.maya turns seven.

Today Maya turns seven! As I began typing this, the little muffin just jumped on my lap for a snuggle:) I would easily consider Maya the most independent, fearless  and social of my children. She doesn't cling to me in unfamiliar situations, but happily goes off to try new activities and meet new people. She is an active, brave, happy go lucky little monkey. However, this year I have seen another side of her emerge. When I visited my sister last month up in Whitehorse, both my mom and Steve reported that Maya was clearly the one that missed me most and struggled with my absence. When we are at home, she will play with her sisters, but frequently come and find me for kisses, or to tell me something interesting. When I am cooking dinner, she is right at my side...eager to help. I have to be careful and remember to ask the other girls to do chores, because Maya is my most natural choice: she does it quickly, neatly, without complaining and then skips right back to my side. This desire for proximity to me is not new if I look back carefully. When Maya was born she wanted her momma. Due to a staffing shortage, and who knows what else, I was stuck in recovery following my C-section for 2+ hours just waiting to see her. I wanted her and she wanted me. Steve was up on the ward holding this brand new baby that wouldn't settle...he even called my mom to come help as Maya just kept crying and nobody was giving him updates on me. Three hundred and eight-nine years later, when I was finally brought to my baby, she settled right away in my arms. She needed me and I needed her. This much remains unchanged.
Maya - you are so very special to mommy and to our family. What would we do without our Maya in the middle? Thank you for loving us all so well; for reminding us to stop and listen, to snuggle and smooch, to love and be loved. Life is so much more than accomplishing tasks and completing lists (your old ma + pa often forget this). You seem to have a natural bent towards caring for people and knowing what the significant moments in a day really are. You are wise, my sweet seven year old.These days you plan on being a nurse when you grow up...I can't imagine a better one. Happy Birthday Maya Kate...Mommy and Daddy love you so much!

.anna turns four.

As I tucked my three year old into bed last night, she held up one little finger in front of her face. One finger left, having worked her way down from all ten...and then some. "One more sleep till I turn four?" she asked. I confirmed that yes, indeed, she would wake up the next morning a full fledged four year old. She squealed and declared her love for me, as she often does when things are going her way. I just read over Anna's birthday post from last year, and am once again struck by how quickly twelve months fly by, and how much those months contain. This has been a wonderful year with Anna. Although she still has a flaming stubborn streak; she is finally starting to grow out of that "terrible two/three" stage! It's so fun having conversations with her as her understanding and comprehension grow, yet she maintains a bit of her baby-ish lisp and logic :) Though she's the smallest member of the family, she quite often sets the tone for the mood of the household. If she's in good spirits, she has us all laughing...if not, look out. Anna's favourite thing is playing with her sisters...hands down. When they are away at school, she asks at least a dozen times as day, when they will be back so she can play with them. When the girls are home, but occupied with more "grown-up" activities, she asks how long until they will play with her again. She is ready for either a) another sibling or b) school. Option a) is NOT an option, and so we countdown the 10 months until she starts kindergarten. I know already how bittersweet this will be. I look forward to all the free time I will have to edit without interruption and go on spontaneous lunch dates with Steve or girlfriends. But, it aches my heart to know that when I write this post next year, she will be spending 5 out of 7 days a week, not with me. My baby.
Anna Grace - You are a gift of the greatest kind! I had no idea how much I needed you...my 3rd little girl. You have a fire in you, and I pray that you don't lose it, but that you allow it to spur you forward when things are hard, to ground you when things appear uncertain, and that you would love the Lord, your family, friends and those around you with this beautiful, burning love. I love you lambchop.