all the little kids

While at home (Texas), I was able to visit with lots of friends and also my cousin and his 3 children. I don't know how parents do it -- raising children. It seems completely daunting and miraculous that they don't run off a cliff at any given second. (The fact that there are few cliffs in Houston makes no difference.) My favorite things about little ones in that they have ceaseless imagination and boundless energy and how even at 1, you can "see" their personalities and character developing. Amazing.



Huong & Trinhity (in the box)



Wendy & Braydon



Pretty Paige

one of my favorite gifts

My best friend, Jeannie, sent me a package of glorious things for my birthday. One of my favorites is this lip balm. I put it on this morning, and my lips had a tingling feeling all day!

happy birthday to me!

This is the last birthday I shall have without a baby (well, without the baby being outside of my body.) It is a very surreal feeling, and so is realizing I will have many more "lasts" in the new few months. Obviously, there will be so many firsts that I won't be able to keep up. Still, it was strange blowing out the candles on my cake tonight. I didn't even make a wish, just watched the candles burn and had this thought of having a 9 month year old daughter this time next year.

I love that I have been able to live another year and that the years to come can only bring more surprises and delights (as well as challenges, but those make the other stuff that much sweeter).

One of my dear childhood friends and I have reconnected. We have known each other (and each other's families), since we were 3 years old. I love being able to share such memories as peeing on the toliet together and eating toothpaste as a snack.



Annie & Sara at Annie's 7th birthday party

happy in VT!

We just returned from a truly beautiful wedding of our dear friends, Anne and Moss. Anne sang at our wedding ceremony, and Joe was ready to do the same at theirs. Alas, they went with a cousin (who had an Angelic sounding voice.)

It was fun, unique, and full of LOVE! After all, isn't that what weddings and marriages are all about...LOVE!

One amazing thing was not using A/C for an entire wedding. VT is seriously gorgeous in the summer time.