Hello Spring!

Spring is here and SO much more filled with life this year than ever before.  

It's hard to believe that this is Elle's first everything. . . first GREEN leaves on trees, flowers blooming, lettuce growing in the garden - everything is twice as magical this year!

We've had such a fun start to the season.  Lots of family time, loads of walks and runs (in her new Bob stroller- thanks to Pops & Lula), and so many park play dates with friends!

"Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

Hosea 6:3

I read this somewhere this week and was again reminded of how blessed I am to experience all of these FIRSTS with Elle:

"Our children are the warmth that we leave in the world long after our own fires are extinguished. The gravity of those early years is hard to imagine when we dream of writing headlines, performing surgery, drafting legislation or publishing books, as opposed to changing nappies, mediating Lego disputes and doing the bedtime routine – but it’s profound.

Once kids start school, they enter a vortex from which they never return to be fully, totally ours again; time with them is negotiated around a timetable of school days, weekends, social lives, activities, term dates and holidays.

And they emerge young adults, with dreams, plans and all those forks in their own roads to navigate. Much of their journey will be done without us. We will never stand by their side as we do in those first five years.

So for those of you fidgeting at home today with a restless baby, for those who have been interrupted by a toddler 20 times while you read this, I can promise you one thing. You will never regret the sacrifices you make for them now.

It may not be possible to fully appreciate the beauty of this time while you are in the midst of it. But one day, sooner than you can imagine, you will be standing on the other side of this chapter, trying to remember how their skin smelt, how their body felt sitting on your hip, head on your shoulder – and you will be filled with gladness for every moment, good and bad, that you experienced with them."

Each day with our sweet girl is a gift!
Her open mouth kisses, morning smiles, contagious giggles, sweet spirit & exuberant personality are the good stuff of life.
Soaking it all in. . .

From her tiny little toes . .

 
. . .to a face that melts our hearts

We love you, Elle Belle!

Happy Spring

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Isaiah 43:19