grandma & grandpa's

We've escaped to warm and sunny Florida for Thanksgiving. We flew in last night and it's been so nice to finally have a break! Our babes let us sleep in till 8:00am (!!!), the weather has been beautiful, especially compared to Baltimore's SNOW! The kids warmed right up to their grandparents. Madeline has already been on two exploring expeditions with her grandparents, we've celebrated her birthday (again) and boy are we looking forward to some good eatin' tomorrow. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

it was a very 'frozen' birthday

Let the record show that miss Madeline had a great third birthday. The last few weeks have been quite the whirlwind for us, so it was nice to finally have a day to catch our breath. It was simple, which was fine (especially after such a big hurrah a couple weeks before). After having the traditional waffles and strawberries for breakfast (year one and year two), we stayed home and did creative things most of the day. Had "pink and white and brown ice cream" for dessert and then she opened her presents, which ALL ended up being VERY 'Frozen' related. Totally unplanned. Her loved ones sure know her well ;) Still hard to believe this little girl is THREE! But so glad she is and even more glad she's ours. 

three

This beautiful little girl will be three tomorrow. I struggled at times, wishing she could stay my baby forever. The older she's gotten, though, the more deeply I've fallen in love with her. Which seemed nearly impossible on day one. 

As the kids and I were out walking last week I remember thinking what good company she is. I couldn't tell you what we were talking about, but I know I enjoyed our conversation. I clearly remember wishing I could somehow bottle up that walk through our neighborhood that we love so much and be able to do it again, exactly the same, in fifteen years, thirty and even fifty years from now. Just to be able to enjoy being with little almost three year old Madeline again. 

Some days I think this stage of life will never end.  That I'll never be able to hop in the shower without worrying that disaster will strike for the ten minutes I'm gone. I'm pretty convinced I'll be changing diapers and making peanut butter sandwiches till the day I die. But every once in a while I get these moments of clarity where I see myself in the distant future and I'm longing to hold my babies as babies again. Wishing life was simple like it is now. And those moments manage to reset the frazzled, tired me. The sun comes out from behind the clouds, and we keep going. 

I'm sitting here, on the eve of my oldest child's third birthday, enjoying one of those moments of clarity. Appreciating the beautiful journey she's led us on. Loving her as she is now, but also eager to see what the next year will teach us about her and ourselves. My favorite thing about this picture is that it captures so perfectly the way she glows. Madeline glows with love, strength, creativity, imagination and a thirst for knowledge. But most of all Madeline glows with goodness, and I feel so blessed to be her mom. 

Happy birthday little girl

...I love you