! My daughter turned four years old and we had a family birthday party as always. I've had a lot of fun planning my kids birthday parties and I always try to make money go towards the presents and not the decorations or the cake. So I make my own! Make sure to check out my cake page for some easy DIY cake ideas! But here are some birthday parties I have done and a Few of My Fave ways to save for their parties!

1. Themed after a favorite movie - we did a fun Wizard of Oz party and everything was rainbow themed - especially the food. We had rainbow colored jello cups (complete with clouds!) and we used Koolaid ice cubes that were put in 7-up (Yum!) Other fun movie themed parties could be Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory or maybe Swiss Family Robinson. 

2. Themed from a book - I took a favorite kids book - The Hungry Caterpillar and used cupcakes to make the caterpillar and then we ate the food that was in the book! Great fun! Just look very carefully at the book and use the colors or the designs for your decorations! 

3. Themed from a favorite character - this is one of my least favorite ways to do it because I don't get as much of an opportunity to be creative but it usually means picking up the stuff from the store and making a cake. For Aimee's party this year we had a Tinkerbell party and the cake was pretty fun to make. Other characters that would be fun are Clifford, Winnie-the-Pooh, or Monsters Inc.

 

4. Themed after a favorite animal - for example a butterfly theme! Honestly I chose this one because I thought the plates at the Dollar Tree with butterflies were adorable and BOOM - I had my party! Other animal ideas could be wild jungle animals, farm animals - one party I saw was all cows and they decorated everything with cow spots!

 5. Themed after a favorite toy - One year we had a Tonka party! We decorated everything in yellow and I used yellow and red balloons and with an ink pad I "drove" one of my sons cars on the yellow tablecloth for tire tracks. Then we ate Dirt Dessert instead of cake! Fun toy themes could be Jack-in-the-boxes, Music boxes, or Little People.

6. Themed after a favorite board game. I haven't done this idea yet but I would LOVE to do a Candy Land theme or Hungry Hippos or Memory. How fun! I've been waiting to do this until my kids are old enough to have friends over to play the games with them. 

7. Favorite color themed party - I did a princess/pink party for my daughter that was really fun! Just pick a color and make everything that color! Pretty easy! 

So there are a "Few of My Faves" for this week! Link up your own list of faves whatever they may be! Just make sure you include the Few of My Faves image and link back to my page! Thanks! 

Happy 4th Birthday Aimee Girl!

Four years ago I started my journey as a mommy. Four years ago I felt my heart grow in an amazing sudden motion. Four years ago my Aimee girl was born. I can't believe that she is soooo OLD! Now I know, four years old is like nothing but to me - she is older than she should be! Now this girl is helping me with the dishes and scrubbing pans in my sink. She knows all of her ABC's (Capital letters anyway!) and the sounds that they make. She answers the phone for me and she can sing her baby sister to sleep. She loves to play computer games and go to the library. She claims everyone as her "new best friend" and knows no strangers. She is my beautiful, wonderful baby girl growing up so very fast. I love you sweetheart!

Happy Birthday Cody!

My son, Cody is TWO!!! I am so amazed that it has been TWO years since . . .

Yes, that says nine pounds and almost 3 oz. 

 

The doctor was sure that I would have a very quick delivery since Aimee only took 2 hours start to finish so I was induced so I could get the antibiotics I needed. I definitely got enough antibiotics because I was induced at 7am and he took his little moseying time before he made an appearance at 5:07pm. 

Cody's Apgar score was 9 at birth so he was definitely a bouncing and healthy baby boy!

 Big sister Aimee thought Cody was AMAZING!!! 

He looked just like his sister but with a certain boyishness

Here he is at 3 months old! He grew so fast! 

His smiles would light up a room! And they still do! 

He definitely had his chunky days!

but after he started walking and climbing those were soon over!

Being Cody's mamma has been an absolute precious joy and I cannot nor do I want to ever imagine my life without my baby boy! 

Here's my little two year old - sniff sniff! 

My baby is 3!

Inevitably it was bound to happen, my baby girl is growing up! She now insists that she is not a baby but a little girl. In honor of her we celebrated in style!

She was a princess for a day!

and what would a princess do without a castle?

(for more pictures of the cakes I've made go here)

or a royal carriage to ride on? (okay okay, I'm done! ha ha!)

It was a wonderfully fun day celebrating Aimee's birthday. It seems like only yesterday that she entered our lives and turned everything upside down! But since then it has been a complete joy to be her mother and I couldn't ask for a sweeter little Aimee.