Happy 4th, "Baby" Girl

 My baby has turned 4.  I know I say this all the time, but I never had had a 2 year old baby of the family, much less a 4 year old baby.  Where has time gone?  We love to tell the kids their birth story on their birthday.  Lydia was my only home birth.  It was going to be the perfect home birth - short, beautiful, simple and all in the comforts of my own home.  Those were MY plans.  God had other plans.  Her home birth was LONG and painful and ended up with my being rushed to the hospital to spend 3 days in order to preserve my life.  It's hard telling the kids Lydia's birth story.  Much of it is all a blur after her birth - which I guess is a good thing.  But I need to remember to tell Lydia's birth story to the Fish Sticks as a story of God's hand in our home.  A story of God's faithfulness, love, provisions and grace.  A story that points out all of the things that could have been much worse.  That could have taken my life.  A story that points to God and His goodness.

 So my sweet baby has turned 4 and in hopefully a month or so will become a big sister for the first time.  She's ready, I assure you and can't wait for her brothers to arrive.

 Since we had just had an Oreo Ice Cream Cake for Ruth's birthday, we decided to have a chocolate chip cookie cake, decorated by Anna Blair, who Lydia calls Best Buddy.

This photo is special because AB gave Liddy her personal "real feel baby" for her birthday.  AB got Lena the Ballena (nope, I didn't spell ballerina wrong...that was how AB named her) when she turned 3.  It was always her very special baby, but since she's too old to play babies anymore, we cleaned up Lena and wrapped her for Liddy.  Liddy couldn't have been happier to have her Best Buddy's favorite baby doll.  Those 2 sisters have such a strong bond - it blesses me to see and watch them, not to mention it reminds me of my little sis (8 years younger too) who I have adored since she was born.

Happy Birthday "Baby" Girl!!  You bring our house so much joy!