i love birthdays and holidays. they provide an end date for my crafty endeavors, a much needed deadline, and an event to look forward to. as the countdown to belle’s birthday pulls us closer to her invisible day (remember, she’s a leapling), i am finishing the details of her celebrations.

i quickly carved this strawberry stamp to decorate the kraft paper i have to wrap her gifts. i’ve been looking through this book to review the strawberry cupcake and frosting recipes. i’m milling through the cabinets, making a checklist of ingredients.

but most of all, i am looking in awe at my “baby” who (it feels like) was just born a couple of months ago…and now she is headstrong, independent, beautiful, and so sweet.

now that she is a big girl, sleeping in a “real” bed, she has the freedom. and sometimes that freedom means getting into bed with brother for a little snuggle time…