Amara Turns Two!!!

How did this happen!?! My sweet little baby is all grown up and I truly felt like I blinked and it happened!
Amara Emilie Grace.... you are a ball of joy and we all cherish you. The other night at dinner the girls were talking and Danika said, "Sometimes I feel like Amara isn't real... like she is just our doll." But then she laughed and said, " But then she reminds me she's real when she starts screaming or scratches my face!" We all had a good laugh. But seriously, we cannot imagine our life without her. She has made our family complete and her big sisters love her to pieces!
Amara's vocabulary has started to increase and she is a little copy cat! She usually repeats the last word of every sentence you say... so we REALLY have to be careful! haha! But her favorite new line is, "NO... Don't want too." So matter of fact. And we can't help but laugh. Oh dear... this little girl is soo spoiled and I am afraid she is getting away with more than the other two did... but we won't tell Steve that! ;)

Fun Facts about Amara...
-She is still very petite. Weighing in at 22 lbs.  and still wearing 18 mos to size 2.
-She is gorgeous! (I am biased!)
- She loves her blanket and her soother. However we are trying to contain the soother to her crib.
- She is the best sleeper in the world! She has been averaging 13 hours of sleep per night and a 1.5-2 hour nap each afternoon. Seriously... we put her to bed at 7 pm and often have to wake her up at 8 am or else I leave her at home, drop the girls off at school (Steve's home) and then when I get back I get her up and feed her breakfast.
- She is HILARIOUS... she makes us all laugh on a daily basis, with her funny faces and things she says.
- No interest whatsoever in potty training... but she is starting to hide in a corner when she goes #2.
- She is my little sidekick, she is going through a mommy phase of always wanting me... but for the most part I don't mind!
- She still does not cuddle, but she loves reading books. And we often find her sitting on the ground, intently studying a book by herself.
- She loves her dolls and barbies and is starting to play house, and make them food in her play kitchen.
- She likes to help me bake... but she makes a disaster and its frustrating, so I usually wait until she is sleeping!
- She LOVES being outside... she is happiest walking by herself. She does not like holding hands and she could hike forever... such great endurance!
- She picks out her own pjs and clothes now... and is adamant in her choices!
- Very strong willed and knows what she wants
-She loves treats and would eat them all day if she could!
- Becoming quite picky at dinner time
- She is loved by everyone who meets her and is not one tiny bit shy!

Yesterday we had a birthday party for Amara that the big sisters helped plan. It was a cow theme, and the girls spent most of their day off on Tuesday making white cups, balloons and a table cloth into a cow theme. They were so excited to help plan her big day! Danika has been sewing at school during recess with her teacher and she made a beautiful banner that says Amara. For the birthday cake, it was made from scratch, cake and icing. So the night before the party, the girls and I had fun, putting the 2 layer cake together and frosting it into a cow.
It was crazy and chaotic after school with tons of people (I didn't have a chance to count!) but we were overwhelmed with the amount of love for this little girl, and blessed with some pretty cute little gifts. Her favorite being a little cow she named Moo Moo from the Nagtegaals and a penguin from the dollmans that actually waddles on the ground. Thankfully the weather wasn't too rainy and the kids were on the trampoline quite a bit... that trampoline has been FANTASTIC! The girls babysitter Meagan, and her sister Lauren came to the party and were AMAZING helpers... the girls took turns taking pictures and cleaned my entire kitchen, including unloading the dishwasher! And their mom also stopped by with a beautiful little outfit for Amara from Hawaii, hula outfits for the big girls and chocolate for Steve and I... we are so blessed to have the Anderson family in our lives!
But we sure did miss our family a lot... wish we could have birthday parties with them too!!! My mom sent a package for the girls and it arrived right before the party. Beautiful shirts for Amara... she picked out the Horse one and would only wear that one, and some new shirts for the girls for their valentine party at school today!

Here is the "Happy Birthday" video... It is very loud... and the candle is very high pitched... and we are not singing with it at all! But it's a cute memory!

Family Day

This morning I woke up with a rash on my body that has steadily been getting worse every day since Friday morning. My legs are covered in a raised rash and it's creeped right to my toes and hands! My whole body is covered. I slept fine, so thankfully it is not itchy, but Steve sent me to the dr. And since it's a holiday, every single walk in clinic is closed. So I headed to emerg at the hospital and walked into a lovely face saving my spot in line. My dear friend, Sharon has been in the hospital with her youngest son, originally brought there by ambulance due to a scary all nighter with croup. They were sent home the following day and then were brought back that evening for the poor guy and got to leave this morning. So we had a big hug and they were off to say goodbye to their grandma in Victoria for the last time. My heart and prayers were with their family today. 

After waiting a few hours at the hospital, the dr came in and said it was a delayed reaction to the antibiotics I was on for the infection from my wisdom teeth. So apparently I am allergic to chlydamycin. He said there is nothing he can give me and it will probably take a week for it to clear up. 

When I got home we had a nice low key day. Steve and the girls went in the hot tub for a long time while I baked some bread and cake for bible study. We ended up sending the dessert along because our babysitter was sick and I don't feel so great either! We watched Swiss family Robinson this evening with the girls and it was a big hit! Steve's favorite show from childhood.

The beautiful picture Adessa drew for me... The whole family! I love it! 

Fun With The Lowes

Nathan, Amelia and their puppy atlas came up for the weekend from Victoria. This little family holds a special place in our hearts. Steve and Nathan worked together at camp Qwanoes for a year and then Steve was in their wedding party. We've kept in touch and our girls are always excited to see them too. Amelia started playing with the girls right away... They were in heaven! 

A little walk before our huge homemade pizza dinner. They boys and their dogs...

Fun with Amelia!

Met our friends at the park to play for a bit

Puppies this summer...

Meeko and Atlas at 7 months. 

Nathan and Adessa have a special little bond. Team Adessa, Nathan, cupcake playing Yahtzee

Team owl

And the boys layed down to rest for a bit... They are best friends!

Today we all slept in a bit and then Steve made an amazing breakfast of eggs,hash browns, bacon and toast. It was delicious! The boys went in the Hot tub for a couple of hours while Amelia and I tried to visit in between taking care of the girls. We then packed up and hiked up to the cross again! It was a beautiful day out! 

My girls are pretty much pro hikers! 

Special girl! 

Such a nice weekend with these 3!

The boys and their boys! 

Thursday

I have been waiting for a few months to get a ole removed on my nose and Thursday was the day. Kind of bad timing... But I guess it is never fun to have even minor surgery. I had to go to a plastic surgeon as my doctor wouldn't do it, because of scarring. 

It was quite painful, well the freezing needle was. Steve was home working and Adessa was left in charge of Amara. I loaded a plate full of snacks and left them with a movie telling Adessa not to bug Steve unless of an emergency. I got home just as the movie ended, and apparently Adessa did awesome with Amara except the one time Steve was on the door I guess Adessa came running screaming, "she's trying to bite me!!!!'" 

After school I dropped Adessa off with her kindergarten teacher. I guess her and another little friend have been asking miss. Hackett for a play date all school year. So she invited them both over to watch a movie. Adessa was so excited, she baked cookies for her teacher and made her a beautiful card. She came home and I told her I missed her so much, her response.... "I didn't miss you at all! I was having wayyyy too much fun!!!"

Saturday

Steve had to run into Nanaimo to pick up some fishing supplies he was getting serviced so we all tagged along. 

We ended up grabbing coffees at mcdonalds and the kids played in the playplace for a bit and then we headed to the park. It was chilly but we had lots of fun! 

My picture perfect family?!? Haha.. Steve was thrilled I was taking their pictures and I couldn't decide which one I liked the best! 

Meeko is such a good dog! He lets Amara walk him and he is so slow and calm. She sure loves her Meeko! 

Friday

I had to run to the store to pick up a prescription and a few groceries. I was not in a rush as I had some time to kill before meeting my girlfriend crystal for a hike. So Amara led the way with her shopping cart... 

She was all business... 

We parked at the bottom of the mountain and hiked to the very top of it... It looked really far away! 

But we did it! I had Amara on my back and felt like I could die about half way up... But we powered through and made it, and it was gorgeous out! 

I was feeling quite shaky as it was a sheer drop off the backside

Gorgeous views 

The girls only had a half day so we had our friends the dollman girls for a play date. It was gorgeous out so they had a picnic on the trampoline and played outside the entire day. Then their parents brought us pizza for dinner and we had a nice visit before I took the older girls to Awana in the evening.