nine.

i'm having a hard time coming up with the right words today.
to describe how very much i love this kid.
and exactly how proud i am to be his mom.
and how i treasure every single day he has been in our lives.
and that i can't believe that he's really nine.
really. nine.
happy birthday, hayden. xo, mom

i will never, ever hear this song without remembering
this summer. and you at this age.
which i love, so, so much.

pretty picnic.

gorgeous light.
a handmade quilt.
a basket filled with homemade bread and fruit.
a girl who appreciates fine photos and makes plenty of her own.
who brought her three sweet boys to brave the mosquitos
and allowed me to capture them. candidly.
there were too many beautiful images to pick from
for this post, so i chose randomly.
and posted in no particular order,
this sweetness.

at last.

at last.

she's here.
this tiny, brand newest member of our family.

and we've snuggled her.

and changed her diapers and fed and swaddled her.
(by the end of the week, hayden was making bottles all by himself)

and snapped her picture. almost a million times.
(although it was difficult to put her down long enough to)

and talked baby talk. and oohed and ahhed
at each little noise and scrunchy face.
("awww, little sweet girl..." court would say)

and had our first girls' day, complete with shopping and pedicures.
(which she won't remember, but we will.)

court whispered "you think it's ok i get my nails done too?"
it made me smile to know that certain traits
can skip around so freely in families.
and wonder if sofia would ever remind them of me.
like my own kids remind me of them.
(i've never even HAD a manicure!)

and shared the story of how we came to meet her.
xo, t