glitter acorns

We walk to school everyday for dismissal. And on the way the girls hand me tons of acorns. Before I knew it we had a whole jar full!

For some reason I kept thinking how pretty they would be with glitter.

First we dipped them in different color paints

 dipped in a bowl of gold glitter.

Put the acorns in a clear jar, wrap a ribbon around and now we have a free beautiful fall decoration.

flower pictures

Summer is coming to a close. 

I never really photograph still life things but over the summer I just felt the need to shoot some flowers. 

so here are some prettiness to fill up your Monday.

most of these were shot at a gardening greenhouse. I am going to make it a habit to visit there and take more pictures. it was quiet and lots of beautiful things to photograph.  Exactly what I needed that day. I am not ready for the cold days. hoping fall last a while and winter just kind of gets skipped over.

I can hope.

or just look back at these and dream.

Hazel is ten months!

double digits in months now!

10.

so close to that first birthday 

but still so much to accomplish before she gets there.

all on her own time.

 this is the biggest change since last month

pulling herself up and standing

 she's a big girl now and she will even raise her arms up really high when you say "SO BIG!"

she still loves peek a boo but now she uses her hands to cover up her eyes.

she knows how to wave but would rather just bang on her belly to say hi or pick me up.

more times than not she is sleeping through the night now!!!!! THANK YOU GOD!

She is talking a lot but we just are not totally sure what the words are yet.

she eats everything off the floor and is into biting, never when she nurses just you know my neck, my arms, and my legs. the older ones never went through this stage but Hazel is determined to be different. 

she is a huge mama's girl. I am loving it but again unlike her sisters, who love me but would prefer Daddy anytime. Hazel likes hugs from Daddy but then reaches for me. I had a photo session and while I was gone Brian said she crawled to the steps and cried while looking up the steps. he said she thought I was upstairs and she wanted me to come down. that breaks my heart but makes me feel special all at the same time.

ten months is a good phase to be at. she's a delightfully happy and content baby who just loves her mama. let's just freeze time right here. because I know at some point in the future you WILL be like your older sisters and tell me how mean I am or that you even hate me from time to time. so freezing time sounds good to me.

happy 10 months

the end of an era!

I am going to go down memory lane.

And if you don't want to take the trip then......... click out of here

After all my blog is called: Chachi's memories!

5 years ago I gave birth for the first time. I held this little person and studied all her features. Sorting out what pieces came from me or her daddy. I was in awe of the whole process of growing this baby and birthing her. With a lot of help from God we made this creature and now we are to mold and shape her into the person she will become.

 She is the one that made me a stay at home mom. I couldn't bare the thought of someone else witnessing all the first and little mundane moments that add up to her childhood memories. I didn't want to miss a thing. So quit college, cut my work hours to just 2 days a week and then eventually was able to strictly work from home.

 And I got what I wanted. Every smile, tear, meal, bump, triumph, scare, joke, doctor appointment, library time, picnic, play date, sickness, field trip, holiday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday I got to be apart of it all.

 I have watched her grow and her personality shine. She truly is my side kick and best friend. She makes bad days better. I couldn't have asked for anything more. And I knew this day was coming so we spent all of this passed year preparing. But mainly preparing mommy.

 You see it's 8 minutes passed bedtime but I can't seem to bring myself to actually put her to bed. Because that means she will wake up and have entered into a new phase of life. One that I can't be apart of. The days of answering the question with "she stays home with me." Are over.  She's officially going to be a school girl. Just like that. 

I knew this was going to be hard but this hard?

 I don't want to do it. 

She's ready, she's excited 

and I am acting my butt off like I am just as excited.

I made my husband take off work to be my support. I am seriously going to cry buckets once that kindergarten door shuts and she is not paying attention to me.

 Being a parent is hard.

 It's a lot of money, sleepless nights, stress, mental and physically draining but the hardest part that no one really warns you is time speeds up 10x faster after you have child. My 6 pound 2 weeks early newborn grew in a blink of an eye and is heading off to her first day of school. 

But I am going to fight it just for tonight.

 It's me that's begging for more time in the bathtub, one more glass of water, one more bed time story, one more hug and kiss and one more "I love you"

she's going to do great and I will learn to cope with this new phase in life. I am forever grateful for the last 5 years and all the memories.

 it's the end of an era for her

 but the beginning of a great adventure. 

School. friends. learning. teachers. growing in her interest and discovering new interest.

 I am excited for her but if someone was to make a time machine I would gladly take a ride on it :)

A 5th letter to Belle

Dear Belle,

5 is going to be an extremely hard year for me.

your not a baby, your not a toddler 

your a full blown kid.

getting ready for school and being more independent.

From the very start you have been my side kick, my best friend, mini me and just the daughter I always dreamed of having.

You are so sweet and loving

kind and caring

you put everyone before yourself and you are quick to be the second mommy that your sisters need 

you are so creative and artistic

that mind of yours is always wanting to explore and try new ways of creating.

you fascinate me.

 Your laugh is so high pitch and contagious.

you are so funny and positive.

but you are still very shy. and only a select few get to see all that is special about you. I love and hate that.

I understand you not wanting to trust everyone and wanting to get a read on the people around you but I pray that you don't let that guard of yours hold you back from doing some amazing things! 

 Your Daddy calls you his princess. it's because your so delicate and fragile, proper and sweet.

you love to dress yourself and most of the time it's skirts and a sparkly top that almost never matches. and that blonde hair has seemed to calm down a little but still hasn't grown much at all.

 you do have a sneaky side though. and you try to convince anyone else to do your dirty work. like tell Stella to sneak in the kitchen for a handful of cereal. or if  you get something extra you quickly run to your sisters to kind of rub it in their face but somehow it's not in a mean way.  you are a very picky eater and you stay up way too late.

your 4th year was the best year and I wouldn't change a thing. 

I am so proud of everything we learned together and how much you have grown

like I said earlier I am grateful to see 5 but also so very sad. your my girl and your growing up way faster than I wanted.

 Happy 5th birthday 

Belle Elizabeth Taylor

love, mom

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

for her party

she asked for a princess theme.

all her aunts, cousins and babysitters came dressed as Princess

 Elsa

 Belle

 sleeping beauty

 Tinker Bell

 Rapunzel

 Pocahontas

 We had a pinata of Flynn rider's face and we hit it with a frying pan

 We grilled out and had a bouncy house and blow up obstacle course

 The girls all got princess wigs and the boys got foam swords

 Aunt Ashely made your princess castle cake

 and we played kiss the frog prince (kind of like pin the tail)

It was a success and everyone seemed to have fun! 

I hate throwing parties because they stress me out 

and I don't think I am any good at it.

but I am really happy with how the princess party came together

and SO many people helped 

thank you thank you 

this picture is bad

but it also is me not knowing what I am doing while cutting the cake

so I kind of liked it 

lol

 

again HAPPY BIRTHDAY Belle!!!!!