When I was younger time passed slowly. I complained that a school year took SO LONG to go by. My dad would smile at me and go about his business. One of my clearest memories is him saying, "You know Marti, I do the same thing every day but each day for you is something new. You're just starting your life" On his 60th birthday he said, "I hope the next 20 years don't go by as fast as the last 20 years did." I didn't understand his sentiments until I had the girls and now I hope this next year doesn't go by as fast as last year. Despite my best efforts to slow time down, it keeps ticking and babies have birthdays.

I have REALLY awesome friends. They are a lot cooler than I am. Eliza is the baby girl of one of my best friends. I love watching Eliza get bigger. The birthdays keep coming and the babies keep getting bigger while I don't think us parents feel much different. We love them the best we can while we watch them grow, we give them super-cute big hair bows to wear for their parties and we console each other about the passage of time. Because, as hard as it is, these are sweet, sweet times we have right now.

Happy Birthday sweet Baby Eliza, we are all so in love with you!