Nine and Teen

My oldest and my baby aged again this year, making me wonder - How do they seem to grow up and I stay the same?  Is that possible?  NO!  I looked in the mirror...blah boo hoo!  But enough about me aging gracefully...

FIRST BIRTHDAY:




MY BABY IS NINE!!!!  Nine...almost grown, but not quite.  He's still taller than the trees and impossible to keep clothed, but he's my little cuddle bug (if you can imagine cuddling up with a snake!)  He's my baseball loving, Wii playing, swimming, bike riding, scouting enthusiast, baby boy.  He tells me every night how much he loves me and gives me the biggest hug and kiss, and I can't seem to go to bed without it now...I'm hooked.  I love this little surprise baby of mine.








SECOND BIRTHDAY:

Paige is finally a teenager! WHAT THE?!!  According to her sisters, she's sooooo lucky!  She gets to watch PG13 movies, stay up late, wear dangley earrings, and the list goes on.  It must be something like Cinderella Syndrome, the clock struck 12 and *poof* she can do all these things.  Well, maybe and maybe not, but it does seem like my precious, curly blond first born baby girl magically grew up into a beautiful young lady over night.  She is not quite a teenager yet, although sleeping in on the weekends is becoming more of the norm than the rare occasion, and talking on the phone to girl friends behind closed doors is also becoming more frequent.  She is still our sweet, loving, stuffed animal collecting, memorabilia hording, gum chewing, laughing from the gut, best hug giver precious, not so curly anymore, blond,  first born baby girl and I love everything she is becoming.  I love how she has embraced young womens' with full force and I can't seem to keep up with her projects.  She loves school and most of her teachers, and most of all, I love her new vocabulary.  Somehow, over night she developed these new words: "How can I help?"  I hear it frequently throughout the day from her! I LOVE MY NEW TEENAGER!!!!  I also love how right now she is in the toy room playing "What Not To Wear" with her barbies and her sisters...growing up comes in stages I guess.

We celebrated both birthdays together with Grandma and Grandpa Gray, Wendy and Co. and a neighbor family.  Peach crisp, chocolate cake, Iceberg milkshakes, night swimming, and way too many presents were the ticket this year.