there were balloons, cupcakes with gummi worms, wrapped packages, streamers, birthday cards sent from loved ones far away, secret messages taped around the house, giggles and many attempts at negotiating opening gifts earlier than his special day, squeals of delight when another box or card would appear, small fingers that would hold up three fingers accompanied by a huge grin, a big brother secretly working on his birthday artwork for the little one, strawberry ice-cream, and my heart breaking open a bit wider...
my sweet ryder, you are loved "all more than the mermaids, all more than sandcastles, all more than the seashells, all more than the sand."
Precious jewel,
you glow,
you shine,
reflecting all the good things in the world. Just look at yourself.
~Maya Angelou
