Look who's turning Five!

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."

Author: Walt Disney

To my Dear Kira,

I still remember clearly, the day I first set eyes on you.  A crying tiny, babe, bundled up in yellow and blue.  Your cries were soft as you looked at me; frightened and confused just like any baby.

But you weren’t just any other baby, you were my daughter, the child I had dreamed about, longed every night for. 

I held you close to comfort you, but your sobs lingered a day or two.  I knew the love that was here awaiting you, but it would take time for you to trust and know me, just like I too.  We were a pair, the two of us, a mother and daughter who found one another at last. 

Words can’t explain just how much I adore and love you, I can only show you my heart is in my hand, always there to reach out to you.

Now four years later, my love for you is stronger and we understand each other as mother and daughter.  I love your hugs and kisses and combing your soft brown hair.  I love when you snuggle up and ask to be held so tightly, even if you do this every single nightly!

Oh dear Kira, you’ve become quite the young lady, so sweet, kind and gentle, your personality entertains me daily.

Now that you’re going to be five, I look back at the past few years and just sigh. 

They have gone so quickly while I was trying to discover this role of Motherhood; but it’s okay, I got it down now for there's now two in our brood!

My little yummy (aka for Kira),  I just want to say,  I wish you a very healthy and happy Birthday.

Love forever,

Your Mommy

The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.

Albert Einstein

Happy Birthday Sweet Child

Yes, my child is turning 4 years old today!  I can not believe it because I think I am still on "pause" mode, trying to preserve the previous 3 years to the best of my ability.  I watched her at a year old trying to take her first steps and make sense of adorable babble.  Now she can out run the fastest toddlers in town and yes (it's hard to believe) but she can actually out talk me, her Momma!!!  It's hilarious.

Kira is truly a Mommy's girl, which I absolutely love especially when she tries to intentionally act older by softly telling me to "go over there Momma so I can make some friends" and then as evening falls she will cuddle up with her favorite blankie, sweatshirt, book and pj's and want me to hold her "very tight" till she drifts off to sleep.  I savor these moments especially because she's just so busy all day!  When she's finally fast asleep I look down at her and still see a baby.  I stare at her wondering if she'll remember these tender moments, but for certain I will.

This child is so very special in so many ways, not because she's my daughter but because of her innate ability to comfort others.  Her personality is evolving but she remains so giving, loving and affectionate to her parents and family.  She's concerned and asks many questions, which I try to answer on her level.  She's maintained an incredible sense of humor that still amazes and surprises me.  Loving her is easy and so natural and I smile to myself thinking how fortunate and proud I am to be her mother.

So we wish you a wonderful Birthday sweet Kira as you continue to grow and explore your world.  You remain the center of our world, today and always.

You are so very loved!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

STUDYING HER TINKER BELL TOY

OH SHE'S MY DAUGHTER ALRIGHT, STARTING OUT THE DAY WITH A LARGE CUP OF JAVA!

NOW WIDE EYED AND AWAKE FROM THE CAFFEINE JOLT (CHECK OUT THOSE EYES) WE WENT TO TAKE SOME PHOTOS! KIRA LOVES FOR ME TO TAKE PHOTOS OF HER, BUT ONLY WHEN SHE WANTS THEM DONE!

CAN'T DECIDE WHICH ONE IS MY FAVORITE! SHE HAS THE BEST EXPRESSIONS, BUT THIS IS DELIGHTFUL, LOVE THAT DIMPLE THERE BABY!

TRYING TO GET OUT OF POSING BUT AFTER A FEW BRIBES SHE CONTINUED ON.

NOW IT WAS MY TURN TO BE ENTERTAINED. YEP, SHE WAS WORKING ME ALRIGHT, BUT LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

ON JANUARY 20TH WE CELEBRATED KIRA'S THIRD BIRTHDAY! I HAVE BEEN DELAYING WRITING THIS OR I SHOULD SAY DIDN'T QUITE KNOW WHAT OR HOW TO WRITE ABOUT IT UNTIL NOW. KIRA SHARES THE SAME BIRTHDAY AS MY MOTHER, SO I WAS SO SAD WHEN I WENT TO BUY KIRA A CARD AND SAW ALL THE MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY CARDS THERE TOO. IT JUST HIT ME THERE IN THAT HALLMARK STORE THAT I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO SEND MY MOM ANOTHER CARD OR EVEN GET ONE OF HER SPECIAL CARDS WITH HER HAND WRITTEN SENTIMENTS IN IT. I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND CRIED, RIGHT THERE IN THE STORE. I PRETENDED LIKE I WAS LOOKING AT SOMETHING ON THE VERY BOTTOM THERE, SO NO ONE WOULD CALL OUT THE LOONY TRUCK, BUT I SOBBED ALL THE WAY HOME.

HOW FAST SHE HAS GROWN, SEEMS LIKE JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN WE WERE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT HER ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY, YET NOW SHE'S SPEAKING LIKE EVERY OTHER 3 YR OLD. IN FACT KIRA WAS RECENTLY EVALUATED FOR THE 3RD TIME BY A PRIVATE SPEECH THERAPY CLINICIAN WHO WAS AMAZED AT HER COGNITIVE, RECEPTIVE AND VERBAL SKILLS. WE'RE THRILLED SHE DOESNT' NEED SPEECH THERAPY AT THIS TIME.



NOW I LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL CHILD AND THINK HOW FAR SHE HAS COME, HOW MUCH LOVE AND JOY AND MOTIVATION SHE BRINGS ME EVERY DAY.

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR KIRA, OUR DAUGHTER, MY INSPIRATION!

Birthday Fun

PRECIOUS BABY

HANDSOME NICK

NICK TEACHING THE GIRLS HOW TO DRINK FROM A FOUNTAIN (NOTICE SARAH'S MAKING THE EFFORT)!  

AFTER SEEING HER BIG BROTHER GULPING WATER, SARAH GIVES IT A TRY!  I LAUGHED SO HARD WHEN I SAW HER EXPRESSIONS...SIMPLY PRICELESS.  NICK WAS OFF TO THE SIDE STARTING AND STOPPING THE WATER AT HIS SISTERS EXPENSE, BUT SHE WAS DETERMINED TO GET A DRINK IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY!  

TWO BABES PLAYING WITH THE FOUNTAIN AND HAVING SOME GOOD OLD FASHION FUN!

THESE TWO RAN AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND...AND AROUND!

"GOTCHA", NO I GOT YOU!"

SARAH, I THINK YOU DROPPED THIS!  SARAH'S LOOK SAYS' IT ALL, NO WAY, THAT'S NOT MINE!

WELL, I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO SPEND MY BIRTHDAY THEN WITH MY DAUGHTER AND DEAR FRIEND LISA  AND HER TWO CHILDREN.  

KIRA ALREADY HAS A CRUSH ON NICK (OR NICKNE AS SHE CALLS HIM) AND SARAH WAS JUST AS FUNNY AS EVER WITH HER ANIMATED EXPRESSIONS.  WE TOOK THE KIDS TO THE PARK TO GET SOME PHOTOS, BUT IT SEEMS THEY WOULD RATHER PLAY AND PLAY HARD THEY DID!

I THINK WE NEEDED ONE OF THOSE HIGH POWERED SPORTS PHOTOG LENS TO CAPTURE THE ACTION.  BUT THESE WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME VERY FUNNY PHOTOS!

A Garden Party

The day was filled with anticipation.  The weather was perfect for a Garden Party at The Princess Ladybug Palace.  So tiny Princess Ladybug, stood at the front door to welcome her friends and invite them in from the cold for some flower nectar and green leaves to climb upon.

The Tiny Princess was very excited about her party, and so, she waited and made sure everything was neat and orderly!

She knew that these round puffy things would make for some fun and soft landings.


She made sure there were  tieras too for her Ladybug friends! 

She was a stickler for details and made sure there were enough flowers for any shy ladybugs to hide behind or perhaps play with. What Ladybug doesn't like a pretty flower to sit upon. There were also random petals strewn about so if any were to loose their way, all they had to do was follow the petals home! Princess Ladybug was so happy, everything was in order!  

OH MY, she exclaimed, I hear the Ladybugs arriving!  So she hustled to the front door and saw beautiful little Ladybugs arriving, each smiling, greeting her with a soft hello!  Princess Ladybug was very happy and couldn't wait to show them her special surprise, but she waited till all the precious Ladybugs were safely here.
Ladybugs Stephie and Danielle
Ladybug Lia
Ladybug Jade
Ladybug Katie 
Ladybugs Mia and Maddie
The Palace was a buzz with sweetness.  Here are Ladybugs Sydney, Jade and Hayley, gathering closely as ladybugs often do.



How happy Princess Ladybug was, seeing her friends dancing and laughing, even stopping to pose for pictures!

So Princess Ladybug decided it was time to share her BIG SURPRISE!

HERE'S THE SURPRISE, THE BEST DIRT ON EARTH WAS HERE!  YEP FULL OF WORMS, SPIDERS AND OTHER LUSCIOUS, EDIBLES...WHAT A SURPRISE TO ALL HER LADYBUG FRIENDS!  
AND STILL MORE, FLOWERS AND LOT'S OF YUMMY, TASTY FLOWERS!  THIS GARDEN PARTY WAS MORE THAN A PRINCESS LADYBUG  COULD HAVE EVER DREAMED OF!  

(The dirt was delicious, email me for a recipe)

The festivities continued and Princess Ladybug was just in awe of her new twirly dress, the music, the dancing and the fact that she could have anything she wanted to eat this day!  She jumped, twirled and ran through the Palace with laughter.  In fact the entire Palace was full of little Ladybug giggles and laughter (the result of too much sugar).  However, there was still the issue of a flowered, cake that needed some attention.  So all the Ladybugs and their escorts gathered around the table for a new song that the Princess has heard earlier that week.  Everybody started singing Happy Birthday and she stood up and clapped her hands too.  Momma Ladybug made sure the Princess didn't try to step on the cake as it really looked like real flowers.  All in all the cake was cut, the cupcakes eaten and then on to more fun with play.  

NOW THIS IS A CAKE (we made sure it didn't go upside down into some bag, like the first one, these pastry chefs knew that special Ladybugs were depending on this cake)!

Happy Birthday Kira!  May your life be full of love, happiness and good health!   You will always be my sweet, darling button nose, Princess Ladybug, who has already made me the happiest Momma in the world!

A BIT OF SOUTHERN CHARM IN NJ

I JUST LOVE HER EYES AND EXPRESSIONS.  THIS HAT COMES WITH A DRESS THAT WAS DESIGNED BY MY FRIEND DALEEA.  KIRA LOVED THE HAT BECAUSE IT'S FASTENED WITH A LADYBUG IN THE BAG AND SO SHE DIDN'T TAKE IT OFF.  YEP MY FASHIONISTA, CLAD IN A SWEATSHIRT, PJ BOTTOMS, BARE FEET AND THIS GORGEOUS HAT!

THIS DRESS WAS ALSO HANDMADE FROM DALEEA.  I LOVE HER WORK BECAUSE SHE'S ONE OF A KIND, THE FABRIC IS VERY PRETTY AND FROCKY AND THIS DRESS LOOKS SO CUTE WITH JEANS.  THANK YOU DALEEA FOR DESIGNING SUCH CUTE AND DIFFERENT LOOKS FOR OUR CHILDREN.