Simplicity

Often, I find myself talking or writing about how much I love that my daughters enjoy the simple things in life. Things like bubbles, walks in the park or candy. I do believe that this is one of those special qualities that only children possess and that even though adults talk about it, we don’t seem to learn. Very few adults I know actually enjoy the simple things that this world has to offer. Instead, we seem to be focused on the more complicated, bigger, better, more advanced, more expensive things that man has created to entertain us.

I want to tell you that this got me thinking about how we as parents, all want to believe our children are special and different, when in fact all kids are equally great. However, please bear with me when I tell you about Elizabeth and her taking this notion of enjoying the simple things to a different level. This may not make her better or special, but you’ll have to agree with me that it makes her at least a little different.

Here are some of Elizabeth’s basic favorites:

Favorite ice cream flavor: vanilla
Favorite cake: vanilla, with vanilla frosting
Favorite sandwich: ham, no crust (Note: I’m not kidding, she is not into mayo, ketchup or mustard. She won't add cheese on her sandwich or anything else. Except, of course, when she’s feeling wild and adds lettuce to it)
Favorite kind of hamburger: she doesn’t like hamburgers
Favorite kind of hot dog: she doesn’t like hot dogs
Favorite pancake topping: nothing
Favorite drink: water
Favorite kind of soda: she doesn’t drink soda
Favorite outfit: jeans, t-shirt & sneakers (no princess stuff here)

This simplicity deal is who she really is and I must say I love her even more when I think about her ability to find beauty and fun in the simple things. It makes me wonder why the rest of us make such a fuss out of things that complicates our lives.

Next week is her eighth birthday and in the eight years since she was born, my life has been anything but simple. Every moment of her life has made mine exciting and emotion-packed...I hope she doesn't mind that all that excitement is just perfect for me.

What Inspires Me

I love writing about my daughters because it allows me to express my feelings for them when they have tired of my million hugs and kisses. It allows me to gloat and mope and reflect on the way I parent them. Talking about my writing to my husband the other night, he said he considers this an accomplishment; I didn’t agree because I am not a published writer and I am not even that good at it. But he continued and said it is an accomplishment because I can express my feelings and put them in writing better than most people can – he convinced me. It feels good to think of this as an accomplishment when all I really do is say I love my children. That takes absolutely no effort on my part, they do all the work.

This got me thinking about why I write and what triggers my wanting to write when something trivial happens in our lives. As I was trying to find reason and rhyme to this question, the only recurring thought was: THEM. Their faces when they laugh, cry, scream, get mad, get hurt; their expressions when they’re happy, excited, scared or sleepy. I keep playing their voices in my head when they are playing or talking to themselves and think no one is listening. All I have to do to write is sit back and enjoy their life. Learn from them, have fun with them. How can I not be inspired by the miracle that a child is? They fill my life with meaning and hope ...

Simply said, Elizabeth and Victoria are the light of my life. They inspire me with every step they take and teach me about life with every conversation we have, encourage me with their persistence and strength; they are constantly reminding me of ways to be happy and enjoy simple things. When they say “mom, I love you”, they mean it, no strings attached. When I kiss them good night, it really does make them feel safe. When their soft, small and dirty hands hold mine, I find my way in this crazy world.

Nothing beats that. There is nothing for me to do but do write about it so that I never forget how wonderful it feels to have two little girls in my life who loved me before they even knew what love is. And even though I don’t think about when they grow up (because I want to live in today), the few times I do think about the future, I realize that one day they won’t need me as much as they do now. When that time comes I'm sure I'll still need them plenty – but hopefully reading this will soothe me. Hopefully.

Victoria, You Love I

You know how every kid has something very particular about they way the speak? Usually, it is heart-warming and hilarious at the same time to hear them try to find the right words to express their feelings and thoughts. Well, Elizabeth began speaking when she was very young and it was amazing to hear her vocabulary at such a short age; this doesn't mean she didn't make all the common and adorable mistakes most other kids make. Now that she is older, sometimes she throws words at me that I had no idea she even knew. When this happens I ask her if she knows exactly what the word means, and her response is invariably “no, what is it?”. It’s funny, that is her way of finding out what a word means, and she just uses it wherever and whenever she believes is the right time and phrase.

Victoria, on the other hand, took a little longer to start talking and at three years old, we are still fascinated by hearing her conversations, trying to clear her head and get things right. However, Victoria has a tendency to switch words around and says things backwards sometimes. This is especially funny because I used to do that when I was a little girl, actually, I think I still do sometimes. But lately we’ve noticed that this switching around has extended to more than just words, Victoria has taken to switching around time and events.

She loves telling stories, usually made up, and talking about things that have happened to her (even if only in her mind). In one of her conversations with my husband, I heard her say “dad, when I was a little girl [hello?] and you were my grandfather…” Javier tried explaining that he never was and never will be her grandfather, but she wouldn’t hear it. Another time, talking to my mother in law, she spoke about when they were both little girls and played together… huh?

She also fights with her sister when Eli tries explaining that there was a point in time when Victoria was not around, because Elizabeth was born first. No way. She doesn’t accept this.

Recently, Victoria was trying to tell me in her own way that she loves me, so she told me a story. She told me about the time I was in her tummy, when I was a baby and how she held me in her arms when I was born. I have to admit it was strange to hear but you know what? I did not try to correct her; I didn’t try to explain anything to her because I know that in her heart and mind, this makes perfect sense. I have no right to tell her how to love and express her love. I believe that what she does is take what she hears from us, and makes it her own story to let us know how much she loves her family and I can’t think of a better way for her to do it.

So, my dear Victoria, backwards, up-side-down or right-side-up, I know you love us and you've found a way to let us know. In the end, love is love and I’m just happy that I’m getting my point across well enough that you love me right back. Or forth. Or up. Or down…

How We Love Our Children

Today I won’t be telling you a story, I’ll be asking you a question and to be honest, this is one of those questions to which the answer is never right or wrong. The answer is different for each and every one of us, so bear with me, please.

When our first born, Elizabeth, came to this world I was pleasantly surprised to find out my husband was 100% certain our daughter was the most beautiful baby to have ever been born. I know all parents think this but my surprise was because this came from a man who, for nine months, swore he would not be blinded by first-time-parent love, he knew all babies were born wrinkled and funky-looking and our baby would be no different. Then he saw her and in an instant was mesmerized by the tiny, pale and hairy bundle in his arms. In the following few days he would stare at her in awe and asked me more than once, “how can I love this person so much, when I don’t even know her?”. His question came from the heart, he loved her more than life itself but could not explain how or why.

Then I think about my mom, I go back to the years when I was a little girl and my mom would tell me that she loved us both (my sister and I – who, by the way, could not be more different) just the same. It was always hard for me to understand her, but she insisted that parents love their children because they’re tall, short, skinny, white, smart, slow, good, bad… You get my point, right? In other words, she would love us no matter what because that is what parents do best, they love us.

My mother-in-law is a bit more practical, or less romantic in the idea of perfect love and I often hear her say that she is not blind to her children’s flaws. She really isn’t, she will recognize when they make a mistake, when they’re at fault or simply when they are doing things the wrong way. But that is nothing compared to hearing her talk about their good traits and deeds…her voice changes, her eyes are different, her smile is permanent on her face – you can just see how proud she is of them and how perfect she (secretly) thinks they are.

I have two daughters, Elizabeth and Victoria and I’ve learned that they are very different people and just like my mom said, I love them just the same for who they each are. Just like my mother in law, I know that they are not perfect and can see their flaws but I also know they are wonderful, intelligent and beautiful creatures. Just like my husband, each day makes me wonder how I can love them so much since before they were even born.

I love Elizabeth because she’s sweet and has a funky sense of humor and cries easily and is smart, has a hard time getting up in the morning and because she loves to hug and kiss me; because she loves to draw, paint, sing and likes climbing trees and can’t run very well. She also loves Rocky Balboa as much as I do; she has a big heart and wants to save the world from pollution and people who litter and I love her because she doesn’t like going to bed early, because last week when she went to her first grown up party (a wedding) she danced till the cows came home. Oh yes, and because she has the most beautiful chocolaty eyes that I have ever looked into.

I love Victoria because she’s sharp, loves telling crazy stories (usually rip-offs from her sister’s conversations), has a very funky taste in clothes, wants to be a princess, is extremely self-confident, loves to eat anything in sight, because she’s mischievous and independent. She also cries a lot and when she no longer wants something, she suddenly becomes generous and gives it to whoever is nearest to her, she has a tendency to nag but is funny and makes us laugh and also loves to hug and kiss me and tells me she loves me to infinity and beyond (then asks me, “is that a lot?”). I love her because she was very excited about going to her first grown up party, then slept through it all.

I cannot, to save my life, figure out why we love our children the way we do. The reasons I love Elizabeth and Victoria extend far beyond what I have written here but I don’t think you have one hundred millions years to spare to read all my reasons – and since I want you to keep reading, I just wrote what first came into my mind. I have a co-worker who says that she doesn’t think that men love their children as much as women do, because they do not carry them for nine months in their own body – but I disagree. I think being a parent is about the connection you have with your baby, and the fact that we have a nine-month head start doesn’t mean ours is stronger. Although, in my case it is (just kidding Javier!!!).

It’s Not Just Good Times All the Time

Anyone who has children, whether it's boy or girl, one or five or seven, knows that kids are a handful. They are the most perfect creatures of this universe – most of the time. The thing is, with kids, just as with adults, we have to figure out their moods and their needs and fears and their ups and downs. It’s a little harder because they don’t always know how to express it and if you’re not that good at figuring out other people’s feelings, you’re in for a real (unpleasant) treat. Not only that, but while you’re going nuts trying to figure them out, they are also trying to figure themselves out.

You have to remember that they’re just beginning to learn about this thing we call life, they’re new at everything and sometimes have no idea what’s going on inside of them.
It has to be a little scary to be learning so many things every day and be expected to remember everything your teacher, your mom, your dad, your grandparents, your nanny and if you’re really lucky, you’re older siblings are trying to teach you. Think about it… I’m doing that this very moment and I’m finding out it would be easier to understand and get along with my girls if I kept this present at all times, especially when they’re driving me insane. Unfortunately, I am far from being a perfect parent, so I don’t always keep this type of insight fresh in my mind.

What I am trying to say is that even though my girls are what makes this world wonderful, they can also make me crazy (not in a good way) sometimes. We all have bad days and kids sometimes seem to set their minds on making your day miserable.

Take Victoria for example. She’s kind of sweet and very funny and mostly independent. But give her task she can’t do or say she can’t wear a princess dress or take too long (say, three minutes) between the time she says she’s hungry to the time she’s actually fed and all hell breaks loose. She’s a tiny monster. But this is an improvement in the hunger department compared to Elizabeth who just got cranky and I didn’t know why until she learned that food was in the kitchen and she would take me there and point. Oh, so she’s hungry, duh!

Then there are the times they absolutely must have exactly what you can’t give them and they must have it now. It could be food, a toy, a book, a piece of clothing, candy, etc. Well, both my daughters are really good at asking for what they want one hundred thousand million times in a row, almost without breathing and absolutely not letting me get a word in edgewise.

Not enough? How about the times they fight each other? In the car is especially fun and if there’s a lot of traffic or we’re in a hurry, it’s just a bonus. For the most part, they love and care for each other but they also seem to love getting on each other’s nerves. Say Victoria is in her car seat and Eli is next to her and she happens to touch or lean on Victoria’s seat, she throws a fit and says that Elizabeth is in her space! Are you serious? But she’s not the only insane one, Elizabeth instead of backing off continues to touch Vicky’s seat anywhere she can, even if it’s just with the tip of her finger. Then when Eli wants to sing a song or tell us some story about school, Victoria repeats every word Eli says, most of the times overlapping Eli’s conversation. Eli is annoyed and Vicky is happy and triumphant.

And then there’s the time that…the times that Victoria gets a candy from the store and says she must get one for Elizabeth too. The times I sing her a song in which I get to insert her name in it and she whispers “Eli too, mom”, so I have to sing the line twice – once with her name, one with Elizabeth’s. Oh and when Victoria cries because she’s hurt or sick or tired and Elizabeth starts crying too, because she can’t stand to see her little sister crying. And I just remembered that last week Eli was so extremely proud of Victoria because she was able to draw a perfect happy face with her sidewalk chalk and because Victoria is able to reach the light switch on the bathroom now. Elizabeth ran out of the bathroom and gave us the news “mom, Victoria can reach the light switch; she stretched and can turn on the light with her little hands!”

My favorite is when Victoria takes a nap and Elizabeth takes advantage and grabs her hands, touches them, caresses them, etc. And she tells me “I have to do it now that she is asleep because she doesn’t let me when she’s awake, and I just love her hands, they’re so tiny and soft and pretty!” I also love when they fall asleep together and Vicky's sleepy hands look for Eli and hugs her. Or when they make each other laugh - that's the best.

I could go on and on about this and the more I think about it, the more I think that…you know what? Strike what I said at the beginning of this blog, IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TIMES ALL THE TIME.

Prayers from the Little Ones

I wonder how God prioritizes the millions of prayers he must receive every minute of every day? It must be hard, but I know He is always with us and listens to us and helps us be better people every chance we give him.

Since they were born, I have been the one to pass on my faith in God to my daughters. Before they were able to do it themselves, I would pray with them at night bless them before falling asleep. Once Elizabeth was old enough, I told her do it herself until she actually got it right and now she doesn’t have to be told. Victoria is quickly picking up and as I have mentioned before in this blog, doesn’t like to be helped much. She insists on blessing herself without any help from me or Eli – and it’s just adorable the way she does it. I believe I am right in letting her take care of this herself even though she doesn’t get it right because I think it’s important that they know it’s the thought that counts. As long as she knows what she is doing, I’m ok if it comes out kind of funny.

Lately, I’ve noticed that Elizabeth’s prayers have evolved and I can see she understands that she’s not just doing something I tell her to do – but she’s actually talking to God and asking for what she believes in. This is a good way for me to know what is important to her.

She never fails to thank God for another wonderful day; she never fails to ask him to take care of her family. Then she started to ask God to take care of all the poor and homeless people of the world. This tells me she is thinking of others, she’s trying to empathize and she has a good heart and even though I don’t want her suffering for others, I am glad to know she understands that there are those who are not privileged to have a house and food on a table everyday – an better yet – that she cares about them.

Not too long ago, her prayer included something so thoughtful that I was touched. She prayed for a teacher in her school who had lost a son and had another one seriously injured in hospital, she prayed that he would recover soon and that the deceased son who was now close to Him, would be well. And she prayed so that the teacher would not be too sad. I remember when she told me about it, I felt awful, almost cried - but it was Elizabeth who took action and actually remembered this family in her prayers.

I love this about Elizabeth and I am just happy to know that the little voices and thoughts are just as powerful once they land in God’s hands because theirs are the purest and most sincere. Her prayers remind me that we must expand our thoughts beyond ourselves and our family. There are so many who need a prayer that we should not be selfish about it. Elizabeth does it and it's great in more than one way because Victoria is like Eli's echo - and maybe right now she is just repeating what she hears, but she will eventually understand it and hopefully follow in Eli's footseps.

Right now, Victoria mainly just repeats what Eli says, except for the one thing she adds at the end of every prayer: “God, and also please take care of all my princess dresses”.

Good Night.

Eli is Living the Good Ol’ Days

There are so many emotions and feelings that a child can bring into your life: happiness, joy, confusion, silliness, frustration, pride…but the one thing I hear a lot of people talk about is how their children remind them of what it was to be a kid. Parents often say they become a child again when they are playing with their children.

Silly me, I was sure that I understood that sentiment, but the truth is that it wasn’t until yesterday that I truly grasped the notion of becoming a child again – all thanks to Eli. See, even though I am not proud of this, one of Eli’s favorite past times in the whole wide world is watching TV. If we didn’t control it, she would probably spend all her free time in front of the tube (the tube? It’s not a tube anymore, is it?). And one of my big problems with this is that 90% of what is on TV is junk. It’s awful. I hate it. Cartoons are gross and dumb; TV shows are vulgar; cable is full of graphic, violent and usually PG13 movies. My daughter being only seven years old and TV lover, it’s often a struggle to find something we can agree on for her to watch.

(Warning to non-mexican readers: the movies and shows I am about to mention are all mexican, because that is what we are, so please bear with me).

So, you can imagine how happy I was when my husband introduced Eli to the movies made by his favorite comedian, the ones he watched when he was growing up. This comedian’s name is Cantinflas and he made a huge amount of funny movies, these were not even from my husband’s childhood years, but from a generation before. The movies are mostly black & white, they are so old that some are fuzzy even though they have been restored and digitalized and whatnot. But Eli liked them. She got the jokes and they made her laugh and now we have a huge collection of Cantiflas movies.

Then came my movies. Pedro Infante is probably my favorite actor of all times and his movies range from extremely dramatic films to comedic ones; not only that, but he wasn’t just a great actor, he also had one of the greatest voices I’ve heard, his songs are timeless. The funny thing is that these movies and songs are also not from my time, they were already old when I watched them at Eli’s age. But there’s something about them that just captured me and now capture my daughter’s attention as well. We’ve begun collecting his movies too.

But the best came yesterday when my husband told her about a TV show we used to watch as kids. This one was so famous that they now have cartoons, but the cartoons are no fun compared to the original show. The name of the show is El Chavo, then came El Chapulín Colorado – this one was hilarious. She already knows El Chavo and likes it but yesterday Javier pulled some Chapulín episodes from YouTube and she was instantly hooked.

It was wonderful hearing her laugh like I used to, like Javier used, as she watched the show. Now I understand what all those parents mean when they say they become children again. I stood there watching this show that is so silly and naïve and laughed along with my innocent little girl and for a while, it felt like we were all seven again.

These old and simple jokes had the three of us (Javier included) laughing ourselves silly. It felt good to know we could all sit there and laugh at the same thing. It felt good to not worry about a grown-up joke coming up at an inopportune time or a joke so age inappropriate that it would bring Eli to a million questions I don’t want to answer.

After a while Javier and I went about our business but Eli was in front of the computer, ear-phones on and cracking up. I could hear her hearty and contagious laugh and it made me happy; it made me smile and it made me warm and fuzzy all over – thinking of relaxed afternoons and good times. And thinking about the feeling this gave me, I’m not entirely sure it was the TV show that had me laughing. I think it was Eli’s beautiful and refreshing laugh that made me feel so good. You'd have to hear her to know what I mean, she could make anyone happy...

Usually when you hear people talk about the good old days, they are referring to the days they were young and happy and without a care in the world. I just hope that I am giving Eli enough love and good times so that her good old days aren’t made up of just old movies and TV shows.

Victoria is a Princess

My three year old daughter is certain she is a princess. The moment I finally believed this conviction of hers was when I sent her to brush her teeth, she readily said, yes and walked towards the bathroom, then paused, turned to me and said in her inquisitive voice “mom, do princesses brush their teeth?” She was very serious, and I knew my answer would determine the health of her teeth from that moment on so I refrained from laughing and said a definite “yes, they do”. And off she was to brush her beautiful, tiny teeth.

My daughters never stop amazing me. Here she is, only three years old and already knowing what she wants, what she likes and how to get it. She looks in the mirror and knows she’s beautiful, when I want to help her with some minor, simple task (usually, I must confess, to get it done quickly) she will protest and remind me she can do it herself. She questions everything, but doubts nothing. Her mornings invariably begin with “can I have something to eat?” and “can I put on my Snow White dress?”.

I envy her. I am 30 years older than her and most days I don’t know what to wear and walk out of my house still uncertain if I look decent, I look in the mirror and see my flaws, I often question my decisions and don’t know exactly what I want for breakfast as I’m standing in line at the cafeteria at work. All these little and big decisions that I can’t make as quickly as she can fill my mind and take the space of what should be happy thoughts, plans for life and bright ideas. Which is what fills her beautiful, fresh mind.

Many can argue that her decisions and problems are simple, but they’re not so simple if you’re only three years old. Still, she’s a go-getter; she’s strong, resilient, bright and sometimes even sweet.
Wouldn’t life be so much better if we learned from our children instead of spending our time trying to teach them. Teach them what? They are born survivors and givers and innocent – we are probably responsible for changing that somewhere along the way.

So, I have my princess and I am trying hard to learn from her. Who would’ve thought? I never was the type of girl who wanted to be a princess because in my mind, they were too wimpy – but thanks to Victoria I know that a girl can be a princess and a warrior and an intellect all at once.

Thanks Victoria, you might be a princess in appearance, but to me, you’re a knight in shining armor.

A Road Trip to Remember

We travelled 1,500 miles and back, drove through at least 10 states across the Mexican Republic and came back happy, tired and filthy. All my friends said we're nuts for taking the girls on such a long trip, but we discovered that they are lovers of the road as much as mom and dad are and we had a blast.

Elizabeth pretty much slept through it all (unless, of course, we stopped for food). For Victoria, this is her first trip and she is more than a handful - not exactly a peaceful child. But that won't stop me from doing this again, she's sweet and fun to be with as long as she is not hungry.

This trip was as much fun as it was enriching both mentally and spirtually. I visited so many historic places...places I had only seen in school text books. We were able to show Elizabeth why she should be proud of her country and told her stories while standing in the very place they happened.

It was fascinating and awesome. Plus, I had a my own private tour guide (for free!). My father and mother in law travelled with us and my father in law knows just about everything there is to know of all the cities and every old building, statue, monument we visited. He is a world of knowledge and so willing to share it that I could do nothing but stare and listen in awe.

We also visited my grandfather, whom I had not seen for four years, not since Eli was 18 months old. It is always nice to go back to a familiar home and face when you are so far from your own. There, my grandfather's four or five cats met there match with Elizabeth, who did nothing but chase them and carry them like babies. Since her dad is not exactly a lover of cats (let's just say he's allergic) she knows we'll never have one at home so she took advantage of every moment there to be with the (poor and innocent) cats.

Victoria, on the other hand, ate a ton of beans with tortillas and her bare hands too. As if this is not funny all on its own, this is extremely funny to us because back when Eli was just 18 months old, she did the exact same thing at my grandfather's house - ate beans till there were no more left on her plate (and mine). Like Javier said, there is something about that house, those beans and my daughters.

Then the cherry on top of this delighful treat was Acapulco. We hit the beach and my daughters fell in love with it. Eli has been to the beach before, but I don't think she remembers. She cried when we left and kept turning back to the ocean saying "goodbye Acapulco..." She was in the water 90% of the time we spent there, and only got out to eat, when we actually forced her to. She did not care for food or sleep while she was in the water. And her sister...well! Victoria, who is absolutely reckless walked into the water as if it were no different than walking into her room. We had to make sure she knew that she could actually drown in there. She loved it. She loved it so much she actually fell asleep in the water, and I'm not talking about the pool, I'm talking about the ocean!

And though all of this was wonderful and I enjoyed it to the fullest, do you want to know what the best part was? Javier. My husband who is sometimes accused of being grouchy and loud, walked with me hand in hand...was cheerful, giving, happy, loving and re-assuring. Not to say that he isn't usually all of this, but we all get so caught up in our daily routine that we don't realize just how far away we can become from the people sitting next to us. I saw him relaxed and enjoying every second of our trip.

So it was more than a trip. This was a vacation from stress, routine, problems and anything else that can cloud your mind and keep you from enjoying life to the max.

I know Victoria will not remember this, but I know Eli will and hopefully she will also remember that this idea began for her, or because of her. I wanted to give her a nice and long vacation before she began first grade - which she will next Monday. But that is an entirely different blog.

So I say to all - be happy, enjoy life, don't worry too much, kiss your honey every chance you get and play with your kids while they still want to play with you.

Happy Birthday to Victoria

Victoria turned one year old on May 21st, 2006. One year. That is exactly 365 days that she has been making my world a much better and more fun place to live in.

I never thought that having children would make my life that much more worth living. Although I still don't understand how they work their magic, my daughters have definitely found the key that unlocks whatever the opposite of Pandora's Box is. They have unleashed a world of happiness, fun, love, wonder, awe, silliness, inspiration and simplicity that has filled my heart and soul to its maximum capacity. I don't think it can get better than this...yet, every time I feel I can't be happier, Elizabeth or Victoria do something that reminds me they can always make it better.

Victoria walks now. A year ago I held her in my arms and she was no more than a hungry and sleepy bundle. Victoria says papa (her favorite word), mama and thank you now. A year ago she made funny sounds that I had to figure out. How can life change so much in only one year? She is bright and happy and full of life. She has learned so much in the first year of her life that it only reminds me how wonderful it must be to have a clean and fresh mind where everything is new and everything is beautiful.

She is finding out that she can get her way with dad by pouting her lips, that she can melt me with kisses and that her sister is always good to her no matter what. She also knows for a fact that she is queen of her grandparent's hearts and it doesn't take much to get them to do what she wants. So, although there is much to say about her, her personality pretty much is this: she is cranky when she's hungry, she goes nuts when she's sleepy, she's determined to crunch up her nose and squint her eyes when she smiles, she loves to sit in the "Elmo Chair" and she'll eat anything that she is fed. Oh! And she is also addicted (as described by her dad) to lemonade. Victoria has become a very feminine little girl who wears her sister's bracelets and head-bands and stands in front of the mirror smiling at the beautiful girl in the reflection.

I don't know how much a single person can improve their life in one year. So many of us are at the same place in our jobs, our home, our love life, etc. But Victoria...Victoria has become better, faster, brighter, happier... there are no limits to what she can do and learn and say (as soon as she decides she wants to talk) and the places she'll go I'm sure will be wonderful - I just hope she lets me tag along once in a while.

Happy (belated) Birthday my Vicky. I hope that I have given you at least a fraction of the happiness that you have brought into my life. I love you.