Rosie Kate - Age 3

"It's my birthday!" You went around all day today announcing to family, friends, and strangers that today was your birthday.  Also, making yell-introductions of "My's a Rosies Kate!" You are an enthusiastic-friendly little elf. Speaking of, the Elfen Nation should be calling you home soon for the scheduled Age 3 furlough we have requested for you... 

Today you entered my most feared age... THREE. I know many believe two is too much, but around here we Kunzes like to save a little something special for 3. Baby girl, you already teeter past "too much" on the daily so... we pray for the strength that only the sweet baby Jesus has to offer. 

I both jest and speak the God's honest truth, but you are truly a delight to us and those around you. You live life to its max and make no apologies for it. You are life's biggest fan!

For your birthday today, you wanted "treats" and "walks in the park" and to "throw things in water." Are you not Silas 2.0!?!  (Though, you are a bigger stickler for rules than he has ever been). 

We obliged your whims and you took approximately 0.36 of a nap today. You know, because your "muffin-cakes were in the oven" and therefore sleep just could not be had. 

Your imagination is growing daily and we are laughing and having a great time watching your sweet little self have a blast everyday. This is not to say that we are not also tired, exhausted, and/or runned-out-of-steam by 7:00pm... because we are.

Rosies Kate, you are a force. You are a beautiful, spirited, wicked-smart, all-things-fun, determined, and most of all, our sweet-honey force. 

Happy 3rd Birthday Rosalie! We love you x infinity!

Saul Benjamin - Age 2

Last night I put you, my last one-year-old, down to sleep for the last time as a one-year-old. This, my son, I count as a major life accomplishment. We survived, all of us, another year of all these children existing in the same spaces for all the minutes of all the days. I am tired. I am more tired remembering. I am utterly exhausted thinking about the future of more space existing but whateves I'll be over it by the time the future happens. 

However, you little guy, are actually one of the two we asked for (wink-wink). Hence your name, Saul - asked for, prayed for. That is you, buddy, asked for and prayed for. I knew that I could not satisfy Rosie's needs for a playmate and BFF (nor did I have any desire or intention for such nonsense) so I needed you and you are exactly the right fit for us. Bonus: you are still the only one that prefers me! It only took me four tries, but seeing as I thought it an impossibility... just adds to your dreaminess. 

Sully B. you are our snuggliest, smiliest, sweet-as-pie-est, easy-going-est... until you are not and then you are VERY not! (apparently this is somewhere in the combination of genes we pass along because, like, ALL OF YOU have this... this part is not our best work... sorry, we clearly do not know how to fix it.) 

Here is a series of pictures depicting the "not having it" attitude referenced above. 

You have made it to the point where you LOVE to sit on our laps and read books. This is heavenly, and I love it, and please never stop this. Though, you can lay off the color books, they are D-U-M-B and I'm done, but you're clearly not, so we read them... everyday, all the live-long-day. Also, just to document you are saying so many words, your vocabulary has finally started to take off and we are all ooos and ahhs over here, but the one word that refuses to budge is "gee-gee" which obviously is "book." What-the-what, child!? It make zero sense, but whateves, we have ALL started calling books gee-gees. We all threw our towels in at this one. Point for Saul. 

In related documentary news: babybug = ladybug, roar = dog, hall-lough (in the most melodramatic baritone) = hello (you are our Salutation Saul), row-see = Rosie, cocomater = CocoMelon...

Speaking of CocoMelon, you L.O.V.E. this show (or sing-along or whatever it is). Though the songs now reside in my head and soul, it is a good clean fun and I'll allow it. You also LOVE being outside and start begging to go out directly after breakfast. You seem to believe that putting your rain boots on makes you invincible and therefore you "jump" in or on everything with a pride that exceeds the actual accomplishment. I love it, you are so fun!

You are starting to come into your own. You still mostly just follow Rose around and do whatever she does or tells you to do. But those days are numbered. I know, I watched this same event happen with your older siblings and you may be ahead of Silas in the push-backs. 

Also Daddy apparently lets 2 y/olds drink coffee...

We are trying our hardest to relish all of your firsts because we "believe" them to be our lasts. Our last baby, our last walker and talker...etc. You get the drill. We are trying to relish, but we are tired and old and we could probably do better and try not to rush these phases. But you are already TWO! I love it and I love you and I would ask for you infinity times! You are a prize, my baby, and we are the winners!

Ma's manicotti for birthday dinner!

Mary Alice - Age 12

I know I think this every year but how are you [twelve] years old? Often we look at you and are amazed at how grown up you look and occasionally act. Twelve just seems so young and yet right on the edge of teenager and mostly I feel unprepared and also very ready to get this "party started." Likely having the babies has made the latter part a reality. I no longer have to be worried that my kids are growing up too fast and going to leave me before I am ready... now by the time it actually happens I will be beyond ready. 

You are the first baby, you are the guinea pig, you are the "whelp, we'll do better/different with the next ones." You are also, the most forgiving, and gracious, and kind and seem to breezily handle the lot you were handed. 

On top of your birth order issues, 2020 handed you a handful of trash.  First, your 11th birthday was spent in quarantine, sling-shoting Little Debbie's to friends in the park. Then, school was spent in the dining room with your brother at the other end of the table. Then we went zero places over the summer and weren't able to "people," which is your greatest love. Then surgery #5. Ugh, we were not expecting that. Here we went six years passed the expected replacement age only to have open heart surgery during a pandemic. Drama much?

However, as with all things, you are handled your OHS like a boss! Just like the first round, all those years ago, so much good came out of the experience. You, for one! Also, the reminder of who is really running this show (G.O.D.), we often need a little putting-in-our-places. The reminders of the power of prayer and of community and of love. You my dear are so very loved by all those you have shared air with. Your confounding abilities to draw people to you and together are #goals I could never... I don't even have words for it, but I know I am not good at it. I have said it before and I will say it again, I want to be just like you when I grow up!

Keep being you, my dear. You are lovely. We look forward to cheering you on as you figure yourself out more and more. Never stop figuring... 

We love you x infinity, sugar lump, Mimi-girl! You are a true beauty!