Here we go…another year that went by way too fast but was full of incredible memories and joy thanks to this little angel! I know it is cliche to say but words truly can’t even describe the love and pride I have for this child. She is happiness. She is pureness. She is beauty. She is laughter. She is intelligence. She is sensitivity. She is strength. She is determination. She is comfort. She is fierceness. She is curiosity. She is adventure. She is confidence. She is compassion. She is greatness. She is LOVE. In it’s purest form…LOVE.

Pookie, keep on keeping on with your quirky self. You are perfectly imperfect and I am forever blessed to have you as my daughter. I could list all your milestones and achievements that you have conquered this past year (which are plentiful), however your sheer existence is all the matters. You make my heart happy each day, and I know you fill everyone else’s heart with love as well. You are a sparkle. A bright, shiny, glorious, sparkle. Keep shining your light on everything around you. I love you endlessly. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. FELIZ CUMPLEANOS MI AMOR!

Here are a few others from this day at the beach…which was actually one of those really magical fun days at the beach (apparently for all of us). The water was calm and beautiful, the weather was perfect, we played frisbee, climbed trees, played chase, swam in the ocean, ordered sand soup and rock cocktails from Sophie’s beach restaurant, and watched a crab crawl endlessly on dada. Super fun.

This morning Sabsy walked up to me and said “Doo Doo’s” I said ok, you made doo doo’s? She then took my hand and took me to the potty. She took off her diaper and I propped her up on the little potty seat. I waited for a minute and she looked at me and said “Go”. I walked out of the bathroom and stood by the door where she told me to “Stay”. Then a little one came out and she yelled “Doo Doos!”. We all ran in and started dancing and singing and she started dancing on her little potty seat and then told us all to “GO” again. So we left. She stayed a few more minutes and then hollered “Doo Doos!”. We came back in and she was already dancing on the potty seat waiting for our antics. We jumped, dance, sang, she declared she was “All done” and that was sweet Sabsy’s very first doo doo on the potty!! WOHOO! Of course i had to take a pic. She was telling me Go and No in this photo. GO SABI GO SABI RAE!

Poor Pooks came down with a fever on Friday that lasted through Tuesday early afternoon. It went up and down but never disappeared and at one point hit 104 (which caused me to rip the thermometer out of her mouth before it beeped and yell ok enough of that out of sheer fear of the numbers increasing). Normally we would head to San Jose, however she was running around and acting way too normal for such a high temperature so naturally i was convinced the thermometer was broken (even though i tested it on myself and it was normal) and sent Will to the pharmacy to get a new thermometer and some fever reducer. The new thermometer had the same results but Pookie felt “fine” according to her and didn’t want any medicine so we waited it out one more night (this was going on night 4) and thankfully she woke up the day before her birthday and her fever broke! Pookie has officially made it to 5 years old without ever taking medicine or antibiotic…hopefully we can make this claim again next year, and the year after, and so on. Here are some pics of the little peanuts cuddling, watching movies, and drinking smoothies at different points during our 4 day hibernation with Pook’s illness.