Happy Birthday, Kiki!

Keanna! You're finally six! You've been waiting so long for this day...

But to tell you the truth, you already seem quite mature for your age. You have a sweet, quiet disposition that often sets you apart from your louder, crazier siblings. But you have a big heart and that puts you firmly and securely back in their midst.

This has been an odd year, to say the least, but you've handled it with much patience and grace. 

You've joyfully embraced your artistic side and have spent many hours drawing and coloring this past year...our walls are adorned with artwork created by you and Talia.

You love learning and are an eager student of any subject. You are joyful when it comes to chores and helping out around the house. 

You love playing in the backyard with your siblings, too... but this year has exposed that both you and I have some allergies that have grown with something out there! 

We love watching you grow, sweet Kiki, and we pray that as your knowledge and skills and confidence grows, you'll continue to acknowledge the good God who gave you such sweet gifts.

And we'll continue to thank Him for the sweet gift who is YOU!! 

Happy, happy birthday, Keanna! We love you so much! 

Happy Birthday, Keanna!

You're FIVE years old, Buttercup.

I can't tell you how thankful we are for you.

You're a bit of an old soul for a five-year-old. You started TK (transitional kindergarten) this year, and I love watching you in the co-op classes. You're confident but quiet, observing those around you and soaking in all the learning you can.

We love how you soak in the world around you, and we love how you fit into our family.

We love you, Keanna, and we thank God for His sweet gift in giving you to us!  We pray that your next year is wonderful and that you always know how very, very loved you are!

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Keanna!

Buttercup, you're four years old. As your aunties say, four going on sixteen.

It's true -- you've been affectionately referred to as "the boss" since you were two. You love everything to be clean and orderly. You like to make sure that all the shoes are lined up and all the sippy cups are in the hands of the proper owners.

But over the last several months, over all your Type A personality has emerged even more strongly, love, kindness, warmth and sweetness. You're quick to give a hug, show compassion and concern for those who are hurting, and cuddle up quietly with those you love.

Even when, as we put off, again, our formal celebration of your birthday due to you being sick and your little sister also falling sick, you've expressed much more concern about Talia being miserable than you have about you being sick or your birthday plans being changed.

We're so thankful for you, KeannaGirl. You are a gift from God and an expression of the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. We love you so much and we pray that God will bless you and keep you and show you His irresistible love all the days of your life.

Happy, happy birthday, SweetGirl!

Happy Birthday, Keanna!

Well, Buttercup, you're three today!

It is so, so good to have you in our family.

You're feisty and funny, you're brave, and you're kind. You're bossy, and you are sweet. You're thoughtful, and you are mine. Well, you're mine, and the rest of your great big, crazy family's, too.

I love how God has knit our "little" family together. Sometimes I feel outnumbered and a bit overwhelmed -- but sometimes, I feel like I see an amazing team being formed, right in front of my eyes. Each person a unique and irreplaceable piece of a bigger picture. And, darling, the picture is beautiful. Quite messy and definitely a work in process, but oh, so beautiful.

As I type this, you've fallen asleep on my bed, having convinced your Daddy that you wanted to hang out with us a bit longer tonight. I watch you sleep, and I remember when we found out that you were a girl. I've always said that I love having boys, but I'm so very thankful to have my girls mixed in -- it's good for boys to have females influencing them! So I was excited to have our streak of boys broken by you, and then your little sister following.

Your older sisters -- now they really rejoiced when they found out they were getting another one "on their side." Selah was talking about that today, about how much she loves having you as her first baby sister.

You've been a gift and a joy right from the start. We love how you live and love. We love how you care for your baby sister, and we love how you are a best friend to J.J. We love your confidence and your sparkle and your enthusiasm for life.

We pray that you are blessed, blessed, blessed this year and always. We pray you know how very loved you are, by God, and by us. We pray your joy only grows and your love only deepens. And we pray that you will run to Jesus with all of your heart.

We love you, sweet Kiki, and we thank God for YOU! Happy, happy third birthday, Sweets!

Happy Birthday, Kiki!!

A long, long time ago, there was a mommy and daddy who had a little girl. Then they had a boy. And another boy. And then another girl. Then they had another boy. And another boy...and a couple years later aNOTHER boy. And then, they had a precious, sweet little girl (YOU!). And then aNOTHER girl. But let's get back to YOU!

Two years (and two days -- sorry for the belatedness of this post!) ago, you broke our streak and bounced joyfully into our world. There was GREAT rejoicing by your older sisters and your brothers...oh, they cooed.

I don't think you've stopped bouncing since. You are a bundle of joy...You sing, you dance, you babble up a storm. You bat your eyes and stomp your feet. You love to be carried and happily yell at "Yaya" (Eliana) or "Mi'gey" to chariot you up and down the stairs, even though your little legs work just fine.

You and JJ have been inseparable since Day One. You're his voice when he's not yet ready to talk, and you've gotten him into more mischief then his happy-go-lucky, laid-back self would ever have even thought to discover without you.

And with Baby Sister...oh, you're a bucket of sweetness. Your older siblings have taught you well how to cuddle and kiss and love on the babies...and you happily accept that role!

We love you, Sweet Girl. You are a gift from God and a joy to our hearts, and we are so incredibly thankful that He saw fit to add you to our crazy household. You fit right in and add a sweet spark.

Happy, happy birthday, Keanna!

Happy Birthday, Keanna!

It's hard to believe that it's already been one year since you were first placed in our arms, we first kissed your cheeks, snuggled you close, and ran our fingers through your hair. It's hard to believe that it's been a year since you made your appearance and stole so many hearts.

I watched you, today, as your eyes lit on Daddy and you wiggled with everything within you, your already huge smile completely dwarfing the rest of your face, squealing and arching your body in his direction, anticipating him gathering you into his arms. I watched his eyes twinkle in response and a smile take over his countenance as he cooed a greeting at you.

We see that joy when you call "Elw-ya-ya-ya" (Eliana) and "IiKkkkk" (Mikey) when you want to play. We see that delight when Jeremiah comes in to give you a hug and a kiss and you pet his hair, grabbing on as you hug and kiss him in return.

We see the tenderness that blooms when our rough-and-tumble boys fall head over

heels for their baby sister and want to tell the world just how adorable you are. We see the care that each of your big sisters loves to dote on you. We see how sweetly you love extended family and friends and how much they treasure you in return.

And we thank God that He chose to gift all of us with YOU. You are a joy and a delight, a go-getter and a sweetheart, and in your short time with us, you've brought life and love and hope during some sad and dreary days.

We love you and can't wait to see God's good plan for you as you grow... but no rush, Sweet Girl. Take your time. We're enjoying each day with you.

Happy, happy birthday, Buttercup! We love you!!

Video: Selah, Sammy, Elijah and Jeremiah Meet Their 'First Baby Sister'