Christina Garber Photography:

Here Anya is tickling Daniella and cracking herself up. Anya is our little instigator and a bundle of delight (even when she’s causing trouble.)

I can’t believe it.  It feels like magic: my little girl is reading.  My mind told me it was going to happen someday, but my emotions thought I would never see the day.  I’m so proud of her.  She went to her Grandma’s and read a few words with her cousin, and the next day she just started reading.  People said it would happen, but I’m still in disbelief. 

This is Daniella and Bella, the neighbor’s cat that Daniella adopted. I think it adopted us too. For weeks it lived on our porch. Daniella became very attached. And then one day, Bella disappeared. Weeks later she is still mourning. She told me, “Mommy, I feel like the kitty’s mommy… every day I miss her… but I have decided to be happy… because I love her so much… and maybe she’s at a better place where Anya doesn’t squeeze her neck… so I am happy because I love her and I want her to be taken care of.”

When Daniella was disobedient at two, I could get annoyed. Anya is another matter. No matter what she does, she melts me. I think that this is rather dangerous, and I try to remind myself to discipline her when she is being naughty. But, alas, look at this face.