Autumn’s 3rd Birthday


Autumn has been asking constantly in the past few weeks, “Mom, Am I 3?” Each time the answer was, “Not yet, but really soon!” She was so happy when the day finally came. I can’t believe Autumn is 3! She acts like she’s 15 – She has all the answers to everything and is VERY independent, but its hard to believe its been 3 years since I held my darling, tiny Autumn in my arms.

In the past few weeks we’ve noticed she really likes owls so we decided to make an owl cake for her birthday. She loved it but was not quite as obsessed with it as she was her bear cake from last year. We must have watched the bear cake video a million times for her 🙂

IMG_1353-001

Autumn is a sweetheart – She loves to cuddle and give kisses, she is the first to help me carry in groceries, clean up when I ask, pick up when she sees a mess, get herself ready, put her shoes on herself, and help however she can. She is fun and funny and loves to laugh. She plays hard and works hard. She is very determined and persistent, she stands up for herself and others, and WILL get what she wants, but these same qualities that make her so amazing frustrate her too-  she has her own ideas and easily gets upset when things don’t work out how she wants or if people don’t do what she wants, which is frustrating for all of us. You know that saying, “When mom ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy,” for us its, “When Autumn ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” I’ve never seen such love and such determined tantrums. I’m sure she’ll grow out of the worst of this, right? She favors Mom and takes time to warm up to most people, especially men. She started hating nursery in the past few weeks, she is potty trained when she wants to be but usually chooses not to be. She loves to play games – hide n seek, uno, go fish, old maid, memory. She loves to read and look at books. She is quite a nut!
IMG_1366-001

Autumn LOVED her birthday. I didn’t even have to do anything all that special to make it great – she just knew it was her special day. At one point, she was afraid Micah was going to make her do something she didn’t want to, and yelled out, “Don’t make the birthday girl do that!”  She is very funny and loves to laugh. She’s come up with some of the funniest things lately. We were at Walmart not too long ago, and I let her walk instead of ride in the basket. Normally she walks right next to me or hangs onto the cart, but this time she got behind me a little bit. In the sweetest little voice she says, ” Mom… why is your bum looking at me?” then laughed about how funny it sounded. She says stuff like that all the time – I really need to start writing all these things down.  IMG_1370-001

These girls are the best and worst of friends. They are together All the time, so there are bound to be some disagreements. Sometimes Chelle needs her space and Autumn just wants to be with her, which causes problems. Sometimes they just don’t like the other’s ideas, but most often they work and play together. Its fun to have these little friends so close to each other.  IMG_1375-001

IMG_1376-001

IMG_1380-001I love these little bright brown eyes. This is the perfect picture of her.

Autumn is one!

(originally written December 25, 2012)

Our sweet little baby is one! She wanted to celebrate all day, so she got up early and didn’t take a nap! Jackson, Lacey and Chelle were really excited to celebrate her birthday, so it was just an exciting day for everyone. Mamama, Papa dad, Steve, Krista, and Lincoln came to celebrate with some cake and ice cream. Autumn had her own cake and liked it, but didn’t get too far past the frosting.

 

She got this cute little stuffed doggy that she loves to cuddle with and a little musical toy that she LOVES!
Autumn is a sweet baby, but she is becoming more opinionated and has learned how to effectively voice her opinion! She is smiley and SO cuddly! I love how she gives loves and will lay on my shoulder. She had six teeth and just recently got two more on the bottom which brings the count up to 8. She started taking a step or two here or there the week before her birthday, and then she stopped trying for a while. This last week she had started to try and try to walk. Her walking is wobbly, but she’s starting to walk almost as much as she crawls. In fact, last Saturday she was walking by a bath tub that some of the kids were in and slipped in a puddle and hit her eye on the corner of the bathtub got a lovely black eye 😉 Who thought walking was a good idea anyway??? she loves to read books, swing, play with the older kids and she absolutely adores chocolate. She escapes outside any chance she gets – nothing makes her happier than to explore the great outdoors.Autumn is a climber! I found her on the couch today. She had gotten up there all by herself and sat there proudly with a little grin on her face waiting for me to see her.

I was going to get 1 yr pictures at target, but then I just decided to go the cheap route and do them ourselves. Well it hasn’t happened… I tried last week, but she did not want me to be taking pictures. She was so crabby! So we’ll see in the next couple weeks after her black eye goes away if we can get something pulled together.

And here they are: (taken 1/26/13)

Autumns 1 yr stats:
20 lbs

Autumn

Guess what this little girl did today? She rolled over for the first time… and then she proudly did it two more times in a row to show me how big she is! It was really cute the look on her face the 3rd time. She really looked like, “I know how to do this… first I do this, then this, then I’m on my back. Easy!” Then she forgot how to do it and she was mad!

We love little Autumn – all of us! Each of the kids have been so kind to her. We love to make her smile, and as of the past few weeks she’s been giggling and we really love that! You have to work for those giggles though and boy do the kids try hard! She gives some of the biggest grins I’ve ever seen.

 

She will be so happy and smiley then its like  we flip a switch and she’s upset! Its kinda funny.

Everyone comments on Autumn’s chubby cheeks – each of our babies have had great chubby cheeks (where on earth do they get those from?;o)  I thought she may be a little different because she started out smaller… she’s actually only 69th percentile for weight, which is smaller than they others, but when we went in for her 4 month check up the doctor looked at her and said, “Wow, those are some chubby cheeks for such a normal weight!” What can I say, we are blessed with chubby cheeks! I love kissing these cheeks though and seeing her sweet little smiles when I do.

I am thoroughly enjoying little Autumn. She has a sweet personality and is starting to figure so many things out.

 She watches everything move around her. If we ever have the TV on her eyes are glued to it unless we distract her. She watches things move, but still isn’t great at grabbing them. She loves to hold on to fingers though. She likes a pacifier, but she doesn’t love it like the others did, and she sucks on her fingers most of the time instead of a binky. I think she prefers me to Micah, but I guess that’s typical for babies. Somehow by about 2:00 AM every night she ends up in our bed and then she sleeps in in our bed ’til 8:30. I never thought I would have a baby sleep in my bed, but man, its nice to get some sleep while I feed her. To be honest, in a way I feel like I’m more in tune with her, and I wonder if  it that may have something to do with it. She’s getting to the point where its harder to get her to fall asleep, oh the little baby days are drifting quickly! I love watching this darling baby grow up, but I sure wish it would slow down!

We love when we get to visit Mama and Papa great. We love them and they are so kind and loving to each of us. Even with so many grandchildren and great grandchildren we are treated individually and are loved almost as if we are the only ones. It is such a privilege for my children to know Mama and Papa and to know they are so loved by their great grandparents.  Thanks to Melissa for getting this great picture! It is precious to me and will be forever.

 

 

 

 

New Year’s and Autumn’s Blessing

Grandma and Grandpa Stubblefield came for a quick visit after being in New Mexico for Christmas. They flew in New Year’s Eve pretty late. Before they got here our neighbor and friend Marnie surprised us with some Sparklers! The kids were SO happy for them. Aren’t we all little pyro’s at heart? That made their night. They went to bed a little later than normal and then Micah went to pick up Grandma and Grandpa from the airport. When they got here we talked for a little while and then at midnight our next door neighbors had a great fireworks show (these neighbors are the best – they go all out for Halloween and Christmas decorating their house and the fireworks were awesome – our kids love their decorations)!

Micah and I decided at the last minute to have Autumn’s baby blessing on Monday evening so Grandma and Grandpa could be here for it. I had gone back and forth about making a dress for Autumn, I knew I wasn’t up for the challenge of making another dress like Rachelle’s (the problem wasn’t actually the dress but in the fact that I only gave myself a week to pull it together, had never really sewn any clothing before, and had a baby that very rarely slept) but before Autumn was born I found some that I thought may be a little easier.  I came across a tutorial for this cute little ruffle skirt on one of the blogs I subscribe to in August or September… and then I got on pinterest and found this cute dress here that used a onesie. The more I looked at it the more I liked it, but I just couldn’t quite understand the tutorial… but I knew I wanted something sort of like it. Then several of the blogs I follow started posting about this company called Ruffle Fabric. YES! I knew as time was getting shorter I wouldn’t have the patience or energy to make all the ruffles myself. I didn’t realize I would be making the dress in a day! Monday morning while everyone went bowling I had a little time to myself to make this dress (luckily I had some help from Grandma Stubz, because it wouldn’t have come together without her expertise). I love the way it turned out and it came together pretty quickly. We used a long sleeve white onesie, two inch white ruffle fabric (that is so soft and lightweight), and some ribbon and trim to finish it up.

It was so nice to have everyone (who could come on short notice) at the blessing. Thank you! We were glad to have both sets of grandparents there.

It was nice to have the blessing in our home and have a little time to mingle afterwards.We love our sweet and precious Autumn!

 

Autumn Rose

We love this sweet little girl. I caught this picture last night… I know its a little blurry, but I love the sweet innocence of a sleeping baby. It is so precious to me!

A couple nights ago I was so overwhelmed with gratitude for my sweet new baby and my 3 sweet children that love her SO dearly. I couldn’t help but thank my Heavenly Father for these greatest blessings and yet I still felt that my thanks to Him were inadequate for the joy I feel.

We have felt so grateful for all the love and help we’ve received from family and friends! In the hospital as I was getting prepped to go back to the operating room someone who worked there came in and asked if I would need any help or assistance with other children when I left the hospital. I was grateful to say that we have family and friends that are helping us.  Since then I’ve thought again and again about how much harder it would be to have a baby without everyone’s support. Thank you, Thank you! My heart is overfilled with gratitude!  Happy Thanksgiving!