Ashley and I have worked together for about 6 years now.

In those 6 years, we’ve traveled together across the state and across the country. I think that I might possibly spend more time with her than I do with Jamie. We eat lunch together almost every day, and usually just the 2 of us. Because it’s our 60 minutes away from work, we have an unspoken rule that we don’t really talk much “work talk” over lunch. Instead, we talk about our families, books we’re each reading, High School triumphs (we both grew up in small Texas towns), movies we love, our dogs, and (tounge-in-cheek here) how lucky our spouses are to have us. I’ve only met her husband Gus a handful of times, but I feel like we’re old friends.

Even though I sometimes have an X-Men-like talent for saying the wrong thing at exactly the wrong time, she always looks past this. She is incredibly dear to me.

For the past year or so, our lunch conversations have focused more and more on their plans for children.

After what anyone would consider an unusual amount of heartache, waiting, stress, and even more waiting; I’m so happy to report that they became parents this past week. They welcomed little Liliana June into their lives.

I know without a doubt that they will be amazing parents. Ashley’s sensible nature is balanced perfectly with Gus’s impulsive one.  While Ashley sets her mind on strict budgeting, Gus’s solution is to bring home live chickens so they never have to buy eggs again.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Yin/Yang of parenting.

As their daughter will soon learn, If one of her parents says, “NO”…..chances are pretty good that the other will say, “Yes”.

We couldn’t be happier for them.

We wanted to get them something as special as they are. Jamie has a dear friend Liz who’s 2 daughters, Maddie and Sofia – 10 and 8 respectively, started their own company making bows.

Sofia, who plans to be a fashion designer when she grows up, created Rock & Roses Bowtique when she was just 7 years old. She wanted to wear bows that were more unique than the ones she saw in stores. She believed that she could create a better product for a lower price; something with a “fashionista” twist. She and her sister started selling their hand-made bows at school and in Girl Scouts. They were an instant hit, and the girl’s business was born. They love to sell their bows at different places and to tell people how young they were when they began their fashion business.

Jamie sent Liz an email asking if the girls would be interested in making us an assortment for a baby girl….

This is what arrived….

Some brights….

Some pastels and a cream knit cap…

They even do “designer” labels….

For formal baby occasions, some chocolate and black…..

All the bows and flowers are on clips and can be layered. When Lili is older and has hair, she can use the bows without the stretchy bands.

We just knew that these sweet little girls were the perfect designers for our baby gift for little Lili.

Need some bows? I’ll bet you know someone who would love a couple.

You can reach these very talented girls on their Facebook page at Rock & Roses Bowtique (be sure to “Like” them) or send them an email rockandrosesbowtique@yahoo.com

Congratulations to Ashley and Gus, we are so happy for you.