Happy Birthday Claire Bear

Claire turns 1 today! Has it really been a year? Before she was born I wondered if I would ever be able to love another child like I already loved Payton. From the moment I saw Claire in the delivery room my heart was filled with love. I remember saying to Jonathan "I do love her, so much" through a lot of tears. Every moment with her is a gift. It has been our joy to watch her grow and to discover her personality. Claire is quite and reserved, curious and observant, sensitive and at times a little moody. We love her beautiful blue eyes, the dimple in her chin, her chubby legs, and the way she giggles and squinchs up her nose and eyes. I love the way she prefers me over anyone else. Jonathan loves how she crawls after him as he leaves for work and lights up with a smile when he comes home. We love to watch her and Payton interact. At times as I watch them together holding hands in the car, playing at home, or laying in bed together I am overwhelmed with thankfulness. Thankfulness that I get to be their mommy, that God has entrusted me to raise these little girls, that their laughter and cries fill my home, that their memories are mine, and that I get to raise them with the man of my dreams. I know that every parent feels this way about their children, their love is such a precious gift.