Finley's First Birthday Party

it's hard to believe that finley's first birthday party has already come and gone. we planned for so many months to create the perfect day for our little girl. and perfect it was. when i started thinking about a theme, finley's sweet shop was the perfect idea because as those of you who know finley know, she is the sweetest little baby ever! how better to celebrate than with lots of pink and sweets!

the house was decorated with flowers, pompoms, balloons and a candy buffet to die for! i made huge pieces of candy and lollipops to decorate with. finley was in heaven! she had so much fun watching everybody and so enjoyed her cake. she's quite the princess using just one finger to take dainty little bites.






there were lots of friends and family there to celebrate. so many people love this little girl and it was nice to have them here for a day all about finley. i know she won't remember this day, but i will. the look on her face and watching my sweet baby girl turn one was worth all the planning. i have so many pictures and video to show her one day. it was the perfect way to spend her day!

Happy First Birthday Finley!

my sweet baby finley,

it was one year ago today when you breathed your first breath in this world. one year since the doctor held you up for us to see and daddy cried out, "it’s another beautiful baby girl!" we just could not believe it. one year since he and i gazed into each other's eyes, beaming, crying. how proud we were that you were born, that you were our daughter. and how proud we are today.

today you are one year old. it's impossible for me to think of your first year and not have my eyes well up with tears. i love you, finley, and i am crying sweet, happy tears as i celebrate the bittersweet fact that you are already growing up. that you are really one year old. i love you so much, finney foo. i eagerly anticipated your first smile, can’t wait for the day when you learn to say your big sisters' names, beamed with pride as you took your first step, and daydream about the days of putting ponytails in your hair.

but to be perfectly honest, if i could bottle you up right now, i would in a beat of my heart. that way i would be able to savor the sweet smell of your head forever. feel your warm baby breath on my cheek as i rock you. brush my fingertips across your soft silky hair. feel a closeness to you like nothing else as i nurse you. gaze forever into your eyes as you search for mine. embrace your tiny, little body. listen forever to your baby gurgles and sighs. rock you as we gaze into the moonlight together, when the rest of our family sleeps, and it is just you and i. sing quiet lullabies to you as your eyelids flutter and close. how had i ever thought life was complete without you?


in the past year, we’ve gone through a lot of changes together. we struggled through those first days of breastfeeding and late nights of both of us crying together in the dark. we bonded in the quiet hours of dawn when just the two of us were awake, even the birds not up and singing. i counted your toes and stroked your head while you slept in my arms, your head pressed against my heart. and we learned together about bottles (you hated them) and diapers (we liked pampers) and the things that you loved (heidi, music, and being held).
i listened to the silence of your sleep and raced to your side more than once- just to check. i have found joy in every single day being your mommy. i watched in amazement as you changed, sometimes from hour to hour, it seemed. we played and we laughed and we snuggled.

and you grew.

from the very beginning, you were an alert baby. eyes wide open and ready to take in the world. curious and nosy by nature, that desire to know and see everything has only grown with you. each day brought a new facial expression, a new vocalization, and pure, sweet joy found in your face. you were smiling around 5 weeks and at 2 months you giggled out loud. during that same time period you rolled over for the first time. at 7 months you were pulling up to stand . at 8 months you crawled and you haven’t stopped moving yet. and just this last week at 11 months, you took your first steps while your daddy, your sisters and i cheered you on.
as i write this letter i want so desperately to tell you every moment of this last year, to help you realize how much i’ve loved each milestone, every giggle, silly look and mischievous grin. i would not trade any minute we’ve spent together. i thank God every day that he sent you to us and i hope someday you can read this letter and know that no parents were ever so blessed and no baby was ever so loved as you and your sisters.

i love you so much, finley, and i am very sad that you won't be my tiny baby forever.
of course, you'll always be my baby in the way that preslee and mason are still my babies. in the way that i am still my mother's baby and in the way that she is still the baby of her parents. grow up you must, grow up you will, and i will find joy and happiness in that journey. but i will always cherish these fleeting baby moments with you. i will enter your childhood with no regrets about your short baby days. i will leave no kiss unkissed and no cuddle uncuddled, no matter what the hour of day or night. i know too well now, my dear sweet third baby, how precious and momentary sweet infancy is.
since i cannot keep you tiny forever, i will make the sweetest, deepest memories that i can, now while you are little. and when you are all grown up, i will fondly remember your first year, with warm, sweet, happy tears in my eyes once again.

i love you, finley. Happy 1st Birthday. i can’t wait for our next year of adventure.

love,
mommy

Preslee's Words of Wisdom

it is amazing to me the things that come out of toddlers mouths. you think that you are just throwing so many things at them everyday and often wonder what exactly they are really comprehending. then all of a sudden, the light comes on and they just start talking and talking and talking........

at school on thursday, preslee was outside with her teacher on the playground. they have an aide who goes out with the kids and the teacher to help and she is older. she was helping preslee off the swing and preslee reached up and touched her cheek. she then said to her, "you have a lot of cracks in your face, just like my grandma."

cracks, honestly? where does she get this? what a funny little girl!

Our January Babies

we are in full birthday party planning mode at our house. finley will turn one on january 14th and preslee and mason will be three on the 30th. so, two weekends in a row, we are having parties. it will be busy, but i love it! party planning is one of my favorite things and having three little girls makes it so much more fun. here are some sneak peaks....

ICE at the Gaylord National

last week we got even more snow and the girls and drew finally got to make the snowman they have been waiting for. the last snow we had, it was so powdery and the girls were so sad. but this one was perfect!






on saturday we drove down to washington, dc to gaylord national hotel for the ICE exhibit they have. it was amazing to say the least. it was an entire winter wonderland made completely out of ice. they had slides for the kids, penguins, music, everything. they keep it a COLD 9 degrees so we had to bundle up in floor length parkas. the hotel was beautiful and had a really pretty light show and "indoor snow storm". it was a quick getaway and a fun way for us to start out 2010!

Christmas 2009

i can't believe that christmas has already come and gone and we have already dove head first into 2010! where has the time gone?

christmas was really special this year because it was the first time that we hosted it in our new house. it was so much fun and in typical beynon style had way too much food. drew and i decided to do something a little different than the traditional christmas meal. we drew from my southern roots and had bbq brisket and collard greens! it was delish! made me miss home even more.

but, the girls had a wonderful christmas and santa was very good to all of us. it was so amazing to wake up and see their faces when they came downstairs. here are some pictures of the madness.

December Catch-up

i know, i know, i am way behind in posting. i have gotten so many emails asking where are all our christmas pictures. well, sad to say, they are on facebook. it's so quick and easy to upload there, but i will try to catch up more often here.

december was so busy for us. i just uploaded all my pictures and realized that i took over 1000 pics last month, CRAZY! drew got me a small point and shoot camera for christmas that i can just throw in my diaper bag, so look out!

we started with snow, then more snow so we spent a lot of time outside playing. the girls love it and don't even mind the 1/2 hr it takes me to completely get all three of them dressed in snowsuits and boots. we gave them their sled early for christmas and enjoyed playing with that too. they had their school christmas party, we had our party at hillendale, decorated cookies, and saw santa. here are some pictures from the first part of the month.