hurrah for Lilly! hurrah for mama too!

It's Lilly's birthday! We celebrated on Saturday at our house with friends. We'll post pictures soon.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a big congratulations and thanks to Anne, who (I'll remind you) carried in her body for 9 long months, and labored for 64 long hours to give life to, our precious daughter; this is a big day for mama, too, who continues to give so much to nurture our Lilly.

Lilly is thriving! She is such a big girl and we are very proud of her! She sends thanks to all for the birthday wishes and gifts, and we do too!

birthday party!

Saturday we hosted a birthday party for Lilly at our house with many of her friends and their families, our friends too. It was a big day for all. After breakfast on the porch opening gifts that family had sent her, Leighton and I were busy getting the house and food ready all day but it was all worth it. Everyone enjoyed themselves and Lilly was the princess of the party, all dressed up in a new dress from great-grandma and great-grandpa Hambrick that arrived while we took a break for lunch.

Lilly was delighted by all her gifts and loved the chocolate brownie cake. Leighton and I were so proud of her when she blew out the candles on her cake right as I was finishing the Norwegian happy birthday song for her (we all sang the English one for her first).

Below are some photos some friends of ours took of her as she was opening presents after we'd all sung for her.

 

garden time

We've been so enjoying spending time outside in our garden (gardens!) lately, clearing space, weeding, sowing, planting, tending, trimming, supporting, watching. I'll post some new pics. soon. In the meantime, check out our most recent album for pics. of us all hanging out in our friends' gardens too! Here's one of Lilly in my friend Marte's garden (her garden is amazing and with transplants she's also been contributing to the growth of our garden):

We're all healthy by now, busy plugging ahead with work when we're not spending time with Lilly or in the yard or with house projects. Always something, of course. But it's all of the good kind. Leighton and I are both feeling a little wistful that our little baby is turning into a big independent girl who's now two to be any day. And I also find myself craving some just Leighton and me time, say out for sushi  or something like that. But then I feel terrible about wanting that, what with her birthday coming up and then father's day: it is now (as always...) about her. It's our anniversary June 30 and I hope we can do something special then, either as a family, or, if we're lucky, just the adults.