Happy Birthday, Jack!

On the night you were born,

the moon smiled with such wonder

that the stars peeked in to see you

and the night wind whispered,

"Life will never be the same."

Because there had never been anyone like you...

ever in the world.

Today my sweet, cuddly, rambunctious, curious, strong willed, and (unarguably) adorable baby boy turns ONE! My heart is so full that I feel as though it might burst. I am so in love with this most perfect being that God blessed me with.  

So enchanted with you were the wind and the rain 

that they whispered the sound of your wonderful name.

It sailed through the farmland high on the breeze...

over the ocean... and through the trees... 

Until everyone heard it and everyone knew

of the one and only ever you.

Jack, this past year has been such a whirlwind! I feel as though I've blinked and you became a toddler! I love watching you grow and seeing you learn and discover each and every day, yet a part of me just wants to bottle you up and keep you from growing any more! Each and every milestone you hit has been bittersweet for me. I can't help but be your biggest cheerleader at each and every step, but your growing independence leaves a lump in my throat!

Not once had there been such eyes, such a nose,

such silly, wiggly, wonderful toes.

But I have so thoroughly enjoyed each and every stage we've been through together so far! I marvel at how the simplest things bring so much wonder to your eyes, like the leaves on the ground and the rocks in the driveway. And I can't help but smile in amazement when you laugh hysterically at the silliest things, like Huckleberry eating the food you throw on the floor or daddy flipping you upside down. Seeing the world anew from your eyes has been such a pleasure. 

When the polar bears heard, they danced until dawn.

From far away places, the geese flew home.

The moon stayed up until morning next day.

And none of the ladybugs flew away.

From the beginning I knew you were one strong willed little man! Man, I never knew it was possible to break a sweat changing a baby's diaper! And naps... definitely not your forte! But you are so undeniably sweet at the same time. I love that at one year old you still fall asleep snuggled up to me in the rocking chair, stroking my hair. You are a cuddle bug and I am so grateful for that.

So whenever you doubt just how special you are

and wonder who loves you, how much and how far,

listen for geese honking high in the sky.

(They're singing a song to remember you by.)

Or notice the bears asleep at the zoo.

(It's because they've been dancing all night for you!)

Or drift off to sleep to the sound of the wind.

(Listen closely... it's whispering your name again!)

I love when you stand up in the tub and lean over just to give me a big kiss! I love that you use your Ikea fort as a hamster ball (although at first it scared me to death!). I love that you love to make others laugh. Anything you do that entices a laugh from me or your dad is sure to be done over, and over, and over again. I love how you are so easy to make laugh in return! I love how you sit on the floor flipping through your books and "reading" aloud every morning. I love your curiosity and adventurousness even though it often leads to a battle of the wills between me and you.    

If the moon stays up until morning one day,
or a ladybug lands and decides to stay,
or a little bird sits at your window awhile,
it's because they're all hoping to see you smile...

I just love you so much, baby bear! I honestly never knew I had the capacity to love another the way I l love you and I thank God every day for allowing me to be your momma and experience this depth of love. 

For never before in story or rhyme
(not even once upon a time)
has the world ever known a you, my friend,
and it never will, not ever again...

I want you to know how much joy you have brought your dad and me. I'm sure I will never tell you enough. You've changed us both for the better and I'm so excited to see the three of us grow together and continue to live life side by side. I am so proud of you, so grateful for you, and so excited to continue to see you grow day by day.  

Happy Birthday, Jack Jack!

You are so, so loved!

Heaven blew every trumpet and played every horn
on the wonderful, marvelous night you were born.
                                                                      - Nancy Tillman

26

Hiya, from West Virginia! Just wanted to check in to remind you guys that today's my birthday and I will accept pretty much any and all gifts (preferably in the form of cash money, yo). But seriously, I'm 26... And what a crazy year it's been!

This year has definitely been a huge transitional year for me and full of a lot of hard decisions. But I can honestly say that I am very happy with where I am today and excited about what the future holds. I feel so blessed to have such a caring and supportive husband, who happens to be the best daddy ever, too, and the happiest baby that brings me so much joy every day!

And although it's always nice to travel back east to see family and friends, I have to admit that I am missing spending my birthday with my man and pup this year! Jack and I are feeling ready to head back home and see Steven and Huck in just a few short days. But until then, I plan on continuing to stuff my face with all the delicious foods I can't get out west (i.e. Chick-fil-a).

Happy Birthday, to me!

nom.nom.nom.

Happy Birthday, Steven!

I love --LOVE-- birthdays! 

And today Steven turns 27. 

He isn't a big fan of his birthday (which I will never understand), so we just celebrated last night with a simple and delicious strawberry cake (quite the downgrade from last year's cake!) and opened a few gifts. Tonight we plan on heading out for pizza with a few close friends.

Steven is all about no birthday fuss. (Now for my birthday.. we make a fuss.)

But this birthday was especially sweet because of our little man. I almost teared up taking pictures of him sitting on his daddy knee. Goodness those two... I love them so much.

(recipe)

So happy birthday to the most loving, generous, hardworking man I know. Thank you for being such an amazing husband to me on my good days and bad. And thank you for being the best father imaginable to our little Jack. I know this next year is going to be full of many great memories of our little family. So here's to your 27th! May it be the best yet. 

I love you!

Love, your beautiful wife 

who expects lots of gifts on her birthday and a much larger cake.

My 25th

to me!

I've lived a quarter of a century. That seems old when phrased that way. I feel as though I should have something deep and wise to say today, but I don't. I simply feel so, so grateful. Grateful for the friendship I've made these last 25 years and have maintained over time and distance. Grateful for my family who never ceases to amaze me by their endless love and fierce support. Grateful for that man I get to call my husband and wrap my arms around every day. Grateful for a God who blesses me so abundantly despite how undeserving I am. It's all those things that make this life so worth living, and I cannot wait to see what the next 25 years hold with those people I love living life by my side.

And thank you, friends. Who have read this little blog of mine for the past year and a half. Your comments and emails bring me so much joy. I am grateful that you find value in my story and keep coming back for more. 

So cheers to my 25th! I have a feeling it will be the best yet!

Happy Birthday, Herschbutt!

June is Herschel's birthday month! We're not exactly sure the exact day he was born, but if our calculations are right it had to be around the beginning of June. So today's post is a little shrine to our vicious yet cuddly guy who is turning 1!!

Herschel, you were the tiniest, cutest kitten with the biggest blue eyes I'd ever seen in a fur baby! And now your a massive fluffbutt with piercing green eyes! You've grown so much! Thank you for washing Huck's face with your sandpaper tongue and keeping the mice at bay. You've turned into the most perfect addition to our little family!

Happy Birthday, Herschbutt!!!

P.S. I just learned that your name is Yiddish for "deer" ....random.

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!

It's Day 14 of the challenge! And I've decided to mix today's prompt up a bit. So, instead of "ten things that make me happy," I'm only going to talk about two.

1) Birthdays. Birthdays make me happy. Like really, really happy. And I believe they should be celebrated for anyone and everyone no matter how old you are or what species! (Obviously, Huck gets birthday parties. That's a no brainer.) And gosh darnit, if you don't like your birthday celebrated too BAD! I'm going to celebrate it anyway. And Lord forbid, you forget my birthday...because I'm one of those obnoxious people who will hold a grudge towards you until you repent of your sin or make it up to me 364 days later. Just saying...

2) Steven. Steven also makes me happy. So happy in fact that I decided to bind myself to him in holy, happy matrimony before God.

But there is one little problem between those two things that make me oh so happy! Steven doesn't like to celebrate his birthday. *Gasp* I KNOW! Total bummer.

But I choose to ignore that little fact, because I think he is worth celebrating. I think he deserves having that day where people buy him gifts, and make him cakes, and pick up his tab. I want to celebrate the fact that he's in my life and has drastically changed it since I met him. I want to celebrate how much he means to me and how much I love him. 

Birthdays are worth celebrating. So if I love you, whether you like it or not, we are celebrating your birthday! 

Also, I make dope cakes.

The point is: Birthdays + Steven = Happiness! 

Happy Birthday, Steven! And thank you for letting me fuss over you today. You deserve it more than you know. I love you.

I'm 24.

Isn't your birthday supposed to make you one year more wise, more mature, more cultured, more purpose driven? If so, I missed the birthday boat. I'm pretty positive I'm simply the same as I was 2 days ago. Just older. 

I always get this strange sense of disillusionment after my birthday. Actually, after any holiday. It's the anticipation one feels leading up to the day that creates the excitement. And then when it's all over, I feel almost cheated. Why? I have no idea. It has nothing to do with insufficient celebration, family, or friends. It's just a weird internal disease I've always struggled with. 

Yes, a disease. I think discontentment is a disease. It can eat you up and make you miserable if you allow it. 

But I digress...

All in all, I had a great birthday! I'm just no longer 12, so the pink princess tiara and pony riding days are over. (Actually, I can't remember a birthday when I wore a pink princess tiara or rode a pony...but you get my point.) After work, Steven and I went to Point Defiance Park (ya know, where we got our engagement photos taken) and ate at a restaurant right on the water called Anthony's. 

Good food, beautiful location, and quality time with my man?? It really doesn't get much better than that. Oh yeah, and dessert. Of course I had dessert :)

Hope everyone else had a good Tuesday! And feel free to eat a piece of cake (or the whole darn thing) in celebration of me gracing this earth with my presence for 24 years. 

Does anyone else struggle with post birthday blues?? If so, I'd love to hear about how you shake yourself out of it!

Happy Birthday, Love Huck!

Birthday Wish List

I love birthdays. Especially my own. And since my birthday is only 5 days away, I thought I should come up with a wee itty bitty wish list so you'd know what to get me :) 

1. Anthropologie duvet cover   2. Marolsha      3. Lori's   4. KitchenAid Mixer   5. Custom Painting from Etsy   6. Silver Watch Necklace

Not sure what the plan is yet for my birthday, but I do know it will be awesome. Because birthdays should be awesome! Always. No matter what. End of story. I already got the best possible gift this year though. One that I get to keep all the days of my life!

Nooo! It's not Huckleberry, he comes in second.

(Although it was a close race)

My new hubby, of course, takes the gold for the best gift I've ever received!

And then Huck.

I hope you all have a great day! I cannot wait to get this work week over and begin the birthday festivities this weekend!!!!

Speaking of weekends, they're calling for a sunny one is Seattle!
 Let's close our eyes and say a prayer that that forecast sticks!
That can be your gift to me! :)