Happy Birthday Big girl of 3.

Dear Hazelita, 
September 8th you turned 3!  You are walking talking sweet pea.  You have a strong voice when you feel you need it but do not hesitated to tell me 500 times a day, "You're my mama! I'm your big girl (which changed the day you turned 3 from I'm your baby.)  You've yelled at people who complemented me on my pretty baby.  A firm foot stomp and a shake of a flung back head and your hands draw to your hips as you declare with a fanned out hand, "I big girl! NOT BABY! I three."  You and I spent the afternoon playing at the Wonder Lab before picking Henny up from school.   

For your birthday you requested dinner with chippies, which means Mexican food.  You opened your presents there.  We got you a precious little deer necklace, bracelet and ring ansamble, a huge tube of cupcake chapstick you smeared on so thick your lips look dipped in wax, some animal socks, big girl undies you cheered about but then tossed to the side because you'll do the potty thing sometime before college, some Hotwheels racetracks,  and then a cell phone that beeps.  

The cellphone was compliments of your big brother.  As we were standing in line buying items for the school fundraiser Henry spotted it and jabbed me in the side.  I slipped him the money to pay in another line, but as he waited he kept trying to hide it but dropped it and flipped it and was struggling to keep it secret but managed it in the end.  You were excited and have been carrying it every day since.  We came home and had your requested dragon ice cream cake.  YUM!  

During the week there were even more birthday recognition when Bahboo came over with some sweet Frozen books for you.  Then at lunch with Heather D she princessed you up with a tiara, earrings, an Olaf and a wand. 

Then birthday money from Aunt Ruthie, Grandpa Tim and Trish and Grandma Jean finished out your week.  Your first desire for your birthday money, a salad.  A week later we drove up to visit your birthmama, WW and birth grandma for lunch and lil dollar store jaunt.  You had salad again and they were shocked when you actually ate it.  

WW gave you a lil silver bracelet that said best buds and L gave you some treats from the dollar store.  You were in heaven.  So many people love you lil mama.  Happy birthday, sweet pea.
Love, Mama

Easter Meet Up

Dear Hazel, 
We had a nice Easter visit with you birth mom, WW and birth grandma L.  Unfortunately we had to meet at a old mall because the rain falling down just might have melted us by its sheer force!  You waited at the window for them to get there, with bunny ears from our friend Heather. 
It was still fun eating lunch and watching you play at the small play space.  You easily showed your excitement and gratitude for the cute Easter basket they brought you.  You had no problem charming us each out of all of our pennies to throw into the fountain.  You loved this!  They got a kick out of seeing you try on things at Claires...even ugly hot dog sunglasses!  

About this time it was clear you were running down, letting me know that you were sleepy.  So we said goodbyes and see ya laters just in time for the sun to bust through and the rain to clear up!  The injustice!  

I am hoping next time we can take advantage of the pretty days and play at a park instead.  Always happy to see family.  Love, Mama

Is Santa Real?

Dear Elfies, 
Oh!  The holidays, they can throw the best of us off and when the best of us are at our worst the sweetest Christmas pictures are hard to accomplish.  Hazel, it was you this time.  You were off your smiling game...  We went for Santa pictures.  Mommy told you both ahead of time that you do not have to sit on Santa's lap just stand near him...I mean why would I ever require you to sit on some guy's lap you don't know?  Wouldn't I normally saying that is not a good idea?  However, Henry, you let me know you were going to and so was Hazel.  No wait in the Santa line was perfect for the mood we were feeling in the late afternoon the day before Christmas Eve.  Hazel, you were not wanting to go near him so Henry hopped up on his lap and froze, forgetting to smile for the picture before a reminder from the sidelines.  Hazel, I sat you next to Henry...Hazel you stopped screaming when we told you that Santa would give you a candy cane and exchanged the wails for a sad getting through it expression.  

After, you both got your candy cane and the pictures were done, you'd think you'd be happy...Hazel you were but Henry let Santa know it wasn't fair that the only candy canes left were broken.  

Santa shook the bag and said, "That's all I have so if you want one, take one."  Subtext, "Or get the hell out of here kid!"  Whatever, Hazel yelled, "Thank you," and was willing to give Santa a high five.  Speaking of Santa.  I'm pretty certain we won't be able to crank another year out of the narrative. 

   At the Independent Adoption Center Christmas Party you declared that Santa was weird because his beard is just too white.  He, however, had large unbroken candy canes of various flavors...you gave him points for that.

Hazey, you could care less...wouldn't go near Santa but you did try to color pictures and I came around the corner to get our coats and you were entertaining a room of people by dancing to Frozen's, "Let It Go!" 

Hazel and Nick

You both enjoyed all of the kids, running the halls and coloring pictures together.  It was good seeing Hazel's birth brother and his brother, Nick and Ryan. 

Nick, Keegan, Ryan and Henry...Hazel in the way back

Hazel and WW

After the party we had a very nice dinner with your birth mom WW, Hazel, Nick's family and our best buds Eunice and Keegan.  Wendy bought you a great little tent just your size and Henry a remote control car.  So sweet.  We gave her an angel and a little sign with words about being family forever no matter what.

Henry, you later told me you did not trust the IAC Santa, more about the white beard making him not real, it should have a little brown in it.  
Then, this year a school chum mended a major fissure in a no Santa tale another scrooge from school tried to put in your head.  I loved the reasoning your buddy B came up with to not believe K.  The other day in the car you told Mommy that K told you and B that there is no Santa Claus, he isn't real.  Well, You and B were not buying that...and I don't know if K asked you all to prove it or not but B's logic in support of a Santa being real was, "There has to be a Santa Claus or else it wouldn't be fair if your parents eat all those cookies by themselves, so there definitely HAS to be a Santa Claus!  Parents wouldn't do that."  That worked for the time but now you've asked me every day since.  Not wanting to lie, I pulled a switch-a-roo and asked, "What do you believe?  It only matter's what you believe."  When a persistent, "BUT IS HE REAL," screamed across the car I thought quick and said, "YES, St. Nick was a real guy and over the years it has taken on bigger and changed meaning." Shew.  But Sorry B...the parents do eat all the cookies, we even throw some out the back door if we can't eat them all.  It may be worse finding out the latter than the true facts on Santa, or lack there of.  Love, Mommy     
2013
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Visits with WEEEEEE's

Dear Hazelita,
Now that Henry is in school we were able to make a visit to WW, your birth mom.  It had been a month or so since our last meet up so it was good to see WW.  You really enjoyed playing with her lil dog; rolling on the floor with him, bringing him his pillow, and letting him kiss your little lips.  We were getting hungry so we went to pick up WW's mom and get some pizza.  We ate there often when you were still a little bean growing.  You were so hunger and ate some salad, half a slice of pizza and three garlic bread knots.  WW and her mom, L were entertained by your appetite.  We had some time left so we went to the park for a bit.  You enjoyed the audience as you went down the slide on your own and giggled away in the swing as WW played 'gotcha'.  L was trying to be so gentle she barely pushed the swing to your dismay. She said she didn't want to scare you, so I showed her how you usually swing and you SQUEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAALED with happiness. 

WW is so sweet it is always great getting to spend some time with her.  At time to leave you were TIRED and CRANKY but you still gave hugs and a sweet goodbye.
Love that we are so close.
Love, Mama  

Impromptu Visit

Dear Hazel Lu, 

We enjoyed a bridal shower for Mama's cousin Katy.  You loved all the ladies and playing with all the beads that sat on our table.  

It was a lovely day... on the way home we decided to stop and see if your WW, your birth mom, was working and she wasn't.  I texted to see if she was up for us to drop by for a quick squeezin'.  She was, so we did. It was great seeing her.  You loved the little dog coming after you, until it licked you and you backed away.  You made the angels perched in her window kiss and then found that playing peek a boo in her long locks would be fun.  She had you gigglin' your little buns off.  

 

 

It was a fun hour visit.  We are planning on getting together in a couple of weeks, too.  I am hoping we can go to the zoo!  So grateful to be you mama, and I owe it all to WW's trust.  We love her so much.  I also love maintaining this connection for you, we only stand to benefit from this bond.
Love, Mama

Today Hazelita is 1

Dear Sweet Hazelita,
Today you are one!  What! I know!  I can't believe it either.  We are having a little party at our house today at 3.  It rained last night.  There was no rain on the radar for Sunday all week...now there is. Let's hope our 70% chance of no rain or thunderstorms beats out the 30% possibility.  Mommy has a pinata for you.  We spent an hour trying to throw the string over the super high tree branch yesterday.  I woke up this morning and my throwin' arm wasn't tryin' to move!  I was so close each time.  It would hit the branch or be about a foot short.  I waited for Bahboo, who took one throw and got it over.  I don't care.  I just wanted it to be there.  We are picking up tamales and lots of friends and family are going to make it!  Including your birth mama, WW!  She hasn't been to the house before so we are super excited.  We haven't been able to have a real visit since the IAC picnic.  We did stop in and see her at work one day.  We are so happy that things are going so much better for her in a years time.  She has a job, the cutest most perfect house and a nice boyfriend. A year ago we got the text about this hour that WW was in hard core labor.  We all jumped up, got ready quickly and on the road.  Henry had lots of questions about you and bringing you home, little dude had no idea that it would flip his world so much.  Sometimes he laments about the "old days when it was just us."  

Our last picture just the three of us.  Look at Henry's excitement!

Look at the poor Henry's shock.

I know he loves the heck out of you though when he designs tasks that would be "good for your therapy", picks you up out of harms way or declares an amazed, "HAZEL!  What are you doing!"  when you bust out a new skill.  ....We made the hour plus drive in 45 minutes.  Just in time to see your placenta hitting the table!  ( I will show you the picture someday) 

You were the sweetest cuddle monster from the start.  You ooze gentle love from every nook and cranny, ever strand of hair, every explosive smile.  You love your brother more than anyone, squealing laughter and attacking him whenever you can.  This year you've worked hard for almost 4.5 months in occupational and physical therapy bulkin' up those muscles to struggle to crawl effortlessly, pull up, feed yourself, play with toys and play drum on Henry's back.  

You should have your glasses on here, but you constantly pull them off now.

You love to be in the middle of things trying to do what we are doing.  I especially love when you sort laundry, tossing it to and fro, sorting and passing to me with such a serious work face.  You're so amazing.  I start to fall asleep at night but am distracted by the need for one more of your smiles, one more of your hugs.  You became a part of our lives so quickly, so unexpectedly, so gently that I am total disbelief at times.  We love WW.  We love that you are a part of her, and you are a part of us.  Forever grateful and humble. 
Now let's have a sensational day birthday girl!
Love, Mama