the two year old & the fairy party.

on her birthday, i wrote these few words:

t w o. two years ago, we were welcoming her into the world. relieved and overwhelmed by the blessing of our sweet baby that was such a gift after loss. in these two years, she has stretched my heart wide open and made such an impact on our family. her brother adores her, her daddy is smitten with her crazy, and her mama is so proud and thankful. every day with this beauty and her crazy eyes is such a gift. we are humbled to be entrusted with such a precious little heart. here's to many more birthdays with this sweet girl of ours. // also? I'd say she had a good day.

there is so much more i could say about this girl. she has brought joy to our lives in countless ways, and we are constantly amazed at her little person.

of course, we had sushi for her birthday because it's her favorite.
over the weekend, we had a fairy party to celebrate.

because it wouldn't have been complete without a few fairy wings and a little bit of sparkle.

love (& pixie dust).

around here, lately.

we celebrated our sweet boy who turned four with a chick-fil-a lunch date and a few small celebrations with friends and family. it was pretty low-key this year since life has been so buys, but it was filled with cars and planes and one very happy boy.

this boy of ours. he is so tall and filled to the brim with life. he can barely express all the emotion that  spill out of him at times and is so compassionate and sincere it makes us so proud. we are so thankful for him.

we've also been able to steal away for a few pool days and the kids love it. we all do.

also? this girl's got style all her own. ♥

love.

birthday memories.

oh, how i love birthdays.

mine is tomorrow. usually, come march first, i'm a flurry of excitement & anticipating. but this year, i've barely thought about it. until now, really.

i'm not sure what exactly put me on to loving birthdays so much.

perhaps it was the birthday parties that caused favorite relatives to come from out of town to celebrate. and share in the enjoyment of the fresh spring air & strawberry cakes.

perhaps it was the fact that no matter what was going on. no matter what hardships that year had caused me to face, my birthday was a momentary reprieve. a fresh new year of life. to tackle whatever lay ahead.

but just perhaps, it was that first bunch of daffodils brought to me by my beloved grandfather on the day i was born. and then every year after. until he died.

source.

it's funny how such a simple action can change the shape of a life.

i never go a birthday without thinking of him. of those daffodils that spoke a love that reached me to my core.

and i don't think i ever will.

now, i have new traditions to start. new chapters to explore. and while holding onto the past, i am able to embrace the future. for that, i am thankful.

but oh grampa, how i miss you.

love.