Where has the year gone?

I'm not sure what to even say about our little Hazel. When I think of her I feel happy. She is so pleasant. Happy. Content. Loved. I remember how giddy and excited I was when I found out it was a girl. Our fourth girl. I had already moved to Utah and Clark was in Connecticut about to leave for 5 months. I called him right after the appointment and he laughed. Before we knew what we were having, he promised that if it was a girl I could finally use the name Hazel. I had tried to use that name with every single one of them. Joke was on him. It was a girl. I finally got my Hazel. My Hazel.
It was a difficult pregnancy, emotionally and physically. We had my parents help and the love and support of my siblings...right up to the birth. They were there to greet her and hold her minutes after she was born. I am glad. I wanted them there with me and Clark.

This is me taking a good look at my purple baby. She was born with the cord around her neck. I worried about her the entire day...with every plummet of her heart rate I worried for her. But she came and she was beautiful and she was healthy. And we were grateful.

Grateful for Dads who adore their daughters.

Grateful for sisters that love each other.


Grateful for our family of six.

She was so skinny. It was a bit of a rough beginning. But we eventually fattened her up.

She is a true joy. Then and now. She tends to be that default element in our home that makes people immediately happy. She's funny. She is silly. She scrunches up her eyes and nose and snorts...or growls. She has 12 teeth. 12! She loves blueberries...and her new baby doll. She is unique. She is special. In ways that only my daughters can be.

Happy Birthday Hazel Christina.