Cutting Hairs

Hazel,
It was finally time. We had to trim your ragamuffin hairstyle! Although I had trimmed your bangs before, I (well, technically Daddy) decided the baby mullet had to go. We put on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, sat you in your booster, and bribed you with fruit snacks. You sat still for so long, but next time mommy will have to work just a little faster. By the end you were quite a squirmer...and the bangs show that! Overall, I was glad we did it. The back looks great, and is growing more and more even and less and less mullety! Either way, you are adorable.

before

after

We love you big girl!
Mommy and Daddy

More Cuddling

Hazel,
Like I just wrote for Fletcher, this might just end up being 6,000 pictures of you guys cuddling. I love it! You are so sweet, and I can't get enough.

Well done, big sister, well done.
Love you,
Mommy and Daddy

Play Time

Hazel,
I think I've mentioned how much you love your brother, so I thought I'd add some photographic proof. We were playing in the playroom, you cooking something up on your stove, Fletcher laying on his play mat, but you couldn't resist. You really can't stay away from him. You seem to have this magnetic tendency toward him, and so far it has all been positive magnetic powers :) You love touching him, holding him, talking to him, singing to him, and today you just wanted to lay down with him! I love watching your sweet heart towards your brother. You are so gentle (or try to be gentle) and kind to him. I feel like I get a sneak peak into what kind of mom you will be one day...all that cooing, patting, binky putting-in, and cuddling.

My favorite is the obvious joy on your face when you are playing with him or taking care of him!
We are so proud of what a good sister you are!
Love you,
Mommy and Daddy

two

Hazel,
You are two! How did that happen? It feels like yesterday that we brought you home from the hospital. You are such a big girl now, doing so many new and fun things. You are so sweet...most of the time. You do like to test boundaries sometimes. Not always our favorite, but shows us your curiosity and independence! You love to cook in your kitchen, help mommy cook in her kitchen, do puzzles, watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, sing, dance, give Fletcher kisses, read books, cuddle, and be silly!

We are so proud of you!

GG, Great Grandpa, Nana, Papa, and Aunt Al came over to celebrate your second birthday with us!

Happy Birthday, sweet girl!
We love you,
Mommy and Daddy

What You Have Been Doing

Hazel,
Fletcher has been around for awhile now, and we have been so impressed with what a wonderful big sister you have been. You love him so so so much! In the hospital it was not easy to convince you to let anyone else hold him. You were pretty sure he was yours and you should be able to hold him all the time! Since then you have calmed down a little (you still want to hold and feed him most of the time, but you don't throw a fit if you don't get to)! You are so kind and sweet to him, and you care about him so much. If he starts crying you try whatever you can to make him stop. You get his binky, you pat his back (patting and hitting are very similar so we are still working on "gentle"), you give him kisses, you sing to him (ABC's is your favorite), you talk to him ("it ok Fletcher" "oohhh, Fletcher, I yuv you" "shhhh"), and you cuddle him (often looks more like smothering). It really is amazing to see your natural instincts for mothering.

When you aren't taking care of Fletcher we have been able to go to the park, go to OMSI, play with friends, and just play around the house! We are so thankful that we finished the playroom before Fletcher came. You have loved playing 'tickers (stickers), making Mommy coffee in your kitchen, going shopping (mostly you go to Target), and playing the "shopping game" (matching game)!

There have definitely been difficulties with this transition, but we are so thankful for your wonderful sense of humor, your sweet personality, and your love for us! You are so special, and such a great little person!

We love you!
Mommy and Daddy

Snow Day

Hazel,
It snowed here today! Crazy weather for this time of year. You said "Mama, it 'nowing" like 658 times, and we equally as excited each time! Before Daddy left for work we made sure to play in the snow and build a snowman. You thought it was hilarious that some of your play food was on his face. You also loved running around in the snow with Henry. Daddy threw snowballs up in the air and Henry would try to catch them and you laughed and laughed! Such a fun morning.

We love you!
Mommy and Daddy

22 months

Hazel,
We have been so busy lately. There is so much to catch up on. You are growing up so fast. You love play dates with friends. Our OMSI membership has been awesome! We have spent good time with good friends in the kids play area. You love exploring the sand box, the blocks, the water toys, and anything else you can get your hands on. You are kind to other kids, but definitely know what you want! Ms. Trish says you are wonderful at daycare, but that you are growing up and testing new limits (like pushing friends to get what you want). Luckily you learn pretty quickly what works and what doesn't. We turned the dining room into a playroom, and you love it! You are so creative in your play, and you can play by yourself or with us for a really long time! Right now you love coloring, stickers, shopping with your shopping cart, feeding us food you have made in your kitchen, and playing with your trucks and dolls! As always, your communication is awesome! You are so good at using your words to get what you need. You regularly use three word sentences, and sometimes throw in words we didn't know you knew! You like counting too..."free, two, free!!!" You are so proud of yourself! The other big news is that we moved you into your big girl room, and you are sleeping in a big girl bed! You have done so well sleeping in your new bed. I think you really like your room!

You are going to have a baby brother soon, which we still aren't sure if you understand. You are very sweet and give my belly kisses, and say "Hi Fletcher" sometimes. As more and more stuff for Fletcher comes into the house, you seem to want it to be yours more and more. We'll see how it goes when he gets here! Considering you love other babies, I'm hopeful you'll love him too!

You are so fun right now, and it is incredible to watch you grow. We are so lucky to be your parents!

We love you,
Mommy and Daddy