Happy Birthday to You!

You made it to 3 Dottie Lou!!
Happy birthday to an amazing little girl- you woke up and saw the decorations in our rental condo and were so happy. We had banners and balloons and presents and donuts with candles in them. You were so happy and seemed to enjoy everything about the morning. You often reminded us that today was your birthday and that you were now 3. We will officially celebrate this weekend at the zoo when some of your friends will join us. At school you got to wear a crown. Its Dottie's special day!

It reminds me of being in the hospital with you 3 years ago and waiting for your arrival. My fondest memory is still a moment in the hospital room when it was late at night, daddy was sleeping, and I looked at your beautiful face and instantly felt something very special in you. I wrote it down I believe. You are truly special to me and my love is endless and limitless. I see your tough and spirited self grow greater each day and I know you will do amazing things with your life and with others. You are so lovable and sensitive. You hold your own as is evidenced by your interactions with Hazel on occasion. You are tactile and always feel compelled to place your little hands deep into my sleeves at night. You hug with great force. You speak with confidence and are determined for people to understand you. You enjoy my songs at night and make up your own "go to sleep" versions. You share when you need to : )
But most of all you are my sweet and special and lovable Dottie- and I truly can't imaging our family without you. You make this family better. We all think so.
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y D O T T I E ! ! ! !

terror at the McDonalds playground

This last Saturday we went to two different birthdays- the second one was for Ashby at the Ballard McDonalds. It started off fine enough but ended badly. Apparently you were climbing up the stairs to go down the green slide with Stella and Hazel when you fell. Your teeth went through your tongue and blood was everywhere. We couldn't see the damage and we assumed (incorrectly) that you had bit your lip. It wasn't until we went home and you asked for milk, screamed with pain, that I was able to look inside your mouth and see the large tear to the tongue. We took you to Swedish hospital emergency room and they told us to take you to Children's Hospital where they wanted a plastic surgeon to operate. They sedated you and gave you 5 stitches to the tongue. I was in the room with you the entire time and spoke to you giving you encouragement. You didn't want to open your mouth and so the surgeon had to pry your little mouth open to do his thing. You awoke groggily and we took you home in the wee hours of the morning. Hazel had fallen asleep on daddy's lap and we were all tired and eager to go to sleep in our own beds. You woke up with pain in your mouth but you have been such a trouper the last few days. It scared me so much to see you in pain and knocked out and being operated on. I felt so helpless that I couldn't take the pain away from you. You looked so small and fragile.

Thank you for being such a strong and brave little girl- you were so heroic and I know you can do anything now. Please don't be a klutz. My nerves can't take it. You know how much I love you and I always hope for the best for you. Today you had the best doctors, the best hospitals, the best family to support you. I hope you always do.
With endearing love, Mommy

Bye Bye Diapers- well, not really : )

On Saturday September 19th you went potty on the potty chair for the VERY FIRST TIME!!
You were so proud and immediately said you wanted to tell your teachers and daddy.  The next morning you did it again. We high-fived and hug and did a little dance. Your smile was well worth the wait. Pretty soon you will be in big girl underwear (phewww!).