Bailee Reese

Here's our baby girl. Hard to believe that in just a few short months she'll be turning six.

First Day of Kindergarten

Bailee had her first day of kindergarten on Wednesday. She LOVED it. Mommy & Daddy had a slightly less enthusiastic opinion of that day but we survived (when I say we I mean I). I held it together in front of her but the moment I pulled out of the parking lot I let loose. We are so very proud of her and know she is going to have a GREAT year!

Happy Birthday Bailee!

Our BIG 5 year old Bailee!

Opening her presents

Even baby Bella got dressed up....sooo cute, she even did the hula!

Make a wish

Bailee, Carragan and Kaylea

It happened. Despite all our best efforts...Bailee turned 5 last Thursday. It was a week of celebrating for her and a week of grieving for Steve and I. Why does 5 seem so big? It has been more difficult than we anticipated watching our youngest reach this milestone. I'm not sure if it's just because she's the youngest or because she's at the sweet, girly finale of years of testosterone or because she's simply, Bailee our sweet loving baby girl. I imagine it's a combination of the three. In a few weeks I will be registering her for kindergarten!

If you've spent anytime around us you know how besotted we are with our little Bailee. She is so loving and sweet it is almost impossible to discipline her when she misbehaves. Her big brothers cater to her every whim and her Daddy is completely and admittedly wrapped around her tiny, little, pinkie finger. It has been a huge blessing to parent her as with all my children but when Bailee joined our crew she altered us all so completely with her distinct femininity it took us all by surprise. It's impossible to imagine what this family would have been like without her influence. She's tickled us pink and we are all better because of her...God is so good.

Tea Party

On Saturday, Bailee hosted a Valentine's Tea Party for all her best girlfriends. It was a chance for Bailee to do what she does best, which of course is to dress-up and be as girly as possible. As the youngest of four with most of the people in the house being of the male persuasion she rarely gets the opportunity to cover everything in pink without catching flack from her three big brothers. All the princesses had a wonderful time dining on heart shaped tea sandwiches, strawberries, wildberry italian soda and chocolate cupcakes with pink icing. Mmmmm.

Bailee's So Grown Up

My sweet little baby girl turned 4 years old last week. I can hardly believe it. There are a million cliche's I could use to describe this predicament I'm in but I don't want to sound insincere. I am utterly floored at how fast the last four years have gone by. My children are my proudest possessions and suddenly I am realizing that as they grow and become these incredible individuals that they are not really my possessions at all but a temporary gift. This new understanding couldn't have come at a better time. You see I have recently let the little things that occur as your children grow really get to me. I have been living in a state of overwhelm for a few months now and through this have even asked God what He was thinking when he decided that Aly would have 4 children. His timing is perfect. I think someone must have been praying for me. My patience is refreshed and my heart is full. I look at them with their sweet little dirty faces and grumpy, sticky-out lips and I have to catch my breath....aren't they just the most wonderful little creatures? Instead of "why me" I am praising my Lord and saying "Why Me, what did I do to deserve this tremendous honor?" It is now my intention to breathe them in every moment I get because before I know it another four years will pass, and in four years my oldest, Weslee, will be almost 13 years old!

Breathe Aly......just breathe.