My dearest baby girl-Two years ago you came into our world and have blessed us beyond measure each day since. Dad-O and I walked and walked and walked to get you here. I remember leaving the house thinking, this is it, I know what to expect with this birth for I did it just 15 months ago. I felt a calm because I knew what to expect, but a fear because I knew what to expect. Those feelings were in constant competition as we walked the halls of the hospital waiting for your commencement. As I progressed, I felt more and more confident with getting through the labor exactly the way I was hoping to. I was so proud to have birthed two babies in the way I had intended, and to have both healthy and happy. I now realize more and more what an amazing gift that is, so many mothers do not have.
But my sweet E, who knew that getting you here, although proud to have done it, was not at all the challenge, compared to raising you up? These first two years of your life have flown by, everyone says it does, but it is not tangible to a mom-to-be until they be-a-mom.
My always talking, singing, and dancing baby girl with an unmeasurable spirit. With sun-kissed hair, wolf blue big-as-saucers eyes, contagious guttural giggle, over the belt loops belly, sing-songy voice, rough and tumble, slightly girlish, dressed in sunshine, head cocked attitude......you have been an amazing addition to our home. I'm so blessed to have the chance to watch you grow up! On this day of celebrating your arrival into our family, into our hearts, I want to tell you that I love you, I live and breathe for you and our family, and I pray each day that we will have a relationship that is loving, leaning, listening, and learning for all the days to come. May you dwell the strength and love for life you do today for all of your days ahead.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET E
We may grow in different directions,
yet our roots remain as one. 
Each of us will always be a part of the other.
I always give my babes a proper bath with soap and water. To rinse them off in the sprinkler before bedtime???? It should really be considered a crime!
It was our first attempt at a garden this year. We researched a little on the internet, spoke to a few who have gone before us, and then we dove in.....literally.
The kids were a bit disappointed when we actually began to plant, because playing in the dirt is "Oh, so much fun." Especially when all the snot under your nostril catches the dirt and suddenly you are channeling Grouch Marx!
B loved sitting in the cool dirt and covering himself with it, and I LOVED letting him! If you haven't figured it out yet, I am a bit of a clean freak. So I am always proud when I let those tendencies go and my kids are just dirty ol' kids! BLISS!
We planted a few of our favorites and figured we could just go from there, learning as the summer progresses. One tomato plant for the loan tomato lover in the family (MomBE), bell peppers, squash, arugula, and our four most used herbs. (basil, cilantro, greek oregano, and sage) Keep your green thumbs crossed for us, only time will tell.
It was not long before....... I watched in fear as this precious boy fell to the ground from the top of the 6 ft. "bridge ladder" less than 2 feet from where I was standing, yet I could do nothing
r. The kids LOVED it. We arrived without a stroller and were quickly offered a wooden radio flyer red wagon to tour the market. I scooped up B and E, got them each a little dixie cup of water and a homemade roll from the artisan bread maker at the entrance. We were off to explore. We sought the sound of string instruments, and found three lovely older ladies playing praise songs beaming with smiles. B learned what a lap dulcimer and hammer dulcimer were, and was proud to tell the ladies he already knew what the "mitar" was called. B and E got to show off their mad skills on the shakers the ladies loaned them. After a few small purchases of strawberries and bread, we dropped the wagon off to the next needy Mommy and took off up the steep hill to the Praying Hands" (or Giant Hands as B likes to say) It was a picture perfect day. B and E enjoyed the sun on their faces and the breeze through their hair. I snapped a few photos, and we just sat in silence together, watching the world go by. For a brief moment, I swear the world stopped and it was just the three of us. 
My mind took a snapshot of that moment and filed it away into that place in your brain flagged "remember this always." As my tagalongs reluctantly followed me to the car I thought to myself "there is no better way to spend every Friday." The only thing missing in the equation was our favorite Fourth, so I put a call into Dad-o on the sleepy eyed drive back home and informed him that next Friday he will be taking a personal day.
