Thursday, November 24, 2011

....our Thanksgiving baby.....

 .....I have loved the ripe old age of three......


.....our conversations have been interesting and meaningful this year, yet she still has remnants of being our baby.....dimples in her elbows, her special blanket for bedtime and the tantrums to express her anger or frustration that surface occasionally and remind me that she is still our little one.....

.....and I know as she embarks into the next year of her life, the reminders that she is my baby will vanish; as she will not only physically change, but will also begin new challenges and adventures.....she will be labeled preschooler, not toddler in schools, text books and by age range brackets......

.....but she will always be our baby.....

....12 days old....

.....the one who made me a Momma on that chilly November night four years ago......and my life, my heart, my everything changed the second they put her in my arms....

    .....4 months old.....

.....and I clearly remember the thoughts and conversations that Stefan and I had as we stared at our first newborn......what will she look like?....what will she be like?.....will she be athletic, studious, quiet, funny, inquisitive, soft spoken, meticulous?......we were so curious to know her and the unveiling of who she is has been better than I could have ever imagined......

                          .....16 months old.....

....her loving spirit and sweet disposition has been uplifting in our home.....since she was a small toddler, we knew she had a heart for others and she strives to serve, help, please and love......

     .....15 months.....

     ....2 years old.....

      ......two and a half year old......

    .....2 years old.....

.....she also has a passion for her friendships and she loves a good time.....

     ......two and a half years old......

     ....three and a half years old......

     ......two and a half years old.....


     .....three.....

     .....three and a half....

     ....three and a half.....

                              .....three and a half....

     .....three and a half.....

.....she's as girly as it gets, loves anything pink and can ham it up for the camera.....

     .....Elsie, 2.5 and Callie 9 months.....

                              .....two and a half....

.....and she can cook a mean pancake every Saturday morning with her Daddy......it's been their tradition since as long as I can remember......

                              .....two and a half.....

.....she loves to be with our family and has adjusted as we have grown.....

    ....2008....


     ....2010....

                              ....2011.....

.....we couldn't have been any luckier to have you, Elsie.....you are our blessing, our gift, and our joy.....and so today, on your first Thanksgiving birthday of many to come, we have so many things to be thankful for.....

....you, my sweet girl are one of them.....

                              ....11/18/11 4th birthday party.....

.....happy 4th birthday.....

.....we love you dearly.....