12 years old

 I spent a delightful few hours looking through some "old" pictures, dating back to the pre-blogging days.  It was so fun to see little Hannah and all the other kids.  It was fun to see R and I looking so young, I didn't realize we were so young.  Crazy. 

I chose a few of the fun ones to share today.  Tomorrow is Hannah's birthday! She will be 12, it's been a delightful 12 years & a hard 12 and they went soooo fast.

First photo is of Hannah, 3 years old, in "miss E-bon's" (Yvonne) ballet class.  Oh my goodness, she was so cute dancing on her toes, and spinning and doing little arabesques. 

 Here is Hannah and Ethan dressed in matching yellow jammies.  Han was so excited to be a big sister and was always so gentle and sweet to Bub and Lu both. 

We took a trip to Michigan one summer, we visited the farm and lake Michigan.  H has done a lot of travelling in her life and seen lots of sights.  She's been to at least 20 states, maybe more, I haven't counted.  Swam in 2 oceans been north and south and east and west in our great country. 

 Hannah's first trip to Disneyland.  So much fun.  She's been twice, and once to Disney World.  Hoping to take her again sometime in the next couple of years.

This is from Hannah's first day of 1st grade.  She has done really well in school.  For preschool we did a co-op with several friends and she also got to go to museum school which was terrific.  She's been to 4 different elementary schools, gave an unsuccessful go at home schooling and has been to one middle school.  She is an excellent reader, a good artist, quite musical, not so athletic, doesn't like math, enjoys drama & lunch but not riding the bus. 

Hannah is a good friend, has a fun sense of humour, is loyal and kind, doesn't like to do chores, is a night owl and a fashionista, likes movies and books, likes to go shopping, ride the metro and do some sightseeing.  She is a willing helper, loves babies, walks slowly, loves to do hair and to cook.  She is a good secret keeper, crafty and creative and a mermaid in the water.  She has a good testimony, enjoys torturing her brother, loves her niece and Reggie and is super excited to go into YW.   She is silly and goofy and wonderful.

Poor Hannah was a difficult baby.  Soon after her birth she got what we thought was a bad diaper rash.  It got worse and worse and got raised and bumpy and we soon learned it was a hemangioma.  It got very large and covered all under her diaper and part way up her back, it also went down one leg and onto her foot.  It was in her lung, spinal column and pelvis. We don't know if it still is or not but the visable parts are getting smaller and we hope the same thing is going on inside.  It got ulcerated and bleed and caused her terrible pain and anguish and as a result she screamed most of her first year and a half or so.  It was pretty awful.  She still has some issues from that and it may be a life long hardship for her. 

Once the pain was gone we had a delightful, busy, little girl on our hands..who kind of turned into a sassy, disobedient  but still delightful and precocious and cute, little girl.  Well,  really she was a challenge.  Opinionated and strong headed  we spent many hours on our knees praying for guidance, and tried lots of things, and were sometimes too hard on her and sometimes too easy and basically stumbled along, like parents do I suppose.  ( Each of the children have been easy or hard at different times and have kept me on my toes, and on my knees, and sometimes cowering under my covers,  ah the joys of motherhood. )  I have to say she is a real delight now. The last few years have been great.  She's grown up a lot and is mature and sweet and wants to do good.  We love her so much and have every day of her life.  I hope her strength of character and determination will stay with her and that she will always be herself and true to her inner beauty.  She has so many talents and strengths, it's a privilege to be her mother.  Happy Birthday little Muffin.  You are a joy