Happy 6th Birthday, Daniel

Daniel,

This has been the birthday that never seems to end. Although today is your actual birthday, we got the ball rolling a week and a half ago with your birthday party at Moe's Bowling Ally. We scheduled the event so early in hopes of avoiding a clash with your baby sister's birth. And it's a good thing we did. Gloria was born less than 48 hours after your bowling bash.

Your friends (Addie, Faith, Matthew, Peter, Porter, Louge and Dylan) and family joined the fun. Even Jeremy made it out for the occasion, although he left all the bowling to his Daddy. It was a great afternoon.

April 23 arrived today, which meant a birthday breakfast before school, where your class sang to you and gifted you with a new book, silly straw and rainbow pencil. After school Nonna whisked you away to P,F, Chang's for lunch - a tradition that began last spring when you and Nonna scouted out their kid's low main and free birthday-boy dessert. (Make sure to note how big the piece of chocolate cake was.)

Happy Birthday, Daniel. 

We are so proud of the caring, compassionate, thoughtful, clever boy you have become. 

We pray for all your years to come.
 May God's gracious and merciful spirit shine among them.

Rub A Dub Dub...

...boys give Gloria a scrub.
 

Your Story

One Week Old

Gloria,

Every child has a story, a story of their arrival into this world, and here is yours:

It was a Monday night. Your dad and I had just put your brothers Chase and Daniel to bed. The evening had gotten away from us, which meant it was just about my bed time, too. So a little past 9pm I hoisted myself and my pregnant belly into bed and ... a popping sensation got me quickly back out of bed. My water broke. Surprise! Looked like you were going to join our family 10 days earlier than we anticipated.

After laboring with daddy in my bedroom for eight or more hours we headed to Littleton Hospital, your Marmee asleep on the couch. No. Make that floor, because Chase had slowly wiggled his way into full possession of the couch by this time. Things sped up fairly quickly once at the hospital - is there really a delivery that is "quick," though? A few hours laboring in a hospital room, musical accompaniment from the construction just outside the window - cue drills and saws - and three big pushes you were here, little girl. 

A girl? Your dad looked thrice before the midwife passed you over to my chest, where you cuddled in and I cried. You were here. And a girl? Really? What a sweet surprise you were in so many ways. A 6lb-10oz, 19-inch-long, cute-as-a button, surprise.

In spite of previous remarks about wanting a brother, Daniel and Chase fell in love with you almost as quickly and fiercely as I did. While Daniel has the confidence to walk you, rock you and shoosh you when you cry, Chase treats you like a delicate peace of china and prefers to caress your forehead with a few fingers or talk sweet nothings in your ear.

You have been a part of our world for just one week now and yet you are clearly a permanent fixture in our lives that we intend to treasure and thank God for you all our days to come. 

We love you, Peanut.

Mommy, Daddy, Daniel and Chase

Oh, Gloria!

 Gloria Marie Hendricks

DOB: Tuesday, April 14 - 9:03am

6lb 10oz

19inches long

Welcome to the family, Gloria!