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8.31.2011

Happy Birthday Daniel!

Three.


Today my little peanut, you turned three years old.

mommy can hardly believe it either
It was just two months and four days ago that your name legally changed to Daniel Zhenyu M, yet already you have become an integral part of our family.  We all think it may have something to do with that smile...

yeah, that's the one
Today I had picked out a little polo shirt for you to wear, thinking that it would look nice in pictures.  You however had a differing opinion about that after you spotted your "fire-tuck" shirt in the clean laundry basket.  I suppose it is fitting that you wore one of your very favorite shirts for your birthday.


It did not surprise me one bit this afternoon that you fell asleep flipping through the pages of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, your current favorite book.  I think today I read it to you seven times, and I listened to you "read" it twice.

Your obsession for that book may explain why you would say "ABC" instead of "Aunt CiCi" when Traci tried to get you to repeat names at the beach house.  I do have to say though that the glimmer in your eye and the fact that you pretty clearly repeated the names Uncle Adam, Pierson and Maylin makes mesuspect that it was just your ever emerging sense of humor...

Tonight was bible study night, and since Daddy meets us there, dinner was pretty low key.   Personally I would have been slightly disappointed with Ramen noodles, leftover broccoli, and cut up fruit for a birthday meal.  (Though we did go to the Chinese buffet last night for dinner to celebrate).


You though?  Even the simplest of meals make you happy.  Especially if they involve noodles and fruit.


Most of your gifts involved Lightning McQueen.  That too brought a smile to your face.  You do, after all, love your race cars and your trains.  In fact, as I recall, your very first English word was Yite-nin Mah-keen and you could sing the chorus to the Dinosaur Train theme song before you knew your ABC's.


The most fun part of today though, was your excitement over your cupcake with Cars candles.


It was as if you could hardly believe that cupcake and those candles were just for you.  Or maybe it was that you could hardly believe we gave you a chocolate cupcake at night.


At any rate, you enjoyed that cupcake!


And we enjoyed another glimpse at your ever emerging sense of humor.


We are so, so very happy you are forever part of our family.  On this day last year it didn't appear that would be the case.  But one year later, here you are, and we are so very thankful for that.  And while your siblings often make you crazy, you seem to be thankful for them too.  You've started adding your own line to the dinner time prayer, thanking God for your family as you look around the table and call each of us by name.


Happy birthday frosting face.  Wǒ ài nǐ.

13 comments:

Andrea said...

I wish I could buy him a box of Cheeze-its for his birthday. I saw they had them with Cars characters imprinted. And for the record, I would growl if you got near my chocolate cupcake too. ;-)

Stefanie said...

goodness, is he CUTE!
happy birthday, Daniel!! 3 looks great on you :)

Jordan Carl said...

Happy Birthday Daniel! I'm so glad that you are here and you have the family you do. I can't wait to meet you buddy! And eat every piece of cake you can get your hands on (there will be a day when they won't let you do that anymore)! Love you!

anything but LoKEY said...

Happy Birthday Daniel!!

Grandma Shultz said...

Happy third Birthday, sweet Danile. I thank God that He made you a forever part of our family. Lao Lao ai ni.

prechrswife said...

So precious! Happy Birthday, Big Boy!!!

Jennifer Taylor said...

Happy Birthday Daniel! You have one amazing family! I love to look at all of your pictures, especially the cupcake ones!

Valerie and Jeff said...

I'm thinking Nolan, our three year old, and he would get along quite well. Up for a play date? HA!
Lightning McQueen and car/fire truck shirts are CRAZY popular with the 3 year olds I think!
Happy Birthday cutie!
Hugs,
Valerie

Valerie and Jeff said...

I'm thinking Nolan, our three year old, and he would get along quite well. Up for a play date? HA!
Lightning McQueen and car/fire truck shirts are CRAZY popular with the 3 year olds I think!
Happy Birthday cutie!
Hugs,
Valerie

Heather said...

Wish I could jump through the computer and squeeze that kid! So stinkin' cute I can't stand it!!!! Can you send him my way for a couple days! :-)

Our Journey to China said...

Happy Birthday, Mr. Frosting Face, sweet boy!!! We cannot wait to meet you face to face. Your mama's cupcakes rock it looks like, YUM!

Jenna said...

WOW- look how big he is these days! ADORABLE. LOVE the cupcake face!

Cooper LOVES Lightning McQueen too! What's not to love for a preschool boy, huh? :)

Happy birthday, Daniel!

Nancy said...

Happy birthday, Daniel!!! Love the photo with the cupcake, it cracked me up!