Harlie's First Day of 2nd Grade

Kitchen Remodel

Harlie's First Day of 1st Grade

Ashlynne's First Day at Capital Care

Ashlynne - 18 Months

Sweet Ash,

Okay, I know you are only 18 months old for a few more hours, but I wanted to make sure to document who you are and what you love at this age because oh my!! You are an explosion of personality and love, silliness and affection, and we can’t keep you from shrieking your opinion at the top of your lungs! Unfortunately this means we hear a lot of “No!” and “Sto-Puh it!” It’s usually directed at your sissy who absolutely loves you to death and can’t keep her hands off your squeezy little face. But for every scream in protest you have a thousand million watt smiles to match…you even just learned to say cheese when the camera is aimed at your sweet face, which makes me laugh and totally feeds my picture taking frenzy.

You LOVE. TO. SING. You will burst into song when “Let it Go” comes on the radio, always putting great emphasis on the last word of each phrase…”Gooooooo!”….”AnyyyyyMORE!”……You also love nursery rhymes. When you’re cranky I can ask “Ashlynne, do you wanna sing a song?” and you will usually stop mid cry and sweetly say “Yessss.” Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and You are my sunshine are some of your faves and you love the “Shh Shh Shh “part on the Wheels on the Bus.

You can count to 10 already! This kinda blows my mind, because you are still learning how to use a spoon correctly, but your sister’s influence (and warning counts) has you picking up all sorts of things that surprise us. You know some of your ABC’s and are obsessed with books! You absolutely love to be read to…you will either push the book across the floor or carry it over to us, then turn around and plop yourself on or against our legs until you are in our laps. Sometimes you will lie on your belly and flip through the pages yourself which is the cutest…you honestly look like a tiny tween. Oh, and that reminds me how much you like puzzles! In the last few weeks you’ve learned to match the color and shapes on your Melissa and Doug peg puzzle and once your finished you immediately dump it out and start again! You love to color and draw with chalk, especially if Sissy is joining in the fun…she is your best friend. You love Elmo and Yo Gabba Gabba and you get so excited and kick your feet when you see and hear them on the TV.

One of my favorite things is that you love to say “I love you” and point to your head, heart and out to us while you say it. You just started doing this on your own instead of just copying us and it’s THE BEST! You also like to give hugs by dive bombing your head into our shoulders, so this could still use a little work…but it’s so sweet nonetheless. You are an affectionate little snuggle bug who loves to get cozy under a blanket and cuddle with the cat, sissy and Mom and Dad. Since Austin has been away most of the summer you get so excited when he walks in the door and you will often raise your arms to be held by him which melts my heart.

You are a good eater and sleeper which I am so grateful for! You love blueberries (all fruits, really), pizza, hummus, cheese, beans, pancakes, yogurt and avocado. You typically take one nap a day now from about 1:00pm to 3:30 and sleep through the night from about 7:30-6:30.

Walking is finally your primary mode of transportation. You hardly crawl anymore, except for up the stairs, which you’d rather walk up anyway with the help of Mom and Dad. You ask to put shoes on all the time and once they’re on you want to go “Otside”, “Otside”. You are still pretty clumsy, but when you fall you will usually get up and try walking again with no fuss. My hope is that by Halloween you will be able to walk and hold your pumpkin all by yourself!

Ashlynne, you are truly the gift that keeps on giving. You are a blessing and a joy. I live for your smile every day and feel so lucky to call you my sunshine.

I love you so much, Mama

**See Harlie's 18 month letter here**

Harlie's First Day of Kindergarten

 

Ashlynne's Nursery

I wanted to make sure that I posted photos of Ashlynne's nursery for a couple of reasons:

1. When Ashlynne was born, I didn't have the option to bring her home to her very own nursery, so when we moved the most exciting part for me was creating a space for her.

2. I posted pics of Harlie's nursery here when I was still pregnant with her and it's fun to look back and remember her in that room (even if they are horribly dark and blurry). :-)

I am no decorator that's for sure, but this room makes me so happy, just as Harlie's did. There are still things I want to add like a mirror above her dresser and some shelving in the corner above her chair with a reading lamp. I figured I better post pics now though because who knows when I'll get around to that stuff!

Daycare Email Glimpse of Ashlynne at 17 1/2 Months

From: Jennifer
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 12:02 PM
To:Erin
Subject: Re: The girls at Splash this morning

It's such a happy/sad thing to see your baby growing up. She really is turning in to a little girl :)

She keeps letting go today. Most of the time it's just standing. But a few times she tries a step or two. Also, she is standing next to me counting. Like really counting! I hear "1, 2, 4, 5, 6." Smarty pants.

___

On Jul 16, 2014, at 11:40 AM,  Erin wrote:

Oh how cute! It's so much fun seeing Ashlynne like one of the big kids! :-)

Thanks for sharing, it made my morning!

___

 -----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 11:38 AM
To: Erin
Subject: The girls at Splash this morning

They had a great time. Ashlynne loved the turtles and we got to pet a chicken!

That day came...

Today I’m having a really hard time believing that this is it. The last day of high school. Of asking permission. Of seeing you every night at the dinner table (which isn’t even true because you called this afternoon to tell me you were having dinner with your grandpa tonight—oh well). Of hearing your alarm go off down the hall at 6:00am. Tomorrow you will graduate and start making all of your own choices. You’ll come back on Sunday for your graduation party. After that I hope you come back often (FYI- Family Dinners are planned with G every 3rd Sunday of the month, so now you are formally invited too).  Maybe when college starts you’ll come back to stay with us because it’s closer. Maybe you’ll decide you’d rather be closer to work and stay with your mom. Who knows what will happen. There’s no plan. No working it out with your mom and marking our weekends with you on the calendar. I like plans so this is gonna be tough for me, however I’m sure you will be happy to be rid of my nagging for a plan.

No really, you better come home often. Harlie will miss you terribly…and I can’t even talk about Killian…heaven help us all! But man, I will miss you. I’ll miss your random facts at dinner….the way you try to hide a smile when Harlie is acting up and you think it’s funny….your enthusiasm for fast cars….and your wacky sense of humor and the silly jokes that you have carried on with your dad for years and years that still make me laugh.

Meeting you catapulted me into adulthood. I was no longer living just for myself, but for this adorable chubby cheeked kid and his Dad. You taught me about sacrifice. And if I’m being honest it started with the first night I met you, when you tested me without even knowing it. How many times I pushed that little Thomas train around the track, I will never know and couldn’t possibly have kept count. But in that moment it was about keeping that sweet smile on your face and not about my aching joints. Before long, I had become a “parent”--and part of your family, even before your Dad and I married.  I was lucky enough to be one of your someone’s who you could trust and depend on, that was always looking out for your best interest. I hope you know how much I have valued that role in life. One of the most important things I’ve ever done is help raise you.

I hope you know this and that you are so loved. You have so much potential to lead an amazing life. Do not ever underestimate your capabilities and the support of those that love you. We are here for you always.

Miss Magic

I can't even get enough of you right now, I could just swallow you whole! Those bright blue eyes and squishilicious cheeks just kill me and I don't ever want you to grow up, not ever! You seem to have other plans though because at 14 months you have hit quite a milestone. In the last week and a half you have learned to go into a sitting position, pulled yourself up, and just today you crawled! Not the army crawl you've mastered the last 3 months, but a proper hands and knees crawl. It's so exciting, especially after the weeks you spent in that horrible cast, but it is freaking me out like you don't even know. I blinked and you are almost full on toddler now. I imagine it wont be long before you learn to walk which is something I can't wait for but at the same time I'm not quite ready. I think you called me "Mama" today like you really meant it, so maybe that's the deal the universe is making with me. It's reminding me about the gifts of reciprocation that are destined to come as you get older - the unsolicited snuggles, sloppy kisses and  "I love you Mama's".

I love you so much I could burst and am so grateful for you every minute of every single day.