Happy Birthday Oliver!

Look who turned five!

 I've really enjoyed thinking back to his baby days and sharing stories with Oliver.  He didn't know he was so early and tiny and sick.  With feeding and breathing tubes and phototherapy lights and wires.  I remember snuggling with my tiny little baby and even though he was in the NICU and life was upside down, when I was with Oliver, I felt peace.  Calm and good.

 I still feel peace with Oliver.  And happy.  He is shy and quiet in public, but loud and dynamic at home.  He has big ideas and plans on how to execute them.  He loves playing board games with me everyday at lunch.  Life and Sorry and Uno.

 He loves giraffes and elephants and zebras.  He loves cars and trucks and building toys.  He loves to paint.  He still loves fruit snacks best.  And chocolate ice cream cones.  Milk and ramen noodles.

One of my greatest joys has been watching him and Cooper become best buddies.  They went from not wanting to be in the same room to playing every waking minute with each other.  My heart is so happy that they have each other.

Wow!  My baby is five.  He's been such a gift to our family.  Happy Birthday Oliver!

Happy Birthday Madeline

Happy 11th Birthday Madeline!  You were seriously the cutest baby girl on the planet 

I feel like crying because you are so darling and where did the time go?!?!

Now you're the cutest 11 year old girl on the planet.  Growing up so fast and turning into the most delightful little lady.

 Your piano skills, your creativity with crafting, your love for imagination.  Your kindness and love.

 I'm grateful to be your mother

 I'm grateful to feel your joy for life

 I'm grateful you love me so much.

 Your heart is most beautiful.

 I'll love you forever!

 Happy Birthday!

My Teenager

Magic Birthday:  13 on the 13th!

Happy Birthday Oliver!

Today, my baby is FOUR!  Happy Birthday Oliver.  You have been a delightful snuggle bug from the start and I love you so much.  You're so cute.  I know I'm biased, but seriously:

Yep, skittles make photo shoots successful!

Happy Happy Birthday my darling.

Baby P

My dear friend had her first baby about a month ago.  I went over on her birthday with lunch and took some pictures of her cute little guy.  It was a lot of fun!  I haven't taken pictures of babies for years.  We had a great time talking and eating.  But Baby P was the star of the show!

My Favorite People

Happy Birthday Oliver!

Oliver came to us more than 6 weeks early.  It was a difficult and wild ride, but despite the craziness, he had a wonderfully calming effect on me.  This is what I wrote about him then: 

"Tiny and perfect.  Calming and peaceful.  I wish I had more time to just hold you and soak you up.  But when I do, I feel so much love and I feel safe and happy.  You belong with us.  Like, how did we ever live without you?  I don't know who you are yet, or who you will become, but I know you were meant to come into my life."

 And now Oliver is THREE!  How is my baby three?!?

 Hugging and snuggling him is still one of my favorite things.  Still makes me feel calm and so much love.  And he really does belong just perfectly.  Completes us in the best way.

 He loves when things are calm.  He loves playing with tractors and cars and trains.  He isn't much of a morning person and doesn't like eating very much.  Unless it's fruit snack and chips.  Ha!

And he sure loves his mama.  Sometimes I just wish he'd like someone else for a tiny bit.  Anyone.  But in the end, I'm grateful I'm so loved.  Grateful that no matter how I look or act or feel, I have a little buddy who is happier to be with me than anything.

Happy Birthday Oliver.  I love you forever!

Tulips with Raelynn

I knew I wanted to see the tulips twice this year and was so excited that my second time was with my sister.  Raelynn came up for a few days to visit me and it was amazing!  The tulips were definitely the neatest thing we did but we also enjoyed baking and eating a lot of treats (I know, really surprising right?!?) and just talking all day every day.  I couldn't have asked for more.  I just can't put into words how wonderful my sister is.  And how wonderful it is to be with her.

I can't put into words how amazing the tulip fields are either.  We stumbled on a field I hadn't see with my family and it was by far the most amazing display of tulips I have ever seen.

 They went out for acres and acres.

 The most exquisite colors

 I know I can't imagine heaven right.  But in my mind it has rolling hills of tulips just like this.  Because I do not think I have seen anything more beautiful.

 It was just so stunning, so breathtaking, you really couldn't even taken it in.

 The pictures do it no justice.

 But it sure made me happy to see such creations.

And it made me happy to be with my sister again.