Dear Hadley

Dear Hadley,
I just spent the last five minutes reflecting on your first days of life. I looked at over 100 photos of you and those that met you in those first days and had to choke back the tears. I cannot believe 5 years ago today you came into this world. You changed all of us that day when we met you.
When I look at the photos I see that we still have Talley, who now enjoys playing dress us with you. I am happy to report we have the same coffee pot and it still works great. I am amazed that we still have some of the same decor items, I guess 5 years goes by in a blink of an eye. I am blessed that we gave you a sister, Ellie, and the two of you play so good together. Thankfully only one person has been taken from us and we know she is our angel in heaven and that is your Great Grandma Bernice.

Over the past 5 years you have grown to be such a beautiful little girl. You are so friendly and caring. You display great kindness with your little sister by sharing with her instead of fighting. You have a passion for your belief's and you are not afraid to stand your ground on what you are going to wear. You enjoy spending time with your family and friends. You love to swim! You are loving and gentle and will tell me that you love me out of the blue. You are shy and especially shy around older guys that you don't see everyday. You punish yourself when you get into trouble. You don't like to be in trouble because you don't like to make mistakes. You love to go to the cabin. You are thankful for everything that you have. You are a good cleaner and you enjoy picking up your room. You love spaghetti or any kind of pasta. You have been through a few dolls, first it was Annie, currently Emma but possibly now Marie your new AG doll. You love Jasmine from Aladdin even though you have rarely watched the movie. Your favorite outfits must be girly! You love your skinny jeans. You love to dance to Grandma's piano and perform your ballet moves.

You are so special and I am forever grateful that you came into my life to make me your Mommy. Hadley I love you so very much! More everyday and I am thankful you are my daughter. Happy 5th Birthday little girl!

December 9th, 2008 - you changed Mommy's life forever!

4 days old! I always loved the happy face after nursing!

You stole Daddy's heart right away!

Happy as a clam that you and your doll match!

Ellie

"Mom I need to go get a skirt on so I can dance," said Ellie! And off she runs upstairs to find a skirt. Down she comes with a white tutu and prances around to the song Rudolf the Red nosed Reindeer. She even picks up monkey blanket and has her thumb in her mouth. This sight is so darn adorable.

Ellie had a annual appointment in October for her heart. Hadley, Ellie and I drove down the night before and stayed over at Nicole's so we could play with Bradley. The girls love playing with him and he is getting big enough to play back with them.

The morning of Ellie's appointment we made it to the check-in station with room to spare. The directions from my phone worked wonders. I love maps on my phone. After checking in the nurse came to get us. Ellie was weighed and measured and then we were led to another room to get B/P and oximetry. Ellie's stats were all normal. She was a little nervous but let the nurse do her job. Of course she still sits on Mommy's lap. We are finally at an age where she will remember things, so next year, I am assuming she will remember and it will be easier.

Then we met the technician for the echo and this part started off with both Mommy and Ellie laying on the table to just Ellie laying alone while Mommy was right there holding her lightly and reminding her to just lay still and it will be over faster. We watched channel 2 cartoons while the tech took the images she needed of Ellie's heart. Hadley waited patiently and was such a good big sister telling Ellie that it would all be okay. After we went back to our room and met with Dr. Rio's. He said that everything looked normal and that Ellie was right where she should be. She even let him listen to her heart. He said she could do all the running, jumping and playing like any other kid. He mentioned a possibility of a future cath procedure but that was very unlikely but wanted to make me aware. He said we will meet again in a year and probably skip echo and then after that meet every two years.

Every time I step foot into that building I get this feeling of amazing gratitude. I am so thankful for all these skilled people who saved our little Ellie. It is crazy that Dr. Rio's remembers us. I swear he has to see 1000's of babies, toddler's and kids each year.

Ellie is 2.5 years old and has never mentioned anything to us about her battle wound on her chest. I am assuming it will come in a year or two. When it does I will tell her that line on her chest is just a beautiful reminder of how strong her heart is.

Up please to Ellie's appointment

Lunch after with Auntie Michelle in Otsego

Dr. Rio's said jump, So Ellie did!

101 Market Corn pit

Our tree

We decided to give the real tree a try again. It was a great decision because we headed up to Glen the four of us and Mom and we picked trees for our house and Gramie and Papa's house. Robert was the pickiest one of all. We cut them down, the weather treated us fair. On the way home we stopped and had supper at Nitti's Hunter's Point. That evening we put the tree up and the house smelled wonderful.

Robert enjoyed searching for the perfect tree!

We found it! Finally!

Decorated and done on December one!