This Present Joy

When I was pregnant with Hannah, I remember having some apprehension about Carly's reaction to having a younger sibling. Would she be jealous of the time we devoted to her sister? Would she feel left out? Would she act out towards her? From day one, she has been the devoted big sister to Hannah Jane. When Hannah was only a week old, Carly trekked up to the hospital ICU with us, clutching a gift bag, ready to deliver a special toy to her little sister. Over the past year, Carly has made Hannah's entire face light up more than anyone else. I don't know if it's the fact that it's another "little person" around, a "little voice" or just the antics of a 3-year-old, but Carly makes Hannah laugh and giggle the most. These are the giggles that tumble over one another--the kind that you want to record and play over and over again. J and I love seeing our girls interact--Carly loving and helpful, Hannah soothed and entertained by her older sister. Of cours...

Aren't weekends splendid? I love it when Friday arrives. It means a little more relaxation for all of us, no major schedule, a break from work for both me and J and just good, quality family time. And, during the summer, there's not much that can top spending a weekend evening with an ice cream cone in hand. We love Braum's custard-style frozen yogurt, so we bought a few pints and brought them home to make our own ice cream cones. Carly loved her chocolate concoction. And, Hannah joined in with a vanilla sampling. Pure summer fun.