Darby Aliya Petra Carden is 9!

I know Darby’s birthday was 13 days ago, and her party was 7 days ago, but I’m just now getting a chance to post the photos and blog about her.

At nine years old, Darby is starting to lose all the Disney princess stuff and replace it with blue and green and funky. She still likes pink, but light pink has been replaced with hot pink. And all that purple stuff in her room? It’s SO two years ago. *sigh*

Darby is caught in between the ‘little kid’ world and the ‘teen’ world. She’s too old to be considered part of the Jacob and Paige group, and too young to be part of the teen group that Jarvis is just starting to become a part of. Darby and Jarvis have always been kind of paired together, and she’s kind of ticked that he is in the youth group now and gets to go places with Justice and Brittany and they all get to go to youth camp next week… and she’s not included.

She’ll get over it though. She’s only got a couple more years before she’s in that group too!

Darby has always been a complete and utter diva. Nothing has changed there. lol

Darby is SUCH a good big sister to Paige! She loves to play with her and dress her up. And she loves how much Paige loves her too. Darby is always one of the first to volunteer when I need a helper to occupy Paige for a while.

Darby and Jacob play well together too. Sometimes Jacob is way too much of a boy with her – but that’s okay. They get along anyway.

(no photos – please – haha)… Darby looks up to Britta so much! She wants to play the piano like her, and be able to be an artist like her. Darby has been drawing a LOT lately and Britta is the first person Darby runs to when she wants someone to see what she has created. Britta has been letting Darby practice on her piano too and she’s starting to really get the hang of it… we may have another musical prodigy on our hands.

Darby and Jarvis had a blast going on a trip together this summer! They got to go visit Grandma and Grandpa in Knoxville for a week. They have always gotten along really well, and that hasn’t changed. I love how close they are!! (even though they do get on each other’s nerves sometimes, but that’s just part of being siblings)

Justice specifically asked me not to photograph him during the party, but he doesn’t get a pass just because he didn’t want to button his shirt. haha! Justice is a good big brother to Darby, and she looks up to him as well. He gets annoyed when she gets whiny (something she’s working on fixing!!), but all in all – they get along well. She LOVES it when Justice decides to play games with her and the other younger kids.

Darby was dressed up in ballerina clothes for her party. She still loves to dress up all the time! I’m not sure that’ll ever change. 

(another photo of Paige because she’s so cute, and also because this was the first time she used a fork properly and actually got the food from the plate to her mouth using it – birthday cake is very inspiring)

Darby got some toys that have resulted in much backyard water fun this past week!

More about Darby right now:

-she’s super smart! She’s a learning sponge!
-she’s been loving Hannah Montana on netflix lately.
-and Mary Kate & Ashley movies.
-she learned how to swim this summer and is doing really well.
-she never met a stranger! the girl will talk to ANYONE!!
-she LOVES attention. From everyone and anyone. Anytime. All the time.
-she’s been having some stomach issues for a while, so we just started experimenting with a gluten-free diet for her. she’s only two days into it, but she’s been a real trooper so far.
-she’s very loving and affectionate.
-she asks some very insightful questions.
-she’s hilarious! she has a great sense of humor!
-she talks a LOT.
-she looks more like me than any of the other kids.
-she’s wonderful and lovely and we are very thankful she is ours!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARBY!!