Happy 4th Birthday, Zoe!

Dearest Zoe,
Today is your birthday and it's a day to celebrate you!  I love you so much baby girl in so many ways.  I love the way you make your silly voices.  I love your giggle.  It's the sweetest giggle any girl has ever produced.  I love the way you name your dolls and stuffed animals with the most creative and unique names   I love the way your hoard your toys into piles or bags and want to take them with you everywhere you go.  I love the way you dance.  I love the way you make up your own songs daily.  I love the way you cuddle when you want to!  I love to watch you play and see your amazing imagination at work.  I love the way you smile and show off that dimple that can light up the room.  I love how happy it makes you to have your toe nails and finger nails painted.  I love the way you love to act shy and then suddenly burst out with your amazingly big personality.  I love the way you adore your big brother and look up to him.  I love the way you like to watch me apply my makeup and how you ask if you can have some too.  I love the way you get that mischievous look on your face when you are up to something.  I love the way you run with your arms up over your head when you are scared or excited.  I love the way you come into our bedroom at night sometimes and say in your soft voice "Mommy, I'm too scared."  I love the way you look like a peaceful angel when you sleep and I love the way you look when you wake up and seem to still be half asleep.  I love the way you want to be independent and want to grow up.  I love that you look forward to being a mommy some day.  I love the way you like to surprise me.  I love the way you act silly!  But most of all Zoe, I just love you because you are you!  I'm so grateful to be your mommy.  I will always love you!

Zoe's Birthday Party!

 Zoe was on cloud nine today and loved having the day with all the emphasis on her! We celebrated her birthday today with friends and family.  Her party was at The Little Gym in Huntersville per her request and the theme was princesses and knights. Later on in the evening we had family over for a cook out and more celebration.  We all love you, Zoe!  I enjoyed seeing you run around and have so much fun with everyone today!

It's Been A While

I'm not really a quitter, but I feel like one when it comes to my blog that is dedicated to be an account of the daily lives of my two my precious gifts - Dylan and Zoe.  And why is it that once we "quit" something if even for a week, it so easily snowballs into a month and in this case nine months?  Then we hear that little monster in our head saying "It's easier to just stay with "quitting" than starting again." And so we believe him and continue to "quit." 

But Dylan and Zoe, if the best way I'm going to teach you is to live by example, I certainly don't want to fail you which means I don't want to "quit" anything before it's done.  So I asked my dear friend, Greta, how could I begin to get started again, and she suggested I just pick some highlights over the past month and show them.  I loved the idea and felt like it was a great way.   So Dylan and Zoe, it's been a while but here are the highlights of special moments over the last 9 months! 

Zoe Grace turns 3!!!  We had a great celebration at The Little Gym of Hunsterville.

We had a wonderful summer and were blessed to be able to go to the beach with the Caudle side of the family and the Shellenbarger side of the family.  Fun, fun, fun times!

Kure Beach

Outer Banks

Dylan got to take another pirate boat adventure with his cousins.  It was his favorite part of the trip.

 

 I attempted to get a picture with all the cousins. 

First Day of Preschool for Dylan and Zoe

Dylan turns 5!!!!  We had a secret agent themed party at The Little Gym of Huntersville.

Christmas 2011

Cook's Preschool Christmas Program

Christmas Eve

 Christmas Morning Elves

The New Year - 2012!



Picture Day

Dylan had picture day at school last week.  He insisted that I spike up his hair so that he would be "so handsome" for his pictures.  When Zoe saw her brother in pink, she said "No, Dylan.  Pink is my favorite color, not yours!" 

I couldn't resist taking about 10 minutes before we left for school to take some shots of my little guy.  Because after all, he was just so handsome.  And as I look at these pictures, I can't help but seeing how much older he looks.