Happy Birthday Gage!

I can't believe Gage is 4.  This kid is so much fun...and he makes me laugh pretty much every single day.  Just the inflection in his voice is funny.  He doesn't necessarily TRY to make us laugh, he's just a jolly kid.  He loves watching movies ~ and will get up super early in the morning to do so.  There have been mornings where I come downstairs at 5am and the boys are up and playing with their toys or watching a movie.  I have to admit ~ on those mornings I don't think it's too funny....and I may or may not yell.

BUT.

I am sure looking back I will remember these times with fondness and I'm sure it'll bring a smile to my face.  Right?

This was a good day.  Gage was so excited to celebrate his birthday.  He talked about it for WEEKS.  Here he is, enjoying some early morning cartoons....

 

Kickin' Back...

And of course...Chocolate Milk for breakfast.

 

I think Grace is a little jealous.

 

 

Blowing out his yogurt candle.

Even a goofball while brushing his teeth.

 

His birthday gift from church.  He loves his new tie pin.

 

I don't think he was too excited for the fried rice and yakisoba for dinner....but he got his special plate, so that's all that matters, right?

Don't mind the piece of cake missing already...our bishop stopped by right before we sang to Gage and we insisted that he take a piece home with him.  Gage was MORE than happy to oblige.

Taking is journey through the birthday spanking machine...

And opening his present.  He was so excited.  As you can see, Morgan and Grace decided he needed "heavy, heavy, hangover" first.  

Gage is one of my only kids that actually enjoys puzzles.  He could do them all day long if he didn't have a younger sister that would try to eat or rip the puzzles.  Sadly, we only get them out while Lilah is napping.

 

Doing one of his puzzles with Grandma.  He LOVED them....and he LOVES Grandma.

Happy Birthday Lilah!

She is two.  Our little spunky, brown-haired child is two.  The more I get to know Lilah, the more I love this girl.  She has the funniest little personality.  She loves to sing along to my songs in the car, and when she talks to you, she has one volume level.  Loud.  I am constantly saying, "Lilah, please do not yell at Mom.".  She has a tender heart and is afraid of things that you wouldn't expect.  The car wash....birthday candles.....

I was so happy to spend this special day with you Lilah.  We all love you so much.

 She's straight out of bed, and ready to eat.  Bring on the yogurt candle!!

Yep...she was terrified.  Good thing your big-sister, Morgan, stepped in and helped you not feel so afraid.  Thank you Morgan.  You are such a great big-sister.

I'm two!

Playing a little puppet-show...showing off for Grandma.

We just love Grandma at our house.  She's the best.

She's grown!

 

And don't mind the greasy hair.  Lilah decided to get into the A&D ointment right before dinner.  It was pretty slathered in there.

Don't you love that face?  She wasn't happy to see some more candles.

Dad made it home from work JUST in time to sing happy birthday.  He even blew out your candle for you, Lilah.  You have one amazing Dad.

Lilah wasn't too thrilled with her chocolate cupcakes...but that's okay because Dad saved the day with a sucker that he had bought that day just for Lilah.  That thing was huge....and it ended up being Lilah's very favorite thing.

Opening presents...

She loves these puzzles.  I thought they were so cute.

Let me talk a minute about Grace.  She is the most thoughtful person.  She had this birthday present for Lilah all ready about a month before her actual birthday.  She kept it in her room and saved it just for this special day.  It was Lilah's very favorite present.  Grace was so excited to give it to her and it was cute to watch those two playing with the small toys inside.  Lilah stuck those stickers all over her face, and I'm pretty sure we were finding them around the house for about a month after.

Happy Birthday Lilah.  We could never imagine our family without you.  We love you so much!

You Make Me Happy

Another little "mini shoot" with Faith...I'm a little obsessed.

These photo's make me happy.  She is the cutest little baby.

Lilah's bedhead.

This was the big day.  The first official photo shoot of Faith.  I had everything all prepared, including my pink backdrop.  We were all in our pj's, and wouldn't you know it....Lilah wanted HER photo taken.

Love the hair little girl.

Faify Foo

 Now I'll premise this post by saying ~ my very favorite newborn shots EVER are the "lifestyle" shots.  The shots of interactions...of candids.  Those are my favorites.  Sadly, those are a little hard to take yourself when those interactions are between baby and Mom.

So.

Here are a few "posed" shots for you.  I had a take a few...and I think a got a handful that I like.  This is our little "Faify Foo" only about 10 days old.

Our Hospital Stay...

 Well I noticed the other day that I haven't posted anything since April...so I'm sort-of working my way back I suppose.  I decided to finish my hospital photo's this afternoon....Faith's only 3 months old now....sheesh!

I can't believe that I have 6 kids.  It's pretty surreal.  I feel like I'm a pretty organized person, but lately I feel like I'm losing my mind.  I forget things CONSTANTLY, I don't really have patience anymore, and I feel like I am so focused on survival that I miss out on reaching out to friends.  It's a little frustrating, and I'm hoping that as Faith grows a little older, things will calm down a bit more.

Don't get me wrong.

I love this little girl.  I feel so blessed that Heavenly Father allowed me to have so many children.  They are all so special to me, and I cannot picture our family without each and every one.  I am so happy that our last child was a girl.  Faith is so beautiful, and has been such a good baby.  She is so laid back, and will just sit and observe her surroundings for a very long time.  Even in the hospital I was amazed at how well she slept.  There was a new mom in the room next to mine, and pretty much every time I woke up in the middle of the night I could here her little baby crying.  Poor mom.

Here are a few photo's of Faith's first few moments in the world.  Chance took a few of these, and I think he did a great job!

Can you tell Chance is a proud new Dad?

LOVE this.  Oh yeah.  Faith, this one is for you, and only you.

So funny ~ only a few minutes old and Faith found her thumb.  She STILL tries to suck her thumb everyday ~ even at 3 months old and even when we give her a binkie everyday.

Right before Faith's first bath.  She had to sit under the warmer for a few minutes to make sure that her body temperature was warm enough first.  Here she is basking in the heat.

During the bath...

Grandma Angell holding Faith...

This was the view from my room.  I took this photo with the wrong lens though, so the Capitol looks super small.  It was actually pretty huge.  Pretty, right?

Going home.  Chance was so worried about our ability to pay huge medical bills, so I was only able to stay at the hospital for 1 night.  I was so sad.  I look forward to my hospital stay SOOOO much.  It's like staying at a hotel for me.  Peace and quiet, room service and cable.  What more can you ask for?

I can't believe all these cute kids are mine. :)

Um, yeah.  I can't believe the size of this bow.  I think I MIGHT have over-estimated how huge it was.  

You think?!