Two years ago today, the world was enriched by the arrival of our Rowen. Within moments of her birth, the midwife's assistant pronounced her "een pittige tante" (roughly translated = a feisty girl). She was right!

Rowen's birth went very smoothly - as a matter of fact, I kept putting the midwife off about actually having the baby because I was trying to get Max's lunch packed for school! The only odd moment of the whole pregnancy was when we found out she was a girl - everyone, midwife included, was certain it was going to be another boy. I was going to star in my own version of My Three Sons. Naturally, the first thing I did was buy some flowery pink & red clothes for her. How cliché! Rowen arrived almost exactly on her due date - another big difference from her brothers, who were two weeks late (Max) and two weeks early (Nick).

Rowen's our most Dutch-looking baby with her blonde hair and blue eyes and apple cheeks. We've actually had people ask if Nicky is adopted because they are so close in age yet have such different appearances! She's been the boss since the beginning. Whether this is typical for girls or whether it is simply Rowen's enormous personality, I can't say. She's also the boss at daycare, able to run the older children ragged fetching and gathering for her. Her willfulness has presented some unique challenges in our fairly laid-back family, and in all honestly the first 18 months saw a number of days when I felt I'd reached my wits' end. But recently she her development has caught up with her desire to express herself in more positive ways, and she has become quite a delight.

Today we'll enjoy a small party with some of Niek's family - his mom & dad and at least two of his brothers with their families. We'll miss those who can't come - mom, dad & Mary, Jim & Gaby, Rich & Amy, and many others who are too far away. (Fortunately, we'll be able to enjoy a nice, long visit with at least a few of you this summer!) I'll enjoy watching our kids play and will feel amazed all over again at how fast the time flies by.



To end on a stitching note, if you haven't seen Kathy Barrick-Dieter's new designs, you simply must go look!