Jane is four!

Happy Birthday to Jane!

My other holiday baby turned four the day after Christmas. Aside from her first birthday party, we have been holding off on parties until the summer when we celebrate her half birthday. So, on December 26 we just focused on making the day special for Jane. It included hot chocolate, the Lion King, Panera and a manicure with Fancy, lots of costume changes, a balloon, pajama storytime at the library, and a blueberry cake with blue icing (her favorite color).

That morning, she opened this fabulous set of princess jewelry from Aunt Valerie, and promptly put it on with her Sleeping Beauty costume. I had to beg for this smile...

Jane prefers poses like this charming one...

Or this one...

The following pictures show various combinations of four-year-old Jane's favorite things: Princess and/or fairy costumes, nail polish, bandaids, tape and gum.

Jane's first piece of gum appeared in her stocking.
Sooo excited!

About a month before her birthday, I finally gave Jane her first haircut. I loved the long tapering in the back, but it was getting pretty stringy and tangly, so I decided it was time to even it out a little.

Tada!

 One of my favorite things about Jane right now is the way she draws people: a giant head with legs. Another really interesting thing, which my dad says I also did, is that Jane sometimes writes words completely backwards, like a mirror image. Here is a drawing of Ouisey that illustrates both of these things...

And a selfie, just for fun...

We love you, Jane!

Ouisey is One!

Happy Birthday to Ouisey!  

We can't believe that this little gal is already one... and that we survived her first year! She is not exactly an easy going baby, which has been challenging for her parents, as well as her big sister. But nonetheless, she has captured our hearts and we cannot imagine our family without her (although Jane might try at times). It helps when she makes faces like this...

Those teeth!

...or this...

It's a good thing you're so cute.

While Ouisey spent her entire first year immobile, she has become a mobility machine in her second year. A few weeks before her birthday, she finally learned to sit up by herself. However, it was several days before she learned how to lie down again, so she kept falling asleep doubled over like this:

The day before her birthday, she pulled up for the first time. A week later, she crawled, and a few days ago she took her first solo steps! Needless to say, she is into EVERYTHING.

To compensate for her holiday birthday (the day after Thanksgiving), we decided to celebrate twice. We got to spend her actual birthday with Richard's family in Monteagle...

Ouisey and Jane with cousins Walt and Cowan

Then we had a little party here with some Nashville friends and family. Here is a picture of Ouisey while a bunch of people surrounded her and sang "Happy Birthday." Not her favorite moment.  

But she let a little smile peek out at the prospect of a cupcake.

Yes, it's for you! 

Best dressed award. Thanks, Cindi and Dalton! 

Richard decided the best way to wrap up the party was with a bonfire. Why not?

Jane enjoyed an evening swing with her pal, Lilian.

Thank you to all our friends and family, who have walked with us through this past year and loved on our little girl!

A post about my posts

I was recently convicted by this statement:

I have heard it before, and it plays a role in my decision not to be on Facebook, partly because I would struggle with comparing my life to so many other seemingly perfect lives, but also because I don't want to fall into that trap myself.

Then I realized that my blog sort of does that, too...

So, I just wanted to take a moment for a little reality check. I mainly post about all the happy things going on in my life because this blog is basically a modern day scrapbook. In the same way that I didn't make a photo album of finals week in college or Richard and I both getting sick on our honeymoon, I probably will not post about very many yucky days. BUT TRUST ME, there are plenty. Richard and I get cranky and frustrated, Jane disobeys and slams her door, Ouisey sheds her umpteenth crocodile tear, and so on...

So, I hope you enjoy sharing in the mostly joyful moments on this blog. Just know that they are not the whole story!

Here's a little example of a behind the scenes shot:

A peaceful moment by the crackling fire?

Not exactly.  Oh, Ouisey... 

Ok, (mostly) happy posts to follow!