What a Difference a Year Makes...

Remember this?


That was a year ago!! I know it snuck right up on me too. It has been a challenging year, Lil Bit arrived, and my back broke. We spent months trying to silmoutaneously heal, and grow and luxiurate in this last new baby. And it has been an amazing adventure.

I keep going back and forth about whether or not to admit that I find all this growing bittersweet. She is definitely opininated, and curious, and I never really know what to expect from her next, but having her has made all the difference. I have relished watching the kids grow in their love and care for her, and while I am frequently frustrated by Cubby's insistence upon picking her up and kissing her all the time, I can also understand it, because she really is adorable, and exactly what our family needed.

To celebrate, Mimi and Papa were here, and after church we had lunch presents and cake... which she thoroughly enjoyed..

So she has some new outfits courtesy of her mimi's Mimi Mimi and Mimi Viv.. Mimi Viv I will say she was quite excited about the pink pants and tried to put them on over her head several times before I distracted her with another present.

From the Mr. and I she recieved a pound em ball tower, I held out and never bought this toy for any of the other kids.. and of course Lil Bit had to fight them all off to be able to get in there and play it today.

I thought it would be a good candidate for a favorite because she LOVES hitting us all the time. It took a few tries for her to get the hang of it but then she was moving!!

Finally she got some stacking cups, a larger set than the ones she recieved from Aunt Dorothy at Easter time from all the kids, these are her current favorite, and now she has a set for standing and stacking. I had wanted a wooden set of nesting blocks but I couldn't find any in the toy store, and of course it didn't occur to me that they would not be lined up on the shelves waiting for me.. when will I learn that I have rare demands in infant entertainment?

The Mr. Is cutting the grass.. and the younger ones are resting while the older ones are engaged in various quiet activities.. I am EXHAUSTED, and secretly hope the next year finds us more rested and rejuvenated..for now, I'm just going to try to enjoy it!!

The next birthday is practically around the corner... and that is..

Little Daddy