Three

Seems to be that three is the "turning point". Turning from toddler to "little person". Turning from a baby face to a kid face. Turning from being dependent on mom and dad for things to wanting to do everything on your own. Our little Jenna-girl turned three on the first of this month and I cannot believe she is three already! In a way it seems to have gone by so slowly as she seems so grown-up at times. In other ways it seems to have flown by. The picture above was taken when she was just two weeks old. What's sad is that I hardly remember her being that tiny.... Now she's my little girl and does everything by herself...

Because of Jayden's impending birth, we didn't want to plan a party and then have to cancel it due to a baby arrival, but we also wanted her to feel special since she had been looking forward to her birthday since Joshua's birthday two months prior. So, we decided to have dad and Sherrie over for some dinner and cake - Sherrie made her a "Tinkerbell" cake. I took her over to Kroger, just her and I, for her to pick out three ballons, of course one was a princess one.

We sang Happy Birthday to her and played games and she felt so special being three. The funny thing was that her actual birthday was a few days after we got together so she thought that she was turning four ON her birthday. Try explaining that one to a three-year old!

She has changed so much in the past three years. She started out as such a "difficult" newborn - having reflux really bad and not wanting anyone else to hold her but me. Now she's a daddy's girl, lovign to "cuddle" on the couch right before bed watching a little TV or reading a book together.

Speaking of reading, she LOVES to "read" books. She and Julianna share a room, and they usually fall alseep on the floor together with a couple books surrounding them. She also likes to read to Jayden. She's got such a "mothering" personality now and is my sweet baby girl. Her imagination amazes me, and she loves to give hugs and help me with the dishes.

Happy Birthday sweet Jenna!

One Month Update

It always amazes me how much children grow within the first five years of their lives. I made a point with Joshua to try and capture as much of each priceless moment as possible to remember their "firsts" and be able to look back through the pictures and watch them grow-up all over again. I've dedicated myself to making each child an extensive scrapbook from first ultrasound through first birthday....unfortunately only Joshua's is completed right now!

It seems like yesterday we became a family of six...I'm still not used to saying that! Jayden has changed SO much this first month of his life. Here's a little picture journal to document his first month of life...

One day old

One week old

Two weeks old

Three weeks old

One month old

Loving being in the baby sling

Jayden is such an easy baby too - I don't know if that's because I am more experienced as a mom, or because being the fourth with three other little ones you kinda have to be! He weighed 6 lbs 15 oz at birth (born at 37 weeks) and at one monthe weighed in at 10 pounds even. I think he is the heviest baby thus far at one month, which is surprising as he was the lightest at birth!

He has also grown from 19 inches to 21 inches in length. Of course he is still held in high reguard with his siblings and they just can't get enough of him. He is starting to really like to be in the bouncer and reaches for the toys on there. Tummy-time doesn't happen as often as I'd like, but the big kids tend to "smother" him or not watch where they're going when he's on the floor and I don't want him to get smashed!

We are looking forward to celebrating Jayden's first Christmas later this week and setting into motion our own family traditions for the week of Christmas...look for the blog later!