And You Can Quote Me (8)

The faith of a child is pretty amazing to see. Ayla talks about God almost every day. She likes to pray for us at dinner and is constantly asking questions about Him- but NEVER doubting who He is or what He can do. She's also starting to become very insightful about herself- way more than I thought a three year old could be.
-------------------------------

After hiding a piece of chicken under her plate.
Ayla: "Can God see me all the time? Like ALL the time? He always knows what I'm doing?"

------------------------------

On a day I wasn't feeling well.
Mommy: "I feel yucky."
Ayla: "Yucky? Are you going to throw yourself away? I don't want you to get thrown in the garbage!"
Quietly a few minutes later.
Ayla: "God, please make Mommy feel better."

-------------------------------

Ayla: "Do you know what responsible means? It means you know better."

-------------------------------

In the car.
Ayla: "You know in the movie Toy Story Woody says, 'I can't believe how selfish you are'. And you know what? Sometimes I don't share my toys with Lincoln and that makes me selfish. So actually, I'm never going to do anything bad again. I'm going to be a good girl and not be selfish...I will at least try because Woody would tell me, 'Ayla, I can't believe how selfish you are'."

-------------------------------

Ayla: "Does God have a spanking spoon?"

-------------------------------

Ayla: "Does God know I'm eating pizza right now?"

-------------------------------

On the way to school talking about wanting the rain to stop.
Ayla: "Maybe I'll pray to God to find out. God, when will it stop raining?"
Waits a minute.
Ayla: "Mommy do you know why you can't hear God answer me?
Mommy: "Why?"
Ayla: "Because He lives in my heart."

-------------------------------

Lincoln's First Birthday!!

I will be playing catchup for the next few posts.  I've been a slacker and have not been staying up to date with all we've done (dating all the way back to August).... so here it goes. First up, Lincoln's birthday.

Our baby boy is a year old. How did that even happen?  We got to celebrate his birthday twice...once in Ohio with family and friends and a second time here in Charlotte with the Skipper four. (Details and pictures to come.) But enough talk, check out that grin on our little "Linky Lou". Or as Ayla has taken to calling him "Little Cheeky".

We had planned to be in Geneva and it just so happened to fall right before Lincoln's birthday- so we embraced it and invited aunts, uncles, cousins and great grandparents that so often miss out on birthdays because of our zip code.  This picture isn't the greatest, but it shows some of our family that celebrated with us. (It might possibly be the only evidence we have of Dad's famous ham leg that he so proudly imported from Spain.)

Because of Linc's allergy, I knew I wanted a egg free cake. I found a great vegan bakery and called them up to order a "smash cake".  

 

It turned out really cute, but it was huge! No baby, in the history of babies could ever come close to eating this cake. It seriously could have served 8 adults. 

For the egg eaters- my mom, (aka Netta) ordered yummy cupcakes. I think Jeff tried each one.

Ayla was beyond excited for Lincoln's birthday...especially the cake and presents. She also loved the balloons. 

She must have asked two dozen times "when can we eat cake?" So with the push of a three year old, we slipped on a birthday hat and got right down to birthday business. 

The cake brought out a range of emotions in Lincoln, going from confused and unsure....

 

...to happy

 

....to downright ecstatic. 

 

 Then, per Ayla's excitement, we moved right into gifts. I didn't get many pictures of this part but Ayla did most of the opening while Lincoln did the majority of playing (and tasting).

This is the perfect depiction of what happened!

 He got this alligator walker from Netta and Papi.

Then used it to practice his future walking skills with all the men in the family.

While Ayla hung with the women.

She especially gravitated toward Great Grandma DeJesus. They must have sat on those steps for 45 minutes just talking and laughing.

It was a beautiful day to celebrate our little boy's birthday and we were so happy to have our family there with us. 

Oh how I love him!

And You Can Quote Me (7)

I love how these quotes really show who Ayla is and who she is becoming. She very much likes to be in charge.  And of course, there are still things that she says that have me asking "where did she come up with that?!"

-------------------------------

Talking to her doll while in the pool.
Ayla: "I can see you don't have self control so now you need to get out of the pool and think about what you did. I don't like your attitude today."

-------------------------------

Ayla: "Mommy, can you kiss my hands?
Mommy: "Sure" (kisses hands)
Ayla: (Cups them and makes a motion toward her pocket) "I'm going to put some of your kisses in my pocket and the rest in my heart.... Mommy, now can you kiss God? He lives in my heart.
Mommy: "Of course." (kisses over her heart)
Ayla: "There! Now I'm all good to go!"

-------------------------------

Working on a project with glitter glue
Ayla: "Oh! Goose feathers! I messed up!"

-------------------------------

Playing in the closet behind my clothes.
Mommy: "Ayla, please get out. You know I don't like you back there."
Ayla: (picks up a receipt from the floor and pretends to read aloud) "Go in the closet and have lots of fun.....Mommy, this special message is telling me to go in. I have to listen to it."

-------------------------------

Ayla: "Daddy, oh my gosh! You smell like chicken! And....and rose petals too!"

-------------------------------

Trying to talk to Siri on the iphone.
Ayla: "Siri, when is Halloween?"
Siri: "Halloween is Thursday, October 31st."
Ayla: "When is Easter?"
Siri: "Easter is Sunday, March 31st"
Ayla: "When is the bunny coming?"
Siri: "I don't understand the question."
Ayla: (yells) "WHEN IS THE BUNNY COMING?"
Siri: "I don't know what that means."
Ayla: "Listen to me Siri. Pay attention!"
Siri: "I couldn't find that in your music."
Ayla: "Aaahhh! When. Is. The. Bunny. Coming. To. My. House?"
Siri: "I didn't find any events about the bunny coming to my house."
Ayla: "Fine. Bye."
Siri: "Goodbye."

-------------------------------

 Ayla: "Mom, I washed that marker off my leg....with my tongue."

-------------------------------

Lincoln: 11 months

I'm raising my hand. This post is way late, and it's all on me. I took the pictures ages ago but then life happened and I haven't gotten to sit down and put everything together.
I love this picture- imperfections and all- because it captures exactly who Lincoln is right now.  He is always on the move and always looking for the next thing to move on to. On this day, Jeff and I were trying our best to focus his attention on the camera but he wanted to smear the chalk instead. Then he heard Ayla run over to the playset and climb on the swing. You can see the look on his face and how his body is poised to move. Whatever Ayla is doing, Linc is never far behind.

 Here is a clearer picture. Our wild haired little boy.

Jeff was working on clapping with Linc one day and it stuck. Now he claps all the time. We were having dinner at a restaraunt recently and every time the waitress came to check on us Lincoln would clap. I think he liked her...or maybe he was applauding her effort. 

Jeff has also been working on making sure the kids are exposed to volleyball. (Well, not really- but when he hits the ball around outside, both kids love to watch.) 

 

Hmm.....Do you see a theme? (Ayla at 7 months)

Lincoln is still not walking. He's just taking his time, which is fine by us. He loves pushing anything that can assist in practicing those baby steps.

And of course, Ayla loves to be the big sister and help out.

To quickly explain a few items on his eleven month board:

~ Lincoln would eat all day if we let him. He never seems to get sick of food. Sometimes he will get tired of the same thing on his tray (like too many peaches) When that happens he sends the message by throwing, dumping or simply dropping the food on the floor. It's his way of saying "I'm finished with this and I'd like something else please." (I have to pretend he would at least use polite words.)

~If he were on a deserted island and could only pick two foods to be with him, it would be cheese and broccoli. Not necessarily together. He shoves, and I mean shoves broccoli in his mouth. He can't get it in fast enough.

~Most kids love dogs and my guess is that someday Lincoln will too. But right now, he not a fan. Especially if they try to lick his face. 

Ayla sometimes likes to pretend she's a dog and will try to lick people (don't ask). I'm just glad that so far she's stuck with kisses not licks for Lincoln....I'd hate to see my two little peas in a pod avoid each other.

And You Can Quote Me (6)

-------------------------------

Pulling toilet paper out of the closet.
Ayla: "Mom, can I snuggle with this?"
Mommy: "With the toilet paper?"
Ayla: "Yes. Remember that bear? He snuggles with toilet paper all the time."
Mommy: "Umm?"
Ayla: "You know Mommy, the bear on t.v? He likes to snuggle with it, so can I too?"
Mommy: "Sure, I don't see why not."
Ayla: "Thanks Mom!"
(Proceeds to carry a roll of toilet paper around for the rest of the day.)

-------------------------------

I forgot to put a pull-up on Ayla and she woke up with a wet bed.
Ayla: "Mommy, can I tell you something? I know you didn't mean to and it's ok. I forgive you."

-------------------------------

Sitting in the tent with Lincoln
Ayla: "P-U!!!"
Mommy: "Does Lincoln have a dirty diaper?"
Ayla: "No, it's my feet." (Shoes come flying out of the tent.)
"I have GOT to get rid of these stinky shoes!"

-------------------------------

After getting out of bed for the third time at night.
Daddy: "If you get out of bed again we are going to have to spank you."
Ayla: "Who? Mommy or Daddy?"
Mommy: "Maybe we both will."
Ayla: "Hmmm....well..who is going to go first when you spank me?"

-------------------------------

Mommy: "Lincoln what do you want for your birthday?"
Ayla: "A puppy. He really wants a puppy."

-------------------------------

Ayla: "When can I drive a car?"
Mommy: "When your bigger and older."
Ayla: "When I'm an adult? I can drive a car then? Then I can say a bad word too. But I'm not big yet. I'm still just Ayla."

-------------------------------

Ayla: "I'm a worm, but I'm sick. Can you be the doctor and check me? My squiggly is not working."

-------------------------------

Ayla: "I'm thinking about something. A waffle costume. I'm going to a costume party and you can come with me Mommy! Daddy can drive us. Then tomorrow I'm going to dress up as a party pooper!"


-------------------------------