Happy Birthday, Beth!

On January 10, 2002, Dan and I held our newborn baby girl for the very first time, and instantly, we became parents. We had very little understanding of the journey we were about to embark upon, and those first few weeks were a blur of sleep deprivation and feelings of incompetence. But slowly, we figured it out together. And slowly, we learned how blessed we really were to be parents to this baby girl.

Beth, with you we experienced so many things for the very first time. Your little voice was the first one to call me "Mama" and Dan "Dada". You were the first baby that we cheered for when it came time to take those first baby steps. You were the first feverish and sick baby that we sat up with all night long. From you, we have learned to be more patient. From you, we have learned to laugh more. From you, we have learned to really notice the world around us...the leaves changing colors, the squirrels outside our windows, the flowers growing each Spring. Your enthusiasm and love of life is contagious, and you bring smiles to everyone you meet.

Happy Fifth birthday, Beth. You are more special to us than you will ever know.