Happy Birthday Natalie

 Thirty four years ago today this was my first view of my baby. She was supposed to arrive in the middle of July, but determined as she is she decided May 29th would be the day she would grace the earth.

She was a happy baby. A beautiful baby. Always.

She may look innocent here, but she was a strong willed little girl. I'm sure at the time as parents we found it frustrating, but looking back, it was nothing. A blip on the radar.

 She was a chatterbox. She was assertive. We love those traits in her.

She took tap lessons at the age of five. 

And until she was 10. At that time she wanted to stop. We let her decide. Sometimes now she tells us she wishes we had pushed her to continue. But as she will discover, you can't push a child to do what she does not want.

Look at these two shots, kindergarten on the left, freshman year in high school on the right.

Same little girl.

Words can never really describe the emotions you feel for your child. It's just a feeling, from within, all encompassing your every breath.

Natalie brings light to every relationship.

She has a great sense of humor.

A wonderful laugh.

And now that she is a mother she glows with love for her child and her husband.

I am so grateful to have been able to witness her transformation from baby to mother.

She makes me proud, every moment, and I am filled with joy in her presence.

Happy Birthday, Natalie!