Sweet Caroline Marie Turns 3!!!!

Thank you for my new header, Ashley! You always know exactly what I need without me asking you!

February 2, 2007 9:07pm 7lbs 15oz-PERFECT (linked to the original post)

As I thought about posting pictures from her last birthdays, I realized that Thomas was only at one birthday party (two if you count her birth!--Which I do.) Realizations like that are like a sucker punch to my stomach. HE WAS AN AMAZING DADDY! He loved Caroline so much! All of his students still tell me stories about how he talked about Caroline all the time in class at Har-Ber.
Anyway, I don't want this to be a sad post for her birthday-but I want to "keep it real" and this is the way it goes.
I found a few pictures that I had not posted before of Thomas and Caroline around her first birthday.

These pictures were taken for her first birthday. She is such a "mini-me" of Thomas!

Caroline showing off the hand-made blocks that Bapah and Daddy made her for her 1st birthday!
(Two seconds later after taking this picture we had to talk to her about not throwing them!)

The picture below was on the first snow of the season. Exactly one month before the accident and about two months before she turned two.
Her 2nd birthday(link to the post):


Turning three(!) at Cake Party in Springdale!Thanks to my family and friends who came to share this special night with us.
It was a blast. Thomas wore himself out. Luckily, Mimi and Rosemary were willing to hold him most of the night!
Fun times. Sweet Caroline and Aly Claire gobbling up their tasty creations.

(I couldn't resist-Here are Aly and Caroline 2-2-07 Aly was 6 weeks old)

Serious Thomas wondering when he will get to try the cupcakes...
Poppy with Jett looking like the mischevious monkey on his shirt...
Caroline, I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful God made you. You are special, thoughtful, caring, considerate, polite, intelligent and funny. I do not know how to put in words how amazing you are. I love how you squinch up your eyes and hold my face in your hands when you want to show me how much you love me. I love how you love your little brother and kiss him all the time. I love how you are so willing to come running when I call to you to see what new trick Thomas can do so that I would have someone to share that joy with. I love how you take care of me in more ways then you can know. I love how, today, in the car you were listening to me tell someone that I was losing my voice and you asked me if Ursula took it (from the Little Mermaid movie.) I love how you have been talking about about Daddy so much lately. I was trying to reach for something in the backseat while driving and I told you I was sorry I couldn't get it and you told me if Daddy were here, he could reach it because he has long arms. I love that when I wistfully said that I was ready for spring to come, you replied "I miss Daddy." You are so intuitive to know that is what I really meant. I love your sweet innocence when you told me that when Daddy got back from Heaven he would be waiting for us at home. I am so glad I got to tell you that instead of Daddy coming to us, that we will go to Daddy when God decides. I love you, sweet Caroline. -Mommy