We went to the pool and I asked Libby to go upstairs and get dressed when we got home. She comes down like this and proudly presents herself with a "tada!". I start to give her a hard time about her ridiculous get up. It's hot, and it's too much. But she explains that it is only 3 things. Then she explains how the button down shirt she has on underneath makes it "handsome". (Can you tell she has brothers?). Now my heart is softened, and I decide not to ask her to change.
Then I see the picture she was drawing, and if my heart wasn't already mush, it is now.



She knows how to write two words. Her name and mine. She writes them everywhere (including on my kitchen cushions). She draws hearts around them and draws pictures of us holding hands. She is my girl. She is overbearing at times and demands my attention in frustrating ways like climbing all over me when I'm trying to nurse the baby. But she is beautiful and loving and smart and helpful. And so strongly today I feel the sacredness of all of this. I realize I am the most important person in her whole world. I get to be that person for a short time really. Sometimes it is exhausting or frustrating, but it is the most awesome role that I will ever fill.

4 weeks post baby

Libby really knows how to make a momma feel good. While pushing into my belly she says, "why your belly not have bones in it?"
I answer with a little poke of her belly, "your belly doesn't have bones in it either."
Her retort? "But your belly is so squishy.". Pronounced "ho wishy" in Libby speak.
"Thanks Bibber."

My tribe

These are my people. I've been thinking about my family a lot since our weekend together celebrating my parents 40th wedding anniversary. We have a lot of fun and a lot of laughs when we are all together. I'd like to say something profound about the importance of family, and the security of knowing that you always have a place with them, but it would probably just sound trite. So I'll just say in the immortal words of Emily, "We're the Miceli's. We do what we want:-) "

I was so glad baby Thomas got to meet them before he was two weeks old. Here is baby Thomas with his uncle Tommy.

My four