"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." (Elizabeth Stone)

Saturday, January 24, 2009

My Little Girl is Growing Up



Kaia turned 6 years old yesterday. How fast time flies. It seems like it was just yesterday when I was preparing for my first baby. I was beyond enormous and extraordinarily excited to welcome this little baby girl into my arms. She was SO beautiful and was such a great baby.


Kaia - 1 week old

It's amazing how, when you look back, their personality seems so obvious. Even as a little baby, Kaia has liked things to follow the rules. Schedules were her thing. She needed a strict ritual at bedtime and if she missed a nap or stayed up past bedtime, you'd hear about it. As a New Born, she nursed every 4 hours, on the hour for 45 minutes. No exceptions.


at 8 months


about 12 months

When she was a little bit older, she was learning her alphabet about the same time that she could walk. She was so content to sit and watch people and take everything in that she didn't even try walking until about 16 months. She DID get it down right before she went into nursery (18 months). She was already asking me what letters were at this point and knew her entire alphabet by 22 months. She has always been bright and has amazed people by how well she speaks.



about 2 years old


about 2 1/2 years (obviously)

She is my perfectionist (something that apparently skips a generation) and is constantly reminding me of what comes next or of what needs to be done. She is a CLASSIC oldest child, and that is something that I need to keep me in line.

coming up on 3 years - a favorite shot


coming up on 3 years

My FAVORITE thing about Kaia is that she is SO compassionate. She cares SO much about those that she loves. If there is ever anyone who is sick or hurt or sad in any way. She always makes them a picture or a craft of some sort to cheer them up. She usually cries if they are crying and she is there with a bucket or a back scratch or a lullaby for anyone who might want it.


3 1/2 years

almost 4 years

She is SO emotional and really feels strongly about all things. (This is also a challenge since there are some stubborn genes mixed in there....) Just this past summer, for example, my Grampa (who is 85) was on a walk and had a fall scratching his face quite horribly. Kaia cried when he got home and ran upstairs. No one was noticing her being gone since there was quite a fuss over Grampa, but she came down soon with a flower that she had cut out and colored and glued onto a popsicle stick. She thought that flowers make everyone happy and since she couldn't buy one Gramps most certainly would love this one the most.

at 4 1/2 years

I have previously posted about Kienna and how she is always the one who seems to be sick. Well, Kaia is always the one who is rubbing her back and playing "nurse" or "slave" to her while she is feeling poorly. Kaia is constantly asking if she'd like juice or water or a rest or a pillow or whatever else. She sure is a wonderful oldest sister.


5 1/2 years

With baby Jaymeson in our lives, she is always the first to tell me when he is crying or when he might need something. She is just a little mother. She tells me in a way that sounds like he's about to die because she's just so concerned. She loves to give him kisses and I constantly walk into the room to find her snuggling with him and singing him a lullaby. It sure touches my heart.

I love my little Kaia and I thank heaven every day that I have such a sweet blessing in my life.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

12 comments:

Sheers said...

What a sweet little girl. I loved reading your perspective on her personality. I love that first picture of her - darling!

Melanie said...

You brought me to tears, and I have never met your darling children. I am so glad that you love being a mom, and that she knows how to put you in her place. I love this post!

Alysha Sladek said...

happy birthday kaia! she is such a sweet girl!

Hayley said...

She's so wonderful! She's growing up too fast! What a great post Ash. I'm still wiping away tears.

stone's eye view said...

She is a beautiful girl, inside and out!

Laura Leavitt said...

She is so sweet. I LOVE the picture of her at the piano.

Becky said...

So beautiful! Can you believe how big the girls are!?!?!? I love the picture in the swing in Springville! Oh, the memories!

Hilary said...

Happy birthday, sweetie! It seems like just yesterday you were teething on my thumb when we came over for dinner. :)

Ashley, I love the photos, especially the first one! How do you take such great photos!?!?

Alanna said...

Ashley, that was a great post. It was so fun to watch her grow up all over again...just remember someday you'll look back on when she was still a baby in kindergarten. I love the first pic and the piano pic (how come I've never seen that one?)

Anonymous said...

What a dear little girl! She takes after her dear grandmas!

Brittany said...

Ashley... this was an amazing post! I am crying right now and I am in a public place! That doesn't matter though, I miss you and your girls so much! This is a beautiful post for your beautiful girl!

ZogLady said...

Happy Birthday Kaia! She is a wonderful, amazing little girl who has captured my hearts interest! <3