Our baby girl is 3 today!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Katharina!!!!!!!!

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for three years with such a darling, wonderful little girl!

Kate informed me as I put her down for a nap just a few moments ago that she would never be two again.  Oh, it hit me like a ton of bricks!  Did I enjoy her enough?  Did I do all I could to show her Christ’s love through me?  Did I pray for her enough?  How I long for less regrets at birthday number four!

We celebrated yesterday, since Mamaw and Papaw had to leave last night.  We started the day off with her favorite breakfast.  Biscuits and gravy, of course, being a southern gal!  We have a tradition of putting candles in their breakfast.  You just can’t blow out candles too many times, you know!

In the afternoon we went to the park for cake and ice cream.  Lots of sweet memories….

See, I really was there!

Here is the well known “everyone line up in front of the cake” picture:

And the “opening presents” pictures:

What a day!!!!!!

Their wish is his command!

My sweet Daddy came to pick up my mom and to stay for a week himself.  He pulled into the driveway in his tiny Ford Escort and had the backseat crammed full of goodies, one of which was a jeep for Kate.  Do you think she was excited?

He and Mom also produced a pool for Kate’s upcoming birthday, which everyone enjoyed.  Even me.

Water straight from the well was a little chilly for Katharina!

Dad also put new tires and tubes on all the girls’ bikes and taught Lauren to ride a two wheeler.  Way to go Laurie!

Next on his grandbaby spoiling mission was assembling an old swing set stored in the barn.

Caleb thinks it’s just for him!

Being Daddy’s little girl, as well, I got my share of spoiling, too.  In the back of that car was also a computer chair and a lamp for my living room.  I have to be extremely careful what I say in front of my parents.  If they think you want something, they will oblige.  I also got almost an entire honey - do list wiped out.  I think Josh is relieved!

Much more wonderful than all the gifts and service were sweet times of fellowship.  Every evening we watched Andy Griffith season one.  One of my favorite sounds is my daddy’s laughter.

A very special day ’round here!

The most wonderful man I know turns 31 years young today! I’ve never been very poetic, but on a day like this I wish I were! I’ll borrow my favorite!

To my Dear and Loving Husband

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov’d by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompetence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay.
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

“To my Dear and Loving Husband” from Several Poems. Anne Bradstreet. Boston: John Foster, 1678

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Here is a first-born son with his first-born son! Check out that farmer tan. I like it lots.

My darling works all day and comes home to work again. As tired as he must be, he never turns the children away when they want to help. He has taught me so much about patience and kindness in parenting. Yes, sometimes he conks out on us, but usually not without a child in his arms!

We are all so thankful for and proud of our Beloved!

Here were all the “olive shoots around your table” tonight, my love. They wanted to wish you the happiest birthday ever!

Lost and … found?

Our little Rachel lost a most important top tooth. Actually, it had been dangling for a few days and Ashlynne helped it out with a little horse play. Yes, my little women in training do that sometimes. Here she is in all her toothless glory!

Coincidentally, (are Christians supposed to use that word?) her little brother got his very first tooth the same day she lost hers-and it was the same tooth! Well, not the same tooth, naturally, but the tooth in the same spot. Looks like Caleb was none too happy to have to share this milestone.

Milestone caught on film

On April 23, my sweet baby boy pulled himself up to stand for the first time. I think this is the first time I really caught something big happening for the very first time. Here it is. I know you’ll be impressed.

At eight months now, he is also crawling on his hands and knees occasionally, but he still prefers the army crawl. Our little belly dragger loves to put things into his mouth. His favorite thing to eat is paper, but he’ll settle for lint, small rocks, and once something off Josh’s work boots that I pretended was just dried mud.

He was especially satisfied with his new skill and quite willing to smile for his adoring fans, so I thought I’d give you something sweet to look at!

Care for another?

Yes, he really does smile all of the time! Just one more!