tiny craving, big meaning

did i tell you that i craved nothing but apples and apple flavorings when i was pregnant with sister bear? i did, i wanted nothing but to be comforted with a bowl of apples or applesauce with cinnamon sprinkled on top. i loved drinking fresh apple juice, i could never get enough of nana mary's apple pie. i stocked the shelves for apple flavored ice cream or cereal, best mixed with caramel. i wanted to plant myself an apple tree and then actually planted two the christmas after sister bear was born. i gifted them to papa bear, one red and one green (yes, christmas colors). did you know that certain apple trees need companions or they will die? not only are they delicious, they are so romantic.

when sister bear was visiting nonni in upstate ny, she took us to an apple orchard and sister bear got to pick apples off the tree, the photo shoot for me, you can imagine! heavenly. she had the time of her life. it was better than getting apples from the grocery store. for her 2nd birthday, a friend took those photos and made her a great collage of the day at the farm in the apple orchard and this is what she wrote:

"Ms Sister bear loved apples before she was born and the tradition lives on." then she wrote at the bottom, "On her visit to Abbott Farms, Sister bear rode on a big pumpkin, walked among the apples and met a silly lamb." it touched my heart, how just a little craving came into such significant meaning in our lives.

guess what? sister bear LOVES apples, they're her favorite thing to eat.........