As a little girl, I dreamed of being a mommy. I would play with my baby dolls and treat them just like they were my real children. As I grew into an adult, that dream never changed. In fact, my desire to be a mother, grew and grew. When daddy and I were ready to begin our family, God wasn't quite ready. For the two and a half years we were trying to start our family, there were many many nights filled with sorrow and tears. There was a huge realization that we may never be able to have the children I had always dreamed of having. When we did get pregnant and lost the baby after only a few short weeks, I was so devastated yet relieved. Relieved that I could get pregnant and that all hope was not lost. It was only a few months after that horrible experience that I became pregnant with you Ayden. Daddy and I had no idea how much our lives would change when you arrived.
Some of my favorite memories of you are/were:
Some of my favorite memories of you are/were:
*Your bald head as a baby, You were almost 2 before you got any hair and when it came, it was a little cotton top.
*Your rolls - you were so heavy and I couldn't wait for you to outgrow the car seat. But the rolls on your arms and legs were almost edible. I would just kiss and kiss on those precious rolls.
*Falling asleep at the table, sometimes in your food - you would and still never admit when you are tired. You just keep going and going until you literally drop. A few times, you have dropped into your plate of food, giving daddy and I great chuckles and photo ops.
* Your personality - I have never met a child with a personality like yours. You have never met a stranger and love to meet new people. Your outgoing spirit and fun loving character have always made my heart swell with love for you.
* Story Time - we have been reading books since you were just a small baby. You have grown to love books and stories. At the end of story time each night, you would always ask daddy or I to tell you a story about when we were little. I think you may know more about our childhoods than we do :)
* Hugs and Kisses - You are so loving and always have been. You have never shy'd away from anyone who wanted a hug or kiss and I pray this never changes. On Sunday, you gave me the best gift in the world and it was so funny because you told me "Mama, I thought I would give you the greatest gift in the world for Mother's Day - a great big hug and kiss from me." You were right baby, there is nothing else in this world I will ever need.
* Your funny questions and statements - You are a little comedian and always have us in stitches. I wish I could post all of them but would be typing forever. Maybe some of our blog readers will post some funny memories they have of you and things you have said and done.
*Bedtime routine - Every night after giving your hugs and kisses, it takes you a good 5 minute to go thru a little routine you have. If I am putting you to bed you tell me to "make sure to tell daddy to come back and lay with you after he is finished folding clothes or taking his shower. I love you, good night, don't let the bed bugs bite. See ya in the morning, one more hug, one more kiss.....and it continues on and on. If daddy is putting you to bed you say "Don't forget to tell mommy to come back and lay with me after she has finished folding clothes or taking her shower. I love you. Good night, don't let the bed bugs bite. One more hug, one more kiss, can I have something to drink....and on and on."
Of course there have been so many wonderful moments with you over these past 5 years. I love you immensly and can't imagine what my life would be like without you. Most mornings daddy and I awake to you snuggled up in our bed. You are always wedged right underneath me and sound asleep. I love to wake up every morning just to see you beside me.
And then came Ally Brynn.
Baby girl you were the best surprise I have ever been given. Daddy and I thought that trying to have another child would take a little time, as it did with Ayden. Boy, were we surprised when there were two lines on that little stick. It was too funny because I had always said I never wanted to have a baby at Christmas time. Guess what, you were due the first week of January. Never say Never huh. Pregnancy with you was very similar to my pregnancy with Ayden only with alot more heartburn. I knew you were gonna have lots of hair - and you did. Women without children and men, will never know the joy for a woman to have a little girl. To have a life long best friend to play dolls, have tea parties, paint our fingers and toes and to shop with. I think these feelings relates alot to my relationship with Nana. I know that our relationship will hit a rocky area somewhere in your teenage years, but I also know that once that era fades away, our relationship will grow, just like mine and Nana's. Nana has become my best friend and I can't imagine what life would be like without her.
Ally Brynn, you and Ayden have so many similiar traits but here are a few of my favorite memories of you. The first one, besides learning you were a girl, was the head full of dark hair you were born with. I couldn't believe it, especially since Ayden was bald for so long. However, at about 5 months, all of that beautiful brown hair began to fall out and light little strands of blonde began to grow. Now with your head full of blonde curls, when anyone sees the baby pictures of you, they think it is me as a baby.
* Your adoration for Ayden. He was the first person to make you laugh and has always been able to get a smile out of you. You follow him, copy him, hug and kiss him and do not like to be away from him. He is your "Bubba." I have no doubt that you two will continue to be this close as you grow older.
* Your lack of teeth. It took you forever for your teeth to come in! I remember Dr. MacPherson saying "The later, the straighter." You were about 10 months when some of your teeth finally began to show.
* Your rolls - like Ayden's, you had and still have rolls on your arms and legs. They are slowly thinning out as you have become more active but those little legs of your are still just as kissable.
* Mommy's girl- you are a definite Mommy's girl. There aren't many places I can go without you and if I fuss at you, your heart is broken. I have a feeling that you will use this to your advantage :) I love that you want your mommy and love to do the things I like. Ayden was never much of a shopper and showed no interest in girly things, but you watch everything I do from putting on lotion to painting my fingers and toes. You want to do it all.
* Mommy's girl- you are a definite Mommy's girl. There aren't many places I can go without you and if I fuss at you, your heart is broken. I have a feeling that you will use this to your advantage :) I love that you want your mommy and love to do the things I like. Ayden was never much of a shopper and showed no interest in girly things, but you watch everything I do from putting on lotion to painting my fingers and toes. You want to do it all.
* Your pacy and Ellie. You have become so attached to these two items that I am scared. I have tried to coax them away, but when the pacy is taken, you start sucking your thumb - something I am trying whole heartedly to avoid since I was a thumb sucker. I do love to see you loving your Ellie. You rub your little fingers together with Ellie in the middle. You will also put it right to your face, just like I put my hand to my face when going to sleep at night.
*Your walk - the black ladies at daycare call you JUICY. You have a way of twisiting your little heiny when you walk and it is just so sassy. You are my little angel and I love everything about you.
On this Mother's Day, I thank God for blessing me with the two of you. You will never know how much joy and love you have given me until you one day become parents. In honor of Mother's Day, we decided to take our Mother's and head to the beach for the day. Nana ended up cooking diner at her house and couldn't join us, but Mimi, Daddy, Ayden, Ally Brynn and I headed to Sullivan's Island for a day of fun on the beach. Once we arrived, we unpacked the car and hiked down to the beach (which was a good little hike from the car). We put our chairs out, dumped the kids toys and began playing in the sand, when the clouds began to gather and drops of rain began to fall on our heads. A few minutes later, after we had thrown everything back in the bags and was running back to the car, the sky fell. So that was our beach trip. We spent the rest of the day riding around the islands and then heading to Summerville for supper. Despite the change of plans, we still had a wonderful day together, which is what we had planned. I only got a few pics on the beach with my cell phone (my camera batteries died). A big thank you to MiMi for also sharing her pics from our few minutes on the beach :)I love you both so much and I am so proud to be your mommy.
