Birthday Girl

Just as with Adam's birthday post last week, preparing this one for Natalia is an exercise in thankfulness.  It does not take long at all for a rush of emotion, (and tears) to come and my heart is washed afresh in gratitude.

Not only that I have children--that is miraculous--but that I have THESE children.  And in particular THIS child. 

Oh boy...gotta' grab a tissue.  :)

My earliest pictures of my little "sweetpea", as I quickly dubbed her, were not like the typical pictures parents take of their firstborn.  Mine included lots of wires, tubes, and gauze, yellow hospital gowns and poor lighting.  I didn't care.  I still don't.

Her scar will forever be a sweet reminder to me (and I hope to her as she grows) of God's kindness and mercy.  She is a gift, just as God's grace is a gift--one that is undeserved and cannot be earned, just received with open arms and a heart desiring faith.

Natalia, you are precious to me.  In every little thing that makes you YOU, I marvel at God's wisdom in giving you as my daughter, and me as your mama.  I oftentime feel so inadequate, but that too is by design.  ;)

January 2006, about 1 1/2 weeks old
(a few days after heart surgery)

April 2006, 4 months


December 2006, 1 year old

June 2007, 1 1/2 years


April 2008, 2 years (Cousin Morgan is 3 and Avery is 1)


December 2008, 1 week short of turning 3

August 2009, 3 1/2 years

May 2010, 4 1/2 years


March 2011, 5 years


July 2011, 5 1/2 years


August 2012, 6 1/2 years

August 2013, 7 1/2 years

December 2013, 8 years old

Natalia, I love you and am so proud of you. I hope this birthday is extra special!

Happy 8th Birthday!

Birthday Boy

I suspect that I'm not the only one who likes to peruse old family photos at this time of year.

As my baby is about to turn 5 tomorrow...YES 5!!!...I've been enjoying these shots of my favorite little guy. 

Happy birthday Adam! 

You are so special and you steal my heart with the sweet and funny things you say, your imagination and creativity, your boyish intensity and energy, and your fierce love.  I see so many of the qualities I love about Daddy in you, even though everyone says your looks resemble me.  I am thankful you still like to snuggle up on my lap.  I know those days are probably numbered. 

One of my most precious Christmas memories is bringing you home from the hospital on the 23rd.  There is nothing quite like holding a newborn in your arms when the world is dark, the household sleeping, and humming Silent Night.

Now you are becoming an independent Preschooler and outgrowing your clothes at an astonishing rate.  At times I want you to slow down, but mostly I am thrilled to see you mature and experience new things.

Love you buddy!

1 week old

Easter 2009, 4 months old

 

Sept. 2009, 8 months old (Natalia almost 4)

Sept. 2010, almost 2 years old

July 2011, 2 1/2 years old 

December 2011, 3 years old

June 2012, 3 1/2 years old (Cousin Eli is 3) 

October 2012, almost 4 (Natalia almost 7)

June 2013, 4 1/4 years (Eli, 4)

November 2013, almost 5!

He truly is a monkey! 

Can't imagine our zoo without you, Adam! 
♥ Mommy

 

 

 

 

Christmas

This year was an especially memorable Christmas because Ryan and Sarah were able to fly east to be with us.  And since her family is less than an hour away they could go back and forth as schedules allowed for large and small gatherings. 

Here are some pictures from our time together.

The pillows my mom made for each of the grandkids (Liam was napping.)

We promptly declared it naptime...but alas it was short-lived.

My mom also made doll clothes for the girls.  She used material left over from my prom dress for this one!!!

We made Mom & Dad work for their gift--they both love Words With Friends, so it was fitting.  :-)  Can you guess their surprise?

Hangin' out.

Bein' silly.

The girls (plus a few of the boys) gave us a little concert and nativity reinactment.  Absolutely precious.

Our family picture session.  I'd say we got some good ones in the 5 shots we took.  That's about all this crowd will sit still for!!! 

 

And during Ryan and Sarah's visit to our home we shared lunch, played games and pulled out Natalia's new Ed Emberly Thumbprint drawing book and made cards.  Adam pretty much cleaned up in UNO as always.  And it was really nice that Pete had off work and could enjoy their visit too.  :-)

 

  

Glimpses of the Past

I love looking at old family photos.

The picturesque, the outtakes, the hilarious fashion and hair styles, but especially the sweetness of familial features and quirks passed down through the generations.

Recently I was scanning my mother-in-law's photos of Pete when he was a baby so we could have a permanent copy, as well as some of his family photos from when they still lived in Poland.

I thought I'd post of few of my favorites from 1973-1976 (around 8 months--4 years old).

 

 

And I've posted a picture before of my mother-in-law, Maria, to show how closely Natalia resembles her as a child.  Here it is again as well as a few more.

Circa 1949-50, age 4 or 5 (pictured with her mother and older brother).