happy birthday, beautiful girl

Here you are over the weekend, playing lifeguard.

This from 2002, you wrangling my wild baby, Lydia.

This is the story of Heidi's name:  Before she was born, we picked out a pretty girl's name--Jennifer Michelle.  It was a perfect, pretty baby girl name.   And then she was born and didn't look at all like any stock photo of a baby girl--she looked like family, like a close personal relative.

(Imagine that.)

As I took in that face, I asked Jay if he minded if we named her Heidi instead?

He said sure.

Here you are, Heidi, another cute one from the weekend, that wet baby in your arms.

Thank you for everything you bring to my life, Dad's life, to this family--your patience and sense of humor, for sharing p.j. with all of us the way you do.  You are generous and considerate, and tend to say, "Awww," in the right places, tell me not to worry.

Being girls together with you and Kirby caught me by surprise--it was fun then, and it's still fun now.

We are all lucky your ours.

Probably none of us would even be who we are without you.

Obviously you have made the whole family better.   love forever, MOM and DAD and everybody