Here is some footage from Dane & Annika’s Birthdays.  

And an older one: 

Our baby girl is ONE today!  First off, I still can’t believe we have a GIRL!  We are so blessed indeed.  It has been a joy to have a baby in the house again & I think I have enjoyed the baby stages so much more this time around.  I feel like I actually treasure every moment! 

STATS:

10/13/09:  23lb 5oz  291/2”  Walking Well, Healthy & Not Very Cooperative when it comes to getting checked out & blood drawn from the Dr.  But with 4 of us holding her down…. we got the job done!

Annika, you have been so much fun to watch grow up this past year.  Babies change so much in the first couple years – it really is amazing!  Now your personality is really starting to shine through.  I can’t wait to watch you learn to talk this year.  I can tell you already have so much to say to us!  Currently you say "dada, bah (bath), boh (bottle), bye (in your southern accent you learn in NC), ya” and shake your head no when we tell you “no” in the cutest way – which makes it impossible for us to be upset with you. 

It feels like just yesterday:

-We all fell in love with you at first sight

-We brought you home from the hospital late on a cool fall night

-We were co-sleeping on the couch because that was the only way you would sleep. 

-I held you for hours because you loved to be held (& I loved it too!)

-I could leave you on the couch and you would stay put

- you learned to roll, then marine crawl, then crawl, then pull-up & even walk!  You have already been walking 2 months now!

- We were breastfeeding

-You learned to play with toys

- We dressed you up for Halloween, & your Baptism, & Christmas & Easter

-You tried baby food for the first time

-You learned to sleep through the night

-We toted you around in your purple infant carseat

-You were passed from person to person at church

-We introduced you to all our family members who live far away

-We drug you on a month long road trip & it didn’t phase you much at all

-You said “da-da” – your first word

We love you little princess!

My baby boy turns 5 today! 

- His favorite color is still yellow, but orange is good too

- He has transitioned from “baby” to “middle”  amazingly well

- He is a caring awesome big brother

- He is a rule enforcer

- He is funny

- He adores his best friend, Carter

- He is neater (more organized) than his brothers

- He is doing great in pre-school

- He is tough

- He is shorter than his brothers were at this age

- He gives great hugs

- He gets attached to certain stuffed animals

- He likes playing video games

- Daddy calls him “pork chop”

- Mommy calls him “pumpkin”

- He’s just starting to wear size 5 clothes – some 4T’s still fit

- He’ll talk to almost anyone, but he sticks to a couple close friends

- He’s momma’s boy

We love you kiddo!  Happy Birthday!