Birthday (half and real!) Excitement in April

Brace yourself for a lengthy post - it's been a meaningful few weeks!

At the beginning of the month, Sophia turned six months old. An entire half of a year has passed since Soph made her speedy arrival into this world! Little miss is still trying really hard to sit up on her own with no success. Maybe if she'd chunk up a bit, she'd do a little better. Her little self is holding steady at the 3rd percentile at 12lbs 8oz. She's a solid 40th percentile for height, though. Her weight may not show it, but she really loves real food. These days her favorite thing to do is "play" tag with her brother (which looks a lot like us holding her and chasing Aiden around the house). She does the same belly laugh as when she's watching Aiden jump on the trampoline. She adores that kid.

For as much of a diva as she was the first three months of her life, she has become a pretty chill babe these last three months. There are just a few areas (read: most) where that "second kid is completely different from the first" thing has come into play. For instance, Aiden fell asleep all the time when he nursed, Soph looks up at me with eyes wide open. Aiden also fell asleep when he was tired, regardless of where he was. Sophia will stay awake for hours, so many hours, if she's not in a place intended for sleep (bed, crib, pack and play). She can be totally exhausted and have been awake for 8 hours, but she's not sleeping if it's not the place for it. She definitely prefers females, if Mom or Dad isn't holding her - she even cried at both of her grandfathers this last month. Aiden didn't care who held him. She sucks her dang thumb....couldn't get her to take the pacifier like her brother no matter how hard I tried.

She gets around by rolling and rolling and rolling some more. Then she lifts her little head up off the floor with the biggest smile...the same big smile that she wakes up with on her sweet face in the morning. I'm smiling just typing this and thinking of her sweet self and happy smile. Teeth are moving into that smile.....on Saturday I found her first tooth trying to push its way through! (Turns out it was actually both bottom teeth at the same time....and poor little miss had bloody gums for a few days. So sad and ouchy.) I'm going to miss toothless grins around this house!

Then, as if Soph turning six months wasn't enough for momma's heart for one month, Aiden decided to turn 3 YEARS OLD just a few days later. The nerve of that kid!

His birthday was actually on Good Friday so we had the day off work to celebrate him. Perfect! We started the day with the traditional birthday cupcake and opened some gifts. Auntie M, Mimi and Daddo all came in town to celebrate our little man so we spent the day playing - inside, outside, with family and friends. One funny story from the morning - Aiden blew out his candles so well that I wanted him to do it again. I lit the candles again, with the intention of him just blowing them out...he of course, thought lit candles meant we should sing all over again. And so he led us in Happy Birthday, Round 2. I thought I had the video, but I think it's on Mal's phone....phooey.

On Saturday we had all the family over for a brunch birthday celebration and a special visitor made his way by - Mickey Mouse! We prepped Aiden that morning and told him Mickey was coming to his party and that Mickey was going to be big like us, not little like him. Mickey rang the doorbell and Aiden opened the door for him....and gave Mickey a big hug! Success! I didn't know which way his reaction would go so I was happy he didn't burst into tears at the sight of Mickey. Aiden was cautiously excited about having Mickey at his party....happy for him to be there but wanted a little distance. We played games with Mickey (during which Aiden decided he was hungry and just left to get some food...typical Aiden), sang happy birthday, opened presents and drew on the easel. Fun times with Mickey!

This year we got The Birthday Blessing box and spent the days leading up to Aiden's birthday celebrating him. It was fun hearing his answer to questions like "what do you want to be when you grow up?" (We asked him 3 times and his response only got better.....a boy, a kid and a girl....at least he can definitely achieve one of those things....)

Oh my sweet baby boy! You've brought us so much joy over these last 3 years. You have such a curious personality and a growing sense of independence. You love being silly and laughing, learning new words, and "cleaning" around the house. You love your sister like crazy, even if you sometimes get a bit envious of her getting attention. Some of my favorite moments are when you crawl up in our bed in the morning and Sophia joins us and the two of you lay there just laughing and laughing.

Ah, my heart is full! Full of love and joy for these precious darlings God has entrusted to me. Now if only I could bargain with God to slow down the clock (or add hours to the day!) so that I can enjoy more time with them.