Lauren LaRue turns 2

After we had Eleanor, Barry and I had quite a bit of trouble trying to have another child, and had lost almost all hope. Yet, one night I had a dream. I dreamed clearly of a beautiful dark-eyed, dark-haired baby girl. I was standing over her as she lay on a bed, dressed in a pretty dress on a pastel blanket. The dream became very real to me as I stood over her looking into her eyes, and I realized, with a bit of a shock, that I recognized her. I knew who she was, and as she looked back at me, I knew that she knew me. This beautiful, little, dark-haired baby was my child, my sweet daughter. 
The dream gave me hope for the future, that Barry and I would someday be blessed with another child. Another year or two went by and we were so very happy and grateful to be able to add James, to our family. We felt strongly that our little family was not yet complete ...but, I felt scared, greedy, and a bit ungrateful to try for another child after being blessed with James ...especially with the odds being so severely against us. But when our little James was only a year old, Barry and I both knew it was time to try again. This time my pregnancy passed by without any real trouble and at 37 weeks our little miracle, Lauren Noelle joined our family. We were overjoyed! On Lauren's Blessing Day, Barry's mom gave Lauren a precious pink baby dress sewn by Barry's Grandmother(she had passed on). The dress was beautiful and one-of-a-kind. I felt very honored that Barry's mom had passed the dress onto us, out of all of her 8 children.
Later that day, I took Lauren upstairs to take some pictures. With the afternoon sun streaming in through the window, I laid Lauren down a top of a lovely baby quilt made by Barry's sister, and dressed my sweet daughter in that precious pink dress. It was then, at that moment, looking down at her, that I recognized the baby of my dream from years early. Everything was the same, the lighting, the dress, the blanket, the baby. I looked into my baby's beautiful eyes, and with tears escaping down my face, I knew without ANY doubt that I had a loving Father in Heaven, who was mindful of me, and who cared enough for me, to bless me with that early glimpse of my daughter who would bring such hope, peace, and joy into my life.

                           Happy Birthday! I love you Lauren Noelle, more than words can say.

Just a few of the million things I love about you....

I love how well you talk, I don't think there is anything you can't say....
I love your beautiful soft ...sort of curly, sort of straight, wild hair.
I love when you look in the mirror and twirl and say. "oh pretty, pretty."
I love how you're bold and not scared to stand up to a big brother, or big sister.
I love how, even though you're the smallest, you half to be in the middle of things with your siblings.
I love the way you run, so smooth, like an Indian.
I love your strong deep voice. 
I love how you surprise us by pointing at us at dinner and saying "Hands up!"
I love how you're a Daddy's girl, and want to be with him every moment.
I love how you tell me when you're going to barf(berf), when you need your diaper changed, or when you  need a bath...:)
I love that you can and will put yourself down for a nap.
I love that you care about other people and their feelings.
I love how you wipe my tears away when I am sad, and ask. "You otay Mom? you otay?"
I love how you like to steal people's "spots"(seats), and when you come from the other room just to plop yourself down on my lap to be near me.
I love how you are quick to say that you are sorry, even when you're not guilty.
I love how you take possession of things that couldn't possibly be yours and adamantly claim them as your own.
I love your cheesy grin.