Happy Birthday Baby

Today, at 7:30pm, our Maevey-bean turned one and was ushered into toddler-hood from infancy. 

Not quite a baby, and not quite a little girl. 

This last year has been a whirlwind of tears, exhaustion, joy, frustration, un-ease, laughter, exploration and learning. Right after Maeve was born, I asked the nurses if we could change her into pajamas and a hat we had brought for her. My questions were met with laughter and the exclamation "Of COURSE! She's YOUR baby!!" The thought that we were in charge, that we would know best, that we would steward her for the next eighteen years was too overwhelming to really comprehend at the time. Now, a year later, it still seems unreal. 

Every day I'm almost surprised there's a third person in our house. A little girl I'm learning more about every day. Who loves bananas, grapes and whole wheat bread. Who gives kisses, and waves and brings you books to read her. Who loves her puppy, the water and climbing and jumping. Maeve brings us so much joy, and I am overwhelmed at times by my love for her. And each time she can do something new, and independent I am incredibly proud and a little sad all at once. Last week she began feeding herself with her bowl and spoon and I found myself crying. What happened to my little baby I had to nurse every two hours? What happened to that fragile little creature and who is this little independent spark?

Maeve has brought surprises with her from the beginning, and yet somehow I realize after my initial shock that I've sensed it all along. Right before I began to push, the nurse asked me if I wanted to know the baby's hair color. I was a little thrown off, but equally excited, and said "yes". She told me she saw bright red hair, when she left the room I told Adam she was probably wrong, yet out came our red, curly-haired baby. I was shocked, until weeks later when my cousin Shannon pointed out I had written her about my red, curly-haired baby when I was about five months pregnant. Or the other day, when Maeve climbed out of her crib and fell to the ground. When I ran upstairs it almost didn't click, I kept thinking "How did you get here? How are you on the floor?" but Adam reminded me we had talked about our worry it was coming weeks earlier. 

One year and one week old. Oh my!!

I am so thankful to have Maeve and while it feels impossible a year has gone by, I also can't imagine our family without her here. I feel like she's always been here. She makes our days brighter and makes us laugh so much. I had no idea how much I could love until our mischievous little Maevey-bean came into our life and I cannot imagine life without her. 

Taken at exactly 7:30pm tonight. Happy Birthday baby!!!

My Sweet Birthday Man

Today my wonderfully sweet husband, and Maeve's favorite daddy, turns twenty-seven. 

 Haaaaappy Birthday Adam! 

In celebration I would like to tell you, in no particular order, twenty-seven things I adore about the main man in our lives:

1. He is an amazing father. The perfect kind for little girls, (and maybe one day little boys) he plays tea party, cradles dolls, reads stories and has the bow-dress coordination down pat. Watching him father our daughter makes my heart melt. 

Blowing bubbles for our sweet girl .

2. He is always gentle and kind.

3. He makes me laugh harder than anyone I know. In fact, he makes Maeve laugh harder than anyone else. He has us both soundly convinced he's funnier than any Brian Reagan or Elmo. 

Yes. This is Adam, in a dress, groping another guy...in a  dress , at a youth group retreat.
We were 15 and 16.

4. He is always encouraging and lifting people up. He sees the good, the potential, the gift in everyone and is often the first to say he's proud. 

5. He is committed to me no matter what. Giving love and devotion I often don't think I deserve, he always reminds me he's in this forever.

A throw back picture.
18 & 19 and so in love!

6. He encourages me to dream. When I finally shared my desire to teach, Adam was all support He helped me arrange meetings, get the word out, work through ideas and even built my ballet barres! 

7. He is amazingly sensitive to my needs and my sometimes difficult-to-decipher emotions.

WTAMU Annual Bonfire Fall 2005

8. He respects and honors women.

10. He adores his Maevey. She'll giggle or smile or do something new at and he'll look at me and say, "She is SO awesome. I love her!" 

Father's Day 2012 with my goofballs

11. He never yells when he's angry.

12. He craves learning and exploring new things. Our house is bursting at the seams with different hobbies and projects of his.

Skiing Santa Fe. Yes, that's a Tigger suit.

13. I don't think he ever stops thinking, wondering and dreaming.  

14. He is confident, but not arrogant.

15. He loves his pipe, fedora and suspenders because he's secretly from 1950. 

Straight out of the blues.

16. He loves his bike. In Amarillo he would get all dressed for work and ride it downtown, taking it up in the elevator. Here in the metroplex he mourns his bike-less commute.

17. He can build and fix anything. Our porch swing is just sitting in the storage closet waiting for a proper porch to be on!

18. He has unshakable faith that I envy and don't quite understand. 

The peaceful Pudget Sound in Seattle.

19. He has a beautiful singing voice. When we were first dating and I was in Hawaii, he would learn songs and serenade me over the phone; now he does the same for Maeve. He only sings for his girls and for God.

20. He is NOT a sporty-mcsport guy! I did not grow up in a huge sports house, but Adam did. He loves to play sports, especially baseball, but not watch. Last year he didn't know who was playing in the Super Bowl day of. I love that!!

21. He's not afraid to speak his mind, but always treads lightly when doing so.

22. He is really good at surprises. He had my engagement ring for a year before he proposed. 

In our house. In our closet. In his suit pocket. 

Moments after he proposed. Someone saw the whole thing take place on the beach.

23.He would live forever off of Chinese, Indian and fried okra if he could.
24. He loves the arts. 

25. His desire to have adventures together. The first summer after we were together we took a trip to New York and DC together and stayed in a hostel, exploring everything until the wee hours. We were 18 and 19. The adventures have just built from there. 

NYC

26. His unexpected taste in literature. His favorite books are "Walden" (Henry Thoreau) and "At the Mountains of Madness" (H.P. Lovecraft.) 

27.  I don't mean to brag, but have you seen this guy? He is incredibly handsome!

Almost One

Well, it's almost here! Last week our little peanut hit eleven months, and in just twenty-six days she'll be a year old! How did this happen? Where did the year go?! I've been working on choosing a theme for her birthday for weeks, and debating birthday ideas with friends for even longer. We've decided to go with ladybugs for our sweet little lady and an outdoor picnic before some (optional, and dependent on weather) pool time. Can't wait to get these and send them out! Now, onto crafts and decorations for the party---hello pinterest!!

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.