The Pumpkin Patch - 1 Year Later

Somehow our littlest lady will be 11 months tomorrow (on her daddy's birthday). So today we kicked off the weekend with an afternoon at the pumpkin patch picking the last of the strawberry harvest and choosing some especially lovely pumpkins for our front porch. The whole afternoon had me flashing back to exactly one year ago, when Navy was our only and Willa was still snuggled up in my tummy. 

Looking at the photos from today and comparing them to this time last year, I can hardly believe that we've already enjoyed nearly one year with her in our arms! And yet, her entrance into our lives has been total, consuming magic. The kind of intense magic that needs a year to hold it, really. My heart is utterly besotted as though I never knew a time where I didn't know her and love her. Never could I have imagined such a perfect and complimentary being to join our crew. But here she is. Our gift to watch over with grateful hearts, overflowing. 

And Navy! What change and growth and coming-into-one's-own we've witnessed this past year in her! Our sweet baby-toddler in those pictures from last year has grown into a little girl it seems! Though I'm reluctant to even say that, as my heart knows she's still so little in the grand scheme of things. Still! Emotionally, intellectually and physically, the changes we've witnessed this past year have us wide-eyed and smiling nearly all the time. She makes us belly laugh regularly, swells our hearts with her kindness and generosity and routinely reminds us of the importance of focusing on those things in life which are truly beautiful and life-giving. She is a force of nature in the best possible way. She loves her sister deeply and truly and she has been the most gracious and accommodating toddler as we adjusted to having another baby in the home. Though we worked intentionally to make this transition gentle on her, she chose to cooperate freely and engaged enthusiastically. That has truly been one of the most blessed things to come of this past year in conjunction with Willa's arrival.

I never want to forget the year that Willa joined our lives. And not just for the obvious reason of Willa joining us, but more for the domino effect her presence has had on us all and between us all. Adapting to two children, getting to know Willa, learning even more about Navy, growing as parents navigating uncharted territory...it's just enriched the experience of loving this family of mine even more. The love gets deeper and stronger with each passing day and I'm so profoundly grateful for the opportunity to 'do this'. To be their mama and to do it hand in hand with my love. Life is good.