My Girl

Our little birthday girl. Has it really been 4 years since you enchanted us with your smile, your calm, steady gaze, your dancing feet and laughing eyes?

The lament I once imagined I'd feel at the passing of years has been replaced with such deep enjoyment and wonder at the little person you are.

Strong of opinion, never hesitant to speak your mind, sweet of heart, always concerned about Adam's needs and asking if I need any help. Without even asking you come upon me in my daily tasks and pick up a dishcloth to wipe down a counter or a broom to sweep the floor. In the morning I find fresh flowers in my bathroom vase and little presents from you on my night table.

You find such excitement in living things, in growing plants and caring for small creatures. Our yard is filled with little homes and habitats for your "pets" and our flower boxes always freshly tilled and new things growing there by the day...

Your spirit is generous. Even today, your day you saw how much your little brother enjoyed some of your gifts so you gladly filled your arms and set them up in his room..

Your mind is inquisitive, always wanting to be a part of whatever conversation is going on, with the store clerk, a friend on the telephone, a conversation with Daddy, you want to know everyone and everything...

You absorb so much, things I didn't even think you notice. Like a few brief lessons on littering. Now you see a gum wrapper fall out of my pocket and you are the first one to say, "Mom, you better pick that up, you don't want to be a glitterbug!" (sounds better than litterbug I guess).

You are a teacher by nature. Showing Adam how to do everything from work a Playdough ice cream maker to reading him a story. While playing with your new fairy garden set today you solemnly held up a baby swan and said, "Mom, when a swan is a baby it is called a cigarette."

Much as you may be rivals at time for toys and attention you love no one more than your little brother."Sit in my lap Adam", you'll say, patting a lap barely big enough to hold him and yet he comes, crawling up on you and settling in to listen. Before bed each night you cannot sleep until you've stopped in his room to sing him a lullaby.

You amaze me with your open heart, your grace, your joy for life. I cannot take any credit. All of these beautiful gifts you bring to the world were instilled in you by hands larger and stronger than my own, by a Heart that truly knows you inside and out.

I cannot wait for the years to come, to see you swing those doors wide and embrace the life you are created for.

Happy Birthday Natalie! It is you who are truly a gift.

Road Trip

We just arrived back from a 3 day road trip to Charlotte, NC. And aside from the hectic nature of packing suitcases and a cooler and loading up the van, along with forgetting keys, dome lights that would not turn off in the van, occasional bouts of whining, potty fiascos and the search for a clean gas station bathroom we had a blast.

Natalie and Adam seem born for the road. Lots of storytelling, laughing, singing of songs and asking of millions of unanswerable questions made the trip enjoyable and far from boring. Both "Daddy dolls" came with us and made it feel Tim wasn't so far away. Just a squeeze around the middle and one of the dolls would come to life with his voice.

It was incredibly exciting for them (and exhausting for me) once we arrived at the hotel and went about the business of loading up the luggage cart and making several trips back and forth from the van to the room. We checked out the pool only to find no steps for toddlers to splash on or even a shallow end. So into the pool we went, both of them deciding to jump tandem onto my head and almost upsetting all three of us. After 20 minutes of spinning around and paddling lopsidedly back and forth we ended that and headed back to settle in.

After a colorful exploration of downtown Charlotte we headed for a trolley ride. What I found incredibly hot and cramped, Natalie and Adam found adventure in. Hanging from sidebars, bouncing up and down on the seats, not really noticing the heat, they were mesmerized.

Then it was off to Discovery Place. Caught up with a dear friend from college and grad school and the hours flew by as we chatted and the little ones played.

Next day we decided to check out a nature museum which was the biggest hit of the whole trip. Lots of reptiles and insects and wildlife and plenty of hands on activities.

Definitely tired at the end of the days but overall it was so worth it. So many great memories and honestly at times I almost forgot I was pushing 35 weeks till those end of the day backaches caught up with me or I had to climb up a McDonald's playplace slide after Adam.

One more trip after this and then our new little guy will make his appearance, hopefully AFTER Daddy gets back home for R&R!