Happy Birthday Kiddo's {personal}

Today is kind of a crazy day at our house. Today is both of my kids birthdays! Well, it’s Lauren’s 4th birthday, and Ben’s 3 Month birthday (and technically it’s my birthday too – my 32years and 2 months birthday thank you so much!) but all the same today both of my kiddos are celebrating their birth. LJ’s is, of course, a bit more extravagant with gifts and mommy/daughter mani/pedi’s this morning, lunch at John’s Incredible Pizza this afternoon and lots of singing. LJ also got a birthday party on Saturday and Ben, well Ben got a big hug and lots of cooing from the attendees. LJ rocked out her birthday party in style though with cupcakes galore and lots of fun for one and all.

When I was putting Lauren to bed on Saturday night after her party I asked her if she had had a good day. She looked at me and said, “Mom, I’ve wanted to be four for a REALLY long time. I’m so glad I’m four now.” I didn’t have the heart to tell her that she wouldn’t technically be four until today… still it’s good to know that she REALLY wanted to be four. I can remember being 15 and thinking, “When I’m 32 I will be so ADULT! No one will question me. I will be listened to. I will be so GROWN UP!” And now, here I am at 32 and honestly, I still feel 15. I hope the Lauren’s fourth year is everything she wants it to be though… she has been waiting a really LONG time for it.

I honestly can’t believe how quickly time has flown. It feels like she was just a baby a few months ago… but it’s been years! She is such a big girl! She sings Lady Gaga songs to herself, loves playing computer games, can write her name – her WHOLE name by the way, knows her letters and lots of numbers and is really, really trying to read. I feel like she is always moving at light speed, but it’s something I love so much about her. I love how easy love is for her – how she just blurts out that she loves us in the middle of dinner or when she is walking past my office. I love what an amazing big sister she is. I was so nervous that she would hate Ben, but that was just not to be. She LOVES him! She tells us she is going to marry him because she loves him so much. I think a product of us photographing weddings is her becoming slightly obsessed with “being married” as of late. She wants to see my wedding dress and our wedding pictures and know about how we got married. The other night she gave me a kiss and said, “Mom! We’re married now!” I kindly informed her that just because she gave me a kiss it didn’t mean we were married. Being married takes A LOT more paperwork. She looked at me for a second and then said, “But you and Dad are married and you kiss ALL. THE. TIME!” Basically, Lauren makes every day an adventure and I am so very grateful that she is mine. She makes me feel like I can do anything, because I mean LOOK! I made her from scratch!

And then there is Ben… sweet, delicious, totally perfect Ben.

I mean, SERIOUSLY! How is it that I got two over the top amazing kids? Ben is SUCH a great baby. He sleeps through the night, is as mellow as a summer breeze, and laughs at the drop of a hat. Sometimes all I have to do is look at him and he giggles. How can you not just want to bottle that up? I can’t believe I was ever nervous about him joining our family. But I was! I was more scared about having Ben then I was about having Lauren. How in the world was I going to make it all happen? But then low and behold he was born and all that worry and all that fear just melted away when I saw his face and those big blue eyes. There he was! MY boy… my son. And that was it… our family that we didn’t even realize was missing a part was suddenly perfectly whole. It’s been a wonderful three months getting to know Ben, and I look forward to a lifetime of his beautiful smile.

So happy birthday kiddo’s! I love you so very, very much!