Three Girls, Two Boys, One Dog and a Cat Named Molly: Happy Birthday, Alex

Alex is 8! I can't believe it. She started her day with a breakfast of waffles and veggie sausage. She was pretty bummed that she had to go to church before she could open her gifts. But it was worth the wait! She got some Eiffel tower earrings, some outfits and accessories for her American Girl dolls, and then we surprised her with a brand new big pink bike. I sent Darren shopping for that one, and boy howdy did he get a nice bike. It has gears, shocks, everything you can imagine. You should have seen the looks on Brynn and Davis' faces. Sorry kids--your bikes were purchased before your dad become bike obsessed. Enjoy your Wal-mart specials!

Brynn was a huge help all day and even made this darling cake. I let go of my perfect cake issues and asked Brynn and Alex to decorate it themselves. I was pleasantly surprised. It turned out really cute.

And here's the birthday girl, blowing out the candles.

It's amazing to see how much she has grown up since last year.

Such determination.

Cute little Alex, we are so glad you're ours. I still remember the day you were born--one of my most difficult labors by far. You were overdue, and I went in for an ultrasound the night before I was induced. The ultrasound tech kept saying over and over to her assistant, "Look at the size of that head, that is the biggest head I've ever seen on a baby. Look at that head." And, 39 cm later, it turns out she was right; you did have a big head.

I went in the next morning with no small amount of trepidation, and we waited for almost four hours after I was induced for anything to happen. I was having strong contractions but no progress. I didn't realize at the time that you were a child who would do things your own way, refusing to be rushed and always going at your own pace.

Luckily for me, we made some progress once my water was broken and five hours later, there you were. A darling, screaming little ball of fire. Even as a newborn you had no trouble expressing your strong opinions. At the ripe old age of 0 days old, you only wanted your mom which worked out pretty well for me because I wanted to hold you all the time (and did for the first year of your life.)

Your dad actually named you (I wanted Molly or Isabella,) and I think he picked out the perfect name for you. You do have the heart of a warrior, and if you are afraid of anything we have yet to see evidence of that.

I love this picture of you climbing the Great Wall of China. It was steep and scary and uneven, but you didn't care. You just kept taking off, trying to run to the top (as you repeatedly told us--I'm trying to get to the top, but you just keep carrying me down.) I hope you never lose that determination.

So Happy Birthday to my little vegetarian animal lover. You have such a gentle heart. I was so concerned about you when we added Henry and Addison to the family so quickly. You went from being the baby for 5 years to being the exact middle child in 10 months. You rose to the occasion and instantly mothered both kids. You could always tell (and still can) when Henry needed to be hugged for awhile, and you still go in almost every night to read him a story and tuck him in.

When Addison was brand new, you were one of the few people that could calm her. If I had to quickly get something done, I would sit you in the glider for just a minute, you'd hold her, gently rocking her and singing, and she would instantly calm down. You are such a nurturer.