Oh, Birthdays!

When Joan and Kate came to meet their new baby sister in the hospital, Joan exclaimed with a sigh "Baby Marin.... what a wonderful challenge!" It was such an ODD thing for a 3 year old to say, that it quickly became part of our family vocabulary.

Only, this sweet baby was hardly a challenge. She's been easy-going and cheerful since the day she was born. As an infant, she nursed and slept like a dream, smiled early (around 3 weeks, I think), and entertained herself happily if I forgot to give her a toy (which was often).

I routinely "lost" her in my home. Where did I lay the baby down now? I'd think to myself. Then I'd turn a corner and find her, right where I left her, waiting for me with a big drooly grin, new spit up soaking the front of her shirt.

As she got more mobile we worried about the stairs, the slippery hard floors, the tiny parts of the big-kid toys. We had none of these things when the other 2 were babies... But she smiled her way through her "mobile babyhood" with nary a problem.

So far in her life, the only rough patch we've encountered with her was her 6-month-long ear infection that she got around 10 months and was never completely cured of until she got tubes at around 16 months. Yeah, those were some tired months in our house.

Soon she was a toddler and started winning over the hearts of our somewhat cold and distant neighbors. I don't know if it was the dimple, or the wave of the chubby hand, or her sweet chirping "hello's", but they are big fans of Marin. She even got to forever memorialize her two-year-old foot print in their concrete driveway. True story.

She's not sure why, at such a tender age, she's been given the "job" of helping me raise twins, but she accepts the responsibility with grace. She truly believes that she is my sidekick, and that together we are going to keep those girls in line.

She has a very serious nature about her and can give these dark, crusty looks at anyone who earns her disapproval. On the other hand, she is a very sunny and happy child with a bright smile. She easily draws people into her world and has many fans. While she has lots of playmates her age, she specializes in getting Adult Adoration.

She's determined to get what she wants in this life, but she does so in a gentle, polite manner. If you are not careful, she *will* convince you of whatever it is she is after, no matter how much you initially disapproved.

She is my baby, and I could talk and talk about her. From the moment I laid eyes on her, I felt instant and fierce love, and it has not wained one bit over the past three years.

I love all three of my daughters deeply and passionately, but this little Marin has a delicious, edible, irresistible quality about her that makes me nothing more than putty in her sticky little paws. I just... I can't... there are no words.

Oh, Marin. Happy birthday! I'm so glad you joined our tribe!

P.S. Why yes, I DID make that snazzy little birthday crown. I got the idea and pattern from The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule, aka SouleMama. I love it and will be making 2 more come January as Teh Sisters *also* love it.

P.P.S. Also, I realize that you can see Marin's "real name" on that top picture. Isn't that fun? I'm always curious of other blogger's "real names". Frankly, I'm more worried about brick-and-mortar people finding my blog than I am about my bloggy friends finding my brick-and-mortar residence. Internet security, I spit in your general dye-rection. In any case, I will continue to call her "Marin" here.