Fleeting Like Fairy Wings...

"Garden fairies come at dawn, bless the flowers, then they're gone"

          --Author Unknown                                    

My Beautiful Willow Bean,
At 18 months you are blossoming into a funny, explorative, extremely expressive and terrifically cuddly little toddler! You love to dance at home, in the street... in the aisles of Barnes & Noble! You've started to sing! Your favorites these days are: "This Little Light of Mine" and the Dora theme song! You are still nursing, partly because you very passionately still want to, and partly because I'm having a hard time putting an end to this phase--because with it ends a very special chapter of your babyhood! You have started stringing together some sentences and the one that bowls me over every time is "You okay Momma?", because you utter it with such earnest compassion every time I sneeze, or chuckle...or close my eyes. You love wrestling with your sister on the couch, and the two of you giggle, squeal, beg for tickles and make forts with the pillows, until one of you invariably has had enough and Daddy or I must intervene and console! When you smile, you smile with your eyes and with your heart! I feel so proud to be your Mommy and so blessed to be near you every day to bear witness to all your new beginnings. I hope you always rest assured that your family loves you unconditionally!

Jana Knupp
Betsy Morgan
Annie Fox
Rebecca Orton
Amber Yarnevich
Carrie Nelson
Adrienne Russell

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Finding magic in the little things...

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

Robert Brault 

It is the little things I want to remember...

The way Willow Bean likes to wrap my hair around her fingers as she sucks her thumb. The way she nestles her head in my neck when we tell stories at bedtime. The way she bounces when she's excited and laughs like Earnie from the muppets. The way she adores her big sister and follows her around wanting to be part of every adventure! I want to remember how she's not afraid of anything but eager to explore and try new things: a lover of heights, animals, sensory exploration and food!! I want to remember how her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks while she sleeps! I want to remember her wonderful hand gestures as she enthusiastically babbles half words half gibberish! I want to remember her hugs that carry all the love in the world!

I want to remember the way Cici has started to tell stories of magic lands giving us each a special part to play. The way she cups my face, looks into my eyes and kisses me on the nose! The way she loves to skip down the sidewalk holding hands and singing "let's go fly a kite". The way she asks for her leg or arm to be tickled as we tell stories under the covers. The way it feels when I let go of her hand and hold my breath each time we get close to a street knowing its time to trust her. The way she comforts her sister and consoles her when Justin or I can't.

The way both girls light up when Justin walks through the door. The way they snuggle around him when he reads to them. The way we laugh during our Saturday morning wild dance parties. The way we cry (well the girls first...and after they're safely in bed, we follow suit) on an especially long day! The way they all make me full and strong and scared and brave...but always loved.