Hazel's 1 year Check Up

Dear Peach, 
You're growing strong!  You had your one year appointment and shots last week.  It is really your 13 month but that didn't save ya from getting poked.  You've made a lot of progress in your PT and OT.  While you're still a bit behind in your strength, endurance and motor skills you're above on track for your cognitive and problem solving.  You're a funny little cat.  We've caught you multiple times trying to write on the walls!  Lucky for you and us you can't get the lid off the markers just yet.  You like to play keep away games and give the dolly that WW brought you for your birthday snuggles.  Though you may still be learning some motor skills, like walking, you are a super on beat dancer with interesting moves.  

Today you showed a lot of love to some hardcore punk songs.  Daddy and I weren't too proud of your natural head banging skills.  Any beat you hear you make yours and start moving.  The other day Grandpa Tim and Bahboo were beating on the wall trying to figure out an electrical issue and you liked that just as well.  When you're not dancing you're getting Mommy to help you stand up.  You like when I count and as your legs start to melt you propel yourself for me.  

You're also using some signs; all done, more, night night, I love you.  Knowing a few signs doesn't keep you from using your voice; mama, daddy, Hi Daddy, bye, night night, duck, I love you, and one day you said bye grandma when Grandma P was leaving.  You're a smart cookie.  One day the remote fell on the floor and the batteries popped out.  I made my way to pick it up and you had put the batteries back in.  You know what every day items are used for too.  If you ask where the eyes, legs, mouth, and nose are on your dolly you will point them out to me.  You still only have two teeth by I think my next month you have the edges of your two top front teeth poking down.  So, at the doctor, you weighed in the 25th to 50th % and your height is in the 50th to 75th %, a study curve this far.  I know one thing, you are the most lovey baby lady.  Your joyfulness brings us and so many such happiness. 
Love, Mama

Best Face Forward

Dear Peach,
Last weekend you faced forward for the first time.  You took it like a big girl.  No problem for you.  With giggles and lots of raspberries blown you and Henry enjoyed yourselves.  Henry didn't like it when we turned his seat around.  I think it felt so different to him.  I caught Henry a couple of times trying to hold your hand.

You took it all in in your usually laid back style.
Love, Mama

Piggie Wiggie!

Dear Hazie!
Today I did your hair in pigtails and it was the most amazing thing ever!  Who put this little girl in my house?  Baby is sayin' bye bye (literally you said bye to Daddy today as he left for work and the Physical Therapist as she was leaving our session) and figuratively...I am starting my pile of Hazels.  You're an amazing little baby lady.  So funny and so pretty.  Your PT and OT today could hardly take your cuteness with the little fountains of hair pointing out the sides of your head.  You're starting to throw in some fiestiness too.  This is refreshing, yet a little shocking.  You grabbed the fork out of my hand at dinner on Monday and threw it to the side because you were done eating the cheese.  

You were trying to use the brush on your own.

All you really need to do is sign all done, but who knows when you're really done because you EAT AND EAT AND EAT.  You're signing when you're sleepy, you want more, you're all done, and I love you.  The other day you sat on the floor for several minutes making a plastic alligator bite your big toe, to which you'd let out a good giggle, over and over again.  

Though you don't yet stand on your own or walk you did cruise three steps today.  You're off of formula and on to milk with no fanfare or battle...Oh crap, that's all for now, you just climbed up on to the fire place. 

Love, Mama

First Hazel Haircut

Dear Hazel, 
Just before your birthday we took you to Tamara at Boomerang to get your first haircut.  It was pretty tame... Your hair wasn't that long but the texture kind of changed all at once and it was hanging in your face down your nose, making it difficult for you to see when you are crawling.  It was quick.  You stood at the couch and she went... snip, snip, snip... and it was all over!  And you looked cute and I could see your sweetie pie face.  There were a few barely there wisps to put in two plastic bags, one for us and one for WW.  

Love the look of it.  The first hairstyle of many.  At least someday the perm trend won't make you a victim.  haha You're such a beauty. 
Love, Mama     

*Henry's first haircut.    

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