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
Dear Henny,
We loaded up the car back in May and went the small town over to celebrate one of your birthsib's bday at a great park. It was a really pretty day and so nice to share it with most of your maternal birth family. You had plenty of kids to run around and play with for hours on end. I was a little overwhelmed at times feeling so welcomed by so many, it felt great. It was a lot of fun figuring out how we were going to roast some hot dogs and eating JoJo's homemade cupcakes.
It was also close to JoJo's birthday and it was Birth Mother's Day, with Mother's Day following so I had taken you to the store to pick out a couple of gifts. We also made her a shrinky dink necklace like mine. She loved them! You were excited to give them to her.
Hazel enjoyed eating as many chips as she could and being near another lil guy, bossing him, only allowing him to have the chips she gave him. Silly girl.
We closed out the party playing in the rain. It is always hard for you to leave, but with the storms running in and it getting late we took off for home.
I loved that everyone was able to be together for Josiah's birthday. Family is nice to have, in the many ways it comes to us.
Love, Mama
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
Dear Hazelita,
My sweet little funny ray of sunshine. 2 years old yesterday. You got to have several modest birthday celebrations this year. We started on Saturday when Bahboo, Grandma P, Grandma Jean and your aunts met up with us at Henry's school carnival. Mommy was working at a booth so Daddy entertained while I set up bowling pins. I could watch you from a distance enjoying playing on the playground with Grandma Jean and Henry hopping from game to game. 
After the carnival we went to Mother Bear's for pizza, one of your favorites. You were SOOO SLEEPY, but you made it through dinner and some birthday cake.
Grandma Jean gave you a cute little apron to wear in your play kitchen. You told everyone thank you and passed out back at home. On the 8th, your actual birthday you woke up chipper and happy. We got you dressed and as we were leaving I asked you, "Hey, Who is the birthday girl!" You threw your arm in the air and with a pointed finger you danced in a little circle. So cute!
To start our day we drove to have lunch with WW, your birth mama. It was a lot of fun and after you reluctantly shared your ice cream, by share I mean you gave us each a bite then screamed off any other spoon approaches, you did a fantastic gyrating dance for the restaurant to be hold.
We decided to go together to check out the new Independent Adoption Center office and say hi to the ladies that supported us all through the process. Before they even saw us they called out is that Hazel the birthday girl?! I suppose they figured we might stop by if we were coming to visit WW, who lives up the street.
After you ran around and checked out the pictures and grabbed some candy we took WW home. We said our good byes, complete with an, "Love you, Winnie," and then started home to meet Daddy and Hen for dinner and cake. Daddy even left work early at Henry's request to go on a trip so he can choose you a gift. He loves you so much. He chose some doggie wrapping paper because he knows you love dogs and Kipper. On Henry's insistence, you opened presents before we left. You loved your giant magna doodle and set to create as soon as you finished playing with the squiggly light up ball Henry chose for you, which you held close through dinner.
Your most exciting part of the day was blowing out candles and singing Happy Birthday.
We had to do two takes because I sat the cake down and you blew out the candles before the, "HAAAAP," made it out of our mouths. We had cake and it was time to end our long day of celebrations. I can't wait for many more. You are my sweet funny little baby lady with a loving sense of humor. I look at you and wonder how I got to be so lucky to be your mama, to see you every morning with your wild wombat hair, to chase you through the library or cheer for you when you make it down the slide. How do I get to be the one to hug you when you're upset? It is an amazing feeling. I love you so, I can't believe you're, "teeeweeeooo."
Love, Mama
