4 is a big deal!

I seriously cannot believe my baby just turned 4.  I can happily say I remember the day she was born like it was yesterday.  But I definitely had no idea the little girl she would become.  Her personality is off the charts if you haven't experienced it firsthand.  She is smart and sassy and most of the time she keeps up with her brother and sister just fine. 

Anyhoo...

I threw a big party for her first birthday, but we stayed pretty low-key for her 2nd and 3rd birthday.  I decided that 4 was the perfect age to have a party where she could invite all of her little friends.  I think all in all it was a huge success...chaotic definitely, but a total success!


We (and be we I really mean me and my guidance) chose to have an ART PARTY!!  We were rainbows all the way!!  I bought cute little canvas' for the kids to paint.  So thankful that at the age of 4 parents hang around for the party because as you can see I REALLY needed their help.

The birthday girl!! 

If you know me at all, you know that it is ALL about the details.  Rainbow fruit plate...rainbow veggie plate...colorful candy!! 

Even RAINBOW jello...yes I poured each color myself...let it set and the end result was so cute and SOOOO YUMMY!

And as if getting to paint wasn't enough...we hired a face painter also!!!  SO WORTH IT!!!

Love her to pieces!!

The older girls got in on the fun too!!

Tatum and all of her little friends!!!  Good luck getting 3 and 4 year olds to all look at the camera at the same time.

Even when you tell them to make funny faces...still can't do it!

What would ANY party be without cookies from Nana?!   Delicious and BEAUTIFUL as always!!

Details...I made this banner with my Silhouette Cameo!

And thanks to the Lowe's paint counter...I made these little pockets to hold the paint brushes at each kids chair!!

She told me over and over how much fun she had and based on how quickly she fell asleep...I believe her!!

3 Year Reflection

As with most things I'm sure...being a mom and hindsight go hand in hand.  If I knew then what I know now...well let's just say I probably would have done quite a bit different.  Oh I'm not referring to my parenting...although I'm sure that too could have used improvement.  I'm really referring to all the things I would have enjoyed more rather than wish them away. 

With Thomas I was so quick to wish he would crawl...wish he would walk...wish he would talk, mostly because at each of the stages prior I didn't know how I was going to survive.  Well I'm typing this today, so obviously I survived...so much so...I kept having kids.  I would say that I probably did as much wishing when Taylor was little as I did with Thomas, but in the last 3 years things have been WAY different.  I like to think I have this "mom thing" down!!  Don't burst my bubble...there are plenty of times during my week that I burst it myself.  Things in our house are the best they've ever been.  Oh it's chaos...but I like to think of it as controlled and managed chaos. 

I try hard to stop and listen more...really watch my kids.  All the moments that make me want to pull my hair out or grab for a wine glass pale in comparison to the moments that make me smile. 

Where am I going with all this?

Well I'm not sure I'm going anywhere...just sharing my thoughts, but it all stems from watching Tatum celebrating her 3rd birthday! It was so great...and it didn't take a huge party and lots of people to make it great.  A yummy breakfast...a few presents...and a homemade birthday cake was all she needed.  Oh and SPRINKLES!!  I sat back and just watched.  I watched her excitement and I watched the other two help her.  I loved it and I love that they are my kids!! 

An EXHAUSTING Birthday Week

Last week was by far the longest, roughest, most exhausting week I've had in a long time.  Coming off of spring break on Monday I was really hoping for a nice quiet day, but unfortunately Taylor had  a nasty cough so I kept her home.  No big deal the first day...she laid low and took a nice long nap.  Monday night she was a little better, so I thought for sure she would be back to school on Tuesday.  NOPE...still coughing and I did not want her to be a disruption in class.  She was super bummed so I bribed her with a little trip to Target, so she could spend some of her birthday money (a day early, but I felt bad for her).

Doesn't she look happy?!  She seemed great, so it was a definite that she would be able to go to school on her birthday!!  Little sis thought she needed a new Minnie as well.   She's obsessed if you forgot!!

She woke up Wednesday morning coughing a little bit, but so excited to go to school for her birthday!!  You get to wear a paper crown you know?!  This is a big deal for a 6 year old!!

So this is how the day started...

And this is how the day ended...

As it turned out...she was not ready to go back to school and I had to go get her early.  I took her to the doctor and then to Children's Hospital for x-rays and after all was said and done...she had pneumonia.  YUP...what I thought was just an dramatic 6 year old dragging out a cough was actually PNEUMONIA!!  I felt horrible!! 

Guess who was back at home again on Thursday??  The only bright part of Thursday was the package that came in the mail.  If there was going to be a party it would not be complete with out cookies!!

Thankfully on Friday the medicine she was on had helped A LOT and she went to school.  And she was well enough to still have her party on Saturday!!

It was a long exhausting week, but it ended pretty great!!  Not only is Taylor feeling WAY better...we are homeowners again!!  More on that later!

6 Years

If I sit and think about it I can still remember most of the day that Taylor was born.  My life was changed once again and being a mommy got 100% better and 100% harder.

Taylor Lynn Moore...you came into this world so fast and at that very moment I should have known you would be NOTHING like your brother.  I can say with almost 100% certainty that no one person tests me the way you do.  You have made me laugh, you have made me yell, you have made me cry...some days you have accomplished all 3!!  You are one amazing little lady!!  You are smart, sassy, independent, bossy, caring (when you want to be), beautiful and being your mom rocks!!

Happy Birthday Cook!!  I love you to the moon and back!!

Turning 2!!

Where did the last year go?  Seriously?!  I honestly can't believe we celebrated Tatum's 2nd birthday on Saturday.  We had a pretty busy year, so I will chalk it up to that I guess!  Or maybe the fact that she is no longer bound to a stroller/car seat/play seat, but instead running non-stop from morning until night with a small break during nap time!

Regardless of what made the year fly by it did and our baby is now 2!!

Our weekend was pretty low key, but all about her!

From top left:
1.  Both the girls helped me bake that cake...they really just hang around to lick the bowl!
2.  Watching the cake bake!!
3.  Sisters!
4.  A little trip to Target and since it was her birthday she got her own smoothie!!
5.  Me and my girl!
6.  The day wouldn't have been complete without a midday fit!
7.  Blowing out her candle!
8.  My munchkins!
9.  FINALLY...time to eat the cake!


Here is a better look at the cake I made!  I used a stencil cut from my CAMEO for the sprinkles in the shape of Minnie Mouse ears!  If you are reading this Karolyn you might recognize the infamous cake plate!!  WINK WINK!! 

 

To end the birthday fun she had her 2 year check up this morning!  She is 34.75 inches tall and weighs 29.8 lbs.  In the 84th percentile for both and right where she should be with everything else.  Keeping it consistent she was not happy to see the nurse nor the doctor and screamed her little heart out.  I always try to console her, but I always laugh too!  She is so dramatic and usually before they have even gotten anywhere near her.  

 

Seriously?!  Look at that face!!  So sad, but maybe playing it up just a little for the camera!!  She is holding the same blanket she has had since she was born!! 

And in case you forgot...or just want to see how far she's come...

Happy 2nd Birthday Miss Tatum!!

Now...it's time to start focusing on your sister...who is convinced she is NEVER going to get to celebrate HER birthday!!

Her Day

OK I admit it...I was over-the-moon excited for Tatum's first birthday.  I have been planning it since before Christmas if you count all the ideas I have thrown around.  I made the invitations...water bottle labels...party hats...and cupcake toppers.  My super talented friend Lisa made her smash cake and 24 beautiful cupcakes.  AND of course my amazing mom made cookies...for both "Thank you" treats and a little platter to snack on.

I planned every little detail...and for the first time EVER...I was not running around like a crazy person minutes before the party started.

We talked...we laughed...we tried to get Tatum to take her first steps...we ate A LOT...we helped her open her presents...and we watched as she stared at her smash cake and SCREAMED!!

Yep...

She DID NOT want anything to do with it.  I think it was my fault though.  I had anticipated her loving it, so I quickly removed her clothes beforehand so she would not get frosting on her cute outfit.  It backfired though and she hated being in just her diaper and immediately started crying.

It might not have been the reaction I was looking for, but I kept clicking my camera to capture the moment.

It was a wonderful day!  The last year flew by, but I look forward to all the things to come.

365 Days Ago

I absolutely cannot believe that many days have gone by.  Time has flown by, but I can honestly say that I have truly embraced all things baby this time around.  I have snuggled and kissed on her a million times.  I have sat by her crib and watched her sleep more times than I can count.  I love the little person she is becoming, but get a tiny bit sad every time she moves up a size in clothes. 

I can remember the anticipation of her arrival clear as day.  I wondered what she would look like...whether or not 6 solid months of heartburn would produce a head full of hair.  I remember wondering if I would know how to take care of a newborn again, I was pretty far removed from diapers and middle of the night feedings.  

Tatum Marie Moore came into this world at 8:41pm on February 22, 2012!  She was just like her brother and sister in so many ways.  And since that day she has shown us even more ways she is like them, but has also developed her own little, amazing personality.

I know that every mom feels this way, but being a mom is the most amazing job.  I have three healthy, happy, crazy kids and I love them.

Happy Birthday Tatum!!!  Just like your brother and sister...You make me smile a hundred times a day!!

Playing Catch Up

It's been too long, I know!!!

I imagine you have been wondering what happened to me!!  Well I have been here, just not here.  I am not lying when I tell you my laptop actually had a thin layer of dust on it.  Although I love the holidays and can't wait for Christmas morning to see my kids' faces,  I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited for it all to be over.  I am really looking forward to January!! 

But since I have been MIA for almost a month I will give you a little recap of our month. 

Two Holiday Performances

One Dance Recital

Two Birthday Dinners

One Birthday Lunch and Movie

Two Doctor Visits

Some Christmas Shopping 

And...

A WHOLE LOT MORE I CAN'T REMEMBER!!

Stay tuned for the big Christmas post...it's only 3 days away!!