His personality was captured so well. When we got there, he was shy...clinging to his mama with a tight grip. The above photo shows his apprehension so well. LOL.
The more photos she took, the more he relaxed and we even got some smiles after awhile. :) 
He loves his mama, and I'm a-ok with that. I'm just loving this stage. He's becoming more independent, but still needs me. He began walking at thirteen months. We worked and worked with him, thinking he would follow suit with his older three siblings who all walked at age one. I think he had good reason to wait till he felt more confident. I mean with everyone flying by him, going to and fro...it was a little scary for him. :) When he decided to go, he went and now he's running it seems. Now he's really feeling comfortable!
This little booger has always eaten LIKE A BIRD...from the moment he was born! It take lots of extra effort and encouragement from mama at mealtime it seems. Funny thing is, he won't refuse ice cream, cake, candy & cookies. :) He is growing though which is good.Grandma's favorite pose. :)
Deacon has been our earliest talker and it still amazes me how much he can say and what he trys to repeat. He favorite words lately have been: juice, tractor, book, please, thank you, candy, more, ball, mom, daddy, night night, bye bye, no, all done, Kaiya, shoes, outside, go, ears, nose, duck, hi and so on. :)
His fear of strangers has all of a sudden gone away which I'm grateful for. He walks himself into the nursery like a big boy now. 
He's tall and skinny. His pants don't stay up. It's not unusual at all to see him come around with his pants missing all of a sudden. 
He LOVES going outside. It's been such an amazing Spring and so nice to be able to go outside a lot lately. He cries and throws a fit when it's time to go in. He brings me his shoes and cries "shoes shoes shoes". He loves to go bye bye and cries and reaches his little arms up to daddy when daddy goes to work. 
He plays so well with his sister, Luca. She likes to be in control, but he's starting to voice his opinion too. :)
He loves to read books and will bring them to me and back his little bottom up to sit on my lap. His favorites right now are the truck book and Easter lift the flap book. 
He's wearing size 12 month pants and 12-18 month shirts. And tiny butt is still in size 3 diapers.
My sweetness, what a year it has been! It has not been an easy year. The miracle of you has been what has really gotten me through each day. I look at you everyday and still can't believe you are here...a wonderful surprise straight from God. I'm so grateful for your sweet little personality. I love how you lay your head on my shoulder when you wake up in the mornings. I love your sweet and juicy lover boy kisses! You melt my heart sweet baby boy. I love how you giggle from your gut when I chase you around the house on my knees. I love how easily you go to sleep in your crib and sleep all through the night. 
I love your big baby blue eyes, your soft blonde hair and your baby soft skin. I love how you smell. I love how it seems you have no fears right now. You let the dogs that are three times your size lick your face. You just push them away. I love how you love your daddy so much. I love how you say "hi" in a low gravelly voice when I go into your room to get you out of your crib. 
I love you sweet baby. You are a treasure.
She's not a baby anymore. I always say that our kids are babies until they turn two. She is our strong-willed little girl. We thought we experienced that a bit with Caedmon, but we really had no idea what strong-willed meant until this little girl came along. :) Can you see the little bit of attitude in her face in the picture above?
Deacon (8 months) with Aunt Krista
cousins
Grandma Ruby
I love her sweet rosy cheeks and smile in this picture.
Not sure what this was all about or what I was thinking? I'm guessing that Luca and Deacon were being loved on by family and I was 
With cousin Emmi...cousin Lexi looking on from behind. :)
I really enjoy making cakes for my kid's birthdays. It's fun finding cakes to match their personalities...letting them be involved in the planning and choosing. There's a lot of love that goes in their cakes...but there is a bit of stress involved too, you know...you want it to turn out perfectly and you certainly don't want to 
Since a very young age, Luca has had a fear of people...even family members...even grandpas. It's been a joy to watch her slowly overcome her fear and enjoy those that love her so much. 
A gift from us...a classic Doctor kit. We have great 
She loves books...maybe she'll be a librarian. :)
A tea set from Grandma
Looks like the birthday girl has had all the birthday fun she can handle for one day. Thank goodness for grandmas!
And so has this little guy. 
I should explain my mom's face...bless her heart. She took a tumble earlier in the week and landed flat on her face. Thankfully she has healed nicely. 
Kaiya learned to ride her bike without training wheels late this summer. 
This photo is quite funny to me. Luca decided to walk right in her path and Kaiya was inches from running her over. Daddy and Caedmon are frantically watching from behind. Luca is oblivious. Thankfully Kaiya just missed her sister and all was well. :) 
Thankful to see all smiles instead of tears in this photo. :)
I loved how big brother took interest on his own in trying to help his sister that day. 
Kaiya turned five recently. We went out and celebrated as a family on the big day. She chose to see a movie and eat at a burger and fries restaurant. 
We continued celebrating the next day with a small party. Kaiya ordered a pink cake.
Can't believe this girly is five...although at times it seems like she is a mini-teenager. Her interests now are make-up, drawing and making crafts, baking cookies and helping in the kitchen, writing letters and numbers and riding her bike. She doesn't play with her dolls or any toys for that matter.
She loves her grandparents.
A gift from Grandma B.
She loves her daddy.
We discovered recently that she had a loose tooth. She's been waiting for this day for a long time. In fact the very next day after we realized the tooth was loose, she wanted it pulled....so out it came. Within a week or so the one next to it came out too.
I love how eager and willing that Kaiya is to help out when I ask her...with the exception of folding socks. :) 
I love how she makes friends wherever she goes. She takes me out of my own comfort zone many times because of her boldness and love of people. I love that!
I love her giggle, her smile...the brightness and sunshine that she adds to our family. 
I love her love of learning. She started reading at the end of summer. She's been spelling words, doing math and writes numbers and letters almost every day.
Happy 5th Birthday, Sweet Kaiya!