in the 2 years since you came along,
i'm 2 times as tired
life's 2 times as wild
2 times as loud
as it was before.
my heart is 2 times bigger
i feel 2 times more vulnerable
more scared
more happy
more complete.
sometimes it feels like it's you and me kid...we have a special bond.
no matter how fiercely independent you may be, there's nowhere you'd rather be than in my arms. that half drives me crazy and half makes my heart sing.
you came into this world in one push.
sounded like a champagne cork popping.
and that was weird. and wonderful. and turns out...so YOU.
daddy wasn't there. i held you and cried. and you looked at me with those beautiful eyes and cried, and the cleft in your chin was his. and i fell in love with you.
each day i'm learning with you.
you're wild.
my little sadie bug
monkey
wild child.
i love you with all of my heart.
happy 2nd birthday, baby!
Happy Birthday Sadie! Hard to believe she's 2.
Posted by: kelly | 02/02/2010 at 05:39 AM
Hope she has a great birthday today!!
Posted by: Christa Paustenbaugh | 02/02/2010 at 06:08 AM
Happy Birthday Sadie! What a beautiful story!
Posted by: susan | 02/02/2010 at 06:08 AM
Happy Birthday Sadie.
Now you are big!
Posted by: Maria Elena | 02/02/2010 at 06:22 AM
Happy Birthday Sadie - Wishing you and your beautiful family a day of celebration.
Posted by: Linda J | 02/02/2010 at 06:25 AM
Happy Birthday Sadie!
Wishing you a wonderful, fun filled day :)
Congrats to mama Howell for doing the best job in raising this beautiful little girl.
Posted by: Maryangella | 02/02/2010 at 06:47 AM
Awwwww. beautiful. Happy 2nd Birthday sweet baby girl!
Posted by: samantha | 02/02/2010 at 06:49 AM
gorgeous pictures. she is such a doll. hbd Sadie!
Posted by: Katie Burnett | 02/02/2010 at 06:56 AM
So sweet! Happy Birthday Miss Sadie!!
Posted by: Carrie Dewes | 02/02/2010 at 06:59 AM
Happy Birthday Sadie. You are a darling little girl and I hope you have lots of fun today. You have a great mommy! Happy 2nd Birthday!!!
Posted by: Sharon | 02/02/2010 at 07:14 AM
Well, even if there were no pictures your words give me a lump. Children are the truest blessings in the world. They are the reason we become "self-less." It is wonderful being a Mother. There is not a job that has more gratification. Happy Birthday to your Sadie!
Posted by: Kimberly | 02/02/2010 at 07:17 AM
Happy Birthday Sadie! Have a fun day with your beautiful family!
Posted by: Ana F. | 02/02/2010 at 07:17 AM
Sweet pixs --- Happy Birthday Sadie.
Posted by: aubree | 02/02/2010 at 07:21 AM
Happy Birthday! and congrats to you too Stephanie. I feel like everytime our kids have a birthday we should congratulate the parents too for helping them get there!
Have fun, Robin
Posted by: Robin | 02/02/2010 at 07:22 AM
Very nice! Love the 11 month pose in the red shirt. Such a cutie!
Posted by: Lisa Russell | 02/02/2010 at 07:27 AM
eeeeeek. stephanie, you make me want a kid even more. and paul's not okay with that plan yet...
happy birthday little sadie!
Posted by: elise blaha cripe | 02/02/2010 at 07:35 AM
Happy Happy birthday Sadie! It feels like just yesterday that the whole internet was praying you would wait to come until your Daddy could meet you!
Posted by: Steph H | 02/02/2010 at 07:41 AM
love that mosaic!!
Posted by: Bree | 02/02/2010 at 07:44 AM
what beautiful words steph...happy birthday miss sadie!
Posted by: Kimber-Leigh | 02/02/2010 at 07:50 AM
Happy Birthday, Sadie!
You have entertained the world w/ your actions recounted on your mama's blog! :)
Posted by: mmullenix | 02/02/2010 at 07:51 AM
Happy Birthday to Sadie! What a wonderful post about her! ENJOY!!!! :)
Posted by: Lindsay | 02/02/2010 at 08:07 AM
beautiful. thanks for sharing.
happy birthday baby girl.
missy
Posted by: missy j | 02/02/2010 at 08:08 AM
happy birthday Sadie! You are a sweetie!
Posted by: Jenni Hufford | 02/02/2010 at 08:08 AM
Beautiful post.
Happy Birthday Sadie :)
Posted by: Lynn | 02/02/2010 at 08:16 AM
Hi Stephanie,
just wanted to stop by and wish your beautiful Sadie a very happy 2nd Birthday.
Enjoy her special day!
Posted by: fran heupel | 02/02/2010 at 08:20 AM
happy birthday to your wild one! beautiful post. xoxo
Posted by: Karen | 02/02/2010 at 08:40 AM
Happy birthday Sadie - it's your special day! Those pictures are amazing. She has changed so much, doesn't look like the same new born. Have a great day, Stephanie, I think you deserve a special day.
Posted by: Ginny C. | 02/02/2010 at 08:41 AM
Happy Birthday, Sadie! That was adorable and sweet! She's beautiful!
Posted by: Mandi | 02/02/2010 at 08:42 AM
Happy Birthday Sadie, hope you have lots of fun today! Can't believe she's 2 years old already!!
Posted by: Rhona | 02/02/2010 at 08:46 AM
Awww, how sweet! Happy birthday to your sweet girl, and yay to you for bringing her into this world! Hope it's a wonderful day for all!!!
Posted by: Stephanie Eaken | 02/02/2010 at 09:00 AM
so wonderfully written stephanie, my 2nd daughter turned 2 last week and I never would be able to articulate my feelings so well, so it is a pleasure to read yours
Posted by: Samantha S | 02/02/2010 at 09:07 AM
Happy, happy birthday Sadie!
Posted by: Sherry Cartwright | 02/02/2010 at 09:14 AM
Happy Birthday Sadie. People born on this day are very special people....my grandmother, grandfather and father all have this birthday - and they are the most spirited, spunky and fun people I know!!
Posted by: allison Gottlieb | 02/02/2010 at 09:18 AM
what a sweet post! she is A-dorable!!
Posted by: Danielle | 02/02/2010 at 09:42 AM
Happy Birthday to Sadie! Such a great post today! I love all the pictures and your journaling!
Posted by: Mustangkayla | 02/02/2010 at 09:46 AM
no possible - sooooooooooooooooooo not possible! omg! Happy Birthday, Sadie Bug! I love you!
Posted by: Kelly | 02/02/2010 at 09:51 AM
Happy birthday Sadie!!!
Posted by: Krista | 02/02/2010 at 09:53 AM
awe. she is adorable!!! i am in love with her hair too! =) happy birthday sadie bug. =)
Posted by: Kristen Cox | 02/02/2010 at 09:55 AM
happy birthday, sadie!!
(that photo mosaic is wonderful!)
Posted by: QSOgirl | 02/02/2010 at 10:04 AM
Happy birthday to Sadie. She shares a birthday with my great-nephew, Thomas, who turns one today, and a family friend who embarks on her teenage years today. What a great adventure lies before them all!
Posted by: Linda E | 02/02/2010 at 10:05 AM
Happy Birthday Sadie!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Tereazua | 02/02/2010 at 10:05 AM
What a beautiful 'letter' to Sadie. Happy birthday to her!
Posted by: Kathy Chen | 02/02/2010 at 10:15 AM
Oh my goodness, what a cutie! Happy birthday Sadie!
Posted by: Meghann | 02/02/2010 at 10:21 AM
Trying to wipe tears as I type...what a beautiful post what got to me was the poping like a cork whaha no just kidding it was having her alone and daddy not there! Here I go again. Happy Birthday to Sadie! Grace
Posted by: Grace | 02/02/2010 at 10:21 AM
Happy Birthday Dear Sadie!!!
My 2nd one came out the WILd CHIld,
but thankfully at 8.5 years old, she
has settled down quite a bit, at least at
school, she is actually my more serious one when it comes to being around other people!
Sadie is absolutely GORGEOUS!!! Hope she has a wild fun birthday! tara
Posted by: tara pakosta | 02/02/2010 at 10:37 AM
Bring on more spark-e-ly stuff! Still chuckle hard at the red wagon shot - so adorable! Enjoy today.
Posted by: Rosslyn Weigelt | 02/02/2010 at 10:54 AM
awwee.. she is just too precious! such a beautiful arrangement of photos Stephanie! Happy Birthday to Sadie!!
Posted by: Account Deleted | 02/02/2010 at 11:03 AM
Happy Birthday, Sadie!! Hope she has a wonderful day!
Posted by: Jessica | 02/02/2010 at 11:48 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sadie!!!! Hope you have a wonderfully-fantastical day:) Could it be?....looks like her hair is getting blonder as she gets older. Precious and beautiful smile!
Posted by: Elizabeth | 02/02/2010 at 11:54 AM
Beautiful! Happy Birthday Sadie!
Steph-you are such a poet! XOXOXO to your family....
Posted by: Martha Masters | 02/02/2010 at 12:07 PM
Happy Birthday Sadie! Such a seriously sweet tribute to her!
Posted by: Lara | 02/02/2010 at 12:22 PM
Great post! Thanks for sharing... a great idea for me to do about my own daughter's upcoming 2nd birthday!
Posted by: Melanie | 02/02/2010 at 12:24 PM
Happy Birthday Sadie!!!She's such a cutie pie!!
Posted by: MandyK | 02/02/2010 at 12:37 PM
Happy birthday to your little cutie. Turning 2 on 02/02 birthday is so cool. I'm 10/10 and my mom is 12/12. Always thought there was something special about that. This year my birthday will be on 10/10/10- but I'm not turning 10 ;)
Posted by: Roberta | 02/02/2010 at 12:58 PM
I love you tribute to Sadie!!! Happy 2nd birthday Sadie!!
Posted by: Dena | 02/02/2010 at 01:20 PM
Happy Birthday sweet sadie girl! Wonderful post
Posted by: Jen | 02/02/2010 at 01:28 PM
You outdo yourself with every post!!! This is absolutely beautiful!! How in the world were you able to set up your pictures in that grid?!?! I would love to do something like that for my Sadie :)
Hope Sadie has a great day. Happy Birthday Sadie!!!
Posted by: Dawn | 02/02/2010 at 01:46 PM
bighugelabs.com !!!!
Posted by: Stephanie Howell | 02/02/2010 at 01:48 PM
what a beautiful girl, happy birthday!
Posted by: erin yamabe | 02/02/2010 at 02:56 PM
awwwww happy 2nd birthday sweetheart!
Posted by: Jennifer.T | 02/02/2010 at 03:04 PM
BEAU-TI-FUL!!!!! Happy Birthday Sadie! I hope momma has a big day planned for you.
Posted by: Kellie Dugan | 02/02/2010 at 03:20 PM
This is so sweet! Happy Birthday Sadie! So glad you all get to celebrate as a whole family this year! =)
Posted by: Amber Zimmerman | 02/02/2010 at 03:24 PM
Happy Birthday Sadie!
You share the same birthday as my Sister but she much older ;)
Posted by: Nancy L. | 02/02/2010 at 04:33 PM
Awwww Mommy, that was beautiful!
Happy birthday Sadie!!
Posted by: Shereen | 02/02/2010 at 04:49 PM
happy two, sadie girl!!!
Posted by: lisa truesdell | 02/02/2010 at 05:14 PM
can you believe your baby is 2? it makes me want to cherish every second with my little 2 week old sadie!
Posted by: Danielle | 02/02/2010 at 05:18 PM
Time goes by too fast!!
Happy birhtday Sadie!!! ;)
Posted by: Anna Sigga | 02/02/2010 at 05:22 PM
Happy Birthday Miss Sadie!!! I loved looking at all the photos. What a cutie pie.
Posted by: Danette | 02/02/2010 at 06:50 PM
Oh my goodness, her personality shone through right from the beginning! Happy birthday Sadie.
Posted by: Marianne | 02/02/2010 at 07:10 PM
Happy birthday Sadie!!!
Posted by: Melissa S | 02/02/2010 at 07:24 PM
Happy Birthday to your sweet little Sadie!
Posted by: Lynn | 02/02/2010 at 07:28 PM
Happy Birthday, Sadie!
Posted by: ShellyJ | 02/02/2010 at 07:30 PM
Happy 2nd birthday Sadie!!
Posted by: Jonnelle | 02/02/2010 at 07:49 PM
What a wonderful, beautiful post. Those pictures are just priceless. Thank you for sharing yourself and your family with us all. Happy Birthday Sadie.
xoxo, Christine
Posted by: Christine Ousley | 02/02/2010 at 08:01 PM
Happy Birthday, Sadie! Hope you had a great day!
Stephanie, you are such a wonderful writer. I love what you wrote about Sadie. Your girls are so precious.
Posted by: Pixie | 02/02/2010 at 08:02 PM
i love everything you wrote in this post...so very touching! Happy Birthday Sadie!!!!
Posted by: Jacqueline | 02/02/2010 at 08:42 PM
Great photos! Happy Birthday to Sadie!
Posted by: young c-m | 02/02/2010 at 09:24 PM
Happy Birthday Sadie !!! Beautiful Pictures
Posted by: Kim S | 02/02/2010 at 10:06 PM
Your Sadie and my Matthew have the same birthday! Happy Birthday Sadie!
Posted by: Cheryl | 02/02/2010 at 10:56 PM
love the photo collage of sadie at 24 months -- love the black and white pics and color all mixed- and love the little story --- you should do a layout using that text!!!so sweet
Posted by: Claudeen | 02/02/2010 at 11:10 PM
Happy Birthday! She is so adorable!
Posted by: Eleni | 02/03/2010 at 12:18 AM
Happy birthday, Sadie! ;)
Posted by: Jill Sprott | 02/03/2010 at 02:24 AM
I love the photo collage, I can't even pick a favorite photo. What a lucky Sadie, to have such a great mama! Hope she has a great b-day! XXOO---Jen
Posted by: Jen White | 02/03/2010 at 07:36 AM
Happy Birthday Dear Sadie!!! We love ya! Stephanie, Sadie is such a doll. The pictures are so pretty.
Posted by: Crystal Adame | 02/03/2010 at 08:35 AM
Dude. Stephanie, you just made me teary eyed and sure that i want to be a mommy someday soon, all in one post.
:)
Happy Belated Birthday to Sadie, too!!!
Posted by: Becky | 02/03/2010 at 10:02 AM
Steph, you have such a way with words. I am envious. So beautifully written!! I love all the pics of here in the collage. She is such a doll. You just want to squeeze her!! A very Happy Birthday (belated) to her!! I am glad she had a great day!
Posted by: Michelle Unruh | 02/04/2010 at 02:25 PM
Happy Birthday! So sweet, made me teary at the end! :)
Posted by: Denni Cook | 02/05/2010 at 02:15 PM