Tennyson's 3... It just can't be!

Tennyson turned '3' yesterday. I really can't believe it! It seems like just yesterday that we were excitedly announcing our pregnancy to friends and family. I know every parent says this, but her three years have gone particularly fast!

She arrived on September 28, 2006 at 2am. Just a couple hours short of sharing a birthday with Grammy, my mom. When my blood pressure started to rise at 6pm the night before, mom and I started to talk about what it would be like for the two of them to share a birthday. I was rolled back to the OR for my C-section about 12:45am, so we knew it would be shortly after that.

Tennyson, you were exactly 6 weeks early (born on the same gestational day as Amaya-even in the womb, you wanted to be just like her! :). You spent just 5 days in the NICU, and then we brought you home. While the course of your birth and delivery were less than ideal, the course you followed resembled Amaya in so many ways that it was not quite as alarming as it could have been. We were somewhat prepared for the specific challenges that were ahead of us.

You didn't like to eat! Hard to imagine that now, but it was very real at the time! You had your NG on and off for about 4 months. You would tease us every so often, and eat really good for a couple of days. I would get anxious and pull it out. It never stayed out for more than a couple of days before you'ld start to taper off again.

By the time you were 4 months, we decided to have a GT placed in your tummy to give you a more permanent route of nutrition. We still tried to feed you by mouth, but we supplemented your feeds with your tube. You had this until 15 months. I'll never forget the day that we went up to OHSU to have it removed. By this time you had been eating well for a couple of months so we knew you'ld do fine without it. What a joyful day! We had much to be thankful for the following day: Thanksgiving!

You have been such a blessing in our family. I love seeing how you and Amaya interact. You are great friends.

You are laid back, spunky, loud, out-going (to a fault, some say, as you still give loves to strangers in the grocery store), and a wanderer. All of our friends know that you wander. Even other moms take precautions to make sure you don't wander. It's terrifying, actually. I've followed you in a public place for at least a block before you turned around to see if I was there.

You love oatmeal, German pancakes, fruit, and sausage. You have absolutely NO sweet tooth. You sometimes want to have one, so you always ask for a cupcake or a scoop of ice cream. But I have learned my lesson. One bite and you're done. I didn't even make you a cake for your birthday this year!

I did make German pancakes though.

For prosperity sake only, and at the risk of sounding like a boasting mother, I do have to say, you are quite beautiful. Especially after you turned '1', we would often get stopped by complete strangers who would comment on how 'cute' you were. You get your eyes from dad. We don't know, for sure, where your curls come from, but we'll enjoy them while they last. Not that I'm biased, but you are definitely the cutest three-year old girl I have ever seen!

This week you learned your first Bible verse. Appropriately, it was Genesis 1:1. You have said it over and over and over! I pray that God will continue to keep you in His grip. I love you, sweet girl!

Amaya seeing you for the first time in the NICU the day you were born.

Tennyson has a special connection with my dad, whom she calls 'Poppy'. Even at a young age, she would squeal with delight when he entered the room. He is always on her mind. She makes pictures for him, prays for him, talks to him on the phone (imaginary and real!), and saves all her kisses and hugs for him. He was the first one that she wanted to invite to her birthday party this year. We'll see if that's still the case when she's '15'. This was her 1rst birthday party.

She also loves horses. For awhile, we were thinking that maybe it was just because Amaya did. We've been convinced, however, that she has an affection all her own for them. She had her first riding lesson on Sunday, and did great! This was her 2nd Birthday.