Bagels and cream cheese

Vanessa loves bagels with cream cheese. She loves her pink blankie, so much that she weeps if her siblings jokingly take it from her. She loves her best friend, Jada. She loves to twirl. she loves cupcakes. She loves the color pink. She loves her baby dolls. Vanessa loves that she turned 4! 

Vanessa has been so fun to welcome into our family. She was the game changer for our family dynamic. Something about going from 2 kids to 3 kids is a big deal for me. We had to get a bigger car and we had to get a bigger place to house all these children! She was also really hard to name. Jeff and I disagreed on our names, we settled on Olivia (my choice), Natalia (Jeff's choice) and Vanessa. Vanessa has always been a name that I liked and it is so pretty sounding coming out of the mouth. Yes, I think about these things. The dilemma soon came...why not name the girls all V names, right? We didn't agree to name her Vanessa until she was actually born and she was simply Vanessa - there was never a doubt. 

Fortunately, we were so immensely blessed to get a car, for free, that had the most amazing air conditioning! Also, we were able to actually buy a house, something that we thought would not be remotely possible, given the investment predicament we were in. We searched for a house we could afford and had little luck, until we finally decided to put it on hold until later...after all, we were having a baby soon and wanted to focus on that. It wasn't until the day before Vanessa was born that our realtor called us and said that an offer we made months ago was accepted! We got the house! What a way to induce labor! So, on Vanessa's actual birth day, Jeff was on the phone with the realtor and the bank and anyone else trying to put everything in order so that we could finalize the house. Who knew such a little person could create such a chain of events? 

I have had the amazing pleasure of watching Vanessa grow and to listen to her speak and say the funniest things. She makes me laugh a lot and I think we really needed that sweet and silliness that she brings to our family - at least I know I needed it! 

My Vanessa has a tiny little body, stinky feet, a gorgeous smile and beautiful eyes. But more than that, she is soft but tough, attentive, tender, silly, content, loving and just perfect! I love this newly 4 year old. I see her learning new things and being such a sweet big sister and little sister. She fits so magnificently in this crazy bunch, I am so grateful to be this little chispita's mom. 

My little Vanessa Marcely, happiest of birthdays to you! I love you and your silliness.