May 29

A little more than a year ago, we spent a sunny Sunday afternoon at Adam's brother's house to learn why he and our sister-in-law chose to name their first son Theo Lev. Today, we went back for the naming ceremony of their second child, Asher, who was born just 14 1/2 months after his big brother. Before we left to take Abby to a sleepover at her friend's hosue, we took a "cousins" photo featuring our kids, Emily and Eric's boys, and Emily's sister's girls.

Anya, Amira, Asher, Isaac, Brady, Abby, and Theo.

No matter how precious these photos are, taking them is always a little bit bittersweet since Logan can't be in them. But as I look at how sweetly Isaac is holding Asher (and remembering how eagerly he asked if he could be the one to do it) and at how nicely Theo is sitting with Abby, and recalling how frequently Logan asked to nuzzle newborn Brady five years ago, I know that despite being physically absent, he was there. And that makes me smile.