I’m a few days late, but this past Friday–March 12–Helen turned 3 years old! All the people who came to wish Portia well on Wednesday also mentioned how Helen’s birthday was coming up very shortly; and she seemed a little confused by it. When someone would ask her anything about her birthday (the date thereof or how old she would be turning) she would look slightly stressed and just say “Tell me.” But when she arose on Friday morning to singing and decorations and gifts all for her, she finally believed that the birthday phenomenon could, indeed, apply to her and she now enthusiastically declares that she is three!

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Helen decided last fall that she is a raccoon. She got a stuffed raccoon and a book about a raccoon for Christmas, and both the stuffie and the book character have been dubbed “Helen Raccoon” (Sorry, Chester). So, of course, raccoons had to feature prominently on her birthday. We are pretty last-minute when it comes to decorations, so her raccoons were just printed the night before. She still loved it!

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For her birthday foods, Helen chose coco puffs for breakfast, mac and cheese for lunch, and mac and cheese for dinner! We really did eat mac and cheese two meals in a row (thanks for lunch, Mom!) and Helen ate heartily at both meals! Then for her dessert she wanted strawberries, blueberries and chocolate ice-cream. Life doesn’t get much better than that.

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Some things that you ought to know about Helen include, but are not limited to:

• Her affinity for raccoons is rather appropriate, as I feel like she is very similar to a raccoon. Specifically she and raccoons are alike in that they are both outrageously adorable and very prone to mischief. Helen seems to always be into something, and yet is usually too cute to handle even in the act!
• She LOVES her siblings. She has a unique bond with each one.
• Helen is a remarkably good singer. She picks up tunes quickly and loves to sing them. Her favorite song is still Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
• If you ever ask her what she wants to eat she basically always says “pasta.” But apparently mac and cheese is the favorite variety.
• Along with raccoons, Helen loves books, swinging on the swings, helping in the kitchen, and being bigger than Bianca and the dog.
• Helen is our first kid to have somewhat curly hair! I am beyond obsessed with it! When we don’t do anything to it it is wavy and crazy; but when we put a little gel in there, her curls are the cutest things in the whole world!

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We love this sweet, sneaky girl of ours! And we’re excited to see how she continues to entertain us over the next year!

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Happy Birthday, Helen!

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