Our Hannah

Hannah is everything our family needed. It is funny because before she was born I didn't realize we were missing anything. I remember Joe and I having the classic worrying if we will love number two as much as our uber amazing first conversation. We worried about how Hannah could possibly capture us like L does. We were so silly. Hannah completes us.
 
L knew. L knew how much our family needed her. For months L told us she was praying for a baby sister. Then when L heard we were indeed going to have a baby she declared, with utter certainty, it was going to be a girl, a girl named Hannah.

But Hannah's name isn't only Hannah. She is Hannah Joy. I always knew her middle name was to be Joy. It just seemed right. Just as when Joe said Linnea's middle name was to be Hope. What I didn't know was how true to her middle name she was to be.

I am not sure why I didn't expect it. Prior to Hannah's birth my mom told me every time she thought of Hannah she felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. Then our Hannah Joy was literally birthed out on a laugh.

Hannah is smiles and laughter. Even when sick the child can't quit smiling. I took her to the doctor's today and while I was checking-in Hannah was charming the waiting room with her giant smile & loud laughs. People were asking how this baby could be sick if she was this happy. Even the doctor couldn't help but say, "Well, you hit the jackpot with that temperament. Those are some big blisters on her throat but you would never guess it by all those smiles."

Hannah is playfulness. Hannah is adventure. Hannah is fearless, unreserved, uninhibited, garrulous and overwhelmingly affectionate. And in a family of quite over thinkers who are high on caution and low on adventure she is everything the three of us need.

I am constantly amazed by how my two girls personalities fit so perfectly together. L is kind, L is selfless, L is patient, non-competitive but yet confident. And so far she does not see Hannah as a threat. The girls relish in each other. L uses Hannah as a measurement of what is cute, "Wow, that was a cute ______, almost as cute as Hannah." Hannah finds no one more entertaining than L.


I am constantly amazed at how perfect both our girls are for us. God is amazing in knowing exactly the child each family needs.