Happy Birthday Eliana!

Just had to get this post in before I post about Christmas and New Years!  Behind on blogging, but making progress at my house.  I've been going through some rooms and decluttering and today I caught up a little bit on my scrapbooking.  (Trying to finish up my 2008 album.  And no, I'm not caught up until that year either.  LOL.  I have half finished years.  I'm thankful for the blog as it really helps with my journalling!)  

Earlier today Joshua asked me if I'd put anything new up on my blog.  I told him no.  He was surprised.  Nothing about Christmas?  Or visiting the Kenkels?  Or  New Year's Eve?  No.  I'm going to remedy that though.

Just a couple of weeks ago, our little princess had a birthday.  She is 5 years old!  I really can't believe she is 5!  I told a friend that for me one of the blessings of having a child with Down syndrome is that they seem to age a little slower.  Its a little more gentle on my mama's heart.  

 Our little girl is filled with spunk, laughter, joy and delight.  She makes us all giggle with her antics.  I love too how easily she breaks into squeals of laughter.  It always seems pretty close to the surface and doesn't take much for the laughter to break forth.  What a sweet quality!

 In this photo, I can see "age" in her.  Can you?  I can imagine how she will look some years down the road when I look at her face here.  I'm not sure why.

 For her birthday, we decided to have a "Phineas and Ferb" party.  Eliana *loves* Phineas and Ferb!  She watches some of this show every day!  Cracks me up when she starts singing the songs.  We found this cute idea for cupcakes on line.  This is Perry the platypus.

 We also found some cute printables of the characters from the show and hid them around the house.  She loved finding them.  I move them about at times and she still has fun when she finds a new one.

 What delight in her face!  Don't you just love it?!  When she opened the package, she exclaimed "Oh Phineas!".

 Another package was quickly handed to her and she questioned as she  opened it expectantly ... "Ferb?".

 Eliana also really likes Perry.  We have a little family game of "Where's Perry?" going on and I love hearing her jump in to play.  She also got an Agent P, Candace and Doofensmirtz.   (Lots of siblings with gifts!)

 From her grandparents she got her very own Bitty Baby.  She is a good little mama too!

 I love watching her pretend in her play.  Its really sweet.

 I didn't get a great "blowing out the candles" photo this year.  She does enjoy doing that!

We had a fun day celebrating our sweet girl.

Thank you sweet Eliana for teaching us so much. ...

to slow down.

to laugh.

to give more hugs.

to smile at strangers.

to dance more often.

to appreciate small milestones (especially when they can seem so big).

to recognize beauty in all that God has made.

to be thankful for good health.

And so much more.  We are blessed.  God has blessed our family abundantly with six wonderful children.  I am a very thankful Mama.

I love you Eliana!