Happy 27th birthday Daddy!

Yesterday, my baby daddy turned 27. I love rubbing it in that he is a lot closer to 30 then I am. I think for the most part it just puts more gray hairs on his head..hahaha. It was an awesome day..we did some Christmas shopping, ate a nice dinner at Provinos, and ate a huge cupcake that I made just for him!

Al and his babies!!! Getting ready to go birthday and Christmas shopping!

Proof I was going too and not just taking pictures the whole time. My bambinos and I.
The GIANT cupcake I made Al for his bday. It tasted a lot better then it looked. I think Martha Stewart and Paula Dean got me beat on cakes..DARN IT! Haha.

Carter wanting to help blow out the candles. He even sang happy birthday to his daddy!

Make a wish!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY! I LOVE YOU!

Happy Thanksgiving

This year we decided to do Thanksgiving at our house. It was my first time ever baking my own turkey and cooking some yummy traditional sides. Paw-paw came over and ate with us and then we went downtown to see the Lawrenceville tree lighting. My little Turkeys also had a blast. We have so much to be thankful for but most important we have each other! Happy Thanksgiving to all our family we could not share this day with!

Paw-paw cutting my what was a beautiful baked bird..haha. I still have difficulty cutting it just right.

The beautiful table full of yummy food. It sure is exhausting when you are the only one cooking. Oh wait, Al opened the can of cranberries.

See, Martha Stewart and Paula Dean "ain't got nuttin" on me..hahaha.

Paw-paw and Layla!

Carter decided to show paw-paw his dinosaur collection instead of wanting to eat his plate of food...typical.

Gobble Gobble

Happy Thanksgiving from my little Turkeys!! We hope everyone has a very blessed day and eats lots of good food!!!

Carter displaying his adorable Thanksgiving sheet that he made for Mama and Daddy! It has his little hand print and a little poem next to it. What a sweet little keepsake!

Layla and her little turkey hand prints! So precious!

Saying hello to everyone on camera.

This is one little girl that is already for Turkey day!

It is clear that someone is thankful for juice..haha!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

So true...

My mom use to have these framed poems that went in each of our rooms that talk about the special order of your children so I decided to do the same for my children in each of their rooms.

For Carter:

Dear First born:
I've always loved you best because you were our first miracle. You were the genesis of a marriage and the fulfillment of young love. You sustained us through the hamburger years, the first apartment, our first mode of transportation (1955 Feet), and the seven-inch TV we paid on for 36 months. You were new, had unused grandparents, and enough clothes for a set of triplets. You were the original model for a mom and dad who were trying to work the bugs out. You got the strained lamb, the open safety pins and three-hour naps. You were the beginning!

For Layla:

Dear Middle Child:
I've always loved you the best because you drew a tough spot in the family and it made you stronger for it. You cried less, had more patience, wore faded hand-me-downs, and never in your life did anything first. But it only made you more special. You were the one we relaxed with, who helped us realize a dog could kiss you and you wouldn't get sick. You could cross a street by yourself long before you were old enough to get married. And you helped us understand the world wouldn't collapse if you went to bed with dirty feet. You were the child of our busy, ambitious years. Without you, we never could have survived the job changes and the tedium and routineness that is marriage.

And..........................................last but not least......................................................................

NO I am not pregnant (thank god) but at some point would love to have a third child to share this with as our baby.

For not yet conceived child (that will be a loooooooong time):

For my baby:
I've always loved you best because while endings are generally sad, you are such a joy!! You readily accepted the mild-stained bibs, the lower bunk, the cracked baseball bat, the baby book that had nothing written in it except a recipe for graham-cracker pie crust that someone had jammed between the pages. You are the one we held on to so tightly. You darken our hair, quicken our steps, squared our shoulders, restored our vision, and give us a sense of humor that security, maturity, and durability can't provide. When your hairline takes on the shape of Lake Erie and your own children tower over you, you will still be our baby!!!

2010 Cousin Holiday Video

Since last year's holiday video we have had a new edition: Layla Nicole..so we had to update the Hardin cousin holiday video! I found this one and thought it was too cute and hilarious. Too bad there wasn't a head slot for papa Craig this year haha.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Pierced Ears

Today Al and I took little miss Layla to get her ears pierced. We figured better now then when she is older and can mess with them. I was fifteen months when I got mine done and still have the same holes as I did when I was that age. All little girls want their ears pierced at some point!

Just a few tears right after we got it done. She took it like a grown women..haha. Classic 14 carat silver studs..always a classic.

Pretty girl showing off her new studs!

We cheered up real quick once we got home and had our bottle and nap. Now she is ready to go and show off her new ears!

1/2 Birthday

Today my sweet little angel turned six months old! Where has all the time gone? It seems like just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. At six months, Layla is taking a serious interest in table food, loves to be held (ALL THE TIME!!!!), is quite the little chatter box, wants to be like her big brother, loves her daddy, and loves to be read too. Like her brother, she is an awesome baby! Where did we get two awesome kids and get so lucky both times? Layla has quite the personality for such a little person. She is very sweet, super cuddly, and loves to laugh. Don't get it twisted though, she can be quite the pistol as well. Here are a few pictures of her 1/2 birthday.

Happy baby on her 1/2 birthday!

Such a little princess in her gown and hat!

We celebrated today with a stage two favorite of her brothers when he was a baby. The famous "Apple Delight".

Loving her candle!

Loving on my little 1/2 birthday girl.

Daddy and his little princess. She loves her daddy that is for sure.

So far Layla, it has been a great six months. We can't imagine our lives without you and we are so blessed to have such an adorable, sweet, healthy, and precious little princess. We love you so very much! XOXO