Gwen's Birthday Photos

Today was Gwen's 4th birthday!! We celebrated the day at home with just our little family and my sister Melissa, and had a wonderful night. Gwen guarded her presents from her sisters so they wouldn't open them by "accident" and we had Gwen's favorite for dinner-spaghetti. After dinner was cleaned up Gwen finally got to open her presents and then we had cake. We had a wonderful night with our little peanut...and Gwen is so excited to have her first birthday party at the end of the month. Our peanut is getting older...sniff!!

Gwen wearing Georgia's Happy First Birthday hat, and loving it!

A new outfit for her baby doll.

Opened a lot of cards...and got some money to go pick out a toy/clothes herself!

A new outfit.

Gigi and Pappy's gift...a learning blanket (has snaps, buttons, hooks, laces, velcro, zipper, and other things to help teach Gwen)

Barbie house accessories for...

...a Barbie house, which we found at Once Upon A Child WITH tons of accessories and a car...for $25. In good condition too...what a good deal.

Grace and Gwen playing with the Barbie house.


Some of the accessories that came with Gwen's Barbie house.

Gwen's butterfly cake...all from my imagination : )

Blowing out the candle...what a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday To Gwen!!

Happy Birthday my peanut!! Today you turn 4! How did you grow so fast? The older you get, the older I feel. Right now you are getting ready to go to preschool, all dressed up for your birthday. You're so excited that you don't even want to eat your breakfast!!

How can it be 4 years ago that Daddy and I were in a hospital in Montana, looking at your sweet face and marveling at our new baby girl. I couldn't believe how tiny you were. You were definately our little peanut, not just in nickname but in size. When we dressed you in your coming home outfit we realized that we would have to buy some preemie sized cloths for you because you just disappeared in your 0-3 month cloths!! You were only 5 pounds 8 ounces and 18 1/2 inches long-tiny!!

And then you were 1 year old. I remember looking back then at all that had happened to you that year...light therapy for jaundice, a move east and another move back out west, crawling, walking, all your firsts. So many new things you tried to do, and each one we watched with joy as you learned. We had friends and relatives over for your birthday and how fun it was to watch you eat your cake. We had to help you at first, but then you got the hang of it. You may have been a year old, but you were still a little peanut. In one year you gained 10 pounds 10 ounces and grew 11 inches.

Before we knew it, you were 2. I couldn't believe that another year had passed so quickly for you. And so much happened!! You had a new sister, had gone through another move (only down the street though), many trips to different places-some near, some far, and family coming to visit us. You were talking more, running all over the place, climbing, coloring, painting, learning shapes, numbers, colors and letters. You also started nursery which you looked forward to every week. We spent your birthday with Nana at Uncle Quinn's and Aunt Diana's house because of your new cousin. We even took you sledding for your birthday. I had so much fun making your crayon cake. This year you gained 5 pounds 14 ounces and grew 5 1/2 inches.

And then you were 3!! Goodness how fast time passed again. And so many things happened this year too. You had another new sister (born the day before your birthday), we moved to a new church building, you had friends come and go but always had someone to play with. You learned more and more about the world, writing, reading and art. You started doing pretend play with your toys and dressing up. We had a big family reunion with my family this year where you got to spend time with cousins and aunts and uncles that you hadn't seen in years. We had more visits from family, and took more visits to see family. We spent your birthday with Nana Sessions again but at our house-what a fun Tinkerbell birthday!! During this year you gained 3 pounds and grew 1 3/4 inches taller.

And now you're 4. You are so big now!! It seems crazy that so much time has passed with you, but it's only the beginning. And you've gone through so much again this year! Finally being potty trained. A big move cross country, with lots of stops to see new things. Visiting family that you hadn't seen since you were 11 months old. Going to an amusement park and riding on all the rides-you really liked that. Going to preschool-one of your favorites this year. Your first field trip and finally spending holidays with family. You remember so much that I can't believe the things you tell me about. This year you gained 3 pounds and grew 1 1/2 inches. You're so outgoing, funny, full of joy and happiness. You're friendly to everyone and full of so much love. You are and forever will be our little peanut, no matter how much you grow up. We love you peanut...I love you. Happy Birthday sweet baby!!

Georgia's Birthday Pics

Check out Georgia's other birthday post right after this one.

Today was Georgia's first birthday. We just took it easy today and pretty much relaxed. Robbie made hamburgers, french fries (homemade) and macaroni salad for dinner tonight, and I did the birthday cakes, presents and decorations for our little celebration. We have a tradition in my family-for a child's first birthday, they get their own birthday cake to dig into and make a mess. Lots of fun for them, and we've done it with Gwen and Grace too. I didn't do any fancy cake this year because of that. So here are some pics of our little one year old celebrating her first birthday!!

Georgia in her First Birthday hat.

Opening all the cards-they were so cute!!

A baby doll diaper bag (just like her big sisters).

A new outfit.

K, explanation for this one. This is a Disney Princess Bath Time Doll (equivalent of a Barbie) and we got this for Georgia because Gwen and Grace each got one for Christmas (different ones though) and Georgia gets so mad when they don't share in the bath that she throws toys at them. So, take away the small piece (the crown) and it's totally safe, and safer for Gwen and Grace. She won't understand the whole color changing cloths and hair, but at least she'll have a doll to play with in the bath like her sisters.

A baby doll quilt.

Georgia's new baby doll.

Georgia's special cake.

The cake everyone else got to eat.

Another party hat.

Not sure I like squishy fingers.

First taste..

Mmm...it does taste good!!

Oh yeah...ice cream too!!

Having a great time.

The final messy face picture.

Hooray for cake and ice cream!

Happy Happy Birthday Georgia Dear!!

Happy Birthday Georgia!! Today you turn one!! How crazy is that? It doesn't seem like you should be one yet and doing all the things that you do. I wish that you would stay smaller for a little longer...I love how sweet you are when you're small. Right now you're sitting in your high chair, eating saltines and apples and watching cartoons. How did you get that big?

It seems like we were just getting ready for your arrival. You were so impatient to get here that you came a week and a half before your due date...and almost on your big sister's birthday!! My labor was long-15 1/2 hours-but Daddy and I were so thrilled when we saw you. I even brought bows that I had made for you to wear after your first bath. You were 7 pounds 10 ounces and 19 inches long-so big!

And then 3 months had passed, and you were holding your head up, starting to roll around, smiling and growing so much! We didn't have you weighed or measured this month, but when you turned 4 months old you had gained 5 pounds 10 ounces and had grown 6 1/4 inches.

Before we knew it you were 6 months old!! Where had the time gone? You were eating baby cereal, had been weaned to formula, went through a huge cross country move, and you were rolling all over the place. You were even trying to figure out how to crawl. Soon after our move you started eating fruits and veggies too. You had gained another 2 pounds 6 ounces and grown another 1/4 inch taller.

And you kept growing so fast!! We realized that you were so close to being a year old when you turned 9 months old. Daddy and I couldn't believe it. It seemed impossible that we were already so close to you having your first birthday. I didn't want to believe it. You were making mama and dada and baba sounds, getting teeth like crazy, and trying so hard to walk. You could pull yourself up into a standing position and walk along furniture but couldn't seem to get walking down yet. You were crawling everywhere though! We would look away for just a second and when we would look back you'd be halfway across the room or gone!! You gained 2 pounds 14 ounces during this time and grew 1 3/4 inches more.

Now you're a year old. It's sad to think that you are already on your way to being considered a toddler and not a baby any more. But I am so proud of all you've learned to do. You drink from a sippy, eat normal food, drink whole milk, and have even figured out how to eat M&M's. You walk and run everywhere, climb on everything, and laugh like crazy for no reason at all. You say papa, mama, dada, buh-bye, baby and yeah, and are working on the word no (heaven forbid). But you still have the same personality you had when you were a newborn-calm, peaceful, loving, and so full of joy. You haven't really gained more weight, but you have grown another 3/4 inches taller. You are my happy baby and I am so glad you decided to come to our family. Your daddy, sisters and I love you so much-you can see it on our faces every time we look at you. We love being a part of your life and we love you! Happy First Birthday Georgia girl!!

Goodbye Spc. Jacob Sessions

Today was a sad day...but a day to be proud as well. This morning Rob, the kids and I went with my parents to one of the send offs the Vermont National Guard has had for it's troops this week. The reason for going? My brother Jake volunteered a couple months ago to deploy with a different troop than the one he's in and is now in Indiana until March for training with over 3,500 troops and then will be deployed to Afghanistan.

It was an early morning for us all because we had to be there by 8:15 for Jake to report and to do our final goodbyes because once the send off ceremony was over they would be getting on a bus to head to the airport. There were tons of people there. So many family and friends came to see their loved ones off. I didn't start crying until 10 minutes before the ceremony, and I have cried on and off since then all day today. We sent my brother Matt to the MTC a couple months ago, and it was hard saying goodbye to him for 2 years, knowing that he'll be in China-halfway across the world. This was harder though I think because I knew that there was a chance that Jake might not come back at all. Man, I can't even get throught this post without sobbing.

It also hit me while we were listening to the speakers that there were soldiers in that room that won't come back, or will come back wounded. I've had such a hard time lately with our situation-no job, no job opportunities, not having a home of our own-basically just feeling stuck with no options, our lives on pause. Being there, however, made me realize that I have so much to be thankful for. Oh how can I complain when these people were giving up their sons and daughter, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters to fight for freedom?

So here's a big thank you to all the men and women in the military-for your sense of duty, your love for your country, and your bravery to fight. I am so grateful for each and every one of you. To my wonderful little brother Jake, or as I like to call him, my "Strawberry Shake," I am so very proud of you. You are a strong and brave young man. Your love for your country and your sense of duty are amazing. I am going to miss you so much...your willingness to help, the way you get the girls to smile, the special bond you have with Georgia, and so much more. Your smile, your laugh, and your company will be sorely missed. i will look back often on the good times and share them with the girls so that they can remember you while you are gone (as I am doing with Matt). We love you so much and we are so very proud of you. You will always be in our thoughts and prayers as will all the members of the military serving right now. Be careful, stay safe, and come home to us-please. We all love you...I love you very very much!!

Huge Snow Storm

On the 2nd we ended up getting a huge snow storm. It was like all the snow that should have fallen last year came at once. As we were inside watching the snow fall, my mom gave the girls some stickers to do their favorite art project with-sticker art. Sticker art is where the girls basically decorate a piece of paper with whatever stickers they want in whatever way they want, and sometimes they even color to add to the picture. Well, Gwen and Grace decided to start turning themselves into the art work. It was pretty funny.

Before we went to bed, my mom took these pictures of their back deck. Here's the railing of their back porch:

And here's their BBQ grill, all before we went to bed on the 2nd:

This is what we woke up to the next morning (Sunday the 3rd) when my mom opened the door to let their dog out:

The front walkway and our car, burried in snow:

The grill:

The back porch railing:

And the outdoor fireplace where we took our family photos a couple months ago:

And amazingly, we still had church. So in preparation the night before for Gwen's first sunday as a Sunbeam, I curled Gwen and Grace's hair after their bath:

I dressed them in the matching dresses that my mom got for them, and actually got some of Georgia's hair to go into a tiny little pony tail:

They looked so cute:

Georgia ended up with a little bit of a mohawk after I took her ponytail out after church:

Lots going on here! They keep telling us that we're supposed to get more snow, and that there is a possibility of another huge storm coming through this weekend. My brother is leaving for a training camp on Friday morning where he'll stay until March and then be deployed to Afghanistan (sniff), my parents leave on Saturday for a vacation/school visit to California (and we get to hang out with my sister Missy-Yeah!!), Georgia's birthday is on Monday, and Gwen's birthday is on Tuesday. Crazy crazy crazy!!