Happy Birthday to Merlyn!

A little more than four years ago, I was just about ready to burst. I'd been working on our house during my entire pregancy with Merlyn, but I still gained 48 pounds. The week before she was born I was on a ladder installing all the lights and ceiling fans. The house wasn't quite ready for her arrival (we had no heat or kitchen!) but she came anyway in the early morning hours of October 4th, 2003.

Merlyn weighed in at a whopping 9lbs, 6oz after a drug-free labor. I still remember how my midwife turned off all the lights and she and Bryan and I just sat quietly for an hour with Merlyn, before she was even weighed or anything.

Myles and Carter were introduced to their baby sister for the first time, and I finally had another female in the family. When she came home from the hospital we realized that our kids outnumbered us!

Here's just a couple cute pictures I found while going through the boxes. It makes me wish I'd gotten a digital camera years ago. The one of Merlyn and Piper looking out the window has always been a favorite of mine -- just a girl and her dog.

Merlyn is four now, and she is "so esited". She requested a black cake and black ice cream (meaning chocolate) and she also wants another frog cake this year. I told her she could pick out whatever she wants to wear on her birthday, so I can't wait to see what she comes up with...

Towel Turbans

Merlyn and Berkleigh wanted towel hats like Aunt Kelley, so I got them each one. Last week after a bath the girls wore them for the first time. They were so cute that I had to get the camera. Then I took lots of pictures because Merlyn started hamming it up for the camera (she keeps making those funny faces lately). You can see in the pictures how much Berkleigh looks at Merlyn so she can copy her.

Notice how Berkleigh watches Merlyn, then tries to mimic her facial expression.

Now Berkleigh has realized that there is arm posing involved in this game. She still hasn't taken her eyes off Merlyn.

Another attempt at copying the funny face, and then finally Berkleigh looks away from Merlyn and at the camera.

They certainly enjoyed the photo shoot, and I love having a perfect example of how Berkleigh looks to her older siblings to decide what to do. Of course, these will also be the perfect pictures to show future boyfriends in about fifteen years!

Exercising

One day last week Merlyn and Berkleigh were the only kids at home, so I decided to work out for the first time since I had pneumonia. Partway through the video I was interrupted by a phone call from a parent. While I was on the phone with her, Merlyn decided she would "eckasize". She put my headband around her forehead, my weighted gloves on her hands, and my resistance band around her waist like a belt. With her outfit (especially with her underwear showing) she looks like a little punk.

Merlyn insisted on taking the picture in the family room since that's where I exercise. Of course Berkleigh had to get in the picture and pose like Merlyn. I don't know why Merlyn is making those silly faces -- I hope I don't look like that while I'm exercising!

Our Newest Cousin

Yesterday my Aunt Charlene and cousin Amber came to visit with Amber's boyfriend Chuck and their baby Corinne. Corinne is just over four months old now, but this was the first time we've seen her except in pictures. She was a really good baby, and such a cutie.

Look at that smile!

It's hard to believe Amber's a mom
(and Aunt Charlene's a grandma).

I made Corinne a sweater (my first knitted article of clothing) and it actually fits. It's especially cute when Corinne is modeling it.

Here's the little pumpkin:

Babies are kid magnets in my house. It's a wonder Corinne had room to move with all the attention at times. Berkleigh needed one last hug to say goodbye, and Myles is waiting for his turn.

It's easy to get pictures of kids when one can't go anywhere and the others want to hold her!

Bryan made us a delicious organic chicken dinner, and Aunt Charlene baked yummy pumpkin cookies. It was a nice afternoon spent with family who we don't get to see often enough. We were glad that they made the drive up to visit us.