My beautiful girls, as photographed by a dear friend

My friend and a very talented professional photographer, Kim, came to our house bright and early this past week at 7:30 a.m. to take photographs of the girls to mark their first birthday. I am so grateful for Kim's patience and willingness to be there that early. As always, she was fantastic with the girls and captured some absolutely beautiful photos, a few of which she posted on her website. I'm truly in awe that she managed to get these photos in the first place - between all the crawling, walking (and falling), picking up dirt and grass and God knows what else they found on the ground (and attempting to eat all of the above) - there were very few opportunities for "Kodak moments."

Perhaps it is because I'm feeling a little emotional about their upcoming birthday - perhaps I've just become a very sentimental person - or just because Kim has such an amazing way of capturing beautiful moments - but when I look at the photos, I get a little teary eyed. Not only out of pride and adoration for what Anna and Margaret have become - two lovely, little girls (Girls!) who make me smile and laugh every day - but for missing, in a way, what is now behind us, their infancy. Then I remember that the girls are sleeping 12 hours per night, with relatively few interruptions, and then I feel okay about moving on. Ha. I'm looking forward to this next year of their lives - I think it's going to be fun. All of you parents who have dealt with whining, tantrum-throwing toddlers can now laugh at my naivete and bright-eyed optimism.

Kim and her wonderful and very smart husband, Anthony, are moving to New Jersey at the end of July because Anthony is attending Princeton University for his PhD. I'm incredibly sad to see them go. Kim has such a kind, fun-loving nature, and I will truly miss her. Thank you, Kim, first and foremost for your friendship, and also for sharing your immense talent with us.