Sleeping...

Autumn's struggling with sleeping right now. She doesn't make it the whole night anymore. I am sitting here typing this at 11:03 pm on a Friday night...not because I am cool enough to stay up that late, but because I dozed off during the movie (big surprise, I know) and heard her suddenly crying out. Some of it may have to do with the fact that she's had strep throat this week, but I am not so sure. She started this one day last week, being scared when she wakes up in the middle of the night. I don't want her to be scared!
She's pitiful right now, and I just want her to have a good night's sleep. And I am not even saying this for selfish reasons, not this time anyways...I just want her to sleep good. I love her so much. She means so very much to me. I want to protect her, hold her, and keep her safe all the days of her life. She is my precious gift from God!
So, as I type this. She's settled down a bit. Maybe, just maybe she will finish the rest of the night peacefully. I am so thankful that my God knows even the smallest desires of our hearts. Thank you God for watching over her and keeping her safe. I am forever grateful!

Soccer

It's been way to long...sorry about that.

Autumn plays soccer now! She's so cute! They do a lot of drills and exercises, and just a little bit of an actual soccer game. But this past weekend was her 4th Saturday to play...and she did so good. It's been a tough transition at times. She's so much like her daddy and me. It takes her a while to actually get out there and get started. But this Saturday, she did AMAZING!!! I am so proud of our cute little soccer girl!!!
Here are some pics.

Autumn's Birthday - Part I (the morning party)

This weekend has been filled with overwhelming joy. We have spend all weekend celebrating Autumn's third birthday. It's been so much fun. She has truly been amazed and amazing. We are so very blessed to have such an amazing little girl in our lives. I am so thankful that God blessed me with this child.

On Saturday, we had two parties. A morning party for ae and her friends. Then an after nap party for the family. As busy and hectic as the day was, it was so much fun. She was so excited. The whole night before, she helped me prepare for the parties. She was so wound up and excited!

First thing Saturday morning, I hear ae yelling from her big girl bed, "Mommy, is it time for my party yet?" So we got up, cleaned up, baked cupcakes and then we were all set for the party.
We played in several different play areas around the house, such as: play-doh, Mr. Potato Head, Tunnels, Race Cars, Book Tent, and Sit and Spin. We also decorated our own cupcakes. It was so funny to watch the kids. They were much more intersted in the bowls of icing rather than the actual cupcakes. I should have just gave each child their own bowl of icing and let them go at it. I am sure that the parents would have loved that. Then Daddy and Tim brought in the Pizza and bread sticks. I forgot all about putting candles in ae's cupcake...but that's okay. We still sung happy birthday to her before she opened her presents. She had so much fun!!! We are so thankful for great friends!

Here are a few pictures of her morning party:

Autumn and Rosa decorating their cupcakes (or just eating from the icing bowls...)

Autumn and Jake playing with the Play-Doh

Autumn crying because Cooper took her balloon away.

Autumn riding the Daddy Train! Choo Choo!!!

Autumn and Rosa getting all prettied up for the party!

A couple of pics of AE's new big girl room

She looks so tiny in her big bed. But she loves her new room. I am pretty sure that she assumes she's a grown up now...because every since she's moved into this room she asks me to leave the room while she changes her clothes. I don't really like this. The first time I went along with it...but then I just flat out told her that I am the Mommy and it's my job to help change her. If she's a big girl and can put on her own clothes, that's one thing...but "Mommy can stay in the room while she changes!"

My baby...

So, my mother in law so nicely reminded me that tonight is Autumn's last night in her baby bed (granted we've turned it into the toddler bed, but still...). She meant nothing by it at all. And it's a true statement...but to a pregnant mommy of an almost three year old precious angel...it's everything. I can't believe it. My baby, she's getting so big. I know she thinks she's grown...but to me, I still look at her as my baby. This weekend is the Super Bowl...well, we brought Autumn home three years ago Super Bowl Sunday. So, yet again there are tons of memories flying thru my head right now, and dang it if I didn't have to be reminded that my precious little baby is spending her last night in her baby bed. Like I said, nothing against my mother-in-law, it's just me being the overly attached mom that I am, and on top of that 4 months pregnant.

So, as I write this...my 2 year old (almost three in 4 days) is falling asleep in her baby bed for the very last time. I love her so very much. Yes there are those moments that she drives me absolutely batty...but there are so many more moments where she just takes my breath away.

I love that little girl...I sure pray that I will love baby "Leroy" like I love my baby, Autumn.

Big Girl Room

Autumn turns three on February 2nd. Don't worry, she won't let you forget. She's very excited. As part of her birthday presents...she's getting a new queen size bed! I know, right. I have to admit, I am a bit jealous that her tiny little body will have this huge bed all to herself. However, our reasoning for buying the queen rather than the full was $150 less...crazy I know...and only a difference of 3 inches one way and 4 inches the other way. So, why not!
But she's so excited about this big girl room she's getting. Her and her daddy painted last weekend. So, it's purple on top and white on the bottom. We bought new pastel colored curtains with flowers on them. We put new blinds up, and even got her mattress today. So, she's almost ready to spend her first night in her big girl room. We are now just waiting till Friday when the actual furniture arrives. I can't wait to show you all her room. So far I love the looks of it. I will add pictures when it's completed. At first I worried about her not having enough room to play, but she has the whole upstairs full of toys, and she usually plays in the living room! So, it will all work out.
You can tell Brandon's been very excited about all of this as well. He's done a great job of building it up for ae. But although we are all super excited about the change, it kinda makes me a little sad. My little girl, isn't going to be in her little room anymore. She's not going to be in her little toddler bed or anything. That rooms going to go back in time, and return to it's nursery stage for the baby. So my little baby, isn't such a little baby anymore. She's growing up way too fast. Definitely makes me want to freeze time and just hold her in my arms for as long as I can.
Okay, must go now...tears are falling, just thinking about all of this.
Love you all!

Well, If you aren't going to clean it....I guess I will have to do it.

I think this is what my little girl was trying to tell me. The bathrooms aren't my favorite rooms to clean...I will admit it. So, it was a nice (?) surprise to see Autumn doing it for me the other day?
Well, I don't know if I would totally go that far...but here's what happened:

I was cooking dinner and I hear: "Mommy, look at this!" She was so proud of herself. She had been so busy in her bathroom. She was cleaning the walls and everything. You could just see the excitement and accomplishment on her face.

And who knew that a wet rag and good ol' toothpaste was the best choice to clean the walls with?

Silly Girl!