Happy Birthday Ava Claire!!

One year ago today, our lives changed in ways we never imagined. Ava Claire was brought into this world at 3:24 pm at a whopping 8 lbs. 8 oz. and 20 3/4 inches long. We never imagined how happy our little girl would make us or how much we would love her or how living on little or no sleep would not seem like a big deal at all, just something you do. We have laughed more and smiled more in the past year than probably our whole lifetime. That is what a child will do. They will make you wear your heart on your sleeves and cry at the drop of a hat. They will laugh at you when no one else thinks you're funny. A child will love you regardless of your faults. Ava has been our joy and our blessing from God. Every single morning when she wakes up, Coby and I both jump out of bed and rush to her room to find her greeting us with a big, happy smile. It has been hard at times, of course, but worth it all.

Not to get too sappy (since I did that in the previous blog), but it's my child's birthday and I want to thank you all for helping us along the way. We are so thankful for parents, brothers, sisters, friends who have helped us raise Ava. Some of you gave encouragement when it was needed most and many of you women friends out there assured me many times that yes this was normal. Boy, how I needed to hear that a time or two. I needed you to tell me that she would start sleeping better and that your child went through phases of not eating very well too. It helped. Thanks also for loving on our girl! I am pretty sure she loves all of you right back.

We had the party today. Mostly family, a couple of close friends came. We wish we could have invited everyone we know, but the budget would not allow. We had a nice hamburger cook out with some cake and ice cream. Ava's daddy made the most amazing video to celebrate the past year. It was a sweet time, a sweet celebration.

As we begin another year, I am a bit sad at the realization of how fast time truly does fly. It doesn't seem like a year and how did she turn into a big girl? No longer a baby, but always my baby. Our strongest desire is to teach Ava to love Jesus with all of her heart. If that is all we accomplish in this life then that will be enough. She is our legacy and she will leave a legacy. It will be passed on as it was passed on to us. We hope to embrace every single moment with this precious child of ours. And laugh a lot throughout the years to come.