happy birthday, dear tatum {tatum frances is four!}

Dearest Tatum Frances,

As always, the hands of time have moved far more quickly than I ever want them to as it seems that you were just placed into my arms.

birth photo credits: Melissa Larson

and instantly captured our hearts.

It's almost impossible to fathom that I went from writing about your first year, 

to your second,

to your third,

to now.

You...

my beautiful,

sometimes used to be all the time shy,

 sweet,

 witty,

 silly,

four year old, Frozen loving girl.

How far you have come in four wonderful years! 

You are my little warrior. From your accident, to an adenoidectomy, then a tonsillectomy and finally learning with the right therapy how to eat, you are one tough cookie!

Tonight you said to me while eating pasta,

"Mommy, I'm going to eat all of this pasta so that when Daddy measures me, I can grow and then when I grow I can go on the airplane with Daddy to Disneyland to see Mickey and Minnie."

My sweet 2T wearing 4 year old girl, you are tiny in stature and so very big in heart.

Where you used to be afraid of preschool, you are now full of giggles, and the most funny, insightful and thoughtful conversations.

And though I'm sick of Frozen as is most of the adult world, just like Frozen, you prove to me daily that LOVE conquers all.

Your love,

shines through,

 and weathers any storm.

Happy Birthday, my sweet Tatum Frances.

Daddy and I, Kieran, Anna, Liam and Murray love you so very, very, much.

Love,

Mommy

six {happy birthday, dear anna}

A kick in the pants.

Funny.

Spirited.

Sweet.

Thoughtful.

Talented artist.

A kick in the pants…oh, did I say that already?

Beautiful.

Six…

going on sixteen.
How did April 28, 2008 become 2014?

I feel like you've gone from this:

to this:

in a matter of minutes.

You test me, 

push me to my limits,

challenge me, 

and challenge me some more.

And you know what?

I wouldn't change a thing.

My heart explodes with love for you.

You make me laugh and not just laugh, but the belly aching kind that you want to stop and never end all at the same time.

At the tender age of six, you are wise beyond your years.

Every night you tell me, "Mommy, you are the best mommy anyone could ever have and you are beautiful."

In turn I tell you, "You are the best Anna anyone could ever have and you are beautiful inside and out."

And in your little fiery voice you say,

"Hug, kiss, night, bye" as we gesture the motions of our nightly ritual.

Dear Anna,

Daddy and I, Kieran, Tatum and Liam, 

love you so.

You light up our lives and you are a light to others.

Shine bright always, for all the world to see.

With All My Love,

Mommy

eight {happy birthday, dear kieran}

This day eight years ago, the sky was filled with clouds, much like it is today.

This month eight years ago, it had rained every day except two.

It has been said that when it rains, good fortune is coming your way. 

This day, God brought me you.

More fortune than all the money in the world, it's all right here, in you.

This day, March 27, 2006, I became a mother.

This day, March 27, 2014, you said, "Mom, I don't need any presents really, I just need my family, books to read, God, and love (and a dog)".

Be still my heart.

Daddy and I will see what we can do about a dog, maybe when Liam is out of diapers. 

This day, we celebrate your life, and the light that you shine.

I love you sweet boy.

Happy 8th birthday!

Love, Mommy

3 years ago... {happy birthday, dear tatum}

Dear Tatum,

I'm having a hard time finding the right words this morning to write you your birthday letter.

I think it's because I'm in total awe over the fact that you took your very first breath, 

three years ago today.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. In that moment when you took your first breath,

you took mine away.

You were more beautiful than I could fathom.

I had prayed for you,

waited for you,

and you were finally ours.

 It's hard to believe that you went from this...

to this,

to this.

You are your own girl. You are quiet when you choose to be or you could talk my ear off all day.

You love, love, love, to read.

Your favorite show a year later is still Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

You eat pancakes and quesadillas and drinkable yogurt...maybe this will be your year to finally eat?

You are my pixie girl, not much bigger from the year before, but you have grown by leaps and bounds in personality.

You are so incredibly loving. You always have care and concern for Kieran, Anna and Liam.

You are usually my shadow, but have your sweet moments with daddy.

You recognize the beauty in even the smallest things, the things that others might otherwise take for granted.

Daddy and I are ever so blessed to call you our daughter, our sweet Tatum Frances.

Our lives are richer, fuller and more joyous because of you.

I love you Tates. Happy 3rd birthday!

Love,

Mommy

30 days hath september {happy first birthday, liam}

30 days hath september,

and oh,

where have the days gone?

I picked you up out of your crib this morning and sang you happy birthday. 

Without warning, my voice cracked, my throat choked up, and the tears slowly streamed down my face.

My baby, my sweet, sweet, baby, you have turned one today. 

You went from this...

 to 

this...

 a standing, into everything, stuffed animal loving, giggling, happy, happy boy!

Tell me, where oh where

did the time go?

I will find out on Thursday how much you weigh and how tall you are,
but what I can say about you right now is that you are the most happy,

loving boy.
You love your siblings and your daddy,

you are inquisitive in every sense of the word.

It doesn't take much to make you smile,

and I can tell that you are thinking about how this big world works every minute

of every day.

You are a jokester...

and a romantic,

rolled up into one.
Every day I ask you for my kiss and you say, "mmm" and attempt to give me your most slobbery of slobbery baby kisses.
We think that you say mama and dada and you definitely wave hello.
You eat everything in sight, I actually don't know where you put it because you often eat a total of what Kieran, Anna and Tatum eat combined!
Each of them compete for your attention, each of them have a unique relationship with you.
They love you fiercely.
You, like your siblings, are a mama's boy, but when you are in my arms and reach for your daddy, your love is overflowing and evident.
You are still crawling, but scaling walls and couches and you often stand on your own without even realizing it. You clap your hands, play peek a boo, blow your food when it's hot.
You hug us tight and we know that you are telling us how much you love us.
I am in awe of your love, in awe that God chose us to be your parents.
You are an amazing baby, an amazing one year old boy.

I promise to love you with all my heart, and all my might.

I am sad that your baby days have moved into toddlerhood, 

but my heart bursts at the seams thinking of the child that you are and the man that you will become.

You are such a special human being.

A blessed soul.

Happy 1st Birthday, my sweet baby.

30 days hath September, plus three hundred and thirty five more,

and oh,

how I have savored every moment.

With Love,

Mommy

dearest anna {happy 5th birthday}

Dearest Anna,

I'm late again on your birthday post, but not to worry, I've made sure that I wouldn't let myself go too long before writing to you since just as quickly as you turned five, you'll turn six if I don't hurry up!

April 28, 2008 was a most beautiful day as it was the day that you came into this world!

At the tender age of five, you love: art, art and more art, My Little Ponies, Littlest Pet Shop, singing and dancing, makeup (my fault, but I don't let you wear anything except when you sneak my lipgloss from my purse or give me a kiss just so you can have some on your lips), Disney princesses, stuffed animals,  and anything colorful and sparkly.

You have a personality on you that goes for miles and miles.

All who meet you are drawn to you.

 Sometimes simple and sweet.

 Much of the time a jokester (and man, are you funny? Sometimes inappropriately so and it's all I can do to bite my tongue and not laugh!)!

You are one of the most independent 5 year olds I know.

When you are stubborn...

 boy, are you stubborn (and for the record, I do admit it's from me...there Mom and Dad, I said it!)!

My sweet girl, we have our moments. You are different than the other birds, as you should be! There are days when I wish that God would drop me a line, no a rope, or better yet, a manual for you.

There are days when "challenge" is an understatement. I am learning slowly, how to be the best parent I can be to you.

What I have always done from the moment you arrived and will do forever more, is to love you fiercely even on the hard days, to teach you all that I am able,

and to let you spread your wings...

 as you were meant to fly!

Happy 5th Birthday, my strong, beautiful, smart, funny, loving, girl!

My heart is filled with love for you, eternally.

Love,

Mommy

and just like that {seven}

Seven years ago, right about now, I had eaten a piece of preggo pizza. 

I had had a glass of rootbeer.

I was waiting.

Seven years ago, I woke up in the wee hours of the morning to broken waters that signaled your impending arrival.

I'm typically able to write with ease, the words fly out of my mind and through my fingertips.

Tonight, I find it a struggle and the words don't come as quickly as I request.

I am overcome with emotion, filled with unimaginable love and joy for all you have given me.

I only hope and pray that I have given you the same.

 I am thankful that God gave you to me and your daddy.

You are the best big brother that any sibling could ask for.

I cherish you with all that I am.

March 27, 2006, the world became a better place.

And just like that my sweet boy, you've turned seven.

May all of your hopes, wishes and dreams...

come true!