Happy Belated Birthday Hannah!

This past month did not go exactly as I had anticipated. No month ever does, really, but August held a lot more mental (and physical) adjustments than normal. Among these adjustments was the realization that the way I had planned to celebrate Hannah's birthday was not going to work out. I was planning for simple, just not quite so simple as it became. You see, my baby was due a week after Hannah's second birthday. Both of my girls were late and I had prepared myself for yet another late arrival. In fact, I had CONVINCED myself that I had a full two weeks after Hannah's big day before I even had to think about another little one's birthday. Ha ha. Enter Baby #3. A full two weeks EARLY and a week before Hannah's birthday. That wonderful little surprise coupled with the fact that he was jaundiced and had to be hospitalized on her birthday disrupted birthday plans a bit.

I did manage to bake her a cake the day before. The girls were delighted to help, but my midwife who had an in-home visit that day more than suggested I was trying to do too much. I think it was worth it - she's only going to turn two once! I would do it all over again for that look of joy on her face as she showed it to Daddy and proudly declared "MY bir-day cake!"

The first thing Heidi did when she woke up on her sister's birthday morn was retrieve her present from it's hiding place and run and give it to Hannah.

A couple of weeks prior we had spent one of Hannah's nap times making her a draw string purse. Heidi sat on my lap and directed the fabric through the sewing machine while I pushed the pedal.

She wrapped it right away,knowing exactly how she wanted the package to look, then hid it until the big day arrived.

How special to have a sister-made present!

I had managed to finish her hobby horse the day before Levi arrived so thankfully she had that for her birthday as well.

I sent the girls off to church with Daddy while I stayed home with Levi and called the midwife about his level of yellow. Of course they had to wear princess crowns - what's a birthday without them?

After church we quickly ate lunch then rushed off to the hospital to have Levi's bilirubin levels tested and start him on his little glow bed.

Then came the hard part. I hugged my little birthday girl goodbye and sent her off with Daddy while I stayed with Levi.

Daddy was wonderful and took advantage of the fact we were in town anyway to take the girls to a park to play.

And that evening, he even remembered to take a picture of Hannah with her cake for me. He forgot to do it while the candles were in, but I forgive him because he did remember to do ALL the dishes pick up toys, sweep and make beds all before my parents and sister arrived late that night. What a hero!

So, the second anniversary of Hannah's birth came and went without much fanfare, but I pray she'll always know how blessed we feel to be able to call her our own.