A Highlight of My Summer

     One of the greatest highlights of my summer this year was a week long visit from a best friend. In order to express what she means to me now and how blessed I was by her visit, I firstly wanted to show you what she has meant to me over the years.

     Here we are at summer camp in 1998 after just having turned 11 and 12. I find it very fitting that this silly and awkward picture is the first one I could find of just us. We barely knew each other but shared a mutual best friend.

     By the end of high school everything had changed, and we were two peas in a pod. During high school we bonded over two things~missing our best friend who moved away and surviving co-op biology class together. In 2004 we shared a fun evening at the senior formal at 17 and 16 years old.

The next year at her high school graduation.

 

  In 2006 she was by my side at my bridal shower

and by my side as a bridesmaid.

I was ecstatic she supported me at my college graduation ceremony (aka most boring invention ever).

 Being silly in 2007 at her birthday bash

Fulfilling a childhood dream~ We had a blast doing this together, and she was a great rock to me during this time that my newlywed husband was sailing the seven seas on his first deployment.

 She came to visit me in the spring after our move to Virginia. This picture was taken during a wonderful day exploring the Norfolk Botanical Gardens together while I was 16 weeks pregnant with baby M.

My baby shower in 2008

 

 The next year she made it down to visit me again in VA, and we were off to the gardens.

In 2010 we had the shared joy of seeing a friend get married. (I was 17 weeks with baby E and just starting to feel her first kicks.)

My dear beautiful friend, thank you for all you have been to me!

He is Risen!

 

We had a blessed Easter with both our families visiting us in VA. It was delightful dressing our little E in M's outfit from two years ago. I enjoy seeing the comparison pictures of both of them. It is often remarked  how different they look from each other, yet I do see a few features they share.Thank you once again, Abby Kail, for your beautiful work!
 It was semisweet taking our pictures this year as it reminded me of the past four lovely Easters we have spent with our VA church and of how far away we will be next year. Here are Easter 2009 and 2010 if you are interested.

Baby Sissy at Three Months

Our little sweetie is the epitome of a happy smiley baby. How blessed we are to have her in our lives! She now weighs 12 lbs 10 oz and is 24.5 inches long. She is sleeping 6 to 8 hours a night. As long as she has a full tummy and playful sister bouncing around her, she is a happy little one.

She has lovely long lashes.

E is fascinated by her hands and shiny bracelets too.

She enjoys marking those who love her with a little spitz up.

She has just started to have fun kicking her feet.

Love her!

Thanks to MJ for the pretty white bow from Betty's Baby Bowtique!

"Are we done yet, Mommy?"

Love this one!

Last month she started to suck on her fists, and just this month she found yummy fingers.

Our little thinker

"O, I found another hand."

Smiling at big sister

 She has started cooing this month and sounds like a baby owl with her favorite sound of "hoo."

I have heard it said that second babies aren't as exciting as first babies ~So false~ At times, I feel that this time around is more wonderful than the first time around because I am in awe that God has blessed us a second time with a wonderful little one in our lives and because of all the joy big sister adds to this experience. Just as I did with M, I go out to get her monthly professional pictures (three different sheets for seven dollars). Call me silly, but as I see it I don't have the time not to do this with her. She is growing way too quickly. It is our once a month mommy and daughter date.

Big Sisters are the Best!

Let me show the ways my big sister shares her love.

She keeps me warm by the fire,

 kisses me all the time,

 runs circles around me,

 helps me apply chapstick,

 teaches me to clap my hands,

 does my hair all pretty,

 teaches me all about fashion,

 makes me smile,

reads books to me, 

 points out the pretty pictures,

 gives me spontaneous kisses,

 and most of all she ADORES me.