Little Miss 5-year-old

All photographs by KATIE LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY 

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wearing: Lydia's whole outfit is from Target kids, and my dress is from Bohme

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     HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR LYDI-GIRL!
She had her birthday last week on the 6th, but the treats and gifts and special little family activities kept going for the rest of the week or so like they normally do, and she certainly deserved it!

I tell ya, I never knew that I could feel so much joy from simply watching another person experience it, but it's my greatest gift as a parent I think, and my heart was so happy seeing Lydia's excitement as she enjoyed every big and little thing we did to celebrate her and her big day.


                    Lydia,

     I never want to forget the shy smiles you always give and your little giggle that is almost too perfect to be real. The day you were born was a day I'll never forget. Even though you already had 3 older siblings, it felt like a fresh new beginning to for me as well to hold you in my arms and imagine who you would become as I watched you grow. My heart is forever coated in an extra layer of happiness because you are mine.

     You're the only baby I've ever had who has used the pouting lip, and you do it so well! haha It's hard to keep a straight face when I'm trying to explain or teach something very serious to you when you've made a mistake, but oh how I love teaching you and being taught by you. Yes, you teach ME! We do have our little struggles here and there, but no matter how sneaky you may be sometimes, you always have a pure and bright heart through it all, and everything in my life is sweeter because you are my daughter.

     You are precious in every way, you are a little ray of sunshine no matter the weather, and you are a wonderful little and big sister to your siblings. You're blessed to have your daddy in heaven watching over you, and a bonus daddy here at home who guides and protects you and loves you so so much.

     I can't wait to watch you this next year and see where you go, and I hope you'll let me hold your hand through it all. <3 and="" back="" darlin="" i="" little="" love="" moon="" nbsp="" p="" the="" to="" you="">
                    Love Mama

Happy Birthday Lil' Darlin'

     Well, I never really know how I'm supposed, to sum up my love and pride for one of my babies in these birthday posts, so a few lines will have to do:)

     My fiery-haired Lydia turned four, and I am really excited about this next year for her. Her voice is still as high-pitched and soft as ever, and she tells me every day how much longer and prettier her hair got while she was sleeping:) She is definitely the girliest out of all the children, and loves to dance around the house singing her own made-up songs.

     Whenever I ask her what she wants to be when she grows up, she says "a nurse or a pwincess." haha and the way her whole body shakes when she is excited will always make me laugh.

     Richard and I took her out on the traditional date all by herself, and after lunch and a few fun errands, we had Martin's family over for some cake and games. She blew out each candle one at a time and wished out loud that she could be a princess:)

     There are so many things that I want to pass onto her, but I want to share it in a letter to all my girls. Having my 5th daughter on the way is pretty daunting in some ways, but I also feel so excited about the kind of warrior women that I can send out into the world when the time is right.

     We love you so much miss Lydi-girl!! You are such a sweet little light in our lives and I hope that you never lose your forgiving and kind spirit.


Happy Birthday lil' darlin',
    Love Mama

you are my sunshine

          Dear Eleanor,

     You turned seven years old this week! Your birthdays are always the hardest for me, since the older you get, the more I realize how fast my time as a mother of little ones is passing. At the same time, I love watching the wisdom sparkle in your eyes as you ask and learn and grow and change along with the world around you.

     You have such an old soul. I knew it from the moment I first held you. I saw a future full of light and strength, but I never imagined how much pain you would also have. Thank you for encouraging me and our family toward hope and happiness, and for giving me your confidence in our future as a whole family once again. Your daddy in heaven will always watch over you, and I'll make sure you never forget how much he loved you and wanted you to be happy.

     Ellie being both soft and strong is a combination very few in this life have mastered, but you have that down already. Your life does not have to go as you planned to be wonderful, and sometimes it's the biggest bumps in the road that shape and mold the best parts of us. The deepest feelings of heartache you experience will make those moments of pure joy even more rich, and will help you see that life itself is a gift, that every breath we take is not to be taken for granted, and that the simple things are most often the most important things to living the fullest life imaginable.

All photos via Morgan of In Frames Photography

- Never stop dancing like you love to do.

- Go on lots of trips, and talk to strangers along the way.

- Laugh out loud, and cry out loud too.

- Be brave, and be kind to others that you see being persecuted and bullied, who don't have a voice in this world, even if you stand alone.

- Never let go of your curious nature.

- Try to give second chances as often as possible, because most often, everyone deserves them.

- Never be afraid to let sad feelings overtake you for a time. Emotions are so important and shutting them out limits our capacity to empathize with others.

- Keep a record of your life. All the beautiful and messy and spiritual and difficult things.

- Always, always forgive. Forgive yourself and forgive others, and if not for their sake, then for yours.

- Appreciate everyone's differences, and never judge others because they aren't like you or make choices that you wouldn't in their position. You are not them, and they are not you, and thank goodness for our individuality. Everyone is unique and on their own journey, and no two lives are meant to be the same.

- Don't lose your ability to find humor and laugh at the simplest things.

- Always keep your love of the sun on your face and the grass beneath your feet, and the wind blowing in your ginger hair as you run through the pastures.

- Never take a sunrise for granted, or friends who show you unconditional love, or a warm hearth when there's snow on the ground outside.

     Thank you for helping and teaching me every day, and for having extra patience when I am short on my own. You're so in tune with my feelings and have always been able to tell when I was on the verge of tears. Thank you for all the comforting hugs and snuggles you gave me over the last year as life got so so hard. I know that some days it's frustrating when I'm working through lots of emotions, but I love your love of taking charge to help dad with the other kids. You're already such a blessing to everyone who knows you and I know that'll never change as you grow older each year.

Keep shining beautiful girl. The world needs your light.

    Love,

       Mom