Dear Sarah Anne

Thank you for obliging your obnoxious auntie and her camera. 

I can see from the expression on your face how thrilled you were!

I know you hated wearing that dress last year at your First Communion, and that putting it on again, even for 'pretend', was like putting on a cape made of fire ants.

So thank you for gritting your teeth and bearing it.

I love how the green nailpolish gives a little clue that underneath that sweet dress, you're a total rocker chick!

That behind this sweet smile is a mind racing a thousand miles an hour putting together your future television show, with elaborate choreography and amazing music. 
Not to mention the scripts for commercials that air in between shots of you rocking out and just being fabulously famous. 

Someday, maybe you'll have a daughter just like you, and you can explain to her that sometimes, when you really love someone, you wear dresses made of fire ants to please them.

Because you can look like an angel for the record books...

As long as you keep your ripped jeans on underneath to remind you who you really are.

I love you beautiful girl!
Including the pop-goth, jingle-loving, alternative-hipster superstar inside the pretty dress.

Dear Jane Marion

You looked so beautiful in your first communion dress!  I know it was a hand-me-down, but it looked like it was made for you.   I’m so glad your mom dragged it to Massachusetts so we could get some pretty pictures, because making your First Holy Communion is a really big deal. 

I can only imagine what it is like being the youngest of four very unique and spirited sisters.   You probably get compared to everyone for everything.  But no one compares to you, Jane.  You are equal parts SWEET and SASSY.  Always the first to give a hug, and just as likely to be the first to throw a punch!   So hard to believe with this sweet face, but oh so true!

I can see some of the same traits in Ben, actually, and it’s probably because he’s the youngest too.  So used to being last, having his toys grabbed away by bigger kids, having his ideas trampled on because he’s too little, always being stuck in the back or given the last turn because the bigger kids run the show.

I promise it won’t always be that way.  I don’t think.  You’ll have to ask other ‘last borns’ for confirmation since I only know about being first born.  But I’m pretty sure that when you’re 25 and off in the world somewhere doing something amazing with your life, no one is going to pull your hair and yell “Mommmm!!  Janeeeessssss bugggginnnnnngggg meeeeeeeeee!”

The thing about you and your cousin Ben is that you both have such loving hearts and sweet hugs and kisses!  That’s why it never takes anyone more than five seconds to forgive you when your volcano erupts.    

With a face like this, what’s not to forgive?

Congratulations on making your First Holy Communion Jane. 
You're going to do great in third grade!

We love you!

Dear Corey Elizabeth

I am so sorry we didn’t get to take all the senior pictures we were dreaming of.  But honestly, who needs the ocean in the background when you’ve got the entire Atlantic in your eyes?

You are such a beautiful young lady, inside and out.  

You have a heart like your Nana.  So loving and giving and always looking for ways to help others. 

And like your mother, you have the ability to live in the moment.

You don't wallow in the past.

You don't hold grudges.

(I could use a little of that myself sometimes)

You are such a good sister, daughter, niece, cousin, granddaughter, friend. 

It’s not easy being the oldest, I know. 

Everything you do gets scrutinized under a microscope, and you’re held to a much higher standard than any of your siblings.  I wish I could tell you that will end in 6 weeks when you turn 18.  No such luck!  In fact I can warn you from experience that you'll get to watch when your sisters are allowed to do most of the things you weren’t, go places you weren’t,  and get by with behavior that you weren’t.  Its one of the perks of being born first.

The upside is that when you’re held to a higher standard like that, you tend to have pretty high standards for yourself later in life.  You are more apt to work hard and make good choices because you’re used to not having another option. 

When you’re not used to getting bailed out, you learn to swim. 

And my dear, it looks as if you are poised to dive in and start swimming. 

I hope you enjoy this last year of high school, and remember that although you will face challenges on the road to independence, those challenges have the power to give you strength, wisdom, courage and self-confidence...

...but only if you choose to act with strength, wisdom, courage and self-confidence.

And I know you will.

Love, Auntie Bethy

The Wait is Nearly Over!

Wow, could that slideshow BE any smaller??  Ulia is so glowingly, Pantene-model beautiful, and you just can't appreciate it in a thumbnail.  And Paul was such a good sport about the pictures (which we squeezed during pre-game festivities for the last Pats game of the season).  So here are a few of the best ones blown up.  I wish I had time to do them all, but the Pitocin was started at 7:30, water broken before 10am, and this baby may may be BORN before I finish this post if I dont' HURRY.  Also, I hope posting these is okay with Paul and Ulia because I wasn't calling them at the hospital to ask permission.  I invoke Godmother's (and Photographer's) privelege, if there is such a thing, lol!

To sum up...Go Ulia!  Go Paul!!  Go Baby!!  We can't wait to meet you!