Today my middle baby girl is four.

I dreamt about her for years. Before our Brooklyn it went boy, girl, boy, boy. Gracelyn longed for a sister after being blessed with three handsome brothers to love her and protect her throughout her life and I hoped for another girl too.

It's funny, how sometimes we think we have life all figured out. When my husband I were newly married and talked about starting a family I said I would like 3 kids, he said 2. Never did I think I would be a mama of six.

I wanted three, then when our third was born and was just a week old my husband turned to me and said, "I think we should have another one." I knew in my heart that very moment we would have another because that wasn't something I ever imagined would come out of his mouth, haha! Who are you and what did you do with my husband?! Six months later we got pregnant with number four.

The minute he was placed in my arms I turned to Jeremy and said, "I want another one." I remember him laughing and being like oh boy....well babe, you literally JUST had a baby, let's just wait and see. Haha! I just felt in my heart we weren't done.

I would dream about having a little girl named Brooklyn Faith, the perfect matching name to big sister Gracelyn Joy I thought. I mean really, how cute?! Finding out she was a girl was one of the best days ever. We went and had a early ultrasound done at a 3D ultrasound place and I cried when they told me it was indeed a baby girl. A sister for Gracelyn! I was just so happy! We told the kids by letting them spray silly string with the gender revealed - you know, every parents dream. Silly string EVERYWHERE. It was the best day! Everyone thought it was a girl and it was so fun sharing the news officially.

She was due mid October and I was hoping she would come on her Grandpa Petke's Birthday, October 10th, but she decided she wanted her own day and came on the 11th :)



This was my first birth I taught Jeremy a bit about my camera and wanted him to take some birth photos. He did amazing and I will cherish these precious photos forever.
















Another dream of mine came true when I reached out to my favorite newborn photographer, Rachel Vanoven while I was sitting in my hospital bed - jokingly teasing her that she totally needed a adorable little baby girl model for something in the following week, right? To my surprise, Rachel told me she was going to try and make this happen, and she did. I was freaking out! When I was pregnant with Brooklyn I posted it was my dream to have Rachel do her photos - but we were broke and I knew it was most likely impossible. But God loves to surprise me and He cares about the details of our lives (Psalm 37:23). What a dream it was for my babe to be Rachel's first official 'Fly on the Wall' workshop model baby! I grabbed my bestie and we headed to Indiana for the shoot, it was the perfect day!






And then there's my amazingly talented friend Laurie who did newborn photos for us also. She is incredibly talented and these photos are still some of my favorite photos of all time. I mean, I am so incredibly blessed.






Brooklyn is the sweetest littlest love. She's so tiny, so cute, so funny, has the cutest voice and is extremely smart. Happy 4th Birthday, B. You light up my life and I am SO thankful your dad agreed to having you precious girl. Our world wouldn't be as bright without you in it. I can't wait to celebrate you tomorrow my sweet girl.