Easter weekend!

Leah's first Easter was wonderful! It was a fabulous celebration of all the good things about the Easter season. She was, as always, amazing at being carted around from church, to her Aunt's house, then to her Grandpa and Nonnie's for the evening.

What a little Easter blessing we have been given....

Leah's Easter basket from Grandpa and Nonnie. I think sheactually DID lick the Peep. Woops!

Lovin on their Schmoop.

Our little family on our first real holiday together. We have dreamed about this for a long time.

Every kid needs an Easter hat!

Easter dress #1! I think she liked it. :)

Leah slept throught he Easter bunny. I betcha next year she'll scream.

This is her first turd egg. When wedye eggs in our family, we make one hideous turdegg using all the colors, and the kid who finds it gets $5. Guess who found it this year?

In her Easter bunny suit all ready to go.

I actually cried as we started dying eggs out of sheer happiness. To actually get to start family traditions of our own is such a gift, and we have both been hoping for this for so long. A year ago, we were afraid that having a family was never going to happen for us. I made a promise to God long ago that I would not take my child for granted, if he would only bless us with one. Here we are, savoring every moment with our gift, as I am trying to keep good on that vow. For those of you still battling infertility/wanting to have your family, please don't lose hope! May the magic of Spring make your hope feel renewed!

2 months of Joy

After just two months of motherhood, I have found myself fascinated with the fact that I lived without this little red-head for almost 30 years. She has brought more smiles, giggles, and floods of joy to this family that we ever thought imaginable.

Paul and I have been writing to Leah since I was 12 weeks pregnant, long before we knew her name or delightful personality. I have continued to write to my daughter so that she will always know what was running through my mind during her precious childhood. Here are some of the things I told her today.

My Darling LiLi Bird, at two months old, you:

- Weigh in at about 11 pounds, depending on how much you have managed to gobble up during your feeding frenzies that day

- Are starting to outgrow some of your 3 month clothes. Too bad it seems you won't get much of a chance to wear some of your super cute summery stuff, considering we are still wearing coats in mid-April!

- Coo like a crazy woman a LOT! Your Grandpa is already afraid that you have inherited the Clark women's gift of gab!

- Smile a dimply grin every morning when we wake you, even when you are crying. From there, you coo, stretch and smile for 10 minutes more, without fail, every morning. It is pure, unadulterated heaven. I just wish I could get a great picture of it!

- Sleep 9-11 hours STRAIGHT at night. When this first started to happen weeks ago, I was worried. Now, I am blissful. This is one well-rested Mama!

- Make up for all that sleep by eating all day when you are awake. Good thing I adore breastfeeding!

- Love being sung to, even by your tone deaf parents who make up songs about you all day long.

- Look so much like your darling father it freaks me out sometimes. Lucky little baby.

- Have started sucking the crap out of your fat little fist! We can hear you suck that thing with fervor from the other room, and it makes us laugh every time.

- Have been in cloth diapers for over a month now. You are saving the Earth a little bit without even knowing it!

-Will be taking your first vacation in a couple of weeks. Atlanta and the Pankow chaos, here we come!

- Adore walks and drives, and you love being held in the "football" hold. You are a mover and a shaker, but an excellent cuddler. Snuggling with you has become so popular in this house that your dad and I fight over who gets to hold you. :)

You are the greatest gift imaginable. To say you were worth the long wait is the understatement of my life....

One word.... CHEEKS!!!

I could kiss 'em all day... and I do. :)

This is what happens when you turn your head with your hand on your binky! :)

LiLi's Friends!

As most of you know, our friends are one of the most important aspects of our lives. We believe that friends can be like family, and have been blessed with a lot of friends whomake our lives somuch better every day. Paul and I hope that our baby girl will hold her friends just as close as she grows into her own little person. Here are some of the kiddos she has had the chance to play with already! I think she got her mommy's social butterfly gene. Frankie, who is quite possibly not just Leah's friend, but her betrothed! :) Hanging out with her buddy, Anthony!

Matching with her new friend, Ally, who made Leah look ever MORE white! These two like to practice flashing their gang signs together.

At Morton Arboretum with her sister-cousin, Emmy.

With her two besties, Isabella and Makayla, and another possible boyfriend, Colin.

Leah and her could pass for siblings friends Madelyn and Ben. These three seriously looked like they were related!

Getting lovin from Isabella.

Dylan loved baby Leah.

Cheers to good times with GREAT pals!!!