A few moments of quiet reading

I've worked with children and families for my entire professional career and have written dozens of grants that help public libraries strengthen their early and family literacy programs. I live and breathe early literacy and I've been waiting for this moment for a very long time:

We have a tiny reader in our house! Ivy reaches for her books first thing in the morning and crawls into our laps many times during the day with her favorite titles. Repeated readings of Planting a Rainbow and The Very Hungry Caterpillar with her warm head tucked under my chin are moments of pure bliss. She makes her librarian parents very, very proud.

From Virginia to Wisconsin

Ivy finally met Grandma Pauline, Grandpa Frank and Aunt Christine. Ivy's now richer by one red wagon, a child-size bench, water toys for the backyard and an ever-widening circle of love.

Here she is with Grandpa Frank on the first day of their visit:

Here she is with Aunt Christine at the World's Largest Brat(wurst) Fest:

And here's a touching moment with Grandma Pauline:

We're so glad that they made the trip to Wisconsin and we're very grateful for all the love they gave to Ivy. Thanks for everything, guys!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Frank!

First I'll wrap you around my little finger and then I'll whisper sweet baby secrets into your ear:

Thanks for making the trip from Virginia to Wisconsin - I'm so happy to be with you on your 29th birthday!

On this day, May Twentieth

Exactly one year ago today, Kevin and I met with our adoption agency for the very first time:

Exactly six months ago today, Kevin and I received our travel call, telling us that Ivy was ready to fly home to Madison:

Exactly Today:

Oh, Happy Day.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa B.!

Thanks for knowing how to always make me smile.

(And thank you for always having noisy tic-tacs in your shirt pocket. Someday mommy will let me eat them with you.)

Weekend celebrations

This weekend was a celebratory one. Today is Ivy's 14-month birthday and she wore a fancy sun hat, a spring dress and her sweetest smiles.

Another birthday was observed in South Korea this weekend. Korean Buddhists marked the birth of Buddha on May 2nd. The festivities in Seoul were spectacular as thousands flocked to the streets for nighttime parades; here in Madison the three of us reveled at home in our greening backyard -- the blue sky our dome, the afternoon sun our temple bell and Ivy our baby bodhisattva.

We all come together as one, singing and dancing under a shower of pink lotus petals.

Lacking lotus flowers in our Madison garden, we painted them on scraps of fabric, made a garland and hung our cheery lotus flags on our pergola where they fluttered in the breeze all afternoon. Ivy liked watching them during our Buddha's Birthday picnic on the grass.

Afterwards we relaxed on the deck in the shade of our sun umbrella . . .

. . . laughing and finding joy on this enlightened day.

We hope that you've all had a peaceful weekend.