Today is my birthday!  Hooray hooray!  So far I am having a rockin' time.  Here's why:

-David Cook won American Idol last night!
-I got an awesome new table cloth and cloth napkins I wanted from Crate & Barell from my sister in law
-My kids made my day this morning just being all cute and excited about it being my birthday
-My husband got me the new Madonna CD.  It freakin' rocks.
-I had a soy latte and amazing muffin with my youngest son at my fav local coffee shop this morning.
-Then I bought an apple tree with the gift card to Gardener's Supply my inlaws got me.  I have always wanted an apple tree. I am psyched.

all this and it is only 10:51am.   My husband says he has some kind of surprise for tonight.  I can't wait to see what it is.

Happy Birthday to me!

This week we celebrated my youngest son's 3rd birthday but two days before would have been my oldest child's 8th birthday.  We lost her due to a miscarriage.  Ironically she died the exact same day my oldest son was born.  My husband and I have always made a flower bouquet from our garden on that day but from this year on we are choosing to celebrate what would have been her birthday instead.  So this year on that day we chose to buy a plant and add it to our garden in celebration of her.  She left us too early but her memory lives on.  I honor her and treat her as if she was my child.  She was my first experience with pregnancy and losing her was devastating.  It happened very early in our relationship and it was because of her that my husband and I bonded so strongly and stuck together.  We married later that year and gave birth to our first son exactly two years later.

Her name is "little" and will always be little.  Thank you little for coming into our lives.  Even though your time with us was short we love you just as much as if you were with us today.

Happy 8th birthday.

We love you so much.

xoxo

My youngest son turned 3 the other day.  Here is a letter I wrote to him.


Dear Sal,

Today is your birthday. Today you are three. You have done so many wonderful things this year. You learned to ride a trike, climbed higher at the park, perfected your alphabet, learned to count in Spanish, drew fabulous pictures, and painted with lots of globs and colors. You are such a helpful, kind and polite child. You value your friendships and wake up each day with a wide eyed new view of the world. I have so thoroughly enjoyed watching you grow and learn this year. You have been a wonderful teacher for me. I thank you for showing me how to stop and notice the birds in the trees, the songs they sing, a simple lady bug on a leaf, and how hiding in the same spot over and over again during hide and seek can still be fun.

I wish for you so much in your next year as a three year old. After being home with me full time you will venture off to preschool this coming fall. It will be a big step for both of us and I know we will be ready. With a tear in my eye and happiness in my heart I will hold your hand as we begin this adventure together.

Happy Birthday my little guy.
I love you so much.
xoxo