Ayda is 2!!

Ayda, December 24, 2007 - 5 days old

Ayda, December 19, 2008 - 1 year old

Ayda, December 19, 2009 - 2 years old!!

Happy birthday, Ayda!! Okay, so I'm 27 minutes late, but I had zero time today to post. I was thinking back to this time 2 years ago - we had just recently moved up to post-partum from L&D (it took A LONG time to move - she was born at 5:19pm and we had to wait for 7:00 shift change to be finished before they let us move) and the nurse bathed her shortly after. She asked if she could do the bath, because she thought she was just too perfect. And then we had lots of cuddle time. Because she was born so early, they were concerned about body temperature, so after the bath we dried her off and Ryan had skin-on-skin time with her under a warm blanket. She was so perfect - still is. She was exactly what our family, immediate and extended, needed at that exact time, in more than one way. I want her to always know that it is so special that she was born right before Christmas. I know that some people born around this time of the year feel like they got the shaft, having their birthday overshadowed by Christmas. But I want Ayda to know that we will always celebrate her birthday apart from Christmas, but that the timing of her birth couldn't have been more perfect.

I love you, Ayda Sharon Ruth. More than you know. And your Daddy and brother love you, too. You are the perfect addition to our family and God blessed us with you at the time that He knew we needed you most.

More pictures to follow, after her second party.