Vanishing Acts September 8, 2009

As most people know I love reading Jodi Picoult books.  I have just started reading a new one titled “Vanishing Acts.”  Jodi Picoult writes, “When your pregnant, you can think of nothing but having your own body to yourself again; yet after giving birth you realize that the biggest part of you is now somehow external, subject to all sorts of danger and disappearance, so you spend the rest of your life trying to figure out how to keep her close enough for comfort.  That’s the strange thing about being a mother: Until you have a baby, you don’t even realize how much you were missing one.”

This is exactly how I have felt since the minute you were born.  Although, I often stress and worry about you and keeping you protected I am secure in my faith of the Lord that you will be taken care of.  I will do what I can for you everyday for the rest of my life, but when all else fails He will never fail.

Dear Ashlyn (09/08/09) September 8, 2009

You have had quit the busy summer lil girl! Mommy and Daddy had alot of fun too! One thing that Mommy had looked forward too was the Egg Festival Kiddie Parade.  I did it when I was little and knew that you would enjoy it.  The theme was Dr. Suess Green Eggs and Ham so we made you and Mason Dr. Suess hats and you actually kept them on!

 

Next year daddy says we are going to “go all out.”  It was his first time ever attending the Egg Festival and he was quite impressed.

You got to go swimming a few times this summer at Aunty’s pool and although the first time you were a little hesitant (might have been the freezing cold water) you quickly became a big fan!  You really liked sitting on the top step and splashing in the water! I can’t wait til next year.  I am hoping that we will be able to take swim class together Fun Fun!

The weather this summer was not the best but we did get a couple of weeks of sunshine and hot weather.  Since Mommy doesn’t have a pool we had to be creative.  I would give you a couple of big mixing bowls full of cool water and measuring cups and wooden spoons to play with and I have to say I think you enjoyed that just as much as going to the big pool! You would fill up the measuring cups and throw the water in your face! It was quite funny to watch and Mason came up to visit and thought it was pretty fun too!

You also got jump in a big bounce house at a company party for lia sophia. You loved it and there was a couple of little girls that would help you in and out and make sure nobody was being to rough while you were in there.  Very sweet.

You are just getting so big!  This week you started saying Mommy and Daddy instead of Momma and Dada and it is just so cute! Although I wish I could freeze time and keep you little forever we are having alot of fun now that you are bigger.  I look forward to next summer when we can take you to storyland and santa’s village!  You are a special girl Ashlyn! xoxo  Mommy

Just the two of us…You and I. July 22, 2009

Hey sweet pea! (or should I say mini-mutt) haha    We had a great today together, just the two of us! We got up this morning and enjoyed some strawberries and cream oatmeal, one of your favorite things to have for breakfast! Then after a quick shower we were off!  We walked around town and made our way to the park in Pittsfield.  You got so excited as soon as you could see the playground.  They had lil swings that you had so much fun playing in.

A funky chair that was outside of the Library. You thought it was pretty cool!

After we played at the park for awhile, you were getting pretty tired so we headed to the library for some quiet time.  We sat on the floor and read books for a little bit until our tummies started to growl.  After lunch you took a nice long nap.  I think our lil adventure tuckered you out I hope you had as much fun as I did lil girl! You are the sparkle of my eye….actually my life…..the sparkle of my whole world! xoxo Love Mommy

ThE BeAcH July 16, 2009

The rain finally stopped and we made it to the beach! Grandma has been saying for soooooo long that she just couldn’t wait to take you to the beach!

So excited!

We got up early and drove down to Popham but still had to wait in traffic to get into the parking lot!  You just knew we were doing something fun! You were so excited just to get out of the car and you couldn’t even see the water yet! Grandma, Uncle Bubbie, Aunty Colleen, Aunty Ashley, and Mason were all there to share the day with us! As soon as we got down on the beach you wanted to take off to the water! I could not believe that you did not have even a little fear of the cold cold water! You wanted to just run right out into the waves!

Mason needed a little time to warm up to the beach but after he did, the two of you had so much fun together! You were both covered in sand! Head to toe and I think you ate more sand than pb&j sandwiches. 

Building Sandcastles!

Pretty Beach Baby!

I hope we can get lots of beach and pool days in! I can’t believe it is almost August already! Where has the time gone??

Happy 4th of July! July 8, 2009

We had our first summer outing on July 4th! We spent the day at Meme and Papa Bowies house and had lobster and corn on the cobb! You love to take the whole ear of corn and make a big mess!  You played with your cousin Lily and got to play outside a lil when it wasn’t raining! (It has been raining for weeks!)  In the evening we met up with your best buddy Mason and Auntie Ashley and watched the fireworks over the Lewiston-Auburn bridge! They didn’t start until around 9:30 pm and by that time you and Mason were just sooo sleepy you didn’t even care about the fireworks! You both just put your heads down and started to fall asleep! Maybe next year you will be more excited

I gave us matching pedicures It was your first!

Dear Ashlyn (07/06/09) WE ARE BACK ONLINE!! July 8, 2009

Where in the world do I start lil girl! I’ll just start by saying you are soooo not a baby anymore! Of course you will always be MY baby but it is just amazing how much you are changing and have changed! You went from walking to running to climbing in a blink of an eye! AND you even dance and sing! I love it when you “shake your booty” with Mommy! I am sooooo lucky to be able to stay at home with you!  Although, somedays feel so hectic it is worth every moment I get to spend loving you!  We read a ton of books and play pretend alot lately.  You like to pretend you are a baby and wrap yourself up in a blanket and look up at me with this pathetic lil face that I call your “baby” face!  You really think you are something else and love to make Mommy and Daddy laugh! You have started sleeping all through the night in your crib and although I sometimes miss having you to snuggle with in the middle of the night, I have to admit I am getting alot more sleep! I love that you are starting to talk more and more everyday! You say words like: Mama, Dada, doggy, grandma, grandpa, broom-broom, yum-yum, all done, bye-bye, baby….my favorite is when you get so excited about tractors and start pointing and say broom-broom! You just want to be on the go all the time!

So lets see…what have we been up to? Well, we had a very busy winter! One of the highlights being the Conner Family Snow Party! You went on many snowmobile rides and took a lil nap all snuggled up in your snow suit with Grandma by the fire.  So sweet with your rosey pink cheeks!

 

Now we can not forget about your FIRST birthday! We had a cupcake party for you and sooooo many people came to celebrate with you! You seemed a lil confused but excited to have so many people at our house.  Pepe built you a very nice toy box that you got right in! You recieved a full summer wardrobe and lots of toys and books.  Grandma and Grandpa Conner got you a pink Barbie 4-wheeler that you thought was super cool! You get on it now and broom-broom all over the living room! You are one wild girl!

Watch Out Everyone Ashlyn is on the move!

I am so excited for this summer and all of the adventure we will go on together! The beach is just calling our name lil girl! Love you to the moon and back! xoxo

Dear Ashlyn (12/22/08) January 7, 2009

You are a wild woman! On the go non-stop! You know how to open cupboards and drawers now…you keep us all running and on our toes!  One of your favorite things to do is to look down the vent at Grandma’s house to see Dada and Lucy! When Dada see’s you and says hi, you get so excited!

Peek-a-boo

Grandma is back to work and she misses you alot! She leaves lil notes for you when you wake up!

Mason is getting so big too! He is a walker now! I wish we could see him more often! The two of you are soooooo cute together!

 

 

Holy Spirit Weekend! November 24, 2008

Rob and I have been attending the Alpha course at the first baptist church in Pittsfield for the past 10 weeks and had an overnight retreat this past weekend.  It was an amazing time! (Leaving the baby for the first time over night broke my heart but I made it through!)  We both grew up believing in God and that there was definitely something bigger than us but what we had failed to do was really make that head and heart connection.  God seemed so far away until I came face to face with the Holy Spirit! Rob and I both have felt energized and just on fire with excitement! I just want to tell everyone about Jesus and what he did for us and will do for us.  If you just ASK you will RECIEVE! Easy as that…once He starts his work he never stops until the job is done!

Dear Ashlyn (11/19/08) November 20, 2008

OH little girl you are so full of personality lately!  You are sooooo cute with your two bottom teeth and you LOVE to brush your teeth. 

Brusha Brusha!

We bought you a forward facing car seat and you think it is pretty funny that you can see Mommy and Daddy in the car with you now! We are out and about often so I am happy to see you having fun in the car! We went shopping with Great Aunty Colleen and Grandma a couple of weekends ago and you enjoyed the shopping trip with the girls!

Dear Ashlyn (10/28/08) October 28, 2008

Well little girl you are 7 1/2 months old! I can not believe it! We have had some busy weeks and you are growing and learning so much every single day.  You clap your hands now and point at everything.  You love to read your “Baby Says Peekaboo” book.  Whenever I read it to you, you kick your feet and get sooooo excited.  The big thing that you are doing all the time now is pulling yourself up to standing on just about anything you can reach!

Here I Go!

 

Almost There!

 

Look At Me! I Did It!

 

You are a happy lil girl! We only have to look your way and you flash your big toothy grin!

Mommy's Lil Goober