Birthday Girl

I can't believe my little lady is turning 1 - on March 27th, 2009, at 12:12 PM, we welcomed this sweet child into our family. Though it was a scheduled c-section, it was still so beautiful. Everything went smoothly, and as she was lifted out, the whole room sang her 'Happy Birthday,' in harmony, of course. She screamed her head off, and soon all 6 lbs. 11 oz. of her were swaddled in daddy's arms. The nurses, my midwife and doctor couldn't get over how perfectly shaped her eyebrows are, or how she had the most picturesque bow mouth, a term I never really understood until I saw it on her lovely face.

Contrary to popular belief, Tim was the one who came to me when he wanted to have munchkins. I always wanted to be a mom, but his timing was sooner than I'd originally thought for our family. December 17th, 2005 he initiated a conversation about starting a family, feeling ready to see what God had in store for us as parents. January 27th we found out we were pregnant and Gabe entered the world on October 18th, 2006. We casually discussed siblings for him. Then on Father's Day 2008, Tim got set on the idea of a brother or sister (in all honesty, he was hoping for brother... he even had 'tricks' he found on the internet!) for Gabe. July 30th, we found out we were pregnant, and Lillian came into the world on the March 27th, 2009.

The love I have for my children is indescribable - everything else pales in comparison to them. Being blessed with Lily this past year has enhanced our family so much. Our love has doubled, our joy has doubled, our laughter has doubled - and okay, so did diapers, laundry and sleepless nights for a time.

She is such a happy little girl. I love how she says ma-ma and da-da. How she points to everything in a room. I love her wave and her 'bye' and 'hi,' which sound very similar. I love that she says 'dis' and 'dat' to help us understand what she wants. I love how she looks up to her brother with such adoration - and how he handles it so well (80% of the time). I love the way she has her daddy wrapped around her little finger, how soft and gentle he is with her. How he is already struggling to imagine letting her be cared for by any other man (FAR in the future, of course). I'm in awe of how much she loves me - how she squeals with delight when she sees me, how she runs to me when I enter a room she is in, how she wants me above all others. She is truly awesome.

Without Gabe and Lily, I struggle to imagine my life as complete. They give me purpose. They, along with their father, are my happiness.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Lillian!

The week of her birthday.

So happy, always - 8 months

Often, people will say Gabe looks just like me and Lily looks just like Tim. I think she and I have the same eyes though.

Always with a smile on her face - 4 months

People always ask, 'Do you have enough love for a second child?' The love is so simple, so natural, so limitless. I can't remember my life without her, and I don't want to.