Tuesday, January 27

Happy Birthday, Baby

Dear Alexis,

So.

Three.

You're three.

How did that happen? I could swear just yesterday I was listening to a very frightened ultrasound technician tell me that she thought you were upwards of 11 lbs 14 oz and needed evicted immediately. In a flash we were in a operating room, with you screaming (because you were so pissed off to have been ripped from the place you intended to stay for a very long time) as a room full of onlookers tried to hide their disappointment that you were *only* 9 lbs 12 oz. How did we get from there to here so quickly?

In a flash you have learned to smile, to laugh, to talk, to walk, to sing, to melt my heart, and to melt the heart of everyone you encounter. You're something, kiddo. You KNOW you're cute and have quite the ability to harness that cute thing for evil. In the best way imaginable. I love nothing more than to heed your command to look in the mirror in the morning, because I know you're going to look carefully at yourself, then carefully at me, and will then proclaim, "I'm bootiful. You too, mommy." That? Is why you get your way so often.

Of course, there to here hasn't seemed so quick when you are in a Why Sort of Mood. You're a smart kid, no doubt about it. I'll tell you some day how I know you got that from me, and how it's not quite as fantabulous as you might think. I'll save it, though, because those Why Sort of Moods are helping you learn things about this world I would have never imagined. Listening to you spell your name, s-t-o-p, g-o, and c-a-t just blows me away. You wouldn't know how to spell those words if you weren't forever asking me to spell everything I say. So keep on asking, no matter how annoyed my betraying eyes may say I am.

When I think about what makes you different from other kids your age, it's easy to figure out the #1 thing: You are happier. You are seldom caught not wearing a smile (unless, of course, there is a camera around--you just LOVE screwing with me). That smile lights up rooms, infecting everyone with a little glow of Alexis joy. You love to play tricks, and are just as good at dishing it out as you are at receiving it. Many times your daycare teachers have commented that they can prank you in ways that they can't the others, because they know you'll realize just how funny it is to have a ball unexpectedly tossed at your backside. Not only do you "get" the joke, you will encourage the joke with endless giggles and prompts like "do it again!"

And your laugh. Oh. my. hell, your laugh. You have the most infectious laugh I have ever heard. Nearly every day you drag me into a giggle fit, because it is physically impossible to hear you giggle without joining in. Thank you for that. I appreciate your demands to have fun far more than you can possibly understand.

I appreciate you.

So does your Dad.

Happy Birthday, my dear sweet Alexis. Thank you for three years of bliss, and I look forward to a lifetime of giggling right along with you.

Love,
The Lady Who is Thinking about Buying You Balloons Every Single Day after Watching You Glow with Glee this Morning

75 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday, Alexis! You are an amazing little kid! :)

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  2. Happy Birthday to Alexis!!! I can't wait to see video and pics of you enjoying your birthday present! Your mom and dad made a great call on that one!

    When you read this some day, don't give your mom a hard time. :-) She's a pretty cool lady!

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  3. Anonymous10:41 PM

    Happy Birthday, Alexis! Enjoy your special day.

    Oh, and thanks for making eye contact with me!

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  4. Happy Birthday little girl :) :)

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  5. Happy Birthday Alexis! :)

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  6. Happy Birthday Alexis!!

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  7. Anonymous10:50 PM

    Happy birthday, kiddo! You are adorable and such a joy to everyone around you. Don't stop being you.

    I look forward to continuing our conversation about betchtubles, pen'ins, and Sidney Crosby. ;-)

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  8. Happy birthday ya precious lil one.

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  9. Anonymous10:53 PM

    Happy Birthday, Alexis!!! Now that you are older, maybe you won't love Dora too much anymore! ;)

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  10. Happy birthday, Alexis. Your tiara is totally hawt.

    PS - Your mom got WARNING THAT YOU WERE HUGE?! She's a lucky woman.

    Oh - and she's lucky 'cause she has such a totally hawt kid. HAWT, I say. Hawt.

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  11. Anonymous10:54 PM

    Happy birthday!!! Dont let anyone stop you from playing in the snow!

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  12. Happy birthday, Alexis -- I hope we can go ice skating again soon!

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  13. Anonymous11:02 PM

    That's such a cute photo. :)

    Happy 3rd Birthday to Alexis!

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  14. Happy Birthday Alexis!!!!

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  15. Happy Birthday!!

    Balloons everyday is a fantastic idea!

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  16. Anonymous11:23 PM

    3....I think this means she's not a toddler anymore and a full blown preschooler....Happy Birthday!

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  17. Happy Birthday Alexis! All the best is yet to come for you and your parents.

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  18. Happy Birthday, you dear, sweat, beautiful, lovely girl!

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  19. Happy Birthday, Queen Alexis...you must be the Queen because you have your mommy and daddy wrapped around your little finger!

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  20. You captured the smile really well. :) Happy Birthday, Alexis!

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  21. Happy 3rd Birthday Alexis!!! It's gonna be a great year. Just keep enjoying her as much as you already are! : )

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  22. Happy Birthday Alexis!! The big 3. Woo Hoooo. You know you and your mom are so lucky to have each other. It is going to be so awesome when you get older and read all about just how much your parents love you!!

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  23. Happy Birthday Alexis!

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  24. Wonderful tribute, there, Mommy!

    Happy birthday, Alexis!

    Peace - D

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  25. Happy Birthday Alexis!

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  26. Anonymous5:03 AM

    What a great letter to your baby!

    Happy Birthday, Alexis!

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  27. Happy Birthday to Alexis!

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  28. Anonymous7:21 AM

    Happy Birthday to Alexis!

    And you.

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  29. **HAPPY, HAPPY ***3rd*** BIRTHDAY, ALEXIS!!!**

    I wish I knew you in person because I think you would be a blast to hang out with! :)

    Have a wonderful, special day...

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  30. Happy Birthday Alexis!

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  31. Happy Bday to the rockinest and coolest kiddo in the land. (is rockinest even a word?)

    Hallie :)

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  32. Happy Birthday Alexis! Have a great day.

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  33. Happy Birthday to Alexis! What a smart, beautiful girl!
    Hope you have a great day!

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  34. Happy Birthday, little lady!
    Here's hopin' the Steelers give you the best 3rd birthday gift ever!

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  35. Happy Birthday Alexis!!!

    There is little more joy than tiaras and balloons on birthdays :-)

    Did her cake have any black and gold on it? ;-)

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  36. Anonymous9:18 AM

    Happy happy happy happy happy birthday Alexis! Hope it was wonderful!

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  37. Happy birthday, Alexis, you cutie. Remember this lovely post when you think your mom "doesn't understand". She does!

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  38. aw, happy birthday alexis!

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  39. Happy Birthday Alexis! I hope you get to read your mom's blog someday and read all the cute, funny, and special things she shares with us about you. :D

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  40. aww she is so sweet! They grow so fast don't they? My two precious girls just turned 8 and 6 and it seems just like yesterday they were born!

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  41. Anonymous9:48 AM

    I'm a little late, but I wanted to wish Miss Alexis the very happiest of birthday weeks! I know how beautiful and sweet and smiley and awesome she is. From one little McDonald's play that one afternoon.

    Happy Birthday to you, too, Mama!

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  42. Happy Birthday Little Lady! I am a little late, but I couldn't resist that face. heh!

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  43. Anonymous10:10 AM

    My 20 month old son was fascinated with Alexis's pictures. He finally proclaimed, "Lesh pitty!" Translation: Alexis pretty.

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  44. Well I'm late, I should have brought balloons!

    Happy birthday Alexis!

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  45. Happy Birthday Alexis!

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  46. Happy birthday!!! Beautifully written!

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  47. Yay! Happy Birthday to beautiful Alexis. (Belated, anyway.) Can't believe she's three now.

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  48. Happy Birthday, Alexis!!!

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  49. Anonymous10:58 AM

    Happy Birthday Alexis!!

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  50. Anonymous11:22 AM

    I so enjoy reading about Alexis. Happy Birthday Cutie!!! =O)

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  51. Happy birthday, sweetie. You've got a great set of parents, loving you through life.

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  52. Anonymous12:02 PM

    She's meant to be a tiara wearing gal, Burgh. No doubt about it. Didn't she JUST turn 2??

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  53. Happy Birthday Alexis...what a beauty you are!

    And Burgh, this letter to her is FABULOUS. What a treasure!

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  54. My daughter & your daughter seem to have so much in common. It must be the day they were born. We celebrated her 8th birthday last night.

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  55. Anonymous12:52 PM

    Happy Birthday to your beautiful little girl and Happy Birthing Day to you, Momma! You have certainly done a heck of a job with Miss Alexis - the kid brings me joy 1,000 miles away via computer . . . that says a lot!

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  56. Happy, happy Birthday Alexis!!
    A lovely letter for a very gorgeous girl.
    So her B-day was the 27th? We share a B-day then? That is pretty cool!

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  57. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEXIS!!!

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  58. Happy Birthday Alexis! Your right you are Bootiful..and so is your Mom! (Hugs)Indigo

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  59. Anonymous3:06 PM

    Happy birthday alexis!

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  60. Happy Birthday sweetie.

    You know, you make many people, even those you have never met, SMILE. OFTEN.

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  61. Awwwww.

    Happy birthday to your baby!

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  62. Happy birthday to a gifted and beautiful young lady. You have so many more things to experience throughout the next year, and the year after that, and each year throughout your life. And I look forward to hearing all about it. You truly are blessed.

    (I'm talking to A, not you, B.)

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  63. aaawwwww

    Happy Birthday Kiddo!

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  64. Anonymous6:56 PM

    Awww Happy Birthday sweet Alexis!
    YAY!!!

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  65. Happy Birthday Alexis! Save me some cake, ok?

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  66. Happy Birthday, sweet Alexis! You truly are Bootiful!!!

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  67. Happy Birthday, Alexis!!!!

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  68. Happy Birthday, Alexis! I'm glad I get to watch you grow! Oh and every time I hear the word "Dude", I think of you, Dude! lol!

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  69. happy birthday, little girl!

    may your life be filled with balloons and penguins.

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  70. Anonymous10:29 PM

    She is so awesome. And so are you.

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  71. Happy birthday, Alexis. We love watching you grow! You are one amazing little girl!

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  72. Happy Better-Late-Than-Never Birthday, Alexis.

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  73. Happy (belated) Birthday Alexis!!!

    I had no idea that she and Alyssa were so close in age. Alyssa turned 3 on January 7th.

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  74. Happy Birthday, Alexis!! (I'm sorry I'm so late with this.) What a beautiful post.

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