Happy 3rd Birthday, Hilly!

Dear Hilly,

I was looking through pictures from the year to add to this entry, and I kept laughing out loud at everything I realized I had forgotten.

 Like your insistence upon wearing frog rain boots with tutus and dresses this entire passed year, almost every day.  And the 2 months you insisted upon wearing fancy shoes to bed.

 And the time you burst into loud laughter proclaiming "EWWW! ICKY PEE-PEE!! ICKY DOG PEE-PEE!!!" at the un-neutered weimeraner in Rehoboth. Or the time you refused to look at the crocodiles and alligators at the zoo because of tic-toc croc from Peter Pan and Jake. Or most recently also in Rehoboth you received your tickets to a ride and bolted, causing everyone to panic, only to be found in a teacup on a ride- you had sneaked through the entire crowd, handed the ride operator your tickets and found an empty teacup and sat down.  Or while trick-or-treating you squeezed through all the kids and ran into the house of the person who was handing out candy- and I ran after you every time and found you digging through their cabinets.  Or how when we fish-sat, you spent the entire weekend staring at the fish... and then I saw a cheerio inside the tank.  Or all those times you tried to change your own diaper.  Or your penchant for pouring water/sand/mulch on other people's heads, not even considering that they might not find it funny.  Or how loud you cheered Jackie on during her gymnastics performance. Or the time you were so excited about taking a bath that you climbed in fully clothed.  Or the time you secretly applied my mascara thickly to your eyebrows and were so proud.  Or how every morning you demand to take off your PJs immediately and put on the fanciest dress we will let you wear.  Or how you asked me "Can I go in there?" in front of Jackie's classroom and then disappeared- I found you in another classroom sitting down playing with blocks. Or your black eye. Or your many fat lips from falling flat on your face absolutely everywhere.  Or at Kyle and Emily's birthday party how you helped yourself to sit at the very front of the hayride squeezing in between Emily and her grandma.  Or how you walked into your first solo gymnastics class like you owned the entire gym- no shyness. Just pure joy.  I could go on and on and on and on...

 

 You are still the adventurous, outgoing free spirit that you have been your entire life thus far.  You are busy, talkative, risk-taking and life-loving.  You are happy to be doing anything and everything. You still wear your heart on your sleeve - when you are happy, everyone know is.  Mad? We know it.  Sad? We know it.  And you know what? Thank God, because I'm not interested in guessing games.  I think that is a path to making true friends on this earth and you, girl, have no problem making friends. 

 You burrow a hole into the heart of any person that you meet who is worth a damn.  And are completely oblivious to your charms.

 But I am not oblivious.  Just completely in love.

Happy 3rd birthday, Hilly!


Mama