Happy Birthday Caroline!

Three years ago today we welcomed Caroline Louise into our world, our hearts and our family and we have never been the same. What an amazing gift she is to us. In much the same way that Loretta astounds us with her physical abilities, Caroline blows us away with her intellectual and emotional capacity to understand, empathize and love. She is an old soul with a clever mischievous side. She’s our comedian, our peace keeper, our negotiator and our pride and joy. She’s thoughtful, giving, stubborn and smart as a whip. She’s easy going and resilient, and in many ways a typical three year old, but she’s no push over. She speaks her mind and will tell you when she’s been wronged with a calm maturity and a sense of self that puts adults (like me) to shame. When she misbehaves, she is truly ashamed of herself, when she apologizes for her actions she is truly sorry. And although "I love you" flies freely and regularly in our home, she's often the initiator. I’m beginning to see just how much my three year old has to teach about life, love and playing fair and I’m humbly looking forward to every single lesson.

Sam is 9 Months!

Sam is getting so big, well not really, but he's growing and changing and I LOVE it. He's now 9 months old. He's 25% in weight, 50% in height and 75% in head circumference. He's tracking a lot like Caroline in that he's actually on the chart and he seems like such a peanut to me. But, he's crawling like a demon, well actually more like Curious George with one leg always bent under, and pulling up on everything and anything. He's got so much to say, and says so with authority and conviction (a lot of that at our house) but as far as real words go, he says something akin to Ma, all done, and La. And only Ma, when really ticked off ;).

He doesn't like to be separated from his sisters, so whenever they are upstairs and we are down (usually early morning or when the girls are napping and he's not) he tends to crawl to the steps and call up for them. He's determined and stubborn and wonderfully mischievous (already!). I'm absolutely crazy about him, his serious little expressions, his quick smile, his deep chuckle. We're all in love with our little man.

One funny Caroline'ism: I showed the kids our wedding video and before the first kiss Caroline asked, "Mommy, when are you going to get married and dance at your castle?". Because, of course, every bride is a princess and every princess has a castle :)

And lastly, I AM turning into my mother :). The other day I was describing something to John, something I had been contemplating for a few days and I actually said "So, I've been thinking in my head...". OMG!!!

Happy Birthday Loretta!

I love this picture of Loretta. It's encompasses her nature perfectly. Loretta is such a bundle of energy. She's like a meteorite streaking through the sky from the second she wakes up in the morning until she literally crashes on to her pillow at night. She waves her emotions (which can change by the second) proudly like a flag. She lives every moment to the fullest, absorbing it, relishing it, all while asking what we'll be doing next, tomorrow, the day after.

For Loretta, every feeling is amplified and every moment is centered on her. And just when you think that she truly believes the world revolves around her, she'll knock you off your feet with the most thoughtful insight or considerate action. She is strong and athletic and knows her mind. She pushes and tests her understanding of the world and her place in it daily, and in that way she is both wonderfully consistent and exhausting. She laughs with her whole self, dances without music, cries without shame, lies straight faced, and loves with abandon. She is such a joy to us.

Happy 5th Birthday Loretta!