Happy Birthday Julia

Dear Julia:

Happy Birthday, my sweet baby girl! I can hardly believe (and I admit, it is a bit sad to me!!) that you are turning TWO!

Similar to most moms (I think!), I dreamed of your arrival long before you were even conceived. I dreamed of getting to dress you up all cute (let's just be real -- the girl clothes are so much CUTER than the boy selections!! Poor Ry, although I don't think it much matters to him!), and dreamed of the hairbows that would adorn your sweet head. You can only imagine how excited I was when you were born with a full head of hair, and before you were even 24 hours old the nurses put a cute little polka dot bow on your head!

You are very much a "daddy's girl." It should come as no surprise, however, as you and Daddy share a birth date! Two years ago today I had a surprise 30th party planned for your dad. He was not too sad when we had to cancel that for your arrival...you were by far the best birthday gift he has ever been given.

Since that day, we have loved watching you grow. And grow. And grow. (sigh!). You were late to crawl and walk (which I loved, because it made you seem all the more "baby" to me, and also I knew you would be right where I left you if I sat you down!), and early to talk. You still amaze us with your speech. You have been talking clear complete sentences now for, geesch, what seems like a LONG time. (Very foreign to us, considering your brother is a guy of very few words!!). And you are bossy. You know what you want, and you speak up to let us know!

You are a caretaker. Your preschool teacher (Mrs. Gwen) says all the dolls in the classroom wouldn't be taken care of if it weren't for you. You show this same servant attitude to Ryan. You are always looking out for him. If I give you something, you say "For Ryan too, Mommy!" When it is time to put shoes on, you get yours from the shoe bin, and then bring him his. You are my helper!

Your brother adores you (ok, not always, but mostly!) and it is so precious to me seeing you two interact. When I can't understand what you are saying, he will try and talk to you and find out. "What do you mean, Jugi?" he asks. "Tell Ryan again." And he tries to decipher what you are saying. Last week when you were asking for "Sac-ka" and I thought you were asking me for a "sucker" Ryan let me in on the fact that you were actually inquiring about "Papa".

"Jugi" is a nickname that started when you were just an infant, and Ryan couldn't pronounce "Julia" yet. For the longest time, we thought he assumed this was your name, as until recently, he never called you by your real name. Other terms of endearment we use for you: Princess (let me tell you, it melts my heart when your bro calls you this!), my Jugi Bug (mommy calls you), Stinky J (Ryan and Daddy started this one!), Jugi Claire (Ryan. I am falling in line with my own mother, mostly using the middle name when you are in trouble!), and Baby Sister.

You are a girl after my own heart in the fact that you LOVE sweets. "More candy!" you tell me "I 'ant candy!" so often! If we would let you, you would skip dinner and only eat dessert.

So, my sweetie, may you have the best 2nd year. I thank God every day that he choose me to be YOUR mom. What a great blessing!!!*These pics were taken by Daddy for your 1st birthday, February 2008.

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

Ryan:

I can hardly believe that today you turn 4 years old!  I try and remember to tell you every single day how glad that I am God gave you to me. How happy I am that you get to be my little boy. And you know what you are constantly telling me when I say this?  "I'm a big boy, Mommy!" You are right...where has the time gone!?

I remember how excited (ok, and shocked) I was when I learned I was pregnant with you.  Daddy wanted to take the day off work to celebrate, but I insisted on "normalcy" that day, and we settled for a lunch date were we headed straight to Borders to read all about what was in store for the next 9 months while we waited for your precious arrival.  Your Daddy used this as prime opportunity to tease me about expanding bellies, stretch marks, swelling, etc.  I do think I got the last laugh here though, as during the first half of prenancy I was sick, sick, sick and actually lost weight! 

Your Daddy wasn't quite sure how to help during all the commotion!  He kept busy painstakingly painting your room (over and over and over until it was perfect) with a denim finish, a stripe and yet another color up on top just as we'd seen in a catalog, and running to KFC for mashed potatoes for me. It is hard to believe that the crib which was once yours is now your sisters, and that you have been in a "big boy bed" (with rails!) nearly 2 years now!  

Four years ago, at 6:06pm (with the help of some forceps!), our lives changed forever.  I'd like to say that our first moments together were  perfect, but honestly, when the nurse put you on my chest I told your Daddy to take you away fast because I thought I might vomit.  He did such a great job taking care of you while I tried to recover from the labor. I remember watching him 

hold you, walking around the room and bouncing ever so gently and being so thankful that at least it seemed like one of us maybe knew what we were doing!

New Year's 2005 will probably be my most memorable, as we welcomed in the new year still at the hospital together.  We drove home the next day probably the slowest your Daddy has ever driven, with his prized 8lb 6oz package snuggled in the back seat. When we arrived home, Daddy carried you in the kitchen and set your infant carrier on the table because we weren't sure where you "belonged" just yet.  Oh my, has that mind-set changed..it seems you "belong" everywhere here!!  Little did we know how much STUFF comes along with a baby (or a big boy!)!  

So here we are, 4 years later.  It is hard to remember what life was like before you were born. (Although I do think it involved a little more sleeping!)  One thing is for sure, I never knew I could love someone so much, or worry so much, or feel so much joy - at times all in the same 10 seconds!

Ryan, you have a ZEST for life I pray you never lose.  You love to dance and sing when you are happy, and you don't care who is watching. You are an influencer (and you really know how to work your grandmas, in particular!).  You show empathy for others.  At times you seem so aloof, and yet you know exactly everything happening around you. (Today you finished Glammie's adult conversation sentence when we didn't think you were even listening!).  You know just how to melt my heart (the other day you actually stroked my hair and said "I love you, Mommy. Let's talk!" ...ok, in full-disclosure here, you are very up for talking when it's bedtime..you know just how to prolong my walking out of your bedroom. HA) =).  You are fun-loving, easy-going, smart (your memory is amazing!), you love to play and have books read to you ("Tell me the words!", you request.) You are a charmer, and you are a boy everyone seems to LOVE!  

I'm so glad you're mine. (and daddy's!).

Happy Birthday, my big boy!

Love, Mommy

(From your 1st year photos - how you have grown!)